Thursday was a day full of yoga. I missed the first yoga class, but was the only person in the Lunchtime Yoga with Adi, which is kind of a shame, because he's a great teacher, but was also great for me because I got lots of individual attention. He helped guide me into poses and really feel where the stretch and the opening was happening in my body. As usual, he was joking around, and he said that laughing is good for the abdominal muscles. That's the kind of health advice I love to hear!
In the evening, Brecken Chinn Schwartz teaches a wonderful class. She's about the sweetest person on earth. She like to have class participants lay their mats out at a gentle angle from the front of the room, like the veins of a leaf, and related a lot of her philosophy of yoga to the natural world.
She told us that Ashtanga Yoga is just one of the kinds of practices, with others like meditation and living deliberately and consciously being others. She invited us to tell the class what our personal yoga is, the thing we concentrate on and give our energy and mind. Hers is her adopted daughter, whom I met when we both rode for the fist time in a parade together (Greenbelt's Labor Day Parade). Mine is nurturing and discovering myself so that I can understand the world better. This week certainly helped to do that.
We did Sun Salutations (a series of yoga poses that energize, stretch and strengthen) with some interesting variations each time we did a new series.
One of the best parts about Brecken's class is that, as we lie in shivasana, or corpse pose, at the end to rest our bodies and concentrate again on our breathing, Brecken comes around to each class participant and offers a light face, neck and shoulder massage. Man, that is worth the class admission price right there! I looked up as she bent over me and we exchanged a wonderful smile. She really radiates caring.
I felt really ready for Kripalu Flow I/II with Joel, which came immediately afterward. Joel also teaches Yoga for Martial Artists and Athletes, which i imagine is a really vigorous and MANLY yoga practice. I've never been in it, but would probably be a good way for a man interested in yoga to give it a shot. If you've done martial arts, you've done a practice like yoga.
One thing I noticed is that by the time I took his class, my strength had improved -- just over one week. In a class a week or so ago with Joel, he asked us to go into plank position, which is like holding at the top of a pushup. Then he told us to lower to just about one inch off the floor and relax all the muscles we weren't using in the pose. Whoa. I have about zero upper body strength, so I was holding on with everything I had. With my last bit of energy I asked out loud, "And which muscles would that be?" He said, "Oh, your ears!"
But this week, as we went into plank position, I could hold it much longer. I could go into plank at the top of the pushup, lower myself and curl my spine backwards and raise my chin into Cobra pose, lower to just above the floor (the low Plank position), then push in with my hands and lift my hips up into Downward Dog. Without stopping!
I also lost five pounds this week. That was a bonus I hadn't expected. My goal was to relax, to have a fun vacation without going away, and to keep my mind in good shape too. But hey, I'll take a little slimming as well.
Today, Friday, I had a massage at Pleasant Touch, the salon that houses Greenbelt Om. My one-hour massage with John was great. He really knows how to take care of your muscles and nerves, how to find the knots and gently massage them out, and he uses wonderful calming oils to enhance the experience.
The rest of the day I just rested at home, and listened to books on tape. A wonderful way to end the relaxation vacation!
My last post will be DIY Yogacation: things I learned along the way and tips for how to yogacate yourself.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Day 3 -- Yoga is sooo hard!
So I just got back from Yoga Nidra, Sleeping Yoga, and I am kinda mad. 'Cause I slept though the whole thing!!!
I did sleep through it, but I'm not mad. I'm relaxed. I heard from other participants (there were about 20, I think; it was really popular) that they were able to achieve very deep relaxation. There will be another one in late October, and I hope to go to that one and stay awake during the Sleeping Yoga. Wait -- is that a good goal?
Before that, there was Meditative Yoga with Jennifer, which I used to attend before Greenbelt Om even existed. This is a really interesting style of yoga that I'd never run into before. One of her special techniques is tension and release. She has you strongly tense and quickly release various parts of your body: feet, lower legs, knees, upper legs, and so on, up to even the scalp. I asked her how I can really release the tension, because I'm better at clenching than relaxing. She said to either think of the release as a sudden gush of water, or not to clench so tightly so that I can release more easily. I tried her first suggestion and it was pretty helpful. I found that releasing my breath sharply as I released the tensed area was the most effective way.
I would highly recommend this class to people who want to get into yoga. The postures aren't too difficult, and Jennifer has a beautiful voice and a really understanding way of conducting the class. One of the best parts is that she sings at the end of the class. She sings to you to relax the various parts of your body. She sings to your feet and to your scalp and everything in between.
Lunchtime Yoga, with Adi Trakich substituting for Debbie Martin, was just as advertised. Really vigorous, and definitely for the most advanced. I don't know how Debbie teaches, but Adi was a delight.
