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December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas Y'all
Posted by jody at 12:38 PM | Comments (0)
December 24, 2005
Colorado
Made it to practice yesterday morning, was up BRIGHT and early at around 4:30 due to the time change.
Sat around and shot the shit with my dad until it was time to go. Great way to spend time with dad early in the morning, he's an early bird and I inherited that trait from him. Thanks pops!!
The shala here is very small there isnt a separate closing area and nobody moves to any specific part of the floor to close which I must admit is kinda nice. They heat the room and when combined with the altitude made for some difficult breathing. It reminded me of last summer during the heat wave. I think there were 6 or7 people total the whole time so I got plenty of adjustments it was very nice. Eric who owns the shala was teaching, he remembered me from last summer and gave some great adjustments. It was nice, I feel lucky to have a such good place to practice when Im here. They didnt do the opening mantra which suprised me because I thought they did last time I was here maybe it was just a fluke or something. I wonder if the evening practice times are more crowded I would assume so as I dont know how they could survive on the small group of early birds although it is right near the holiday so perhaps that had something to do with it.
I think that the hamstring issue is becomig a thing of the past which would be the BEST Christmas present ever!!
Im getting some serious adjustments in Supta K which Im loving. I think I may have lost D for a bit. I dunno what happened but I havent been able to get it the past week or so. It'll come back soon...I hope.
Posted by jody at 4:36 PM | Comments (0)
December 22, 2005
Home
Well I made it to Denver with out any problems thankfully. I ended up flaking on Super Shuttle yesterday as I didnt get a confirmation call and their phone was busy all morning. Which cost me. It was 60 bucks to get to the airport. Of course they call when Im en route to the airport wondering where I am, although it was half hour after my scheduled pickup so I didnt feel bad at least until my cab driver asked for $60. I would have protested but I only had 20's.
Anyhoo, Im sitting at my nephews house waiting for him to get up, his house is almost obscenely large its amazing ,the scale of new house building dimensions. He is expecting his first child in March and his fiance is just lovely. They're young, he's 24 she's 22 done with college and they already live this uber adult lifestyle and are so content. Im so happy for them.
No practice today and truthfully I dont know if I could make it anyway. My glutes are sore from the Supta K adjustments yesterday. I wonder when Ill get that deep again. Its a very unique feeling to be locked up like that it doesnt really hurt even with my hamstring issue. I seriously cant wait for that to be gone. I noticed yesterday that the hand grip was hard becasue my legs are putting so much pressure on my arms and forcing them apart. The only way to relieve that pressure is to have my leags squarely behind my shoulders (thanks V) which at the moment is kinda hard and even with out the hammy issue is hard to get into place. Darby crosses his ankles and then works his way through the opening to take the full asana which he makes looks easy of course and Ive approached it the same way , with vastly different resultds, but it does seem to make sense to me if your flexible enough. In the meantime Im sure Ill be wrenched into it with the help of my most excellent teachers so Ill just leave it at that...
Im practicing tomorrow and super excited about it, the last time I was here I saw growth in my practice becasue I was in a situation where I absolutely had to rely on my own devices. Meaning that I felt a little unsure of myself, not totally aware of the sequence at home, that was cured the first day. Because I did know it it was in there i just didnt tap into it. Im hoping the same is true this time in a different way. There are some asanas I "know" I should have down like UHP I can do this if I focus properly I'm limber enough but I lose it and bounce then get help. I hope that while here I can really tap my reserves. We shall see, who knows it may be freezing and twice as hard.
L&L
Posted by jody at 9:47 AM | Comments (3)
December 21, 2005
All I ever wanted...
Im so happy to be done with work for the rest of this year, I cant even begin to tell you.
I leave for Colorado later today which should be pretty fun right, getting out of the city during this strike debacle.
Ive verified that the the car service is running on schedule actually I opted to give super shuttle a shot as opposed to a regular car service. I think the car serivce will be a more likely to flake than SS. Anyway, whatever!
