Final Countdown

Today is March 11th, and it also happens to mark 11 more days until Marc and I get married.  As the day draws closer and the numbers get smaller, I get more and more excited, and, happily, the "to-do's" on the to do list seem to get a little bit smaller, a little more manageable.

It's not just the wedding day itself drawing near that's making me so happy and excited - many other little milestones are yet closer - 13 more days until our New Hampshire mini-moon, 9 more days til I see my family, 7 more days until we head to Boston, 5 more working days for me.  As you can tell, I'm totally the kind of person who likes to keep a countdown going of anything I'm looking forward to, from the wedding to the date of a big race to the date of going home for a holiday.  I'll even put a countdown on the release of a movie I'm dying to see.  Most people have a tendency to either dwell more in the past or in the future - you can guess which one I am.

Because the wedding is getting so close, I'm starting to think a little bit of the "post-wedding let down" I've read and heard about.  After all, as long as we're measuring things in days, in only 17 days we come back to New York as a married couple...and then all of the work, planning, and delicious anticipation of the past almost-year is over.  Earlier in the planning stages I didn't think as much about "missing" this phase, but I think I get it now.  Lord knows it's not the work or errands or endless stressful "to-do's" that I'll miss, but it's really just the pure anticipation.  Having a bright spot to look forward to on the horizon.  Something to imagine and fantasize about.

And once again, I'm brought back to that ever elusive yogic ideal of being present.  In this month of making a huge life commitment, I've also resolved to make a bigger commitment to my yoga practice than I've had for the past several months.  I do my best to sit and meditate every morning.   If I have extra time, I'll thrown in some sun salutations.  When I don't sit to meditate first thing in the morning, I make sure I listen to one of my meditation tracks on the subway.  I try to prioritize something, whether it be meditation, practicing patience, compassion, active asana, or restorative yoga.  Being present, though, is the huge reason why it was so important for me to recharge my yoga batteries this month.  I can't constantly be in countdown and fantasizing mode or else I'm cheating myself of this special time and of the daily joys in my life as it is under normal, non-wedding circumstances.

I'm not a robot, of course - I will still anticipate quite a lot!  By bringing myself back to the present mindfully, though, I'll help myself truly enjoy this time, enjoy every lovely, mundane, funny, or annoying part of each day, as well as keep me more flexible when things inevitably go wrong during the wedding.

The good news is that I can already feel myself moving toward a more zen, "let-it-go" place.  The more I try to keep my focus on enjoying every moment, no matter what the moment is, the closer I get to it.  Besides...how can the "post-wedding let down" possibly compare to the glow of being a newlywed?

Depending on how things go next week, this may be my last blog as a single lady.  We'll just have to see!  If it is, I hope everyone has a marvelous March and I'll see you on the other side!

Good night, moon...

This week's blog entry comes at an unusual time for me.  I'm not the kind of person who ever used to stay up late and pull all nighters.  If I had extra work to do in college, I made sure I woke up early to do it or did it in advance.  Once the sun goes down, part of my brain (or discipline, or both) just shuts down and doesn't come back until the morning, when I'm naturally at my most energized.

So needless to say, this isn't going to be a terribly intellectual or insightful entry!  Tonight I'm sharing with you possibly my all-time favorite online yoga video.  I discovered it four years ago in Sarasota and hadn't practiced with it in a very long time.  In keeping with my resolution to seek refuge from wedding madness in more yoga and to reconnect with my practice, I reconnected with good old Jason Crandell of YogaJournal.

This is a 25 minute practice that's entirely dedicated to helping you wind down before bed.  Seriously, what could be more comforting and yummy than that?

Time this week will be an especially precious and rare commodity for me - dentist appointments, hair appointments, early morning work hours, dance lessons, workout classes, beloved brother-in-law (future, anyway!) coming in from England this weekend - it's all happening!

So enough from me - it's my bedtime.  Get ready for your bedtime with this absolutely soothing, glorious, gentle practice.  Enjoy!

Click here for the perfect gentle evening yoga sequence, and have a beautiful night!  Namaste and sweet dreams...

