My love of Sundays is well documented in this blog. Search "Sunday" and you'll get some good reading, mostly about how I love to lay around on Sundays, grading and watching football, cooking, and chilling out as I prepare mentally for the school week ahead. (You'll also get one about how much I hate accounting and is maybe the most "first world problems" blog entry I've ever written, though that's not a guarantee...)
Now that I have a new job that doesn't involve frantically grading stacks of essays, a job that doesn't fill me with a sense of impeding dread beginning around 2pm, my Sunday love has a new focus. Of course, it's yoga.
My Sundays now begin and end with yoga. I teach one class at 8:30am, then go to breakfast with the Beh Freh and her husband. A trip to Trader Joe's later, I'm either back home or off to yoga class #2. A few weeks ago I was offered the opportunity to take on a 3rd class, a 5:30pm "prime time" (even though it's a weekend) class. I went back and forth before taking it; I didn't know if I could handle 3 classes in one day, especially on a Sunday.
One of the things I'm learning as I transition away from teaching high school English is how much of my weekend was spent working even if I was "relaxing." A teacher's job is done exactly one day a year: the last day of school. Other than that, even if the papers are graded, there is planning to be done. Emails to answer. Curriculum to be written. Plenty to fill 25 hours a day. I didn't realize until I didn't have the guilt anymore how much of my mental energy went to making myself feel bad that I wasn't working harder...that I even had a stack to grade, because I should have already graded it. What a mess.
So, now I spend my Sundays not feeling guilty. Instead, I'm so grateful to be able to, in some small way, help prepare people for their week ahead. So that they can manage their own stuff, whatever that may be. I still work as many hours teaching yoga on Sundays as I used to when I was grading papers. But, rather that feel like I'm not working hard enough, I'm able to breathe and move.
And that, friends, catapults Sundays into a whole new, beautiful, realm of awesome.
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts
Sunday, November 03, 2013
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
The one where I'm not going to Tulum.
Two years ago, I visited the most magical place I'd ever visited: Tulum, Mexico. Then, I went back again last year. It drew me back cell by cell. Before my 2012 trip, I was worried that it wouldn't be as good as 2011 because how on earth could it be? It was impossible. And yet, through a few stars aligning in a very perfect way, some things happened that made it not just better than the year before; it because one of the best weeks of my life. I look back on it with a fondness and reverence I don't have for many other things, because it was, truly, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. To say that it's a place of healing is an understatement. Remember, I spent the summer in Santa Barbara where my soul purpose in life was to heal myself....and three months in Santa Barbara didn't do as much for me as four days in Tulum.
You may be surprised to hear that this year, in three days, I'm not going back to Tulum. I go back and forth with being at peace with my decision to not go. Some days I know it's exactly right for me to move on and enjoy my new path toward California; other days I want to buy a plane ticket and just go already.
There are many obstacles. I spent the summer in California. Santa Barbara, California, of all places, which wasn't cheap. Then there's the new job. The new job where I have a major deadline on November 15th and missing 4 working days would make meeting that deadline all but impossible. Then there's the change in leadership for the retreat. I'm the kind of girl who went to the same camp every summer and requested the same counselor year after year. I don't like change. That's the least significant obstacle, and it wouldn't have been enough to stop me from going if the money and time was there...but I'd be lying if I didn't console myself a little by saying "Well, at least ____ and ____ and ____ aren't leading..."
So, a part of me says, "You should have gone, to become comfortable with the unknown. To release your expectations. To not stall out in old memories, but create new ones."
Another part of me says, "If Tulum is really a place of healing, then you've already got Tulum with you now. It has healed you. Healing doesn't expire; it's not something that needs to be renewed or it dies out. New injuries may occur, but that tends to call for new types of healing. In fact, I'm pretty sure the research would back me up in saying that repetition of healing methods tends to diminish their effectiveness over time.
I have to believe that this year is not the year for me in Tulum. Last year was. The year before that was. This year is someone else's year. My experience, my healing, lies elsewhere. Maybe my growth here is realizing that I am healed, that it's time to move forward.
But...Tulum did make me very happy. Twice.
You may be surprised to hear that this year, in three days, I'm not going back to Tulum. I go back and forth with being at peace with my decision to not go. Some days I know it's exactly right for me to move on and enjoy my new path toward California; other days I want to buy a plane ticket and just go already.
There are many obstacles. I spent the summer in California. Santa Barbara, California, of all places, which wasn't cheap. Then there's the new job. The new job where I have a major deadline on November 15th and missing 4 working days would make meeting that deadline all but impossible. Then there's the change in leadership for the retreat. I'm the kind of girl who went to the same camp every summer and requested the same counselor year after year. I don't like change. That's the least significant obstacle, and it wouldn't have been enough to stop me from going if the money and time was there...but I'd be lying if I didn't console myself a little by saying "Well, at least ____ and ____ and ____ aren't leading..."
So, a part of me says, "You should have gone, to become comfortable with the unknown. To release your expectations. To not stall out in old memories, but create new ones."
Another part of me says, "If Tulum is really a place of healing, then you've already got Tulum with you now. It has healed you. Healing doesn't expire; it's not something that needs to be renewed or it dies out. New injuries may occur, but that tends to call for new types of healing. In fact, I'm pretty sure the research would back me up in saying that repetition of healing methods tends to diminish their effectiveness over time.
I have to believe that this year is not the year for me in Tulum. Last year was. The year before that was. This year is someone else's year. My experience, my healing, lies elsewhere. Maybe my growth here is realizing that I am healed, that it's time to move forward.
But...Tulum did make me very happy. Twice.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Back to Reality
You may be wondering where I've been since James Gandolfini died. That's fair; I kind of disappeared, I'll cop to it. I spent another 6 weeks in California after my last entry, and, during that time, I became a little bit like Eve after eating the apple. Suddenly I realized that I was hesitant to post the inner workings of my brain on the internet. Each experience I had in Santa Barbara seemed to pull me more and more deeper into myself, into a sort of recovery I didn't really know I needed, and, when I could put words to it, it seemed inappropriate to publicize it.
When I got home, I numbed out for about a month. With absolutely no disrespect to my amazing family and friends here in MN, I was absolutely devastated to be home. Each day I lived in a twisted variation of "California Time"--in which, at any given hour of the day, rather than living in the moment, I preferred to imagine "if I was in Santa Barbara, I would be ________ right now." And I never ran out of of ways to fill in that blank. Santa Barbara could barely manage to let me go (my journey to try to get out of town is a whole blog entry in itself) and between the city, the yoga, the beach, the coffee, the farmer's market, and all of the amazing people I shared those activities with, MN seemed to be a very isolated, lonely place. It didn't help that the construction on the interstate nearest me required me to drive south to go north and added anywhere from 20-30 minutes to get anywhere. Believe me, numb was easier.