The one good thing that has come out of this strike is that all the walking I did yesterday has had a positive effect on my hamstrUng. Its not 100% but a heck of alot better than it has been. So the walk home from practice today was welcome even if I froze my tushy off! I got my haircut on the way home and I now have a fauxhawk. Looks kinda cute Im sure than family is going to LOVE it!
Practice today was pretty sweet, very few people with Randy and Barry again so I was adjusted all over the place.
I think denver will be the same, the last time I was there the shala didnt get very crowded so you got plently of attention. Im looking forward to it. For the very first time ever I completely bound in Supta K hands and feet! With ankles firmly planted behind my head, it didnt last long as my hands gave after a few seconds but it is progress and Im very happy with it. Of course this was all courtesy of Sri Sri Barry Ji. I was a little worried about the hammy but it was fine afterwards and its fine now and Im taking tomorrow off unless I can convice my nephew to get up super early and hang out while I practice. We'll see. After Supta k I had no energy and I got a little sloppy with the rest of practice, whaddya gonna do? Randy has been adjusting me in Baddha K and everyday I get farther and farther forward, i can get down flat with my sternum resting on the soles of me feet on my own but Randy just gets in there and flattens my back out so much that it seems like my chin moves forward by inches definatley creating much needed space in my lower back. The guy next to me ,D, who was sick and out for three weeks was at dropbacks right around this time and poor guy I think he dropped right back onto his head or back. He giggled afterwrds so he wasnt hurt but it couldnt have felt good. so I was wable to be kinda lazy at this point which probably isnt the best but heck I was beat and D needed some lovin!
It was so not crowded today that I even got adjusted in closing which is a total first for me. I got into baddha padmasana and yoga mudra! I bind one hand on my own and have had people try before not at the shala with no luck but again courtesy of Barry it happened. Over all a fantastic last practice at the home shala for they year.
Im probably not going to post that often over the next week or so, although Im going to try becuase I want to get a record of the different shala the people and the energy and any changes in my practice but I know Ill be pressed for time. So everybody have a great holiday season.
love and light
Posted by jody at 9:58 AM | Comments (5)
December 20, 2005
Intimate
litte gathering this morning at the shala as the MTA , bless thier hearts, went on strike.
Of course I had no idea until I tried to get on the subway at 520 this morning. I took a cab and was there by 530.
Luclily I had my NewYorker so I read about the woman who wrote Mary Poppins and how the real life person was anything but a "Mary Poppins" good read so far. Robert the regular door opener arrived pretty early to as he had taken a cab as well so luckily I didnt have to sit out side for long.
The MTA is such a piece of SH@* organization. Was it last year that they were busted for keeping two sets of books one for the public and another internal set. They go from having record defecits to surpluses in a single year. Instead of giving their employees raises they create a sham "holiday discount" that in my opinion is just a smoke and mirror tactic.
And now I have to pay 7 dollars to get to yoga (I walked home) and I have to either walk to 42nd or pay 10 bucks for a cab. No matter that I already spent 78 dollars on my monthly metrocard. You know I cant blame the workers they dont make crap and they really arent asking for outrageous raises. New York is getting more and more expensive and a train operator makes something in the mid 60's thats not alot of money. Especially when you consider that its either the most they are going to make or pretty close to the most they will make. Look at the train operator they arent right out of college. So they shoudl just get the damn raise. And where is that worthless Govenor of ours Pataki? Making some new ridiculous comercial? What and idiot, he made some canned lame statement this morning about how the strikers had lost commuters trust and on an on. I think he should think about his words as they more appropriately apply to him. This cant be good for his potential presidential run his opponents in the primary will pounce on this big time if cant even avert a transit stirke in his own state what cen be expected of him as president.
Which makes me excited to watch the Republican primaries its gonna be better than a cock fight in mexico.
