Shared Names

Got in my car on Wednesday and the thermostat quickly went from seven degrees to five to zero.

My particular office in an old building is not equipped to deal with a Polar Vortex. We put blankets in the window. People offered refuge in their offices. We got an additional space heater and promptly tripped a fuse. Dealt with what I needed to and did what else I needed to do from home and I'm so glad that I didn't try to be a martyr.

Zumba was also nixed as there was a little precipitation that came down and, given the low temps, it just wasn't a good idea to be on the road. 

In many ways, I've had the gift of time. I've read a book, refined yoga sequences, read yoga homework and given my knee more rest. The knee thing is kind of weird and it wouldn't pop as it sometimes does. About two weeks in, my knee popped twice last night which I took as a good sign but, again, it's weird. It doesn't really hurt but it's still wonky.

Also started a family tree. Actually, I had to work on one in school eons ago and that was helpful -- to a certain degree. It's a bit embarrassing that I barely know my grandparents' grandparents. Reached out to Chiquita and figured that she would be able to fill in the blanks about my paternal great, great grandparents. When I found out the name of my grandfather's grandmother, I was surprised that one of my aunts had been named after her and I also realized that we have many shared names on my father's side of the family. 

Learning my great, great grandmother's name was moving in a way that I can't totally explain right now. I've been chewing on it since Chiquita told me. 

Mixed Results

Had high hopes of hibernating this weekend; I've had mixed results.

Despite my left knee bothering me, went to Zumba but definitely modified moves and stayed away from turning and jumping.

This knee thing is so weird. It tightens then loosens. Sometimes I feel like I can barely walk and then my stride is back. Surely, if I had torn my ACL or something, I would be in way more pain. I've tried self-massage and sound therapy -- not sure what else to do...

As I slowly walked out of the grocery store earlier today, there was someone entering who had extreme mobility issues and it made me rethink my little knee situation...

Went to the mall to restock my bath bomb supplies and decided to look for sweat pants. I feel like Alice in Wonderland when I'm in the mall. Tried on a 1X that I liked but it was too big and was going to settle for them until a clerk asked me how I was doing. Walked across the store, slowly, with her and she found me an XL pair and waited as I tried them on. As we talked, she mentioned her other job and I said, conversationally, You're only one person; you should have one job. And she replied, You know how it is when you have a lot of bills on your head.

As I got my bath bombs, that clerk also mentioned a second job. Trying to establish yourself is no joke. I would also like to mention that I don't want to be in a world without diversity. It would be so dull. I so enjoyed the way the clerk of Indian descent used language.

Also, I've been watching Finding Your Roots and I want some TV show with resources to do that for me. Is that lazy?

She's Good

After three years, the batteries inside of my Garmin Vivofit tracker gave out. Anticipating that the batteries would wear out sooner than later, I purchased replacements more than a year ago but couldn't find them. Ordered more and chided myself for being disorganized.

As I tried to replace the batteries, a spring shot across the room never to be found and the tracker, which was already falling part, fell apart further so I decided to spend Christmas money on a new tracker. Went back to the Fitbit brand and got a Flex 2 which is lighter than the Vivofit. Didn't really like the fact that the Flex doesn't have a display but I'm used to it now...

The other perk is the Fitbit app; didn't use it last time but now I'm logging water and I've been drinking twice as much water as I have been drinking which is a sad commentary on my water intake...

Messaged my yoga trainer, Stacy, so that I could get one of my assist/adjustment classes out of the way. I decided to do this requirement with my trainer at one of her private classes. When I jump in, I jump all the way in. I did think that a private group would be smaller and, possibly, a better foray than a class of, say, 25; it's January, you know...

I was so nervous and wasn't quite sure how the set-up would be or how I would execute my assists. Stacy asked everyone to introduce themselves and to talk a little about why they practice yoga and, of course, everyone was super welcoming, nice, wished me well and it was cool to hear their yoga stories.

Stacy thanked me at the end of class, which made me breathe a sigh of relief. It's a pleasure to watch Stacy teach; she’s good at what she does.

Homestretch

Forest Park

For the most part, we missed the harshest weather this weekend. It has been really cold but, hey, it's winter.

Went to a chair yoga class at a new studio on Sunday and, today, went to celebrate The Collective's anniversary at the Missouri History Museum. The Collective is a group of four black yoga teachers and the theme for the class was Ahimsa (nonviolence). We practiced in the Grand Hall so there was foot traffic as people made their way to exhibits. This woman had me cracking when she stopped to ask Do you all do this every day?...

Grand Hall, MO History Museum

Got a clogged drain fixed. Thought the culprit was hair but the plumber said that it might not be. I was surprised to hear him say that soap hardens like concrete and cause obstructions. That makes total sense. Still, I got a Shroom and will order something he suggested as the pipes are old, sigh...

