Not So Paltry or Month-End Review, February

As I rested yesterday, I thought about how I'd like to do more yoga then realized that since I dropped kettlebell, I'm actually doing yoga on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Kind of funny that somewhere, in the back of mind, I thought I was doing a paltry amount.

As I was in frontal corpse pose midweek, I had a mini-epiphany that I was made for yoga which I found funny as I did the cardio kickboxing segment of 5 Day Get Fit Mix because, at that moment, I thought I was made for kickboxing. I love kicking and punching just as much as I love frontal corpse pose. Maybe I need to pick up Tai Chi...

It's another month in the record books or, as my coworker said, We are moving closer to the grave. A somber one my coworker is. Until the final, final resting pose, I'm looking forward to many more savasanas and punches.

10 Minute Solution: 5 Day Get Fit Mix

Cardio Kickboxing, 1 x

Lean Body Sculpt, 1 x

10 Minute Solution: HITT

HITT 101, 1 x

Climbing, 2 x's

Ellen Barrett Live: Sleek Sculpt Express, 2 x's

Gilad for Men

Cardio Interval Training, 1 x

Interval Training Circuit with Weights, 1 x

Give Me 10!

Fat Blasting Cardio, 1 x

Kettlebell Bonus, 1 x

Just Walk: 5 Mega Miles

Mile 1: Classic Low Impact, 1 x

Mile 5: Ab Walk, 6 x's

Just Walk: Walk to the Hits, Party Songs

Mile 1, 7 x's

Kettlebell, 3 x's (Gauntlet, Misc. Swinging)

P90X

Kenpo X, 7 x's

Personal Training with Jackie: Power Circuit Training

15-Minute Upper Body, 2 x's

Shooting Hoops, 1 x

Stretch Max

Stability Ball, 1 x

Supreme Day 90

Tabata Inferno, 1 x

Whole Body, 1 x

Swimming, 5 x's

Treadmill, 1 x

Walking, 5 x's

Wii, 4 x's

Yoga, 15 x's

Made for Yoga

Thought about the state of my TYR suit the last time I went swimming. I've been holding it together with a shoe string but now the top part has become loosey goosey. Tried to remember when I purchased it but didn't have to wonder for long because I got an email from Swim Outlet today with the subject one year follow-up.

We wanted to let you know that your size is available for repurchase at SwimOutlet.com. Click the link above to order the same product again. 

Even though I've lost a few pounds, pretty sure that I still wear the same size which is good and not so good but whatever...

Random fact: Ashley, the aspiring comedienne and receptionist at Shortywood on Pit Boss took swimming lessons, at her mother's insistence, for nine years but never learned how to swim...

As I made a palm pillow in Gloria's class tonight, I thought about how I'm a person attracted to quietness. I was made for yoga crossed my mind quickly followed by a few lines of Stevie Wonder's I Was Made to Love Her.

Honestly, though, I was not thinking that I was made for yoga on Monday night. I thought that I might benefit from reflective tape as I sat in the corner of a crowded room in my black pants and black top. I also thought about Sharon Olds' poem My Father Snoring:

...He lay like a felled 
beast all night and sounded his thick
buried stoppered call, like a cry for
help. And no one ever came:
there were none of his kind around there anywhere.

Emailed Alison last night to see if she was still up and aware that there was a special edition, Yoga Guru Under Fire, on Nightline.

Was it good? she wanted to know. I had to laugh since I saw, maybe, five minutes of Yoga Guru before falling asleep... It's been a long couple of weeks.

Putting Laughter in the Cocktail

Let's see. Slammed down my phone on Friday and, on Thursday, slammed my right fist onto my desk. Not a very smart move for a number of reasons including the fact that I am not ambidextrous.

Could have a used a cocktail of acupuncture, energy work, massage and yoga this weekend.

Thankfully, it was sunny and nice today and I went for a long walk which can hold its own as a cocktail ingredient. Listened to music and one of the funniest and most poignant episodes of The Moth, "Wrestlers, Exoneree, Nurses."

During one of the segments, Richard Price says:

My grandmother was 5-foot tall and weighed 300 pounds. Despite her size, she grew up feeling utterly invisible.

He goes on to say:

She was my most loving relative...Not to dis my nuclear family but when I went to visit her, it was like being on parole.

That totally got me to thinking about who makes me feel as if I'm on parole*...

I laughed and laughed while I walked. I should have put laughter in that cocktail too.

