Day 14 February 6, 2012

Woke up before that darn alarm again today! 

Mountain pose, pranayama and meditation on the schedule.

Perfect practice for a full moon!

Traditionally, Ashtanga takes full and new moon days off … so having this pranayama meditation practice sits very well with me today, because man alive – that full moon energy is ROCKIN!

Anticipating an energetic shift … some change coming …

The Mountain Pose class whizzed by and I was perfectly “blissed” afterwards.

I had some difficulty during pranayama today that I have not experienced up to this point.  I couldn’t catch long, full breaths on alternate nostril breathing; on the “holds” I felt like I was suffocating.  I hope this is not a metaphor for something else in my life. 

I literally could not stay the holds, I had to take extra breaths to get air in.

My chest felt tight and almost painful.

I felt great relief once the meditation started and chose to do it lying down, covered with a blanket.  I was able to release, relax and let go and finished refreshed.

Fun day ahead after work today …  picking up a beautiful vintage vanity to organize the “clutter” of beauty products in my life.  (It’s part of my job – don’t judge!)  I’ve wanted a vanity my entire life …  will post pics tomorrow.

Meantime – here’s the salad I’ll be munching on the next few days:

"Eat me, I’m Beautiful Salad"

Makes a lot

Use organic everything if possible

Salad:

1 head Romaine lettuce

3 cups baby mixed greens

4 stalks celery chopped

1 cup baby heirloom tomatoes

1 cup chopped mini peppers

1 cucumber chopped

½ cup pomegranate seeds

Mix all washed, chopped in a bowl

Dressing:

Adapted from Cooking Light (http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/romaine-salad-with-tangy-lemon-dijon-dressing-10000000223528/)

·       1/4 cup water

·       3 tablespoons Dijon mustard 

·       2 tablespoons fresh Meyer lemon juice 

·       2 teaspoons olive oil 

·       1/4 teaspoon salt 

·       1/4 teaspoon pepper 

·       2 garlic cloves, minced 

Place all ingredients in blender and blend.  Drizzle over salad.  Also great for dipping artichokes!

Day 13 February 6, 2012

Wonderful night of sleep after another 15-minute meditation from the “AM & PM Yoga Meditations” by Gael Chiarella, CD.  Did track 4 on CD 2, “The Lullaby of Breath.”

Woke up naturally at 4:11am – before my alarm was set for 4:30am.  The extra minutes allowed me a bit more leisurely cup of coffee before the Vitality class this morning.

Turned the heat up a tad in the house to make up for the early morning chill and had a really nice practice.

I am so much more relaxed and focused practicing at the early hour, knowing that I have time, am not rushed and am setting myself up for a more full day.  I really found depth in the back bends today, more in my upper back and chest than I usually do.

But, the deepest opening came during the reclining twists at the very end of class.  With each inhale my muscles naturally elongated and with my exhales I sunk deeper into these twists than I have in years.  I could just feel myself falling deeper and deeper into the twist.

Then, during savasana, my husbands alarm went off on cell phone (it should have been in the bedroom with him, but alas – it seems it was left in the kitchen.)  I tried to maintain and release into corpse pose, but I was too distracted by the vibrating, pulsating scream of the cell phone.

Oh well, note to self – do a cell phone check before practice – just like at a shala.

Made a delish smoothie for this morning, here’s the recipe:

Mango Cilantro Very Green Smoothie

Makes two servings

Use organic when possible.

2 cups water

1 cup frozen mango

1 frozen banana

1 bunch cilantro

1 head romaine lettuce

3 stalks celery

½ lime – squeezed for juice

½ Meyer Lemon – squeezed for juice

1 tbsp E3 Live algae

3 tbsp Hemp Protein

Place water, lemon juice, lime juice, algae, hemp protein and frozen fruit in Vitamix and blend.  Add romaine, cilantro and celery and blend.

Enjoy!

Day 12 February 5, 2012

Slept amazing last night after a wonderful 15 minute guided meditation.  I used “AM & PM Yoga Meditations” by Gael Chiarella,  CD Two, Meditation 3: Restful and Rejuvenating Sleep.  And did I ever …

Woke up recharged and ready to do Detox and HardCORE (saving my mediation for evening.)

A word on scheduling … husband keeps mentioning to me how LONG these DVD’s take … and yes, this program definitely takes some time and dedication – realistically, two hours per day.

I have resolved to wake up early during the week to get the program and in and not feel rushed or like it is taking over my day in a negative way, but I am realizing that I am going to have to do the same thing on weekends.

During both practices – Saturday and today – I felt like I was taking a huge chunk of my “free days” for this program.  And although Travis mentions in the Detox video that it is imperative to take time for yourself – to be “selfish in order to be selfless,” I think that I will have to sacrifice some sleep in time so that I still get my full days.

I did 15 minutes of another core focused DVD instead of HardCORE – just don’t want to wear that one out … I know myself – I will get bored … and it makes the HardCORE workout more of  a challenge for me doing it once a week.

Then, Detox class.  Love this one.  That triangle/twisting triangle/twisted half moon/standing splits/seated twist series is SWEET.  Realizing that I have very different hips than I had a year and a half ago … so tight, so filled with the grief of losing my brother.  The discomfort I feel physically is an accurate metaphor for what has accumulated in that area of my body … the storehouse for so much human emotion.  But, as Travis says … this program will “chisel away” everything that is not “ultimate.”

