I had an interesting conversation with my son yesterday before I went to my yoga class. My son sees auras. He also sees wings on people. For example he sees wings on me that are shaped like a dove. He saw wings on my mom that were like angel wings. My wings, as well as my aura are an orangey-pink when I am in a pretty good space. He says the aura and the wings are attached to the spirit. The colour will change according to illness or stress, etc. I do not see auras. I can see an energy line around people and things, but I do not see colour so this fascinates me. But what I found really interesting, is what he told me next. He said that after a yoga class, my wings are brighter and shiny, like sparkling shiny. He said, "Mom, yoga is good for your spirit as well as for your body." I just thought that was a neat observation I wanted to share.
I missed yoga class on Tuesday again because of the weather. But I did make it Friday. I was alone in the class with Kris because my partner in crime was not feeling well. So we got into a very interesting conversation about wings and animal totems which put us behind schedule so we went straight into stretches. I have found more muscles. This morning, muscles in my back and legs are complaining to me about having been woken up. On the one hand that's not the best feeling in the world, but on the other hand I know I am doing something necessary and healthy for my body. And it will pass. They will get strong like the other muscles in my body. From stretching we went to balance work. I am getting there. I need to practice balance every day, just standing on one foot is a challenge for me. But I am getting there. I do much better at balancing in the morning before I have done too much. Yesterday before yoga I had already been into town once to get my truck from the body shop and do grocery shopping. I had already put in my 5000 steps by the time I got to yoga. I wasn't feeling tired or sore, but perhaps for the purpose of balancing, my legs were a little fatigued by then. Then we followed up with vinyasa. I lost my balance on one of the poses. I think I just had my stance a little bit too wide. But I got back into it again. Savasana was wonderful as usual. I think I appreciate that time more than any of the rest. The stillness and quiet. My son is very hyperactive and has some issues stemming from a past with his biological family and so our household has a tendency often to be quite busy and noisy. That stillness is a sweet time.
That's all I have to share for this week.
Namaste.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Saturday, April 13, 2013
How to Make Your Yoga Teacher Excited
For those of you who weren't aware of it and were not able to read back, I posted a gadget that allows you to get my updates right in your email inbox. At least I hope you can. I haven't had anyone tell me yet that it didn't work. But I guess we'll find out today for sure. You can also google+ me if you are a google+ member. I'll get all this down sooner or later!!
Finally made it to a yoga class again. For those of you not in our area and who don't get my facebook updates, we had a really good little winter storm the first few days of the week and I couldn't get into town to have yoga on Tuesday, in fact, Kris cancelled all her classes at the beginning of the week. She gave me some instructions to do my own at home which I did. And I used my yoga ball!! I finally got it filled to the right size and it works wonderfully. It's the perfect height for sitting and I even used it for stability while practicing some of the poses that takes balance. I think I need to get a stand to keep it from rolling away between poses, though.
Anyway, back to class. My yoga partner and I are branching out a bit. We are at different places right now in our abilities and Kris is really doing an awesome job letting us progress at our own rates. She worked a little one on one with my exercise partner yesterday while I worked on some of the things I am working on. And she still managed to give me encouragement and feedback along the way. I love this uber-yoga class! Kris is doing a fantastic job modifying poses for each of our abilities!! I hope that it catches on and those in our area contact Kris about getting started in yoga, even if they think they can't. And I hope in other locations yoga teachers take the initiative to do the same thing.
We learned a few new poses too. I really stretched my back out well. At one point I felt a twinge as I got out of a pose and I was a little worried that today would be a painful day, but you know, other than being a little stiff when I got up this morning, there has been no problems. I think the twinge might have been a good one!! I know when I left yesterday I was feeling a little taller. The other thing of note yesterday was that Kris had us stand in a wide stance and bend at the waist, to see how far we could go. I know my partner in crime made it forward all the way to where she could put her hands flat on the floor. I could get my fingers flat on the floor but my arms are just a little bit too short to get the whole hand flat to the floor. Kris was really excited at how flexible we are. I am a wee bit frightened about what she has in mind for us next. LOL I guess on Tuesday I will find out. I can't remember what the pose is called that this ability to lean forward and put our hands on the floor is heading towards, but Kris said something about bending over until our head is on the floor. Seriously? Ok, well, I am all for working towards that.
