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.

Out in the Open

Someone sent me an email at work and I only read the first part of their sentence. The person ended up calling me because they needed a quick response. I love to read so I don't know why I'm quickly scanning stuff. I will concede that there is work-related stuff that I, obviously, don't want to read but... At any rate, I ended up having a conversation with the person about meditation and she said that we all need uncluttering for our minds. I like that concept and want to put meditation back on my agenda. She also sent me the "mantra" that she keeps above her desk.

Last week was a busy one. Went to Zumba -- twice, climbing and swimming (twice). Had dinner with Gloria on Thursday then we went to see Garden of Glass at the Botanical Garden. On Friday, went over to the 'Fugee's and, on Saturday, mowed the lawn and went to say my goodbyes to the city pool even though it was only 82 degrees. At the pool, talked for 30 minutes to a yogi whose path I seldom cross at the studio. At some point, also went to JC Penney because I'd gotten a spend $10 dollars, get $10 dollars off coupon and I've been looking for another short sleeve shirt to wear to work. Mission accomplished.

New Shirt

While running errands, debated about whether to go to this silent yoga event. Wasn't sure when an event of this kind would happen again so I went.

I am having time management issues. My problem? There are a lot of things that I like to do but, obviously, something suffers. I wanted to go to the city pool again on Sunday for the final day but ended up running out of time. While I got around to cooking, never did get around to washing clothes or the other chores that needed to be done.

Really enjoyed the silent, sunset yoga that took place at the gorgeous Grand Basin in Forest Park but, like a fugitive, I was very aware of how out in the open I was and even more so because the people who sponsored the yoga event are really into photography. One of them was taking very up close and personal pictures. At one point, I doubled the blanket that I had for my knees and thought she would move on as I adjusted it but, no, she stayed right where she was and got her picture. My God, I thought, she is going to capture all the flaws. I can take a gazillion selfies and post the one that I think is most flattering but I cannot control what other people post.

A Woman Chilling Out Before Yoga

Still in fugitive mode, I looked for pictures from the event and held my breath as I spotted my likeness in people's social media pictures. Also wondered how intrusive I was capturing the photo above of the woman resting before yoga.

While at the Botanical Garden, Gloria kept asking which installation was my favorite. She also asked me if I could do anything, work-wise, what it would be. As we walked about, I couldn't pinpoint a favorite glass sculpture until we'd left the Climatron and headed to the exit. I'm glad that I didn't read the map or descriptions of the artwork because I got to be blown away by Make A Wish when I figured out what was happening. It was such a moment of delight and maybe I'll get to have a similar moment when I figure out what work really rocks my boat.

Love this Chihuly in the foyer at the MO Botanical Garden.

Gloria and moi at the exhibit...

Make A Wish

This Words of Women Instagram post resonated with  me today.

Solange

A post shared by Words Of Women (@words_of_women) on Aug 14, 2017 at 7:27am PDT

Next Up

No Zumba tonight. Instead, walked around the MO Botanical Garden checking out the Lantern Festival and I totally walked over 10,000 steps.

Before checking out the lights, our posse checked out the Chinese acrobats. The show was short and sweet. Loved the jugglers; no props -- just bodies.

I'm super tired now and also need to figure out what's going on with the air filter on my fish tank. Found a temporary solution but I have to get the environment right for the fish again...

Next up -- the circus.

Checked Out Asparagus Fern Before Light Switch Was Turned On

Dandelion Made Out Of Plastic Bottles

Made Out of Small Cups? and Saucers

Engaging People

It's hard to tell who's a relative and who's a customer in my barber's shop. A daycare dropped my barber's 1-year-old granddaughter off and a customer, Sharon?, started holding her and she fell asleep. Sharon put her in an easy chair and my barber said She's not going to last long and in less than a minute, the 1-year-old started crying.

Sharon picked the baby up and she happily went off to sleep. She likes that heartbeat my barber said.

I was back in the barber shop after a month and a half hiatus. My hair had grown beyond the borders of the lining and my eyebrows were bushy but I felt that I didn't have time to squeeze in a haircut.

It was kind of funny when Sharon, sporting really short hair for the first time, walked over and rubbed my hair. It's so soft she commented. My hair looks a lot like hers...

Haven't been to the Missouri Botanical Garden in ages and headed there this morning to practice yoga -- the first item on the agenda at the Green Homes Festival. My mother went with me and, for a minute, I thought she might practice yoga. Instead, she visited booths and went to the Climatron while I practiced.

Elle guided us. I've had the pleasure of taking several classes from Elle and what I've noticed is that when she greets you, she really greets you. Kind of hard to explain but she looks at you really intensely -- not in a way that would make you feel comfortable but in a way that lets you know she is fully present -- even if it's for two minutes. I know a few superb huggers and Elle is superb at engaging people.

As we practiced, there were two photographers with rather sizable cameras present -- the only downside to outdoor yoga.

Once, my cousin (Chiquita's son) told her not to fret over an event that she went to. You'll never see those people again he told Chiquita which is not so true anymore because people document just about every minute of the day and, still, I'm drawn to outdoor yoga.

After practicing yoga, went to the Climatron to check out the Nature Connects 2.0, Art with LEGO and walked around the grounds a bit. Yoga at the Garden was a great way to start the day.

Linnean House

Greek Goddess Amphitrite as Merbaby, Linnean House

That yellow bloom moves me...