Outside Of A Locked Yoga Studio

Went to FriYay! yoga with one of my colleagues. Also saw the first lady of the First Couple of Yoga.

My colleague kept on me to stay on task at work so that we could get to the class at a respectable time so I found it very funny that I got there way before she did.

While my colleague signed in, I got her mat and made a nest complete with a blanket and block and joked with her about all the things that I'd done while waiting on her.

The joint was packed again.

The payoff of a packed class is the yummy energy that's created. At the end of our practice, we sang OM three times then said shanti the same amount of times. The teacher, Liz, said that if anyone felt uncomfortable with the "chanting" that they could opt out.

The OM chorus is always interesting. You have people who hold the note for a short time and the ones who can really hold it which usually gives me goose bumps.

There are times when I wonder if I'm exaggerating the effects of yoga but since I've been going more often, I feel like I have a sparkle in my heart again. Feel like I should do yoga every day or at least every other day.

Unlike Gingerzingi, I haven't been listening to podcasts regularly since I usually listen to them while I'm walking and there hasn't been any walking going on but I did take time to listen to an On Being episode, A Wild Love For the World, featuring Joanna Macy. Love it when she said But this moment you're alive; so you can just dial up the magic at any time...

I need to hear sentiments like this one...

I also read a book on the books that will make you happier list. Sandra Tsing Loh had me cracking up when she wrote:

My sister is having yet another of her amazing Pema Chodron days.

And this is where I'm at in my life -- I think references to Chodron are funny. I also had to shake my head as I stood outside of a locked yoga studio with the teacher waiting on my colleague.

Sweetness

Crossed the river to attend Cindy's Christmas Eve class which also doubled as a fundraiser for Compassionate Friends.

It was a very sweet class with holiday tunes in the background and props galore. The studio also made the experience special. It's cozy, has inviting colors and just about as many lights (soft) as props.

I think everyone should experience restorative yoga but definitely before major events.

At the end of class we gathered in a circle, put or left hand over our heart and our right hand on the person next to us and sang om three times which inspired  powerful feelings of connectedness, compassion and peace.

Beacon and The Swing

Beacon in the Night

After kettlebell class last night, my body’s report was immediate: tweaked quads, calves, glutes and shoulders. I took my ruined body to yoga and the class was everything that I needed plus more.

We had all kinds of goodies: bolsters, straps and blocks.

Who needs a pelvic swing? Madonna wanted to know as she pulled more accessories out of the closet.

I felt like a vertical snow angel as we had our arms in crossed straps while opening our shoulders.

While in the pelvic swing, Madonna told me to grab onto her ankle and she walked my left hand toward the right side of my body. Voilà, spinal twist. We even stretched our biceps while in the yoga straps.

And what was it about having a strap around my left hip and having my right leg upright and suspended from a strap on the yoga wall that made me sleepy and content?

I also did a back-bend from the swing with assistance from Madonna. 

After the most amazing savasana, we sang om once. The woman across from me, well, her om was like a world traveler. It went up and down, back and forth, around the room then came back home. Amazing class. My apologies to the people at Target who were subjected to my post-yoga singing...

The Power of Om

Went to restorative yoga the other day and almost turned around because there were so many women on the floor. I don't ever remember this particular restorative class being so full.

The woman next to me asked Sharon, who was helping but not the official teacher, if the class is always full and she said no -- the capacity is 15; there were 19 people but it seemed like more. Guess lots of people were in need of restoration.

It took me a while to settle down but before I knew it, 75 minutes had gone by. Got up on Thursday and felt really rested. Prior to that, my eyelids have felt like a ton of bricks in the a.m.

The takeaway from restorative class via Madonna who was at the helm:

Resting is not idleness.

Speaking of Madonna, love to hear her chant Om. She takes a deep breath and just takes it away...

My Shero -- The Sore One

Lisa (newbie climber), Mike, Patti and I met up to climb. The three of them got there before I did. Two of Mike and Patti's friends also showed up to try out climbing after we had been there for a while.

First, Lisa left and, around 7, I left. I had a feeling that Mike and Patti would be at the gym for a spell with the other newbies.

The next day I got an email from Patti saying that she had done 12.5 routes and everything was sore, including her hair.

Me: Are you still up for climbing on Saturday?

Patti: I am able to climb tomorrow… duh. I am into pain. I am a rock climber.
ohmmmmm ohmmmmm ohmmmmm ohmmmmm