A Picture is Worth

A thousand words. Or so they say. Whoever 'they' are. Who cares, they're right!

I played in the Sunshine all day--my legs are like Jell-o but I feel great! Rachel took me down some new runs. Some are new favourites, others (Shaken, Not Stirred) are not. But I made it down each and every one of 'em without hitting my ass. This is a successful day in my books!

And our bus driver has inspired us to look into back country skiing. FUN!

So far 2012 is pretty great: double time yesterday (and a great day at work, complete with potluck dinner) & skiing with a friend in great conditions today.

Life is good. Live every moment.

Sad Weekend

For a couple of reasons:
- I found out this morning that my dearest friend lost her dad. And not even a year since her mom died. It's been my own worst nightmare since I lost my dad: becoming an orphan. My heart hurts for her and her family. I wish I could give her a great big hug and tell her it'll be OK. But I can't. And that makes my heart hurt even more. So if you could send out an extra prayer tonight, I know somebody who could use it.

- It's the final weekend of my Anusara Immersion series. Our beautiful group of goddesses are gathered for one last weekend and as much fun as it was rockin' out to Micheal Franti before we tackled our practice leading up to Padmasana (Lotus pose), it was bittersweet, too. I guess what I've learned most today is that we always carry a little piece of everyone we meet and interact with, with us. And that's not a bad thing at all.

But a great big piece of good news happened today, too! My friend, C got a clear bill of health. No sign of the lymphoma that was there this time last year. So even while my heart hurts for M & her family & my own little kula, it bursts with happiness.

Bitter and sweet.

Forgetting and remembering.

Steadiness and surrender.

Contrary compliments.

This entire existence is a spanda, a pulsation, and all we can do is take it all in: the good, the bad, the easy and the difficult. And know that we are never, never alone, even when it feels like we are.

I honour the place in you where the entire Universe resides.
I honour the place in you of light, of love, of truth and of peace.
I honour the place in you, where if you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me,
There is only One of Us.
Namaste.
_/|\_

Kinda Random

My weekend was amazing, but I'm still processing everything. For once, I can't think of the words. I think this may have happened once or twice before, but I can't remember when.

Friday marked the beginning of my Anusara Immersion series. Oh, well before all that, I went to my Friday morning class and almost did the splits, followed by the bird of paradise (well, my version of it--it didn't look quite like this):

Source
Coffee, Farmer's Market and Costco followed. And there may have been a stop at Superstore (for new sheets) and Urban Barn (for new duvet cover). Oh, and back up to Thursday where I had a colonoscopy (just my five year check up and all is good. The prep is worse than the actual scope.).

Back to yoga...we're a small group, all women. We clicked right away. We spent the whole weekend together learning the Tantric philosophy that Anusara is built upon. There was also anatomy. And asana practice. And laughter. And tears. More laughter. More tears. Tea. There was also tea. It was overwhelming (in a good way) and yet I can't wait to go back for more. Like Noah says, "There's always more. More harder. More dangerous. There's always more."

Oh, and there was a Don't Cry for Me, Argentina Malbec party on Saturday night. I may have been very glad that we didn't have to go upside down till very late on Sunday...

Post-script: After publishing, I realized that I was also speechless last weekend after Desiree's workshop. Apparently this has happened at least three times...

Discombobulated.

That pretty much sums up how I'm feeling.

The last week has flown by and been a whirlwind of emotions. One minute up, the next minute down.

I've spent the last two weekends with my family: aunts & uncles and cousins galore. One weekend happy, the next sad.

I've watched my aunt and uncles struggle as they watch their big family dwindle in numbers. And now there are three. In the past year, they've lost two nephews younger than them, too.

And then the call this morning. That my dad's friend lost his brave battle with the big C on Thursday. He stood up with my parents when they got married. And now he's dead at 61, just like my dad. My heart is aching for my dad's friends that are left, for my uncle who just got home from his sister's funeral, only to turn around and bury an old friend, and for me.

Because I just can't wrap my head around this anymore.

Back to Work

*le sigh*

I've quite enjoyed my days off, even if they did fly by!

