Yesterday, Samatva honoured the life of Jennifer Leeder, an instructor at Life Yoga here in Kingston, who tragically passed away on January 9, 2011. She was a good friend of the studio and as a sign of respect, Samatva shut its doors at both the west end and downtown locations on the day of her funeral.
As a result, yesterday I established my first home practice. I have played around with asanas at home, yes. But delivering your own sequence, deciding when it is time to push and when it is time to let go and breathe are undertakings I had never tried before. Over the last 5 days I've discovered that I have a much stronger drive to success, better discipline that I anticipated and as such, I not only finished my at-home sequence (sivasana, cat-cow, surya namaskar x3, warriors, lunges, extended side angle, twists, surya namaskar x3, shoulder stand, reclined twists, sivasana), but I spent just as much time as I would at the studio, which surprised me. Isn't it true that when pushed by external forces (aka. someone else), we don't have a choice of whether to quit or not? We just do. At home, when only our inner voice is speaking and pushing to go further, it is much easier to silence this voice, listen to our bodies, and quit. I allowed my inner voice to speak and as it did, I acknowledged and observed it, then let it pass without acting on it. Of this I am very proud.
Let this be a lesson for our every day lives. Michelle uses a great tactic to push us to hold poses for longer, force us to push through discomfort and breathe, look inward. She says "if you start feeling uncomfortable, if your body starts speaking to you that you just can't do it anymore and that it's time to let go, hold for one more round of breath....and if your body continues to speak, hold for one more." It reminds me of a Chinese proverb: "Fall down 7, stand up 8." I hope to carry this optimistic drive over the course of the next 25 days.
Every one of us can carry this attitude off the mat and apply it to our daily lives. When you just can't deal anymore, stay another 5 minutes. If after that, you still can't deal, stay another 5. If you just can't read on, read one more paragraph, and then another. Learning tolerance and discipline to move along despite discomfort is a powerful lesson and I'm thankful to my body and myself that I was able to bring myself to the mat despite a complete lack of experience, guidance and incentive (I could easily lie and tell the studio I practiced and snuggle into bed with a book, or logged this day as one of two allowed rest days).
For all of our hard work, discipline and drive, we must always take time to thank our teachers. The obvious ones, like our professors, parents, yoga instructors. The not-so-obvious ones, like people we struggle to get along with or enemies we have made along our paths. And ourselves. Always thank yourself for the things you allowed yourself to do, despite your better judgement, despite fatigue and stress, and despite pain.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
30-Day Yoga Challenge
I decided to do this challenge about 6 months ago, when I first saw that the studio was offering 30- and 40-day challenges. Come February, I will have been practicing yoga for a year. In this year, I will have also switched to vegetarianism, rid my life of all the drama, made huge steps towards the completion of my master's, and overall become a more balanced, joyful person. It seemed only appropriate to close this first year of change with a challenge like this one.
The 30-Day Yoga Challenge is offered a few times a year at Samatva. The challenge is exactly as it sounds: attend 30 in-studio yoga classes in 30 days. Classes range in length from 45 to 75 mins (usually 75) and can be either hot or room temperature, power or gentle and everything in between. Thankfully, samatva offers over 30 classes a week, so choosing which class to go to is the least of your worries.
Since last February, I have practiced on average 3 times a week. The most yoga I have ever done is 6 days in a row. I am excited and anxious to see how practicing every single day for a month is going to change my body, and more importantly, change my mind. Devout yogis say that you can control which thoughts you experience and which ones you don't, and that yoga is the personification of "mind over matter." Yesterday I heard once of my teachers tell us that pain is in the mind. Of all the cliches to hear during a hot yoga class in which your body is contorted, twisted and pushed to its limit, this last one isn't the most encouraging. However, something I have heard over and over again in the studio is "this too shall pass," one I don't mind hearing as much.
I have been to 2 of my 30 classes, both 7:00am prana vinyasas. It isn't the first time I've gone to two classes in a row. It is the first time, however, that I realized that committing yourself to an hour a day of something really isn't that much time in the grand scheme of things. I had a full day at work today, and by the time I dealt with my data issues, discussed chair covers with Laura, trudged home through the snow, fed the cat, took a call from my landlord, fed myself and unwound a bit, I almost forgot that this morning I was cursing myself for starting this challenge in the first place. Hell, I even forgot that I went to yoga!
Everyday life presents us with all kinds of hurdles to overcome. A headache this morning...a huge roadblock with my data...worrying about whether or not I'd have to go replace my phone today... .. all these things end up being WAY more stressful and of consequence than the hour I spent in the morning sweating a bit and trying to will my hamstrings into submission. My body and my breathing, I can control. The rest is completely unknown, and if we can just gain control of an hour of our lives at a time and clear our heads, I feel we're already ahead.
Aside from all this introspection into intention and purpose, I have also decided to change up my diet a bit this month as well. A friend told me when I started this challenge that she knew a girl who did this too, but also did a 30-day cleanse on top of it and almost died. I won't go that crazy, but have decided to cut alcohol and decrease my portion sizes. While weight loss and slimming might be nice side effects, my main intention with this is to keep my energy up and my body light. I've also realized that cutting down bedtime snacks has a huge effect on how you feel in the morning and the entire next day.