Went to my remedial yoga class and it was packed to the gills. I claimed my real estate then went to the bathroom only to discover that the paper towels were gone. Ah man, I moaned. This woman said something indecipherable and I asked her to repeat what she'd said. It turns out that I had an invitation (eventually several) to wipe my hands on her sweatshirt. I howled because she was so funny with her insistence that I do it. I followed the funny woman's lead and wiped my hands on my clothes. What was I moaning for in the first place -- a paper towel emergency?

Before yoga, watched an episode of Pit Boss. Shorty was having a really hard time and told his priest:

I have very limited family and very limited friends. I rescue all of these pit bulls but feel like I haven't done enough.

The priest tells Shorty There will never be a time when you've done all that you can do. In response to Shorty's comment about being a lost soul, he tells him You are not alone. You are absolutely never alone. You're only alone if you block out everything else. (Season 3, Epi 8)

*Actually, my grandmother made me feel like I was on parole a lot.

It's A Bird...It's A Plane...It's Super...

Left a message for someone and told them to call me at my existence instead of my extension. It's been that kind of week and I'm starting to wonder if having Presidents' Day off was a good thing...

After three days of swimming, thought I'd had my fill but found myself longing to be at the pool. Went for a walk to give my neck and whatnot a break from the backstroke etc.

As I entered the final stretch, I picked up another walker. I had my eyes on my iPod since the Fresh Air "Captain Phillips" episode was coming to an end. Did you see that hawk? my fellow walker asked. I did not see it. Guess I should look up, sometimes, when I'm walking.

Went to Gloria's yoga class after walking. I'm not going to lie. I really wonder about things like how I'm supposed to cut my right hip bone in etc. As we were in downward-facing dog, Gloria said tilt your pelvis toward your thighs and without too much thought, I tilted and realized what she meant. We'll put that in the aha! moment category...

I'm still watching Pit Boss on Netflix. Ashley, the receptionist for the Pit Boss at Shortywood, wants to be a comedian so she meets me with James who's been on the comedy scene for several years and he tells her:

Don't be afraid to come off as confident. You have to be the superhero version of yourself. (Season 2, Epi 6)

I joke about having a nick in my armor when I get sick and my Twitter handle is Super 'Drea but, seriously folks, I have felt so much stronger physically, emotionally et al. in the last seven years. I didn't start off with that specific intention for this journey but I have become a superhero version of myself -- stronger and happier.

According to Kera

Got to the YMCA and the swimming lanes were busy so I took to the track, walked a mile then headed to the pool. This woman, Kera, came in and she asked this guy if she could share his lane. He was about to get out so I got in the lane with Kera, ha-ha.

Kera is 70-ish. She wanted me to try on her fins. She also wants me to participate in a sprint tri next month. You're young, she said. You need to push yourself. Being active will make such a difference when you're older. Kera also told me about the woman who started doing Ironmans in her 50's.

I need to start swimming a mile again, according to Kera, and I have a good swimming suit to, according to Kera -- so the mile shouldn't be a problem. Just think of it as three sets of 11 laps she said.

Kera got out of the pool after about an hour. Even though I was tired, I swam more laps but ran into Kera again after she came out of the sauna which she thought was a good idea for me too. It helps, supposedly, to deal with going down the cold tunnel to the locker room.

On the way to the lockers, Kera told me that she had done two triathlons over the weekend and had taken a spinning class. As such, her hip was bothering her and she's thinking about getting into yoga.

Kera was an interesting note to end my seven (eight really) day pass on. I did enjoy the Y more than I thought I would. Whoever designed this facility did a great job. It feels like such a light and open space.

Likes:

The Track

The B-ball Court

Windows Above Swimming Pool

I go gaga over windows since I work in a windowless building...

I lost my lap counter the other day but, lately, I've been feeling more intuitive about exercise so I might not replace it.

You Gotta Hold Out...

No Shoes Required

Woke up at my leisure which was nice.

Made myself a smoothie and then put Kenpo X into the DVD player. Thanks Gingerzingi for hipping me to this part of P90X. I like the punching and the kicking but also like the way that the workout is broken down. I also feel like it's such a well-balanced workout.

I managed to get to my Saturday yoga class earlier than I have been getting there so it was kind of funny when I walked in and only one person was in the room. It ended up being a full class but not nearly as stuffed as it was last Saturday.

One of Alison's lines of the practice: At the bottom of the exhale, let go of something in your life. Always a good reminder during corpse pose.

My Champion (Advanced C9 Semi-Fitted) t-shirt works well and is really the only shirt that I'm happy with wearing to yoga right now. I picked it up on sale at Target almost two summers ago and glad that I snagged it.

What does not work well -- Hanes women's boy shorts. Gave myself a major wedgie while working on yoga fundamentals.