All weekend I was down at Prince's Island Park, soaking up the sun (and some rain) at the Calgary Folk Music Festival! It rained (poured, actually) on Friday night, but we stayed dry and warm in our lean-to. Here's me and my folking sister, Kim, and dad, Bill. We've been folking together for almost 10 years, and I love them to bits. Here's us in our lean-to:


And this was our view (the big screens were just off to the right and left and so we could see what was going on on the main stage):


Saturday and Sunday the sun returned and everyone rejoiced! Music! Dancing! Good food! Good friends! Old and new friends! Really, it's the best weekend of the summer, and it went by waaaaaay too quickly!

I had the day off yesterday, which was good, since I managed to get heat stroke on Sunday. Didn't teach yoga, just rested and caught up on Coronation Street.

This morning I awoke to pouring rain (so much for the forecast of 60% chance of showers this afternoon! Pouring rain before 9 a.m.? Sheesh! I wanna be a weather forecaster--the only job you can be wrong all the time and still keep your job. Oh wait, that could be my boss, too...)

Took the bus to the gym where I've been subbing for my friend, Sophie and taught for an hour. I came outside and lo and behold, the rain had stopped! I walked home (40-ish minutes) in the fresh air and I *think* I see blue sky out there now!

Off to work in a bit...maybe I'll play on my mat a bit first, though! Have a beautiful Tuesday!

Tales of Hanuman

Hanuman--The Monkey God: playfully serious, shape shifter, resourceful, your authentic self.

I don't even know how to describe how incredible the past three days have been! All I know is that I am blessed.

To have a family that loves and supports me unconditionally.

To have friends (old and new) that do the same.
(Both new friends!)

To have found the courage to open to grace, both on and off the mat.

To dance with the Divine, every time I step onto my mat. And whenever I step off.

To have teachers to guide me, support me and who share freely what their teachers have shared with them.

To have a beautiful body that is strong and true. And always allows me to be seriously playful.

What I thought was our peak pose from yesterday's backbending class (as demonstrated by Noah). It wasn't. There was MORE (More deeper. More dangerous). But good!


I think this is ardha bhekasana ardha dhanurasana (half frog half bow)!

My body is sore (but in a good way, knowing that I worked hard) and my mind and heart are full. I'm going to (with these lovely ladies, I hope) continue studying with Noah next spring in L.A.! I'm so excited!


Now, off to my mat for a restorative practice...we didn't do much of that this weekend!

Namaste. _/|\_

p.s. Kimberly--I've been practicing for almost 15 years (the last six more consistently) and teaching since last June!

Guess what I did yesterday?

Friday's class was also backbends so I've been a backbending goddess this weekend! My back body is feeling it, too.

Friday afternoon we took birthday cake to my Grandma's and celebrated 83 years. Afterwards, mom and I met up with my cousin and her hubby for an impromptu photo shoot (all those people on the street are wondering who I am) and a yummy Thai dinner at The King & I.

Saturday morning brought a quick grocery trip, another yoga class (see photo above) and then a potluck with Julie.

This morning dawned bright and early and I headed out to cheer on my friends running the Calgary Marathon (Carol) and Half Marathon (April and Kari). Good thing I went a little early or I would have missed April and Kari completely!

The rest of my day is going to be great: Farmer's Market (both of 'em), a visit to Grandma's and then a BBQ on my patio! There may even be some knitting thrown in for good luck.

Mouse is running in Ottawa this morning and I've been sending her speedy vibes! Go, Mouse, go!!

What's my next running goal: H-woman is now Registered
for Niagara Falls International Marathon.

Eeeek! Let the training begin...

May Long Weekend

AKA the start of summer in Canada!

Saturday was a glorious day: sunshine, good friends, good yoga and vino! Started the day on my local S'bucks rooftop patio with E. & C. Then I went to yoga--lots of twisting culminating in:

Parsva Bakasana (side crane)



Source

After yoga, C. picked me up and we headed over to E.'s house for some champagne (Congrats on the 30 year one-night stand!), food and girl talk.

On Sunday I got up and went for a quick run, just my Stanley Park loop (4.1 km). It was really humid, but felt good. Then I met some WW online girls downtown at Cora's for breakfast! They make a pretty good hashbrown (which is how a breakfast place is judged, remember). Then home and off to work.

Today Nerm and I have had a very quiet, relaxing day. We're still in our jammies at 2130h and have done not much more than the occasional yoga pose, knitting and catching up on Coronation Street. There may also have been a cuddlefest/nap, but I can't be certain. I seem to have lost about an hour and a half though....

