Good morning. I am a little late in commenting about last week's activity and results but better late than never. On Tuesday in yoga I learned the sun salutation. Definitely a wonderful way to start the morning. I did start a few mornings in this past week with it. Gets the energy going and its just simply a feel good exercise. Kris gave me the most awesome compliment. She told me I do really well at keeping a straight back when bending for some of the poses. I think the key is to bend at the waist, not to try to bend at the shoulders and roll down to the position... Kris said its like leading down with your chest rather than your head. Both are really good tips I think for keeping a straight back. So bending at the waist, leading with the chest. :)
On Friday I missed yoga class. Our weather was turning. I went into town to pick up some things before class and I stopped in at Alt Med for some more burdock root blend and to step on the scale. Yahoo!! I lost 4 lbs in ten days!! I will take that loss. :) When I was done at Alt Med I thought it might be a good idea to call Kevin about the weather at home. He said we had already gotten more snow than we have all winter. He was at the bus stop waiting for the bus and it was an hour late. They had let the kids out early so Jesse should have been home at 2:45. Here it was at 4 and he still wasn't home. Add that to a feeling I had and I thought I better head home early. I called and left a message for Kris and let my friend Julie know also that I wouldn't be at yoga while Kevin started out to drive the bus route to look for the bus.
As I drove home the snow wasn't bad, until I turned onto South Rockerville Rd. Almost immediately the snow was much deeper and slushy. I switched to 4 wheel drive. I did pretty well navigating on the road. I took my time. I am used to ice and snow, coming from Saskatchewan and Alberta, but what I am not used to is ice and snow on windy mountain curves. I have lived here now for almost 7 years, but we haven't really gotten a lot of ice and snow in that time. And when it is icy, I just simply stay home or have Kevin drive me.
Anyway, I did very well until I got past the Black Hills Children's Home. I got up the next hill fine, but the hill after that one... at the top it curves and I went into a skid. I was only doing about 25 mph, but I probably put a little gas on to keep going up the hill. Anyway, I started to skid. Straight for the drop off ahead of me. I knew I had to steer the direction I wanted to go and I wanted to go around the curve. So I steered that direction, but I must have oversteered because I headed straight for the outcrop of rock on the other side of the road. I didn't want to steer the other way again, because I didn't want to end up oversteering and going into the drop off. I was picking up speed because now I was heading downhill again so I went with the skid and ended up kissing the outcrop of rock. My wheel caught on a rock and I started to tip over. That was a scary moment, but then the truck righted itself and I landed on my four wheels again. A very kind man who had been following in his car stopped and helped me get back onto the highway and pick up the air dam that fell off. He gave it a once over and we determined I could drive it home. I got home and the truck is pretty banged up. I lost the air dam, the grill and loosened a headlight and banged the bumper up pretty darn good. Kevin figures pretty much a whole new front end. I am fine. I was calm and cool and collected almost the entire time. But I am glad I didn't wait. An hour later it would have been that much worse on S. Rockerville Rd. But also the highway by that time was closed north of Keystone due to a semi truck jack-knifing and blocking the road. Sometimes it helps to trust the instincts. I did miss going to class, but I am sure Kris and Julie had a good time getting to know each other. At least the truck is still drivable until I get it into the body shop. I will be making calls to the insurance today.
On a happy note, it was a really good snowfall we had. Some much needed moisture in the snow, big white wet flakes and we ended up with about 6 inches. It didn't snow for the three days that was forecast, just the one, and we are still way behind normal for precipitation this year but it helped. Now we are warming up and expect temperatures into the 50's by the weekend. Yay!! Maybe we can finally get some spring. Can't wait to see the trees start to bud! I love spring. Its my favourite time of year.
