Tag Archives: yoga

lighting up the whole sky

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Tonight, I went on my fastest 1.5 mile run yet. Then, I came home and knew that I needed to immediately do yoga (it’s a quick post-run yoga that really stretches you out so you’re not sore the next day.)

I have done this particular sequence several times after runs, and I find that it really has me focusing and stretching all the muscles that tighten soon after I do my yoga, sit down, and relax for the evening. Taking that twenty minutes does wonders for me feeling crappy the next day.

Because Jeff and I were doing laundry tonight, I need a fast dinner pre-laundromat (oh, the days when we can have a house and laundry at home!) So I cut up a sweet potato into crinkle fries, seasoned with olive oil and curry, stuck it in the oven at 400, and went to do my yoga.

After it was over, I realized that after the Namaste, and the reminder that all beautiful yoga videos come out of Canada, there was a quote that I had never noticed/seen before, either in this video or around the Internet:

Even after all this time
The sun never says to the earth
“You owe me”
Look what happens with a love like that
It lights the whole sky

And so, I leave you with that, to interpret how you see fit. I think it’s a lovely thought, and it energized me on this Wednesday night.

Happy almost-Thursday, my friends.

Namaste.

i could live by the light in your eyes.

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It’s Friday, folks, which means the weekend is nearly here. Soccer starts anew this weekend, and we’re also having one of my famous LA-family events (our yearly Christmas Tree bonfire) so I have a lot to look forward to.

christmastree1

This is from circa 2011, or maybe 2010. Unclear, but one thing is clear: it is tons and tons of fun!

This week I have had a chance to run three miles, and I have done yoga four days in a row, which means I am not feeling super sore after running – definitely a plus if I am going to find my running stride, again, and enjoy running without having major injuries/setbacks.

I have also signed on to a seven mile run in mid-March, which has led to me finding a good training schedule that allows me to ease slowly back into my life without feeling overcommitted or underprepared for the race.

What kind of training schedules do you guys use for running? Do you listen to music, books on tape? I have been listening to The Katniss Chronicles, but I am on the last episode (oh no!) and now I am debating between catching up on RadioLab or coming up with some poppy mixes for 2014.

Happy Friday, you guys! Stay warm, lovelies!

Drinkers and jokers // all soul searchers

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Happy Tuesday, everyone! We’ve made it through Monday with flying colors, and for that I am happy. There is a week and a half until I head to Chicago to see all of my family, and any day that flies by to make that closer is a a good day in my book!

Today is my 9th day of my 25 days of yoga, and so far, so good. It helps that Jeff has joined the challenge, too, so when I have to hit the mat I have often had a friend to do so with – hitting the mat when a warm couch and lovely Christmas tree standing by can be hard, but flowing with loved ones makes it that much easier.

As we fly into a week of holiday dinners, parties, and general merriment, I am doing my best to pre-schedule the yoga to ensure it happens in a timely manner. I have been switching from longer classes that are an hour plus to shorter 25 minute classes depending on my schedule, and cycling through backbending, headstanding, core strength, foot balances, etc., to keep my body from getting overtired of the same old thing while continuing my practice.

It also helps if I have a class picked out before I get home, so I know what I’m headed into and can mentally prepare for whatever’s coming at me – be it lots of vinyasas, or a particularly hard class with warrior 3 into half-moon into triangle.

How are you all doing this holiday season? Are you keeping from getting burned out, and are you finding time to exercise?

 

This is a physical truth. This is not an opinion.

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The title of this post is something my yoga teacher said tonight about twists, and about using yoga to help in your physical self. It was slightly startling, because of how true it was: the physical benefits of poses are as true as any fact you’ve ever been told from a doctor.

I went to yoga to a class focused on opening up the shoulders/upper chest, combined with restorative poses. I have been exploring a lot of new yoga classes, and the ones I am taking now once a week are Iyengar yoga. This, combined with my recent foray into Drishti yoga has taken my practice deeper, allowing me to really trust my body’s strength and give it the muscle memory needed to perform certain poses.

My vinyasa flow has gotten more focused, and recent upperward dog has really clicked for me, as has chaturanga. I finally am focusing on every movement within a flow, not just the end game. I am understanding the connection between my shoulders, elbows, heels, and hips.

My teacher, Jay, consistently reminds us that we control our parts. Our bodies are controlled by us, and we can get our bodies to do things for us, to support us. This lesson has helped deepen my practice and has helped me to get toned as I venture to lose some weight to be a healthier me.

I love yoga because every class is about the current moment. Every moment spent on the mat is a moment for yourself, a moment for your body, your brain, your heart, your spirit. I love every class because I am constantly learning, and relearning, and revisiting, and really understanding how to ask my body (and mind) to do what I’d like them to do.

Yoga also clears my mind and relieves stress, and is such a good full body workout. It’s never a workout I dread. I don’t even really consider it a workout, but something necessary to my life, like eating and breathing and laughing. The more yoga I do, the happier I am. The more time I set aside for me, the better quality time I spend with others.

I’d love to hear about your yoga journeys as I progress in my own – what types of practices you have, how often, what you love and what you don’t, your favorite poses…not that we’re supposed to have favorites…

Namaste.

 

all you have to do in this pose is nothing.

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Happy on-the-other-side of Monday, everyone! Things are looking up, up, up over here.

After a weekend that has sobering news from several fronts in the world, it is humbling to rediscover things to keep us grounded. Here, we’re having a wonderful day because there are new albums out, new websites and yoga routines to explore, and a new wilderness to explore on the other side of this work day.

I have checked out two new yoga routines this past week, and I am happy to report they’re opening me up and keeping me active (and present!) on the mat, which is welcome after a lull of love for yoga (gasp!) I discovered it was a combination of boredom (after all, I only have three DVD routines I’ve been cycling through) and the heat, so I have been heading to the studio once a week, finishing off a Groupon and making it last over the weeks by reinvigorating my practice once a week in-studio and the rest of the time committing to “hot” yoga in my non-air conditioned house!

Meanwhile, on the music front, you guys, Matt Nathanson’s new album! Every single one of his albums make me SO smiley, all for different reasons. I was in a music rut again, and I am happy that there are two new albums out to add to my “new” music, along with Hanson’s “Anthem.” Sara Bareilles knows how to speak to the heart, and for her and her talent, I am so grateful. Also up is a new single from Brett Dennen, with an album release in October. Rejoice!

I hope you’ll check out the new albums (below) and the yoga site to revisit the mat in a new way, yourselves!

78279-2_MattNathanson.LOTGP_ sara