Eat. Yoga. Sleep. Repeat.

Ugh. I am sore today. Hours of doing the same postures over and over (particularly balancing ones) has done a number on my joints. My knees and shoulders don’t want to be moved unless they absolutely have to. My quads feel like I’ve been running up and down stairs endlessly. I'm actually dying to go pee as we speak, but the walk across the hall seems like a mile. I’m even having dreams about being in yoga class… "Inhale, Upward-Facing Dog, Exhale, Downward-Facing Dog."

But, boy, do I feel good. 

(Mini-photoshoot yesterday with some of the girls from class)

Reflection - Commitment

We have reflection sessions where we are asked questions and we write about it in our journals. Then we share our responses and discuss what we've written. Not only do we learn a lot about each other (we are in this together, right?), but we learn a lot about ourselves. 

A little over a week ago we were asked, "How are you feeling up to this point in training? What worries or difficulties are you having? How does the word 'commitment' apply to your training?" 

At this point in training, I am feeling pretty good about what I've learned. I have spent quite a bit of time practicing on my own, breaking down the postures and remembering the sequences. Still a little nervous about being able to fluidly teach in front of others, but's it’s coming. The only thing that I would say I have "worries" about is learning all of the sequences in the remaining 6 weeks. Time is moving rather quickly and I had to miss a few classes last week. I worry that I won't be able to stay on pace with what we are learning. 

I do have a concern on the effect that this training has on my personal practice. Since I began this training, I actually practice yoga LESS than I did before. Between a full-time job, 15-20 hours a week at the studio in training, and my personal life, I don't feel like I have any time to actually practice! I went from 4 classes a week, a few sessions at home, and a couple of hours at the gym to MAYBE two workouts a week. That is really a downer for me. In the last two weeks, my sister has gotten married, my mother was in town for a week, and I flew home for my best friend's baby shower. My boyfriend and I are in a long distance relationship, so when we've seen one another these last couple of weeks (he flew here last week and I there last weekend), we spent a lot of time trying to make time with our family and friends. I was also mysteriously sick for two days that knocked me on my ass. Needless to say, I am exhausted!! 

I know that I am not the only one taking this training that is feeling this way. We all have a life and are on our own journey. In April, I committed to this practice for my physical and mental health. It’s changed my life in so many ways for the better, I look forward to the time on my mat. With everything going on around me, I really have to keep that promise to myself and not let anything stand in the way. Committed to my practice, to my health, committed to this training, committed to myself. I am definitely being tested. 

I was so tired last night, and looking for a way out of the gym. I ask Jaime for motivation to which he responds, “Strength to do handstands!” Below is a photo from last night's handstand prep. Thanks, Amor. 

Surya Namaskar A: Sun Salutation A

 “One is offering salutation to the Divine, represented by the sun, as a source of light removing the darkness of a clouded mind and as a source of vitality removing the diseases of the body.” - Ganesh Mohan, yoga scholar  

-From Standing at Attention (Samasthiti) broken down with cues to set up for breath-to-movement-

Inhale, Mountain Pose (Tadasana). Sweep your arms towards the sky.

-Ground down through all four corners of your feet

-Strengthen through your legs

-Pull your shoulders away from your ears

Exhale, Forward Fold (Uttanasana). Melt your hands through heart center. Hinge at your hips, folding your body towards the earth.

-Shift your weight forward

-Draw your navel in

-Allow your head to hang heavy

Inhale, Halfway Lift (Ardha Uttanasana). Press your palms into your shins.  Create one line of energy from your tailbone through the crown of your head.

-Push your tailbone out behind you, create a long spine.

-Pull your navel into your spine

-Draw your shoulders away from your ears

Exhale, Forward Fold

Inhale, High Plank (Dandasana). Plant your palms shoulder width distance apart. Step back into the top of a push-up.

-Tone through your legs

-Engage your core

-Push away from the earth, to puff the back of your heart space

Exhale, High-To-Low Plank (Chaturanga Dandasana). Shift your weight forward, so your shoulders are past your wrists. Squeeze your elbows into your body and lower halfway.

-Strengthen through the core

-Lead with your chest

-Keep your head in line with your spine

Inhale, Upward Facing Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana). Press the tops of your feet into the mat. Lift chest away from the ground.

-Engage your thighs, so they lift away from the earth

-Draw your shoulders back

-Lengthen your spine

Exhale, Downward Facing Dog (Ardha Mukha Svanasana). Tuck your toes. Pike your hips up and back.

-Melt your heels down towards the mat

-Draw your navel in

-Ground into your palms and all ten fingers

-Take 3 cycles of breath, at the bottom of 4th inhalation, gaze forward. Exhale and step or float to the top of your space into Forward Fold (Uttanasana).-

Inhale, Halfway Lift (Ardha Uttanasana).

Exhale, Forward Fold (Uttanasana).

-Repeat Sun Salutation A as many times as desired-

Integration Series

"The Integration Series is where it all begins. This is where you step out of the world and into yourself, where you come out of your head and into your body." -Baron Baptiste, Baptiste Yoga


Exhale, Child's Pose (Balasana). Bring your big toes to touch. Set your knees as wide as is comfortable. Slide your hands forward and nestle your forehead into the mat.

-Allow your hips to sink towards your heels
-Soften your shoulders
-Reach out through your fingers

Take 3 cleansing breaths. Begin to cultivate Ujjaii Breathing. 

Inhale, Neutral Tabletop (exhale). Shift your weight forward. Rise onto all fours.

