Today is my rest day from yoga, and I'm actually ecstatic about that. This week has been great, but it has kind of been kicking my ass.
While my classes have been going really well, and I'm finally into the yoga groove, I've found myself being really tired during my workdays. It's not easy going to a majority of 8pm classes, as I'm not home until 10pm, then probably not in bed till 11pm. And while I'm getting enough restful sleep (I think), I still find myself waking up really tired. It could just be because the classes themselves take a lot out of me. I make sure not to eat a lot once I'm back from class either. The last thing I want is a full belly when all I want to do after class is crash into my bed.
I've been getting hungrier earlier in the day too, so I'm eating lunch around noon or 1pm. It's no surprise as to why halfway through class my tummy starts grumbling, so I've been eating little portions of something after class just to settle me.
I don't think I'm going to make the 26 classes. What with missing days due to sickness and the holiday weekend, and general errands like house hunting...I think I've set myself back too many days to be able to make it up completely. I just realized that I have a co-worker's baby shower to go to tomorrow, and next week Wednesday is graduation day where I work too, and we are going to a free preview night of Halloween Horror Nights. Maybe if I get to come in later in the day the day after graduation (as my boss is the shit and lets us do such things), I may be able to squeeze in a 10am next Thursday before work. We shall see!
Either way, I'm not kicking myself about it. The challenge isn't really about finishing or "winning", it's just to boost your practice and challenge yourself. If I come away with 24 or 25 classes at the end, I'll still be pretty happy with how I did, and how I even managed to pull out that many with the lack of days available to me in the first place!
Tomorrow will be a happy day all around, I hope. It's my co-worker and his wife's baby shower, and I've been gushing for them ever since I found out they were expecting. I can't wait until their little nugget arrives, and we get to meet him or her. They both don't have family in town, so I'm glad that all the work peeps are banding together to show them our love and support.
Tomorrow is also the day that myself and the girls will be finding out about this potential house. I hope a decision is made in our favour. I've had good feelings about this house, and felt that we made a good impression. But we shall see...Fingers crossed!!
Happy Weekend!
Days Left: 14 (I went ahead and subtracted Fridays, as I can't go that day anyway)
Classes left: 19
Friday, September 14, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Yoga update:
My second and third classes of the challenge went well. I am starting to feel fully acclimated, and I have not needed to take any breaks between postures to catch my breath or stave off any dizzy spells.
These latest two classes were during the week, after work, at the 8pm slot. The last class of the work days, and probably the hottest to attend, as the 6pm-ers get out just a mere half hour before the 8pm-ers. I walked into the room these days last week, and no joke, before we even started, the thermostat read 104* both days.
My flexibility is starting to return, made all that much more easier due to the heat that the class is conducted in. Hopefully by the end of this challenge, I can reach full expression in some of the more challenging postures...but we'll see.
These latest two classes were during the week, after work, at the 8pm slot. The last class of the work days, and probably the hottest to attend, as the 6pm-ers get out just a mere half hour before the 8pm-ers. I walked into the room these days last week, and no joke, before we even started, the thermostat read 104* both days.
| 104 degrees: This is about accurate.
|
I got sick over the weekend, so I haven't been able to attend class since last Thursday. So now I have to buckle down and go consistently until the end of the month to make up classes I've missed if I still want to reach the 26 classes goal. What this means is that I have to do several double sessions over the weekends in order to reach anywhere close to the 26 classes (yikes). But I know I can do it.
I actually thought that the heat in the room might actually help me sweat out whatever bug I'd caught from the office last week, but it seemed to just expedite the process and make me worse quicker. Hopefully I will have a decent class tonight, and maybe it'll make me feel a bit better.
Word of advice though: Don't go to class if you are pretty sick. I once made that mistake a long time ago, and wanted to push through a class when I was suffering with a bad cold, and I almost passed out. Or if you must go while feeling under the weather: Listen to your body! If it's telling you to lay down and take a break, do it. Don't try and act all macho about it. There's no shame in taking a break. I know more than anyone how bad it can make you feel when you can't do what the more experienced yogi's can (especially as a newbie that doesn't want to lay down because you feel embarrassed), but you get there by paying attention, and taking your time. You can't get to step C, without going through step's A and B first.
Happy stretching!
Classes left: 23
Days left: 20
Currently: Update and a lil heartache.
Costa Rica (June):
I had the best time: We stayed in Jaco, right on the beach, but travelled around to various places in the area. The country is gorgeous, the people are friendly, and the food was delicious.