Meditative March

My personal mini-resolution for myself for this past month was to be a better partner.  To get a jump start on being a great wife, on the honeymoon phase, and probably most importantly, to keep my tendency to get defensive and a wee bit controlling in check.  I had high points and low points, but overall I kept my resolution in mind and was able to stay mindful, even when I wasn't being successful.  (At least I knew it when I failed!)

It's glaringly obvious what my body, mind, stress level, and soul desperately need from me this month, and in particular these next 22 days - more yoga!  I wrote essentially the same thing last week, but I've been thinking a lot about it and can't seem to shake it from my mind...hence, here it appears on the blog!

The deeper I've gotten into my career as a teacher, the harder it seems to be for me to let myself focus and really drop in to my meditation, to really focus my mind in a class, and to truly listen to my body instead of forcing it to conform to how I think it should be able to perform on a given day. Yoga used to be my savior - now it's my every day routine.

Just as it can be easy to take a friend, partner, or family member for granted, I am so very guilty of taking yoga for granted and forgetting what it really means to me and why I turned the entire direction of my life around for it.  How it inspired me, emboldened me, changed the way I thought about myself and the world around me.  As the years have passed, although I've definitely opened and grown in many ways, I've also allowed new walls to come up and it takes a hell of a lot more work to stop composing emails and grocery lists in my head when I first sit down to practice.  I'll draw attention to my breath...and immediately manipulate it instead of letting it be.  I'll bring my hands together in front of my heart...and immediately remember something I have to pick up on the way home.

Although I think a part of this has happened because yoga has become so everyday, the opposite is also true.  Yes, I teach and talk yoga constantly, but I don't practice nearly as often or seriously as I used to.  Part of it is just the nature of the beast.  When you teach a lot, you're likely teaching when other yoga classes you might take are going on.  Similar to when an actor gets cast in a show, they suddenly have much fewer opportunities to see other theatre.

So this month, whether it's taking the time to get myself to The Giving Tree for a full, glorious 90 minute practice or devoting myself to a 15 minute YogaJournal video, or even - gasp - a completely solo practice, I want to bring more yoga to my daily life.  My overly busy mind needs it desperately, and I must obey!

Coming in like a lion

March isn't even here yet, and I am more than feeling swept up in wedding madness.  By wedding madness, I don't just mean thinking of the details and planning, but in all of the unbelievably intense emotions it's bringing out in me, in Marc, and in our families.  There have been dizzying highs and absolutely emotionally crushing lows that have really been coming up particularly since the start of 2013.  Ah, family.

In making all of the time for the to-do's, the weekend trips to Boston, my amazing shower weekend where I got to spend time with my wonderful mom & sister, and also picking up extra work when I can to make up for the big ol' chunk of time off I'm going to be taking next month, my yoga practice has been really squeezed out.  I've been keeping time for running and for Refine classes (that dress is a bit tight, after all!), but somehow yoga has been getting the short end of the stick.  What gives?

I think part of it, even aside from the old "no time" excuse (whether it's legitimate or not) is that it's a little scary to sit still and go inside these days.  It can be scary to stop my productive momentum when I'm on a roll, and it can be scary to stop and sit when I'm going through major emotional stress.  I don't necessarily want to be still and present when my heart is hurting, and I bet you don't either!

Yes, keeping extra busy - whether it's throwing myself into my classes or into cleaning my apartment - is a great way to lift your spirits when you're feeling down or release any stress (whether it's from feeling way too high and excited, or feeling overwhelmed).  However, it's just as important to slow it down.  I keep hearing my teacher Joe Somodi's mantra in my head - Steady in the midst of change.  That's just what I need these days!

Amidst everything else, making space for my yoga practice is definitely going to be a high priority on my list to carry me through the next 29 days.  I plan to have it carry me through forever, of course...but sometimes it comes a little less naturally and it's good to set a mindful intention to make it happen.