The effort continues tomorrow... :)
The 30-Day Yoga Challenge is offered a few times a year at Samatva. The challenge is exactly as it sounds: attend 30 in-studio yoga classes in 30 days. Classes range in length from 45 to 75 mins (usually 75) and can be either hot or room temperature, power or gentle and everything in between. Thankfully, samatva offers over 30 classes a week, so choosing which class to go to is the least of your worries.
Since last February, I have practiced on average 3 times a week. The most yoga I have ever done is 6 days in a row. I am excited and anxious to see how practicing every single day for a month is going to change my body, and more importantly, change my mind. Devout yogis say that you can control which thoughts you experience and which ones you don't, and that yoga is the personification of "mind over matter." Yesterday I heard once of my teachers tell us that pain is in the mind. Of all the cliches to hear during a hot yoga class in which your body is contorted, twisted and pushed to its limit, this last one isn't the most encouraging. However, something I have heard over and over again in the studio is "this too shall pass," one I don't mind hearing as much.
I have been to 2 of my 30 classes, both 7:00am prana vinyasas. It isn't the first time I've gone to two classes in a row. It is the first time, however, that I realized that committing yourself to an hour a day of something really isn't that much time in the grand scheme of things. I had a full day at work today, and by the time I dealt with my data issues, discussed chair covers with Laura, trudged home through the snow, fed the cat, took a call from my landlord, fed myself and unwound a bit, I almost forgot that this morning I was cursing myself for starting this challenge in the first place. Hell, I even forgot that I went to yoga!
Everyday life presents us with all kinds of hurdles to overcome. A headache this morning...a huge roadblock with my data...worrying about whether or not I'd have to go replace my phone today... .. all these things end up being WAY more stressful and of consequence than the hour I spent in the morning sweating a bit and trying to will my hamstrings into submission. My body and my breathing, I can control. The rest is completely unknown, and if we can just gain control of an hour of our lives at a time and clear our heads, I feel we're already ahead.
Aside from all this introspection into intention and purpose, I have also decided to change up my diet a bit this month as well. A friend told me when I started this challenge that she knew a girl who did this too, but also did a 30-day cleanse on top of it and almost died. I won't go that crazy, but have decided to cut alcohol and decrease my portion sizes. While weight loss and slimming might be nice side effects, my main intention with this is to keep my energy up and my body light. I've also realized that cutting down bedtime snacks has a huge effect on how you feel in the morning and the entire next day.
The effort continues tomorrow... :)
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The Challah
After getting home late tonight and realizing that I wasn't quite ready to sit down with the novel Lisa is having me read (Nora Roberts' The Search), I decided to try my hand at challah, a traditional Jewish braided loaf that I'd seen beautiful photographs of in my Williams-Sonoma cookbook but hadn't had time time or guts to try yet.
The idea of a braided loaf begins with manna, a sweet honey-like food thought to have dropped from the heavens as a gift from God to the Iraelites after returning to Egypt after 40 years of exodus. As such, Sabbath and holiday meals in the Jewish tradition begin with the consumption of two complete loaves of bread. The braiding of the bread is characteristic of challah and makes this sweet egg bread instantly recognizable. On Rosh Hashanah, it is sometimes made as a braided circle, symbolizing the completion of another cycle, or year.
Challah is an egg bread, meaning that it is made with a large number of eggs (this recipe called for 2 eggs + 2 yolks), and is sweetened with sugar, honey or molasses (sugar, in this case). It is also brushed with egg wash and sprinkled with sesame seeds, adding to its beautiful brown colouring.
I have been having some major issues with yeast over the last few months. I am sans bread machine and until I can afford it/bribe Santa, sans KitchenAid stand mixer with dough hook. As such, I knead and make bread entirely by hand. To make the task easier and get better results, I went to Tara and got some bread flour (or strong flour, which has a high gluten content, giving bread its characteristic stretch). For some reason unknown to me, I cannot get my bread to leaven properly. I've ruined 3 or 4 different bread recipes using just as many variations on the kneading length (too much kneading can cause the gluten to break down), using fresh yeast packets (I had originally used bulk dry active yeast from Tara and switched to brand new envelopes), using cooler water to proof the yeast, opting out of using sugar to help the yeast along, you name it. I CANNOT get it to go! The bread bakes and tastes ok, but since December I keep baking big ol' bricks of dough that have barely risen, and simply get baked in the interest of time. Some recipes will call for a 12 hour rise, but who has time for that?
Anyhow, so the same problems unfortunately followed me into this recipe. The Joy of Cooking calls for three separate resting periods in which the dough is to rise. I can't imagine that challah, let alone any bread, is meant to be super dense and practically sawed into slices. Nevertheless, the bread tastes amazing and I totally recommend this recipe to anyone who wants to expand his/her bread-making repertoire.
Also, any tips would be GREATLY appreciated.
ps. The recipe used can be found on page 601 of The Joy of Cooking, 75th Edition. Other than the leavening fails, I shortened the second rise to about an hour, and kept it at room temperature.
