Photo Post

Today was the end of the month at work. Fun stuff!
Here are some of my favorite pictures from the weekend.
And my haircut!

Chai and William

William Brees


Brady Ray

Before I chopped off my hair


My Little sis (only 16 months younger but still my little sis)

My FAVORITE PHOTO




Love love love






Chopped my hair...for a good cause:) LOCKS OF LOVE

Mini Pigtails for yoga!

I donated it to Locks of Love

I did it at lunch. Great Clips does it for free and I thought why not!

Get this!!! The lady getting her hair cut before me was a cancer survivor but did loose a kidney.

That confirmed for me that it was meant to be.

Open up...

Playing around online waiting for my sister to arrive!
I was reading an inteview with John Friend on Yoga Journal and when I read this I giggled:
YJ: Do you have a favorite muscle?

JF: The psoas. It's critical for opening the pelvic and lower back area, which affects every other part of the body.

I giggled because what brought me to an Anusara class was just that...Sciatic pain caused by my psoas. And over the last few weeks in class our teacher keeps mentioning unraveling the psoas. I think the reason I am falling in love with this practice is more than the heart language and the grace aspect; but because this practice is both beautiful and practical. And the piece that I keep remembering our teacher say in class last week "In this pratice it is believed that we can open up to enlightenment at any moment, that it isn't something we have to practice and practice to eventually reach....enlightenment is available to you every day." Now that to me....is beautiful.

Also while googling and reading online I came across an interesting Anusara teacher that has MS. I find her interesting considering all the issues Denver has had with is legs and the inability of the doctors to find out the root cause. I read some information about her to Denver and he seemed to be interested. It is sad that so many of us has "unexplained" issues or pain and end up "accepting" it and just learning to live with it. Oh the teacer I was referring to is Hillary Rubin. Check her out on her blog (with podcasts) and on her websiteI am not a Mess




So I am just hanging out. The house is clean, I made Banana Bread this morning. I didn't sleep...at all. I have had some issues sleeping this week. It might be the Zyrtec! But what do I do. I have the worst pollen allergies. I can walk around with a throbbing head and unable to think or take zyrtec and not sleep? There has to be a balance right?

Last night after cleaning Chai, the house and vaccuming up lots of dog hair (Chai is shedding horribly!) I had a nice 40 min practice using Ausara 101 that my teacher let me borrow since my copy is on backorder. I followed that up with a 10 min. sitting mediation.
Denver & I had dinner and then hung out. I talked to Nicole for a long time until 1:00....told you I couldn't sleep! I miss that girl! But she had a blast at Dharma's class at the midwest yoga conference yesterday. So it was nice to hear all about it!

On a side note, anyone work with Chakra Balancing? I wonder what that is like? Wonder if I should look into it?

Oh yes and the results are back from my x-ray (not sure if I updated) but my spine is fine. No Disk issues! So after ruling that out and learning what I have over the last few weeks...it is my psoas.

Okay, off to read and wait.

Mixed Emotions

Last nights class was great. It was difficult and I had to keep my ego in check. I couldn't figure out why it was so hard for me to "get" Utthita Parsvakonasana
Applying the principles of inner and outter spirals, tucking my tailbone, lengthening my spine--all of it helped me with the structure of the pose.


We did a lot of work with inner and outter spiral in several postures.
We worked with rooting down through the legs and that felt empowering.
We also worked with widening the pelvic floor and moving the thigh bones back in most postures.
With widening the pelvic floor we worked with our Root Chakra a bit. Something I have not paid much attention to. I only worked with the chakras in Dharma Mittra's classes. So It is nice to revisit that.
Symbol for the Root Chakra. I find the symbols very beautiful. I've only learned the basics in regards to the Chakras. They always seem so illusive to me.

It is difficult for me when it comes to working with my pelvis/pelvic floor; apparently I keep everything tightly bound in my pelvis. So it is freeing and difficult to do this. I am exploring and enjoying it. In a sense I am loving it and also frustrated with it.
I am frustrated because it is like I am learning all over again and it really makes me think..."What have I been doing on my mat for the past 3 years?"
I know some people say; when you are ready the universe shows you the way (be it to your practice, your teacher, your spirituality)
I mean I love my previous practices; but I think I might have been lazy with my practice. Just assuming the postures and not activly working with them. I just showed up on my mat; did the asana and was totally out of alignment.
So when they say "just show up" it is only part of it. It is the first step in creating balance; to show up at your mat. But as referenced in the yoga sutras: “practice in all earnestness”

I believe I thought I was doing this….but thinking back I am not so sure anymore.

Is it healthy to question everything? I feel confused….

So I am having mixed emotions. Go figure.

So ; non-yoga realted. I have been eating like Crap this week. Sweets and just crap.
I am not sure where these bad cravings came from; I like to think I eat relatively healthy but goodness my diet this week has been shameful! I must clean up my act.

