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 :)