Then, I started my new job. Numb was not an option....I had new faces to learn, the layout of two new buildings, nine new computer programs to master (and train teachers how to use) and a house to unpack. So, I did. And now I'm back here. Slowly but surely re-engaging with the world, rediscovering my MN voice and purpose, and figuring out how to place my Santa Barbara experience into the greater context of my life. No promises for daily entries, but, tell me, if you read this far.....did you miss me?
When I got home, I numbed out for about a month. With absolutely no disrespect to my amazing family and friends here in MN, I was absolutely devastated to be home. Each day I lived in a twisted variation of "California Time"--in which, at any given hour of the day, rather than living in the moment, I preferred to imagine "if I was in Santa Barbara, I would be ________ right now." And I never ran out of of ways to fill in that blank. Santa Barbara could barely manage to let me go (my journey to try to get out of town is a whole blog entry in itself) and between the city, the yoga, the beach, the coffee, the farmer's market, and all of the amazing people I shared those activities with, MN seemed to be a very isolated, lonely place. It didn't help that the construction on the interstate nearest me required me to drive south to go north and added anywhere from 20-30 minutes to get anywhere. Believe me, numb was easier.
Then, I started my new job. Numb was not an option....I had new faces to learn, the layout of two new buildings, nine new computer programs to master (and train teachers how to use) and a house to unpack. So, I did. And now I'm back here. Slowly but surely re-engaging with the world, rediscovering my MN voice and purpose, and figuring out how to place my Santa Barbara experience into the greater context of my life. No promises for daily entries, but, tell me, if you read this far.....did you miss me?
Thursday, June 13, 2013
The one where I missed the Big Metaphor
So I'm laying in yoga tonight (literally, laying on my back, while everyone else is doing this nutso sequence I can't quite follow to even know when to rejoin after both sides), thinking. The instructor was putting everyone into a variation of a crazy forward fold sort of thing and explaining that you can't just drop into it right away--you have to breathe your way into it. Your body will shove itself into whatever posture you want, but it's not always comfortable and, if you do it really wrong, you might only be able to do it the one time. But, if you go slowly, in stages, and take your time, the process becomes a whole lot more pleasant.
And then my mind drifted toward my mad dash from Minnesota to Santa Barbara. I thought about the compulsive need I had to get in my car every day and drive 10-12 hours to "get there." Because heaven forfend I would take some breaths along the way. Stop in Colorado and visit friends. Stop to see whatever Nebraska's version of the World's Biggest Ball of Twine is. Nope, I had to Get There. And now, I'm paying for it. I feel like I need about 900 yoga classes to get myself back to center.
But it's good--that's part of why I'm out here, is to figure stuff like that out. To observe from the outside that I hauled ass to Santa Barbara in the same way I overstretch my hamstrings in a forward bend. It's incentive to, rather than try to set a land speed record for the drive home, take a few extra days to travel back to MN. Because it's out of my comfort zone. Because I'll learn from it.
Life lessons present themselves all the time. You don't need to travel across the country to learn them--though, I will say, being 2000 miles away from home has highlighted a LOT of lessons I need to spend some time with. If you can't drive 2000 miles out of your comfort zone, try going to your yoga mat. If you don't have a yoga mat, maybe just getting a mat is enough of a step out of "The Zone." Ask yourself: What do I rush through? Where could I slow down? A hundred things may come to mind....pick one. Then, the next time you encounter that thing, take twice as long as you want to accomplish it. Breathe.
And then my mind drifted toward my mad dash from Minnesota to Santa Barbara. I thought about the compulsive need I had to get in my car every day and drive 10-12 hours to "get there." Because heaven forfend I would take some breaths along the way. Stop in Colorado and visit friends. Stop to see whatever Nebraska's version of the World's Biggest Ball of Twine is. Nope, I had to Get There. And now, I'm paying for it. I feel like I need about 900 yoga classes to get myself back to center.
But it's good--that's part of why I'm out here, is to figure stuff like that out. To observe from the outside that I hauled ass to Santa Barbara in the same way I overstretch my hamstrings in a forward bend. It's incentive to, rather than try to set a land speed record for the drive home, take a few extra days to travel back to MN. Because it's out of my comfort zone. Because I'll learn from it.
Life lessons present themselves all the time. You don't need to travel across the country to learn them--though, I will say, being 2000 miles away from home has highlighted a LOT of lessons I need to spend some time with. If you can't drive 2000 miles out of your comfort zone, try going to your yoga mat. If you don't have a yoga mat, maybe just getting a mat is enough of a step out of "The Zone." Ask yourself: What do I rush through? Where could I slow down? A hundred things may come to mind....pick one. Then, the next time you encounter that thing, take twice as long as you want to accomplish it. Breathe.
Sunday, June 02, 2013
My Heart Took a Picture
In 1988 a movie came out with Linda Hamilton called 'Go Toward the Light.' It was based on a true story of a boy who gets HIV from a blood transfusion. I was addicted to it beyond measure because, in the late 80s, I was in love with both Linda Hamilton and things that made me cry my eyes out. One of the parts of the movie that continues to stay with me is the scene in which the dying boy is holding his baby brother and their mom says "My heart took a picture." Maybe it resonated with me because my dad was a photographer, or because I thought it was such a beautiful freedom to be able to take a picture with your heart and carry it with you always.
This morning I taught my last two yoga classes here in MN until I return in August. For the last year, best friend Amy and her husband have come to my early class and then we all head over to Starbucks for breakfast and conversation in which we try to solve all the world's problems--or at least our own. Amy and I have both changed jobs over our Sunday coffee. We've planned retirement, trips to Vancouver, and tattoos. We've vented, cursed, moaned and whined. We've celebrated, laughed, plotted and schemed. Today we did this one last time for the foreseeable future, since I will have a different teaching schedule when I return. I managed to not cry in my coffee....even when Amy bought us all cake pops and we sat there like three teenagers trying to guess the flavor of the cake before we ate them and making jokes. Our Sunday breakfast is something I'd dreamed about my whole life without ever really realizing I was doing it: having a coffee klatch. Who knew?
I taught my second class, then met Amy and John for a "goodbye lunch" that isn't really a goodbye quite yet (it's really goodbye #2 with at least one more to go). We went to the Golden Nugget for burgers and beer. John drinks beer all the time. Amy and I never do, but today we were both craving it. We laughed about that. And we chatted about work, California, yoga, people who don't wash their hands after using the bathroom, whether beer or cocktails are better, and other Very Important Things.
