yoga today

I recently happened across Yoga Today, and it's waaaay cool.  Members can stream a different free class every week and download the ones they like for only a few dollars.  I like to mix in something new with my standard routines every once in a while to keep myself from getting bored, and Yoga Today is great for that.  The classes are pretty long, too, usually about an hour, and often filmed outside in scenic places.  My favorite thus far is the Flow class with Adi Amar-- she holds the poses for long enough to really breathe into them, but not for long enough that I have a hard time focusing, and she has the most relaxing voice. If you've been thinking about trying yoga but don't want to commit to a class, or if (like me) your free time is sort of unpredictable, this is a great resource.

♥

downward-facing whaaaat?

Remember when I bought this DVD during finals week last semester?  I wanted to wait until I'd done both workouts a bunch of times before reviewing it, so here we go!

Bottom line:  this is a fantastic DVD.  The first workout, 'The Joy of Yoga,' is a lovely advanced-beginner level session: refreshing and relaxing, with good explanations of what the poses should look and feel like without getting too dragged out time-wise.  The instructor, Sarah Ivanhoe, is friendly and encouraging without being too cheerleader-ish (which is actually why I chose this DVD, I'd tried her 'Candlelight Yoga' DVD on Netflix streaming and really liked it).  It does get a little repetitive, there is a lot of downward facing dog, but that's almost become a resting pose for me at this point, so it's a nice breather.  Of the two routines, this is the one that makes me feel like I'm working more on flexibility and lengthening muscles, but it's not so intense that it wipes me out completely, and at about 45 minutes long, it doesn't take up a major portion of my day.

Now for the other workout on this DVD, the 'Fat-Burning Yoga' section.  I am not a naturally sweaty person.  When I was in fife and drum, we did long, hot parades wearing polyester uniforms and wool hats, and I'd maybe be a little dewy at the end.  But by halfway through this workout I am actually dripping and sweating from places I didn't even know I had pores.

...Aaaaand now you know me a little better.  Ew.  Anyway.

It's a pretty intense yoga session, with a cardio bent to it, but it's rejuvenating, not exhausting.  This is actually the one I do when I'm in a lousy mood and need to do something physical to get rid of it.  It builds on the poses from the 'Joy of Yoga' section of the DVD, so I'm glad that I did that first, but after the initial demonstration, the pace is much faster and the vinyasas are more complicated.  I really, really like this one. The music is energetic yet soothing, which is lovely, and there's a brief but effective series of relaxation poses at the end.  It's true that the DVDs in the Crunch Fitness series don't have much focus on the mystical elements of yoga (for lack of a better term), but honestly, the fact that I'm exercising without muttering profanities the whole time is pretty mystical to me.

Does anyone else do yoga DVDs?  I'd love to know what ones you use and how you like them!

♥

breathe

This morning I fell victim to one of the most prominent dangers of finals week:  online shopping.  One of the things keeping me from getting too stressed out is the Crunch: Candlelight Yoga program that's available to watch instantly on Netflix, and it's fantastically relaxing.  But I also want something a little more challenging.  I tried the Crunch: Super Slimdown yoga/pilates blend routine, but it just wasn't for me.  Too much encouraging shouting.  Instead, I just impulse-ordered a DVD that has two yoga routines, one that's more gentle and one that's sort of a 'power yoga' thing.  It's with the same instructor as the Candlelight Yoga one, Sara Ivanhoe, and I like her style a lot.   She explains enough that I feel fairly sure that I'm doing the poses right, but she also lets you get into your own rhythm with the breathing by having parts where there's no talking, which is helpful.  There's a distinct lack of phrases like, "Great job!" and "Looking good!"  I find it hard to take compliments seriously from someone who can't actually see me.  It's too reminiscent of being told "Good eye!" in gym class when I would run in terror from the ball being lobbed at me.  Good intention, but not actually helpful. Anyway, here's what I've been doing, and here's what I just ordered.  Yay!  I'm so excited to try it this weekend.

As for the other item that's tempting me on Amazon....



It's a yellow submarine tea infuser.  So, so cute.

As of now, I have one class (my online licensing class) completely finished, including the final, and I'm almost done with the sewing for two of my other classes, and I only have photoshopping and printing left to do for my two portfolio classes.  I hesitate to say this for fear of speaking too soon, but I think maaaaybe I'll make it to the end of the semester with a minimum of weeping/moaning/gnashing of teeth.  Here's hoping!

♥

Yesterday was so, so beautiful, and I had a day that was pretty much perfect.  For some reason, I'm unable to sleep past 8 a.m. lately (possibly because I've gotten into the habit of being asleep by 11:30 at night... I am such an old person.), so I've been starting my days early.  Yesterday was another cafè day, and my very favorite seat, at the big table next to the window, was open, and it was sunny and gorgeous and wonderful.  Yay!  After a few hours of working on schoolwork, I went up to the High Line... and realized I'd forgotten my camera.  Whoops. I promise, it was lovely.  Hopefully I'll be recreating a similar day this weekend during which I'll take pictures of the High Line water feature, yay!  And my favorite part of the whole day was when I was walking up 22nd Street (my favorite street, in case you're wondering) and an old lady pushing a grocery trolley told me that I had "the prettiest face and such a sweet expression."  Not just because of the compliment (although that was nice, of course-- I'm a girl, after all), but because I realized that I've missed making that sort of impression on people.  That's the sort of girl I want to get back to being.  It's a work in progress.

Despite the fact that I've been doing quite a bit of yoga the past few months, I'd been going matless because I wanted to see if it was something I liked enough to stick with it.  And yesterday... I bought my first ever yoga mat!  Yay!  It's really cute.

Naturally, I chose a pink floral one.  I used it for the first time last night, and I can't believe what a difference it makes!  I'm alternating days with a more intense yoga/pilates blend and a very calming yoga routine.  And I'm glad that today is a calming day, because the weather is cold and rainy and I've been fighting the urge to curl up under my comforter all day....until now, because that's where I'm writing this.  Here's my very favorite rainy day song, I hope you like it too.



The upside of the cold, gray raininess that's happening outside my window (besides that song, of course)?  I am not even a little bit tempted to go for a walk instead of doing schoolwork.  Back to the sewing machine for me.

I hope you're having a wonderful week!

♥