Happy New Year

Just wanted to pop in and wish all of you wonderful folks a happy and prosperous 2008! Don't forget to treat your soul and your tummy ! :)

Coffee Book

I would like to present to you my latest Yoga read:


The Spirit of Yoga by Kathy Phillips and an intro with Christy Turlington. This is a nice coffee book to keep in the home. There are some gorgeous images...


But fair warning, this is not exactly a book for beginners. If you are looking for a text to learn the basics and how to lose some weight, this is NOT the book for you.


There is less focus on the asana practice and more on the overall history and broader concept of yoga (The Eight Limbs) and eastern philosophies.


At times I almost got a sense that the book looked down on what the West has done to Yoga and I understand it can be frustrating which is another reason why this might be a turn off for one who is looking to just work out and not into the teachings. Personally, I love all that stuff and want to learn as much as I can about it.


Overall I didn't gain anything new from reading this, but it was a nice renewal.

Feeling Dirty?

We interrupt your web browsing to bring you a special news bulletin...

CUPCAKE SOAP

This is by far the most realistic cupcake item I have seen. I have to eat it, I don't care if it's soap.

I promise a yoga-related entry is coming soon! I've been busy with the Etsy shop and my other blog but a book review IS coming soon!

Snow Day

Thank you Nadine for introducing us procrastinators to this site. I will display this badge proudly.

It's cold, snowing, I have not showered, and I am feeling VERY lazy. I wish I had cake mix because I'm in the mood to indulge. Instead I think I will have a 2nd cup of coffee.

How is everyone? I feel like I am so out of it. I feel like I have entered a new stage of Yoga where I am really being more cautious in harming myself. I have let my fearlessness die down a bit, not that I'm turning into a scaredy cat to try new things but instead really listening to that voice telling me to not go so far. While I am still young, my body has changed and I can't treat it the same anymore.

I am also reading a Yoga coffee book that I plan to share more on once I finish. It is certainly different from the other yoga text I have read.

New Cupcake Love

I am a Cupcake Whore, I confess. I profess my love for The Cupcake Cafe and swear by it...until yesterday.

Today is my father's birthday but I won't be able to see him so I went to my parent's yesterday to pay a visit (and crash). I did skip yoga so I headed down to Chelsea. Walking down 6th Avenue I begin to smell something. Something evil yet tempting. Like the devil tempting Jesus in the desert only he's tempting me with a sweet scent. I follow it and discover Billy's Bakery. I'm going in! After a bit of a wait, I leave with three vanilla cupcakes with buttercream frosting...



I brought them back to my folks and they loved it. I REALLY loved it. The smell of the icing, oh the smell. It's like butter, really it smelled like butter! I'm embarrassed to admit this but I had the cupcake wrapper in my mouth trying to chew every last crumb and drop of icing. I was tempted to swallow it, it's only paper right? What harm can it do???

Billy is my new love. What we had, Cupcake Cafe, was special with your moist cornmuffin like cupcakes but Billy's frosting is just too much to resist!

Thanksbaking!

Forget the Tofurkey! How about baking a Turkey Cake instead? Wow!

I was so set on taking a class tonight but that little voice in my head is telling me no. The little voice in my leg actually is saying it. I'm not limping around or feeling anything (at the moment) but my hip is being testy with me. I **could** try to practice at home over the long weekend. Lots of twisting to help me digest all the food I'll be eating. Maybe laying off the forward bends until next week.

Ok, I won't go to class tonight.

Me? Recommended??? Pah-Shaw!!!!

What wonderful news I received this morning when I learned that C&Y is currently the YogaDawg Recommended Blog for the moment, it could be a week, a day, 15 minutes, bloggin' is serious business folks so I'll take anything I can get. YogaDawg is such a wonderful and fun site where you can spend HOURS just checking everything out. I personally like The Buddha takes a Yoga Class series. Anyway, a big THANK YOU for the honor. :)

So how do I celebrate this joyous occassion? By messing up my Right leg Tuesday night. From my hip - which I have been keeping a close eye on since the inflammations, down to my ankle bone especially around the Peroneus muscles which are muscles directly linked to the ankle. I've been having trouble with those muscles for YEARS, even before I started doing yoga. Just working out at the gym if I was on the treadmill those muscles would cramp up way too fast. Even now if I do a fast walk those are the first to fall apart on me. I'm not quite sure how to strengthen those muscles, maybe walking on my tippy toes?