Anyway, great practice today I hope I dont pay for it tomorrow. Barry has been giving me these AWESOME adjusts in Mari -D ala linda blair style where Im doing this crazy rotation its lovely and I noticed a difference today in this oneI can usually get my hand flat but its work today it was pretty easy. Ive said this before but some how barry gives adjustments and gives advice that are very simple but make a huge difference. ITs like we speak the same language or something I dont really know how to describe it. Although I am pretty lucky that everybody who adjusts at the shala are pretty amazing Eddie Randy and Barry three dudes who know what time it is. Im not bragging Im just honest. (Think snotty little cheerleader form the Tmobile commercial!)
alright Im off to walk the 30 blocks to work! Thank you Pataki for being an impotent leader with your head stuck up you A*&!!
love and light
Jody
p.s I almost forgot Sarah and Jocelyn who are as good as the guys but I rarely get to practice with them!!
Posted by jody at 8:40 AM | Comments (6)
December 19, 2005
Monday
Not a great start to the day or end the night whichever you prefer.
I fell asleep at 12:00 lastnight after tossing and turning for about
2 1/2 hours over nothign really, hate it when that happens.
I get up this morning pretty much on time but becuase Im not fully awake I dont realize
that Ive forgotten my bloody wallet until Im at the subway station! I had no other
option than to walk all the way back to the apartment to get the darn thing.
I live in Sty Town so Im not exactly close to the subway like 7 minute walk.
I did make it to practice and pretty much on time so no harm no foul. But damn annoying.
Practice was not pleasant and I fear that its not going to be pleasant for some time.
Yeah, I know you've heard it before but believe me having to hear about it is a lot better than
having to experience it everyday. My left hamstring, insertion, although I think its more like the tendon that
is in that area or whatever it is does not like yoga at all and its was quite literally screaming at me
at the top of its "lungs" this morning. Another thing Ive noticed is that its not just that area what I believe
to be the tendon near my knee is also sore in much the same fashion. You know how there is a band like tendon that you can feel on the inside of your thigh near your knee well that's sore and it continues up to the top of my thigh (hamstring) where the butt and the thigh meet. Is that the insertion or a tendon? Anyway whatever it is it hurts like hell. From what Ive read on the EZ board it takes forever to heal ARRGGHH. I dont think my practice looks all that compromised except in Upavista K I cant get my sternum to the floor anymore.Ive had to email the shala that Ill be practicing at this coming week in Denver about the "injury" I really hate even typing that. So that they are aware when it come times to adjust the only thing Im worried about is the Supta K and Upavista k adjustments.
I only have roughly a day and a hlaf left of work this year, I cant tell you how excited I am!
Posted by jody at 9:35 AM | Comments (5)
December 16, 2005
Friday
Mass transit is running pretty much on a normal shcedule as far as I could tell. Which is good news.
But I took a cab to practice anyway, it was POURING when I left. I gave it my all in
trying to rationalize why I shouldnt go to practice Im glad I did. You know living in NYC
there will always be weather issues rain, snow whatever that I ll have to deal with.
If I stay home every time it isnt easy to get to practice Ill end up staying home all the time!
Late start as the normal Door Openers werent there today so I STARTED at 6:30 which is LATE.
(The CAPS add a nice touch, no?) It wasnt very crowded so I had space on either side of me well
into my practice. That was a nice change but normally either REW , Michael or Stacey are next to me
and there is a noticible difference without all that good energy. I did however get to practice with Costa and Maria
which was a nice change, I dont know them nearly as well as Id like to!
Practice was practice nothing big to report although I will say that the asanas that follow Upavista Konasna look easy but aren't. Between the rolling up with straight legs and the balancing bits its not easy. Im really looking forward to backbends I know they are going to be hard but I think Im ready to mix it up and try something other than forward bends. I cant remember that last time I did one its been a long time since Ive done a led class. Im sure I ll bitch and moan about them once I start doing them but for now they seem very romantic.
L&L
Posted by jody at 10:20 AM | Comments (3)
December 15, 2005
Please Please Please
Dont let there be a transit strike. If there is I'll have to ride my boke(make that BIKE) to practice and its COLD at 5:45 am!!