As I often do, I found a nice article on YogaJournal.com from their holiday issue that also has some great advice for when life feels a little busy or overwhelming.  Check it out, and have a wonderful last week of February!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I've always, always loved Valentine's Day.  Despite the fact that I've spent WAY more V-Day's single than coupled, and despite the fact that my first major relationship ended very close to Valentine's Day, I've always looked at it as a beautiful opportunity to celebrate the loves in my life.  My family, my friends, and on about 5 (I think) occasions, a romance.  I'd write cards to my friends, give chocolate, make cookies - it's probably my second favorite holiday after Thanksgiving.  Food and Gratitude, Chocolate and Love.  How could it possibly get any better than that?

The answer to that question - yoga!


My neighborhood yoga studio in Astoria, The Giving Tree Yoga Studio, is offering a fantastic Partner Yoga and Massage Workshop this Saturday night from 5:30-7:30.  It doesn't have to be a romantic partner - grab your best friend for a super fun, beginner-friendly, delicious experience that's sure to leave you both glowing.  Marc and I did it two years ago and we're so excited to be able to attend this year!

To sign up for this workshop and to check out all of the other great events The Giving Tree has going on this month, click here.  Even if you're not an Astorian, it's well worth the short trip on the N train.  Again, it's this Saturday night, Feb 16th, at 5:30pm.

Whatever your plans, I hope you enjoy this day as an opportunity to appreciate the love you have for your friends, family, the world around you, and most importantly - you!  Happy Valentine's Day, Internets!

Pranayama Power: Nadi Shodhana

I thought I'd make this week's entry about one of my very favorite yogic practices - pranayama!  A much beloved teacher made a point to emphasize this practice at the beginning of class on Saturday night, and it made me realize how often I forget about it in my own practice.  There are so many ways to explore this branch of yoga and a million different techniques to practice.

The easiest, simplest way to explain pranayama is to describe it as breathing techniques.  More specifically, "prana" is translated to "life force energy."  Prana isn't limited to our breath, although that's probably our most significant form of life force - it could apply to food as well.

I wrote about another form of pranayama, known as Kapalabhati Breath, a couple of years ago, and this week I'd like to write about Nadi Shodhana (some yogis refer to it also as Nadi Suddhi).

This technique is quite simple.  Using a particular hand position, or a mudra (an example is pictured right - some people prefer to tuck the middle and index finger in to the palm rather than touching the third eye point), plug your left nostril while inhaling through your right.  Then plug your right nostril and exhale out of your left nostril.  Inhale through the left nostril, then plugging the left nostril, exhale out of the right.  Lather, rinse, repeat as often as you like.

The fun thing with this practice is that you can gradually start to introduce breath retention - holding the breath for a few seconds on the inhalation or exhalation.  It's a wonderful way to cultivate stillness, peace, and focus.

I always feel like my brain got a mini spring cleaning after I practice this breath for a few minutes.  It's hard to describe the feeling you get after focusing on breathing through one nostril at a time.  This breath is not only great for creating calm and focus but some people also find it helpful if they're struggling with motion sickness. Give it a try and notice what it does for you!

To Do: Relax

I'm having one of those days where on the calendar, at first glance, it seems as though I have plenty of glorious empty space of free time.  Once I write down the to-do list and the day actually arrives, however, it seems like somebody sped up the clock to go triple-time.

I do have a few juicy blog posts in me that I could write about - I have a lot to say lately about fear, about self-study and facing the parts of ourselves that we're a) not so proud of and b) apt to ignore, and lots to say about the idea of resistance - resisting things that we not only know to be good for us (eating an orange instead of chocolate) but things that we know to be good for us and that we actually enjoy (doing some gentle before bed yoga instead of sacking out in front of the TV instead).  What is it that's resisting?  These are big ol' questions that take a lot more time to mull, pontificate, and articulate then I have to give to it today.  So instead of attempting to squeeze it in and do a half assed job, I'm going to let it rest and wait for another day.

For today, I'm once again going to pass the blogging torch to someone else.  This wedding planning stuff is no joke - the blog sometimes, sadly, must take a back seat.

This blog from YogaJournal.com took the words right out of my mouth.  Except for the "make baby food" part, I completely relate.

One Deep Breath by Erica Rodefer Winters.