CR isn't particularly known for it's "cuisine"- it's mostly meat with rice and beans - but the few dishes I tried from the local places were amazing. I don't know what Costa Ricans put in their black beans...but damn. One place gave them to us as an appetizer with crumbled parmesan cheese and pita chips, and told us to eat it like guacamole. It went in seconds...so yummy. We also found a great Taco Place right down the street from our gorgeous rental house (which was right on Playa Jaco in Puntarenas!). We went there two nights in a row. I think we enjoyed it.
We all went on a crocodile tour (Gatorland can suck it: our tour guides were right in front of these gators, feeding them!), zip lining, a hike through Manuel Antonio National Park, and spent many days out on the different beaches. I even tried surfing with Bella's little sister, which was fun, I'll have to try again one day. We got to spend our last night in the gorgeous Costa Rica Marriott Hotel in San Jose (courtesy - aka paid for - of Bella's family! Have I mentioned how much I love them?) and couldn't have been a more perfect ending. Bella's family that joined us were amazing, and I had the pleasure of meeting a few of them previously, so it was like we'd all been friends forever.
Fun Facts:
*You can't flush toilet paper in most areas of CR. Their septic system doesn't handle it well. That was initially hard to get used to (and a little gross when you think about it too much!), but by the time we stayed at the Marriott, I was thankful to be able to flush my tissue.
*There was also no hot water at the house we stayed in. This wasn't a huge deal, especially once we discovered the outside shower by the pool. The outside temperature was warm enough that when you took a shower outside, you didn't notice the cold water. It was actually really refreshing. Again though, a hot shower was what we all took advantage of once we were at the hotel!
*The roads are insane. It is very rural in CR and the roads are small, congested, and full with potholes. Signage is something we also struggled to find, so thank goodness we had one fluent Spanish speaker with us, and one Brazilian whom could more or less make sense of what directions we were told. But part of the adventure is getting there...I just wasn't so thrilled when we almost had to jump out of our itty bitty rental car (which I'm convinced ran on a go-kart motor) couldn't make it up the steep hills! But it's a fun story to tell!
*When ordering food, be prepared to wait. Whenever we went to the more rural local eateries, the kitchens were usually only staffed with one to two people. Don't go to a restaurant super hungry, because you will wait. It's kinda part of the CR charm: it's a relaxed country, not as fast paced as the States, and usually I found the food was worth the wait.
*Be wary of hagging and the exchange rate. When we went shopping for souvenirs, not all of the places accepted haggling the prices down. One woman's shop in particular even gave us a bad exchange rate from Colones to Dollars (it's basically 1:2, and she almost tripled it). So 1000 Col = $2.
The experience overall was amazing, however I'm not sure I'll feel the want to visit again. We managed to pack in a lot of activities for quite a short trip, so I feel that I experienced enough for the time I was there. I'd definitely recommend it as a place to travel to. And you have to zip-line! The Vista Los Suenos canopy tour has one of the largest cables in the area! And you can do one upside down. Baller. It was definitely my favourite activity.
In one of my previous posts, I had mentioned some of the things I was looking forward to, one of them being looking for a house and moving out with some of my girlfriends.
The search has been underway for a while now, but the initial move-out date has been pushed back, as my friend Cyn got a new job, and wanted to clear her ninety day probationary period before moving out.
We have found a few places of interest, one in particular being right in our desired area and price range that we have looked at and submitted our documents. We will know something by this weekend about whether or not we'll get to move in! Fingers crossed.
In this last post, I mentioned how Ace, my ex-boyfriend from roughly four years ago, came back into my life after not seeing or hearing from him for almost two years.
Presently...he's decided to cut off contact.
We had been talking for a while about having to take things back to a platonic place, as we both had started developing feelings for each other over the course of the last few months, which I suppose what inevitable, since our last relationship never really had "closure" and he's always been a great guy. Just the last time we dated, I came into his life at a really chaotic time, so it was hard for him to balance his home and personal life. The bigger factor being, given his religion, a serious relationship was never an option for us.
He called me last Friday night explaining that this was something that had to be done. His minister inquired about what was going on, and pretty much gave him an ultimatum: Be kicked out of the church, or end the relationship. Unfortunately though, his minister is not just that...he's also his father.