I've been watching Pit Boss and Ronald, who works for Shorty of Shortywood, was given the task to train one of Shorty's pitbulls for a photo shoot stunt. The dog trainer tells Ronald You gotta hold out for the behavior that you want. I'm actually feeling that way about myself. At the other facility that I go to for yoga, I feel distracted by the latecomers and I want to move past that feeling of distraction.

About a month ago, I felt like I was devolving. Don't quite feel that way anymore but there's still plenty of progress to make. Feel like that fits into that "holding out" category as well.

Current Situation

Went to Gloria's class last night. Population 50 + yogis with, mostly, everyone on time. I will say that the woman who came in 15 minutes after the hour was a bit of a surprise.

Headed to the YMCA after yoga. I have a seven day pass and wanted to hit the pool which was also quite populated so I hit the track and walked about a mile then headed to the locker room to switch gear.

As I walked out of the door at 9:45, the final call came over the public announcement system -- 15 minutes to closing.

I really liked the Y that I visited. It felt like a giant playground and I can see myself checking in at around, say, 6:30 and not leaving until the final call. On the other hand, the locker room is big enough to hold a significant amount of cots. A fitness hostel anyone?

Every so often, the Y pops into my mind but, budget-wise, it's not the friendliest and, now, I'd really miss the yoga teachers at my current situation.

I will crunch numbers but it seems that a membership at the Y is the price of current fitness facility + rocking climbing gym + pool that I go to. Although, the pool that I go to is about 20 minutes away and I could join the Y for a couple of months then suspend the membership...

Rode home with the windows down and, thankfully, did not have any post-swimming breathing problems. The chlorine seems to be more intense at the Y but maybe it has better ventilation. Who knows?

Mixing Reality

It keeps doing this...

My most recent dream is that the water is off and I am reminded of it when I turn on the faucet. There's water in the reservoir but not enough to, say, finish washing the dishes. Also dreamed that I was sitting on the floor across from a pregnant woman who had recently experienced a death in the family; she wanted to know about energy work and I told her about one of the interventions where the meridians are lightly brushed.

I wonder, with the latter dream, if I am mixing reality with reality TV. I watched, to me, one of the funniest episodes of An Idiot Abroad. Karl is in Thailand and, as a "reward" for training with a boxer, he's sent for a Thai massage in a women's prison where there are mattresses on the floor for the massages. Karl doesn't find the Thai massage very relaxing because he's thinking that his therapist might have murdered someone plus the massage gets intense. It's pretty funny when Karl asks while the therapist is massaging his glutes: You don't get stress in your ass, do you?

I've also been watching The Long Way Round with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman who are whipped into shape (by a trainer) before their journey and McGregor asks Why do we need to work our asses like that? 

Went to Gloria's 9 o'clock class yesterday. Before class started, Juliano said We need a bigger room. The room at our fitness facility is pretty large. Plus, Juliano missed the days when Gloria only had one class on Sunday. Gloria reminded us that the class is not full until everyone is one hand space a part and she appreciates us making room for others.

Juliano just started going to a yoga studio too and they are packed as well.

Since I don't like the back of the bus feeling, I will get to my Saturday yoga class earlier. It also seems that many are on the cranky edge and dealing with tight quarters. I will say that I felt much better after Sherry gave me the mother of all hugs. Sherry then introduced me to one of her buddies who also gave me a hug. Overall, it was nice to be back in Gloria's class even though she had us do lots of ab work in preparation for bird of paradise pose. Have you seen that bird situation?

Went to get a massage and the therapist told me You know the rules -- relax and enjoy. Of course, words alone don't make a good massage but she is talented.

I often think of massage therapists as angels and ambassadors of harmony. Many of them run clinics in decorum. I know, it's their job but...

The therapist sent me on my way with hot tea. The snow looked magical. I sang, felt more loving, centered et al.

On the way to the massage, saw a church billboard with a T.S. Elliot quote:

If I got rid of my demons, I'd lose my angels.

It Seems to Stimulate Appetite

Watched Peace, Love and Misunderstanding with The 'Fugee last night. She really liked it. I would give it about 2.5 stars out of 5.

As I was about to get in my car, The 'Fugee asked You're not going swimming tomorrow are you? It was as if The 'Fugee were talking about promaja a.k.a. the dreaded draft that Bosnians fear. You need to protect yourself from promaja or you might get sick.