So Kris may have been excited because of the possibilities for more poses. I was excited because it reminded me of how flexible I used to be. I recalled the days when I could do walkovers and backward walkovers, somersaults and such. That was of course 200- 250 lbs ago. I really think what is holding me back from being more flexible is the bulky tummy I have. But I am not going to get rid of that tummy until I get it moving. The thought of what I will be able to do once it's gone is a huge motivator to me. If I can do as much as I am doing now with my bulk, then just imagine what I will be able to do without it!!!
More evidence of how good yoga has been to me: No pain today. I do not remember the last time I sweated and stretched as much as I did yesterday and had NO PAIN the next day. None. A little stiffness first thing this morning, but that was all. I am heading out this morning to shop at Sam's Club with my son and before yoga that would have been unheard of after a day like yesterday. While I was doing yoga and for a while afterwards I had no acid reflux. It went away.
Still having some acid reflux. I started taking my vitamins again and the acid reflux was pretty bad last night. But I ate a little later, too and I think that is one of my problems. Tonight is pizza night. I am picking up a gluten free pizza for me but I am still expecting some reflux issues from the pizza. Tomorrow I will try to take the vitamins again and eat things that normally don't bother me and see if the vitamins are causing me problems. I need to get back in to Alt Med and see Randy again. I am not scheduled to see him for another month yet and if I can last that long I would like to. We'll see what happens.
That's all I have for now. Until next time, be safe, stay warm and dry and enjoy the beautiful spring weather when it is there. I love spring!!
Namaste.
Finally made it to a yoga class again. For those of you not in our area and who don't get my facebook updates, we had a really good little winter storm the first few days of the week and I couldn't get into town to have yoga on Tuesday, in fact, Kris cancelled all her classes at the beginning of the week. She gave me some instructions to do my own at home which I did. And I used my yoga ball!! I finally got it filled to the right size and it works wonderfully. It's the perfect height for sitting and I even used it for stability while practicing some of the poses that takes balance. I think I need to get a stand to keep it from rolling away between poses, though.
Anyway, back to class. My yoga partner and I are branching out a bit. We are at different places right now in our abilities and Kris is really doing an awesome job letting us progress at our own rates. She worked a little one on one with my exercise partner yesterday while I worked on some of the things I am working on. And she still managed to give me encouragement and feedback along the way. I love this uber-yoga class! Kris is doing a fantastic job modifying poses for each of our abilities!! I hope that it catches on and those in our area contact Kris about getting started in yoga, even if they think they can't. And I hope in other locations yoga teachers take the initiative to do the same thing.
We learned a few new poses too. I really stretched my back out well. At one point I felt a twinge as I got out of a pose and I was a little worried that today would be a painful day, but you know, other than being a little stiff when I got up this morning, there has been no problems. I think the twinge might have been a good one!! I know when I left yesterday I was feeling a little taller. The other thing of note yesterday was that Kris had us stand in a wide stance and bend at the waist, to see how far we could go. I know my partner in crime made it forward all the way to where she could put her hands flat on the floor. I could get my fingers flat on the floor but my arms are just a little bit too short to get the whole hand flat to the floor. Kris was really excited at how flexible we are. I am a wee bit frightened about what she has in mind for us next. LOL I guess on Tuesday I will find out. I can't remember what the pose is called that this ability to lean forward and put our hands on the floor is heading towards, but Kris said something about bending over until our head is on the floor. Seriously? Ok, well, I am all for working towards that.
So Kris may have been excited because of the possibilities for more poses. I was excited because it reminded me of how flexible I used to be. I recalled the days when I could do walkovers and backward walkovers, somersaults and such. That was of course 200- 250 lbs ago. I really think what is holding me back from being more flexible is the bulky tummy I have. But I am not going to get rid of that tummy until I get it moving. The thought of what I will be able to do once it's gone is a huge motivator to me. If I can do as much as I am doing now with my bulk, then just imagine what I will be able to do without it!!!
