By the way, I did eventually have a piece of cake last night when Keith got home. Do you love how I won't drink a sugary drink from Starbucks but I eat cake like there's no tomorrow? Yea, I love that too. You can call me a hypocrite, but I call it selective. I'd rather not waste calories on a drink when I can eat them. Mmm! Anyway, the cake was amazing, better than the yellow cake I made. Although the yellow cake was really good, too. Our friends Ramber are in the process of buying a house right now, and when they finally clo
se on one, I am going to make them a cake that says, "Congratulations", and maybe I will draw a little house on there as well! I love baking cakes. It's so easy and they taste so great! I know there is a way to make them with apple sauce and they are supposed to be healthier that way, so I think I will look that up and try it next time. Apple sauce is a staple in vegan baking.
So back to my morning. I went to Starbucks and got a cup of coffee, and paid for my max ticket like a good Portlander, and went on my way. I got on the red train, which meant I had to transfer to the blue train at Beaverton Transit Center. I
was cutting it a little close time-wise, so I asked a Tri-Met employee at the stop when the next train was coming. This led to a conversation, and he told me I needed to get a boyfriend or husband so he could drop me off at work and avoid the max altogether, and that if the boyfriend or husband didn't want to do that, then I should tell him I could find one who would. I informed him that I did indeed have a boyfriend, and it would be silly for him to drop me off at work because I teach yoga and so I only work for one hour at a time. He then told me that he had a son (who was probably older than me) who was a health nut. I asked him how old his son was and he said 37. I was thinking to myself, your son is PROBABLY older than me?! He could almost be my dad, for pete's sake. But I didn't say that, I just told him that yes, his son was older than me because I was only 23. Then he told me that I was in good shape (sounds creepy but it wasn't) and he asked if I had any kids. I said no. Then he
said his son was a trainer at 24 Hour Fitness part time and that he was trying to build a clientele in his other business, which was gardening and cooking healthy food for people. Get out of town, I work for 24 Hour Fitness too! So he said, my son would love to meet you but you have a husband. I'm thinking, cool it buddy. I didn't say I was married I said I had a boyfriend, and by the way your son is 37. But he was nice. He said he doesn't exercise and he drinks coffee and doesn't eat very well. Then he said, "I used to do jazzercise, but I had a bone spur and my doctor told me I could either have an operation or stop doing what I was doing, so I stopped doing jazzercise." I thought that was really cute. As hard as I tried, I could not imagine this man doing jazzercise.
So I got to my stop (which was only one stop away from where I met the Tri-Met guy), and had a few minutes to spare. I finished my coffee and went i
n to teach my class. It started out with only about 8 people, but doubled in size plus some because people came in late (of course). I had two very pregnant women. I mean they both had to have been in their last month of pregnancy. I wanted to help them more, but it's hard to do that without singling them out and boring the other class members. I just made it a point to offer lots of options and reminded students often to only take their poses as far as they felt comfortable. I reminded them to rest often and to modify in anyway they needed. I think the other class members appreciated those cues as well. The class had great energy today. I don't mean physical energy, I just mean the energy in the room was great. I love days like that. At the end of class, several people thanked me. I never say you're welcome, I always thank them back. You know, for their presence, for their effort, for their energy. And today a woman said, "No, thank YOU. That was a great class and I feel so wonderful."
Which in turn, made me feel wonderful. I am so blessed to have a job that makes me (and other people) feel good. So many people do not have that luxury. Now if only I made more money doing it I'd be all set! But I know that one day I will.
On the max ride home, there was a little boy who was in a wheel chair sitting across from me. It made me realize how very grateful I am for three beautiful and healthy nephews. I think so often we take things for granted and our health is one of them. I know I do. When things start to suck for me, rather than dwell on how much they suck, I try to be find something else that I am grateful for. For example, when my legs are tired from walking and my feet are killing me, I try to think, "At least I am able to walk." So many people can't. My beautiful grandmother couldn't, so sometimes when I feel lazy and don't want to w
alk (which is often because I live in a city where walking everywhere is a way of life) I think about her, and take the steps for her, or for anyone who is unable to walk. I know that sounds dramatic, but it's just something that pops into my mind. It's something I have learned to do through yoga. Almost every time I practice, I dedicate my practice to someone else or something. Sometimes I dedicate it to myself as well. And I always encourage my students to do this as well. When things get tough in class I say, "Remember why you came to your mat today. Remember your intention and focus on that."
I try very hard to be a good person and a good yogi. But I am human after all. Sometimes I eat cake, and say the f word, and have negative thoughts, but who doesn't? Well, not everyone says the f word. My mom doesn't. But my dad says i
t enough for the both of them. Actually, my dad says it enough for her, me, my brother, and our entire extended family. But I love him for it. Just a little side note, I hate it when people get all uptight like, "oh my gosh, your dad said the f word around you when you were growing up?" I'm like, "F yea he did, and I never went without anything I ever needed, I never went without most of the things I wanted, and I never felt any less loved because he said a bad word in my presence." And what makes a word "bad" anyway? Sometimes it's just needed for emphasis. Who cares? So back to my original point, I do try to be a good person. I have opinions, and I realize that sometimes on my blog I sound self-righteous, but I don't ever mean to.
My mom sent me an email and asked who Kathryn Budig is. She has a magnet with Kathryn Budig's face on it hanging on her refrigerator! I made inspirational magnets for everyone for Christmas last year, and Kathryn Budig is very inspirati
onal to me so I put her face on a magnet and gave it
to my mom. She is an amazing yogini from Kansas who went to college at the University of Virginia and graduated with a degree in English in 2004. While there, she started practicing ashtanga yoga and is now a very famous teacher at Yoga Works in Los Angeles. She was one of the youngest ever yoga teachers on staff at Yoga Works. Plus is she beautiful. And real. One of her big things is making arm balances accessible to each and every one of her students. She is such an inspiration. If you ever get a chance, go to youtube and run a search on her. You'll be amazed by what you see. Here she is in galavasana (flying pigeon).
My shoulder is still bothering me. This is starting to worry me a little bit. I tried to do chaturanga today and I instead did plop-asana. I then decided, ok no more chaturangas until I figure out what is going on with my shoulder and fix it.
It's a gorgeous day here in Portland. Sunny and 65 degrees! I'm going to go to Powell's Books and Whole Foods here in a bit. Can you believe that Whole Foods sells edamame for much cheaper than Fred Meyer (which is Kroger but a lot better)? I love Whole Foods, if I was rich I would buy all of my groceries there.
I think later today I am going to put all of my yoga music on the computer and combine some of it to make new yoga mixes. It will be cheaper than buying new music, plus I will be able to make some awesome mixes!
Two of my Wednesday and Friday morning regulars are going to be gone for an entire month. They are going on a cross country trip to see their son graduate with a Phd in chemical engineering from MIT and then they are bringing him back home. Can you imagine what it would take to get a degree like that? I don't even want to think about it. I hate school!
I'm off to get out and enjoy this beautiful day!
xoxo,
t
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