Namaste.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
Update
On Tuesday I got to visit with Randy who affectionately called me "germ girl". Last week it was "slime girl" so I think that's an improvement. LOL!! I got taken off a couple of herbs and put back onto some of the basic vitamins-- B, C, D3, and a new herb-- horehound which is for coughing and phlegm removal. So I think that part is going to see some results soon. I know I have been using the bathroom a whole lot more the last few days, so my body is getting rid of something!! There is movement with all this coughing and congestion etc. that I have. I was in a constipated phase of my irritable bowel cycle and I still lost 1 lb. In two weeks, it isn't the loss I would like to see but at least it is in the right direction. I have to also consider the fact that I have been building muscle. That is noticeable in my yoga warrrior poses. I think my arms are stronger. It sure doesn't hurt as much to hold them strong, anyway. Randy doesn't think I will need to see him again now until the beginning of May. May 14th was the soonest I could get in with him in May at a time that works with my schedule. They are busy people over there at Alt Med. But I can tell you that they are busy for a reason. They are good at what they do.
As for yoga, due to family issues for Kris, this week was a bit different schedule. My friend Julie and I both met with Kris on Wed evening instead of Friday and my Tuesday class. We learned another vinyasa which I need to practice today at home. We also learned the beginning of the sun salutation. I really honestly did not think a person could work up a sweat just standing still, but I was wrong!! I really put in a workout on those poses. One thing I did learn is that evening classes aren't the best for me. I don't mind them occasionally, but we go to bed far too early in the evening for me to be getting blood flowing after supper. I felt great, until I started to stiffen up. I am not sure exactly which move we learned that found that new muscle in my back, but I think that muscle would have preferred to stay asleep!! It complained all day Thursday. I was full of energy Wednesday evening, though, until about two hours after my normal bedtime. The best part of that is that it should mean I was burning fat. :) That's the best thing!! So occasionally I don't mind that evening burn. It's all good!!
Namaste
As for yoga, due to family issues for Kris, this week was a bit different schedule. My friend Julie and I both met with Kris on Wed evening instead of Friday and my Tuesday class. We learned another vinyasa which I need to practice today at home. We also learned the beginning of the sun salutation. I really honestly did not think a person could work up a sweat just standing still, but I was wrong!! I really put in a workout on those poses. One thing I did learn is that evening classes aren't the best for me. I don't mind them occasionally, but we go to bed far too early in the evening for me to be getting blood flowing after supper. I felt great, until I started to stiffen up. I am not sure exactly which move we learned that found that new muscle in my back, but I think that muscle would have preferred to stay asleep!! It complained all day Thursday. I was full of energy Wednesday evening, though, until about two hours after my normal bedtime. The best part of that is that it should mean I was burning fat. :) That's the best thing!! So occasionally I don't mind that evening burn. It's all good!!
Namaste
Monday, March 11, 2013
Progress Report
As I sit here this morning adjusting to the time change and sipping my hot cinnamon and honey, I think its time to look at some of my progress over the last month.
I used to nap several times during the day and still sleep at night. Now the only times I grab a nap is if I have had a rough night the night before. I go through cycles where I have a few nights where I don't sleep well. Something I think I got from my mom. . I do still fall asleep when I am sitting in my recliner watching tv, especially in the evenings. but I don't consider those the same as naps where I actually crawl into bed. LOL I know as I get more healing in even those recliner naps will go away. I have never felt guilty about napping. I know that most healing takes place during sleep. The body uses sleep time to pull the toxins from the cells, then the awake time is the time to eliminate them from the body. But its nice to have some energy and be able to have more of a day because I am sleeping less.
If I was out once or twice a week running errands, etc. The following day I was totally useless, unable to move, no energy, etc. This past week, I went to yoga class and then ran errands on Tuesday and went to a party Tuesday night (UNHEARD of prior to that), Wednesday I was a little stiff and sore but I still got some laundry done and my steps in. :) Friday I ran errands and then went to yoga. I was really sore Friday night and didn't want to move. But Saturday I was up early and doing all I needed to do to get to a party I was consultant at on Saturday afternoon. Again, something unheard of a few months ago after a day like Friday. Now, I do admit yesterday I was pretty darn tired and didn't have the motivation to do too much. But when I look at what I was able to accomplish before I got to that point, and the fact that it was a time change weekend, I think I did pretty darn well last week.
Plantar Fasciitis is still there some mornings, but not as bad. The pain isn't as severe and it goes away with only a few steps. It is not often there through the day when I sit and then get up anymore and there are days I don't have it at all. :)
My balance is improving. I still have a way to go, but it is slowly coming along. Even in my every day walking around I don't feel like such a lumbering ox anymore. I am beginning to feel a little more graceful, moving a little more confidently and with a little lighter step.