More evidence of how good yoga has been to me: No pain today. I do not remember the last time I sweated and stretched as much as I did yesterday and had NO PAIN the next day. None. A little stiffness first thing this morning, but that was all. I am heading out this morning to shop at Sam's Club with my son and before yoga that would have been unheard of after a day like yesterday. While I was doing yoga and for a while afterwards I had no acid reflux. It went away.
Still having some acid reflux. I started taking my vitamins again and the acid reflux was pretty bad last night. But I ate a little later, too and I think that is one of my problems. Tonight is pizza night. I am picking up a gluten free pizza for me but I am still expecting some reflux issues from the pizza. Tomorrow I will try to take the vitamins again and eat things that normally don't bother me and see if the vitamins are causing me problems. I need to get back in to Alt Med and see Randy again. I am not scheduled to see him for another month yet and if I can last that long I would like to. We'll see what happens.
That's all I have for now. Until next time, be safe, stay warm and dry and enjoy the beautiful spring weather when it is there. I love spring!!
Namaste.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Follow me!
Ok. You can now follow me and get my updates in your email. At the top of the right hand column is a box where you can enter your email address and Follow me by email. If you are a google+ member you can recommend me to your friends by clicking the google+ badge at the very top of the page. I hope that helps!!
Namaste!!
Namaste!!
Busy Busy Bee
Wow, I have been so busy the last few weeks. I can't believe how long it has been since I have been in here. I think it would be easiest to talk today about some observations about my program. I had a chance on March 22nd to weigh in again, and I lost 4 lbs in 10 days. Not too bad. I'll take it! People asked what I was doing and let's see... I was taking herbs and nutritionals to get rid of water retention and congestion in my body, watching my portion sizes, making sure I got my 5000 steps in a day, and doing yoga. I have not had an opportunity since then to get back in to weigh in.
I see some water retention returning and some coughing is returning this week. I have been off of all the herbs and nutritionals now for a little while. I started having a lot of issues with acid reflux. Enough that it was keeping me up at night. I did some research and found that horehound can cause excess stomach acid. And I have a hiatal hernia that I am sure has been irritated with all the coughing I was doing. Talking with Randy, I reduced it and cut it out completely. I tried to take the other things I was on, but still have the problem. So I am off of everything right now. I have changed my eating so I eat a very early evening meal and I rarely snack at night. It has helped. I have a problem about every third night or so. I have cut back even more on portion sizes also.
Kris gave me some poses in yoga that I can do that can help with acid reflux. It provides some relief, but still I have issues often enough that I am not yet comfortable starting back on any of my other pills. The last time I did I got acid reflux again really badly.
Other things I have observed that I think are directly related to the yoga are an increase in stamina, more calm and peace in my dealings with my teenager, and just in general a feeling of calm and acceptance of things I cannot change.
Last week I was on the go all the time. You must understand that I am used to being pretty sedentary. With the weight I carry, I tired out pretty easily if I did a lot, so I was doing baby steps, increasing my activity slowly but regularly. Last week was huge activity wise. My son had appointments in the city on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I had yoga on Tuesday, and on Thursday, my one day at home, I had laundry and housework to do. Saturday was a day we were on the run as a family as well. In the past I would have not been able to move by the end of a week like that. Well... I kept going. Yes, I was physically exhausted, but I wasn't experiencing the pain I used to when I was busy like that. At the end of each day, I hurt a lot, but by the next day I was not hurting, just tired. And I could push myself to go again. I know that the ability to keep going like that has come from the yoga. I also used to nap every single day, sometimes two or three times in a day, and sometimes for up to three hours at a time. The other day after a sleepless reflux night, I laid down for a nap, for the first time in ages. Yes, if I am in my recliner (fondly referred to as my sleeping chair) I will fall asleep sometimes. But even that is happening less often. I believe I am gaining the energy and the stamina from yoga.