Cupcakes for the holidays

The interweb is just TOO big for me to look for a decent cupcake recipe specifically for the Holidays so I turn to anyone who comes across this...

HELP ME!!!!

You can leave a comment posting a link or your own tips. Nothing too over the top. I'm not Martha Stewart and I don't have a huge state of the art kitchen. The only equipment I have to work with is a blender, electric egg beater, and my mighty yoga strength. No electric mixers here!

I came across this lovely entry on Maple and cocoa tea cakes with pomegranate cream icing and oh how I would love to try this but I can see this attempt turning into an episode of I Love Lucy real fast.

It's a cupcake doing yoga!!!!

God bless Flickr and the wonderful things I can find on there. This is TOO CUTE! Click the image to view a larger version.

I'm not bad, I'm just built that way.

I was totally going to let my Yoga Journal subscription run out. I was done! No more! I wasn't going to get frustrated with the blatant commercialization of that rag! And then I read the latest issue which arrived in the mail and in it is an article about my nemisis, Supta Virasana and why it is bliss for some and torture for others. It's absolute torture for me. It was enlightening. It helped me understand what may be going on structurally with me. I don't want to say what's "wrong" with me because that's just the way I'm made, with a short Rectus Femoris blah! I wonder if having tight hamstrings is related to this as well? *shrug* It recommended stretches like Frog (one leg at a time) so I may do that before class this evening. So it was a good read. You win this round YJ!

I took a class last Thursday which really wore me out. I don't like classes like that. I'm suppose to feel energized, not silently begging for Child's Pose....I know I can take Child's Pose any time I wish but my Ego was running the show that class. Anyway, the teacher did adjustments on me that I just did not like. I don't mind adjustments but I want to learn from them too. Don't just move me around because it looks pretty, show me something! She was pulling me back in Reverse Triangle and I'm wondering "What are you doing???" and lost my balance, thanks. Now that I've made that public here, I can let that go.

So totally not yoga-related, or it could be depending on your point of view, the Holidays are coming and it can be a stressful time for a lot of people. Pressure is put on us for gift giving and who to give and what. Why not try something this year and support the little man?



The above is a listing of Craft-related, handmade shops and sellers who have pledged to buy Handmade items for the holidays instead of big department stores. Websites like Etsy, DaWanda and Indie Collective are wonderful places to start.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Lip Balm

Fred Flare has turned 1 years old today and they are offering a free piece of cake with every purchase...not a real cake, its a Cake Pouch. So if you're gonna purchase something, let it be this: Petit Four Lip Balm Set! Can you say C-U-T-E?????

Ok, so a quick yoga mention, while my right hip has not flared up in quite a while, standing forward bends with my right leg extended forward has been feeling funky. Is this gonna be a regular thing for me now? Hmmm...

spring bouquet in the fall?

spring bouquet in the fall?
Originally uploaded by Cupcake Laine

No water required. Sunlight not needed. This has to be one of my favorite cupcake images ever!

Time for sweets!

It is a lazy Sunday and it has been almost a month since my last cupcake entry and you deserve one since you have been soooo sweet to me in my occasional emotional breakdowns I have on here.

First, I discovered a new cupcake blog!



Sweet Avenue Bake Shop in New Jersey.

Also on the blog front, one of my new FAVORITE blogs has posted a Carrot Cupcake recipe. I love Girl Wanders, she inspires me to cook more if only I can kick my boyfriend out of the kitchen. He doesn't trust me near a stove or with knives.

