Get out there and VOTE!

If you are in the US reading this post,

GET OUT AND VOTE TODAY :)

Thank you.

Ah, the details...Don't sweat the small stuff?!

Every so often I get absolutely obsessed with jumping through and back. I can jump through with shins crossed and I can jump back with a tiny pause where my toes touch the mat. So, you can guess that I have been reading the blog "Ashtanga Jump Back" often :)

Yesterday he posted a video by Sadie Nardini that demonstrates "Shakti" kicks that can help build strength for jumping back and through, and floating in general. So I watched it, and then I watched many many others of her videos on You Tube. Fun stuff. I did the kicks yesterday, and I am super sore in my serratus anterior muscles, and other back and shoulder muscles. It's so funny, I know that floating is not important, I have developed perfectly acceptable modifications so that I don't lose my flow in the practice....but when I see someone doing it, I want it so bad!

We will see how long this phase lasts this time :)

Interesting

I just heard "Beautiful Day" by U2, and was taken back, very vividly, to Johnny Kest's Detox Flow. He was BLASTING this song while everyone in the room was flowing to their own breath. Weird. I guess that was an important moment for me, to associate it so strongly, so quickly to that song. If anyone else reading this was there, go listen to that song, maybe turn it up a little louder than usual. I'm curious if you will have the same experience ;)

108th post

I went to another Anusara intensive last night with Christina Sell, super fun stuff. We worked on the inner spiral of the legs, with a focus on keeping the shins/calves stable to isolate and open the hips. We did poses/variations that I have never seen in person! Loved it.

Christina made a quick comment about how to beginners in an alignment based form of yoga (like Anusara), the details can seem overwhelming. It was like she was talking specifically to me :) I have not felt so judgemental of myself in a yoga class in a while. I have not yet figured out how to isolate many subtle muscles/movements. It is like starting asana all over again, when I had no awareness/connection to many large muscle groups, except now it is much more subtle.

It is a good opportunity for me to observe my thoughts, and keep a sense of humor about them. I've heard people say that "who you are on the mat is who you are off the mat". Sounds silly, but I really started to notice how true that is, I am competitive, judgemental, full of ego, but also, observant, devoted, analytical, and searching for transformation.

Taught a led primary immediately after again. Decided to "take it up a notch". Realized I was becoming to comfy in the role of a teacher who coddles her students. So there was a lot less demo-ing, and a lot less language like "if you feel comfortable..." We'll see how it goes, but I realized I need to hand some of the responsibility to the student.

Things are going well in lab. Had a meeting with my boss this past weekend, about my graduation timeline. We came up with a very reasonable plan to finish up my graduate career, and if all goes well, I'll graduate in (or before) May. It was a great meeting, where I found out that he agrees with me that I've done enough to start writing my dissertation up very soon. It was quite a relief considering he is very hard to read, and could have just as easily told me the opposite. I was ready to defend myself, and present my reasons why I thought I was ready, all this pent up aggression, and I didn't need it at all!

I'm in the process of writing up my second first-author project for publication. I'm flying solo. I'm getting the article to the point where I would be happy submitting it to a journal, and then handing it over to my boss for review. It is actually a fun process, I am such a dork!

It has been really challenging finding a balance amongst all this. The closer I get to graduation, the more in love with Neuroscience I get, the more time I want to spend at lab, and reading the literature. However, I'm more "in love" than ever with yoga. Teaching and practicing. I'm at a place where I feel like I am doing both things half-assed. There just aren't enough hours in the day. But the bottom line is I need both in my life, and am not willing to give either up, so I need to figure out a way to be okay with the way things are :)

Anusara Intensive

I managed to make it to the second installment of the "Anusara Intensive" at Seventh Street Yoga last night with Christina Sell. It was so fun. I think the concepts were basic to those familiar with this form of yoga, but for me, a newbie, it was absolutely perfect. I am so sore in muscles in my back that I didn't even know I had :) I'm so looking forward to next week.

I had to teach a led Ashtanga class immediately after, and my muscles were fatigued. I had 5 people in the class who had not taken an ashtanga class before, so I needed to demo a lot. It was funny because I was shaking and quivering, I bet they thought I was a weenie! :) It was a fun class nonetheless, with a lot of excitement and energy in the students.