Also my sister and her two kiddos arrive late tonight/early morning. It will be nice to spend 2 days with them. I think we are going to the Aquarium on Sunday. I am looking forward to it!
Well it is rainy and kind of yucky today. I am going to venture out at lunch and pick up some fresh fruit and soup for lunch; changing my eating pattern now! :)

Migraines

Ugh! I have this sinus headache that is turning into a migraine and I am getting physically sick.
I am trying to avoid this; but I might head home soon to lay down. I can deal with almost any type of "sickness" but when it comes to migraines I am down for the count.. All I want to do is sleep in a cold room wrapped in a blanket.
I am too the point where I might pack up and head home.


Last night was all levels Anusara. It was a small cozy class. I had a lot of fun. The poses are ones I've done so many times; but with this practice they take on a whole new meaning and a whole new form.
For the first time I actually enjoyed Trikonasana!
I had a really nice practice and I am enjoying asana now more than ever. It is just so weird; the whole thing is still shocking to me. How everything falls into place. When you stop looking for "what you are looking for" it will appear.

I talked to Nicole last night and as always she is my "voice of reason"

Tonight is date night with Denver. I hope my head is better by then!

Core

So, I was told in a very nice manner from my yoga teacher that I should think about incorporating Core work into my yoga asana practice. She was very kind when suggesting it & I thought it was nice of her.
I know I am weak in my core and it is such an important area considering it holds everything "together"
So I am trying to think of some Asana postures to do this with. So for my fellow yogini's what would you suggest?

Last night we went to Zazen. I had a very nice meditation. I had some odd things come up. During the first sitting my right eye teared up and ran the entire 30 min...very odd. Then in my last sitting my left eye did the same thing!
Weird.
I had a few moments of complete calm, centered and those moments were lovely but I felt myself tense up and kind of feel scared. The whole sitting was "interesting" to say the least.
After Denver & I grabbed a little food and headed home.

Tonight is Anusara All Levels and Thursday is the Fundamentals class. I am trying to make it to 2 times a week.
I talked to Nicole last night for a long period of time. She understands where I am coming from and it is nice to know some people "get" it.
I've decided to focus my studies on Anusara for the moment. To trust in it and see where it takes me. I am going to practice one style, with one teacher and truly dedicate myself to this and see what unfolds. I am looking forward to some awesome workhops this summer by some pretty well known Anusara Teachers. So that is exciting.
I am missing John Friend in NC this year; it is too soon & I can't come up with the money that quick. So maybe next year.
I've always bounced back and forth with what I want to study, where I want to go, if I want to teach.
But honestly, where I am at right now I really feel compelled to study and work on my personal practice. I am going to put off teacher training. I think there was a reason I couldn't find the "right" place to do my 200 hour.
So for now I am going to practice and maybe in a year or so I will reconsider teacher training.
For now I want grow and learn really dive into this practice.

So enough about yoga. My sister and her 2 little boys are going to be here this weekend! I haven't seen her in almost a year so it will be nice to see them!

"Align and Harmonize with the flow of grace"

Yesterday Denver & I ran a lot of errands, then came home. I cleaned the house and we watched a Documentary on Thich Nhat Hanh.
Today was really nice. We got up super early, showered and headed to Sangha for Zazen. I was so tired and kept phasing in and out of my meditation.
After zazen we had tea and a discussion on Dogen and Zen. It was pretty interesting.
Then we were off to my private/theraputic session with Gina. It was wonderful. I was given key things to work on which will help my sciatica, my asana practice and my overall health. There were some things I knew I had to work on (such as my core and that my tailbone is always flying out there) but there subtle things I've never noticed before that with minor tweaking make a huge difference.
By they way...who knew Tadasana could be so darn difficult???
There were some things that my body (or my mind) rebelled against. It is hard to explain but my upper back was not listening and neither were my ribs. Nonetheless it was a great learning experience and a lot of fun.
There is something about this practice that I can't explain. I am only...what...a week into learning this and it just seems like it has been my friend for years? Like it melds well with me. Not sure if it is too soon to call it love, but hey I fell in love with my husband in the oddest way so why not?
Gina was so kind, encouraging and honest. All the things I believe a great yoga teacher should be. (Just my personal opinion)
So after practice Denver & I headed over to World Peace Cafe for lunch then home!
We took a late nap with Chai and now we are just being lazy. I am going to cook a pasta casserole and read.
This past week I ordered some items online so I can learn more about Anusara at home and apply it with my personal practice.
I ordered Anusara 101 (which is on backorder) and I received my book Yoga from the Inside out
Gina let me borrow her copy of Anusara 101 until mine comes in. I am interested to listen to it.
I have started the book Yoga from the Inside out and love it so far.

Yep...I dive right in when I am drawn to something an want to learn. I am geeky like that.
But it makes me happy.