Pandora's Box

Yup, Pandora's Box was opened last night during yoga class and a whole bunch of bad stuff came out. Long story short, we paired up (which I have expressed on here that I haaaaaaaaaaaaate) and did a drop back into full wheel and then come right back up. After doing this twice, the third time my partner dropped me right on the top of my head. I'm friends with the person I was paired up with which is why I even bothered, if it would have been anyone else I would have opted out.

Before doing it a third time I told her that I was tired and I didn't want to do anymore but she insisted I try one more.....she was trying to be supportive and encouraging. I don't know how it happened, but I was in wheel and she went to pull me up and I went right back down.

It wasn't a big spectacle, I was fine, it didn't even hurt actually but I was embarrassed, really embarrassed, although I don't think anyone else saw this except my partner and my teacher. She ran over to make sure I was ok and I said I was in as few words as possible because I didn't want to make a scene. That's when I felt my eyes water and my throat get tight. I had to leave the room to compose myself.

I went to the bathroom and BURST into tears. I have told my friend/partner once before that I don't like pairing up because I'm usually the biggest girl in the room and I'm afraid I will hurt someone. She hates when I talk like that because she doesn't think there's anything wrong with me. Whatever. So by this happening just stirred up every negative thought and emotion I have about myself that I have been trying to erase. I hate it. I splashed some water on my face and went back but the rest of class was kind of ruined for me.

My friend tried to catch me afterward but I jetted out of the studio because I didn't want to talk to anyone as I started crying again and didn't want anyone to see me. I'm ok I guess, still upset and wondering what can I do to make myself happy with my body. It's gonna take more than just yoga.

*Yoga Hands & Feet*

I don't mind using straps in class when needed, if we're doing leg stretches of the sort but man does the gripping hurt my hands. I'm wondering what can I do about that? I doubt it's arthritis (eep!) and my hands don't usually bother me in any other instance, just when I'm gripping and pulling on a strap. The only thing I can really think of to strengthen your hands is to squeeze one of those stress balls but is there anything else?

A new thing my teacher is making us do is Ardha Matsyendrasana a different way:



What you see this lady doing is how I usually do this pose and how most people do this pose. Notice where her left foot is. Now check this guy out:



Where is his foot (in this case the right)? Oh yeah, he's SITTING on it! The foot is suppose to stay flexed while one cheek sits on your heel and the other sits on the ball of your foot. Good luck with that! It's murder on my feet and my poor, poor pinky toes. They have not forgiven me for doing this to them. This, along with Supta Virasana, may be something that'll take years if ever to master.

I wanna fall again!!

Hi everyone! I haven't had much to say lately on the yoga front until today so I've been laying low. I did a pretty cool thing in class last night. I fell....over and over again. For a lot of us, inversions are scary because we're afraid of falling and hurting ourselves.

My teacher wanted us to do forearm stand but no walls were allowed. She knew everyone in the room so she wanted to push us a little. She wanted us to experience falling out of Pincha Mayurasana so we wouldn't be afraid to do it again without the wall. It was like a tumbling class for toddlers.

We did it first in partners; one person spotted you as you came up, bend your knees, started drawing your feet to the ground. So yes, there is a point where you do find yourself doing Scorpion before your feet hit the floor.

Once it came time to do it on our own, I have to say it was kind of fun! Those couple of seconds of me perched up and doing the pose with no support before bending my knees and falling back (or is it forward?) was so exhilarating. It was the same feeling I had the first time I did a handstand.

After I learned how to do a headstand away from the wall, forearm stand was my next mission. I've been practicing this pose for a while now trying to engage my chest and shoulder blades more to not crunch my lower back so much. That was my issue, I wasn't drawing my chest forward enough. I can't wait to try again!

UPDATE: It is important that I add to TUCK YOUR CHIN! Since your head shouldn't be touching the ground in this pose, this will be easy, instinctive even! :)

karate kids

karate kids 2
Originally uploaded by pipingrock76

A big THANK YOU to everyone who responded to my last entry. It is an interesting that topic that will always surface no matter how secular and commercial Yoga may get.

So with that, here is a treat. Karate Kid cupcakes! Hiiieeee-ya!!!

