Who doesn't like Frog??!?

My life is a little nuts...so nuts that I usually have a very hard time falling asleep cause I'm thinking of a million things at once.  I started this little ritual where I go into Frog Pose....

Now for those unfamillar with Frog - here are the specs taken straight from www.yinyoga.com

Benefits:

• Deep groin opener (especially the adductors)
• Provides a slight back bend, which compresses the lower back
• Aids digestion and relieves cramps (both menstrual cramps and those from eating.)

Contra-indications:

• If you have a bad back
• Knees can be uncomfortable, so use padding under the knees
• If the neck is stiff, rest the forehead, not the chin, on the floor or on a bolster
• If prone to tingling in the hands when you extend the arms overhead, you may need to move the hands wider apart or closer together. If that doesn't help, do one arm at a time.

Getting Into the Pose:

• Start in Child's Pose and slide both hands forward, separate the knees, but remain sitting on the heels. This is also known as the Tadpole.

Alternatives & Options: Half Frog: Lift the hips higher, until hips are in line with knees, keeping feet together. Full Frog: separate feet as wide as the knees. Extend one arm at a time, which is safer than extending both arms forward. The other arm can be bent with the head resting on the forearm. Allow the hips to come further forward if the pressure in groin or hips is too severe. Alternately, keep toes together and allow hips to go backwards. May rest the chest on bolster, to relax upper body. If the shoulders are uncomfortable, spread the hands wider apart. Coming Out of the Pose: Either sit back into Child's Pose or slide forward onto your belly, bringing your legs together. Counter poses: Child's Pose; Lying on the back, hug knees to chest, and rock side to side, or move knees in circles. Meridians & Organs Affected: Inner leg pressure works the Spleen, Liver and Kidney meridians When the arms are stretched forward, the upper body meridians are massaged, affecting the lines of Heart, Lungs, and Small and Large Intestines Joints Affected: Hips, lower back and shoulders. Recommended Hold Times: Three to five minutes  Now its not really the physical effects that are beneficial to me, it does something to calm me, regulate my breathing and allows me to be peaceful and relaxed so that I almost immediately fall asleep when I am finished.  I looked into maybe there was some research to back up my claims to feeling super calm after only 5 minutes but there was nothing. I can only attribute it to the fact then that it is a pretty intense hip opener.  So when things are intense, through yoga, we have been taught to breathe and focus on the sensation and then try to soften it or let it go.  I feel that the automatic practice of doing this takes me out of that past or future headspace and draws me into the present and allows me to live in the moment and find my peace so that I can finally chill out.  I have been doing this for the last 3 weeks now as my bed time ritual cause live has been pretty intense and I find that it has totally helped!

Live n Learn!

Here is a synopsis of a few extra trainings I've done so far, if you're interested in deepening your yoga teachings, read on!

Kids Yoga: Ok, I didn't really do a training for this...I just was thrown into teaching yoga to grades 1 - 8 for a whole week!  3-4 classes per grade!  This was done back in April while I was still a new teacher and MAN is this a great way to learn quick! What I learnt (and had to learn quickly!) was to be able to say EXACTLY what I mean and how to read a class and change my pace, tone, etc.  The first classes were...terrible...at least I thought they were terrible and that the kids hated it, but by the end of the week they were suuuuper sad that there was no more yoga, even the teenage boys!  It was a valuable lesson in learning to lay off the self-judgement and wait for the end result.

Nena's Hot Flow/Hot Hatha training:  Using our MYW manuals that we have as reference, I was able to further understand the flow as well as the ques when teaching a hot flow or a hot hatha class.  It really helped me understand the concepts and gave me the confidence to run a Hot Hatha class.  I LOVE teaching Hot Hatha and it seems like I do the class justice. :)  I am not super confident about Hot Flow yet so I feel like I need more training on that before I am ready.

Senior Yoga Training:  Through Yogafit, I became certified to teach senior yoga in early September.  It was a full day training and I found a lot of interesting concepts in this training in terms of modifications for those who are less able bodied to do a practice such as Moksha. I had the opportunity to teach this style of training while I was away on vacation to the elderly that were on my cruise ship (which was 98% of the cruise ship)...and they LOVED it!  It was really a nice feeling to be able to teach this style to this particular group of students...they seemed to really have enjoyed it.

Barre Training: I wasn't really sure what to expect when I went to Barre training...but after the first class - where I almost died - I figured this was a fantastic style to bring to Winnipeg!  People are going to love it!  Its a wonderful fusion of yoga, pilates and ballet and works everything from the crown of your head to the tips of your toes.  I think what the training was missing for me was the practical application so I am looking forward to doing some practice runs once that studio is finished this week.  Technically what I learnt from this training was some interesting ab exercises as well as an into the pilates way of alignment.