It's been raining all day so it was a perfect day to decompress. I'm also excited for the week of rainy weather for a number of reasons:

1. These boots:



2. The various shades of green that pop out at this time of year. There probably won't be lilacs (my favourite flower, in case anyone ever asks) for the Lilac Festival next weekend, but for sure by the first of June! I'm excited for the first weekend of June because guess who's coming to town? This man: Noah Maze. And since my Barbados trip in November has been cancelled, I think I might take Immersion I with Noah in February...I'll check the vacation schedule tomorrow when I go to work!

3. To put out the wildfires in Alberta.

4. Knitting! I've made good progress today. And I got word from my friends in Oz that IT'S A GIRL!! Congrats to S. & D.! Now I'll need to find a quick baby project to whip up and send.

5. More cuddle time with Nerm. 'Cause there's nothing else like it. =)

African Stew

Yummy, yummy! And an excellent way to get your dark leafy greens in (along with PB, and c'mon, who doesn't like PB?!)

It's from the cookbook, Cooking Vegetarian by Vesanto Melina & Joseph Forest. My friend, Lisa Q., made this for me and I've been hooked ever since. I can't make it without thinking about her!

Makes 6 cups

4 c vegetable stock
1 chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 c peeled, diced yams
1 c cooked chickpeas
1/2 c brown rice
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c peanut butter
2 c chopped kale
2 TB lemon juice
tamari or soy sauce (optional)
hot sauce

In large pot over medium heat, saute onion and garlic in 2TB stock until soft. Add remaining stock, yams, chickpeas, rice and salt; simmer covered for 45 minutes.

In small bowl, blend peanut butter and 1/2 c of liquid from stew to make smooth paste. Stir into stew along with kale and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in tamari if using.

Serve with lemon wedge and hot sauce.

Can't Wait!

Today is gonna be a good day:
-shopping for the perfect b-day gift
-pedicure
-dinner with my fave peeps

Tomorrow is going to be even better!
18 cm in the past 24 hours, 35 cm in the past 3 days. Total base: 225

Whoo hoo!!

Hello, Weekend!

And not just any weekend! No, it's time for Around the Bay! I'm going to a yoga class in the morning, tea after, then coming home to pack the last little bits and I'm off to Hamilton. That's right, Hamilton!

A long, slow run on Sunday (mostly because training has been non-existent due to terrible weather and good ski conditions) with friends followed by dinner out to celebrate. Really, it's the perfect way to end a month of celebrating my awesomeness. =)

I Can Do It!

Two fabulous days in Vancouver with amazing speakers: Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson and Geneen Roth, just to name a few. I Can Do It! is a conference hosted by Hay House. Amazing!

Three fabulous days in Fun-couver with my mom. We're meeting up with my old running buddy, neighbour and postie friend, Lisa Q. for dinner. Mmmm...Thai!

A hotel gym or the sea wall to run...it's all good.

Three fabulous days of fantastic skin and flat hair.


You can't have everything. =)

New Year!

Happy birthday to me! The last week has been pretty crazy, there's been lots going on. Most of it good, which is even better!

Celebrated my birthday by spending the day with my mom, having my annual doctor's appointment, shopping at Costco, knitting (on the bus to & from Red Deer) and then spending the evening with my cousin and her hubby.

Had a bit of a damper by the ex who felt my birthday was a great day to tell me his mom had died and here's the funeral details. Yeeesh. I responded with a polite, condolence filled email message. And I'm not going to the funeral. I struggled with that one, but what can you do. I don't want him in my life, even as a friend. I do feel incredibly sad that he had no one to tell about his mom, other than me.

Anyway, since then I've been working like mad (people are sick, machines are broken and that means overtime!). Last night we had our book club (clever disguise for eat, drink and be merry) and I got home around 4 this morning. My head hurts, but man, we had fun and some tasty wine!

Better get moving, I have to work in a few hours and I'm in no shape to do anything of the sort yet!

Wedding Showers

Are typically not my thing. Toilet paper dresses, silly games and that ribbon hat just don't work for me. Thankfully, they also don't work for my co-worker, Holly, either! What did we do instead?

A few of us gathered early this afternoon (after I ran 9K to mitigate some of the damage I knew would ensue) to make her thank you cards. We drank some wine, had some snacks, listened to some great tunes and made the most amazing cards. Of course, my camera is still on the fritz and I've yet to take it to a professional to look at, so Holly and Nik have the only photographic evidence of our labours. Lemme just say, we're pretty crafty! And wine makes us even better!

