By mary on September 2, 2009
I’ve been going through a major observation of self over the past few months as I prepare for my 40th birthday. This svadhyaya, or self-study, has revealed a recurring presence of tightness. In my upper back…in my thinking…in my chest. In my patience.
My practice has changed without my permission. I’m very frustrated by this.
There was a time, in my former career as a counselor, when I was an excellent listener. There was thoughtfulness and grace and acceptance in that. But if we only listen, where is the dialogue? In the dialogue, we find change and truth. In the conversation, we find our breath. In the exchange, we find pause.
Posted in stuff to ponder | Tagged breath, dialogue, letting go, pause, svadhyaya, tightness, truth
By mary on August 16, 2009
One of the most eloquent, honest, soul-baring words in the English language is, in my opinion, the word “authentic:”
True to one’s own personality, spirit, or character.
Not false or imitation.
To live in authenticity, then, is why I share with you my dilemma of the powerful panties. When we are able to share our fears, our misguided moments, our hilarious capers in trying to fit into yoga clothes after having babies, we realize that our kula, our community, goes both deep and wide. As I listened to other moms around me talk about fearing their return to yoga asana practice because they had to bend over in their ill-fitting clothes and wonder aloud about how long it will take to return to shape, I couldn’t help but lament with and confess to them that I had worn Spanx (see previous post) to teach a class recently. It is just so hard to embrace and love our bodies in this state at times.
Posted in all levels yoga, beginning yoga, intermediate yoga | Tagged authentic, babies, belly, body awareness, honest
By mary on August 15, 2009
Three weeks ago (yes, it’s taken me three weeks to admit this), I looked at my postpartum body just before scootering off to teach yoga. Keep in my mind, my “work” clothes are form-fitting, body-hugging, bump-showing spandex.
As my eyes went directly to the section of black tops & pants that fill my yoga-clothes-drawer, they skimmed over…my Spanx.
I did it.
I actually wore Spanx under my yoga clothes to teach a class.
Posted in stuff to ponder | Tagged belly, body awareness, postpartum, Spanx
By mary on August 6, 2009
Well, this looks cool! I was just sent an email from a friend about Yoga Rocks Mountain Fest ‘09 in Lyons. Check it out – and I hope to see you there!
Permanent link to this post (33 words, 1 image, estimated 8 secs reading time)
Posted in all levels yoga, beginning yoga, intermediate yoga, music, power yoga | Tagged alison litchfield, anusara, jeanie manchester, lyons, madhuri, tina porter, yogarocks
By mary on August 1, 2009
One of my friends recently posted a quote on my Facebook page by Dr. Nils Bergman: “The mother is the baby’s habitat.” That, dear readers, has encouraged quite the pause in my life.
Imagine this with me: unmasked adoration on my baby’s chubster face when he sees me (especially when he’s hungry); seriously sweet hugs when I pick him up and he buries his precious, Burt’s Bees-scented fuzzy head into my neck; terribly loud toots when he pulls his feet toward his slobbery mouth; quiet little sighs as he nurses during those dark and tender midnight hours. I smell of a mixture of milk, lavender soap, buttermilk lotion, and you-don’t-want-to-know-what-else.
Posted in all levels yoga, beginning yoga, intermediate yoga, music, power yoga, stuff to ponder, yoga class sequence | Tagged baby, class schedule, habitat, humanity. insanity, nils bergman, pause
By mary on July 27, 2009
Often the hands will solve a mystery
that the intellect has struggled with in vain.
Carl G. Jung
I have an obsession. It’s not a secret to those who know me or have been around me for any period of time. It’s something about which I read, practice, and luxuriate.
I love touch.
Posted in all levels yoga, beginning yoga, intermediate yoga, power yoga, stuff to ponder | Tagged breath, cuddle, embrace, held, hug, kiss, lick, nuzzle, oxygen, touch
By mary on July 13, 2009
In almost every class I’ve taught lately, I’ve asked the question, “What would you like to work on today?” Inevitably, hips and lower back work are requested, which admittedly are a constant source of collected stress. But what about those poses that we…hate. Fear. Shy away from. “Those” poses were always the ones that miraculously made me have an instant urge to go the bathroom. Yep, that was me, sneaking out of class for a few minutes, which ironically was about the same amount of time the rest of the class spent in “that” pose.
Posted in all levels yoga, beginning yoga, intermediate yoga, stuff to ponder | Tagged booty, chocolate, dance, embarrassment, fear, handstand, smile, sri, vashistasana
By mary on June 8, 2009
I thought I broke my tailbone. Yep, in the wee hours of the morning a couple of weeks ago, tired from travel and children thrown off schedule from it, my foot slipped out from under me while I was headed downstairs (with the babe in my arms, no less), and I slammed, butt first, down on the stairs. I think I might have bounced down them a couple of times, but was more worried about my three-month-old than anything. Luckily, we were both just severely startled.
Posted in all levels yoga, beginning yoga, stuff to ponder
message from my neighbor suggesting that we trade perennials to expand our flower gardens. I was hesitant, because I didn’t think I had anything to give her and I wasn’t sure that she’d have anything that I would want to take. I had planned and planned and PLANNED my garden three seasons ago and have just been watching the plants and trees we put in at that time becoming more mature.