Things I Learned This Week

I was on the road this week, on a business trip. This meant that I got knocked off my P90X schedule. I really hate when that happens. Fortunately my last business trip landed conveniently during a Recovery Week which meant that I could manage to keep up in my hotel room. But this time my trip landed during my last ‘real week’ of the program. I’m getting home just in time for my final Recovery Week and it pains me to think that I have to prolong the program by yet another week. Uuugh.

But this week has taught me two things. First, I realized that I soon as I removed the weight lifting and one hour hard-core cardio sessions from my life, my appetite went right back to normal. I have been starving non-stop for the past two months and now here I am, in the middle of a big city, surrounded by great food (on the company tab, no less) and I can’t be bothered with food. I get to normal meal times and almost force myself to eat something, when normally at home I’m counting down the minutes until I get to eat again. This just proves my theory and makes me wonder why I bother burning so many calories a day when it just causes me to eat that many more. Seems like a silly run around on a hamster wheel, but I know that won’t stop me.

My second lesson of the week involves yoga. Because the hotel that I’m staying in doesn’t have a gym, yoga is the best and easiest way to work out every day. And what I’ve discovered is how much I improved by doing my routine every single day. I started out this week sweating and watching the clock in anticipation of the routine ending. But the second day was a littler easier. And the third day even easier. By the fourth day I was stunned at how easily I breezed through the rigorous routine. I know that practicing anything makes you better, but the speed at which you see improvement in yoga by a consistent and frequent practice is astonishing. Practicing once a week seems like you never get a chance to really build those yoga muscles and get in the zone. You are therefore struggling every time you practice. But if you can increase the amount of days per week in which you practice it really seems to pay off. For me yoga went from a chore to pleasure in just 4 days!

I’m curious how many days per week most enthusiastic yogi practice . . . Please share if you will . . . How many days per week to you practice?

Free May Desktop Calendar from YogaDudes

Here's a nice Springy desktop to usher in May. I tried drawing some cute birds doing "in-flight" yoga poses, but let's just say it didn't work out. Perhaps the simple birdhouses are perfect on their own. To make this your desktop calendar, just click on the image above to bring up the larger image. Then right-click and "save as desktop."

Happy Spring!

The Biggest Drawback to P90X

I've stated several times in the past that the biggest challenge to P90X is the time commitment and now I'm realizing the biggest drawback . . .

I am always starving! I mean seriously, since the day I started this routine nearly 3 months ago I am constantly hungry. And that is very unlike me. My body has a great self regulating ability. It somehow knows exactly what I need to maintain my weight and adjusts my hunger accordingly. When I'm loafing around and not working out for long stretches of time (yes, that happens at certain times of the year) I eat very little, I guess because of my very low appetite. But lately, my goodness, I'm consumed with thoughts of "How long before I get to eat again and what will I eat next?" I hate it. I feel like my husband, who is constantly complaining that he's hungry no matter how much I feed him.

There is still a little piece of me that wonders why I go through all of this. I can just do nothing to work out and my body will adjust to maintain my healthy weight. Seems like it would be a whole heck of a lot easier. BUT, I'm a psycho and I need the rush of working out and I need to feel good about myself for being strong . . . so I'm going to find more to eat now. I think there's a jar of almonds close by . . . and some leftover Easter candy too. I'm on it.

This Was a First

So I think I learned an important lesson about the order by which you perform the P90X workouts. For whatever reason (I truly can't remember) I decided to start this week backwards. Funny this seemed like the perfectly logical thing to do on Saturday. Then, since I already started the week screwed up, I further messed with it by doing only the Legs portion yesterday, saving the Back portion of Legs & Back for this afternoon's lunch time work out. Then I got home and realized more shuffling was going to be needed due to after work commitments throughout the week. I thought, "no problem, I'll just do another weight lifting session today." Well that was a mistake. I tried to tackle Chest, Shoulders & Triceps which is notoriously a difficult one for me and I bonked. This was the first workout ever that I quit before the end of the video. I just couldn't muster the energy to get through the final 3 moves. I am just amazed at how much lifting weights sucks the life out of me. Between yesterday, this afternoon, and this evening I am completely burnt out. As a matter of fact my wrists are almost too sore to type. Yikes. How many more days until my Recovery Friday?

New YogaDudes Tank Tops Now Available

The new YogaDudes tanks are now available in our shop. These soft and stretchy combed ring-spun cotton tanks have just a touch of spandex making them body hugging and super comfortable. They feature a longer length making them perfect for yoga class. The design says Peace, Love, Yoga and would make the great addition to your yoga wardrobe.

You can purchase these new tank tops online here.

My P90X Yoga Secret

My last posting talked about how I went from hating and dreading P90X Yoga to how I tackled it. A comment from a reader made me realize that I should also explain my little P90X Yoga secret . . .

Like I said before, the biggest challenge with P90X is the time commitment. Dedicating the hours every week is far more painful for me than the actual lifting or working out. And doing anything for more than an hour is like bamboo under my fingernails. I mean seriously, I can't think of many things that I can do for more than an hour – even things I love, I lose interest after an hour. I guess I have a 59 minute attention span for most things in life and it's actually becoming a joke to my friends. As soon as I tune out my friends say, "Paula has reached her 1 hour limit." So here's my P90X secret that I started to do last season.

The hardest and most grueling part of P90X Yoga is the first 45 minutes of the vinyasa flow. That is the part that makes the whole routine seem endless. But when you think about it, the entire routine can be broken into two distinct parts: the 45 minute vinyasa Hell; and the rest of it. So on Yoga day, I tackled the first 45 tough minutes during my lunch break at work. Then I would come home and finish the second 45 minute segment after work. Taking the work out in two pieces made it a million times more doable for me. I don't think you are getting any less of a work out or benefit from splitting it in two pieces and for me, it worked like a charm.

Yoga and P90X

A reader left me a comment today about her delight at finding a blog that discusses both Yoga and P90X. It made me think back to an ironic story that I wanted to share.

I've been practicing yoga for about 10 years now and always dreamed of some day getting my teaching certification. Then 3 years ago I discovered the awesome workout routine that is P90X. I was amazed at how challenging it was and how motivated I was to complete those 90 days. Nothing, and I mean nothing, was going to stop me from my perfect workout record. I would avoid social events to make sure I could go straight home after work and there was no way a cold, menstrual cramps, a stiff neck, nor any other ailment was going to break me.

I got through the 90 days like a champ and in the end I must say, I was looking pretty buff. But the problem was that P90X completely changed my view of Yoga. I went from loving it to . . . well, I'm pretty sure I hated it. The P90X Yoga was grueling and way too long for my short attention span. It turned out to be my most dreaded day of the week. And the so called 'recovery weeks' were torture. They required 2 Yogas per week. I didn't think I would ever do yoga again after these 3 months.