My swimming bag has been packed for a very long time -- since December. Yes, 'Fugee, I went swimming and, lest you think that I was alone, there was a mother with her infant in the pool. Also Jackie, the marathoner, joined me (in my roomy lane) at the 17 lap mark. Jackie had run a marathon this morning and her knee was bothering her. Jackie, who alleviates her knee tweak (after surgery for a torn meniscus) with swimming, said it was totally colder this morning.

Equate's Dove Version, *****

Went to yoga after swimming and the yoga session almost killed my swimming buzz. The population of the class had exploded. Plus, the room is oddly built so, with that many people, it gives off a claustrophobic vibe. The building was so packed it looked liked a shoe outlet and, as I got dressed, a Band-Aid attached itself to me, ewww. Guess I can't be Zen'd out after every yoga class but I would like to leave without sharing someone else's Band-Aid or the room being so crowded that people are stepping on my mat.

Even a joke that I would normally laugh at (about us being a swarm) in locust pose fell on deaf ears. Hoping to take things in stride, again, sometime in the near future...

Just read this article in the New York Times about the benefits of swimming vs. other activities. The crux of the article for me: It seems to stimulate appetite according Dr. Tanaka who is the director of the Cardiovascular Aging Research Laboratory. Therefore, ergo, watch out for post-swimming hunger if you're trying to maintain or lose weight.

But I Do

Put mat next to Janice's in Gloria's class last night. Met Janice in another Gloria class.

Things that I know about Janice:

Where she works

Number of children (including one who works at a computer but is not convinced that stretching will help his neck pain)

What area she lives in

Mother is a bibliophile

I don't really know Janice but I do. Don't feel like I'm infringing on her airspace when we make a wide V with our legs or when we're twisting, arms extended.

Also know that I enjoy practicing next to someone that I'm familiar with even though no words or looks, barely, are exchanged.

Felt lovely after class too. Must have been all of that hip opening with dragon and pigeon...

I am totally addicted to relaxation music and looking forward to creating my next playlist.

Favorite song so far is Lili Haydn's The Longing.

Do you have a favorite relaxation song?

The Invested Climber

Familiar View

I have been jonesing to swim but the winter break closure, weather and sickness have conspired to keep me away for over a month.

As my coworker Ariel likes to say, Tuesday is traditionally a swimming night but there's a no travel advisory. Plus, the pool (and just about every other facility) is closed anyway.

Went climbing yesterday and I was proud of myself because I made a decision to be more present and to not think about the possibility of rushing off to yoga afterward.

Being in the moment and focusing on climbing definitely helped since I was more invested and climbed better.

After Patti and I decided that we didn't have another route in us, I was tempted to start moving faster because I could have still made it to yoga. Although, I would have had to leave abruptly and drive hurriedly.

Of course, now that I've been in the house since 4 p.m., a yoga class sure would be nice.

A Whim and A Kettlebell

Went to retrieve my kettlebell from Marisa's where it's been since December. Glad that I got to say goodbye to Princess Tiffany, Crazy Lats, Julia and Paige. Closure is good...

Another kettlebeller let me know about a special Super Bowl XLVIII kettlebell class which would be at 10 o'clock. I was torn because Gloria has a yoga class at 9 and one at 11 and I wanted to go even though I had practiced yoga on Saturday but felt that I couldn't pass up the kettlebell opportunity.

On a whim, I threw my back-up mat in the car and headed to the kettlebell class which I ended up observing because the instructor didn't have time to assess me plus I hadn't signed a waiver.

Mike (the instructor) has bulbous arms. If Mike were a snake, he'd be a Boa constrictor. As I watched Mike swing, I realized how raggedy some of my kettlebell maneuvers are. Guess that's why they call it kettlebell practice.

After a while, I got antsy that I was behind schedule as far as exercising but was delighted that I would be able to make Gloria's 11 o'clock class. I felt kind of naked not having my yoga block, towel, eye bag and strap but I had a mat and, even though I like my yoga accoutrements, the mat is enough.

Got to the gym, claimed real estate with my mat then hopped on a dreadmill for 20 minutes. There were over XLVIII people in class. Usually, Gloria has more space around her but not today. It was a great class. Divinely quiet except for when we laughed after a few people tried elephant's trunk pose and another advanced pose. Gloria also talked that talk about sentient beings as we started sun salutations. Loved it...

One of my favorite visuals from a really full class is when everyone raises their arms to inhale. So cool.

Got home and did kettlebell tone up on Amy Dixon's Give Me Ten! Amy's kettlebell looks pretty small. I'm almost sure it's similar to kbs that you find in Marshalls or TJ Maxx. I will have to find other routines because I feel like I can only do half the maneuvers in tone up with my 10 kg.