And it was there, while we were sitting down to our second meal of the day, with a beer in my hand and Matt Hires' 'Restless Heart' in the background, that my heart took a picture of my beautiful friends. Their importance in my life is immeasurable. My gratitude for moments where all of my senses engage in a way that creates a picture only I can see and that I can take out to look at whenever I want defies description. It will make me cry for awhile, to think of today, and to hear Restless Heart (yeah, I know---I have no idea what my thing is with that song...for real) and know that today closed out a lovely chapter I've been fond of for such a long time. Each day that goes by I'm getting more and more excited for my time in California and for the inevitable transformation it will bring...but my Sunday coffee just won't be the same.
Friday, May 31, 2013
The real reason I'm going to California...and what needs to happen to get me there
Today was the last Friday of the school year, and the shit kind of hit the fan. I looked around my classroom and burst right into tears. Not because I'm going to miss it (I am) or because it's such a raging disaster (it is), but because in one brief-yet-intense flash of clarity, I understood that I leave in one week and I have a month's worth of work to do before I go.
Before I get to my boring-ass list of things to do, which I will post here for my own accountability, here's the real, cross-my-heart, pinkie-swear, for-real-and-for-true reason why I'm going to California.
Ready?
I'm going to California because I have lost my way in Minnesota. Five years ago, I had finally found my path. Successful career? Check. Fabulous boyfriend with a future? Check. About-to-be-published author? Check. Then, I found yoga and I veered very sharply, very suddenly, to my left for a pit stop. And, just like those beautiful scenic lookout points at the side of the road, the last few years where yoga has been the center of my existence have been breathtaking. But, you know how after you've been sitting there for a few minutes, looking at the majesty of it all and taking pictures you'll never look at again so you don't forget how beautiful this moment is, you get a little bored? You get a little like "Okay, let's get back in the car, we've got places to go!" That's me. My life right now is that very beautiful scenic lookout, and I have overstayed my welcome.
My writing career has been calling my name. Screaming it. Everything in my house seems like me-from-five-years-ago. Still awesome, but not quite right. When I go to California, I intend to find my way again. I've allowed myself to wander around off the map for long enough. Coming home, I'll have a freshened up townhome and a brand spanking new job. A path.
Things I need to do before I leave:
1. Too fucking much
2. Really.
3. It's actually literally too much to list
I can't wait to keep you updated on this journey. Feel free to ask questions, offer up words of encouragement, or check in on my progress anytime you like.
Before I get to my boring-ass list of things to do, which I will post here for my own accountability, here's the real, cross-my-heart, pinkie-swear, for-real-and-for-true reason why I'm going to California.
Ready?
I'm going to California because I have lost my way in Minnesota. Five years ago, I had finally found my path. Successful career? Check. Fabulous boyfriend with a future? Check. About-to-be-published author? Check. Then, I found yoga and I veered very sharply, very suddenly, to my left for a pit stop. And, just like those beautiful scenic lookout points at the side of the road, the last few years where yoga has been the center of my existence have been breathtaking. But, you know how after you've been sitting there for a few minutes, looking at the majesty of it all and taking pictures you'll never look at again so you don't forget how beautiful this moment is, you get a little bored? You get a little like "Okay, let's get back in the car, we've got places to go!" That's me. My life right now is that very beautiful scenic lookout, and I have overstayed my welcome.
My writing career has been calling my name. Screaming it. Everything in my house seems like me-from-five-years-ago. Still awesome, but not quite right. When I go to California, I intend to find my way again. I've allowed myself to wander around off the map for long enough. Coming home, I'll have a freshened up townhome and a brand spanking new job. A path.
Things I need to do before I leave:
1. Too fucking much
2. Really.
3. It's actually literally too much to list
I can't wait to keep you updated on this journey. Feel free to ask questions, offer up words of encouragement, or check in on my progress anytime you like.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Put your dharma where your mouth is
I speak a LOT in my yoga classes about breathing. How we practice the breath and add in obstacles (postures) to challenge the breath so we can increase our concentration, focus, and capacity to breathe even when the only thing we want to do is get.out.of.warrior.3. All yoga teachers talk about this. It's so prevalent it even has a name: dharma talk. Blah blah blah, I say; "live your yoga off the mat."
"Practice it here so you can do it out there."
"Your breath will carry you through difficulty."
Today I had to put my dharma where my mouth is. Full disclosure: I had a job interview today. It's for a job within my same district, and it's a position I would absolutely love to have. I'd be great at it, and it lines up with how I see my future in education. I did as much preparation for the job as I could, got into my grown up clothes, and showed up to the interview ready to strut my stuff. I think I managed to keep my face expressionless as I walked into the room to see ten people staring back at me.
TEN PEOPLE.
The most intense interview I'd had in my life up until today was for a teaching job in Bloomington in 1999. Five people. Ten people, twenty pairs of eyes, is intense, my friends. I answered ten questions in fifteen minutes. I remember snippets of what I said. I hope that I put together complete sentences. I am 90% sure I did not breathe from the moment I began to answer the first question until I got back into my car. Bad yogi!
So, let's go back to the practice of yoga for a moment. At some point, life presents us with challenges. Some easy, some repetitive, some so mindnumbingly tragic that we're all "Dude, Life, are you fucking kidding me with this?" I practiced my yoga by applying for the job and going to the interview, no question. In my pre-yoga life, I would have beaten myself before I clicked "submit" on the application. I had the opportunity to deepen my practice by breathing through the interview itself. Faaaail. But, it's okay; how many times did I fall out of headstand before I could stay in? And, let's not stop there: the yoga continues now. Because my brain apparently enjoyed answering those 10 questions so much today that it wants to keep answering them over, and over, and over, and over again. Really, Brain? You can't think of anything else to focus on?
Tonight my yoga "perfect" is in knowing that I did everything within my control to the best of my ability. My yoga practice is in the other half--the part I can't control. The part where I just need to wait. To concentrate on other things. To believe. To breathe.
I tell my students "Yoga is a process. It's a practice. Do your best, but have compassion for yourself." If I can't practice that myself, then the yoga is lost on me. Then the dharma is simply words, nothing more. It ain't gonna be easy--let me tell you. But, if I truly want to practice my yoga tonight, I need to breathe, put my interview suit away, turn off the phone, and trust that everything, truly, will work out exactly as it is supposed to work.
"Practice it here so you can do it out there."
"Your breath will carry you through difficulty."