I have a 16 year old son and though I do believe boys are easier than girls, he is still a teenager and he still is trying to exert his independence, sometimes in ways we don't think are appropriate. He has a tendency at times to want to start arguments. Since I have started working with Kris at Yoga One, I have been taking the bait less, letting him see for himself that his decisions may not be the best and just staying more calm and peaceful in general when it comes to dealing with my son. He is not getting away with any more than he ever did, but its handled in a much calmer way, and what I like to call the trickle effect is happening too. He is staying calmer as well.
After my mom passed away suddenly, I began to experience anxiety for the first time ever. Panic attacks became prevalent, because I didn't want to die suddenly as she did. I had managed with the help of another good friend who was prone to panic attacks, to lessen them a whole lot, but they are pretty much non existent now, and I have noticed that they have all but disappeared since I started yoga. I am a lot calmer and more centered every day, in every thing I do. Thanks to yoga. Thank you Kris! You're the best!!
I know there are people who would like to follow my blog. I am off now to look for the gadget to add so that you have a clickable link to "follow me". As soon as I have it installed on my blog I will let you all know how to follow me. Thanks so much for your interest.
Namaste.
I see some water retention returning and some coughing is returning this week. I have been off of all the herbs and nutritionals now for a little while. I started having a lot of issues with acid reflux. Enough that it was keeping me up at night. I did some research and found that horehound can cause excess stomach acid. And I have a hiatal hernia that I am sure has been irritated with all the coughing I was doing. Talking with Randy, I reduced it and cut it out completely. I tried to take the other things I was on, but still have the problem. So I am off of everything right now. I have changed my eating so I eat a very early evening meal and I rarely snack at night. It has helped. I have a problem about every third night or so. I have cut back even more on portion sizes also.
Kris gave me some poses in yoga that I can do that can help with acid reflux. It provides some relief, but still I have issues often enough that I am not yet comfortable starting back on any of my other pills. The last time I did I got acid reflux again really badly.
Other things I have observed that I think are directly related to the yoga are an increase in stamina, more calm and peace in my dealings with my teenager, and just in general a feeling of calm and acceptance of things I cannot change.
Last week I was on the go all the time. You must understand that I am used to being pretty sedentary. With the weight I carry, I tired out pretty easily if I did a lot, so I was doing baby steps, increasing my activity slowly but regularly. Last week was huge activity wise. My son had appointments in the city on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, I had yoga on Tuesday, and on Thursday, my one day at home, I had laundry and housework to do. Saturday was a day we were on the run as a family as well. In the past I would have not been able to move by the end of a week like that. Well... I kept going. Yes, I was physically exhausted, but I wasn't experiencing the pain I used to when I was busy like that. At the end of each day, I hurt a lot, but by the next day I was not hurting, just tired. And I could push myself to go again. I know that the ability to keep going like that has come from the yoga. I also used to nap every single day, sometimes two or three times in a day, and sometimes for up to three hours at a time. The other day after a sleepless reflux night, I laid down for a nap, for the first time in ages. Yes, if I am in my recliner (fondly referred to as my sleeping chair) I will fall asleep sometimes. But even that is happening less often. I believe I am gaining the energy and the stamina from yoga.
I have a 16 year old son and though I do believe boys are easier than girls, he is still a teenager and he still is trying to exert his independence, sometimes in ways we don't think are appropriate. He has a tendency at times to want to start arguments. Since I have started working with Kris at Yoga One, I have been taking the bait less, letting him see for himself that his decisions may not be the best and just staying more calm and peaceful in general when it comes to dealing with my son. He is not getting away with any more than he ever did, but its handled in a much calmer way, and what I like to call the trickle effect is happening too. He is staying calmer as well.
After my mom passed away suddenly, I began to experience anxiety for the first time ever. Panic attacks became prevalent, because I didn't want to die suddenly as she did. I had managed with the help of another good friend who was prone to panic attacks, to lessen them a whole lot, but they are pretty much non existent now, and I have noticed that they have all but disappeared since I started yoga. I am a lot calmer and more centered every day, in every thing I do. Thanks to yoga. Thank you Kris! You're the best!!
I know there are people who would like to follow my blog. I am off now to look for the gadget to add so that you have a clickable link to "follow me". As soon as I have it installed on my blog I will let you all know how to follow me. Thanks so much for your interest.
Namaste.
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