This weekend is Hurricane Ike. I'm dreaming up sequences to practice from home since I don't think any studios will be having class. Any suggestions for poses appropriate for hurricanes? :) Nakrasana? Matsayasana? Apanasana? :)

Life in the fast lane...

I had the pleasure of taking a workshop with Johnny Kest this weekend. It was a vinyasa flow class called "Sweat and Tears: Detox Flow". It was, for lack of a better phrase, BAD ASS. We spent the first hour of the class doing the following flow (after a 20 minute meditation on loving kindness, which was beautiful):

Inhale - sweep arms up
Exhale - lateral bend
Inhale - reach up
Exhale - lateral bend other side
Inhale - reach up
Exhale - fold forward, vinyasa to
Navasana
Exhale, lower half way
Inhale, Navasana, repeat three times
Inhale cross shins, vinyasa to,
tripod headstand
balasana
Ustrasana spirals, right side, then left side, repeat three times
Exhale to -downward dog
Inhale right foot forward for warrior one on right side
Exhale - Warrior 2 on right side
Inhale - Reverse Warrior
Exhale - Triangle
Inhale - Revolved Triangle
Half Moon
Revolved Half Moon
Warrior 3, transition without touching foot down to
Tree Pose, then
Garudasana, then
Warrior 3,
vinyasa, repeat Warrior 1 through second warrior 3 on left side
vinyasa to tadasana

REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT, etc. one inhale or exhale per pose.....I was sweating in sheets. Literally, the most I have ever sweat in my life. Hands down.

Ten minutes or so of loving kindness meditation, during which I fulfilled the other promise of the title of the class and wept.

Then after this hour he said, "Okay now we can begin class, you may want to rehydrate...."

Then we left the "warm up" for the detox flow... lots of twisting and lunging.

The class whipped me. Broke me down, brought me to places that I was able to learn things about myself that are usually deeply buried. It was an experience not to be missed. Being broken down, until all the walls fall, and you are naked and ready. To go through the door.

Anyway, the only problem is, I'm now having trouble finding anything that compares :) All other classes, even the ones that seemed challenging, seem like they are happening in slow motion. My thirst for deepening my practice is unquenchable. And that's fun.

Okay, I know this sounds silly...

but I got a buzz from the produce department. Hmmm....

Okay, so here's the story. My husband and I decided to stop on the way home and pick up ingredients to make a fresh/healthier pizza. We walked into Central Market and got pizza dough, skim mozzarella, wine, and then made our way over to the produce department. I was super exhausted, as usual, from another rough week at the lab. When we walked into the produce department, I immediately started to feel better. And not just better, but great, high even! And I wanted to touch, smell, be with all the produce. Sounds really weird, I know, but the prana coming off all those fruits and veggies gave me a huge pick me up. I felt soooo good! Either that, or they pump drugs through the vents ;)

On Saturday we got to spend some quality time with a couple of close friends, Jesse and Meg. It was so good to see them. We had a long leisurely lunch, and caught up. We hadn't seen them in forever! I hope it isn't as long before the next time :)

Conversation

I was chatting with a friend this weekend about the sometimes paradox of teaching yoga classes. It is obvious the students want to "get something out of the class" and "progress". I know most do, I do too as a student. Ironically, the thing to "get" is that you don't need to "progress" or "get anything"....and how to give a good class, where people want to return and yet emphasize that they are already all they need to be and so much more, is beyond me!

Anyway teaching is still blowing my mind on a regular basis. Loving it.

Fun with Yoga

I've put all my eggs in one basket. After next Sunday I will only be teaching at the downtown studio. The multi-location larger than life studio chain is not working out, too many teachers, too few classes, so I gave up my only class (Hatha) I was teaching with them. The energy of the smaller studio is so much more my speed.