Not only have I been practicing yoga at different studios and makeshift studios but I've been practicing at home as I work on sequences and try to understand, further, the anatomy of said sequences. There are actual websites that will build a sequence for you but I'd like to work it out in my mind first before I'm spoon fed. I've always liked this quote:

Spoon feeding in the long run teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon.

Wow, I'm in the homestretch of yoga teacher training but as one of the yoga teachers (and trainer) in the above picture said -- that last stretch is often the most challenging.

Also challenging -- trying to get ugliness out of my head.

The Bright Spot

Made a "bread, milk and egg" run Thursday night to prepare for the Snowpocalypse. On Friday, we were allowed to leave work a little early. One of my poor colleagues got stuck in traffic for five hours. Yoga Teacher Training was canceled on Friday and Saturday.

Saturday was kind of cool on because I had no place to be and it was a joy to read for a while. I also got to tweak my yoga sequences that were due.

Not so cool -- the part where I tore my room apart looking for batteries for my Garmin fitness tracker. The batteries that came with the device were supposed to last for a year but lasted for three. Now, if I can just find the replacements.

Went to teacher training and I'm a bit freaked out that it's almost over. Hope that there's another opportunity to further my yoga training in the future.

In other news, my neighbor was super cool and shoveled the walk so that when I went to training today, I didn't have to worry about digging myself out.

The Cat Purr

Did another sound therapy session last night and was surprised when a cat greeted me. She walked straight to me as if to introduce herself. How had I forgotten that this person had cats? Now, I really enjoy doing sessions when there are cats present.

We talked a bit, I took a couple of sips of gingerade kombucha and then we started the session.

I cannot tell you how much I love seeing the bowls resting on top of someone and then the inevitable singing and vibration of the bowls.

The cat curled up into the cutest little ball and stayed in a ball for a good 10 minutes. She briefly left and her sibling came into the room to check things out at one point...

The session seems to go so fast and it's hard for me to strike the bowl for the last time because I don't want the session to end. I love seeing the relaxed look on people's faces after a session and I love the quiet talks afterward.

As we talked, I petted the cat and couldn't believe how she purred; she gave me my own sound therapy session. I don't remember hearing a cat purr like that and she is so sweet.

Decompressed with some of my fellow trainees today and one told me that she read an article about how therapeutic cat's purring can be. I also mentioned that I only slept for four hours but felt well rested. One of my sound sisters said that she shies away from doing evening sessions because she gets so excited that she can't sleep and I think that's what happened to me.

Well, Warm Up Then...

As I prepared for Zumba yesterday, went to retrieve my water bottle from the car and decided to see if my mother wanted to go to the Botanical Garden instead since we are having unseasonably warm weather. My mother enjoyed herself and quickly came up with one of her constituents (my word) that she can take on an outing to the Botanical Garden...

My favorite statue in the Linnean House surrounded by poinsettias. 

String beans?

Bells Chimes at MO Bot

Garden Glow Prop

A Caribbean Feel in the Climatron

Went to a yoga adjustment workshop after vising the garden. I was excited and terrified about the workshop but it turned out much better than I expected.

The whole yoga assist/adjustment thing is interesting because many teachers don't give adjustments anymore and most teachers only give them to students that they know very well and I can totally see why.

I like the advice of our workshop teacher, Kim. Don't give anyone any creepy, tentative assists and Stacy, our YTT trainer, has pretty much said the same thing. Their advice is to get consent, let them know what body part you'll be touching and do the assist firmly. You should also get student feedback and even when you don't get verbal feedback, you need to tune in to people's body language.

Overall, it was a great workshop with lots of good advice, including that if you don't feel called to give assists or don't feel comfortable doing it, you can totally opt out as it's not a necessary part of being a yoga teacher.

I also recalled what Stacy said about observing people practice yoga and how it's is an intimate experience. Kim asked me to get into Wide Legged Forward fold so that she could demonstrate an adjustment. I heard someone point out the position of my head and feet. One of my regular teachers came over to offer a block and experimented with putting it at different heights.

Head and Toes, not relaxing...

Kim said that she's noticed that even in savasana, the final relaxation pose, that people have a hard time letting go. As we continued to discuss, Stacy simply said It's a known issue.  All that to say, we are learning and looking at bodies and alignment and gets intimate. It totally felt like there was a hot, spotlight on me...

But it was so exciting when we talked about Pigeon pose and external and internal rotation. It was like an episode of CSI and also a reminder that none of us know all the answers.

Example of an adjustment...

At the beginning of the workshop, someone asked Kim if we were going to warm up and she asked us if we felt the need and, to someone's affirmative response, she said, Well, warm up then. Let's give it 10 minutes.  Kim is the opposite of pomp and circumstance.