Sunday, February 27, 2011

Sunday mornings...

One of my favourite days/times of the week is Sunday morning. Everyone else sleeps in, and with coffee in hand, I have time to read blogs, pet the cats, watch the dog sleep on the couch and just take some time. Are there a million other things I should/could be doing? Absolutely. Do I feel guilty? A little. But really, there's very little time that I just sit and do nothing except what I want to do. Most sitting time involves marking student work, or some other stuff for school, planning and strategizing the week ahead, or listening to squabbling. Whether it be human or feline, with the odd canine bark thrown in for good measure :) So today I just sit, pondering life and amusing myself by reading about the lives of others.

A little stiff between the shoulders from yoga yesterday. I guess I need to be doing it more...more, always more...

So looking forward to summer, when these early morning peaceful times can be enjoyed on the deck, soaking up some early morning sun, before it gets too hot. Dog laying beside me, cats watching through the screen door. And I've decided that I need to put some gardens in the back this year, I miss my gardens. A mixture of beautiful flowers with some yummy organic herbs and veggies...bliss.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

so much for the 21 day challenge...

I am not doing so well at the 21 day yoga challenge. I am so crazy busy with work, kids, basketball, more basketball, that I didn't get around to day 2, 3, or 4. But I did go to yoga class this morning, and feel wonderful as a result. I guess even if I get in 3 days of yoga a week, I'm doing really well. Maybe my yoga peeps at school will want to do yoga one afternoon this week. That would help.

And I really need to get walking/jogging/running again. My cardio will be awful, it's time to get it in gear again. Of course, with all the stuff going on, it will be challenging to fit it in as well. Did I mention I signed up for a course...a teacher's additional qualification course. I must be nuts!
(Stress, what stress?!)

On the allergy diet front, having some significant cravings this week, whatever that's all about. I was so foolish and ate pizza last night. I won't be doing that again in a hurry. I felt like crap within minutes of eating it, and it wasn't even that great a pizza! Dairy is definitely out forever.
Having sugar cravings too. But I made myself some lovely "friendly" muffins today, as well as some yummy lentil soup and veggie chili to get me through the week. I've been working way too hard to slide down the slippery slope now!

Visiting the naturopath once a week helps too. Liver detox seems to be going well. Toxins must be having fun leaving my body, judging from the mess my skin is in. Hopefully my hormones are going to be happier and more balanced soon, not a fan of the middle-age blemishes....

Looking forward to a healthy week. Only a couple weeks until a much needed March Break. I feel like the Little Engine That Could...I think I can, I think I can!

Wishing everyone a peaceful weekend.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Day 1 of Yoga Journal 21 day challenge

Since it is Family Day here in Ontario, I decided to begin my Yoga Journal 21 day home practice challenge. I did the 45 minute flow sequence, which was fun, yet challenging. Partly not knowing some of the poses, partly having some trouble centering my breath. Of course having banished the dog and cats from my room, and having critters scratching at the door and whining while I was doing it, did not help. Nor did having my 12 year old son come in to chat :) But I did the whole video, and I feel great! I'm determined to do all 21 days, and since some days are only 15-20 minutes, it should be easier.

Did I mention we are going to my parents for a family dinner for Family Day? 45 minutes of yoga may not be enough. My siblings will know exactly what I'm talking about if they are reading this! But it is nice to spend time with the famdamily, even though there are a million and one things I should be doing at home instead.

Happy Family Day fellow Ontarians! If you are interested in the 21 day challenge, here's the link: www.yogajournal.com/21daychallenge!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

restorative yoga?

Since I missed a Saturday yoga class when I had the stomach flu (UGH!), I asked the lovely Sarah if I could make it up on a Thursday. Which happens to be restorative yoga. So I arrived at the studio while Sarah was setting up. And we chatted a bit. She was setting up several "stations" for lack of a better word, complete with props like bolsters and blocks. She explained a little bit what we were going to be doing, and I expressed that I thought it would be challenging for me to stay still long enough...for about the 3rd or 4th time that we've talked about it!
5 stations for an 1 & 1/2 class. Now I'm not a math whiz, but even I could figure out that we would be in each asana for a looooong time. Class started, and it was so difficult for me to quiet my mind, and stop fidgeting. By the end I was having a little more success, but let's just say I prefer a more active class. I'm sure Sarah was amused watching me. I realize that it would be really good for me to do more restorative, and learn to be more meditative. And it's not that I didn't enjoy it, it was just very different. Hello ADHD!
Sarah left for Cuba right after class, so no yoga classes for the next week. Tuesday evening is over for a couple weeks...time to get my asana on at home, at start much home practice that I've been meaning to start since Christmas. Yoga Journal 21 day challenge, here I come!

One part of the restorative class that I really liked, our call for peace...Om shanti, shanti, shanti, shanti. Wishing the world peace and resolution of conflict, and prayers for those in Egypt and the other parts of the world experiencing so much strife.
Namaste.

Monday, February 7, 2011

ahhhhhhh

After a tense, yucky Monday, Sarah came to school to do our final session. Only 2 of us were there, which was unfortunate, but it was wonderful. Un-kinked some kinks, relaxed, lovely. Of course I've mostly undone the good with my life, but every time I work with Sarah, it's easier to get deeper into the asanas, and to quiet my monkey mind. School is not the ideal place for me to practise, but it is nice to bring positive energy into the classroom. Not ideal in that I find it difficult to concentrate, school stuff keeps creeping in, but nice to enjoy my room in a different way.

Wonderful family birthday party on the weekend, busy trying to work out exactly how things are going to get done this week. Busy, busy week. Yogic breathing may be just what gets me through.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

yoga addiction

To plagarize another blog I just read....Hi, my name is Nicole and I'm a yoga addict. Fabulous class last night, it's really starting to come together. My jammed up joints are opening, lots of popping from my left hip as it released during asanas....fabulous! My wonderful teacher is noticing that my practice is improving and that I'm able to come deeper into poses. Going to 2 classes a week is really helping. I just signed up for the Yoga Journal 21 day home practice challenge, apparently it will only feed my addiction. And I'm fine with that!

Yoga is such a healing practice, and it has helped me to be ok with my body. I'm working on acceptance and gratefulness for where I am, and I'm working on quitting treating my body as a battlefield. It's a wonderful experience. Imagine, after a lifetime of despising my body and its perceived failures, finally accepting it. I'm not at the point of loving my body yet, but I havedefinitely moved on from hating it, and myself. So not only the physical benefits are huge, but the psychological benefits are gargantuan.
I hope I haven't sickened everyone too much, it's just so new to actually like myself I want to shout it from the rooftops! And share with everyone, so that they might experience the wonders of yoga too.
I have spent the entire morning of this *school closed because of the gigantic storm in southern Ontario* day surfing the Yoga Journal website. It's officially my new favourite website, check it out...www.yogajournal.com
I hope everyone is safe and snug,
Namaste (the light in all of us)
Nicole, yogini extraordinaire....or at least on the way ;D