7.30.16- 9am

I was feeling a little extra motivated yesterday in class. The reason why is a bit petty and involves vanity, something I am working on letting go of ...but it served me somewhat well in class because I was able to hold Standing Head to Knee better than I ever have before.

Angel of the day: Communication

7.27.16- 6am

Today was a small class and moderately silent though Jeannie's silent classes involve less silence...she loves to do the dialogue. I had a new sensation doing Tree Pose that seemed worth recording. On the second side I was able to bring both hands to namaskar and I felt a new sense of grounding in the pose I've never felt before. As I was able to press my knee forward and down more I felt an interconnectedness up my entire body. Hard to explain other than I just felt stronger than I ever have in that pose and I am excited for the opportunity to continue to build on that feeling!

Angel of the day: Awakening

7.21.16- 6am

Today was a really important day in class...not so much because of the yoga but the meditation before class. I try to meditate at least for a few minutes before and after class, laying down in Savasana. Today, I reached a new place in my meditation. Hard to describe other than it was exhilarating and incredibly peaceful at the same time. There was something about the silence of the room, and that sound (of silence...queue the Simon & Garfunkel song) that took me in to a deeper level of concentration on my breath and stillness. The coolest part is that that concentration stayed with me through the entire class and I went deeper in most postures than I ever have before. It really takes time and is challenging to meditate but the slow rewards that come are amazing and I'm so grateful to finally be seeing them. Nothing worthwhile comes easy...as they say.

Angel of the the day: RISK

7.14.16- 6am

Really great class with Elizabeth, so many great corrections. Let's see how many I can remember.

-When raising arms above your head (like in Half Moon, etc) think Down, Out, then Up. This helps broaden and open the chest and get your arms closer to your head.

-Grip strength on Standing Head to Knee...think of your fingers coming together like Lincoln Logs and not separating. If you really focus on this it makes balancing easier too.

-Balancing stick...I have probably been doing this wrong until today. Jeannie demonstrated...you can't let your arms move from the sides of your head. It's really challening to look at your toes in the mirror with your arms still sandwiched against your head...but that's the way to do it and I noticed a big change. It's much more challenging now.

Off to Enchanted Forest!

7.12.16 9am

Got two good tips from Jeannie today...although I didn't really need to her be giving me a hard time about drinking water between postures which she did to annoying level...but whatever. The tips were in Standing Bow to really grab the kicking foot and when you do that, notice what your opposing shoulder does. The goal being you need to relax that should BACK so you can twist. It makes a big difference with balance and depth when you focus on really squeezing your foot. Second tip was something that's said all the time in Standing Head to Knee but she took it a step further...when grabbing your food with the interlocked, tight grip, notice your PALMS. The palms can really acted as a support so that you don't lose the grip. Just thinking about the whole hand during the pose did help keep the grip. This has been a rough week and it's not even close to being over but yoga helped. Thank you, yoga.

7.8.16- 6am

Today and yesterday in class I felt stronger in Standing Bow and Standing Head To Knee (challening concentration poses) and I think the music class is partly responsible for that. My concentration and and my strength are working together more. In Standing Head to Knee if I can think about my elbows holding my leg up and really pressing/pulling my foot back it allows for more stability. That's the key to getting my forehead to my knee in a controlled way...it's exciting to see how i'm going to get there even though I haven't arrived yet. That's true with many things these days.

7.4.16- 9:30am Sellwood studio MUSIC CLASS!

Had a wonderful class at the Sellwood PDX studio this morning. It was a silently lead music class. The only other music class I have ever done was at Sellwood about 6 months ago...it was to Disintegration by The Cure so needless to say I was in heaven. It's great to know that other types of music also work as well. This one was a mixture of downtempo electronic like  Telepopmusic, Air, Daft Punk maybe? I'm not sure but it was all really great...no lyrics, chillax music. During Standing Head to Knee I was so in to the repetitiveness of the beat that I was able to touch forehead to knee and exit with balance (once on one side). So the music took me to a new place in my yoga....and I really trust the musical tastes of this particular studio owner. It's probably best to save it for special occasions in Portland and not try to get the Corvallis studio to do it (unless they only use mixes I pre-approve). Doing yoga to the Grateful Dead or Little Feat or something would really bum me out.

7.1.16- 6am

Skipped class yesterday and took a mental health day from work. I ended up taking 2 naps. I can't say I feel particularly rested today, though, even though I should. I'm not given the luxury of being unplugged from email even when on vacation...this adds to stress and stress is something I am trying to balance if not eliminate through yoga. In class today Carol talked about stress and how some stress is good and can make you more resilient. I agree with that but I'd also prefer not to have any. Also, there was a new guy in class today who had a nipple ring, that was stressful, and not in a good way. First thought: why do you want to look like Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs? Second thought: what if it gets yanked out? Third thought: Ignore it, Jane and focus on your fucking breathing.