So yes, I would say yoga is good for me. Even though I still have evenings where I am doing the Tim Conway old man shuffle, the evidence is pretty clear.
Namaste
I used to nap several times during the day and still sleep at night. Now the only times I grab a nap is if I have had a rough night the night before. I go through cycles where I have a few nights where I don't sleep well. Something I think I got from my mom. . I do still fall asleep when I am sitting in my recliner watching tv, especially in the evenings. but I don't consider those the same as naps where I actually crawl into bed. LOL I know as I get more healing in even those recliner naps will go away. I have never felt guilty about napping. I know that most healing takes place during sleep. The body uses sleep time to pull the toxins from the cells, then the awake time is the time to eliminate them from the body. But its nice to have some energy and be able to have more of a day because I am sleeping less.
If I was out once or twice a week running errands, etc. The following day I was totally useless, unable to move, no energy, etc. This past week, I went to yoga class and then ran errands on Tuesday and went to a party Tuesday night (UNHEARD of prior to that), Wednesday I was a little stiff and sore but I still got some laundry done and my steps in. :) Friday I ran errands and then went to yoga. I was really sore Friday night and didn't want to move. But Saturday I was up early and doing all I needed to do to get to a party I was consultant at on Saturday afternoon. Again, something unheard of a few months ago after a day like Friday. Now, I do admit yesterday I was pretty darn tired and didn't have the motivation to do too much. But when I look at what I was able to accomplish before I got to that point, and the fact that it was a time change weekend, I think I did pretty darn well last week.
Plantar Fasciitis is still there some mornings, but not as bad. The pain isn't as severe and it goes away with only a few steps. It is not often there through the day when I sit and then get up anymore and there are days I don't have it at all. :)
My balance is improving. I still have a way to go, but it is slowly coming along. Even in my every day walking around I don't feel like such a lumbering ox anymore. I am beginning to feel a little more graceful, moving a little more confidently and with a little lighter step.
So yes, I would say yoga is good for me. Even though I still have evenings where I am doing the Tim Conway old man shuffle, the evidence is pretty clear.
Namaste
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The Dance
I'm improving!! Balance is improving, the poses are getting easier to do, my strength is improving. All is going in the right direction. Next Tuesday I will be able to step on the scale and see if there has been improvment there as well. All is well in my world. :)
In yoga yesterday, Kris led me through a "choreographed" vinyasa (series of poses that flow into each other). It's like a beautiful dance. And I was even graceful!! We did three-- Warrior 1 into Warrior 2 and then into the Triangle pose. It was lovely and I think will help improve my stamina. I still have some trouble keeping my breath even and deep while holding my poses, especially during our modified plank and downward facing dog poses, but it is coming too. At least I am not holding my breath anymore. I learned a new pose. We figured out a way to do the cat pose in a chair, and Kris showed me a few things I can do to work on balance. We added another step to the downward facing dog. I still have a way to go, but it is coming. I love seeing improvement like this!!
And the best thing is that the improvements are transferring into other areas of my life. I am getting my steps in through the day much more easily. On Monday I got in my 5000 steps without even really trying. Yesterday I was out and about after my yoga class, running errands etc. so I got them in without any issue. I have a good feeling about this week, that I will achieve my goal of 5000 steps every single day. Then next week we take a baby step forward and set a goal of 6000 steps one day and 5000 steps all the other days. This is how the baby steps program I have created for myself works. But I am stronger now and I am feeling more graceful. I am breathing better, sleeping better, and just able to do more day to day things. I think much of that is due to yoga. I love it!!
I really want to take this moment to encourage others to give yoga a try. No matter your size, your fitness level, or your abilities, I do believe that yoga can be modified for anyone's needs. Sometimes it might take talking to many different teachers to find one who will be willing to be creative and work with you on modifications, but once you find that person, it will be totally worth it! And of course, if you live in the Black Hills, there is always Kris... ;-)
Make a great day everyone!
