Where's Your Mind?

The Road to Relaxation

Find comfort in the body, Gloria told us. ‘Tis the season so I interpreted it as find comfort and joy in the body…

Mind you, Gloria encouraged us to find comfort in the body right before she tested our mettle.

Where’s your mind?, Gloria inquired.

Funny she should ask because while we were in warrior one for a prolonged period, my arms started screaming and I saw people in the back of the room drop their arms and I wanted to but I remembered something Sharon said Don’t worry about how long I hold you in the pose, focus on your breathing.

Minutes later, Gloria said: Keen concentration plus attention to the breath will help you stay in these poses…

Right before savasana, Gloria talked about conscious relaxation and I thought Yes, I always have access to this state of mind.

Tantrum Style

I call this picture Self-Portrait: Taking the Bike Inside or What Happens When You Have an iPod and Like to Take Pictures.

There’s something nice but ominous about wearing shorts and short-sleeves in December in the Midwest.

I've been on my bike two days in a row because I, obviously, can’t resist the weather.

After riding, got ready to practice with Pure Yoga a.k.a Gloria who talked about effortless effort and being compassionate to your body. She talked about compassion just around the time she led the class into a “cheerleader” split. I haven’t done one of those in ages and didn't try...compassion.

Right before savasana, we put our legs up in reverse table top and kicked our legs tantrum-style. I love this situation and also dug wagging the tail where you move your hips from left to right.

I even managed to start dinner somewhere between my bike ride and yoga. I’m not sure what attracted me to this recipe so long ago -- lots of chopping and lots of dishes involved. It’s  been so long since I made it that I had to Google How long does balsamic vinegar last?

Onions Galore

I’m trying to get momentum again with cooking. I've been making soups but kind of tired of my small rotation and tired, for a minute, of Steamfresh vegetables and my chicken that I get from Trader Joe’s. If I can cook on Sunday, it definitely sets the right pace for the week since I don’t need to wonder what I’m going to eat. Dinner's already done and I can go off and do my exercise thing…

Suspect Balsamic Vinegar

On the Fifth Day of Yoga

Fell in line and waited for Zumba class to end.

Gloria started off class by reading a yoga poem about letting go.

During tree pose, she told us let it be effortless; it's okay to sway...

I took my hot yoga towel and it helped to keep my feet and hands stable during downward facing dog and also doubled as a blanket during savasana, which was super-sized. By the end of the final pose, my breathing was, well, effortless.


I have done so much yoga in the last five days that I barely blinked during sun salutations.

Screaming and Intractability

Rolled out of bed and wasn’t hungry which was a good thing since I really didn’t have time to eat. As I headed to yoga, I thought about one studio’s list of etiquette – arrive early and put away stuff like cell phones even if they aren’t on because they serve as reminders of our hectic lifestyles. And, yeah, I don’t usually observe the no eating two to three hours before yoga recommendation.


I got in the door right as class was about to start and the teacher, Pure Yoga, was reading something. I did hear her say that yoga has brought her a lot of joy and she hopes that we have the same experience. I felt so uncomfortable sliding in the door at the last minute but, of course, I was not the last person to enter and this one woman even verbalized her shock as she entered the full class.

When we did a lunge with a twist it made me think of James Bond flick for some reason. My quads surprised me as I attempted bow; they screamed and were intractable. Usually, it’s my hamstrings that do all of the screaming.

Later on I went swimming with, mostly, seniors since they tend to populate the pool earlier in the day.

After completing a lap, this man said Young lady, where’d you learn to swim? You gotta nice stroke. I told him that I learned to swim at the Y and he told me that the Y is a nice place and he learned to swim there when he was seven. I love seeing the seniors especially after I've spied a cane or two on the bleachers...

I realized something today as I took off in 11 feet of the water attempting to do the sidestroke. Not only has my water competency grown but my water confidence has grown. I didn’t hesitate to take off. I experimented with leg and arm movements and not once did I think that my awkward left sidestroke would sink my battleship.

A Bit Untied

Made myself roll over and out before I really wanted to but glad that I pulled myself together in time to make 11:00 a.m. yoga – especially since it was Pure Yoga’s last day to substitute.

She did her usual preamble:

May all beings everywhere be happy and free….And may our practice on the yoga mat contribute to all beings' happiness...Shanti/Peace

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It was a great class and the perfect way for me to start my day. Love the body yawn -- simply achieved by stretching your arms overhead and pointing your toes.

We did an inclined plank and, in my opinion, a plank is a plank is a plank.

Pure yoga had us do shoelace pose but my shoelaces were a bit untied.

Savasana was sweet.

Sometimes you have to slow down to get strong…There’s no reason to hold onto anything...You have access to this state of relaxation all the time.

Gloria also talked about the joy of acceptance and gratitude. Don't know about you but I feel way more grateful after practicing yoga.

Also went climbing and my fingers, quads and toes are thanking me right now.

Kristen Demonstrating How We All Felt at End of Climbing Day

The Gospel According to Pure Yoga

Gloria a.k.a. Pure Yoga has a peaceful aura about her but, at the end of class, her face is even more serene as she gives a four-Namaste salute -- nodding to every area of the classroom...Yoga practice was a struggle as my hamstrings and just about everything else screamed at me but I don't regret rolling out my mat and can't wait to do it again...

May all beings be happy and free...Shanti. (Pure Yoga's usual invocation at the start of class.)

Make the pose comfortable. (Timely advice as I struggled with Downward Facing Dog)

Don't compromise the neck...

If you have big lats, this (eagle arms) may be a problem.

The aerial leg should be...

Your mind lives in your body so if you feel...

You clear the mind when you rest your eyes. (Gloria had us warm up our hands by rubbing them together then placing them over the eyes.)

Spread the chest, sink into the heels... (During Downward Facing Dog)

Most people only breathe from their chests. In yoga, you have an opportunity to explore the full capacity of your lungs...

Move the breath throughout the body especially during difficult poses. Most people have a tendency to hold their breath when the pose is difficult...

Favorite song on yoga playlist right now...