But then the summer came and went and I normally don't do as much yoga in the summer as I'm busy on my bike, in my kayak, and on the trails. When winter rolled back around all too soon I had to make the decision to go for another round of P90X. Of course I did. This time it was different. I knew what to expect and that was both good and bad. Bad in that it was a little less motivating, but good in that I knew I could tackle anything Tony was going to through at me. When I completed the dreaded Yoga routine for the first time during this second session I was stunned at how easy it seemed compared to the first year. Was this the same routine that nearly broke my yoga spirit? The routine got to be so familiar that it got easier and easier.

I reassessed my feelings toward getting my yoga teacher certification. During the first year of P90 I was convinced that yoga was not for me and I would never make it as an instructor. But during year two I had a renewed sense of confidence. Heck, if I can get through Tony's 90 minutes of pure Hell I could do it! And I did it. I even modeled my final exam class after Tony's Vinyasa segment. P90X went from causing me to hate something that I once loved and breaking my spirit . . . . to making me realize that I must be good at it and giving me the drive to just go for it.

So, for me, there is a big connection between Yoga and P90X. After cursing Tony for 90 days I now thank him for pushing me to Bring It and follow my dream.

Yoga Teachers Who Blog

Check me out. I just realized that YogaDudes is listed #2 in this cool list of "100 Incredible Yoga Teachers Who Blog." YogaDudes is listed under the "Yoga News and Inspiration" category. I must say that I'm honored. The idea that I may be inspiring people out there to do yoga and get fit just thrills me. Check out the link and see if you can get inspired by some of the other yoga instructors of the world.

April Desktop Calendar

I guess you can call this one 'better late than never.' In the honor of Spring and new beginnings I present the April desktop calendar. To make it your desktop wallpaper just click on the image above to bring up the full-sized graphic. Then right-click and 'save as desktop.'

Happy Spring from YogaDudes.

Why Do I Do P90X?

This is a question I often get asked. When friends see my commitment to this work-out routine, in the midst of all my other obligations that make my life one big time crunch, they often wonder why on earth I do it. I manage to stay the exact same weight, and look fit, whether I really am or not. So why bother with all this work and effort?

And today I may even have questioned it myself. I was upstairs, alone . . . diligently working out with Tony while my husband was outside in the 70 degree Spring temps, playing with our dogs. I have to admit, it ain't easy. And sometimes I hate it. But I trudge on. And here's why . . .

As bikers, the first voyage of the season is always bittersweet, especially living in a cold climate. The Spring air brings both excitement and dread. On one hand we can't wait to dust off the bikes and jump back on. But on the other hand we dread the slap of reality when we realize just how cold and long the winter has been. The routes that we tackled with ease at the end of one riding season suddenly pose a much bigger challenge. The legs start off feeling like bricks, the lungs seem so much smaller, and the muscles that were once there have slipped into hibernation. The bike rides that we once knew and loved become a dreadful chore and no biker likes that.

So this weekend was our maiden voyage and it was great. I jumped on my bike and tackled the ride like there was no winter off. I hit the ground running–and running fast–and rode just about the whole route in my top ring. It felt wonderful and that, my friends, is why I do P90X.

New Sterling Silver OM Earrings

Get yourself in balance with a pair of these sterling silver OM symbol earrings. They are the newest addition to the YogaDudes lineup and would make the perfect accessory for any occasion, on or off the mat. The dangling pendant measures ¾” x ½”. They are being introduced at a sale price of $22.99 and will be available at this price for a limited time.

You can find them online here.

The Perfect Yoga CD for Teaching Class

I just found another must have for my yoga classes. A couple of weeks ago I set my mp3 player to play songs from just one CD. I thought it would automatically repeat until I hit stop, but no . . . it just ran out of music and left my class in silence. Wouldn't it be nice to find a CD that just runs for exactly one hour (the length of most yoga classes)? Why yes it would. And how about if the CD included a mediation at the end? That would just be too much to ask for. Well, ask and you shall receive.

The My Yoga 2 Go Music CD was specifically created for teaching a yoga class. It includes 60 minutes of continuous music with tranquil gongs at 1 minute and 3 minute intervals that signal the transition of poses while keeping you in the flow of your yoga sequence, it ends with a 15 minute meditation. Even if you don't teach it would be nice to practice at home with this CD. It would help take my mind off of looking at the clock and keep me focused on my practice.

Here's the best part . . . Now through April 15th you can get the My Yoga 2 Go CD for $10 (reg. $19.95). Just enter promo code MUSIC at checkout. Offer is only valid for 1 per customer.

In Case You Need to Renew or Subscribe

And by the way, in case you don't already have a subscription to Yoga Journal magazine, or need to renew your subscription . . . here’s your chance to grab a great deal on a one year subscription for only $4.29. But the catch is that it’s only good for one day, today, Thursday, March 18th. Just click on the text link below to get the deal.

Yoga Journal Magazine for $4.29

Sting Interviewed In Yoga Journal Magazine

I have a secret. OK, maybe it's not a secret as much as a random fact about me. I am a huge Sting fan and have been one since 8th grade. So imagine my delight to find an interview with him talking about how yoga has impacted his life in a positive way in this month's issue of Yoga Journal magazine. Hey, now that I think about it, I do have a secret. Sting is the whole reason that I started practicing yoga in the first place. I never really admitted that before, but it's true. I also learned how to play the electric bass because of him, but now I'm just starting to sound like a freak so let's get back to yoga.

Check out the interview with Sting and his wife Trudie at: http://www.sting.com/news/interview.php?uid=6398

The Cure for Ansomnia

For anybody out there having trouble sleeping . . . I have the solution. It's called P90X and let me tell you–it works. Of course the really bad part is that I can't even stay awake to watch all of American Idol which is really bumming me out. Today was Legs & Back, which means I don't have a prayer at making it until 10PM. Too bad I don't have a DVR. But it is so nice to sleep soundly throughout the entire night. The best sleep ever from good hard work. Works like a charm.

YogaDudes March 2010 Desktop Calendar

This month was a tough one. It's too early to feature flowers, although I really want to hurry Spring along. And I don't want to see anymore snow . . . So here is some simple scenery to distract us while we wait one more month 'til Spring. Just click on the image above to open up the full size pictures. Then right-click to 'save as your desktop.'

My Rest Theory Was Proven

So after my Friday rest day and my stellar P90X performance on Saturday morning, I further proved my theory today. I had so much energy after my work-out yesterday that I decided to take a nice hike in the slippery snow. I’m not sure if it was the hike or the half a dozen near falls, back twisting, legs flying incidents that had me sore this morning, but I woke up feeling very unmotivated. Add to that the fact that we went out dancing last night where I ate lots of sinful, unhealthy foods and danced until I was worn out.