So now I'm teaching the one mysore and two led primaries. The mysore class is SLOW going, in terms of getting people to show up. Most students at this studio don't know what it is, and are intimidated by the idea of a silent practice. I can totally relate, it took me over a year to get up the guts to go, and my first class was terrifying. I think that was mostly the teacher, who didn't welcome me or help me even though I said it was my first mysore class, but anyway. So, I print out cheat sheets of the whole primary series, and I encourage people in my led classes to try it, saying I can work with them one-on-one, but maybe that's scary too?

I'm practicing both Ashtanga and Anusara regularly. LOVING the anusara classes. Handstand, headstand, and forearm stand in one class, Yes Please!:) Also the heart openers are so good too, I'm hoping my backbend will open up soon. I do feel some shifitng, like more fascia pulling across the length of my stomach from hips to ribs in Urdhva D, soreness across my chest from spreading my collarbones, and strength and soreness in the back muscles. Plus the variety in the sequencing is really fun.

My day job at the lab is really crazy right now, too. Experiments on top of experiments, I'm drowning in work. So this makes me finding time to practice more difficult but all the more necessary. I've decided that I will practice every other day, at least, and that there is no room for negotiation!

Hope you are all having a nice week :)

Can't.....give.....in.....

To the 100 post curse. I have to push on :)

It has been over 100 degrees here for a long time. Summer in Texas is intense! The thing is, I feel calmer than I have in a while, and I wonder if the heat is burning up my anxiety and unrest. I'm not really doing anything else differently.

Teaching has been taking off. I'm teaching four classes a week now. One mysore, two led, one hatha. Whew! I love it. I feel busy but energized. The best part is, there is a class before or after every class that I teach that I like to take. So it keeps me practicing at least three times a week or so.

I'm really loving teaching that hatha class. It wasn't that long ago that I posted here about my worries with teaching that class. Interestingly, teaching hatha opened up my personal practice. I'm now practicing Ashtanga and Anusara regularly. I have to say they complement one another very nicely! I'm even enjoying writing sequences for my hatha class, the part I dreaded most at the start. Every so often I'll find myself teaching led Ashtanga, and wanting to throw in my own stuff....I resist, but having that urge at all is pretty funny to me :)

Alright, more soon, Thanks Alfia for pushing me along :)

100 Post Curse? - Momentarily Offline

I noticed that my last post to this blog was my 100th post! :)

And then I totally lost all steam to keep posting. I think because I've been working full time at the lab, teaching 5 classes a week, and trying to squeeze in practice and life in between.

As a result, chances are good that I won't post too often until things slow down.

Washington DC at last

I was fortunate enough to travel to Washington DC for a conference this past week. The conference is called RSA or "Research Society on Alcoholism".

It is my favorite yearly conference because this is the one that is solely focused on alcohol research. All the talks and presentations apply directly to my research in some way. It is very different from the larger conferences where there are only a few talks that seem interesting. Everyone reunites once a year, and it is like seeing family. And it is inspiring to see how many people share the common goal of researching about alcohol. I presented some data, too, and that seemed to go over well. :)

I hadn't been to DC since I was 7 or 8 years old, so I didn't remember very much about the city. I fell in love with it over this week. We stayed downtown, so we could walk to a lot of fun sights, restaurants, and shops, and the metro got us anywhere else we needed to go. I've never lived in a city that had such good public transportation, and now that I know how great it is, that will be a factor in the next place I move.

There wasn't time for much else besides the conference, but I was able to squeeze in an afternoon with Alfia! It was great to finally meet her. She was kind enough to show me around the lab at the NIH and then took me to Great Falls state park. (Which is absolutely beautiful, I highly recommend it, apparently really good for rock climbing, too). Aflia is such a lovely person with a huge heart. She teaches free classes at the NIH for her co-workers! Even though we had only met this one time, she took the afternoon off to show me around. We spent time talking about science and yoga, and she showed me some nifty tricks to open up the hips for Supta Kurmasana. :) Can't wait til the next neuroscience conference in DC this november!

Next time I am in DC I am going to make it a goal to go to "Georgetown Yoga" and "Ashtanga Yoga Center". And I'm sure I'll write about it here.

Yucky! Fun! and Turtles!

I was sooo sick for the past few days! Some kind of flu or bug or something.

I haven't been sick like that since I was a kid! So glad it is over.