Namaste
In yoga yesterday, Kris led me through a "choreographed" vinyasa (series of poses that flow into each other). It's like a beautiful dance. And I was even graceful!! We did three-- Warrior 1 into Warrior 2 and then into the Triangle pose. It was lovely and I think will help improve my stamina. I still have some trouble keeping my breath even and deep while holding my poses, especially during our modified plank and downward facing dog poses, but it is coming too. At least I am not holding my breath anymore. I learned a new pose. We figured out a way to do the cat pose in a chair, and Kris showed me a few things I can do to work on balance. We added another step to the downward facing dog. I still have a way to go, but it is coming. I love seeing improvement like this!!
And the best thing is that the improvements are transferring into other areas of my life. I am getting my steps in through the day much more easily. On Monday I got in my 5000 steps without even really trying. Yesterday I was out and about after my yoga class, running errands etc. so I got them in without any issue. I have a good feeling about this week, that I will achieve my goal of 5000 steps every single day. Then next week we take a baby step forward and set a goal of 6000 steps one day and 5000 steps all the other days. This is how the baby steps program I have created for myself works. But I am stronger now and I am feeling more graceful. I am breathing better, sleeping better, and just able to do more day to day things. I think much of that is due to yoga. I love it!!
I really want to take this moment to encourage others to give yoga a try. No matter your size, your fitness level, or your abilities, I do believe that yoga can be modified for anyone's needs. Sometimes it might take talking to many different teachers to find one who will be willing to be creative and work with you on modifications, but once you find that person, it will be totally worth it! And of course, if you live in the Black Hills, there is always Kris... ;-)
Make a great day everyone!
Namaste
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Empowering Yoga
Good morning! It's a peaceful 5am on a Saturday morning here. I found a new muscle yesterday and it's complaining rather loudly about being found so I decided to get up and get moving around a bit. I realize I have not been in here to update in too long. Somehow my life has gotten rather busy. We are getting ready for some renovations to start next week so I have some rooms in my house to clear out. Furniture and fixtures for sale if anyone is interested.
So yesterday I got my steps goal met before I even went to yoga class. And I am not sure if this muscle was found during the clearing out of my front room or if I found it in yoga class. Either way it is not a happy camper.
Before I begin my update, a little housekeeping. I changed my settings (I think) so that anyone can comment. I thought why not let a good discussion get started if its going to? Maybe my readers can also encourage each other. So don't be shy. I do have a delete button for any comments that are inappropriate but I am hopeful that I won't need to use it.
If you recall, last week I talked a bit about the detoxification process. Well, definitely my body has been pulling out toxins. And I have a lot of them. After Christmas my whole family spent the month of January sick with a stupid virus that seemed to pick our individual "weak spots" to settle into. My husband got it in his chest, my son got it in his sinuses, and I got it in both, but not at the same time. We would get better and then relapse, all month long. Jesse has a kick butt immune system that Kevin and I don't have (how nice to be so young) and so his only lasted a day or two each time. When he got a sore throat that lasted more than two days I trucked him into the doctor and sure enough it was strep. By the time he started the antibiotics for it, though, he was feeling better. Go figure. Fortunately Kevin and I did not get it. I was a good little mom though and kept him from school until he had been on the antibiotics for 48 hours. In case you did not know, strep is contagious until the person has been on antibiotics for 24 - 48 hours. Untreated, strep can cause rheumatic fever and/or kidney failure. So through the month of February I continued with my coughing and some congestion here and there, with the congestion sometimes hitting my ears. Now I can handle most pain but even just a little discomfort in my ears drives me batty. So when Angi at Alt Med had to cancel my appointment in Feb (she is only there one week a month anymore) I booked in to see Randy. My cold had gone bacterial in January and I needed to make sure it was cleared up. Unlike Jesse who has full medical coverage through the state, I have none so since I pay anyway, I choose to do everything with the help of the Alt Med staff, as naturally as possible. (a couple times in my suffering I made the poor choice of trying nyquil, but the nyquil hangover the next day rendered me useless-- even at half a dose so I think I am cured of trying anything like that again). Randy used to be the go to guy for me, but I switched to Angi because she was able to do the bloodwork to keep track of my blood levels and also the body composition testing to keep track of my water retention and fat and muscle percentages. But Randy is wonderful and I have seen Corey (the head honcho) as well over my time with Alt Med.