This morning was the Cardio routine and this is usually one of my favorites, mostly because it’s the shortest of all the P90X routines. Not that I’m a slacker, I just don’t like carving out an hour of my precious weekend day. Well, Cardio starts with a quick 10-minute yoga warm up and I barely made it through. My arms were so tired the Warrior 1s felt like an eternity and the chaterungas, my God I could barely squeak them out. I am usually very strong with those as I call myself the ‘push up girl.’ Normally my strong suit, but today I was doggin’ it. No extra hikes for me today. Just proves my theory about how yesterday’s activities can cause a significant impact on today’s workouts.

The Importance of Rest Day

Yesterday was the first P90X Rest Day that I actually really rested. I almost always take the rest night off from P90, but I usually still do a lunch time work out. But yesterday I was too busy preparing my next yoga lesson (on paper) and I decided that it would be OK to do nothing all day. After all, I deserve a day of rest. And it was nice.

Then this morning I tackled my third Core Synergistics. Not that any of them were particularly challenging (including the first week), but today I could really feel a difference. I could tell that my body had more strength and energy. I bounced around with my heart rate averaging 150 the entire time, barely breathing heavy. I was actually having fun and the hour flew by. I just had to stop and wonder if it was the resting the day before that made me feel so good. I think I'm going to continue to deem Fridays complete rest days. I really don't think I'm doing myself any favors by working out every day. Your body really does need to recover.

God I love Fridays!

Early Observations from Year 3 of P90X

I’m just about finished with the second week of P90X and once again, I sailed through it. The only observation (besides me thinking that it’s too easy) that I made was how impatient I’m becoming watching the videos. I guess all of Tony’s humorous banter was fun the first time around, but now I find myself yelling at the TV screen, “Shut up and get busy already!” Now that I’m wearing a heart rate monitor I find myself fidgeting and jumping around during his way too long bantering between sets. In that amount of time my heart rate will recover unless I jump around. It just frustrates me.

And on Monday I performed a little test. Shoulders & Arms is one of the easiest and most straightforward routines to follow without the video so I thought I would give it a go on my own. I had my handy dandy little work-out sheet and I went to town. I went from one set right to the next without much, if any, downtime in between. My heart rate was up and pumping the entire time and, get this, the entire work-out took me exactly 34 minutes instead of the one hour the video would have taken. Now if I could just figure out how to perform Legs & Back on my own. Or better yet, Tony puts out some new videos for P90X grads that don’t need all the yapping. I’ve said this before . . . the hardest part of P90X (for me) is the time commitment. I am determined to find a way to get the same benefits, but in less time.

Acacia Rocks

I just love Acacia . . . everything about them. I love their beautiful catalogs and I find that I covet them like my favorite (yoga) magazines. I can't bring myself to throw them away. I keep them nearby and look at them over and over. Just looking at all their lovely products makes me happy.

But now I have a new reason to love them. Their web site just rocks. They recently started (or maybe it hasn't been recently, but I recently discovered) their daily work-outs. They put a new work out on their site every day and they are absolutely free to anyone that visits the site. These workouts are professional, diverse, and a surprise as to what you're going to get on any given day. These guys are just top notch. Thanks Acacia for offering such wonderful things to the fitness community.

Check out the workouts here.

Something Must Be Wrong

OK, something must be wrong. Why is it that I'm breezing through the start of my third season of P90X? I got through Core Synergistics, Cardio, Shoulders & Arms, and now the most dreaded . . . Yoga, without batting an eyelash. I haven't been sore at all and so far, I feel great. I'm just trying to figure out why.

I'm most excited about getting through the yoga routine. This is the yoga that previously nearly broke me. Made me break down and rethink my goal of becoming a yoga instructor. Made me actually hate yoga! I considered it the hardest, most grueling of the P90X workouts and here I was tonight strolling through it calmly and easily. I guess this regular and focused yoga is doing wonders for me–in so many aspects of my life. I'm thrilled.

The only thing that upsets me tonight is the fact that I can't track my heart rate during yoga. I had my chest strap on tonight and got completely distracted at the start of my routine with the constant licking of my fingers trying to wet the sensors. What a PITA that is. Why is it necessary to wet the sensors? Well, it doesn't even matter because I will NEVER get the darn heart rate monitor to work for yoga. It read a steady even ZERO for the entire course of the routine, despite the fact that my heart was pumping hard. It just irritates me that I need to be on the brink of sweating in order to get a reading. I am going to invest in a strapless monitor and see how that goes. Stay tuned.

Yoga Keeping Me Fit

And on the subject of yoga keeping me fit . . . I just got a heart rate monitor and have been using it during my P90X work-outs. I never tracked my heart rate before and I’m still new to the numbers. I’m not quite sure what is high, low, normal, etc., but what I do know is that I maintained an average heart rate (during Core and Cardio) of about 150. And during the yoga warm up of Cardio (when the darn heart rate monitor was actually working) my heart rate was approximately 115-120 – not that far off from my higher intensity cardio workout. I was amazed by this. I just wish my heart rate monitor worked better during yoga. Seems I need to be near sweating in order for it to register and that’s hard for me to do during yoga. Actually, that's hard for me to do period. I wish I could get an accurate reading of calories burned during yoga versus calories burned during the cardio work-out. I think the results would surprise many people. What I know for sure if that my regular yoga sessions are the reason that I’m breezing through my 3rd year of P90X. Thank you yoga!!!!

The Start of P90X Season III

This weekend began my third season of P90X. But wait a minute, I must state one small disclaimer . . . I’m not 100% committed to doing the entire grueling 90 days straight like I have for the past 2 years. I decided to take a more laid back approach this year. The truth is that the visible difference in my pre-P90X and post-P90X body is hardly detectable (certainly not detectable with my clothes on). And since I don’t spend too much time parading around naked, my motivation to ‘get more ripped’ is dwindling. I just need to get into biking shape, increase my strength, and get my lungs back. So I’ll take it as far as I need to get back to my comfort zone in strength and endurance.

Now, with that said, I truly cannot believe what I discovered after the first weekend under my belt. I distinctly remember my most sore day in the past was caused by Core Synergistics. I had a terribly sore butt and that was the worst of the entire P90X experience. The first year was, of course, the worst. Last year I was sore, but less sore than the year before. And here I am on my third year (2 years older, mind you) and I wasn’t really sore at all. How can that be? I totally breezed through both Core Synergistics and Cardio (yes, I’m doing the Lean version to start). I was just stunned at how easy it was to to get through the workouts and how 'un-sore' I was after the fact. The only things I’ve been doing lately for exercise are playing with my Wii Active and doing yoga. It’s GOT to be the yoga keeping me on shape.