Today I had to put my dharma where my mouth is. Full disclosure: I had a job interview today. It's for a job within my same district, and it's a position I would absolutely love to have. I'd be great at it, and it lines up with how I see my future in education. I did as much preparation for the job as I could, got into my grown up clothes, and showed up to the interview ready to strut my stuff. I think I managed to keep my face expressionless as I walked into the room to see ten people staring back at me.
TEN PEOPLE.
The most intense interview I'd had in my life up until today was for a teaching job in Bloomington in 1999. Five people. Ten people, twenty pairs of eyes, is intense, my friends. I answered ten questions in fifteen minutes. I remember snippets of what I said. I hope that I put together complete sentences. I am 90% sure I did not breathe from the moment I began to answer the first question until I got back into my car. Bad yogi!
So, let's go back to the practice of yoga for a moment. At some point, life presents us with challenges. Some easy, some repetitive, some so mindnumbingly tragic that we're all "Dude, Life, are you fucking kidding me with this?" I practiced my yoga by applying for the job and going to the interview, no question. In my pre-yoga life, I would have beaten myself before I clicked "submit" on the application. I had the opportunity to deepen my practice by breathing through the interview itself. Faaaail. But, it's okay; how many times did I fall out of headstand before I could stay in? And, let's not stop there: the yoga continues now. Because my brain apparently enjoyed answering those 10 questions so much today that it wants to keep answering them over, and over, and over, and over again. Really, Brain? You can't think of anything else to focus on?
Tonight my yoga "perfect" is in knowing that I did everything within my control to the best of my ability. My yoga practice is in the other half--the part I can't control. The part where I just need to wait. To concentrate on other things. To believe. To breathe.
I tell my students "Yoga is a process. It's a practice. Do your best, but have compassion for yourself." If I can't practice that myself, then the yoga is lost on me. Then the dharma is simply words, nothing more. It ain't gonna be easy--let me tell you. But, if I truly want to practice my yoga tonight, I need to breathe, put my interview suit away, turn off the phone, and trust that everything, truly, will work out exactly as it is supposed to work.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
A much needed morning at home...heck, I just need a home.
How funny that my last post (yes, too long ago) was about my new-found love of Saturdays. Here we are, again, Saturday, and I am spending a rare day at home nesting and watching movies and living it up old school. I skipped the spin, skipped the yoga, and instead replaced it with eggs and tater tots for breakfast, some Gatsby snuggle time, and One for the Money with Katherine Heigl. I figured I love the Stephanie Plum books as my blissful mental escape, might as well enjoy the movie just the same.
The summer in California is happening. I needed this morning at home because the last week, basically ever since returning from my Cali spring break trip, I've been stressed. Stressed about finding a place to live for the summer, stressed about leaving my life behind here, stressed about money, stressed about my job, heck--stressed about YOGA. How that's even possible, who knows. I loved my time in Santa Barbara and I can't wait to get out there. I just hope I have more than my car to live in when I do.
Saturday, February 09, 2013
Saturdays
Sundays have been my favorite day of the week for a long time, as evidenced here and here (yep, that's 2005, people!), here, and, of course, here, where I pontificate on my longstanding love of Sunday.
Sundays, move over; Saturday is in the house. Saturday is totally my new favorite day. I still love Sundays; Sundays are awesome days full of teaching yoga, breakfast with good friends, and food prep afternoons....but Saturdays? *sigh* Saturdays are my new boyfriend.
Saturday morning I'm up early to enjoy the full duration of the day. Spin classes and yoga take up the morning and the early afternoon. Come 2pm, I'm home planted in the Great Red Chair of Sleep watching the Food Network. Gatsby and I venture out mid-afternoon for a walk and he finds his Saturday joy sniffing and snorting and running around. Other than that, I don't leave the house.
Maybe I should...I probably sound kind of anti-social. But here's the thing: Monday-Friday I interact with around 200 people directly, and am in the presence of more than 2000. On Sundays, I directly interact with around 50 people. Saturdays? I can limit my direct interaction to 2 people if I choose: my spin instructor and my yoga instructor. I need not speak to anyone else. So, in a way, Saturday is my day to refuel. To practice as much self-care as I can possibly manage in a 24 hour period of time. Sometimes that self-care involves other people--friends, family--but more often than not, once I'm home from yoga it's the Kelly-n-Gatsby show for the win.
So, while I will never lose my deep love for Sunday, I am very happy to welcome Saturday to the fold of days that make me feel very happy and very lucky. Tonight, my self-care involves the Wild game, Sliver (don't judge me), Ben & Jerry's pumpkin cheesecake ice cream, and chex mix. Gatsby is barking up a storm protecting our castle from some unknown, unseen threat. Life is very, very good.
Saturday, February 02, 2013
2013 Cleanse Conclusion: My Spidey Sense
Today, the last official day of the cleanse, was an absolutely fantastic day. A cleanse resets the body, so food tastes better, the body moves a little smoother, the mind thinks a little clearer...everything is just, well, easier. Here is a list of the awesome things I did today:
1. Slept through the plows clearing the road in front of my house and my driveway. More importantly, Gatsby did too.
2. Returned to spin class with one of my favorite instructors, Natalie, for the first time in two weeks. Natalie is an animal on the spin bike, and I get my best calorie burn from her. I told her that this was my first post-cleanse workout, and she was all "Holy shit." I said don't worry, if I fall over I'm clipped in, and winked at her. She yelled "Don't say that!"
3. Grocery store trip #1 for grapefruit, which I was desperately craving. Got home and didn't have time to eat desperately craved grapefruit before heading to yoga, so I enjoyed an UltraClear on the way instead.
4. Yoga. Felt as amazing as spin class in a completely different way. Spent a good amount of time in handstand. Appreciated that I didn't have a gut full of diet coke and other crap.
5. Grocery store trip #2 for post-cleanse staples. Also to inadvertently demonstrate to the woman at the meat counter that I am something of a roast beef connoisseur. I don't know how that happened....she asked me about the difference between two types (the best she could offer me was that one cost $3 more than the other) and I waxed poetic about flavors, herbs, and sweetness for far too long.
6. Home to make Gatsby's day complete, make pesto for tonight, and NOT GRADE PAPERS.
A most glorious day, indeed.
1. Slept through the plows clearing the road in front of my house and my driveway. More importantly, Gatsby did too.
2. Returned to spin class with one of my favorite instructors, Natalie, for the first time in two weeks. Natalie is an animal on the spin bike, and I get my best calorie burn from her. I told her that this was my first post-cleanse workout, and she was all "Holy shit." I said don't worry, if I fall over I'm clipped in, and winked at her. She yelled "Don't say that!"