I'm traveling to DC on Thursday for a conference. I'm hoping to meet up with Alfia for yoga and science! Ooooh, fun!

So, this question is pretty played out, but I'm still struggling with Supta Kurmasana feeling in any way comfortable...For those of you who had to work at it, and open up the body to get into this pose...Any tips on what to do to open up the body. Should I hang out while watching TV each night holding my leg behind my head one at a time? Should I dislocate my hips? JK ;)

Anusarashtangi

Huh.

I went to my second Anusara class ever tonight. The first one was almost two years ago, and I hated it. All the details, all the concern over alignment, etc.

Well I went to my second one tonight, and I don't know if it was the atmosphere or the teacher or me being ready to receive it, but I freaking loved it. LOVED IT.

I even had my first emotional release during savasana. Small bubbles of sadness breaking the surface. I feel like I unloaded some baggage, and I can only figure that all that heart opening was good for me. I must hold my vulnerability and anxiety in my chest. I am working on mobility in my upper back and chest lately because I find that area to be very inflexible. I think Anusara may be a perfect complement to my Ashtanga practice :) Hurray!

I also think it was fun to practice poses that I usually don't. At one point the teacher was like, "Okay everyone take a partner, and work on Pincha Mayurasana". I was grinning from ear to ear. Like I was being naughty.

I have a feeling there is more Anusara in my future :)

Chitta Vritti Meme

At the request of my dear Alfia, I have posted the following, my first meme! :)

The rules:
1. Post the rules of the game at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read the player’s blog.
4. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

What were you doing five years ago?

Working as a lab manager at Duke University in Durham NC, preparing to move to Austin, TX for my PhD

What are five things on your to-do list for today?
Dishes
Groceries
Practice
Go to Lab
Doggy Play Date


What are five snacks you enjoy?

Dried cranberries
Nuts
Edamame
Baked Lays
Oranges


What are five things you would do if you were a billionaire?

Buy a house and car (let's get the selfishness out of the way)
Open a holistic wellness center
Travel A LOT
Support Research in various fields
Donate to a different charity every day

What are five of your bad habits?

Procrastination
Too much TV
Eating too much
Celebrity Gossip Blogs
Sleeping too much


What are five places where you have lived?
Florida
Wisconsin
North Carolina
South Carolina
Texas

What are five jobs you’ve had?

Projectionist at a movie theater
RA in college
Data Manager at a CRO
Salesperson at an Art Gallery
Research Scientist


These are the five people I tag:
I'm kinda late in the game, so I didn't tag anyone :) Am I bad ? ;)

Safety First

I went to a wonderful Ashtanga workshop this weekend. It was called "Modifications and Injury Prevention". Sounds sexy huh? No seriously it was a really good workshop. We talked a lot about the relationship between the neck and low back, the low ribs and the low back, and ways to keep wrists, knees, low back, neck, and shoulders safe.

The main points that I took away are:
-If you want to open the upper back during backbending, and keep your low back from bearing the brunt, you can visualize tucking the low ribs back, drawing them towards the back, while lifting the sternum. Sounds impossible, but I felt an opening across the front of the chest that I hadn't before.
-If you have low back problems, keep the head an extension of the spine. For example, when folding forward during surya namaskara, the head stays exactly as it is when standing in tadasana. Instead of crunching the back of the neck and looking forward as you fold, which creates a deeper, more unsafe curve in the low back, keep the neck long, keep reaching through the crown of the head in a straight line with the spine at all times.
-In cataranga, make sure most of the work stays in the upper back instead of the front and tops of the shoulders by concentrating on gluing the shoulder blades to your back and drawing them down your back. I was sore sore in my serratus anterior muscles (just below the shoulder blades) from my cataranga. This small change is much safer for the shoulders and wrists.

It is going to take a while for all of these changes to become naturally assimilated into my practice. But it was really fun to be so present and active in the practice, instead of going through the motions, much more work, but much more fun!

To the Happy New Couple!

