Amy Winehouse

This woman has such an amazing voice! Dan's been trying to get me to listen to her stuff for a while now but I've been dissing her because of all the papp reports. I just hope she comes through whatever the hell she is going through because it'll be a very sad day if we hear that we've lost her. Not much new music grabs me these days but rare gems like Amy Winehouse get me all excited again.

Working on a Plan

DETOX
In tune with Spring coming, I'm doing the 10 Day Detox again. Winter really knocked me about this year and even though I maintained my weight and kept up my yoga asana practice (except for July), I needed a big internal clean out. Feeling better already. I won't be documenting everything I'm eating again because it's pretty much the same. Mostly yum and some of it a bit *urgh* but I'm focusing on what I want to achieve and just doing it, no complaints. I haven't been hungry, no headaches either.

WORK
I've been thinking more about what I want to be doing in terms of work. Yoga has become a major part of my daily life and I'd like to somehow incorporate it into something I can do for a living and also do some volunteer work. I'm looking at doing Yoga Therapy so I've made it my 5 year plan to learn and do as much as I can now.

STUDY
From next Monday, I've enrolled in a 5 week Yoga Anatomy course. Should be really interesting and intense. I find structured study harder when I'm working all day and then going to class in the evenings but I hope it's delivered well enough to keep me interested. It's easy to blow off an evening class after a long day at work. I must try not to do this.

TRAVEL
It's a done deal. I am definitely going to New York next year. I'll be 30 and have never travelled (except when I was two and don't remember much). The horror! So of course I've started to plan now which means looking at my mulla and sorting myself out. Either way, I can get a loan if need be. There is no way I won't be going. Even Phil visited my sister in New York this year before me!! India has been blown off for now but I still hope to go in the next couple of years.

Yoga Buddy

This is my new yoga buddy *waves*! Ally's one cool cat and it's great to have someone to talk to about yoga stuff in the flesh now and of course hair and tattoos.

Today's class was strong again and we both came out of it like we were drugged to the nines. Ally was tripping out when we were doing back bends and I nearly walked into a pole and then into an on-coming car, trying to balance on the curb. Yeah yeah...yoga is meant to balance us right and keep our feet firmly planted on the ground? But sometimes it takes you to this whole other level that I can't really explain. Who needs drugs!

We slowly made our way to meet with the boys for brekky and yep, at good old Martini's again. This cafe is definitely one of Newtown's best and a fave. Dan wandered up on foot while Jack rolled in with his blades on. Now blading is something I'd definitely like to try. Jack made it look so easy. Maybe it can be the next thing we try when it gets a little warmer?

My li'l sis is coming over now with her man, another Daniel. Time to scoot off again...

Finally...

It finally feels like Spring is on our doorstep and for the first time ever today, I was able to go from Downward Facing Dog to a high lunge in one fell swoop. I know it's one of the most basic transitions in the Sun Salutations sequence but it's something I've always found really difficult. It's definitely not a graceful transition but it gives me promise that my asana practice is getting stronger and that I'm learning, getting somewhere further along with it. At times I've felt like giving up because I still can't do some of the basic poses (and I know that's against what yoga is about) but today I felt a sense of relief. My OMs are getting stronger also and my breathing longer and deeper. It's been a great yoga day. The daily asana practice must be helping!

After class, I met up with some of the awesome girls I've met through the blogging world for brekky at Martini's Cafe in Newtown. Kathryn was up from Melbourne with her friend Simon for the City to Surf tomorrow. It's been quite a while since any of us caught up so it was great to catch up. These girls are the best!














L-R: Stella, Me, Margaret, Kathryn, Cath and Sarah

Not much else going on today apart from relaxing and lounging around in the sun. It was nice to open up the house and air it out after a cold winter.

Now I wonder if I can do the transition again tomorrow....

Gumby Yoga

Tonight I decided to go to an evening yoga class and what a difference a day makes before you practice in the evening. I felt like Gumby (green fella on the left), a whole lot more bend-y than I know myself to be (and I'm really not very bendy at all). I found getting into the poses harder to align though because I wasn't used to how easy and readily warmed up I felt and my downward facing dog was definitely way off whack. The poses were a lot less vigorous but I expected that of an evening lunar practice. I think I'll keep going back to the Monday night classes and see how I go with the evening thing.

I have to also remember to write about Kapalabhati breathing. We've been doing a lot of this lately. I'm finding it a little hard to keep the breath strong but more practice will help me get there. We've been told it's a great pick me up instead of a "chicken soup for the mid-afternoon slump" (new Aussie TV ad). It certainly wakes me up but blow your nose before!

Once outside the studio, the beats hit me. Walking down King Street, there were a bunch of guys with all kinds of drums playing. What a great vibe. What a great town. Great way to end an evening and finally by reading Chocolat by Joanne Harris in bed. So it's been a good day that started off not so good but ended well. Back to work tomorrow...

Is yoga enough to keep you fit?

Here's an interesting article on whether yoga is enough to keep you fit - click here.

I'd like to think that I'm as fit as I'd like to be without having to go to a gym and overly exert myself each day. I have no desire to spend hours in the gym and sweat. I also have no desire to have huge muscles and buns of steel. I do have the desire to be healthy and balanced though and never have something I can control, be an issue for not doing something. I think having a daily asana practice has helped me become much fitter not only in body but spirit too.

And walking. I walk everywhere.

August Yoga Plan

Quick post...

• happy Imbolc, the first day of the pagan spring and
  the start of new beginnings
• continue to develop a daily yoga asana practice
• focus on hip opening poses
• minimum 2-3 yoga classes per week
• minimum 2-3 walks per week
• sign up for a yoga anatomy course
• visit lululemon in warringah
• stock up on fruit/veg on sundays
• catch up with blog buddies
  

Wed 1 - 45 min yoga shakti

Thu 2 - 45 min yoga shakti
Fri 3 - 30 min yoga shakti
Sat 4 - 75 min samadhi yoga
Sun 5 - 75 min samadhi yoga
Mon 6 - 75 min samadhi yoga
Tue 7 - 30 min yoga shakti
Wed 8 - 45 min yoga shakti, 30 min walk
Thu 9 - 30 min yoga
Fri 10 - no yoga, 60 min walk
Sat 11 - 75 min samadhi yoga
Sun 12 - 75 min samadhi yoga
Mon 13 - rest day (sore back from over-extending backbends)
Tue 14 - rest day (sook day)
Wed 15 - 45 min yoga shakti
Thu 16 - 45 min yoga shakti, 60 min walk
Fri 17 - 30 min yoga
Sat 18 - 75 min samadhi yoga
Sun 19 - 75 min samadhi yoga
Mon 20 - rest day (sook day), Day 1 Detox
Tue 21 - 30 min yoga
Wed 22 - 45 min yoga shakti, 30 min walk

Thu 23 - 30 min yoga shakti, 60 min walk
Fri 24 - 30 min yoga shakti, 60 min walk
Sat 25 - 75 min samadhi yoga
Sun 26 - 75 min samadhi yoga

Mon 27 - 30 min yoga, 60 min walk + Wk 1 Yoga Anatomy Course

Tue 28 - 45 min yoga shakti, 60 min walk

Wed 29 - 45 min yoga shakti, 60 min walk + Day 10 Detox

Thu 30 - 30 min yoga shakti, 60 min walk
Fri 31 - 60 min walk