3. Grocery store trip #1 for grapefruit, which I was desperately craving. Got home and didn't have time to eat desperately craved grapefruit before heading to yoga, so I enjoyed an UltraClear on the way instead.
4. Yoga. Felt as amazing as spin class in a completely different way. Spent a good amount of time in handstand. Appreciated that I didn't have a gut full of diet coke and other crap.
5. Grocery store trip #2 for post-cleanse staples. Also to inadvertently demonstrate to the woman at the meat counter that I am something of a roast beef connoisseur. I don't know how that happened....she asked me about the difference between two types (the best she could offer me was that one cost $3 more than the other) and I waxed poetic about flavors, herbs, and sweetness for far too long.
6. Home to make Gatsby's day complete, make pesto for tonight, and NOT GRADE PAPERS.
A most glorious day, indeed.
2013 Cleanse Day 8
A little late tonight because I was out doing my new most favorite-ist thing EVER, teaching Candlelight Flow yoga at CorePower Yoga in Uptown. Tonight was my second week, and it was just awesome. Last week was also awesome. I love helping my students get ready for their weekend by getting rid of the week and creating space. Fabulous.
Anyway, cleanse update! We're in the homestretch, friends! Today I began to add foods back in. I had mango juice for breakfast, and white rice (whoohoo!) for my mid-morning snack/lunch. I was supposed to have an UltraClear in the afternoon, but after I got home from an appointment I totally cheated and ate Asian noodles. They're terrible for me, but I looooooove them. Total guilty pleasure. And, as it turns out, too much for my cleansing stomach. Don't worry, nothing gross happened....but I felt like crap. So, I had an UltraClear to try to erase some of my mistake. It didn't work. Good lesson for the future.
Tomorrow I can add back in even more foods. The goal as I add food back in is to add in simple foods and see how I react to them. This is a great way to test for gluten allergies, various food sensitivities, etc. For example, the noodles I ate tonight could have made me feel icky because of something in the noodles. I'll have to test them again an a day or so.
For dinner, more rice. I really need to stay with the vegetables. That's a huge area of improvement I need to make in my diet. First day I'm allowed to eat real food again and I cram myself full of carbs. Bad Kelly! But, we'll start over again tomorrow, and I'll do better with the veggies.
Anyway, cleanse update! We're in the homestretch, friends! Today I began to add foods back in. I had mango juice for breakfast, and white rice (whoohoo!) for my mid-morning snack/lunch. I was supposed to have an UltraClear in the afternoon, but after I got home from an appointment I totally cheated and ate Asian noodles. They're terrible for me, but I looooooove them. Total guilty pleasure. And, as it turns out, too much for my cleansing stomach. Don't worry, nothing gross happened....but I felt like crap. So, I had an UltraClear to try to erase some of my mistake. It didn't work. Good lesson for the future.
Tomorrow I can add back in even more foods. The goal as I add food back in is to add in simple foods and see how I react to them. This is a great way to test for gluten allergies, various food sensitivities, etc. For example, the noodles I ate tonight could have made me feel icky because of something in the noodles. I'll have to test them again an a day or so.
For dinner, more rice. I really need to stay with the vegetables. That's a huge area of improvement I need to make in my diet. First day I'm allowed to eat real food again and I cram myself full of carbs. Bad Kelly! But, we'll start over again tomorrow, and I'll do better with the veggies.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
2013 Cleanse Day 2
The first thing I was aware of this morning, even before I opened my eyes, was the screaming headache that remained from cutting out caffeine yesterday. The headache progressed through my spin class, prompted me to skip my second spin class (the endurance class I love) and sent me home for a nap. It subsided for a bit during yoga, but now that I'm staring down the barrel of countless projects that need to be graded by Monday, suddenly it's back. What's the lesson here? I seriously needed to detox this caffeine from my body! So, while the headache was painful, it was also a good motivator.
So...you're wondering what I got to eat today, right?
Well, yesterday I eliminated refined sugar, caffeine, artificial colors/flavors/sweeteners, and flesh foods (meat, fish, etc.). Today I added eggs and other dairy products to that list, making today not a lot different from yesterday except for the fact that egg (whites) are my normal "go to" food whenever I need a low calorie, high protein treat. So, I ate some oatmeal with brown sugar for breakfast (not from a package, of course). I had an apple, walnuts and pasta for lunch and a snack. I had some tea and another apple later in the afternoon, and some edamame for dinner. I had some UltraClear as well, which is one of the components of the cleanse. I'll be adding that in more each day as I eliminate foods. I'm going to have some brown rice later, and my last scoop of UltraClear. Then it's off to bed.
I've definitely got "cleanse brain," that kind of foggy feeling that makes me forget my purse for spin class (and then look for it at spin, forgetting that I forgot it). This will last for a few more days, and then as I get back on schedule with better foods, my energy and clarity will return.
The most important element to remember while cleansing, in my opinion, is to not underestimate the role food plays in everything we do in our day to day life. Changing what you eat will affect your energy, your mood, your perspective, even your social life. Sometimes for the better...sometimes not. We are a nation that functions on food. We are motivated by it, we celebrate with it, we even use it as a measure of intelligence and sophistication. The worst thing I can do while cleansing is to act "business as usual." I have to honor my energy and be sensitive to the mood swings as they arise.
Tomorrow I cut out grains, nuts and seeds. There goes my oatmeal, pasta and rice. I'll be able to eat fruits, veggies, and legumes. Means I better get some lentils on the way home from teaching yoga tomorrow--and I better write it down; I'll never remember with Cleanse Brain!
Sunday, August 05, 2012
Sunday Bliss
I have always loved Sundays. See evidence of this here, here, and here. Sundays are brilliant days. It's the one day of the week where it's perfectly acceptable to be a social hermit, to run errands in either your Sunday Best or your curlers, or to wake up and not move from your bed until the next morning. There's no judgment from anyone.
I teach two yoga classes on Sunday mornings, so my days of sleeping in are no more--but it's okay. Instead I begin my day at 7am with one group of yogis, then go to breakfast with Friends A and J. We enjoy a delicious breakfast:
Then we part ways, usually. I go to teach my second yoga class, and they go off and do whatever creates their Sunday Bliss.
Today our Sunday Bliss was combined into a bloody mary/mimosa afternoon of total joy. We snacked, drank, and sat on their patio and solved all the world's problems. An engineer, a PhD, and a teacher all sitting around gabbing--now THERE's some problem-solving action.
Now, all the windows are open, Breaking Bad is on the DVR, the smell of other more ambitious people's grilling is wafting through my house, and I'm contemplating which book to pick up. Gatsby is chilling on the fireplace marble dreaming his doggy dreams.
