Unlocking the Joints and the Spirit

I've found a new way to make people smile.

I have exercised my entire life, thanks to the positive influences of my mom and soccer. I've found so many different endorphin highs and ways to exhaust my body and mind, fueling the soul. I took a dance class based on the work of Gabrielle Roth last year at Omega in Rhinebeck, NY. We were in a beautiful sun lit room with great energy. What I experienced in that room was something I knew I'd have to find again. It was not only a great workout... lots of sweat, but it made me smile, it broke social barriers, it broke down inhibitions without alcohol. I was free to let my body express what it wanted to.

I feel like our bodies get stuck in certain positions. How do we unlock them? First we bring blood to the area which is aka circulation. Joint circles and yoga are what I've found to work the best. From then on, it is just retraining the musculature as to not create the same inbalances again.

There is something to be said about play. In my core classes, we play a bit. This is when I see my students smile and laugh. They are present in their bodies. They aren't judging themselves or others.

So last night I went to a class called Nia. It was amazing. The music was Riverdance-ish. The other students were open and nonjudgemental. After an hour of that class, I was stoked. My soul was glowing. Nothing could have brought me down. So how do we create this in our everyday life? This feeling of freedom and grace... of a judgement free world? Of empowerment and strength?

I haven't figured it out yet... but when I do, I will share. I'm still glowing.

To be able to move about and express freely is to be alive.

Addictions

Everyone has addictions. Whether it's endorphins, drugs, sugar, caffeine... we've all got them. I've written so much about sugar, HFCS, and the cycles they throw our body into. Without being conscious of it, I was stuck in a few cycles.

The sugar cycle. To break food cycles, the three day rule generally applies. If you can make it past 3 days, your body is in the clear. Today is day three. The first day I had one piece of chocolate... these cravings hit hard! It usually hits me after a meal when I am digesting and lethargic.

Day two I treated myself to a pedicure for all the hard work I'd put my feet through lately. As I was walking out the door, I snagged two sugar candies... they hit the tongue before I got to my car. Damn! I am supposed to have will power! The first furniture store I went to had the same damn candies! Two more down. Ok, the sugar rush started to hit me. Luckily lunch was near. After 8 more furniture stores, a lot of overpriced used crap and a few good laughs, a good sushi fix led me to forget about my sweet tooth.

Today I am in the sugar clear. A few strawberries with my protein shake in the morning, but that's it! Today I break the cycle.

Caffeine is out... that was as simple as switching to Yogi Detox Tea instead of my Yogi Green Tea. Same great fortune on my tea tag... not much of an immediate energy difference.

Salt. After the 1/2 marathon last weekend, I feel like I ingested salt. I felt like I needed so much! I ended up taking in much more than I needed and bloated up like a balloon. Fun.

Today I cleanse. A few days of Detox tea has led me to feel much better. Today I stretch out my body with some asanas.

Trek to the Sea

Today I ran 13.1 miles in the City to Sea 1/2 marathon. I almost decided not to run it due to the 70 dollar race entry fee. Quite the monstrosity! But... my fee was sponsored by a good family friend. Love her!

The first few miles were cake because I stayed with my roommate and her parents. I started to get a little antsy at about mile 5 and bolted in front. I was so excited to run my own pace, I probably jumped the gun. I had no way of judging how many miles I had run: no watch, no mile markers.

I found a few strangers to run with. The first one was a Cal Poly grad named Mason. He hadn't trained, just like myself. He moved to San Diego after getting his degree in Computer Science and Business... now, still looking for a job. He stopped for a break after a few miles. Drats!

Then I found Janelle and Maureen (who'd passed us a few miles before) at about mile 8. My next stranger was a woman named Alison. She is a mother of two who moved from Indianapolis a few years ago, met her husband, had two kids and lives in SLO. She works in Paso in a lab testing artifacts. Clearly we had some time to talk. We were both very grateful for eachother and the distraction from our legs. Alison and I finished strong. The last mile was just a little painful.

Finally, we were there. 13.1 miles, a tiny water cooler and no food in sight. About 1/2 mile downhill there was food, but I had to wait for the rest of my crew to finish. I tried to forget my hypoglycemia and just stretch. They arrived, we ate, all was right in the world.

Now, I sit here in my livingroom. My legs feel great, but my energy is low. I get up every hour or so for about 15 minutes, then back to the chair. Perhaps a nap?

Quite the accomplishment... but it's time for a full marathon.

To Supplement or Not to Supplement?

There is so much buzz about supplements today. Always someone roped into a pyramid marketing scam trying to get you to buy their product so they make money.

I think there are two types of people, or rather a continuum of people with two extremes.

Person #1: The Fast Food Junkie: they eat crap... nutrient empty foods, fried foods, sugar, refined flours, whites, excess carbs. They don't supplement.

Person # 2: The hippy: they eat whole foods; nutrient dense foods, organic produce and maybe meats. They usually supplement.

Now, why is person # 2 more likely to supplement their diet when person #1 needs it more?

It is a level of awareness about one's diet and needs first off. Secondly it is the level of commitment that a person dedicates to their own wellbeing. Usually it is all or nothing. Those who make poor food choices don't supplement, and those who make wise food choices do supplement. It should be the opposite.

Ideally, we would all get our nutrients from food. They come in the form that is easiest to absorb. When our diet lacks something essential, we supplement. When our diet lacks more than a few essentials, we should supplement more than a few essentials. For instance, vegetarian diets do not contain vitamin B12. Thus, vegetarians need to take B12. Seems simple, right?

What is your diet lacking and what does your body need?

Growth

A few years ago I bought myself a beautiful vine. It grew up along my book shelves and around my doorway.

The vine grew to be at least 15 feet long. It was amazing.

The same time my last relationship ended, the vine got root rot. Was it because I'd neglected to give it proper drainage... or did I just get too comfortable in it's routine of growing when I watered it?

I salvaged the vine, with only 4 leaves remaining. For an entire year it was only 4 leaves.

This Spring it started to grow again. There are 15 leaves now. It is in no way as strong as it once was, but it survived.