I went to Bikram this morning. I know, I know...
I was thinking last night that I just needed to sweat. During my regular yoga practice, I'm lucky if one drop of sweat cultivates. So I decided to try my 2nd Bikram class ever, I figure at 6 AM I wouldn't have time to think, I'd just do it... and I did.
Wanting to be anonymous, feeling like I was sort of walking into the lions den, I thought at 6 AM I'd blend in... to my surprise, one of my Vinyasa students was next to me after the lights switched on.
The experience was enjoyable for the most part, the teacher talked non-stop, I mean continuously. About 75% through the class, she seemed to aggravate herself or perceived the class was aggravated, and her energy shifted. Maybe I pay too close of attention. It was obvious I didn't know right from wrong, and somehow she knew my name, although I sure as hell didn't tell her!
They encourage locked knees, something I DO NOT encourage, and she'd yell at me if my knee wasn't locked out... "lock lock lock the knee!" "Pull the chin to knee, chin to knee, pull, pull pull!" I liked it, don't get me wrong, but that scene from the Wedding Planner kept coming into my head, where Adam Sandler is bitter and pissed off and turns to a stranger and says "I hate you." I kept saying that in my head...
"Lock, lock the knee!"
"I hate you."
And that was enough to make me smile inside and continue on.
Another thing was all the flipping from back to stomach, stomach to back, back to stomach, what the f*ck? And then Savasana at the end of class, the instructor leaves the room and says enjoy, and 99% of the class gets up!
I'll likely go back.
I like the sweat factor, but these Bikram instructors are nuts! I have some bones to pick with this Bikram guy.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Car, Run, Breathe
So it came through... the red volvo that is. I bought it ironically on Valentine's Day. I researched a lot, and really feel like I got a great deal on a great (affordable) car. I've already been enjoying being mobile around town. Granted in the last 3 days I've barely driven 10 miles, but still, it's the convenience of having it if I NEED it, in the dark, in the cold. I still prefer to walk and bike whenever I can.
I've spent the last 5 days or so primarily helping the musician move... paint, prep, pack, sort, trash, transplant, etc. Finally today we arrived at the finish line, almost. There are minor things to orchestrate, but nothing drastic. I've been fine helping, I enjoy it really, but today I hit my max. I needed to run, fast and far. The last few runs I've taken haven't quenched my thirst. I've been gone so much that I feel like taking Taylor is a must, but he slows after a few miles, and likes to stop and smell the flowers, really it's the pee on the flowers, but I imagine the first scenario.
So I ditched Tay and took off, running super fast. I was heading for my 9 mile loop, even though it's been over a week since I've put any miles in. I sprinted for about 1 mile and then slowed to a jog, I decided to cut it at about 6 miles and opted to attend the Yin and Flow class at Smiling Dog... a wise decision.
Lisa, the instructor and studio owner, said something that resonated with me, well many things, but this one in particular...
all exercise stresses the body.
I'm thinking that a daily yoga practice is really the cure to all ailments and imbalances. Pranayama is the golden ticket.
I've spent the last 5 days or so primarily helping the musician move... paint, prep, pack, sort, trash, transplant, etc. Finally today we arrived at the finish line, almost. There are minor things to orchestrate, but nothing drastic. I've been fine helping, I enjoy it really, but today I hit my max. I needed to run, fast and far. The last few runs I've taken haven't quenched my thirst. I've been gone so much that I feel like taking Taylor is a must, but he slows after a few miles, and likes to stop and smell the flowers, really it's the pee on the flowers, but I imagine the first scenario.
So I ditched Tay and took off, running super fast. I was heading for my 9 mile loop, even though it's been over a week since I've put any miles in. I sprinted for about 1 mile and then slowed to a jog, I decided to cut it at about 6 miles and opted to attend the Yin and Flow class at Smiling Dog... a wise decision.
Lisa, the instructor and studio owner, said something that resonated with me, well many things, but this one in particular...
all exercise stresses the body.
I'm thinking that a daily yoga practice is really the cure to all ailments and imbalances. Pranayama is the golden ticket.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
1103 part 2
Now I'm a little bit superstitious... OK maybe a lot. I got a call today from a number ending in 1103, weird seeing as I'd just written 2 days ago about that very number and it's relation to my life. In that same last blog, I'd commented on the red volvo.
Turns out the call was from the owner of that red volvo, telling me that he'd found another car for himself to purchase and was I still interested? I will make my way over there one more time, with low expectations.
Last night turned out to be quite a drunken disaster. I rarely rarely drink, with the exception of one glass of wine, or one beer maybe once a week. Well last night I was on a mission it seemed. I felt myself on shaky ground, unable to calm myself to stability.
So I did a small bit of retail therapy... new jeans will make any girl smile, and then went for dinner and drinks with Betsy. We laid on the beach in the sun today prior to the downtown trip, it was so beautiful, and continues to be so beautiful! After 2.5 very full glasses of wine, she dropped me off, and I proceeded to roam downtown. The rest is a history, some drinks, some friends, more drinks... one sick girl on unstable ground. That one gets filed in the vault.