Rock Goes Zen

I just stumbled across a web site selling meditation CDs, but they are the most unique, and quite frankly, the coolest meditation CDs that I ever heard. They have taken modern popular rock songs and turned them into gentle relaxing mixes. I just loved this concept so much that I had to instantly buy one. It was a hard choice as to which one to buy since they offered my all time favorite band (The Police) on one of the albums. Strangely, and surprisingly, I opted for a different album because it had more songs that I liked. I just can’t wait for the CD to arrive. For sure it will be the background music to my next yoga class.

Take a look at the site here.

Get a Free One Year Subscription to Fitness Magazine

I stumbled across this amazing deal this morning from Buy.com. They are offering their customers a free subscription to Fitness magazine. I'm not quite sure how they will know if you are a customer or not, but it's worth a try at scoring yourself a free subscription. The one thing I noticed in filling out the form is that it requires you to fill out your job title and your company name. But give it a shot. Here's the link: https://www.mercurymagazines.com/pr1/169/16908?sssdmh=dm5.164370

Great Deal on Natural Health Magazine

Grab a deal on another one of my favorite magazines! Today only (Feb. 4) you can get a full year subscription to Natural Health magazine for only $5.39. This deal is good for both new subscriptions as well as renewals. If you are interested in natural foods, crafts, outdoor sports, organic gardening and holistic health Natural Health is just for you! Natural Health will help you create a healthy lifestyle in your home and your office.

Click on this link to be taken to the deal.

February YogaDudes Desktop Calendar

In honor of Valentine's Day our February desktop calendar features a pair of elephants doing their own version of Partner Yoga. How sweet. To make it your desktop wallpaper, just click on the image above and a larger image will open in a new window. Right click on that larger image and choose "Set As Background" from the menu list.

YogaDudes Gets a Face Lift

I just realized that this almost has a double meaning. Not only did I get my first facial chemical peel last week, improving the appearance of my skin and face, but the YogaDudes web site under went a complete overhaul. It was time a fresh new, cleaner, simpler look. Let me present, the new www.YogaDudes.com:

Mission Accomplished

I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time . . . the day that I can say my first experience teaching yoga is behind me. I guess I saw this as an initiation; sort of like using clip-in pedals for the first time. You know you’re gonna forget to un-clip and tumble during that maiden voyage and you just can’t wait to get it over with. Once you take that digger you know you’re officially an experienced ‘clip in’ biker and you can now ride with more confidence. That worked nicely on a bike anyway. I have no problem being comfortable and having lots of confidence on a bike. Hopefully some of this theory will spill over to my yoga mat.

I’m happy to report that my first class went well. I didn’t break anybody and so far I’ve heard some positive feedback. That’s a huge plus. I have to say it was more of a challenge than I expected. When I prepared for my final exam for my teaching certification I needed to prepare a one-hour class that would be appropriate for 35 – 45 year old yogis. When I did my research to see what that would entail, I decided to abandon the book and just do what I wanted to do. Luckily I didn’t lose any points for it. Actually, I scored a 96. But the bad part is that I didn’t pay much attention to what is appropriate for different ages or fitness levels. I didn’t think I would actually get a real teaching gig and I wanted to build a routine that I, myself, would enjoy doing. Well, now I regret not taking my studies more seriously.

I’ve always been in yoga for the sport of it. I enjoy challenging myself and pushing myself to the limits. I know very little about taking it easy and that is exactly what I need to do with this class. How can doing EASY yoga be so HARD for me? Oh boy, I have a lot of work and research to do. I’m out of my element. I make a better boot camp leader than gentle yoga instructor. Pray for my students . . .

This Saturday is Yoga Day USA

Did you know that Saturday, January 23 is Yoga Day USA. On this day thousands of people across the country will come together for a history-making celebration where yogis, novices, couch potatoes and triathletes, young, old and everyone in between join together to stretch mind, body and spirit through the practice of yoga. In the spirit of karma yoga, or service to others, all Yoga Day USA classes and workshops are free — or nearly free. The brainchild of the Yoga Alliance, this powerful annual event is held in yoga studios, parks, beaches and private homes throughout the US. To find an event near you click here.

Unfortunately there are no events near me. Actually, there is no anything near me – one of the drawbacks to living in the boonies. But that’s OK. I have declared Saturday as my official ‘at home yoga day.’ I am resolving myself to coming up with my very first yoga class. On Saturday I’ll have only 3 days and counting to my first ever class. I’ve been told that my class attendance sheet is already over 18 students. Gulp. Deep breathes. I’m going to do fine . . . because I am a yoga instructor. Must keep reminding myself of that fact. I am a yoga instructor . . .

Great Deal on Yoga Journal Magazine Subscription

For one day only (today, January 14th) you can get a one-year subscription to Yoga Journal magazine for just $5.29. This is good for both new subscriptions as well as renewals. Just click on the link below to be taken directly to the page where you can make your purchase. Don't let this great deal pass you by.

Get Yoga Journal for just $5.29

This is Good News

I wish I could say that I’ve been diligently working on building my beginner’s yoga class for my upcoming teacher stint. I’ve been trying so hard at not letting myself get all stressed out about my first ever teaching job that my total avoidance of the subject is really paying off. I haven’t been stressed at all. Too bad my first class is still rapidly approaching whether I’ve been stressing about it or not. Unfortunately ignoring the fact is not making it go away. I know I should be excited and looking forward to teaching. After all, it took a lot of effort to get my certification . . . but the truth is that I’m terrified to teach and I’m almost regretting accepting the position. I always look forward to challenges in my life, but I also always question my decisions. Life would be so much easier if I wasn’t so eager to face a challenge.

Anyway, to avoid the stress of building my first routine I’ve been happily playing with my new Wii. I just love it. The Wii Fit is simply a ball and I swear using that balance board is going to improve my yoga postures. It certainly does add a new twist to have each pose measured for balance and accuracy. I am very happy to announce that I almost always score “Yoga Trainer” on each posture. So that counts for preparing for my class, right? It helped to build some much needed confidence, that is for sure. I’m wondering if any new yoga instructors walk into their first class with confidence? Is it just me that worries that maybe I’m not ready to take the next step? Is it just me that worries my students will get hurt, or lost, or even worse – be bored? Please tell me that I’m not alone with these feelings of insecurity.

YogaDudes January Desktop Calendar

A pretty and peaceful deer to ring in the New Year. Click on the image above to bring up the larger file.

Starting Off the New Year Right

In addition to my usual resolutions of taking my vitamins and drinking more water, I decided that I will try to eat at least one item from this list (below) of the healthiest foods. Each one helps the body in different ways. Perhaps I will make a game out of it and see how many items from this list I can get in me each day. Why not set your own challenge? It's a game that you just can't lose.