The idea of a braided loaf begins with manna, a sweet honey-like food thought to have dropped from the heavens as a gift from God to the Iraelites after returning to Egypt after 40 years of exodus. As such, Sabbath and holiday meals in the Jewish tradition begin with the consumption of two complete loaves of bread. The braiding of the bread is characteristic of challah and makes this sweet egg bread instantly recognizable. On Rosh Hashanah, it is sometimes made as a braided circle, symbolizing the completion of another cycle, or year.
Challah is an egg bread, meaning that it is made with a large number of eggs (this recipe called for 2 eggs + 2 yolks), and is sweetened with sugar, honey or molasses (sugar, in this case). It is also brushed with egg wash and sprinkled with sesame seeds, adding to its beautiful brown colouring.
I have been having some major issues with yeast over the last few months. I am sans bread machine and until I can afford it/bribe Santa, sans KitchenAid stand mixer with dough hook. As such, I knead and make bread entirely by hand. To make the task easier and get better results, I went to Tara and got some bread flour (or strong flour, which has a high gluten content, giving bread its characteristic stretch). For some reason unknown to me, I cannot get my bread to leaven properly. I've ruined 3 or 4 different bread recipes using just as many variations on the kneading length (too much kneading can cause the gluten to break down), using fresh yeast packets (I had originally used bulk dry active yeast from Tara and switched to brand new envelopes), using cooler water to proof the yeast, opting out of using sugar to help the yeast along, you name it. I CANNOT get it to go! The bread bakes and tastes ok, but since December I keep baking big ol' bricks of dough that have barely risen, and simply get baked in the interest of time. Some recipes will call for a 12 hour rise, but who has time for that?
Anyhow, so the same problems unfortunately followed me into this recipe. The Joy of Cooking calls for three separate resting periods in which the dough is to rise. I can't imagine that challah, let alone any bread, is meant to be super dense and practically sawed into slices. Nevertheless, the bread tastes amazing and I totally recommend this recipe to anyone who wants to expand his/her bread-making repertoire.
Also, any tips would be GREATLY appreciated.
ps. The recipe used can be found on page 601 of The Joy of Cooking, 75th Edition. Other than the leavening fails, I shortened the second rise to about an hour, and kept it at room temperature.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
108 Salutations
I have changed.
I am strong.
I am gentle.
I am wise.
I am fragile.
I am radiant.
I belong.
I understand.
I collect.
I succeed.
I love.
This morning, I participated in and completed 108 sun salutations at my yoga studio. The number 108 is auspicious in the yoga world for a number of reasons...for example, it is said that there are 108 paths to enlightenment, 108 channels leading into the heart chakra, etc.
For me, this challenge symbolized my physical ability to complete this challenge, but more closely resembles what I can only describe as my annual reset button. After a year of change, challenge and growth, it seemed appropriate to honour and celebrate who I am now and test my strength for the coming year's trials. Every 10 salutations, I set a new intention, as above, and kept an internal mantra, along with steady breathing.
After 40-50 salutations, I came to realize I was only half finished, and I realized this was a tougher undertaking than I originally thought. Around 70, my arms started to give out, and coming down from plank into updog became quite the bicep and shoulder burner. Finally, the last 18 salutations left me feeling energized and powerful, with only the final 3 feeling like a struggle, like my arms might actually snap in two.
I am super proud of myself for having achieved this, and rewarded myself with a big breakfast quinoa scramble (black beans, quinoa, corn, tomatoes, salsa, cilantro, cheese, lime yogurt and a poached egg. yummm!!), more coffee and now, a hot relaxing shower.
I want to wish everyone a fruitful, transformative new year, filled with every joy and lots of smiles :)
Shanti shanti shanti,
Namaste
I am strong.
I am gentle.
I am wise.
I am fragile.
I am radiant.
I belong.
I understand.
I collect.
I succeed.
I love.
This morning, I participated in and completed 108 sun salutations at my yoga studio. The number 108 is auspicious in the yoga world for a number of reasons...for example, it is said that there are 108 paths to enlightenment, 108 channels leading into the heart chakra, etc.
For me, this challenge symbolized my physical ability to complete this challenge, but more closely resembles what I can only describe as my annual reset button. After a year of change, challenge and growth, it seemed appropriate to honour and celebrate who I am now and test my strength for the coming year's trials. Every 10 salutations, I set a new intention, as above, and kept an internal mantra, along with steady breathing.
After 40-50 salutations, I came to realize I was only half finished, and I realized this was a tougher undertaking than I originally thought. Around 70, my arms started to give out, and coming down from plank into updog became quite the bicep and shoulder burner. Finally, the last 18 salutations left me feeling energized and powerful, with only the final 3 feeling like a struggle, like my arms might actually snap in two.
I am super proud of myself for having achieved this, and rewarded myself with a big breakfast quinoa scramble (black beans, quinoa, corn, tomatoes, salsa, cilantro, cheese, lime yogurt and a poached egg. yummm!!), more coffee and now, a hot relaxing shower.
I want to wish everyone a fruitful, transformative new year, filled with every joy and lots of smiles :)
Shanti shanti shanti,
Namaste
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)