Yoga Minus Hinduism

In the latest issue of Newsweek, the "BeliefWatch" section has a piece about Christian Yoga.

Yoga minus Hinduism

Did I miss something? I'm suppose to be Hindu? The article is about a group of Christians tweaking the practice around to cater to their beliefs, renaming poses because Sanskrit is sacrilege or something.

Yeah, at first I did get a little offended as it's safe to criticize Christianity. But then I started thinking, is Christian Yoga any different from Punk Rock Yoga, or Disco Yoga (I'm not making that up)? There's always going to be someone trying a new kind of Yoga to attract a certain audience. I guess I can't fault them as long as they DO it.

What bothers me is the division, Ashtanga is better than Iyengar, Christian better than Hindu...who cares!!!! Just enjoy it and gain something positive out it. No judgments.

I'm going to bed, good night!

**Waves**

I went to yoga last night, the first time in two weeks! My teacher, Lippy, gave me a few tips on what to do to take care of my hip in forward bends (ie: roll up a blanket and folder over that). I didn't go crazy with the forward bending. I have an excellent forward bend where my palms can lay flat on the ground and my forehead touches my knee but last night I checked my ego at the door and used blocks, blocks, and more blocks. Even in Trikonasana I used blocks.

My teacher has now forbidden me from using my right leg to kick up into Handstand. =*( It's my "A side", my left leg gets neglected a lot. So I tried to kick up with my left leg and it truly is like learning how to do a handstand all over again. Kinda sucks but I understand why I must do it, balance baby! It's crazy how you can get your body to move a certain way on one side but when you try the other side you are completely lost and your legs are just flaring out like crazy.

It was nice to be back in class. The anti-inflammatories I was taking for my hip did the trick and I haven't felt any pain in about a week. I may refill the prescription and just keep it in the cabinet in case it flares up again. The doctor thinks that's enough to do the trick. I'll stick with that.

What kind of Yogi Are You?

I'm a Hippie Yogi!

A Hippie Yogi When you're not doing yoga or marching in protests, you divide your time between hugging trees and flashing peace signs at people you don't know. You truly care about the world around you and take action to make it a better place for everyone to enjoy--including your furry friends. You're warm, welcoming, and a lot of fun. Be careful, however, not to let your dedication to your cause alone determine your actions--take time for yourself every now and then, too. Everything in moderation will make you more balanced in your yoga practice and in your life.

Take the Yoga Journal Yoga Snob Quiz!

WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! Thanks Yoga Journal for that thought provoking quiz. Honestly, I had a hard time answering most of those questions as I felt like none of the answer options really suited me. I know some of you have a gripe with YJ and I can totally understand why. This ridiculous quiz, at least I think it is, just goes to show that there's a population out there that they're still not targeting. Maybe this was suppose to be taken as a joke but I thought it was a bit silly.

Here is some of MY REAL answers:

How do you choose a yoga class?
I read the class description, if it is at a studio I have never been to before, I may take one level lower than I am use to taking.

What kind of water bottle do you bring to class?
A Poland Spring bottle that I refill at the water cooler at my job so I save money.

What song always puts you in the mood to bust out a yoga pose?
There isn't any.

What’s your favorite drink for rehydration after yoga?
Water

What do you before class while you’re waiting for your teacher to arrive?
I'll stretch a little bit, then I will meditate.

Who are your closest friends?
The ones I grew up with.

It’s your birthday: What do you ask for?
Something from my Amazon Wishlist.

LEMOOOOON!

Bild 252
Originally uploaded by o´holysweet!

lemon yoghurt cupcake
lemoncurd
vanilla cream frosting

The title is suppose to sound like Bono singing that god awful song from Zooropa.

I have been taking it easy since my last entry. Haven't don't much physical activity due to my hip. I haven't taken any classes at all. The discomfort is still there and I feel like the anti-inflammatories are not doing much for me.

I'm also fighting off a cold, ugh.