Tuesday was my appointment with Randy. The first thing I did was step on their scale. They have one there that will weigh me. I almost keeled over in shock. I GAINED 14 lbs. I weighed on Dec 21 and then on Jan 21 where I gained 9 lbs. I rationalized that away with Christmas and New Year celebrations and the candy and stuff left over from there all month. Also I wasn't taking any iodine supplements because we forgot to add them to the plate in December. I had once asked Corey why I gain weight when I get sick when most people lose weight. He said the immune system uses iodine too, as well as the thyroid. When I get sick I burn through all my iodine stores including that meant for my thyroid, and a thyroid with no iodine is a slow one, hence, weight gain. So in January I started back on iodine supplements so that really surprised me that I had such a large weight gain in February. Well, when Randy got testing me with the electrodermal screening they use, and listening to my cough, he determined that my body is definitely detoxing, but not eliminating the toxins or the gunk that my colds have created in my body. He said he wouldn't be surprised if I had about 12 lbs of gunk and mucous and such in my system. So I came out of there with herbs and nutritionals to help my body eliminate all this gunk. I shared this with Kris in our class and she gave me another suggestion which I also use. She had read somewhere that 1 Tbsp of honey and 1 tsp. of cinnamon mixed in with hot water in the mornings, half an hour before you eat will aid in the elimination process. Well, I have to say, I love it. It does taste like those red hots candies. It seems to satisfy the sweet tooth I have for the day, too. And between that, the increased water I am drinking and what Randy has me on, I have become close personal friends with my hallway bathroom. But I can feel my water retention going away. Yesterday when I was driving into town I realized my shoes didn't feel as tight as usual right off the bat. Yay!! I can't wait until my next appointment at Alt Med in two weeks. I will step on that scale again and see if I can see the results there.
Wednesday night I felt pretty lousy. I was congested and headachey again. So that was when I tried the nyquil at half a dose. Bad idea. Thursday I was out of commission. Honestly, when I did all the partying and drinking I did in college, I never had such bad hangovers!! Despite the nyquil hangover, I did my yoga practice and got my steps in on Thursday even though it meant at bedtime I was doing laps half asleep to get them in. NO EXCUSES is my new motto. Then Thursday evening my ears started fluttering... you know that sound and feeling you get when you are swimming and get water in your ear? OMG it drove me crazy!! I was congested in my sinuses, my entire head had ached all day and then this. So I went looking online to see what to do about the ears and I found a you tube video which shows self massage for lymph drainage from the ears. Yes!! Lymph drainage massage was something Rochelle used to do for me at Alt Med. She has since left to be with her ailing mother on the other side of the state so I haven't been doing it. I thought this is awesome. And so I followed the video and I did it on myself... and it drained my ears, my sinuses, the sinus headache went away and whatever congestion was causing the back and crown of my head to ache went away. I was able to sleep!!
That brings us to yesterday. In the morning I went to work hard clearing out the china cabinets and shelves in the front room and dining room while the apprentice from Kevin and JR's company helped me haul things upstairs or downstairs to store and took down the paintings and such. (He was out on a call and she was here and he had to have her do something.. and I appreciated the help). Then I went to yoga class, and... the exciting part.. I had convinced a friend to give it a try with me. :) She came and she loved it. My friend has the same problem with the knees and getting up and down off the floor that I do. She hasn't gained as much weight as I have, though she has gained some since she retired from the Air Force, so I knew she would be able to do some of the yoga without the modifications, but I figured that if she had to use modifications for some of it she might be more comfortable doing it with me. She was a natural. Her poses and shapes were beautiful!! And she loved it!! She will be joining us every Friday. I am so excited!! Now, I am an attention hog when I have it (trained in the theatre, I loved being on stage) , I LOVED the one on one attention I was getting from Kris, but I also know that I don't have to always have center stage and unlike my son and his siblings, I can share the attention. It was great. Extra energy in the room. And I know that my friend is as unjudgemental as I try to be. And in yoga you really need to focus on yourself and what you are doing anyway, so I felt totally safe having my friend there with us. And it added so much to the class!! I even could go a little farther in the triangle pose than I had been before. Balance was off yesterday, but then, as I said, I had already put in my steps goal before going, so my feet and legs were very tired. But I felt stronger in the poses. It was easier to do the warrior 2 pose. My arms didn't feel so heavy to hold. It was a great day at Yoga.
