Yoga Time!

I got through alot of loose ends today but I am sure I will come back to a lot of work. I always feel sort-of guilty taking time off.

Email to Marney my yoga-cation partner this week:

"I am packed and ready but mentally a little on edge. Hoping I've done enough to prepare my body for this week of yoga and mentally ready after reading the material.
We shall see!"

Knowing me I am worried all for nothing. To be honest I am just ready for a break! A break filled with Yoga, meditation and learning. Plus friends, food and relaxing.
I am leaving the laptop at home but will share pictures when I return!

So I will check in when I return next week!!

Off to do lots of yoga and learning!

Snake!

Wow...is today really Saturday?? Really??
Den & I had an eye appointment at Wal-mart. We both got new contacts which was much needed.
Came home, took a nap, cleaned the house and started the wash.
Got most of my yoga gear cleaned; including my mat. Started packing too. Because Tomorrow and Monday will go by fast and I wanted to get it out of the way.
In the midst of that a snake decided to sun on the front porch and I made Chana Masala as well.





Vegan Chana Masala (I am not sure if there is another version)



Tomorrow is meditation, yoga, reading and hanging out!
How about you??

On the Yoga practice front:
Thursday was a wonderful all levels yoga class. We started class and 1/2 way through a very loud storm broke out.
It was interesting to practice in a dim yoga studio with the room being lit up with lightening from the storm.
It was even more intersting to do savasana during the loud and busy thunderstorm.
I have to say it was the first time I've ever done that!

Other news is the Football front. The draft was today. Our former UGA bulldgog (Stafford) went to the Lions. The Broncos got some decent picks and the Saints got one in as well.
It was interesting to watch the picks.

Oh yes!!! Only 2 more days and my butt will be on yoga-cation (as Marney calls is)
Yoga, yoga, meditation, yoga, food, friends, yoga..FUN STUFF!!!
Okay...off to wind down and sleep!

Reading Material

Work was busy and lots of stuff to do before I leave next Tuesday!
I had a Dr. Appointment today and then got in at 5:00. Played with Chai outside for a bit and then practiced.
I got in an hour practice and did the usual (meditation and pranayama)
I need to re-watch Dharma's DVD because I believe I am doing Pranayama the way he taught us in his class, but a refresher would be nice.
So a comment on my blog asked about a home practice sequence. I pull sources from all over the web, I love how much information is out there. I try to share links and such with you people often! :)
It would be fun to sit down with some of my Yogi friends to help create a sequence together. Kind of like we start a sequence and the next person adds on another posture. That would be fun.

Just an idea.
Anyway, I've been reading a lot lately (obviously preparing for the training next week) I am reading back over some of my notes from The Heart of Yoga; Developing a personal practice.

And this really really stuck out to me so I thought I would share:

Those who search for clairty can learn the difference between right & wrong understanding. In this respect yoga is optimistic through the insightful perception of problems and confusions we move toward clairty.

Change is not a direct or indirect consequence of yoga or any other practice. We can not depend on it. What we can count on gaining from our yoga practice is a quieter mind--some how the heaviness & the jumpiness vanish.
Yet something very personal & essential has to happen for us at the right time, and it has to touch us so deeply that we suddenly really want to pause, consider, and change our course of action. After that we simply go forward.
The qualit of our action begins to change. The new positive samskara becomes stronger & our mind remais clear.

In the end clairty can prevail in the mind, but experiential understanding occurs only through the pursa (the part of us capable of real seeing)
Our goal is freedom from duhka (pain), from distress & suffering. To this end we must recognize duhka, we must know that it arises out of the incorrect understanding of avidya (incorrect knowledge) and we must know that we can avoid it.

We can understand the practice of yoga--a process of examining our habitual attitudes and behaviors and their consequences.