Around 5:30, the rest of the work gang arrived with their potluck goodies in hand. The spread was amazing! We ate some more, drank some more, laughed, cried, and laughed again.

Now that's my kind of wedding shower!

Egad! Time Flies!

What's been going on in my world? Well, I worked 5 days last week (this is big for a 4 day/week girl) so that my co-worker could go to his BIL's wedding in India. It wasn't too bad--4 day shifts then an evening. My mom arrived on Thursday so there has been lots going on! For example:

-trips to Costco & Superstore to restock old Mother Hubbard's bare cupboards
-calling the police to remove sleeping homeless man from my parking spot on Friday night
-noodles
-filing (and preparing income tax documents to send to the accountant)
-yoga (Friday morning, Saturday and Sunday afternoon)
-trips to the Farmer's Market where I ran into my third cousin (small world)
-Pizza in the 'hood with my grandma
-laundry (the bane of my existence)

Yesterday I hit the slopes with my yogi friend Carole, her hubby,Joe, and their friend, Bill. We left early and got to Sunshine in time to get rock star parking. They'd had 38cm in the past 3 days so we were itching to play in some powder! It was great skiing! My favourite run, Tin Can Alley, got the best of me (not quite an epic wipe out, but enough to get snow where it was slightly uncomfortable!) so I had to go back and show it who was boss. We headed down through the trees and played in some powder...wheeeee!

Then we were going to show the boys the li'l black diamond run Carole and I discovered the last time we were there, but it was cold and windy and the snow sucked at the top of the Angel chair. So we headed to Standish, where they proceeded to push me (in a good way) to where I'd never been before. Now, the last time we were there, I was proud of myself for attempting the blue runs (Big and Little Bunkers). Yesterday we did not only the blue runs, but they had me going down the moguls under the chairlift! It wasn't overly graceful, but I got down (without falling, I might add) and I turned (I know how to turn. I know how to turn. I know how to turn.) more than once!

After lunch we headed to Goat's Eye. I love the snow below the tree line! Up top though--icky--icy, hard, windy and not much fun. But below the tree line is another story altogether. My quivering quads declared they needed a break, so I sat a run out and then we went back for a final run on Standish before skiing out.

Best Valentine's Day EVER!! I'm going back tomorrow--'cause I can!

Wowsa!

Down 4 pounds from last week! Whoo hoo!

Tracking is key for me, I must not forget this.

I've also had two really great yoga practices this week, with two more on the schedule for today and tomorrow.

New favourite food find: savoury oatmeal

Yesterday I rescued some veggie chili from my freezer (who knew it would still be good a year later?), simmered it down till it was nice and thick and topped a huge bed of spinach (wilted slightly in the microwave) with some cheesy oats and then the chili. Mmmmmm......good.

A weekend filled with knitting, yoga and good friends is on the agenda. Happy Saturday!

Not Much Going on Here...

I work this weekend. Boo.

But I am going to a soiree this evening where I will only know the guest of honour...which means a fabulous opportunity to meet new people!

And tomorrow, Farmer's Market (more soup!), then work. Maybe a run, depends on how early I get up.

And Monday: SNOW DAY!! Again.

=)

Sunday Reflections

*sigh*

I've had a great few days! Friday morning yoga was great--lots and lots of down dog. Coffee afterwards and I utilized incredible will power to walk past Cobs Bakery. Tea with my cousin followed and then I came home and finished knitting my scarf.

Saturday dawned bright and early (I woke at 4, not my choice). Carol and I headed down to the Kingsland Farmer's Market. I picked up some soups from Primal Grounds: creamy vegetable with blue cheese (AMAZING) and pumpkin chai (haven't tried it yet). I also bought some lovely goat's milk chai. I should've bought more. I grew up on goat's milk (and we had our own cute little goats, although I'm the only one who thinks/remembers them as cute) because I had nasty skin reactions whenever I drank cow's milk. I also bought some saskatoon syrup for my buttermilk pancakes (that I've yet to make). The last purchase was a bottle of mead (honey wine) from the place my yogi-friend Lisette works at. Lisette and I did our teacher training together and she brought some of the first batches of mead for us to try at our potlucks.

Brunch at Diner Deluxe followed (nary a veggie in sight, but oh, so tasty!). The hashbrowns were divine. And seriously, a hashbrown defines a breakfast place.