Bliss.
I teach two yoga classes on Sunday mornings, so my days of sleeping in are no more--but it's okay. Instead I begin my day at 7am with one group of yogis, then go to breakfast with Friends A and J. We enjoy a delicious breakfast:
Then we part ways, usually. I go to teach my second yoga class, and they go off and do whatever creates their Sunday Bliss.
Today our Sunday Bliss was combined into a bloody mary/mimosa afternoon of total joy. We snacked, drank, and sat on their patio and solved all the world's problems. An engineer, a PhD, and a teacher all sitting around gabbing--now THERE's some problem-solving action.
Now, all the windows are open, Breaking Bad is on the DVR, the smell of other more ambitious people's grilling is wafting through my house, and I'm contemplating which book to pick up. Gatsby is chilling on the fireplace marble dreaming his doggy dreams.
Bliss.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
The Beginning of Birthday Awesomeness
Last night was the official kickoff to Birthday 36, which will make its arrival on Monday. Amy and I went to dinner at a place where they have a car--an Escalade, no less--that will come pick you up then drop you back home again. What does that spell? Unlimited wine consumption!! Huzzah! We ate, drank, celebrated my birthday and celebrated her new job. Then the Escalade picked us back up and we headed back to her place for more wine and dessert. We talked until too late, then trundled off to bed. This morning I woke up to the smell of coffee and bagels---perfect hangover cure.
I went to the last practice of my 35th year at noon, and I focused today on moving with total intention. Every movement I considered before I made it. It slowed my practice down quite a bit and I couldn't do everything, but it was such an interesting experience. After class I didn't want to leave my mat...felt so amazingly peaceful and lucky.
Tonight the celebration will continue with another friend and probably another dinner. I love birthday weeks :-)
I went to the last practice of my 35th year at noon, and I focused today on moving with total intention. Every movement I considered before I made it. It slowed my practice down quite a bit and I couldn't do everything, but it was such an interesting experience. After class I didn't want to leave my mat...felt so amazingly peaceful and lucky.
Tonight the celebration will continue with another friend and probably another dinner. I love birthday weeks :-)
Sunday, June 10, 2012
The one where I chase a duck down Excelsior Blvd.
Meet CC.
CC is a wood duck who came into my life today when I drove over him. No, I don't mean I hit him, I mean I drove, literally, over him. I was driving from teaching one yoga class to teaching another. CC was sitting in the middle of Excelsior Blvd in St. Louis Park holding vigil next to a dead, very squished bird. Cars were driving over the pair because of that instinct most of us have to swerve around even dead things. But, as I watched CC and friend as I drove over them, I saw CC moving. I pulled over immediately and ran toward CC. As I did so, a truck came barreling down the road and I said, out loud "pleasedonthithimpleasedonthithim" and, miraculously, the truck drove over CC as every other car had. CC had had quite enough by this point, however, and began to run like crazy all over the road chirping with all his might (which isn't a lot; he's little).
I chased him around and finally got him to safety by a tree. Then, I began to mull what to do. I didn't know if this was a "don't touch him and leave him or his mother will kill him" type of situation or a "get the duck to a rescue place asap so he's got a chance." I opted for the latter. I scooped CC into a box from the nearby Holiday and drove to teach my yoga class.
When I got home, I could no longer postpone the inevitable: CC needed to go somewhere that was not a) my house, b) my yard, c) some scary place where I wouldn't know what would happen to him. After all, I rescued this little rugrat from the middle of a busy street--no way was I sending him off to die.
Enter: The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (WRCMN) in Roseville. I brought CC there and was greeted by a volunteer. She didn't bat an eye and greeted me with "what do we have here?" She took a look at CC, designated him a wood duck, and handed me a form. She told me that I had done exactly the right thing and that by rescuing him I had saved his life.
While I filled out CC's paperwork, the volunteer told me that they usually get around 100 ducks a day this time of year. ZOINKS. Seriously? A HUNDRED ducks? A DAY? They're non-profit and run completely on donations and volunteers. They have a vet onsite who, the volunteer said, would check out CC. Then, he'd be placed in a pond at the center with other wood ducks, and he and his new family will live together and learn how to be out in the wild until it's time to release them. When they're released, they're released all together so they all have the protection of their "posse" and no one has to go it alone.
I am so, so grateful that a place like this exists so that I was able to spend the last 6 hours (and the rest of this night) knowing that CC is safe with other ducks and not dead. I know, there's something to be said for nature taking its course and all that, but I don't consider cars barreling over animals at 65 mph to be "nature taking its course." CC deserves the life he was supposed to have when he woke up this morning--or as close to it as possible.
So, my summer vacation begins with me saving a life. Not too shabby, I'd say. I hope I don't ever have to do it again, but I'm really glad that I know what to do if the need should arise.
CC is a wood duck who came into my life today when I drove over him. No, I don't mean I hit him, I mean I drove, literally, over him. I was driving from teaching one yoga class to teaching another. CC was sitting in the middle of Excelsior Blvd in St. Louis Park holding vigil next to a dead, very squished bird. Cars were driving over the pair because of that instinct most of us have to swerve around even dead things. But, as I watched CC and friend as I drove over them, I saw CC moving. I pulled over immediately and ran toward CC. As I did so, a truck came barreling down the road and I said, out loud "pleasedonthithimpleasedonthithim" and, miraculously, the truck drove over CC as every other car had. CC had had quite enough by this point, however, and began to run like crazy all over the road chirping with all his might (which isn't a lot; he's little).
I chased him around and finally got him to safety by a tree. Then, I began to mull what to do. I didn't know if this was a "don't touch him and leave him or his mother will kill him" type of situation or a "get the duck to a rescue place asap so he's got a chance." I opted for the latter. I scooped CC into a box from the nearby Holiday and drove to teach my yoga class.
When I got home, I could no longer postpone the inevitable: CC needed to go somewhere that was not a) my house, b) my yard, c) some scary place where I wouldn't know what would happen to him. After all, I rescued this little rugrat from the middle of a busy street--no way was I sending him off to die.
Enter: The Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (WRCMN) in Roseville. I brought CC there and was greeted by a volunteer. She didn't bat an eye and greeted me with "what do we have here?" She took a look at CC, designated him a wood duck, and handed me a form. She told me that I had done exactly the right thing and that by rescuing him I had saved his life.