NO STRIKE!
Manifest
Manifest
Manifest
Posted by jody at 1:29 PM | Comments (2)
Four more working days...
until im done with work for the rest of this year!!!! I cannot wait.
I have a meeting with a client today to wrap things up for the year, good stuff!!!
I have my second large client all set utnil I get back to begin a major product upgrade.
And my other clients are pretty quiet to begin with, so no worries while I am away.
Our lame ass holiday party is tongiht, when I first started at this company we had xmas parties
at SFMOMA or the Nat hist Museum, now its in the reception area of our building. Oh the heady days of the dot com boom!!! And tomorrow is Friday lovely lovely lovely.
So I complained of a wierd pain or sensation in my lower ribs yesterday Susan emailed me lastnight and said she had fixed it by doing a deep back bend. So I did a few at home and I also tried walking my hands back down the wall (a bit scary) just for fun. And the sensation is gone todayso it worked thanks Suz!! Now Im looking forward to backbends!
Peace yo
Posted by jody at 9:07 AM | Comments (2)
December 14, 2005
At Random
I finally figured out why I haven’t been getting very many adjustments in Supta K, I come out of it too quickly.
This morning I thought it would be a good idea to just be in the asana for a longer period ala KJS( it made a big difference).
lo and behold I was adjusted and in a major fashion no less, got the feet behind the head felt it in my quads pretty strongly which I thought was surprising. Had the fingers bound for a second but they came loose which I think is going to be the real kicker in this one for me. It not like I have big thighs or anything but I just cant seem to get a good grip. Maybe its my love handles ,which are small�, but maybe that has something to do with it….okay starting today I’m only eating a cup of rice and a protein drink. That should help me lose the weight. Wait, it’s the holidays and I’m going home to mama’s next week. Looks like that aint gonna happen. I wonder if there is a way to stretch the arms out a bit that would definitely help. Random thought here but today in Purvattanasana I figured out how to make the asana simultaneously easier and more difficult at the same time. I’ve noticed that I have a slight bend in the knee to get my foot flat on the ground which I think it cheating.
What I did was really engage Uddiyana Bandha and pushed my chest through my shoulders which made my body more of a plank and made it easy to flatten the feet to the floor but damn was it hard.
So the past couple weeks Ive had sore ribs or more precisely the bottom most rib is sore which was mystifying me but I think its from the half lotus forward bends. Its really uncomfortable amd I hope that it subsides soon. However, it is forcing me to correct my poor posture.
Posted by jody at 10:16 AM | Comments (4)
December 13, 2005
Tuesday
I think fell in love this morning the head over heels kind of love. I’m sitting here at work about 2 hours later still awash in contentment and positive energy and all that other corny stuff, which was good because the bus to work was packed!! You wonder what is the object of my affection well its yoga and specifically my practice. Yesterday’s was so terrible that i spent pretty much every moment that i spent thinking about yoga (of which there are many) DREADING it. it was pretty awful, i had to remind myself that it was okay to take things slowly and that 'perfection' was not the goal, you know how difficult that can be, right?. So I started off slowly and took it somewhat easy and had a great practice. The pain in my hamstring is still there albeit much less pronounced than yesterday but I finished practice and was pleased with my effort. One thing I learned is that I will never cut practice short out of fear of discomfort. Eddie says that practice should always be therapeutic as does David Williams who says that if it hurts your doing it wrong. Makes sense to me I think that’s information from two people who know a thing or two so Ill take it. What that means for my practice is that Ill always go through all my poses with out modification but only up to the point where there is no pain. So while I wont modify I may not fully realize whatever asana until the pain subsides.
I have to say that the Manduka mat is pretty durn cool. It’s the best mat I’ve had yet. You keep your grip even when your sweaty. It provides a solid foundation but is softer than the floor, and it looks so durn cool. Even if it does weigh a ton and is requiring that I get a new mat bag! I still heart it.