Yoga class focused on back bends. Danurasana (bow) was intense and beautiful! I loved it!

The late afternoon was spent with another yogi friend as we went to a baby shower for the baby we watched grow during our teacher training! We came home with goody bags of Greek meatballs and tzatziki. We love Trina's hubby! He's a good cooker.

Today was a pretty lazy morning, followed by a 2-hour kula practice at the yoga studio. It was intense (think timed down dogs, headstand and handstand...) although the poses were basics. 13 half moons (one per side x 2 sides x 13 full moons per year = 26 half moons). Egad!! Even with a good soak in the claw foot, I'm not sure I'll be able to walk well tomorrow.

Dinner is leftover sweet potato black bean burrito filling (I ran out of tortillas so I've made the rest into burgers. A big pot of cherry tea is brewed and on the to-do list for tonight is planning tomorrow's yoga class. I think I'll use the fact that's it's Martin Luther King day and go from there...

Hope you've had a great weekend!

Whoo hoo!

I heart Fridays! Why, you ask? Let me count the ways!

1. Yoga with Judy, followed by coffee at Starbucks. Is there any better way to start a weekend?

2. Scale was down 3.8 from last week!

3. Coffee with my cousin that I haven't seen for over a year, but we catch up on Facebook every once in awhile. It's just good to reconnect in person, ya know?

4. Knitting! I'm almost done the scarf I started in October (I worked on it last night) and I'm almost ready to tackle the next project: a matching toque. I need to learn some new skills though, namely knitting in the round. I foresee a visit to my local yarn store!

5. I don't have to be back at work till 0700h next Thursday! There will be skiing. There will be yoga. There will be coffee. There will be knitting. There will be Farmer's Market. There will be other things that aren't quite as fun, but still need to be done (taxes, thank you cards, a funeral, Belated Happy Holiday cards, laundry, you know the drill).

Happy Friday!

2011--The Year of Awesomeness

This post was totally inspired by my yoga class this morning with Brian and last week's series with Judy. Today we spent an hour and a half celebrating our awesomeness (and focusing on our foundations and level one syllabus poses (except powerful pose, that's the only level two pose we did). It was an AMAZING class!!

Resolutions imply that we're not good enough (or thin enough or fast enough or whatever). This year, I'm focusing on the fact that I. AM. AWESOME. JUST. THE. WAY. I. AM.

Last week in Judy's week long series, we talked about making changes (you know, "be the change you want to see in the world" ~Gandhi). First, there was gratitude for what we already have in our lives. Then we set the foundations for change so that we could navigate the twists and turns life throws at us. We got perspective (things look different when you're upside down!). We reinforced our own personal strength. Then there was faith, hope and all that jazz. We ended the week with a celebration of us.

So why not carry this theme through the rest of the year? After Brian's class this morning, I knew I wouldn't be making any resolutions.

How am I going to celebrate my awesomeness this year? Well, here's a list:

*Continue my yoga practice. I've practiced every day since Sunday, December 26, 2010. My personal practice helps inspire my teaching and I'll continue to teach with the Eating Disorders program. Karma is a good thing.

*Study with more teachers. I'm taking classes on Fridays with Judy and Saturdays with Caroline. I'm going to attend workshops with Patrick Creelman, Noah Maze and Desiree Rumbaugh. I'm attending a retreat in March with Judy and Nora. Sonya and I will have yoga play dates. My kula rocks!!

*Run! I'm registered for Around the Bay in March and I'm aiming for a fall marathon. Location TBA.

*Nurture my spirituality. I love my Course in Miracles group that I've found on Tuesday nights! I'm also attending a seminar in Vancouver that features Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson and Geneen Roth. I'm also enrolled in the Chopra Centre's Winter Mediation Challenge.

*Gain financial freedom. I'm changing my work schedule to work more evenings and weekends. The additional shift differential adds up to 2 extra shifts...without actually working 2 extra days! I'll pay off my debts and save for awesomeness celebrations (and a new house for me and Nerm!).

*Celebrate nature. Skiing, hiking, and just drinking in the beauty that Mother Nature surrounds me with daily. I live in an amazing part of this country and I will enjoy it as much as I can.

*Celebrate with my friends! To start, Michelle is graduating from Medical school in May and I get to go with her to the big par-tay. It's formal attire and I forsee a new party dress in my future!

This year is off to an amazing start already! I can't wait to see what else unfolds in the next 358 days!

Shanti om.