I just returned from a week in Chapel Hill for my Mom's wedding. It was one of the most fantastic weeks I've ever had. We stayed at a new hotel on Franklin Street, with me, my hubby, my Mom and her fiance in the penthouse suite. We were surrounded by family and friends and spent every moment enjoying life to the fullest.

I was honored to be the matron of honor, and the ceremony was both beautiful and moving. It is so joyous to see two people truly in love, pledge this to one another, and share it with the people they are closest to. The reception was full of laughter and love, it was truly a magical day.

I'm back in Texas, gearing up to get back to work, both at the lab and at the two yoga studios here in town. It is bittersweet to be back, I realized that I miss my family and NC even more than I thought, I sobbed as the plane took off and carried us away. It is nice though to be sad because you love so much and are loved so much.

My mom and I have always been close, but this week took us to another level of closeness. We shopped, planned, got our hair cut and done, had manis and pedis, cuddled, shared our thoughts, ate and drank, and spent some serious quality time together. I also bonded even more closely to my new father-in-law who I'm already referring to as "Dad" :) I liked him very much right from the start, but I feel more and more love for him the more I get to know him. He takes very good care of my Mom and it is obvious he really really loves her.

To the happy new couple! I miss you already! Congratulations!

Ahhhh, So excited! :)

So it isn't official yet, because I don't start until June. BUT, I am too excited not to write about it. It looks like I'll be teaching four led Ashtanga classes a week here in town.

I met with the owner, and the vibe was awesome! She and I seem to be on the same wavelength. I want to be a part of a studio that wants to build a community around it, and that is truly passionate about yoga, and not just money. She seems to want the same things ( as well as to make some money, I mean come on I get that :) ), and that is so exciting to me!

It is a beautiful space with bamboo floors and buddhas, and an energy that is very pure and soothing.

Ooooh I hope this isn't too good to be true! :)

Sake it to me!

We had a sake tasting at my house this past weekend. It was supposed to be a theme party, like our beers of the world party a year ago. Turns out people get drunk fast when tasting lots of different kinds of sake...The beer party went til the wee hours of the morn....this one....everyone was gone by midnight;P It was fun though.

I had to teach the next morning at 9 am. I wrote out a complete class sequence just in case I wasn't in the best shape. Luckily I was very well behaved at the party and teaching class was fine. It is really interesting sequencing classes every week. It makes me appreciate the primary series that much more. I often struggle to put everything I think my students will need in one class, in a nice little package with a bow on it like the primary series...but I am not the yoga architect Guruji is :)

It really is fun to teach this class, I have a couple regulars that come every time, and even let me know when they won't be able to make it. That is pretty special to me, that they enjoy it enough to make the effort to come. It really is an honor and a pleasure to teach.

Leggo my Ego

I've been struggling a lot with ego lately. I watched this movie "revolver" by Guy Ritchie, which sums it up quite nicely that our worst enemy is inside our head making us believe it is our best friend. It is insidious and ever so difficult to tease it apart from the truth. It seems the more aware I am of my ego, the more frustrated I am by its presence.

At work, I struggle with feeling competitive with others. If they learn to swim, I do not drown, so why would I be so threatened? I get angry at myself for feeling this way. I want to feel more love for those around me.

With yoga, I struggle with comparing myself to other teachers or practitioners. Again, their success does not impede my own, so why would I ever be bothered by it.

It has been pretty intense lately. I am hoping it has come to a frenzy point because I am confronting it. I am also hopeful that I am on the precipice of some great transformation. Last night at a party, a friend of mine did a brief tarot reading for me. My card was the wheel of fortune, which stands for truth, enlightenment, and the constancy of change. In the reading he said my mantra for now should be "I am now ready for the miracle of my lifetime". Boy am I ever.

Happy Weekend All!

Reunion

Tomorrow my husband and I are going back to Chapel Hill, NC for a reunion. We are super excited!!! I can't tell you how much I miss the east coast. Anyway, it will be a weekend of fun, food, drink, and craziness.

I'm still running daily, and thanks everyone for the comments on how to keep my muscles long and flexy. Alfia, I think it was you who said that after a while the muscles would get used to it, and I would regain flexibility. You were very right, I'm glad I just keep pushing through.