I hope to take a class tomorrow and see if I can get any tips for taking care of my hip. I don't think external rotations are much of a problem for me but I definitely don't want to do anything to flare things up. But I need to practice! My body is screaming for it. In the meantime I have been creating a bunch of stuff for my Etsy shop. I don't bring that up much here because I'm too busy plugging it everywhere else but that's what's I've been doing.

Hope all of you are well!

Hip Update

peace3
Originally uploaded by Marilyn P. Sushi

Sorry I have not posted in a few days. I've been meaning to. There is just not enough time in the day. So the latest news is the doctor thinks what's wrong with my hip is Bursitis. This will not be confirmed until I get the x-rays done which won't be until early next month.

From WebMd:
Bursitis is the inflammation or irritation of the bursa. The bursa is a sac filled with lubricating fluid, located between tissues such as bone, muscle, tendons, and skin, that decreases rubbing, friction, and irritation.

So if this continues without it being addressed, the sac could burst and I'll have bone grinding on bone and I definitely don't want that. Right now I'm taking anti-inflammatories and laying off the physical activities. I only feel discomfort when I'm walking, not when I'm in a hip opener which is odd but I still won't push it.

So what's with this picture? I wanted to share this after it was emailed to me from Megan from Fleeting Moments. The two photos were taken by me and she's displaying in her meditation room. I feel so honored. :)

Oh my hip

Sometimes the weirdest things happen when you least expect it. Saturday I was walking to the hospital to visit my new Sweat Pea niece and I noticed as I was walking that my right hip was kind of bugging me. This isn't the first time this has happened. In the last year, I think, I've been noticing little annoyances with my right hip here and there but I usually let it pass and attribute it to getting old. Since this past Saturday, the pain has not let up. I do not recall doing anything funky in Shri's class Thursday to trigger it, unless it's some kind of delayed reaction(?). As of now, I'm gonna give it another week to go away, it's foolish I know but that's just my logic. This morning walking to work was really bad but it wore off. It's coming and going right. I feel ok now I just got up to throw something in the garbage and it's still there. To be safe, no class tonight. I hope to take a Level 1 class tomorrow and just lay off the hips. If this doesn't go away then I may have to see a doctor about it.

Again, sometimes I think it is just a sign of old age. I'm 32, sure not "old" but my body can't do the things it use to (ie: walk all over the island of Manhattan and not feel the least bit tired). I am not the greatest when it comes to taking vitamins to keep my bones strong, maybe I should start because I really don't want to be an achy old lady later on down the line and kick myself for not taking better care of my body when I was younger.

cheeky cupcakes 2

cheeky cupcakes 2
Originally uploaded by Choc-a-holic

I saw this and could not resist, how funny! I like the one with the sunburnt cheeks.

I wanna thank everyone who left kind comments in my last entry. I've been hesitant to post pictures of myself but I went for it and I'm glad I did.

Unless my sister-in-law has her baby tonight, I plan to take a class taught by Shri from Paper or Dysplastic. She just started teaching again since her surgery. She was trained at Jivamukti so I'm in the mood to move dammit! Talk about adjustments, Shri's adjustments are very, very good. She can put her hands on me all she wants. :)

Bakasana

Bakasana (Crow Pose)
Originally uploaded by Marilyn P. Sushi

Does this Crow make my butt look big? It's funny when you look at yourself doing a pose, you look for what's wrong with it. Right now I'm thinking my butt is too high and my chest isn't forward enough.

Plus my legs are crazy pale!

Tonight's class

Soooooooooo good! Just what I needed. It was one of those classes where I felt so in tuned with my mind and body. I so desperately needed this. I was constantly reminding myself of the gift I was given to have the chance to practice today. Honestly though, I'm too tired to come up with any substance of entry, so here is an elephant on a cupcake.

Bad Yoga Date

Last night was a first. I walked out of a class. It was not because I hated it, it was a good class but my body decided not to show up and my head preferred to start throbbing and to distort my vision...in the middle of class! I lasted an hour before I just couldn't anymore. I was getting angry and my teacher was being especially touchy feely with me. Very bad timing on her part but how was she to know? Which leads me to ask, how do you handle it when an instructor is doing an adjustment you're just not getting what they're doing? You feel nothing except tugging and pulling and you wanna say "That's not working! My bone doesn't move that way."

