No Scorecard or Demerits

Seized the moment and went swimming. It was the second 88 degree day and I knew the water wouldn't be warm but it wasn't going to get any better for a while.

As I painstakingly made my way from the shallow end to deeper water, this woman said, almost apologetically, You're not going to have very much room to do lap swimming. Guess what? I don't need much room. I positioned myself close to the divider and although there was horseplay nearby, I went for it. Jo Ann said I'm going to take my chance and do laps while you're doing them and, later, I can't swim like that...

I'm shocked when someone tells me that they can't swim like me. I don't feel like the most competent swimmer but I guess I'm more competent than I think I am. While I was in the pool, I looked at the clear sky and the green trees and just soaked it all end. As I waited for my lane to clear, this guy said This has to be one of the best ways to get exercise. Agreed but, apparently, I kept my head under water too long because I woke with a total chlorine hangover...

Scene of the Hangover

Headed to yoga to dispense with the hangover. Gloria told this newbie that she could use the wall for poses but the newbie wasn't totally convinced. Gloria assured her that there was no scorecard or demerits in yoga. After class, the newbie told me I made it. I won't give up. Cute...

Listened to Bob Marley as I headed home Three Little Birds came up and I didn't really feel like listening to it and fast forwarded but I went back because I can use all of the "...don't worry about a thing" message.

Walked past the window in the kitchen and something caught my eye. Went closer and was delighted to see a Cardinal and it stayed there until I captured the moment.

Outside My Window

Grabbed my climbing gear to rendezvous with Cindy and Tim. Climbed five routes then headed out because Sundays are busy days...

Cindy Tackling a 5.9, Corner Pocket

And what I remember from yoga class? Part of Gloria's class-ending mantra -- May you have a calm mind...

The Beginner's Heart

I noticed the red and yellow Are You Clipped In? signs everywhere. When I asked Mike if something happened while I was away from climbing, he said that there were two incidents at the new gym. The one climber broke his legs after falling from the top of a route. I thought the climbers involved might have been newbies but Mike told me that they were experienced lead climbers and that he wasn't surprised because new climbers are fresh out of classes etc.

The whole newbie thing makes me think of a yoga class that I took recently. We were doing Ardha Chandrasana or Half Moon Pose when this newbie told me, repeatedly, that I looked like a professional. I told her that I feel like a new yogi all the time and Sharon, the teacher, said You gotta keep that beginners heart and mind.

I am the one who can't get my butt to my heels in Child's Pose and my feet never touch the ground in Downward Facing Dog but, as Sharon said, you have to be patient with yourself and your body.

As far as climbing goes, I'm glad that my crew behaves like newbies -- checking and checking again to make sure that our harnesses are on right, our knots are secure and our carabiners are locked.

Stay Like This for Five Breaths...or Longer

On my back in decoy savasana, I wondered if I'd make it out of hot yoga alive. I felt punch-drunk but, as Val said, there are hundreds of reasons why you feel one way on Friday and another way on Saturday.

At one point, I saw Bridget motion to Val who then went to turn down the heat. After class, Val said that the thermostat was on 102 degrees but Val also brought the heat. I kept thinking that she had eaten her Wheaties or steel cut oatmeal topped with chia or flax seeds.

Chair or fierce pose just about ruined me. The hot yoga teachers like to say that the students' breathing lets them know how long to hold us in poses. Val must not have heard us very well but she did remind us to take a break when we needed one. I like it that she said But it's your responsibility to get back up when you're ready.

She also encouraged us to stay positive at the right times. During plank, Val said that you don't want to be a hammock or tepee but you want to be like a board -- unbreakable.

After class, this newbie asked me how long I had been coming to Hot Yoga and she also wanted to know why I had returned after the first time. I told her that I like a challenge. I like to sweat and I definitely like yoga. She said that she's a runner but every time that she tried to get up from a resting pose, she felt as if she was going to fall down.

I forgot to tell her that I feel amazing afterwards and that my contact dermatitis is dormant. I told her that it's the opposite of that Sade song: subsequent visits are better than the first time...