So while I've been upset, confused, and angered by this decision, I do have to take a step back and try to understand and empathise with what he is going through. I can't understand what it's like to be in a religion such as his, but I know that while he had made this decision to go down a certain path in his life the first time we dated, I can see how conflicted he must also feel having the feelings he's had for me, while also sticking to his choice. Deep down did I think this would be different the second time around? No. But did I secretly hold out a little bit of hope? Definitely. I had to question him one night about all of it, considering he was constantly saying "I technically shouldn't be doing this.," because, he was. I felt that maybe he didn't want to be in this position; How serious can one really be in ones religion, when you're essentially saying you can't be doing something, but you are anyway? It's contradictory. Perhaps it was my pushing that lead up to this, but I had started having a gut feeling that he was starting to pull away.
What made me most upset didn't even have to do with not being together in the way we both wanted. It's the fact that I had someone back in my life that I've still cared about, and not even in a romantic way, whom has now disappeared again. I had made him promise me that he wouldn't just cut me off, but this decision was bigger than what I wanted, I guess. I thought being friends would still an option, but after talking with him, it seems that because of the way he feels for me, he can't be around me as he knows that things would escalate beyond friendship.
So, I've had a good cry, and while I know there will be times when I'll miss him horribly, I just have to push on. It's gotten easier as the days have gone by, and I'll at least have some nice new positive memories to think about.
I've debated on whether I want to send him an email. Just to get some things off my chest, and let him know that while I've been feeling all these emotions, ultimately, I accept and understand his decision. To let him know that I'll still care for him, and wish him the best, and that I'll miss him too, and just hope everything turns out okay.
That's all for now...
I had the best time: We stayed in Jaco, right on the beach, but travelled around to various places in the area. The country is gorgeous, the people are friendly, and the food was delicious.
CR isn't particularly known for it's "cuisine"- it's mostly meat with rice and beans - but the few dishes I tried from the local places were amazing. I don't know what Costa Ricans put in their black beans...but damn. One place gave them to us as an appetizer with crumbled parmesan cheese and pita chips, and told us to eat it like guacamole. It went in seconds...so yummy. We also found a great Taco Place right down the street from our gorgeous rental house (which was right on Playa Jaco in Puntarenas!). We went there two nights in a row. I think we enjoyed it.
We all went on a crocodile tour (Gatorland can suck it: our tour guides were right in front of these gators, feeding them!), zip lining, a hike through Manuel Antonio National Park, and spent many days out on the different beaches. I even tried surfing with Bella's little sister, which was fun, I'll have to try again one day. We got to spend our last night in the gorgeous Costa Rica Marriott Hotel in San Jose (courtesy - aka paid for - of Bella's family! Have I mentioned how much I love them?) and couldn't have been a more perfect ending. Bella's family that joined us were amazing, and I had the pleasure of meeting a few of them previously, so it was like we'd all been friends forever.
Fun Facts:
*You can't flush toilet paper in most areas of CR. Their septic system doesn't handle it well. That was initially hard to get used to (and a little gross when you think about it too much!), but by the time we stayed at the Marriott, I was thankful to be able to flush my tissue.
*There was also no hot water at the house we stayed in. This wasn't a huge deal, especially once we discovered the outside shower by the pool. The outside temperature was warm enough that when you took a shower outside, you didn't notice the cold water. It was actually really refreshing. Again though, a hot shower was what we all took advantage of once we were at the hotel!
*The roads are insane. It is very rural in CR and the roads are small, congested, and full with potholes. Signage is something we also struggled to find, so thank goodness we had one fluent Spanish speaker with us, and one Brazilian whom could more or less make sense of what directions we were told. But part of the adventure is getting there...I just wasn't so thrilled when we almost had to jump out of our itty bitty rental car (which I'm convinced ran on a go-kart motor) couldn't make it up the steep hills! But it's a fun story to tell!
*When ordering food, be prepared to wait. Whenever we went to the more rural local eateries, the kitchens were usually only staffed with one to two people. Don't go to a restaurant super hungry, because you will wait. It's kinda part of the CR charm: it's a relaxed country, not as fast paced as the States, and usually I found the food was worth the wait.
*Be wary of hagging and the exchange rate. When we went shopping for souvenirs, not all of the places accepted haggling the prices down. One woman's shop in particular even gave us a bad exchange rate from Colones to Dollars (it's basically 1:2, and she almost tripled it). So 1000 Col = $2.
The experience overall was amazing, however I'm not sure I'll feel the want to visit again. We managed to pack in a lot of activities for quite a short trip, so I feel that I experienced enough for the time I was there. I'd definitely recommend it as a place to travel to. And you have to zip-line! The Vista Los Suenos canopy tour has one of the largest cables in the area! And you can do one upside down. Baller. It was definitely my favourite activity.