Adi the Hottie was a hilarious teacher, cracking jokes and enjoying the squirrels outside the windows. He asked us to tell the class something about ourselves as well as just our names. If there had been a yoga scene in the book "Everything is Illuminated", Adi would have been there.
At some point, Adi did this complicated move where he basically bent over sideways, clasped his arms between his legs, then stood up on one leg and held the other leg out upwards. He encouraged us to do it too ("Obviously you all have PhD's in yoga") but I just sort of stared in amazement, coming out of the pose he had talked us into, just to watch him do it. One other woman in the class was also able to do it. Clearly I have (maybe) a bachelor's degree in yoga, compared to them.
But I'll be back tomorrow for more yogacation. In other yogacation news, I didn't take any naps today, except --ahem-- at yoga class. I went to the dentist and it was the most funnest dentist visit ever. Tomorrow I plan to buy shoes. This is just grueling, I tell you.
I did sleep through it, but I'm not mad. I'm relaxed. I heard from other participants (there were about 20, I think; it was really popular) that they were able to achieve very deep relaxation. There will be another one in late October, and I hope to go to that one and stay awake during the Sleeping Yoga. Wait -- is that a good goal?
Before that, there was Meditative Yoga with Jennifer, which I used to attend before Greenbelt Om even existed. This is a really interesting style of yoga that I'd never run into before. One of her special techniques is tension and release. She has you strongly tense and quickly release various parts of your body: feet, lower legs, knees, upper legs, and so on, up to even the scalp. I asked her how I can really release the tension, because I'm better at clenching than relaxing. She said to either think of the release as a sudden gush of water, or not to clench so tightly so that I can release more easily. I tried her first suggestion and it was pretty helpful. I found that releasing my breath sharply as I released the tensed area was the most effective way.
I would highly recommend this class to people who want to get into yoga. The postures aren't too difficult, and Jennifer has a beautiful voice and a really understanding way of conducting the class. One of the best parts is that she sings at the end of the class. She sings to you to relax the various parts of your body. She sings to your feet and to your scalp and everything in between.
Lunchtime Yoga, with Adi Trakich substituting for Debbie Martin, was just as advertised. Really vigorous, and definitely for the most advanced. I don't know how Debbie teaches, but Adi was a delight.
Adi the Hottie was a hilarious teacher, cracking jokes and enjoying the squirrels outside the windows. He asked us to tell the class something about ourselves as well as just our names. If there had been a yoga scene in the book "Everything is Illuminated", Adi would have been there.
At some point, Adi did this complicated move where he basically bent over sideways, clasped his arms between his legs, then stood up on one leg and held the other leg out upwards. He encouraged us to do it too ("Obviously you all have PhD's in yoga") but I just sort of stared in amazement, coming out of the pose he had talked us into, just to watch him do it. One other woman in the class was also able to do it. Clearly I have (maybe) a bachelor's degree in yoga, compared to them.
But I'll be back tomorrow for more yogacation. In other yogacation news, I didn't take any naps today, except --ahem-- at yoga class. I went to the dentist and it was the most funnest dentist visit ever. Tomorrow I plan to buy shoes. This is just grueling, I tell you.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Day 2 of Yogacation
Lots of yoga today. I did Super Gentle Yoga with Melissa this morning. I never knew that so much yoga could be done in a chair. We set up folding chairs and never left them for the entire class time. They were poses that could easily and not very embarrassingly be done at work. Also good for older folks -- in fact Melissa said she teaches a class at a senior center.
After some strenuous shopping and napping in the middle of the day, I headed out in the evening and did Carol's Kripalu II and and I. The advanced class is held at 6:00 pm, the beginner class at 7:30 pm. I wasn't sure I would be able to do two classes in a row, but I did! It was like one long flow, since the vigorous practice came first and then a gentler sequence. I could definitely do that again. It was like blanking out of the world for a few hours straight in a much more healthy way than an after-work cocktail. During the advanced class I even noticed I had a faster heart rate for about 15 minutes, like a little cardio workout. If you're an advanced student, stay for the later class to prolong your practice. I was able to get more relaxed over the three hours than I would have with just a 1.5 hour session.
After some strenuous shopping and napping in the middle of the day, I headed out in the evening and did Carol's Kripalu II and and I. The advanced class is held at 6:00 pm, the beginner class at 7:30 pm. I wasn't sure I would be able to do two classes in a row, but I did! It was like one long flow, since the vigorous practice came first and then a gentler sequence. I could definitely do that again. It was like blanking out of the world for a few hours straight in a much more healthy way than an after-work cocktail. During the advanced class I even noticed I had a faster heart rate for about 15 minutes, like a little cardio workout. If you're an advanced student, stay for the later class to prolong your practice. I was able to get more relaxed over the three hours than I would have with just a 1.5 hour session.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Day 1 of Yogacation
Ohhhhhh boy oh boy oh boy! First day of yogacation was great. I did Lunchtime Mixed Level Kripalu with Joel. It was athletic and yet calming, in that great way that yoga is. Joel explained during the class that Hatha means sun and moon, and I guess it was like exercising both the mind and the body so that they become one -- that's what yoga means, "union". Joel came around to the people in class a lot and helped deepen our poses, making sure that we were in the right position. He encouraged us to wiggle around a little in each posture, to explore the motions of what our bodies could do.