I hope to take another class tomorrow. I'm feeling better today but I thought I'd take it easy. The summer sucks so much energy out of me. Especially in the city where the humidity is just disgusting.

The latest YJ has an article about home practices. I, like many folks, have difficulty practing at home so I read this with great interest. I really want to try it. I understand that I don't have to mimick my teachers and sure, it's ok if I only want to do poses that I really like and avoid the ones I really dislike coughsuptavirasanacough. Gypsy Girl also wrote the most loveliest entry on her blog about discoving your home practice. Go read!

Eat them before they eat you!

Eat them before they eat you!
Originally uploaded by Bake & Destroy!

Happy Shark Week!!!

I live for Shark Week and this year seems like a doosey. Any excuse to post an image of Shark cupcakes from C&Y web pal Bake & Destroy.

Yoga update coming soon!

Update

Tuesday I was dismissed from Jury Duty, phew! Back to my regularly scheduled life. I'm glad I wasn't picked because the case was a doosey. It involved a sexual assault against a 12 year old. I do not want to spend the rest of my summer hearing details about this one.

Last night I took it easy and took a Level 1 class. It's still work but I just was not in the mood to put myself through intense work. I don't know how to word it without sounding cocky, you know what I mean? You wanna practice but not at the level you're use to. I guess that makes sense. The point is, I have no problems taking a "beginner" class and still feel like I can benefit from it.

I'm staying in the city this weekend apartment sitting for my parents. I hope I can squeeze in a class or two in that time. It would be nice. I don't usually practice on the weekends.

Cup Bear

girly cupcake 3
Originally uploaded by Sandra (socake)

I'm performing my civic duty and got stuck with Jury Duty this week. I don't know how much yoga I'll be able to get in. I hope I'm done quickly so I can get back to my regular routine. Sure I'm a little pissy about it, I don't wanna go but I won't whine about it. How can I be upset when I saw this adorable little bear on a cupcake????

So what's new with you?

Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese & Strawberry

Vanilla Cupcakes with Cream Cheese & Strawberry
Originally uploaded by cizkeik

No reason.

Just because.

:)

Cupcake Speakers!

How wonderful would Krishna Das or Ram Dass sound coming out of these speakers???

From Semk, these treats can plug into any media player or computer. A friend on Myspace posted this, apparently it's brand spankin' new. You can find more info about it here.

Yesterday evening I think I stood longer on my head than ever before. My upper back is kind of feeling it today. Ooof! Still taking a class later. It is pouring rain outside. I hope it's still like this when I take class later. Something about the sound of rain, aaaah!

rose cupcakes

rose cupcakes
Originally uploaded by cupcake related euphoria

Just wanted to post a quick entry wishing everyone a nice weekend. Here is a nice treat for all the visitors.

You wanna lick the frosting off the screen don't you????

What a difference a day makes!

I'm feeling pretty good today. Class last night was a killer. The teacher last night is known for being like a drill sergeant but in a good way. Less vinyasa, more holding poses longer and today my arms are feeling solid! No arm balances involved this time, just a lot, a whole lot, of Warrior 2 which can be murder on your shoulders after awhile. But I like the instructor, I like her a lot. Although for 75 minutes I want to throw her out of the window, I'm thankful for her class afterward. I think between her and my Tuesday class brings a nice balance of what my body needs. One class is more vinyasa and flexibility based where the other seems to work my muslces more. I hope I can make it next week. Class is at 5:15 and I get out of work at 5:00 so it's cutting it close. I hate to show up to a class late, even if it's 1 minute late, I hate it. I'm just Type A like that.

What is this called?

Just like I predicted, I went to class and was glad I did. However, I did feel a little sluggish, like my body gained 80 pounds. I hate that feeling. Focus of the class? Arm balances and hip openers.

Arm balances=boooo! Hip openers=yaaaay!