-Stack your hips over your knees, your shoulders over your wrists
-Draw your navel in
-Create one line of energy from your tailbone through the crown of your head

Inhale, Cow Pose (Bitilasana). Dip your belly downward. Gaze forward.

-Tilt your pelvis forward
-Draw your shoulders down and away from your ears
-Open your chest

Exhale, Cat Pose (Marjaryasana). Lift and round your spine. Pin your chin to your chest.

-Tilt your tailbone inward
-Hollow the space through your belly
-Push the earth away

Take several rounds of Cat/Cow.

Inhale, Neutral Tabletop. 

Exhale, Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana). Tuck your toes under. Pike your hips up and back.

-Melt your heels into the floor
-Pull your navel up and in
-Widen and press into all ten fingers

Inhale, High Plank (Dandasana). Shift your weight forward into the top of a push up.

-Create one line of energy from your heels through the crown of your head
-Engage your core
-Breathe into the space behind your heart

-Exhale, slowly lower your body to the ground. Exhale your stale breath.-

Inhale, Baby Cobra (Bhujangasana). Press the tops of your feet into the mat. Zip your legs together. Peel your chest away from the mat. Hover your hands.

-Strengthen through the thighs
-Lengthen the back of your neck
-Gaze is down

-Exhale, release.-

Inhale, Full Cobra (Bhujangasana). Lift your chest off of the ground. Push into the ground to straighten your arms.

-Engage your quadriceps
-Roll your shoulders down and back
-Gaze forward

-Exhale, release.-

Inhale, Neutral Tabletop.

Exhale, Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana). 

Inhale, gaze forward

Exhale, Ragdoll (Uttanasana). Step your feet behind each wrist. Fold forward at the hips.

-Shift your weight onto the front of your feet
-Hang your head heavy
-Allow your arms to dangle

Options: Option to grab either elbow. Sway your torso side to side. Shake your head yes and no.

-Take several deep breaths. Toe-heel your feet to touch. Inhale, slowly unraveling your spine to stand.-

Exhale, Standing At Attention (Samasthiti). 

-Ground into all four corners of your feet
-Roll shoulder blades back and down
-Hands in prayer at heart center
-Close your eyes

"You're going to forget how to talk."

I’m not a shy person. I don’t often get nervous or tongue-tied. But one thing that has always been intimidating is speaking in front of a crowd. There isn’t much I could think of that is scarier than a group of people staring at you while you’re standing in front of them alone. Well… guess what? Guiding a group through a yoga class is not any easier. In fact, not only are you speaking to them, you’re instructing them to do things! They are waiting on you for the next cue, the next movement. They are depending on you to know your shit. And that’s pretty scary.

To be honest, it all seemed so simple. I know the postures. I know what comes next and what I have to do to get there. But when you have to explain that to someone else, to cut out all the fluff and command someone in simple terms and phrases, it is HARD!  You have to link the breath to the pose and direct them. The first thing our Teacher Trainer, Christina, said was, “You’re going to forget how to talk.” She wasn’t lying. It was almost funny, to hear ourselves fumble over words, to completely forget the sequence we’ve done a thousand times. Trying to think of synonyms for words like we are in the 6^th grade. It was also frustrating. To fidget and laugh nervously to keep from beating myself up for not being able to get it. It hasn’t been easy. 

But it’s getting there. Entering week 4 of training, it’s very slowly coming to me and coming out of me. It’s an awesome feeling for me and the rest of the group when we can stand up and guide each other in breath and movement. I feel we have a long way to go, but we are getting there. 

A New Family

Week one down! We spent the first day getting to know one another a little better. The older I get, the more introverted I become.  So I'm not usually a fan of  the "getting to know your neighbor" type of stuff. All the more reason to try something new, right? The only other person I know is my comadre, Tess, who is also taking this training with me. It's really nice to have someone there to share this with. But this time, I will be forever grateful for not only being able to hear all of their stories, but for what their stories gave me. It gave me reassurance that I was exactly where I needed to be. 

There are about 15 of us in the class, all women. Every single person has an amazing story to tell. Some with families, some here in San Diego all by themselves. One is grieving the loss of a child, while another is growing a little life inside of her. Each person from a different background, some even from different countries. No two people have the same story, or the same life. We are all so completely DIFFERENT. It's crazy how our entire group has very little in common other than that we are all taking this training together. Yoga led us here. And it unites us. 

For the remaining 9 weeks, I am going to be spending more time with these women than I will with anyone else. I will be sharing this journey with a group of passionate, strong individuals and it's pretty exciting. We are all part of the Reach Yoga family now.  

Here We Go

Today is the first day. The first official day of Yoga Teacher Training. For the next ten weeks, my life will be: work, yoga, sleep, repeat. I need 200 hours of instruction and practice to be certified. No more weekends, no more sleeping in. There will be late nights and lots of sweaty yoga clothes. But I have never been more excited. For a while I have felt like I've been at a stand still. Like I wasn't really doing something worthwhile. Yoga has changed that for me. I feel purpose. I feel progress. I feel passion. 

I almost backed out, because of some unexpected changes in my life. I cried over it. I didn't want to give it up. But I didn't want to have to deal with anything other than classes for the next ten weeks. Not to mention the financial responsibility of this endeavor. I wanted this to be priority. Lucky for me, the man in my life won't let me accept anything but what's best for me. Between sniffling on the phone with him, he tells me, "You aren't going to give this up. This is what you want." How do I argue with that? I hate it when he is right. I love it when he is right. 

So... here we go.