What I hope to do in the upcoming year is Moksha Flow training....a few times I've almost been left high and dry here at the studio without a teacher to teach a MF class so it would be really awesome if I had the confidence and know how to step in if needed.

What to eat?

Here are the trials and tribulations of having different eating habits and how I feel about them.  I am by no means knocking any of these styles...its just my thoughts on them.

VEGAN:  I was Vegan for a whole month in Brazil in Jan/Feb.  I found this to be very challenging because: 1. I like meat 2. I like dairy.  I found my body was not getting enough of what it needs so I was filling myself with glorious starches and carbs to make up for the lack of proteins.  Now I know beans and lentils are a good source of protein...but they were not agreeing with me.

CONCLUSION:  I gained like 15 pounds being a Vegan and most of it was because I was bloated. LOL! I think I could do a more veggie based diet, if I could even include some light proteins like fish and seafood.

PALEO: So this is a little on the opposite end of the spectrum.  Focusing on meat and cutting out processed foods, gluten and dairy (cause its processed).  I tried Paleo for a whole month and I found that the whole 'restricting' thing isn't really my bag.  While the recipes were really REALLY tasty, they took a long time to prepare and I just don't really have time with my given lifestyle...nor do I really take that much time for myself.

CONCLUSION:  I lost 5 pounds like right off the bat and was like THIS ROCKS!  But then I never lost any more...and I quickly lost interest and really had to push myself through the last 2 weeks.

EATING FOR YOUR DOSHA TYPE:  I read a super interesting book that was all about eating for your dosha type.  I'm a pitta and so I was to stay away from fiery foods (which is too bad cause I LOVE fiery foods!)  but more importantly I was to actually sit.....and eat....and do NOTHING but sit and eat.  And also to not eat past 6.

Now if you know me, you know this is hard.  I don't just do one thing at a time unless its sleeping.  I really enjoyed the fact that I am suppose to drink warm liquids, but it wasn't a big change for me since I am a tea fanatic.

CONCLUSION:  I 'tried' for 2 weeks but basically konked out after 1 week.  My life is not structured enough to structure in eating times.  The food was healthy and my issue has never been not eating healthy foods.

The social factor:  I'm a very social person, I like to go out and have tapas with a friend, or have the occasional drink or connect over cooking...so to put a barrier on this is a definite deterrent on changing eating habits I find.

JUST BEING MORE ACTIVE:  So basically this is my own little creation.  I make sure to eat something around breakfast, lunch and dinner and I threw in a little extra recreation 4 - 5 days a week.

CONCLUSION: Since it doesn't really matter what or when I do it as long as its 4-5 times within 7 days its really easy to adapt this into my lifestyle.  I'm already quite active so its just being a little more mindful of myself and making a little more time than I already did to throw in activities such as extra yoga, walking, biking or weights.  I find this to be the one I've been able to stick to the most, and I feel pretty good as a result without having to sacrifice anything.

My own personal outdoor challenge.

I suuuuper love being outside - but I don't do it that often when I'm busy! So I've challenged myself to spend at least 30 minutes outside every day from now (Father's Day) until July 17th and to journal about it.  I chose to start on Father's Day because something my dad LOVED and appreciated in life was the beauty of nature.

So here we go:

June 17th - My mom's flower beds/barrels were in need of some flowers so I went to glenlea nursery and bought a bunch.  I then weeded and planted all of her barrels/beds.  It was a little rainy today while I worked for a few hours outside but it was a nice gentle rain.

June 18th -Watered my plants...a little.  they are all taking very nicely!  A lot of them have really bloomed which I love! I wish I had more time to spend outside for myself today, but its wing night which means I have to work work work!

June 19th - Football!  So I got to play football outside today, it was a fun game!  I created a few fun new plays that my team got a kick of.  We won 38 - 0.

June 20th - FOOTBALL!  And Solstice!  Enjoyed the pre-season Bomber game...technically not out in nature when I'm sitting in a seat with a beer...but....kinda? LOL  It was raining like crazy until half way through the first quarter then it became beautiful.

June 21st - I did Sun salutations today to celebrate to solstice outside as yesterday was dreary and raining UNTIL the Bomber game! (I'm excited to do moon salutations in my Hatha class that will be during the only blue moon of the year - Aug 31st!)  I also planted a nice little plant basket outside at Wave.  It looks a little pathetic right now, but that's because the plants are just little babies still.

