It was one year ago today that I posted my first entry at Cupcakes & Yoga. It has been a blast! Surely I did not anticipate anyone reading this blog, maybe a random lurker passing through but nothing like the response I have received and the lovely people who come and help make this blog what it is. I will not take all of the credit. The comments left by many of you have been wonderful and insightful that I am sure anyone can benefit and learn from. I know I have!
So let's all make a wish!!!
I think I'm going to change the Friday Flickr Cupcakes to Tuesday, or any other day BUT Friday. Friday's I got a lot going on. So enjoy for now!
1. i'm a big fan of the nut cups., 2. and they're done!, 3. not too shabby, 4. nut cups filled with crazy asian cake goodness., 5. huzzah!, 6. big guys. pre-toasting, 7. the filling process. lemon curd=delicious., 8. victory!, 9. toasting the meringue., 10. filling the mini's with lemon curd., 11. the minis. filled, frosted, and ready to be toasted., 12. chillin' out a bit., 13. mmm, 14. The Cupcake Company Logo, 15. weekday cupcakes, 16. cupcake-Harry Potter 2, 17. $1.87 cupcake, 18. After, 19. www.cupcakeenvy.com, 20. www.cupcakeenvy.com, 21. www.cupcakeenvy.com, 22. Webby Cupcakes, 23. www.cupcakeenvy.com, 24. Pooh on cupcakes, 25. www.cupcakeenvy.com, 26. Piglet on cupcakes, 27. claire's birthday present, 28. Princess Cupcake, 29. Detail/Green Bay Packer Cupcakes, 30. A WHOLE LOT of Green Bay Packer Cupcakes, 31. Crafty Mousepad, 32. Cinnamon Roll Cupcake, 33. Birthday Cupcakes, 34. Birthday Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes, 35. Cinnamon Roll Cupcake, 36. Basket Weave
Created with fd's Flickr Toys.
I have been practicing Yoga for about five years now. One thing that has not changed since day 1 is the feeling my wrists feel in Full Wheel. I have tried every trick in the book: parallel your feet, don't let your knees splay outward, draw your chest forward, shoulders above the wrist. I can almost dare say that I do a PERFECT WHEEL! But man my wrist continue to hurt. In most classes, you can't do just one, instructor will ask for three. My wrist are done after the first but of course, Miss Pushy Pushy has to keep going and suffer.
I think my wrists are pretty small and not in scale with the rest of my frame, could that be it? I have tried other alternatives like grabbing my instructor's ankles while they stand over me or setting up blocks against the wall and place my hands on them instead of the floor but that just seems like too much work for me to do at the end of class. I think I may have to just do one wheel and the rest bridge poses. I hope I am not causing long-term damage to my wrist bones.
I'm having some fun with Flickr Toys. :) This will be a new feature at C&Y. Let the sweets begin!!!
1. new tools 11/365, 2. m2mg cupcake, 3. Pink Cupcake Journal, 4. cupcakes, 5. IMG_0038.jpg, 6. Untitled, 7. To Somone Special.., 8. black and white, 9. Sugar Overload, 10. Two Sweet, 11. IMG_0274, 12. IMG_0275, 13. Nanaimo Cupcakes 2, 14. Nanaimo Cupcakes, 15. uni sushi cupcakes, 16. Pink Cupcake Pin, 17. Leah has a Cupcake Eye, 18. Leah has a Rose Cupcake Mouth, 19. hello mr cupcake!, 20. Craft Nite for Dessert, 21. Chocolate Cherry Cake (GF), 22. It's Like the Suicide Girls Site, 23. Fresh Flowers at Tee & Cake, 24. Zero Calories, 25. Cupcake with Sprinkles - pin/brooch, 26. Cupcake with Sprinkles - pin/brooch, 27. Cupcake with Sprinkles - pin/brooch, 28. cupcake princess, 29. TJ-Q-008, 30. Birthday Cupcakes for my Daughter, 31. Birthday Cupcakes for my Daughter, 32. Birthday Cupcakes for my Daughter, 33. Birthday Cupcakes for my Daughter, 34. Birthday Cupcakes for my Daughter, 35. Celebratory Cupcake, 36. Valentine Bunny on Pink Cupcake
Created with fd's Flickr Toys.
THANK YOU for the comments in my last entry. It seems like most people I encounter online and offline are in agreement with me on the Partner issue. So who exactly likes Partner Yoga??? I guess that will be an ongoing issue. I absolutely love getting comments and hearing from others.
Class last night was so nice. Most of the focus was on the shoulder blades (or the Pork Chops as my teacher likes to call them). My back is going to be sore tomorrow I just know it. Maybe not tomorrow, in two days my back will be sore. We were in headstand for a while too. I think at this point I can do a 3 minute headstand. It may not sound long, but time slows down when you're upside down. =P
I will say this, in 2008 I will OWN Supta Virasana. Unlike "Partner Yoga" which I would be totally ok with never doing again, Supta Virasana is the pose I have been working on. I have been doing a series of stretches before class and I have to say I am starting to notice a difference, especially today.
I still use five props for this pose, I don't think I will ever get to the point where I lay completely flat on my back but I do find it easier to let go and not cling to anything. There are poses I have difficulty doing, but instead of just saying "I don't like that pose! I'm not gonna do it anymore!" I rather understand why I don't like it, and how can I make it so I can be civil with it, I don't have to love it.
Ok maybe not a "rant" per se. I went to class last night and a good portion of it was partner work *cringe!!* Actually it was not that bad but there were some things I opted out of doing (ie: dropbacks). I have mentioned in the past that I don't care for partner yoga and this class has not changed the way I feel. I was a good sport about it but I would have preferred a regular practice. In fact, I am liking partner yoga less and less.
I am not squeamish about others touching me or worried about hurting anyone, I am very strong and careful with others, but I feel like I don't get that in return. I don't have confidence in my yogi classmates, there I said it! I'm sure they mean well. Basically, I handle others the way my instructors handle me in adjustments. Why can't everyone else be that way? C'mon! Get rough with me alittle!
It sucks because what can you do? If the instructors annouces at the beginning of class that you're going to be doing partner stuff, do you get up leave? I didn't want to leave, I wanted to practice! And I like the teacher! I don't want to be a sourpuss either and not participate. I guess this was just another example of putting my pride asside and helping out a fellow-yogi, which I think I did. There were some things I helped them do that they never did before like coming out of Crow into a Handstand so I guess that my lesson in for the evening.
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.
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!
