We’re closing in on the home stretch of the yoga challenge! I was only able to attend three classes this past week – I was sick for the beginning of the week with a sore throat and fever, finally able to return to class on Thursday. I intended to go to class Saturday morning, but I came out to my car to find I had a flat! By the time we were able to get it to the shop to get patched, it was too late for me to go. Here are my observations from the past week.
- Thursday 7:30 p.m., Relax and Restore, Emily: Class #23 – My first trip back to the mat since my illness, and my first Relax and Restore class in AGES. 30 minutes of light movement, followed by 30 minutes of yoga nidra, guided deep relaxation. As she called attention to each part of the body, I again was experiencing the twitching I often feel when guided through relaxation, but intensified. Each body part twitched greatly, and I felt an uncomfortable sensation in the soles of my feet, sensory overload in a way, so much that I had to touch my feet together to get it to stop. I also felt more comfortable with my hands folded over my belly rather than palms up at my sides. Everything felt sensitive and weird, and I kind of felt like a freak, so much so that I approached my teacher after class to ask about it. Apparently this is not uncommon, and can be a symptom of energy blockages or buildups in the body and their subsequent release. She said this would get easier and less frequent if I practiced yoga nidra more often. I guess I need to make Relax and Restore a more regular part of my practice!
- Friday 5 p.m., Hatha I, Kalena: Class #24 – We had a lot of fun in class tonight. It was a small class, only 3 of us and the teacher, and we practiced in a circle facing some LED tea light candles. We did a breathing exercise called breath of joy that felt silly in the beginning but ultimately left all of us smiling. We also did a pose called “flip the dog” where we go from downward dog, open up to the side, and come down so we are kind of in a back bend. I didn’t think I’d be able to do it, but I did and it felt so freeing. At the end of class Kalena asked us to visualize a flower bud over our hearts. She asked what kind of flower, what color – for me it was an orange gerbera daisy. With each breath we envisioned it blooming which I really found calming and a good point for meditation.
- Sunday 9:15 a.m., Hatha I/II, Emily: Class # 25 – Quite a few of us were suffering from allergy symptoms this morning, so Emily had us do some breathing exercises (alternate nostril and one where we breathe out sharply through our nose and contract our bellies), before which she passed out tissues, knowing we’d all be pretty snotty afterwards. :) It was actually really helpful in clearing my sinuses. We were then led through a very warming practice – core work, thigh work, and it was definitely generating a lot of internal heat by the end of class.
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We are now entering the final week of the challenge, and so long as I’m able to attend every class this week I’ll make it to 30 on Friday, the final day! Between my car being in the shop a week and a half ago and my illness that followed, I missed more classes that I originally intended. It was a humbling experience, and I hope that I can indeed make the 30 in 40 after all. This coming weekend I’ll write up my final post on the yoga challenge and the many ways it has had an impact on my life.
I haven’t been blogging as much lately. My brain is full of blah and I’m really uninspired right now, so rather than force myself to throw some crap on here I’ve been taking a little break. I’m hoping to feel more like myself soon. In the meantime, here are some things that have been entertaining me on the internet.
- This ridiculous ad from Big Dairy taking a stab at non-dairy milks. I’ll stick with my almond milk – thanks anyway.
- This sweet story about a surrogate doggie mama.
- If you have Facebook you may have seen this album of underwater dog photography. If not, it’s totally worth your time to check it out.
- Mindboggling art made from old books carved with surgical tools.
- THIS. Salad is funny. (NSWF, kind of. Large font bad word.)
Being in bed as much as I was last week, I caught some hilarious Lucy photos. She was actually sleeping like this. Out cold. For an extended period of time.
Often times I get annoyed with the slight delay from the time I click the shutter on my camera phone and when it actually captures the photo, but I got this little gem the other day that made it totally worth it.
And some Rambo photos, for all of his admirers out there.
<3 C