• Apricots - Beta-carotene helps prevent free-radical damage and protect the eyes. may also help ward off some cancers, especially of the skin.
• Avocados - Oleic acid, an unsaturated fat that helps lower overall cholesterol and raise levels of HDL, plus a good dose of fiber.
• Raspberries - Ellagic acid, which helps stall cancer-cell growth. These berries
• Cantaloupe - Vitamin C (117mg in half a melon, almost twice the recommended daily dose) and beta-carotene - both powerful antioxidants that help protect cells from free-radical damage. Plus, half a melon has 853mg of potassium which helps lower blood pressure.
• Cranberry Juice - Helps fight bladder infections by preventing harmful bacteria from growing.
• Tomato - Lycopene, one of the strongest carotenoids, acts as an antioxidant. Research shows that tomatoes may cut the risk of bladder, stomach and colon cancers in half if eaten daily.
• Raisins - These little gems are a great source of iron, which helps the blood transport oxygen and which many women are short on.
• Figs - A good source of potassium and fiber, figs also contain vitamin B6, which is responsible for producing mood-boosting serotonin, lowering cholesterol and preventing water retention.
• Lemons/Limes - Limonene, furocoumarins and vitamin C, all of which help prevent cancer.
• Onions - Quercetin is one of the most powerful flavonoids (natural plant antioxidants). Studies show it helps protect against cancer.
• Artichokes - Contain silymarin, an antioxidant that helps prevent skin cancer, plus fiber to help control cholesterol.
• Ginger - Gingerols may help reduce queasiness; other compounds may help ward off migraines and arthritis pain by blocking inflammation-causing prostaglandins.
• Broccoli - Indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane, which help protect against breast cancer. Broccoli also has lots of vitamin C and beta-carotene.
• Spinach - Lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that help fend off macular degeneration, a major cause of blindness in older people. Plus, studies show this green fountain of youth may help reverse some signs of aging.
• Bok Choy (Chinese cabbage) - Brassinin, which some research suggests may help prevent breast tumors, plus indoles and isothiocyanates, which lower levels of estrogen, make this vegetable a double-barreled weapon against breast cancer. A cup will also give you 158mg of calcium (16 percent of your daily recommended requirement) to help beat osteoporosis.
• Squash (Butternut, Pumpkin, Acorn) - Winter squash has huge amounts of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which may help protect against endometrial cancer.
• Garlic - The sulfur compounds that give garlic its pungent flavor can also lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol, lower blood pressure and even reduce your risk of stomach and colon cancer.
• Wheat Germ - A tablespoon gives you about 7 percent of your daily magnesium, which helps prevent muscle cramps; it is also a good source of vitamin E.
• Lentils - Isoflavones, which may inhibit estrogen-promoted breast cancers, plus fiber for heart health and an impressive 9 grams of protein per half cup.
• Peanuts - Studies show that peanuts or other nuts (which contain mostly unsaturated "good" fat) can lower your heart-disease risk by over 20 percent.
• Pinto Beans - A half cup has more than 25 percent of your daily requirement of folate, which helps protect against heart disease and reduces the risk of birth defects.
• Yogurt - Bacteria in active-culture yogurt helps prevent yeast infections; calcium strengthens bones.
• Skim Milk - Riboflavin (a.k.a. vitamin B2) is important for good vision and along with vitamin A might help improve eczema and allergies. Plus, you get calcium and vitamin D, too.
• Shellfish (Clams, Mussels) - Vitamin B12 to support nerve and brain function, plus iron and hard-to-get minerals like magnesium and potassium.
• Salmon - Cold-water fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna are the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce the risk of cardiac disease.

This is Embarrassing

Should I admit this? Not sure it will help boost my credentials as a fitness expert, but here goes . . . I got the Wii for Christmas . . . (yes, I'm a little behind the times.) and after playing with it for a couple of hours over the weekend I'm completely sore . . . from the Wii!!! This is terrible. What a slap of reality. I boxed my heart out and won all matches with knock-outs, played several sets of tennis, and threw as many 94 mile-an-hour pitches as I could. Who knew it was actual 'real' exercise? I'm just completely disgusted by the fact that I'm sore. I also got the Wii Fit and balance board and I am positively terrified to try the yoga poses. Here I am all proud of myself for being a certified yoga instructor. I fear what the Wii will tell me when it comes to my balance and postures. All I know so far is that it's time to start up P90X again and whip my butt (and more importantly by back) into fighting shape.

YogaDudes Holiday Desktop Wallpaper

Our monthly desktop wallpaper features a holiday greeting rather than a calendar. If you would like to download the full size image to use as your desktop wallpaper, just click on the image above and a larger image will open in a new window. Right click on that larger image and choose "Set As Background" from the menu list.

Free Shipping on Orders Over $50

From now until Christmas YogaDudes is offering free shipping on any orders over $50. This offer is only good for orders being shipped within the United States. No special coupon code is needed. Your shopping cart will automatically adjust for the free shipping when your total reaches $50.

More News on the Holiday Card Promo

Good news folks. I figured out how to fix the sales price function on the YogaDudes shopping cart, and just in time for Black Friday. Instead of having to purchase 3 packs of cards to get one free, now all the cards have been marked down to just $5.50 per pack. Now is the time to stock up. Buy one design for this year and perhaps another design for next year.

Yoga Christmas Ornaments On Sale

Our most popular holiday gift is now priced to sell. We just got a fresh new supply for the season and have therefore reduced the price. These adorable porcelain ornaments are regularly priced at $14.99, but from now until December 1st, they are on sale for just $10.99. No yogi Christmas stocking would be complete without one! Grab one for yourself and another for a friend in the YogaDudes shop here.

Conflict Between Yoga and Religion

I just don’t get it. Not one piece of my brain can understand how some Christians are against yoga because of the conflict with their Christianity. Do they think yoga itself is a religion . . . that possibly goes against Christianity? Is that what the problem is? Do they think yogis are praying to a false god by doing sun salutations?

After working so hard to get my yoga teaching certification I landed my first teaching gig. Several people in my town have expressed interest in yoga classes led by our parks and recreation department. The rec commission asked me to teach and I, of course, was thrilled. But now we are looking for space to hold the class and so far both churches in town have blatantly turned us down due to the “conflict with Christianity.”

I understand that the practice of yoga originally came from India and was originated by Buddhists, but people . . . let’s MOVE ON. Perhaps the people that are so against this evil thing called yoga should open their minds and maybe learn a little bit more about what goes on behind the closed doors of a yoga studio before they judge. And how Christian is it anyway to judge people and cast them aside if they don’t conform perfectly to their ideals? I wish they would understand that practicing yoga makes people more patient and better balanced. Wouldn’t the whole world be a better place if more people practiced yoga regularly?