The pose we were building up to is this one here, that John is demonstrating. I swiped this picture from my studio's website. If you know the name of this pose, please let me know. Did I get my foot behind my head? No. No one did except for Lip who sat there with her foot behind her head talking to everyone like it's normal to sit that way!! I do love doing leg behind the shoulder poses. There were some other twisty arm balances we did but overall they're quite a challenge for me.

I'm gonna hop into another class tonight before I head over to my mom's for her birthday. I'm determined to get 3 classes in a week....starting next week, this week will have to settle for two.

Bikram all around!

There is an office building outside my window that tells the time and temperature. Right now it is 92 degrees! I'm wondering if I should go to class tonight but that would be weak. I didn't go last week. I was still recouperating from my move and my back was killing me.

I've taken classes on hot days before. Why I'm being such a wuss today, I don't know. I'll go, I have to force myself to go and I know I will thank myself afterward. I just have to be mindful, no matter how loose my muscle get, to not over stretch. That is a complaint I hear a lot with Bikram Yoga. Your body is so warmed up, your muscles become capable of stretching beyond their limit and you won't feel the consequence and the pull until later and you're walking around with a limp. I've never done Bikram before but I have hurt myself from extreme forward bending.

Either way, don't let the heat keep you from your practice!

Fourth of July Cupcakes!

Happy eating!

Supta Virasana

I think I have expressed in the past that I H.A.T.E. this pose. 'Hate' is a strong word, but I find it appropriate here. See this image? This is how I do this pose except I have a blanket under my legs, a block for my butt, and the blanket is rolled up to support my back and it STILL is soooooooo uncomfortable. I'm just not meant to bend that way. I dread this pose, yesterday in class when my teacher said we would do it, I rolled my eyes, not in front of everyone, we were in Child's pose so no one saw my stank face. I don't think I've ever reacted like that in a class before. I know it's suppose to be restorative and yummy but it is a big struggle for me. I hate this pose so much.

The moral of the story is..

I need to do Supta Virasa more.

Silence is Golden

I wanted to direct you to the latest entry over at Grounding Through The Sit Bones. Indulging in silence is not a new concept but I agree that it is something we tend to avoid. This is why meditating can be such a challenge sometimes. It's funny how in yoga class, I don't notice the music most of the time (unless it sucks) but I prefer to have it off during Savasana. I actually enjoy class when there is no music playing at all. Meanwhile, like a lot of other folks, I listen to my iPod to shut out everything everywhere else. I would like to take more time to just observe the "voices in my head", understand where they are coming from, and eventually shut them off too. I cling to my thoughts often.

C&Y Craft Goodies

I haven't had much to say lately but I wanted to pop in and say 'hello'. I mentioned in my other blog that I will be moving next week so I'm not sure how much I'll be online in the next couple of weeks. I'll still snoop around at work (who doesn't do that?) but as far as actual updates? We'll see.

I've been in a crafty kind of mood lately. A few months back I wrote an entry dedicated to green-theme cupcakes so I wanted to devote this entry to show off some neat yoga-related items featured on my favorite place to shop, Etsy.

First, my friend Flo and fellow yoga enthusiast just opened at Etsy shop, Sugar Blossom Boutique and some of the items she makes are yoga mat bags!



Up next, who raises their hand at the beginning of Savasana when the teacher ask, "Who wants an eye pillow?" I do!!! But an eye pillow can be enjoyed anywhere, and the pillows made by Small City Styles not only feel wonderful but they smell good too!



I have one and I wear it to sleep every night, of course when I wake up in the morning its on the floor from falling off my face.

Leah's Glass Creations has the CUTEST little yoga lady statues, here is one in Warrior III.



Some nice yoga art, maybe to hang up in your studio or practice space by Imagine Studios



And last but not least, yoga clothes!!!

Thaidreams.etsy.com
moralfabric.etsy.com
ethaibid.etsy.com

What's in a name?