Practice has been here and there where I can squeeze it in. I haven't been to a group mysore or led class in what seems like forever, but I'm really enjoying my private time :) Practice is always different when you are alone, I always seem to push myself harder and take risks I don't usually take in front of others. I think I'm afraid of embarrassing myself in a class.

Anyway, everyone have a wonderful weekend, I'll post on my return on Tuesday!

Publish or Perish

Today I found out that a project that I have been working on for over three years is finally completed. After three frustrating submissions to the journal "Neuroscience", it was accepted today!

HURRAY!!!!!

It is also my first first-author paper. I am walking on cloud nine!

Homesick for a place I've never been (and for one that I have)

I've been reading A LOT lately. I wasn't a reader really, until a couple of weeks ago. Except for a few phases in high school, I would read what I had to to get by in my classes and at work. But something happened and now I'm insatiable. Ordering books off Amazon in groups :) Groups of Neuroscience books, and groups of Yoga books, and mixed groups, oh my!

One common theme of my yoga related readings is the pilgrimage. I'm reading about these personal quests, and I have a longing to go on one myself. That is very much not an option right now, so I read about others', but it really feels like homesickness. I'd love to travel to an Ashram and study/practice yoga for months on end, but with a year left on my PhD, that is not an option. The funny thing is, I read these books because of my homesickness, and they only make it worse. Maybe I could take a pilgrimage without going anywhere, but that seems so much harder.

My husband and I are traveling back to Chapel Hill in just over a week. It is where we met, and where we dated, and where he proposed. It's no surprise that I have very fond memories of it. I'm homesick for that place, too. We have even been discussing moving back there once we have both graduated. Just the thought of it puts a smile on my face. The best part is that we are going there for a reunion of our friends from college. It will be like old times :)

Short practice last night. Still tight hamstrings and hip flexors, but I do feel a stability in my pelvis that hasn't been there before.

Tonight we are going to see The Kids In The Hall on tour. Really looking forward to that, it should be a good laugh. And apparently if you hang out after the show, they come out to sign things and take pictures with you!

Ooooooh - Tight Hammys!

Practice this morning was not fun. My husband and I bought an elliptical machine for our home, because we are both busy, and want to be able to have a quick workout. So I've been running on it a lot lately, and my hamstrings, hip flexors, and quadriceps are TIIII-IIIGHT.

I like the cardiovascular fitness aspect of including this workout, it is much easier to keep a slow, fluid, controlled breath during Surya Namaskar for example. However, I'm not sure about this whole tightening up thing!

Any runners out there have any suggestions? I always do a long Paschimattanasana, Badha Konasana, and Supta Virasana after I run...but any other ideas would be greatly appreciated! :)

On the Roster

I'm officially on the schedule at my favorite studio in town. It's a large studio, with four locations, 129 teachers total! It is an honor to be part of the community. However,......

I'm a brat and still found a reason to be unhappy with it. They gave me a Hatha class. I wanted to teach an Ashtanga class, but we have many many talented Ashtanga teachers, and I'm the new kid on the block. They all returned, so no Ashtanga class for me.

I can think of many reasons why I'll enjoy teaching Hatha, but it feels weird to teach something I don't practice. And yes, I realize Ashtanga can be considered a form of Hatha yoga, and that I can teach the same asanas....but I feel out of my element just the same. The mentality of the students is a bit different, and I'm afraid I won't be able to relate to them as well. I'm surprised by my own prejudice.

I can't help but think this must be happening for some reason. And in the past I've really enjoyed teaching Hatha classes, so I'm going to go forward whole-heartedly :) I feel really lucky to be able to bring yoga to anyone, in any form.

Enough ranting and raving. Namaste.

Okay, so now it is the sacrum

Since I have been getting incredible advice from you guys and gals about my ailments, lets chat about one more.

Now, it's my sacrum. This time I injured it bowling of all places! I was bowling (which I haven't done in over 7 years) with a ball that was way too heavy for me (because it was a busy night and all the light ones were gone). And with the first roll, I felt the left SI joint separate, and owee!!!