Yoga Holiday Cards Special Promo

We just added these holiday cards to the YogaDudes shop. Like the original holiday cards, these are actually postcards that have a simple “Happy Holidays” greeting on the back and come packaged in groups of 10 with envelopes. What a great way to extend your holiday wishes to your yoga students, teachers, and yogi friends.

And the best news is that we are running a special from now until Christmas. These cards have been marked down to just $5.50 per pack. Now is the time to stock up. Buy one design for this year and the other design for next year. Ho ho ho.

Shop for both card designs here.

Adorable Yoga Holiday Cards

Do you have any yogis on your holiday card mailing list? Are you an instructor that would like to wish your students Happy Holidays? What could be better than giving each of them one of these adorable cards by YogaDudes?

These cards are available in packs of 10 with envelopes. You can find them in the YogaDudes shop here.

Excellent Resource for Yoga MP3 Downloads

In preparation for my last trip I went searching for some free yoga mp3s that I could download to my phone or iPod. I find that even when I use yoga DVDs I often don’t need to look at the screen. It is sometimes awkward and difficult to do so. So finding audio only yoga routines seems like the a terrific idea.

I was delighted to find a very useful website called YogaDownload.com. Not only do they offer free 20 minute yoga routines for download, but they have boatloads of options if you are willing to pay a few bucks. Each class can be downloaded in a 20 minute, 30 minute, 60 minute, or sometimes even longer versions. And each class, despite its duration, also comes with a pose guide sheet in PDF format. This is just sheer brilliance.

And speaking of brilliance, I noticed one option was to build your own custom routine. All the different segments of a good yoga routine are broken into approximately 5 -10 minute sections. You can mix and match, pick and choose, and build your own custom routine. Each segment only costs $.50. That wasn’t a typo . . . 50 cents! And you also get the pose guides for each segment. Click here to view their customization page.

Not only will I use this site for my own personal practice, but it will become an excellent resource for building my first yoga classes. As a brand new instructor, I feel as though I struck gold! Up until finding this website, I was apprehensive and scared to teach my first class, but now I feel like I have years of yoga knowledge and guidance right at my fingertips. Thank you YogaDownload.

Free November Desktop Calendar

Since I recently wrote on the topic of gratitude, I decided to make the YogaDudes November desktop calendar a reminder to be grateful for all your blessings. Just click on the image above to bring up the full-size version. Then right-click on it and "Save as Desktop."

The Importance of Gratitude

Today is the start of November, the one month out of the long year that many of us actually stop our lives and think about what we have to be thankful for. Why is it that we only do this around Thanksgiving? Why is it so hard for us to be conscious of our blessings every day? I try so very hard to take the time out for gratitude, but yet it’s so easy to let it slip.

Last month I experienced an excellent lesson on gratitude. My husband and I were on vacation for a couple of weeks in Europe. That alone should be grounds for plenty of gratitude, especially during these times of a suffering economy. But still, we managed to slip into the greedy mindset that so easily can take over. You see, we were driving in Northern Italy (outside of Milan, which is a very overcrowded and stressful big city). It was a Saturday evening and we were about 50 miles from our hotel when the traffic on the highway came to a near stand still. With each passing minute the tension level in the car got greater and my husband’s patience for Italian traffic dwindled rapidly. Because his mood (and stress level) directly impacts my mood (and stress level) I knew I needed to calm him down. I tried to come up with rationalization for why the traffic was so heavy and made guesses that perhaps it wouldn’t be this bad all the way back. My husband didn’t seem to fall for that wishful thinking. That was when I told him that the traffic couldn’t possibly be this heavy, this far from Milan city center and that there was likely an accident not too far in front of us. That is when I told him that our situation could have been much worse. After all, we could have been the unfortunate souls in the accident, rather than the ones being slightly inconvenienced by it. The more we thought about the consequences of getting into an accident, the potential to be seriously hurt (or worse), never mind the complications with insurance and health care in a foreign country. We both sat in silence for a few moments and realized how stupid and selfish we were being with our impatience. My husband reached over and grabbed my hand and said, “You’re completely right. We are so fortunate.”

Now this may sound like a good fiction story, but within minutes the traffic started to flow smoothly again. We never did see an accident, but for some unknown reason the traffic jam subsided and we effortlessly breezed right back to our hotel outside of Milan. The rest of the drive was incredible. We held hands and remembered the times, many years ago, when we would have done anything to just be together for a few hours. How easy it is to completely take each other, and our time together, for granted. It was such an awesome reminder about how important it is to be grateful for your blessings every day—not just on Thanksgiving.

YogaDudes October Desktop Calendar

A recent trip up to the White Mountains of New Hampshire inspried this month's calendar. It sure was pretty up there and I thought it would be nice to share some of it with you. Just click on the image above to bring up the full-size version. Then right-click on it and "Save as Desktop."

What Not To Do

I'm ashamed of myself for this and I can't believe I didn't know better. You see, I've been struggling with severe pain in my neck, shoulder, and upper back. This terrible condition is caused by stress and pops up in my life every once in a while. In the past I've been to see different doctors and got nothing but frustrated by their lack of knowledge and ability to help me. It was me that finally figured out that stress was causing all the pain. Now that I know the cause I'm still searching for the solution.

For the past month I've been laying low and not exercising much. I'm almost in constant pain and sitting still doesn't seem to help. I stayed away from biking for weeks because I couldn't raise my neck to see the road (this is on a road bike, of course). The only exercise that I could manage was, strangely enough, kayaking. One would think this would be the hardest with a sore shoulder, but the constant movement seemed to be the only thing that helped. I felt great paddling. It was stopping that was the problem. Too bad I can't just kayak all day long.

I attempted yoga two weeks ago and it was dreadful. I could do some of the moves (like down dog) but others (like corbra and updog) sent lighten bolts of pain searing through my neck, shoulder and back. I got so frustrated and so depressed that it stressed me even more and, if anything, made me worse. All the heating pads and Ben Gay in the world didn't seem to be helping.

But today I decided that I couldn't take another day of not working out. No matter how much it hurt I was going to get some exercise in. I started the day with Tony Horton's 10 Minute Trainer. I did the Cardio one, followed by the Yoga one. It's funny how I HATED the P90X Yoga because I thought it was too long and hard, and yet I also didn't like the 10 Minute Trainer Yoga because I thought it was too short and easy. I guess I'm hard to please. Anyway, after 10 minutes of jumping around doing the Cardio I could already feel the pain subsiding in my shoulder. The natural heat of my muscles warming up immediately gave me relief. By the time I got to the yoga portion I already felt better. And this yoga session is so much easier and more gentle than my normal vinyasa routine. What a concept. I did yoga for the stretching and stress relief instead of for the pure sport and challenge of it. Today was the best I've felt in over a month. And all I can say to myself is 'DUH' . . . some yoga instructor I am. You are never too old to learn. The worst thing you can do for some injuries is NOT moving. I have to make a point to keep on keeping on, despite the pain. In the long run working through the pain (in this case) is just what I need.