While I filled out CC's paperwork, the volunteer told me that they usually get around 100 ducks a day this time of year. ZOINKS. Seriously? A HUNDRED ducks? A DAY? They're non-profit and run completely on donations and volunteers. They have a vet onsite who, the volunteer said, would check out CC. Then, he'd be placed in a pond at the center with other wood ducks, and he and his new family will live together and learn how to be out in the wild until it's time to release them. When they're released, they're released all together so they all have the protection of their "posse" and no one has to go it alone.
I am so, so grateful that a place like this exists so that I was able to spend the last 6 hours (and the rest of this night) knowing that CC is safe with other ducks and not dead. I know, there's something to be said for nature taking its course and all that, but I don't consider cars barreling over animals at 65 mph to be "nature taking its course." CC deserves the life he was supposed to have when he woke up this morning--or as close to it as possible.
So, my summer vacation begins with me saving a life. Not too shabby, I'd say. I hope I don't ever have to do it again, but I'm really glad that I know what to do if the need should arise.
Thursday, June 07, 2012
Freedom, sweet freedom!
Today was the conclusion of the 2011-12 school year. Last night I poked myself in the face with an ice spear from my freezer, which is the clearest indicator ever that I need summer here pronto!
This year's end is rife with change and charged with emotion. At the risk of being accused of being coy, I'll not say a whole ton about why that is just yet, except to say that this upcoming school year will be different; what has yet to be determined is the degree of difference. I'm always excited to end a school year--it's the period at the end of a sentence, and, so, I'm required to start a new statement!
This summer I'll be teaching summer school. I also have aspirations to buy a house. And spend a ton of time with people that I've been getting to know better over the last year. I'd also like to clean out my garage, sell half of what I own, and start an herb garden. And, of course, yoga. Always with the yoga.
In the next few days I'll be presenting y'all with a list of summer plans/goals. Rest assured, it'll be a good list. This is, after all the year of saying "yes." So far? So good.
This year's end is rife with change and charged with emotion. At the risk of being accused of being coy, I'll not say a whole ton about why that is just yet, except to say that this upcoming school year will be different; what has yet to be determined is the degree of difference. I'm always excited to end a school year--it's the period at the end of a sentence, and, so, I'm required to start a new statement!
This summer I'll be teaching summer school. I also have aspirations to buy a house. And spend a ton of time with people that I've been getting to know better over the last year. I'd also like to clean out my garage, sell half of what I own, and start an herb garden. And, of course, yoga. Always with the yoga.
In the next few days I'll be presenting y'all with a list of summer plans/goals. Rest assured, it'll be a good list. This is, after all the year of saying "yes." So far? So good.
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Boggles the Mind
One of the benefits of spring break is that, in addition to completely ignoring my to-do list, my brain gets to relax enough for me to.....think. Here are some of the thoughts that have crossed through my brain in the last 6 days:
1. Think of the people who you love and can't imagine living without. Now, imagine what power it took for the universe to place you with that exact combination of people all at the same time all together. We're not just talking a span of years here--we're talking *centuries*. Millions of years to choose from, yet here you are. With your best friend, your husband, your wife, your sister, your dad. Think of all of the possibilities--and, when you do, take a moment to appreciate those people. Not just that they exist, but that they exist at the same time as you. And that you found each other. Amazing.
2. When I eat pasta, I crave rice, pizza, and diet coke. (yes, it's less profound than #1...don't judge.)
3. I could totally stand to teach yoga full-time. I couldn't afford to do it, but I would absolutely dig it.
4. The time vortex. Why is it that one day of school takes the same amount of time as five days of break? If I start to think about the fact that it's already Thursday--and Thursday evening at that--I start to get a little shaky. So, Imma stop thinking about that right now.
5. Finally, I'm excited to eat sushi tonight.
That is all.
1. Think of the people who you love and can't imagine living without. Now, imagine what power it took for the universe to place you with that exact combination of people all at the same time all together. We're not just talking a span of years here--we're talking *centuries*. Millions of years to choose from, yet here you are. With your best friend, your husband, your wife, your sister, your dad. Think of all of the possibilities--and, when you do, take a moment to appreciate those people. Not just that they exist, but that they exist at the same time as you. And that you found each other. Amazing.
2. When I eat pasta, I crave rice, pizza, and diet coke. (yes, it's less profound than #1...don't judge.)
3. I could totally stand to teach yoga full-time. I couldn't afford to do it, but I would absolutely dig it.
4. The time vortex. Why is it that one day of school takes the same amount of time as five days of break? If I start to think about the fact that it's already Thursday--and Thursday evening at that--I start to get a little shaky. So, Imma stop thinking about that right now.
5. Finally, I'm excited to eat sushi tonight.
That is all.
Friday, March 30, 2012
The Spring Sigh
Spring break has FINALLY arrived. I truly wasn't sure I'd make it to this one. The kids have been acting like it's May, the rooms are a hundred degrees (or below zero), and my skin wants to get its tan on. All good things normally, except when you consider that it's actually March. But all of that is behind me now, because for the next nine days, I am, to a degree, free.
So, with that, I present to you: the Spring Break 2012 List of Things to Accomplish:
1. Get all grading done. Preferably on the earlier end of the break...but based on past precedent I'll be scrambling at midnight on Sunday night (April 8th) trying to get a foot high pile of grading done in an hour and grumbling that if I had just broken the pile down into 9 smaller piles, I could have taken a manageable bite each day.
2. Spring cleaning! Swabbing down the house, for reals. The dog goes to doggy day camp and I vacuum until I can't vacuum anymore.
3. Tackle the garage. This is a new one this year. My garage barely has room for my car. I need to go through clothes, furniture, random crap, and clean the place out.
4. Yoga. Teaching, practicing, sculpting...I gotta do it all.
5. Reading and Viewing. I have 3 books (Hunger Games, Echolocation, and 1963) that need finishing. I also have 3 movies that need watching. It's pretty pathetic when I'm even behind on my leisure.
6. Try a few new recipes. My blender is feeling neglected.....I've thrown her over for black bean quinoa burgers, pasta, oatmeal and soup. We need to spend some quality time rebonding.
That's it. That's enough, right? Again, past precedent says I'll only accomplish about 20% of this list, but you can rest assured I'll get a lot of napping in.
So, with that, I present to you: the Spring Break 2012 List of Things to Accomplish:
1. Get all grading done. Preferably on the earlier end of the break...but based on past precedent I'll be scrambling at midnight on Sunday night (April 8th) trying to get a foot high pile of grading done in an hour and grumbling that if I had just broken the pile down into 9 smaller piles, I could have taken a manageable bite each day.
2. Spring cleaning! Swabbing down the house, for reals. The dog goes to doggy day camp and I vacuum until I can't vacuum anymore.