We did a hip lifting exercise that Joel says you start to crave after a while, because there're really not many other ways of exercising those particular muscles. I don't know what it's called, but here's what it's like: In a sitting position, you stretch your legs out in front of you. Then swing the left leg around behind you, and crook both legs at the knee. Put your hands on the floor and pulse your front hip up. I haven't become addicted yet, but it's a pose I've only encountered at Greenbelt Om. I think I've done it in Kripalu with Carol too.
I thought I could only be addicted to forward bends. I love that pose. By bending over forward and reaching for the floor, your spine gets stretched, your gluteous maxiumus gets stretched, the backs of your legs get stretched and blood comes into your head. A great pose for serious desk jockeys like me.
Disclaimer: I am not an instructor! please don't try these poses if you don't know them. Go to Greenbelt Om and get them to teach you.
The other thing that Joel said was that there are two ways of relaxing your mind. One of these ways I'd never heard of before. The one that I had already heard of was, when thoughts enter your mind and distract you from thinking about your breathing, acknowledge them and then let them go. This is a really good technique because it's easy for my mind to wander and get engaged in all sorts of conversations with myself and then I forget to think about breathing. However, it sometimes takes a while for me to realize that I'm thinking about other stuff because that other stuff is in my head all day, and I barely notice that it's going on. So the new technique that Joel mentioned was kind of the opposite of the usual advice: when noises and feelings and stuff are surrounding you (I'm paraphrasing his words wildly here) let them build up, concentrate on them... and eventually so much noise mixes all together and becomes white noise. Then your breathing is till there and you can concentrate on it. I tried that as he was speaking about it, and it worked. It could be especially helpful when life is really stressful and there's a lot of "noise" already. I plan to try it at Christmas.
I missed the Monday evening class, Mixed Level Kripalu with Laura, because I am in a group therapy session. That's one reason I have been planning to make my vacation filled with yoga, to keep up with exercise and to calm my mental state because group therapy is so intense. I'm glad to be on vacation because we've been understaffed by two senior-level employees over the past couple of months. We've filled both those positions now, and I planned this vacation so that it would start as soon as the new people came on board. So whew! Work's getting done -- without me -- and I'm sooo enjoying the time off. I went to a local restaurant that I hadn't been to yet, and brought home takeout. My boyfriend and I watched a movie and ate our Thai food. Maybe that doesn't sound particularly exciting, but it sure was stressfree. Also, today, I took a nap on the hammock. Life is good.
We did a hip lifting exercise that Joel says you start to crave after a while, because there're really not many other ways of exercising those particular muscles. I don't know what it's called, but here's what it's like: In a sitting position, you stretch your legs out in front of you. Then swing the left leg around behind you, and crook both legs at the knee. Put your hands on the floor and pulse your front hip up. I haven't become addicted yet, but it's a pose I've only encountered at Greenbelt Om. I think I've done it in Kripalu with Carol too.
I thought I could only be addicted to forward bends. I love that pose. By bending over forward and reaching for the floor, your spine gets stretched, your gluteous maxiumus gets stretched, the backs of your legs get stretched and blood comes into your head. A great pose for serious desk jockeys like me.
Disclaimer: I am not an instructor! please don't try these poses if you don't know them. Go to Greenbelt Om and get them to teach you.
The other thing that Joel said was that there are two ways of relaxing your mind. One of these ways I'd never heard of before. The one that I had already heard of was, when thoughts enter your mind and distract you from thinking about your breathing, acknowledge them and then let them go. This is a really good technique because it's easy for my mind to wander and get engaged in all sorts of conversations with myself and then I forget to think about breathing. However, it sometimes takes a while for me to realize that I'm thinking about other stuff because that other stuff is in my head all day, and I barely notice that it's going on. So the new technique that Joel mentioned was kind of the opposite of the usual advice: when noises and feelings and stuff are surrounding you (I'm paraphrasing his words wildly here) let them build up, concentrate on them... and eventually so much noise mixes all together and becomes white noise. Then your breathing is till there and you can concentrate on it. I tried that as he was speaking about it, and it worked. It could be especially helpful when life is really stressful and there's a lot of "noise" already. I plan to try it at Christmas.