Yoga Journal + Body & Soul Magazine Offer

My two favorite magazines are being offered together at a special subscription rate of $20/year. Too good not to share. Click here to go to the special offer.

Struggling to Stay Motivated

I've come to the realization that staying motivated to work out at this time of the year is really hard. The days are getting shorter and playing outdoors is becoming increasingly difficult, and sometimes dangerous. There is nothing on the calendar to motivate me . . . no race, no long distance bike ride, no final yoga exam. The only thing coming is the busy and stressful holidays and the mountains of Things To Do. I know that I'm going to get tired, lazy, and out of shape. It's inevitable. And then January will roll around and that means it's P90X time all over again. No matter how out of shape I manage to get, P90X does the trick of whipping me back into action. So why bother exercising now? Why not just wait until January? Uuugh, I need something to motivate me and get my mind off the searing pain in my neck, shoulder, and back.

September is Free Shipping Month

For the entire month of September YogaDudes is offering free shipping on orders of $25 and more. Just use the coupon code FREESHIPSEPT at checkout.

Go shopping now.

Love at First Sip

The ads for the new POMx teas promise 'love at first sip' and they are not kidding. How refreshing is it that an advertisement actually comes through with its promises. I've blogged about POM juices before and when I first discovered this pomegranate juice I knew that it was really good for you and that is why I adopted it as my P90X 'recovery drink.' But I also explained that I had to mix it with seltzer because, like most things that are good for you, it wasn't the most delicious thing right out of the bottle. But this new POMx tea . . . holy cow is it every yummy. Why can't tap water taste this good? I sure wouldn't struggle so hard to get my daily dose of water. As it is I have to force down the 3 - 4 glasses per day. But I swear I could drink gallons of this POMx tea. It comes in 7 different flavors and I look forward to sampling each one. You can check out their web site here: http://www.pomwonderful.com/pomX.html

September Desktop Wallpaper

We have another yoga-inspired desktop calendar this month. The September graphic is now ready for download. Just click on the image above to bring up the full-size version. Then right-click on it and "Save as Desktop."

Win a Free Online Yoga Class

HypnoYogaOnline.com offers interactive group yoga classes via multi-cam video conferencing. Thanks to web technology that allows multiple people to enter and participate in a live video studio, participants from around the world can watch as founder Page Turner (a certified Yoga instructor and Hypnotherapist) demonstrates poses, as well as receive personalized directives in real time. The hour-long classes are more affordable than most studios, and more sustainable too.

Interactive group classes are held every weekday at 6pm Pacific (GMT -8). All levels from beginner to master can join in, as her sessions range from relaxing meditations to kick butt workouts. Clients can reserve a spot in the virtual studio by logging on to www.HypnoYogaOnline.com, as well as receive privileges to the free video library, which includes tutorials, meditations and yoga workouts.

Page has generously offered a free class to one interested YogaDudes blog reader. Just leave a comment on this posting and one name will be randomly drawn for the free class. Be sure to include your email address so we can notify you if you won. The winner will be selected on Monday, August 24th.

What Yoga Pose Are You?

I just took this quiz and here is my result . . . (You can take the quiz yourself by clicking on the link at the bottom of this post.)

You Are the Tree Pose

You are a well grounded, down to earth person. Not much shakes you. You can remain steady through a crisis - and other people lean on you. You have high standards and morals. You easily rise above pettiness. While people sometimes accuse you of being stubborn, you are able to shift focus when you need to.

What Yoga Pose Are You?

Custom YogaDudes Decals

We recently received a request for custom YogaDudes decals. The studio was looking for an inexpensive gift to give to students that included their studio name. What a great idea. We found a source to print these custom decals and decided to offer this service to all yoga studios. The image above is an example of what a custom decal might look like. If you own a yoga studio, work at one, or would like to recommend this to your favorite studio, please email us about our custom decals for pricing and details.

Yoga is Helping My Biking

There seems to be so many different ways that a yoga practice can enrich other parts of your life. Practicing yoga extends so far off the mat and into so many different aspects of life. I often find myself trying to use yoga to improve my breathing, or my patience, or my general outlook on life. Today I used it to help my biking.

I might have overdone it a bit in the gym on Friday and as a result I woke up this morning with sore triceps, shoulders, and sore neck. These things do not make for a good bike ride (on a road bike), but I didn't want to miss out on our weekend 40-mile loop so I sucked it up. While pedalling along I decided to try to make some slight alterations by shifting my weight around. I was thinking about yoga and how I marvel at how sometimes what seems like the slightest adjustment of weight can completely change the way a pose feels. It seems like magic when the instructor comes over and barely moves you, yet everything just feels better. I tried to imagine a floating yoga instructor observing me as I rode and how this imaginary instructor might adjust my riding position. Since I was feeling pain in my neck, shoulders and triceps I tried shifting my weight back more into my saddle and legs, and less on my arms. I'll be darned. I worked! I felt instant relief. What a concept. Maybe I am ready to teach yoga after all.

Tree Pose August Desktop Calendar

Our August yoga-inspired desktop calendar is now ready for download. A day early I might add. So proud of myself! Just click on the image above to bring up the full-size version. Then right-click on it and "Save as Desktop."

Incredible Yoga Journal Subscription Deal

How would you like to scoop up a one year subscription to Yoga Journal magazine for just $4.29? That's an 80% savings off the retail price. This deal is valid for new subscriptions, as well as renewals, but don't delay. The offer is only good today (Wednesday, July 29th). I just bought mine. Your turn . . . Here's the link: Yoga Journal Deal of the Day.

Tip for Cycling Like a Pro

I accidentally came across this tip and it's a great one. All this watching of the Tour de France has really fired up my biking passion. But watching those amazing guys flying up the most extreme mountains faster than my usual flats is a bit depressing. Lo and behold, I found the solution . . .

A couple of weeks ago my bike computer (the little device that tracks my speed, distance, time, etc) died and needed its battery replaced. Somehow in changing the battery I accidentally reset the default unit of measure from miles to kilometers. There I was biking along the flats, looking down at my speedometer (which was reading in the low to mid 30s) and I was feeling pretty darn good about my cycling. I guess it didn't take me too long to figure out I was looking at k.p.h rather than m.p.h. Well I liked it so much I left it that way. Somehow seeing my max speed reaching close to 60 and my average always over 25 just plain makes me feel good :-) So if you're a biker, do yourself a favor and switch your cyclometer, even for just one ride, and feel the rush. Close your eyes and imagine yourself in the peleton, if just for a moment.