My friend made a comment that I have to share. She said, "It felt good to feel strong again." Yes!! That's it exactly!! Yoga is very empowering! It helps you feel strong. And its beautiful, too. As you learn the poses and can fluidly move from one to the other, its like an absolutely beautiful dance and it makes you feel graceful. That's something I never thought I could ever feel at 400+ lbs. Empowering is the word to use. If I had to describe yoga in one word, that's what it would be. Empowering.
On that note, I am going to get on with my day now. My honey and cinnamon drink await me. I apologize for the novel today. I will make time more often through the week to update my blog so it isn't such a long read each time.
Namaste
So yesterday I got my steps goal met before I even went to yoga class. And I am not sure if this muscle was found during the clearing out of my front room or if I found it in yoga class. Either way it is not a happy camper.
Before I begin my update, a little housekeeping. I changed my settings (I think) so that anyone can comment. I thought why not let a good discussion get started if its going to? Maybe my readers can also encourage each other. So don't be shy. I do have a delete button for any comments that are inappropriate but I am hopeful that I won't need to use it.
If you recall, last week I talked a bit about the detoxification process. Well, definitely my body has been pulling out toxins. And I have a lot of them. After Christmas my whole family spent the month of January sick with a stupid virus that seemed to pick our individual "weak spots" to settle into. My husband got it in his chest, my son got it in his sinuses, and I got it in both, but not at the same time. We would get better and then relapse, all month long. Jesse has a kick butt immune system that Kevin and I don't have (how nice to be so young) and so his only lasted a day or two each time. When he got a sore throat that lasted more than two days I trucked him into the doctor and sure enough it was strep. By the time he started the antibiotics for it, though, he was feeling better. Go figure. Fortunately Kevin and I did not get it. I was a good little mom though and kept him from school until he had been on the antibiotics for 48 hours. In case you did not know, strep is contagious until the person has been on antibiotics for 24 - 48 hours. Untreated, strep can cause rheumatic fever and/or kidney failure. So through the month of February I continued with my coughing and some congestion here and there, with the congestion sometimes hitting my ears. Now I can handle most pain but even just a little discomfort in my ears drives me batty. So when Angi at Alt Med had to cancel my appointment in Feb (she is only there one week a month anymore) I booked in to see Randy. My cold had gone bacterial in January and I needed to make sure it was cleared up. Unlike Jesse who has full medical coverage through the state, I have none so since I pay anyway, I choose to do everything with the help of the Alt Med staff, as naturally as possible. (a couple times in my suffering I made the poor choice of trying nyquil, but the nyquil hangover the next day rendered me useless-- even at half a dose so I think I am cured of trying anything like that again). Randy used to be the go to guy for me, but I switched to Angi because she was able to do the bloodwork to keep track of my blood levels and also the body composition testing to keep track of my water retention and fat and muscle percentages. But Randy is wonderful and I have seen Corey (the head honcho) as well over my time with Alt Med.