I missed the Monday evening class, Mixed Level Kripalu with Laura, because I am in a group therapy session. That's one reason I have been planning to make my vacation filled with yoga, to keep up with exercise and to calm my mental state because group therapy is so intense. I'm glad to be on vacation because we've been understaffed by two senior-level employees over the past couple of months. We've filled both those positions now, and I planned this vacation so that it would start as soon as the new people came on board. So whew! Work's getting done -- without me -- and I'm sooo enjoying the time off. I went to a local restaurant that I hadn't been to yet, and brought home takeout. My boyfriend and I watched a movie and ate our Thai food. Maybe that doesn't sound particularly exciting, but it sure was stressfree. Also, today, I took a nap on the hammock. Life is good.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Getting Ready to Go Om
Ahh, to live stress-free for a week -- I can't wait. I'll be taking my yoga-cation September 24-28, and taking as many classes at Greenbelt Om as possible.
What I really like about my yoga-cation is that I can do it right from home. I can sleep in my own bed, take long walks with my dogs every day, treat myself to lunch at the New Deal, hang out in the library -- all the things I would do, if only I had more time and less to worry about. And if I get really ambitious I may even paint my kitchen, and other things I keep meaning to get to. Usually I'm too tired after a day at work to do the bigger projects, but with some openings in my time -- and in my mental state -- I may feel like doing them. On the other hand, I may not! Woo-hooo! I get to choose, and do whatever I like.
I'm looking forward to doing yoga in the morning, though I'm not a morning person. Usually mornings are such a drag -- getting out of bed just seems like a bad way to start the day :) . Yoga will open my eyes at my own pace, and all that stretching and musclework will give me the kind of vigor I don't get at the desk.
I discovered yoga on another yoga-cation, one to a tiny town on the Yucatan peninsula. There, right next to the beach, we slept in stone-floored cottages under mosquito netting and sunbathed between yoga classes. It was a great introduction to yoga -- I couldn't have helped liking that vacation even if they had given me papercuts all day long or something.
This time, I'm doing the yogacation homestyle, with all my own comforts around me. And it's waaay cheaper.
I will try to do the evening back-to-back yoga classes (on Tuesdays and Thursdays, one class ends at 7:15 and another starts at 7:30) but I might get noodle-legs between the first class and the second.
I'm not all Yoda about this yoga -- there IS try, not just "do or do not." I figure that's what yoga is about -- trying your best to clear your mind, open your heart, achieve your posture. You don't have to make it perfect. You just have to listen to your body and your mind, and try to be.
What I really like about my yoga-cation is that I can do it right from home. I can sleep in my own bed, take long walks with my dogs every day, treat myself to lunch at the New Deal, hang out in the library -- all the things I would do, if only I had more time and less to worry about. And if I get really ambitious I may even paint my kitchen, and other things I keep meaning to get to. Usually I'm too tired after a day at work to do the bigger projects, but with some openings in my time -- and in my mental state -- I may feel like doing them. On the other hand, I may not! Woo-hooo! I get to choose, and do whatever I like.
I'm looking forward to doing yoga in the morning, though I'm not a morning person. Usually mornings are such a drag -- getting out of bed just seems like a bad way to start the day :) . Yoga will open my eyes at my own pace, and all that stretching and musclework will give me the kind of vigor I don't get at the desk.
I discovered yoga on another yoga-cation, one to a tiny town on the Yucatan peninsula. There, right next to the beach, we slept in stone-floored cottages under mosquito netting and sunbathed between yoga classes. It was a great introduction to yoga -- I couldn't have helped liking that vacation even if they had given me papercuts all day long or something.
This time, I'm doing the yogacation homestyle, with all my own comforts around me. And it's waaay cheaper.
I will try to do the evening back-to-back yoga classes (on Tuesdays and Thursdays, one class ends at 7:15 and another starts at 7:30) but I might get noodle-legs between the first class and the second.
I'm not all Yoda about this yoga -- there IS try, not just "do or do not." I figure that's what yoga is about -- trying your best to clear your mind, open your heart, achieve your posture. You don't have to make it perfect. You just have to listen to your body and your mind, and try to be.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
September 4—Dream of Yoga-cation
Seems like a long weekend just isn't long enough. I didn’t get away from work this summer, so I seriously need some relaxing. I want to stay home, chill out, play with my dog, but not get bored. Also, I'm cheap. Sounds like I need a yoga-cation.
What's a yoga-cation? Well, it's like taking a vacation, only without plane tickets, passports, travel irons, or toting rolley luggage everywhere. I got a pass to Greenbelt Om online (that was stress-free), and I told my boss I'll be off for a week (that felt good too). Now I'm just going to show up to every class Greenbelt Om has – well, except that prenatal one, probably – and have a rich, relaxing yoga-cation.
I've also scheduled a couple massages at Pleasant Touch, since they help me de-stress too. I can go right from a massage into yoga class or from yoga into a massage. I feel better just thinking about it!
I'll chronicle my experiences with the yoga-cation over the week I take it. Already, just knowing it's coming up, I feel more relaxed and open.
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