I should add one little disclaimer . . . I nearly crashed this past weekend due to the fact that I was fixating on my odometer, trying to do the math conversion from clicks (as my European husbands calls them) to miles. So please be careful and just enjoy the high numbers without trying to do the math while riding.

Pedal on . . .

Better Digestion

Last month I took a wonderful stress-free vacation, during which time I ate foods (red meats, real ice cream, etc.) and drank drinks (alcohol) not normally in my diet. Every night I went to bed thinking, "Uh oh, I’m going to pay for this" and yet I managed to get through a good solid week with no stomach aches. This is practically an impossible feat for me as I normally suffer with stomach aches a couple times per week, minimum. I have become so accustomed to stomach problems that it has just become a fact of life.

Years ago I went to see different gastro-intestinal specialists and was diagnosed with a clear case of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). I can't really speak for my bowels, but for sure I was become irritable. It's just no fun to live with constant stomach aches and a restricted diet, but over the years I've learned to live with it. I learned what I can and can not safely eat. But I still wondered how it was possible to be stomach ache free throughout my vacation. It was likely a mixture of several things: no stress, smaller portions, and a much slower eating pace. So maybe, just maybe with a little work I could change my evil ways and cure my stomach issues.

When I got home I found a product called Better Digestion. These pills are a natural daily supplements that promise to restore balance to the digestive system through a combination of probiotics, herbal extracts, and enzymes. I'm not exactly sure what all those things are, but I knew I could use more balance in my life so I gave them a shot.

During my years of research with treating IBS I found that the best results were gotten via herbal remedies. I've learned that things that ginger root and chamomile are sure stomach soothers so when I saw that Better Digestion included these things (and many others) I had high hopes. Another thing that caught my eye was 'Amylase' which, according to the literature, is a powerful enzyme that reduces the amount of stress on the digestive system to help break down food. Now I knew I could use that.

So far I've taken one pill a day and I must say, I've been doing great in the stomach ache department. Ok, there was that one night that I completely indulged on the richest, most decadent European layer cake, but that was my own fault. I am happy with the results and will continue my new good habit of being nicer to my digestive system.

I Did It! Yoga Teaching Certification Attained

Well, it didn't take long. I mailed all of my papers (final exam and essay) along with the DVD of me teaching my one hour class and within a week I got the good news. My certificate arrived in the mail on Saturday. I am now officially certified to teach yoga! No idea if I will ever really teach, but it feels so good to have the credentials and to have gained all that wonderful knowledge. My instructor told me that I don't realize my potential and that certainly gave me a little more confidence. Who knows, maybe I will get the guts to teach a real class some day. But for now I'm just going to bask in the glory that I finally made a dream come true. Namaste

If I Won a Stage of The Tour

Last night the commentators of the Tour de France were talking about all the different gestures that riders have given as they crossed the various finish lines of different stages of the Tour. Seems lots of riders had their own unique celebration gesture, similar to football players entering the end zone during a touch down. They showed some past clips of different riders winning stages and it was fun to see the different personalities coming through in their unique gestures. So on today's ride I asked my husband what he would do if he won a stage of the Tour. It didn't take him long to draw his imaginary sword in the air. And then I thought, "What would I do?" That also didn't take me long to decided. This is what I would do.

What a Relief

I finally did it! I videotaped myself teaching my one-hour yoga class for my final teacher training certification exam. There are no words to describe how excited and relieved I was to have it behind me. But now the stress of waiting and hoping that I passed begins.

My biggest fear is that the fact that I didn’t offer suggested alternate poses for students that may have either been pregnant or have high blood pressure. The truth is that I forgot that I was supposed to do this and after the complete elation of being DONE, there was no way I wanted to go back and do it all over again. But after giving it more thought I realized that even if I did want to go back and tape it all over again I’m not sure how I would offer these alternate poses. My session was very much a ‘power’ vinyasa routine. How could you offer non-inverted alternates to a routine that has you doing so many down dogs that your head feels as though it might explode? I’m really confused with this dilemma. Maybe this shows that I’m really not ready to teach. I guess I just feel that a person that was pregnant or had high blood pressure just wouldn’t be attending a power yoga class. This is really my fault for building a power routine for my final exam. I should have built a beginners’ yoga class that would have allowed me more flexibility. Darn. Too late now. I hope I don’t fail. I just wanted to challenge myself to building a kick-booty class that I, myself, would enjoy doing regularly.

If there are any instructors out there that can shed some light on how I could have designed my dream power class and still incorporated these alternate poses, please do share. I may need the insight to save myself from failing!

Yoga Journal Magazine Subscription for $5.29/Year

This is such a great deal and I take advantage of it and renew for just over $5 every year. But it's only good for one day - Friday, July 3rd. Click on the link below on 7/3/09 to go directly to the link where you can make the purchase. Good for both new subscriptions and renewals.

Best Deal Magazines Deal of the Day

This May Be The Answer To My Sinus Problems

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about my terrible sinus problems and how Down Dog and other inverted poses just makes them worse. I received a comment from a reader suggesting the use of a neti pot. I read about nasal irrigation in my yoga textbooks and have been intrigued by the idea. I've been meaning to buy one and that comment was just the kick in the pants I needed to actually get one. I jumped online and bought one. I was a little disappointed that it took nearly 2 weeks to arrive, but then again the shipping was free so I really shouldn't complain. And the timing of its arrival was perfect.

Today was another dreary, rainy, stormy low pressure day here in CT. It's getting to be the norm around here and I'm getting so used to feeling terrible that I almost forget what it feels like to not have a headache and an all over 'icky' feeling. I start off feeling pretty good in the morning, but as the day goes on I feel worse and worse. The 30 minute commute home from work always makes me feel even worse. By the time I get home all I want to do is sleep and today was one of those days. What a great time to test out this new neti pot.

I have to admit the thought of sticking this thing up my nose was a bit scary. I had no idea what to expect and I knew the first time was going to be the hardest. I survived it OK. During my first go of it I did have that moment of wanting to gag when the salty water touched my throat. But I quickly realized that I was holding my breath; exactly what the directions said not to do. So for the next side of my nose I made a better effort to breathe. Actually exhaling seem to do the trick.

The whole process only took about a minute and I have to say . . . I felt so . . . different. I am having a hard time trying to describe the experience. I really and truly felt 'cleaned out' and lighter. It was amazing and I can't wait to do it again tomorrow. What have I been waiting for all this time without one?

Free July Desktop Calendar

Click here to open the full size graphic. Once the full size image loads, right-click and Save as Desktop.