Now is my day to pick up the pieces and put my head on straight. Teaching yoga class with a hang over is not recommended... and the owner of Smiling Dog attended class today. Luckily enough, she's the kindest of souls and is supportive and loving, even in my toxicity. I taught a good class I feel, but it took more effort than normal to get my body to move and prompt the words out of my head.
1103. Maybe I just shouldn't look into things so much... or maybe since I've detached from the idea of it, it's reappeared?
Turns out the call was from the owner of that red volvo, telling me that he'd found another car for himself to purchase and was I still interested? I will make my way over there one more time, with low expectations.
Last night turned out to be quite a drunken disaster. I rarely rarely drink, with the exception of one glass of wine, or one beer maybe once a week. Well last night I was on a mission it seemed. I felt myself on shaky ground, unable to calm myself to stability.
So I did a small bit of retail therapy... new jeans will make any girl smile, and then went for dinner and drinks with Betsy. We laid on the beach in the sun today prior to the downtown trip, it was so beautiful, and continues to be so beautiful! After 2.5 very full glasses of wine, she dropped me off, and I proceeded to roam downtown. The rest is a history, some drinks, some friends, more drinks... one sick girl on unstable ground. That one gets filed in the vault.
Now is my day to pick up the pieces and put my head on straight. Teaching yoga class with a hang over is not recommended... and the owner of Smiling Dog attended class today. Luckily enough, she's the kindest of souls and is supportive and loving, even in my toxicity. I taught a good class I feel, but it took more effort than normal to get my body to move and prompt the words out of my head.
1103. Maybe I just shouldn't look into things so much... or maybe since I've detached from the idea of it, it's reappeared?
Friday, February 08, 2008
1103
There's a house at the end of my street I look at at least once a day. The street address is 1103... which is my birthday, November 3rd. Usually when you see a street number, you simply read it or not, depending on your motives. Street numbers don't really stand out, but this house stands out to me.
1103 is on the front of the house twice, within a few feet of the other, but on separate sides of the same wall. They say the exact same thing, not unit A or #2, but simply 1103, both of them.
There are always two ways to look at things, and that thought is provoked each time I pass this small house. Is it a Comic Sans day or rather a Times New Roman day?
The lessons I'm currently working on are
1. Not harvesting too much attachment... to people, to possessions, to food...
2. Not assuming what others are thinking, or anticipating the next move. I am the only one responsible for my happiness.
I've been handing out these wisdom and thought cards at the end of class, and people read them out loud if they'd like to. It's mind therapy, after the body therapy. I learn so much from yoga, and the ever changing teachers and practices. My classes have been super sized with the opening of the new studio. The energy is just so undeniably pure and rich, people have been flocking. My class last night housed 15, and before the new opening, I had 10 max. 10-15 is now consistent :O)
The red volvo fell through. A friend of mine doesn't tell people much not to jinx it from happening, which I didn't entirely understand. When you're excited, shouldn't you share it? When I told people of the possibility of this pretty red car, I had a feeling in my gut that this would be my lesson. True to the premonition, the guy decided not to sell. He did show me a 1990 Jetta trashed by a teenager as a consolation. Too kind. He hoped I wasn't offended.
It was my own fault, because I'd already imagined the I heart Yoga sticker on my rear window.
And such is life... so it goes. Maybe that's my sign to keep riding my bike... and take the bus when it rains. Maybe, maybe not.
1103 is on the front of the house twice, within a few feet of the other, but on separate sides of the same wall. They say the exact same thing, not unit A or #2, but simply 1103, both of them.
There are always two ways to look at things, and that thought is provoked each time I pass this small house. Is it a Comic Sans day or rather a Times New Roman day?
The lessons I'm currently working on are
1. Not harvesting too much attachment... to people, to possessions, to food...
2. Not assuming what others are thinking, or anticipating the next move. I am the only one responsible for my happiness.
I've been handing out these wisdom and thought cards at the end of class, and people read them out loud if they'd like to. It's mind therapy, after the body therapy. I learn so much from yoga, and the ever changing teachers and practices. My classes have been super sized with the opening of the new studio. The energy is just so undeniably pure and rich, people have been flocking. My class last night housed 15, and before the new opening, I had 10 max. 10-15 is now consistent :O)
The red volvo fell through. A friend of mine doesn't tell people much not to jinx it from happening, which I didn't entirely understand. When you're excited, shouldn't you share it? When I told people of the possibility of this pretty red car, I had a feeling in my gut that this would be my lesson. True to the premonition, the guy decided not to sell. He did show me a 1990 Jetta trashed by a teenager as a consolation. Too kind. He hoped I wasn't offended.
It was my own fault, because I'd already imagined the I heart Yoga sticker on my rear window.
And such is life... so it goes. Maybe that's my sign to keep riding my bike... and take the bus when it rains. Maybe, maybe not.
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