Revisiting Ganesha

Om Gum Ganapatayei Namaha
Om Guhm Guh-nuh-puh-tuh-yea Nah-mah-hah

I just came home from an Elephant Power Jivamukti Workshop at Samadhi Yoga with the gorgeous Sarah Trestrail this evening, and this is exactly what I needed. I was thinking that this is exactly what all my friends who are going through a tough time right now needed too. A bit of clarity when the dark wall comes up before us and we can't see beyond it. With a bit of effort, we can pass right through it.

I've mentioned Ganesha before and Ganesha is the personification of everything that is an obstacle in our lives. Dedicating my practice to Ganesha and asking for the strength to get past those obstacles is empowering. You start to delve deeper into the why those obstacles present themselves. I used to think I just had physical blockages (just not flexible etc) but there's a whole lot of psychological stuff going on inside too that stops me from taking my physical practice further. It can be really confronting but at the same time cathartic. I've been known to cry on my mat in the past and feel physically drained but tonight was all about Elephant Power, being empowered to take on the obstacles straight on and just do it.

Sarah played some tracks from MC Yogi tonight that got us in the groove. I was trying to find a clip for Ganesh is Fresh but could only find Chakra Beatbox. MC Yogi is kinda cool, in a yogi practice kind of way.

MC Yogi - Chakra Beatbox from MC Yogi on Vimeo.

Yoga + Hooping

I don't hoop nearly as much as I'd like but today I picked up my brand new spanking sparkly hoop and going to get back into it. It's meditative, compliments my yoga practice perfectly and it's a bloody fantastic ab workout.

For hooping classes in Sydney (Australia) - check out Sydney's hottest hoop instructor: Bunny Hoop Star

This is my kitty Quill and my new sparkly hoop. Quill likes to check out the action and be involved in everything:

Jivamukti Yoga is also my preferred style of yoga. I can only make it to one Jivamukti class a week but love that I can do yoga anywhere, anytime. There are some great Jivamukti yoga DVDs out there as well that I like to use when I can't make it to a class, so practice at home.

• Power to the Peaceful
• Transform Yourself with Jivamukti Yoga

And a You Tube clip that combines my two loves:

Running Convert

It's been a month now since I started taking running more seriously, in addition to my yoga practice, and I have well and truly been converted. 

I always hated running. I would run out of breath after only a couple of metres, my knees and ankles would hurt, my face would be the colour of a seriously over-ripe tomato and honestly, I thought it was boring. Really boring. 

But not anymore.

I look forward to getting up at 5.30am and getting out there! I know it's winter but it's an Australian winter. Seriously, not that cold (correction: anything south of Sydney is colder!). Plus I heat up in only a couple of minutes with a brisk 5 minute walk as a warm up. I think it's actually much easier to run when it's colder.

I got into running very slowly. I always tried to do too much from the start and that's what stopped me from continuing. I also have an ankle/knee condition which can be a real bitch. After speaking to the right people, I realised I needed to "just do it" to make them stronger, and start from the beginning by taking it slow.

When I started going to Boot Camp and having a personal trainer (6 months ago), we would do short bursts of running and gradually make it longer each time. The build up is what made me believe I could be a runner.

Breathing while running has also been interesting. I notice that when my mind wanders, I forget to breathe and that effects my run. Much like in yoga. I kick in my yogic breathing and it makes all the difference. Deep regulated breathing brings in the oxygen, and focus, that my body needs to keep going.

Here is a list of some of the amazing runners I love to follow, read and be inspired by. These guys in particular have helped me get to this point, both directly and indirectly:

• Sarah my personal trainer and the Boot Camp girls for their continued encouragement and support
• A Girl Running
• Are we there yet?
• Dirt Diva
• iDiet
• Skinny Latte Strikes Back!

And how can I forget to mention Robert Ullrey's Couch to 5km (C25km) podcasts. I strongly recommend this program to help anyone become a runner. I still listen to it when I need the extra motivation and don't want to be my own DJ.

Running + yoga = marriage made in heaven, any heaven. Bliss.