Tuesday was my appointment with Randy. The first thing I did was step on their scale. They have one there that will weigh me. I almost keeled over in shock. I GAINED 14 lbs. I weighed on Dec 21 and then on Jan 21 where I gained 9 lbs. I rationalized that away with Christmas and New Year celebrations and the candy and stuff left over from there all month. Also I wasn't taking any iodine supplements because we forgot to add them to the plate in December. I had once asked Corey why I gain weight when I get sick when most people lose weight. He said the immune system uses iodine too, as well as the thyroid. When I get sick I burn through all my iodine stores including that meant for my thyroid, and a thyroid with no iodine is a slow one, hence, weight gain. So in January I started back on iodine supplements so that really surprised me that I had such a large weight gain in February. Well, when Randy got testing me with the electrodermal screening they use, and listening to my cough, he determined that my body is definitely detoxing, but not eliminating the toxins or the gunk that my colds have created in my body. He said he wouldn't be surprised if I had about 12 lbs of gunk and mucous and such in my system. So I came out of there with herbs and nutritionals to help my body eliminate all this gunk. I shared this with Kris in our class and she gave me another suggestion which I also use. She had read somewhere that 1 Tbsp of honey and 1 tsp. of cinnamon mixed in with hot water in the mornings, half an hour before you eat will aid in the elimination process. Well, I have to say, I love it. It does taste like those red hots candies. It seems to satisfy the sweet tooth I have for the day, too. And between that, the increased water I am drinking and what Randy has me on, I have become close personal friends with my hallway bathroom. But I can feel my water retention going away. Yesterday when I was driving into town I realized my shoes didn't feel as tight as usual right off the bat. Yay!! I can't wait until my next appointment at Alt Med in two weeks. I will step on that scale again and see if I can see the results there.
Wednesday night I felt pretty lousy. I was congested and headachey again. So that was when I tried the nyquil at half a dose. Bad idea. Thursday I was out of commission. Honestly, when I did all the partying and drinking I did in college, I never had such bad hangovers!! Despite the nyquil hangover, I did my yoga practice and got my steps in on Thursday even though it meant at bedtime I was doing laps half asleep to get them in. NO EXCUSES is my new motto. Then Thursday evening my ears started fluttering... you know that sound and feeling you get when you are swimming and get water in your ear? OMG it drove me crazy!! I was congested in my sinuses, my entire head had ached all day and then this. So I went looking online to see what to do about the ears and I found a you tube video which shows self massage for lymph drainage from the ears. Yes!! Lymph drainage massage was something Rochelle used to do for me at Alt Med. She has since left to be with her ailing mother on the other side of the state so I haven't been doing it. I thought this is awesome. And so I followed the video and I did it on myself... and it drained my ears, my sinuses, the sinus headache went away and whatever congestion was causing the back and crown of my head to ache went away. I was able to sleep!!
That brings us to yesterday. In the morning I went to work hard clearing out the china cabinets and shelves in the front room and dining room while the apprentice from Kevin and JR's company helped me haul things upstairs or downstairs to store and took down the paintings and such. (He was out on a call and she was here and he had to have her do something.. and I appreciated the help). Then I went to yoga class, and... the exciting part.. I had convinced a friend to give it a try with me. :) She came and she loved it. My friend has the same problem with the knees and getting up and down off the floor that I do. She hasn't gained as much weight as I have, though she has gained some since she retired from the Air Force, so I knew she would be able to do some of the yoga without the modifications, but I figured that if she had to use modifications for some of it she might be more comfortable doing it with me. She was a natural. Her poses and shapes were beautiful!! And she loved it!! She will be joining us every Friday. I am so excited!! Now, I am an attention hog when I have it (trained in the theatre, I loved being on stage) , I LOVED the one on one attention I was getting from Kris, but I also know that I don't have to always have center stage and unlike my son and his siblings, I can share the attention. It was great. Extra energy in the room. And I know that my friend is as unjudgemental as I try to be. And in yoga you really need to focus on yourself and what you are doing anyway, so I felt totally safe having my friend there with us. And it added so much to the class!! I even could go a little farther in the triangle pose than I had been before. Balance was off yesterday, but then, as I said, I had already put in my steps goal before going, so my feet and legs were very tired. But I felt stronger in the poses. It was easier to do the warrior 2 pose. My arms didn't feel so heavy to hold. It was a great day at Yoga.
My friend made a comment that I have to share. She said, "It felt good to feel strong again." Yes!! That's it exactly!! Yoga is very empowering! It helps you feel strong. And its beautiful, too. As you learn the poses and can fluidly move from one to the other, its like an absolutely beautiful dance and it makes you feel graceful. That's something I never thought I could ever feel at 400+ lbs. Empowering is the word to use. If I had to describe yoga in one word, that's what it would be. Empowering.
On that note, I am going to get on with my day now. My honey and cinnamon drink await me. I apologize for the novel today. I will make time more often through the week to update my blog so it isn't such a long read each time.
Namaste
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