Love and light
Posted by jody at 9:17 AM | Comments (2)
December 12, 2005
Monday
back to practie thankfuly. I wish I could say that it was a good one but it wasnt. in fact it was one of the worst ones Ive had. my hamstring is completely fugged up so eveything was painful and some were simply impossible. i didnt even finish i made an attempt at kurmasana sad one at best and then threw in the towel. so before i wallow any deeper in pity let me stop here. Im sure tomorrow will be much better.
on the positive side I practiced with my new black manduka for the first time, it rocks.
Posted by jody at 8:41 AM | Comments (5)
December 6, 2005
Im out
Off to Chicago for the next two days for a client meeting. First time, woohoo!
Posted by jody at 4:02 PM | Comments (1)
Ford
Just read this Bullshit
Makes me want to move to Canada!!
Posted by jody at 3:26 PM | Comments (0)
4th series
I practiced at 11:00 today because I didnt get to bed lastnight until 1:30 am, more on that later.
I got to the shala at 10:30 a little worried that I might be early so I walk in and it seems like there is someone practicing
I proceed to change and grab my mat and am about to walk into the main room and then I notice that its John, Eddie and Barry. I immediately turned right back around and went and sat on the bench, there was no way I was going to walk in on that. Im sure it was unecessary, but I felt like a freshmen nerd who was faced with sitting at the senior jocks lunchroom table. To my defense they were practicing 4th 3rd and 2nd series so you can understand my trepidation at being the newbie amongst the old timers; ). Anyway I waited for at least one person to go in then I joined. It was a fantastic practice there was a TON of residual energy from the morning session the room was really warm, add to the mix some inspiration from practicing along side of the people who a few minutes before had made me nervous and you get one great experience. It was pretty crowded with more veterans than in the morning which is to say that there is as much breating going on but everybodys jump backs/throughs are silent which makes it seem more quiet. I had to be consciencely aware of my own and I was happy that I wasn't thudding all over the place I was very quiet. I did screw up and forget the prasaritas until I was in seated postures this was after Jocelyn had helped me in UHP (so much for taking it easy on the hammy). I just got up added them in and you know those asanas are really killer! I was feeling fine even with the major adjustment but once I started them I had a few twinges of pain. Rest of practice was pretty nondescript although I did have my feet behind my head in supta k with jocelyns help, I had absolutley no pain in the hammy hope it doenst flare up later. I cant seem to get my hands to grasp, not sure what s going on but It'll come. Oh my latest ache aside from the hammy is my right wrist and I think its from Kukutasana just thought Id mention it!
So about last night.... I had an impromtu dinner with some friends and a friend of thiers fro london it was great fun bu tI didnt get home unitl 9:00 which is early enough. But I walk in and my apartment reeks of smoke. Kinda my fault since I moved in with a smoker but the agreement was only in his room and as annoying as that is I can live with it be cause he is a friend and he traves ALOT so he usually isnt here. Well it seems that every tome he leaves town on a day when Im not around then I come home to a smoky apartment. He swears up and down that he sint smoking blah blah blah but really you cant hinde that crap. So I get home and I basically freak out and have to open windows and light candles anything to escape the stench. I go to bed at 10:00 and of course the minute the light goes off my mind lights up. The sum of it that I have to move, there is really no other option. So I tossed and turned on this until about 1:30 so no early morning practice for me. So if anybody in the NYC area knows of anybody who has a room to rent or is looking for an apartment or has a long term sublet avialable send em my way.
Peace Yo!
Posted by jody at 12:40 PM | Comments (4)
December 5, 2005
A sort of..
interesting article in the NYT.
Yoga Assumes a Social Position
I dont think its a bad idea to have social functions at the yoga studio, in fact it seems like a good idea if a studio is so inclined. We had a great time on friday night with music and food and lots of cool people!! No booze, I cant imagine drinkning at the shala that would be wierd and feel sacreligious.
Posted by jody at 3:57 PM | Comments (4)
Monday
Ouch would the proper word to use if you had only one word to describe this mornings practice.