In one of my previous posts, I had mentioned some of the things I was looking forward to, one of them being looking for a house and moving out with some of my girlfriends.
The search has been underway for a while now, but the initial move-out date has been pushed back, as my friend Cyn got a new job, and wanted to clear her ninety day probationary period before moving out.
We have found a few places of interest, one in particular being right in our desired area and price range that we have looked at and submitted our documents. We will know something by this weekend about whether or not we'll get to move in! Fingers crossed.
In this last post, I mentioned how Ace, my ex-boyfriend from roughly four years ago, came back into my life after not seeing or hearing from him for almost two years.
Presently...he's decided to cut off contact.
We had been talking for a while about having to take things back to a platonic place, as we both had started developing feelings for each other over the course of the last few months, which I suppose what inevitable, since our last relationship never really had "closure" and he's always been a great guy. Just the last time we dated, I came into his life at a really chaotic time, so it was hard for him to balance his home and personal life. The bigger factor being, given his religion, a serious relationship was never an option for us.
He called me last Friday night explaining that this was something that had to be done. His minister inquired about what was going on, and pretty much gave him an ultimatum: Be kicked out of the church, or end the relationship. Unfortunately though, his minister is not just that...he's also his father.
So while I've been upset, confused, and angered by this decision, I do have to take a step back and try to understand and empathise with what he is going through. I can't understand what it's like to be in a religion such as his, but I know that while he had made this decision to go down a certain path in his life the first time we dated, I can see how conflicted he must also feel having the feelings he's had for me, while also sticking to his choice. Deep down did I think this would be different the second time around? No. But did I secretly hold out a little bit of hope? Definitely. I had to question him one night about all of it, considering he was constantly saying "I technically shouldn't be doing this.," because, he was. I felt that maybe he didn't want to be in this position; How serious can one really be in ones religion, when you're essentially saying you can't be doing something, but you are anyway? It's contradictory. Perhaps it was my pushing that lead up to this, but I had started having a gut feeling that he was starting to pull away.
What made me most upset didn't even have to do with not being together in the way we both wanted. It's the fact that I had someone back in my life that I've still cared about, and not even in a romantic way, whom has now disappeared again. I had made him promise me that he wouldn't just cut me off, but this decision was bigger than what I wanted, I guess. I thought being friends would still an option, but after talking with him, it seems that because of the way he feels for me, he can't be around me as he knows that things would escalate beyond friendship.
So, I've had a good cry, and while I know there will be times when I'll miss him horribly, I just have to push on. It's gotten easier as the days have gone by, and I'll at least have some nice new positive memories to think about.
I've debated on whether I want to send him an email. Just to get some things off my chest, and let him know that while I've been feeling all these emotions, ultimately, I accept and understand his decision. To let him know that I'll still care for him, and wish him the best, and that I'll miss him too, and just hope everything turns out okay.
That's all for now...
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Yoga Challenge: Day 1/Class 1.
Class one was on the official start day of the challenge: Saturday, September 1st.
Since I'd had a pretty shitty Friday, I originally just decided to go to class whenever I woke up. If I happened to miss the 10AM, I was going to go to the 4PM instead, however I ended up waking up right around 8:50AM, which I considered a sign that I should just get up and make the most of my day anyway.
I walked in, and felt right at home again. One of my favourite instructors, Anna, was teaching that day, and while she was milling around in the lobby she greeted me by name, which made me warm and fuzzy inside. I love how the instructors take the time to remember you when you become a regular. I walked up to the front desk and requested to purchase the unlimited month package, as I was taking part in the challenge. The receptionist was new to me, gave me an unsure look and asked: "Are you new?" That made me giggle, as I've been doing it (albeit, on and off) for three years. I showed her my name on the board, and all was sorted.
I've found my new favourite spot in the hot room, too. Middle row, far left, three spaces in. It's far enough near the end of the room that not many people tend to take the spaces next to you as they don't want to be bunched up near the wall, and gives you a clear view of the mirror in front. There were only about three people in the front row on my side, but they took spaces beside mine, as to not block my view. Love that.
Overall, class went well. Up until this particular day, I think my last time in class was over a month ago. It's going to take a few more classes to get fully acclimated, as I had to lay down a few times to stop the dizzy spells. I forgot to look at the thermostat when I came into or left class, but I would imagine it was at least 101*. A little clammy, but the 10AM is usually the coolest as it's the first of the day. But that can also depend on how many yogis show up to class. A packed room makes for a very challenging class. Besides the normal dizziness that can occur, I felt great, and was really happy with myself that I decided to go in the morning. I did have a run in with a guy next to me while we were placing our arms down at our sides during one of the postures (hand smack!), but nothing a smile and knowing look doesn't fix. It's hard not to occasionally slap someone when they are literally inches from you.
