2008 was the year of the plank for me.  I worked really hard on building strength so I could stay up in plank and do chaturanga into upward dog without coming down to my knees.  I feel really strong doing them now.  This year I've set a goal of working on inversions.  I've never been able to do a headstand or handstand or forearm balance like ( Read more... )

We just sold the dying car.  We got more for it than expected.  Still not a lot, but more than if we sold it to our mechanic (which was the back-up plan).  I'm glad the guy who bought it wants to fix it up and give it his son.   I didn't like the thought of it being torn apart.  Here it is, one last time:


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During element vinyasa the other day, we were doing our water element asanas and the instructor said something really interesting that I wanted to record.  She reminded us that our bodies are predominantly water so they are used to ebbing/flowing rather than holding stiff, and when we hold tension in our bodies it's unnatural.  More interestingly, ( Read more... )

Today I forced myself to go the public library with my laptop.  I banged out 762 words!?  So, now  I have a start to the chapter.  I only wrote 3 paragraphs but I'm so pleased and I felt so accomplished when I got home.

Then I went to yin yoga; the class flew by!  I left feeling like "that's it?" since I'm so used to doing 75-90 minute classes that ( Read more... )

 “…I stress again that I am using the term ‘transmission of affect’ to capture a process that is social in origin but biological and physical in effect.  The origin of transmitted affects is social in that these affects do not only arise within a particular person but also come from without.  They come via an interaction with other people and an ( Read more... )

I’ve primarily done Hatha and Astanga yoga, though I’ve tried Ivengar and Vinyasa-Flow styles.  This year, I added Bikrams yoga to the mix.  Sadly, I don’t do enough asana practice on my own, which is why I enjoy attending classes.  But, I believe my vegetarian and detoxing eating practices are influenced by my yogic practice.  And I try to live ( Read more... )

Went to yoga tonight and paid $84 for an 8-class pass - decided it was worth it since each individual class is $12 as a student.
It was challenging for different reasons than I was expecting.  Strangely, certain postures are easier than they used to be.  Plank used to be the most difficult for me since it involves sucking in your stomach and relying ( Read more... )

I've been told I look "glowing" twice in the past 2 weeks.  Something is obviously agreeing with me - is it the detoxing?  the good sleep?  the working out?  the non-stress?  Whatever it is, I'll take it.

I've started to work out at the Y.  I've been paying into a family membership for 2 months but haven't gone much so I thought I should either ( Read more... )

It's so beautiful outside today.  Yesterday was nice and I had my first patio sit of the season with
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Today my sister and I went to yoga as per our usual on Sundays.  The yoga studio has 2 rooms - one is a beginner, the other intermediate.  Now, I've been doing yoga for 10 years now so I consider my knowledge to be at an intermediate level.  These last few years, I've been trying to go to yoga classes 3x a week so my body was strong and flexible ( ( Read more... )