Side Note

Read a yoga book by a local author and when I finished, I checked this podcast that I don't regularly listen to because the guy rants for, like, the first 10 minutes but I took a look anyway and he had just interviewed a person that the local author referred to in her book so it was very cool to listen to the interview even though I had to fast forward through the introduction.

Listened to a December episode of The Moth which was actually reruns of several episodes, including one of my faves The Phone Call by Auburn Sandstrom which I've listened to about three times just over the last couple of days.

I was also glad to find that the author of The Body Keeps The Score, Bessel van der Kolk, was a guest on On Being. We read his powerful book during yoga teacher training...

One of my yoga classmates posted that it was the start of a new semester at work and, therefore, the "Sunday scaries" were extra scary. I also think that after the holidays, Sunday scariness is worse and might have been the reason that I couldn't, initially, sleep. I stayed up until 12:30 a.m. watching Jack Ryan because I just didn't feel sleepy. Thought about how my aunt Alice would have really liked JR...

It's Tuesday now and the Sunday scaries have morphed into international scaries...

A side note to the 'Fugee: unbelievably, Bessel van der Kolk sounds like Istvan...

...Float Until

The weather was stunning on Friday so Forest Park beckoned and I walked around it for two hours and thought about how much I like the park that that includes several museums, an outdoor theater and a zoo.

Forest Park

Listened to several podcasts including Radio Hour: Phone Call, Flamenco, Surprise Party from The Moth. I haven't finished the episode but got goosebumps listening to Auburn Sandstrom's tale...

A colleague once suggested that I go for a float and I poo-pooed the idea saying that I'd rather go for a massage than a float until... I saw a group coupon for a float. I had some misgivings but booked a float for yesterday evening.

Opened the door and set off the wind chimes. I was immediately sucked in by the decor and the soft music.

Got my instructions, took a shower and got in float tank number two. Really didn't know how I was going to do with the door to the float tank closed but I did just fine. The ten minutes of music that eases you into sensory deprivation is such a smart idea.

It didn't take long before I got a bit emotional. Also kept thinking about that silly Dalai Lama joke.

One of the things that stays with me is the number of times I was able to breathe so deeply. Often, during yoga classes, I feel like my breaths are so choppy and abbreviated.

Before Enya piped into my suite, I was also struck by the sound of my beating heart...

Took another shower then went to the relaxation room to have tea and to read the Far Side.

Relax and Enjoy Life -- Sign in Relaxation Room

This cartoon from the Far Side made me think of an artist that I know.