Starting weight (after class): 135.6lbs. I was actually a little (happily) surprised by this...but definitely want to take this number down some.
I'm trying to eat a bit more towards the healthy side too while doing this challenge, something I've already messed up on this past holiday weekend. Lots of coffee, alcohol, pizza, and fried fish does not make my tummy happy! However, after my first class, I made a stir fry of chicken, edamame, and broccoli with some salsa verde that I will definitely be making again for dinner tonight after class, as it's quick and healthy. Since the majority of my classes will be attended after work at 8PM (except on the weekends of course), I don't get home until a little after 10PM, and although I'm starving by then, I don't usually want to eat the delicious comfort food my mother tends to make, as it can also be quite heavy, and I still usually feel a little uneasy after class.
Today marks day 4 of the challenge, but only my 2nd class, as I took a few days off this holiday weekend to go house hunting and out to the beach. Just have to make sure I make the missed classes up at some point. Tonight is an 8PM class, as I have to work until 6PM and will miss that class. I will go in expecting it to be pretty damn hot, as the previous class would've just finished up a mere half hour before my class starts.
Here's a video to give you an idea as to what I'll be doing every day.
Namaste!
Days left: 26
Classes left: 25
Since I'd had a pretty shitty Friday, I originally just decided to go to class whenever I woke up. If I happened to miss the 10AM, I was going to go to the 4PM instead, however I ended up waking up right around 8:50AM, which I considered a sign that I should just get up and make the most of my day anyway.
I walked in, and felt right at home again. One of my favourite instructors, Anna, was teaching that day, and while she was milling around in the lobby she greeted me by name, which made me warm and fuzzy inside. I love how the instructors take the time to remember you when you become a regular. I walked up to the front desk and requested to purchase the unlimited month package, as I was taking part in the challenge. The receptionist was new to me, gave me an unsure look and asked: "Are you new?" That made me giggle, as I've been doing it (albeit, on and off) for three years. I showed her my name on the board, and all was sorted.
I've found my new favourite spot in the hot room, too. Middle row, far left, three spaces in. It's far enough near the end of the room that not many people tend to take the spaces next to you as they don't want to be bunched up near the wall, and gives you a clear view of the mirror in front. There were only about three people in the front row on my side, but they took spaces beside mine, as to not block my view. Love that.
Overall, class went well. Up until this particular day, I think my last time in class was over a month ago. It's going to take a few more classes to get fully acclimated, as I had to lay down a few times to stop the dizzy spells. I forgot to look at the thermostat when I came into or left class, but I would imagine it was at least 101*. A little clammy, but the 10AM is usually the coolest as it's the first of the day. But that can also depend on how many yogis show up to class. A packed room makes for a very challenging class. Besides the normal dizziness that can occur, I felt great, and was really happy with myself that I decided to go in the morning. I did have a run in with a guy next to me while we were placing our arms down at our sides during one of the postures (hand smack!), but nothing a smile and knowing look doesn't fix. It's hard not to occasionally slap someone when they are literally inches from you.
Starting weight (after class): 135.6lbs. I was actually a little (happily) surprised by this...but definitely want to take this number down some.
I'm trying to eat a bit more towards the healthy side too while doing this challenge, something I've already messed up on this past holiday weekend. Lots of coffee, alcohol, pizza, and fried fish does not make my tummy happy! However, after my first class, I made a stir fry of chicken, edamame, and broccoli with some salsa verde that I will definitely be making again for dinner tonight after class, as it's quick and healthy. Since the majority of my classes will be attended after work at 8PM (except on the weekends of course), I don't get home until a little after 10PM, and although I'm starving by then, I don't usually want to eat the delicious comfort food my mother tends to make, as it can also be quite heavy, and I still usually feel a little uneasy after class.
Today marks day 4 of the challenge, but only my 2nd class, as I took a few days off this holiday weekend to go house hunting and out to the beach. Just have to make sure I make the missed classes up at some point. Tonight is an 8PM class, as I have to work until 6PM and will miss that class. I will go in expecting it to be pretty damn hot, as the previous class would've just finished up a mere half hour before my class starts.
Here's a video to give you an idea as to what I'll be doing every day.
Namaste!
Days left: 26
Classes left: 25
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