3. Tackle the garage. This is a new one this year. My garage barely has room for my car. I need to go through clothes, furniture, random crap, and clean the place out.
4. Yoga. Teaching, practicing, sculpting...I gotta do it all.
5. Reading and Viewing. I have 3 books (Hunger Games, Echolocation, and 1963) that need finishing. I also have 3 movies that need watching. It's pretty pathetic when I'm even behind on my leisure.
6. Try a few new recipes. My blender is feeling neglected.....I've thrown her over for black bean quinoa burgers, pasta, oatmeal and soup. We need to spend some quality time rebonding.
That's it. That's enough, right? Again, past precedent says I'll only accomplish about 20% of this list, but you can rest assured I'll get a lot of napping in.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Sculpting the body--and the mind
I'm addicted to school. Truly. I can't stay away from the classroom in any sense of the word. Five days a week I teach in the high school classroom, and on the weekends I teach in the yoga classroom. But, even that's not enough. Back in 2007 I decided I wanted to become a funeral director...I'm little suspicious that I just really wanted to be a student again. I hung around school (and funeral homes) for 3 years, then decided that maybe my master's in special education would be more appropriate, so I switched schools and programs. In August of 2011, I finished my program and, starting in September, was officially Not a Student.
I've floated aimlessly along for a few months now, calculating how expensive this school addiction actually is and how I really need to have a different job than teaching (say....million dollar heiress, for example?) in order to support my habit. And I stopped looking at University websites, MFA programs, and other academic temptations.
But, the siren song of yoga teacher training is never far away, and the time comes around occasionally when I just can't ignore it. Enter: Yoga Sculpt Teacher Training.
......
Yes, exactly.
I'm not a sculpter. I, in fact, kind of secretly (though not anymore) really dislike yoga sculpt. Because I'm terrible at it. There's nothing I do in my daily life that beats me down more and screams "you are weak!!!" With actually more exclamation points than that, but I can't bring myself to type them. I joke (but not really) that I sculpt "annually." And that, friends, is exactly why I'm in the teacher training. People ask "why are you doing it if you hate it so much?" My answer? "Because I hate it so much...and I need to love it."
That's kind of how I roll. And, I am absolutely LOVING this training. And it's making me love sculpt and want to go take classes all the time. I can't wait to sculpt tomorrow and next week. My mind is being sculpted here far more than my physical body, because it needs more sculpting. And when I'm done with the training, I probably won't test out to teach it (famous last words), but I will have taken the steps to sit down with my old enemy Sculpt and apologize for pre-judgment. I'm buying it lunch, and I'm hopeful that we can be friends from here on out because, as it turns out, my good buddy Sculpt is a pretty nifty friend to have around.
I've floated aimlessly along for a few months now, calculating how expensive this school addiction actually is and how I really need to have a different job than teaching (say....million dollar heiress, for example?) in order to support my habit. And I stopped looking at University websites, MFA programs, and other academic temptations.
But, the siren song of yoga teacher training is never far away, and the time comes around occasionally when I just can't ignore it. Enter: Yoga Sculpt Teacher Training.
......
Yes, exactly.
I'm not a sculpter. I, in fact, kind of secretly (though not anymore) really dislike yoga sculpt. Because I'm terrible at it. There's nothing I do in my daily life that beats me down more and screams "you are weak!!!" With actually more exclamation points than that, but I can't bring myself to type them. I joke (but not really) that I sculpt "annually." And that, friends, is exactly why I'm in the teacher training. People ask "why are you doing it if you hate it so much?" My answer? "Because I hate it so much...and I need to love it."
That's kind of how I roll. And, I am absolutely LOVING this training. And it's making me love sculpt and want to go take classes all the time. I can't wait to sculpt tomorrow and next week. My mind is being sculpted here far more than my physical body, because it needs more sculpting. And when I'm done with the training, I probably won't test out to teach it (famous last words), but I will have taken the steps to sit down with my old enemy Sculpt and apologize for pre-judgment. I'm buying it lunch, and I'm hopeful that we can be friends from here on out because, as it turns out, my good buddy Sculpt is a pretty nifty friend to have around.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Hyper-extension
Yeah, not my muscles. My schedule.
I do this to myself. Confession time again--I tend to take on more than I should. It really comes from a place of not wanting to make choices or decisions, so I just keep piling it all on and navigating my way from place to place. Over a two week time period, for example, I'm doing the following:
--teaching the regular high school gig and finishing off the quarter
--going through Yoga Sculpt Teacher Training, which meets for 24 hours between Friday and Monday.
--teaching or subbing 6 yoga classes at 3 different CPY studios
And amid all of that, I'm trying to be a decent mom to Gatsby, and get some exercise in from time to time. And that, my internet friends, is what we call "hyper-extension: schedule edition." For reals.
Of course over the same two week time period, I also worked in a happy hour with one friend, a night out with another, and a Wild game with a third. So, at least I'm keeping some balance.
Sleep? That's another matter entirely.
But, spring break is coming up, and that week is the saving grace of every teacher every year. We stretch, stretch, stretch until we almost reach the breaking point----and then spring break comes along and it's like someone lifting an anvil off my chest (I imagine). Total freedom, time to sleep in, time to read, time to walk around, time to--in short--bliss out.
I have break in 9 days. I've dug my nails in and I'm ready to push through those 9 only because of what I know is waiting on the other side: recovery.
I do this to myself. Confession time again--I tend to take on more than I should. It really comes from a place of not wanting to make choices or decisions, so I just keep piling it all on and navigating my way from place to place. Over a two week time period, for example, I'm doing the following:
--teaching the regular high school gig and finishing off the quarter
--going through Yoga Sculpt Teacher Training, which meets for 24 hours between Friday and Monday.
--teaching or subbing 6 yoga classes at 3 different CPY studios
And amid all of that, I'm trying to be a decent mom to Gatsby, and get some exercise in from time to time. And that, my internet friends, is what we call "hyper-extension: schedule edition." For reals.
Of course over the same two week time period, I also worked in a happy hour with one friend, a night out with another, and a Wild game with a third. So, at least I'm keeping some balance.
Sleep? That's another matter entirely.
But, spring break is coming up, and that week is the saving grace of every teacher every year. We stretch, stretch, stretch until we almost reach the breaking point----and then spring break comes along and it's like someone lifting an anvil off my chest (I imagine). Total freedom, time to sleep in, time to read, time to walk around, time to--in short--bliss out.
I have break in 9 days. I've dug my nails in and I'm ready to push through those 9 only because of what I know is waiting on the other side: recovery.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)