Home Practice

More work issues today. My email was not working most of the day. I did catch up on several things.
I got out on time and headed home. Miss Chai was a ball of energy and was bouncing off the walls. We headed outside to play with the tennis ball and she ran off all her energy.
I had to take care of some work issues with payroll then finally got on my mat. I had an awesome 1.5 hour practice (including pranayama & meditation) I actually got up into handstand again 2.5 times. Kicking up to the wall. I am trying to come down slowly to build up my core in hopes of not having to kick up one day.
Practicing at home is just awesome. It requires me to fully go within and be present because I do not have a teacher instructing me. However, the imporatance of a teacher is huge. To ensure you have proper alighment and instruction of course. But a home practice is so important as well. I've read that it is where the "Ture Yoga" comes alive. When you are intune with your body and just flowing.
Also, practicing at home rocks because I can take a hot shower after and get right into my PJs!!!

Also my husband was super sweet and ordered me the Prana Yoga Mat! It takes like 2 weeks to come in but I am happy.
Anything new for yoga is awesome and a new mat is a plus! My orange Harmony mat made it 2 years and could go longer.
The Prana mat is longer/wider and supposed to be awesome. We Shall See!

Denver is on his way back from meditation, chai is snoring and I just got off the phone with Nicole.
Congrats to Nicole and her new member of the furry family Addy!
You have to check out her blog to read about Miss Addy!
Okay off to read and relax before bed.
Have a great night

On Time

So when you leave work on time life rocks.
Get home early, hang out with the hubby, practice yoga for an hour then meditate followed by a yummy dinner that my husband picked up from Whole Foods.
I would love to get home from work on time daily...that would be awesome.
I am trying to get back into a schedule. We will see, not making any commitments. The only commitment I am making is to get on my mat almost daily if only a few moments...sound likes a broken record huh!
Anyway, I got of work on time becuase we are having some major computer issues. Tomorrow will be busy busy!
I've been practicing a short seris at home (adding in some of the things from the fundamentals course I took.
Here is a like to it...you can download a PDF of her Home Practice Series. It is very helpful and a lot of fun!! (Click on Lake Norman Yoga and then Your Practice)
I got into Handstand only once. But had fun trying!

I have a Chai on my keyboard...well her left cheek anyway. Okay...off to read.

Weekend-ing

So we had a nice weekend.
Saturday was a lazy day reading and relaxing.
Today we woke up super early, went to meditation then we had brunch & headed to the Dogwood Festival. It was a little rainy but still nice.
The lady who sold me my new moonstone ring (to replace the lost wedding band) she also had a pair of earrings reduced in price since it was the last day of the festival. Simple little moonstone stud-like earrings. So we picked them up.
We saw some awesome art and then headed home. Picked up groceries for the week and then came home to clean.
Did lots of that..the house is nice and clean.
I got on my mat for a solid hour and that was awesome! I actually got up into handstand once!! I had to kick up but not flailing like normal.
I ended up practicing L-Shape at the wall to work on it.
Was a nice home practice.

Now we are cooking--listening to David Gray whom I love oh-so-much. His DVD is playing and it is really well recorded.
Okay off to finish the weekend with food and reading.

Yoga-related photo:

Work in Progress

Moonstones

Hi Internet land.

Thursday night was the end of the Fundamentals Anusara course/classes. It was a composition of all the things we've learned.
It wasa very fun & playful class. We did a lot of partner work. I really enjoyed it.
One more week until my trip to Asheville, NC for the 5 day workshop/teacher training. I am excited to have 5 days away from work/stress and to focus on yoga, meditation and more yoga. I am sure it is going to be a lot of work but fun work!
I am finishing the last chapter of one of the required books and excited.
Next week will be busy at work, but I hope to make it 6:15 All levels class on Thursdays. That is my goal anyway.

Last night Denver & I went to the Dogwood Festival. We ended up getting there with only an hour to walk around ( ALOT of traffic)
There so many amazing artists! Very very expensive but amazing.
We did find the most simple and beautiful moonstone ring from a local artist. It replaced my lost wedding band. I love it. I've been reading about different gemstones and the moonstone is supposed to mean love, balance the yin/yang and india it is regarded as a sacred stone.
I was looking at different types of stones and the moonstone is so simple and pretty.
Plus the ring was not expensive at all and locally made.

Anyway, today we are just haning out and reading. I will make lunch in a bit, clean the house and practice.
Tomorrow we are going to Zenspace, maybe go back to the Dogwood festival to see the rest of the artists that were closing up and might grab lunch.
Hope you enjoy your weekend!