June 22nd -I put up hanging baskets outside my bar today.  I think it looks quite lovely even though the plants are a little lame looking right now....they'll be beautiful by August I'm thinking.

June 23rd - It was a beautiful day at the lake so I played fetch with Ella at the water for a while.  I also walked (well hobbled cause my foot is still lame) to my Aunty's cause I made Shish Kababs for the BBQ.  Today is also the day I started the rock wall. (coming up in future projects)

June 24th - FOOTBALL!  The weather was perfect for football but I was still super nervous about this game cause its a harder team that has some wins under their belt.  But we won 32 - 6 and just had fun and laughed the whole evening. My team is awesome, I love being their captain.

June 25th - Today is Manic Monday as most of my Monday's are. lol!  So once again its hard for me to find any time longer than 30 mins but I managed to spend time watering the flowers at the hotel and at home because it was a beautiful 27 degrees today.

June 26th -Wonderfully 30 degrees outside! I took a walk late at night with Ella and she was SOOO happy!

June 27th - Today I spent a good portion of my morning watering my plants outside, they need lots of water with all this heat!

June 28th -Just sat outside playing the ukulele today.  It was pleasant. <3

June 29th -Am in Vancouver now, so we walked around downtown after the Bomber game tonight.

June 30th -Its raining!!  Boo! But it didn't stop us from walking around the seawall and in downtown Vancouver for over 7 hours!

July 1st - Walked to the Burnaby yoga studio for some yoga today and its also gf's Wedding day!  And they actually had some sun for the outdoor ceremony which was a lovely way to spend the evening outdoors.

July 2nd - Spent most of the day traveling today, but had a nice BBQ when I got home from my travels.

July 3rd - Football!We won and I love my team <3  We also had our membership appreciation party which ROCKED...that has nothing to do with being green or outside though but I thought I'd give it props.

July 4th - Back into the swing of things which includes watering my plants that have been ignored! :|

July 5th -Taught my first hatha class tonight!  What an amazing experience!  And took doggy on a late night walk.

July 6th - Taught my second hatha class tonight!  And I went to see the movie Ted/took a walk with my buddy on our date/but not dating date night.

July 7th -Went to the lake this evening, it was my little cousin's 2nd birthday party so we enjoyed a nice BBQ outside. I then got annihilated by mosquitoes while I tried to mix mortar for the rock wall....soooooo itchy tonight!

July 8th - A beautiful summer day which I spent on the beach with Ella as I threw her sticks and picked a specific sized rock for the rock wall that I am working on.

July 9th -Took a walk this morning at the lake before teaching a yin class to my aunty at the cottage.  I then had to head back to my reality that is the madness of wing night.  My strawberry sangria kicks butt though!  I hope lots of people order it this month!

July 10th - Football!!!  We tied though! First 'loss' of the season.  I didn't have my best game...the sun was just blaring in my eyes in the first quarter!  It was blinding!  And I just was 'off' with my timing for my receivers...I guess everyone has one of those days.

July 11th - Its sooooo hot its like 31 degrees with humidity at night!  After teaching two classes tonight I thought it would be nice to take Ella for a walk.

July 12th - Only one more week left of documenting my daily routine!  Thats nuts!  Spent all day outside with Sho teaching yoga for golfers to golf teams at a tournament today.  Perfect weather for it too, not too sunny or hot...but I still got some color!

July 13th -Another day of watering my plants and walking to dog today.  I also BBQ'd anything I ate today as its too hot to cook inside!

July 14th -Headed to the lake after work today, got to spend some time outside at the lake which is my favorite place to be outside.

July 15th - Today it rained ALL day!  Noooo!  But I did work on the wall with all the windows open and the fresh air blowing in off the lake...so it was like being outside.  As well, I stayed up late with all the lights off watching the amazing electrical storm that night.

July 16th -Its a cloudy again today, got to spend a bit of time with Ella before wing night tonight.

July 17th - Football!  It was a wonderful game played by my wonderful team...and a great way to spend the evening! <3

July 18th - My last day of this challenge! I of course will keep on being outside when its this beautiful out!  Thank GOODNESS I didn't make this challenge in the winter months! haha!

Painting up the Studio!

Here are the results from painting up the studio!

One of my co-workers Erica was nice enough to help me as we got started last week.  We started by patching all the dent/holes in the wall and prepping the area with painters tape.

I like the transformation!  Others like it too so that's good!

 

Front Entrance:



 Me being a dork, putting the finishing touches on the last wall.  Now to finish the daycare!