So, I've been practicing anyway, and it really isn't bothering my practice...but does anyone have any tips on resetting or soothing the sacrum? :) And, anyone out there with this type of problem, which poses do you find irritate it?

Thanks to all! :) Namaste! And Happy St. Patty's Day!!!

Sternum in Supta Kurmasana

Ouch! My sternum is sore! I've been trying to make a strong effort to open the chest (drawing the shoulders down and back) in Supta Kurmasana, but the pain is getting worse, I'm thinking my ribcage may crack in half! Anyone else experience this?

My blog has turned into a request for advice lately, I guess that is because I'm encountering new frontiers in my practice that I hadn't reached before.

Thanks for all the comments on standing up from backbends...going to work on it and get back to you! :)

Dropping Back

Okay, so I never thought I'd say this, but.....dropping back is fun and feels lovely.

BUT< how the devil do you stand back up? :)

Morning Mysore

For the past week almost I have been practicing morning Mysore with Russell Case and his wife Sally Evans. They are visiting, and have regular classes in Taipei. They are fantastic. If you get the chance to do a workshop or mysore or visit them, do it! :)

They work as a team, adjusting in what seems like every pose, and they are on the same wavelength, so from day to day, I'm not sure who gave the adjustment. Russell has managed to get me to do dropbacks by myself in the first four days of class.

It feels really good to practice Mysore style so early in the morning. Our mysore program was cancelled at my regular studio, so I'm going to have to switch, or get my butt out of bed and practice at home.

I'm teaching often. I gave up my permanent position at a studio in a small town north of Austin. It was a dance/yoga/massage/spanish tutoring/cpr training/etc/etc place, and I couldn't handle the owner's small-mindedness about yoga. The worst part was that she would talk about yoga as if she personally practiced it and would give advice/diagnose students.

Anyway, so now I'm subbing A LOT at Yoga Yoga here in town, and I'm loving it. It is nice to pick up classes when other parts of my life are slower, and resist the urge to sub when I don't have the time. I'm hoping to be on their regular schedule starting this summer, but we shall see if they have room. It also has a nice yogic community feel to it. People encourage chanting, instead of fearing it :)

Yoga, yoga, yoga

February 1st-3rd I was fortunate enough to attend a weekend workshop with David Swenson. It was fantastic. I had only ever attended a mysore style class with him. He has the most wonderful way of making anything about Ashtanga yoga accessible. There were several asanas, or parts of asanas, or little issues that I was close to "getting", that I "got" over that weekend. I plan to do his 40 hour teacher training as soon as humanly possible.

February 9th and 10th I taught 5 yoga classes! A restorative, prenatal, ashtanga, hatha flow, and private lesson! I'll never do that again. It sounds wimpy, but teaching three classes in one day is just not comfortable for me. Maybe it comes with experience, but props to those of you who manage to teach so freaking often! I have three regular classes a week right now, and sub whenever I can squeeze it in. That is more than enough for me.

My practice is about three times a week right now, which feels perfect at the moment. Not too aggressive to aggravate my back, not too few and far between to regress. And it seems to be enough to keep my mind at an even keel.

Tonight, the hubby and some friends and I are going to a Yoga/Wine/Chocolate party at a Lululemon showroom. The event is free, so the hubby and I decided it is how we would celebrate Valentine's Day. I'm excited about it, and plan to buy a piece of clothing from the showroom, because I don't have any of theirs yet, but have heard good things....seems kinda pricey though. In the past I've found spending more money per item, and buying less items is the way to go...so we'll see.

It is so obvious

It's obvious to me now that I avoid blogging about my practice when I am disenchanted with it. For the past couple months, I have not had a very regular practice. Here and there, and sometimes nowhere to be found.

So, as you have guessed, I am feeling a little better about it, so here I am blogging again. I went to a workshop this weekend with Russell Case and Sally Evans. That was a great way to kick start my practice back into gear. He is very insightful and focuses on the details of every movement in a way that I had never done before.

The morning mysore has been cancelled near me, so I will be venturing forth on my own, or in evening led classes. I'm okay with it, I like the freedom of the mixture.

Oh, and I'm finally teaching a couple led primary series classes every week. Really fun to have a regular gig!