Class yesterday was just peachy. Even though on the schedule it is listed as "Level 2", it was more like a restorative/meditative class which is just fine and dandy with me. It goes to show that when checking out a studio, don't let the numbers scare you or keep you in your comfort zone. For a long time I was hesitant to take a L2 class - my studio goes as high as 2/3 but that's not even offered so technically, 2 is supposedly the toughest class. One day I took a chance and found it wasn't so bad, in fact, it was one of the better classes I've ever taken and it helped shoot my confidence through the roof.

I had to miss Lippy's class Tuesday because wouldn't you know, 15 minutes before it's time to leave work I get hit with a migraine. Once every couple of years I get hit with a Ocular Migraine and once I start seeing the sparks and flashy stars, I know the day is done for me. It pretty much leaves me incapacitated for the rest of the night. I was bummed. I heard it was a good class too.

*kicks a rock

I'm feeling fine now. Thank God for eye pillows.

Color me POOPED!

That's right, pooped! I can't think of a better way to end a week by taking a class that totally kicks your booty. I was sweating so much, my poor eyes were red at the end of class. Then on the train going home, I read an article in the latest YJ about Ayurvedic ways to take care of your eyes. Coincidence.

The instructor was just lovely. I haven't taken his class since October of last year before I got the news about my heart. For me, he is the toughest instructor I've ever had but he has the softest, sweetest, gentle voice. His overall demeanor is serenity and calm but the classes he teaches are hella hard!

I got on the scale when I got home and saw I dropped two pounds. I must say that keeping a food journal really is helpful. It really makes you think about what you're putting into your body and how you respond to it. I even found that I've lost the taste for certain foods too. Also, I always make sure I don't clean my plate, always leave food left over. I use to want to finish my meals even if I was getting stuffed but then you're not really enjoying your meal are you? It becomes work. After reading about this technique for so long, I'm really trying to take the approach of meals as a form of meditation and it does make a difference!

Chest Open, Back Bent!

I'm writing this entry during my lunch break in the middle of an incredibly hectic day that makes me want to pull my hair out. So far not good except for reading Regina's blog. That made me happy.

I will proclaim that class last night was gooooood. When my teacher said she was in a backbending kind of mood, I thought "Uh oh". I rather not do them and I dread that part of the class when we go into Wheel but I do it anyway. In turn it felt more like a chest opening class with the exception of one drop back (with a partner). Which leads to me ask, how does everyone feel about pairing up? I usually don't like it. It is not because I feel grossed out touching other people but my weight is always a concern in my dumb brain and I always worry that it gets in the way, although it never has in the past in a partner exercise, but I prefer to not do it.

We practice Pincha Mayurasana only trying to stand on our elbows with our palms to our chin, like a little pinup girl. I couldn't do it. My hands would not lift from the ground. It's hard enough for me to balance in the pose on my forearms.

I'm thinking about taking another class tomorrow, it is just that kind of week so far. I have too many worries on my mind that I just can't shake. It seems like the more time I devote to the mat, the more time it is not worrying.

Look what I just bought!

It looks like a bar of soap Marilyn, yes it is but not just any soap. It's Frosted Pink Cupcakes Luxury Cold-Processed Soap enriched with Mango Butter. Ingredients: Contains oils of Olive, Soybean, Coconut, Palm, Palm Kernel, Castor, Mango Butter; Fragrance. Etsy of course, from seller Madcitysue. It'll be hard to not bite a chunk from it, topped with the Pink Cupcakes Creamy Sugar Scrub YES!!! Oh wait, this isn't real food, I forgot already.

I blame the burgers

I could not get it together for class last night. My body felt tired and very sluggish which surprised me. I was feeling fine all day until I had to do some actual WORK. I couldn't do a handstand, I kept kicking and kicking and plopping back down. It was a good class but brawn beat out the brains I guess and it said "No more work, sleep!". I think coming back from a long weekend of not doing much, bbq, and tired calves from my trip to Wave Hill got the best of me. I hope to take another class tomorrow. I gotta get my energy back.

I haven't had much to write about lately, I've been kind of introspective as of late. Still reading Light On Yoga and absorbing what that entails. I will share a photo I took this past weekend..



They look like a pair of eyes looking back at you!