Made an awesome pot of veggie soup over the weekend.  Here is the recipe:

Veggie Soup

2           2-tbsp coconut oil

 1- onion chopped1-    bunch green onions chopped

 1 – pound organic baby carrots

2-    bunches organic celery hearts

1-    pound chopped organic kale

12 – cups vegetable stock

 2 – jalapenos chopped

 Sea salt, pepper, garlic powder to taste

Sauté onion and green onion in coconut oil until almost clear.  Add vegetable stock and bring to a boil.  Add carrots and celery, season to taste.  Reduce to simmer and cover for 30 minutes.  Add Kale and jalapeno.  Turn of heat, cover and let stand for one hour.  Bring to a simmer before serving.  Enjoy!

Day 11 February 4, 2012

Woke up again during the night last night.  

This time, went to bed much later than usual … planning to have a Saturday morning sleep in.   Woke up at 4:40am without the alarm and was basically awake until 6:30am.  But, heck – it’s Saturday, so I took advantage and slept in until 8:30a.

Husband and I took Sookie on a 90 minute hike … amazing … but, mostly uphill.  Picture is of Chuck and Sookie today about half way through.

Did Yin afterwards and was soooooo tight.  The seated forward folds were uncommonly uncomfortable for me.  I could not relax or breath without fidgeting.

Very distracted by the physical discomfort even when I really backed off, but made it through.

Nothing else profound to report today other than these classes are obviously really working my hips and glutes.

Until tomorrow … 

Day 10 February 3, 2012

Woke up several times last night, once for an hour … which I unfortunately used as an excuse to hit the snooze button at 4:40am until 6:30am. 

Needless to say practice got bumped and I still wanted to do “Strength” on an empty stomach so I didn’t eat anything for the four hours before I hit the mat.

I did 15 minutes of another core focused DVD first instead of “HardCORE” and then popped in strength.

I was absolutely wasted by the time we hit the first five yogi push ups.  My legs shook during the rotated crescent poses.  My shoulders begged for mercy in the forearm planks.

I dropped to my knees at several points and wished the class was over, but I persisted and got through it.

I’m finding the rotation of Crosstrain, Cardio and then strength is pretty intense.  Looking mucho forward to Yin tomorrow.

Will be meditating later this evening.

Meantime … hitting the kitchen for some chow – which I of course, was deliberating during savasana.  I’m thinking a veggie wrap made up of leftover salad, avocado, leftover beans from our family taco night, jalapenos and salsa.  The spice should recharge me.

Really working on letting go of any disappointment if I can’t physically get through a class.  A year and a half ago my ego would not have allowed me to rest during a challenging flow, but now I listen to my body and relent when necessary.

It’s funny – strength is not just built during the “strength” movements in exercise or yoga.  It is gained during recovery – which is why we must let our bodies have “rest days.”

Will be taking it easy and resting to build that strength back up the next few days.

(Attached is a photo of me in a "strength" pose just for kicks.)

Day 9 February 2, 2012

Super sore from yesterday’s Crosstrain class, but knew I’d work that lactic acid out with this class.  Have been sleeping like a rock.  I credit the evening meditation, good aches and being physically wasted from the new early wakeup time for this.

Cardio class today ...

Turned up my space heater and really got into the flow.

Focused on being present, alignment and working my “edge.”

That extended side angle to reverse warrior flow really rocks my glutes.  Yoga booty here I come.

Hamstrings have been tight, regardless of how much warming up I do or the temp of the room.  Right knee is also smarting quite a bit.  Really injured in August when I jumped back into my Ashtanga practice too quickly from that year break, I quit after two weeks because I felt I was aggravating the injury and wasn’t being mature enough to modify.

It will be challenging for me to modify the poses in this DVD series if necessary.  Lotus is what really gets me … I will have to settle with a half lotus on the left side for now.

I can really feel the effects of this program already.

Some people may smirk at some of the verbage Travis uses or the anecdotes he tells – thinking they are too “New Agey” or “Yoga-y,” but the truth is what he says is full of positive intention and it can’t help but affect you in a positive way.

I felt some old emotional baggage; some negative thoughts and feelings just burn away during today’s practice.  After I rose from savasana all that was left was ash.  A last exhale and 15-minute meditation cleared that away so that nothing remained, but a clear mind and delightful mood.

(image from: www.123rf.com/stock-photo/fire.html)

Day 8 February 1, 2012

Major good effects from yesterday’s practice.  I felt much less anxious and nervous in a social situation last night than I usually do.  Carrying the lesson to not judge or be so personally, deeply affected by all the “little things.”

Convinced the hubby to practice with me today with much success.

I find I am so much more focused and have much less inner dialog when practicing with him.

The second week of HardCore allowed me to go deeper and engage more fully.

My second go at Crosstrain was similar in that I could access the poses more deeply because of a bit of familiarity with the flow. 

Will meditate this evening.

Power Fiber Bowl

Makes 1-2  servings

¼ cup organic old fashioned oats

¼ cup organic oat bran

1 ¼ cup water

1 packet stevia

cinnamon to taste

3 tbsp Nutiva Hemp Protein

2 tbsp organic golden flax seed

1 pear – chopped

2 dates – chopped

Cook oats, oat bran and water on stovetop or in microwave.

Stir in stevia, cinnamon, Nutiva, flax, pear and dates

Enjoy!