My left leg hurts, its not the hamstring but the tendon(?) or something in there really deep right were the leg and the bum meet. It was terrible; I actually said "ow" a few times during class. I think I did something on the weds before thanksgiving to cause this, since then I’ve been having issues with that leg. It’s frustrating. I’m going to have to take it easy-ish for a while. Which basically means that Kurm and Supta Kurm are going to be crap for a while. But hey whats a couple weeks relative to the rest of your life? In addition to the leg being sore I am letting some fear creep in because of the cold weather. For part of the summer I would think of how hard practice was going to be in the winter and now that its here the thought of injuring my cold muscles has made its way into my practice.
If only I could get up super early and take a hot bath before practice.....which is never gonna happen. I am doing 5a and B's so Im creating more than enough heat. Hopefully its just the monday blues. (Im not practicing on Sundays at the moment.)
Just read Laurens blog and it seems she is having a time of it, I go through that every now and again. Mostly I feel all neglected when I don’t get very many adjustments and wonder why I’m left to my own devices. But usually I come out of it having learned something about myself which may be the point. It IS annoying when you feel like you should be getting help in something and your not and I don’t know that Eddie has a some “master plan� (although I do know he is aware of my practice) but it always ends up working out. The main lesson has been to stop and think about my actions or thoughts and where they come from; “Why am I responding like this?� That simple lesson presents itself in my life as a whole and helps me understand myself and actions more objectively. I dont think that a teacher has any secrets or is magic, they are people just like us, but they are people with whom we place our trust in and who (if they are a good teacher) come to understand who we are through our practice
And can teach us a whole helluva lot more than how to get our leg behind our head…if we let them.
Onto other things, I saw RENT this weekend for a second time! Its really good, smarmy ..maybe, but its the holidays and you should see something that makes you feel good , no? My OCD has really flared up with this one, I cant get the soundtrack out of my head and I have to FORCE, myself not to listen to it constantly. Which sends me right back to my other fav CD right now, Confession on a Dancefloor. But please somebody tell Madonna that this should be it, she needs to move on , go out on a high note.
Alright, chat at ya later!
Posted by jody at 9:55 AM | Comments (7)
December 2, 2005
Friday
I feel like I say the same thing all the time so if you feel lke your reading the same thing all the time you probably are.
Anyway here it goes. Very nice practice today the energy in the room was very rich which I attribute to yesterdays puja (I didn't make it.) It seems after evey puja the energy in the room is 'fragrant' along with the air being fragrant from the incense and such there is an infusion of something ...and its good. I felt strong throughout practice had only one adjustment in D on my bad side, a tug on the arms to take the bind. Mari D is such a fickle lover one day she loves you and other days plays hard to get.
The character pf my practice is changing the closer I get to the end of the series.
Here is where I am currently stopping , as of today, Eddie gave it to me Tuesday. What I mean is that my attention is spreading out over the practice as a whole in a different way than it was before. Before, I was paying attention but my focus was on Mari D, on and off the mat. It feels like I have a more well rounded perspective, which is good because I think Ill be doing primary for a long time. ITs like my energy has more area to spread it self out over and not pile up on one spot (D). So Ifeel like Im becoming calmer better able to relax into things. (at least today)
Tomorrow Im getting a new mat yet again. This makes four mats total, a tapas which Ill always drag out now and again, the black mat from the web which is crumbling before my very eyes and the Eco mat which I gave every shot I could and really just dont like in the least bit. It sucked when it was new had a sweet spot for about a month ,maybe, and now that the rubber has come away from the jute and the jute is slippery. It is light and I do like that but too many cons. Im debating on a black or purple Manduka they do seem pretty darn sturdy and if I can get by with it for a few years then Ill deal with the weight. They are so expensive and Im trying to spend less money but I really need a mat that I can practice confidently on. I was all over my mat in the prasaritas today becuse I couldn find a spot where my feet wouldnt slip, so annoying. I just have to not guilt myself out of actually spending the money.
Posted by jody at 9:12 AM | Comments (7)