Look What I Can Do

So, I can stand on my head now.  Against a wall, but still.

Life has been so crazy lately, that I decided to just be crazy and set a goal for myself of being able to stand on my head.

I have a friend who's thiiiiiiiis close to being a certified yoga teacher, so I asked her to show me the proper form and steps to get into a headstand.  Turns out I was doing it wrong.  Or I was going to do it wrong, since I hadn't done it yet.

Anyway, I thought I'd share a website I found that has a really super helpful progression of poses to do leading up to being able to do a real headstand.  It's a series of photos and descriptions I found on a site called Fit Sugar.

I did what they said, and what my friend said, for about a week or so, and then the other day I just kicked my leg from the "head stand prep" stage, and lo and behold, there I was on my head upside down.  I only held it for a minute or so, but I've done it every day since.

There are all kinds of benefits to yoga head stands, but right now I'm just interested in standing on my head because...well...being upright hasn't been going so well for me.  So, we'll see how this goes.

On My Back

A lot of interesting things are happening along my journey these days.  I'm not saying I'm trying to lose weight or on a diet or whatever.  But a few weeks ago I stopped drinking diet soda, or stopped drinking so much of it, and it's created a ripple effect.

I drink a lot more water.  I eat a lot more "whole" foods and less processed crap.  Real food just tastes better to me now.  It's what I crave.

And I'm being more active.  Walking, doing some yoga, swimming (or I was before my pool turned into a giant vat of ice water).  I even started jogging a little along the way this week.

I haven't even weighed, because I know that derails me.  But I can tell clothes are looser, and I feel better about myself.

I've had troubles sleeping for years now.  Various reasons, I'm sure, but one is that I always used to sleep the soundest on my back.  And I got to where I couldn't sleep on my back anymore, because I would snore and wake myself up.  I've wondered whether my extra weight had something to do with this or not.

I'm not entirely sure that's it, but I do know this.  I woke up this morning flat on my back from a sound sleep. And not because I was snoring.  So, I'm calling that progress.

Giving Up Diet Soda

Maybe I should say "cutting back" rather than "giving up."  Because I know that if I tell myself I can't have something, I only want it more.  And this cut back kind of came about on it's own, not through a conscious decision.

We went on vacation, and I drank WAY too much soda on the trip.  Like all day every day.  And by the time we got home, I just felt sick of soda and like I needed some water.  And I read yet one more article about how diet soda messes with your weight because it messes with how your brain/body/stomach/appetite/whatever processes sweetness, and somehow THAT one clicked.

So I skipped soda for a day.  Then two.  Then three.  Then on the fourth day, I had one.  And it tasted awful.  I didn't even finish it.

Then I went a whole week before I had another one.  And it tasted awful and I didn't even finish it.

So I went another week.  Then I had one.  And it gave me a MAJOR headache.  So, now it's been five days again.

I can't say whether I've lost any weight or not, because the last time I stepped on a scale it was so horrifying that I just haven't done it again.  All I know is that I've cut way back on my diet soda intake and I'm drinking a lot more water, and in the long run, that's bound to be healthier for me.  And the water tastes better to me right now, so that's what I'm drinking more of.

Livwise: Easy Recipes for a Healthy Happy Life

I thought I'd share a review of a cookbook I got recently, Livwise: Easy Recipes for a Healthy, Happy Life by Olivia Newton-John.  My friends know it's no secret, I'm a big fan of Olivia Newton-John, and I Honestly Love You I probably wouldn't have purchased the book otherwise.  But it's still a good book for anyone embracing a healthier diet and lifestyle.
The introduction explains how Olivia eats healthfully and has sections explaining organic foods, various nutrients, the importance of water, even how to grow your own sprouts.  It has gorgeous, full-color photos (of Olivia and of the food) throughout and a good variety of healthy recipes.  There are chapters on breakfast; entrees; shakes, smoothies and juices; appetizers; and even dessert.  Many options are vegetarian or vegan, but there area a few with fish or chicken and a couple using beef.

I really enjoyed looking through the book, but that might be mostly because I'm a fan.  One of the reasons I love Olivia is that I admire her healthy habits, so I liked reading more about what she eats and why.

If I have any criticism, it's that many of the ingredients are difficult, if not impossible, for me to find.  Granted, I live in the middle of nowhere Missouri.  But I don't even know where to begin to find goji berries, maca powder, or dahl.  If you live in a more metropolitan area and/or have a Whole Foods nearby, you'll probably be fine.

Closet Cleaning

Where have I been from the blogging world?  And how come none of my clothes fit me anymore?

Life has been pretty chaotic lately.  And my yoga teacher moved.  And somehow I stopped eating food that actually resembled...well...food.

Cheetos and M&M's are a perfectly reasonable supper.  Aren't they?  I mean corn, and cheese, and antioxidants?  Or something.

Anyway, I decided to clean out my closet last week, and it was horribly depressing.  None of my clothes fit me.  I had this vision of taking anything out of my closet that doesn't currently fit, look nice, feel good, etc...  Sadly, this wouldn't have left me with much.  And it would mean getting rid of some clothes I really like.

So, I ate a salad last night.  I ate some fruit this morning.  I've been swimming in my pool.  Not laps per se, but I kind of walk around in circles, do leg lifts, crunches, some yoga poses in the water.

Speaking of water, I'm pulling a radical trick and drinking some.  Not crazy amounts, but like a couple glasses a day, as opposed to three or four diet sodas.

We'll see how it goes!  I haven't stepped on a scale or anything.  Just want to get into some of my clothes again.

My Yoga Teacher is Moving

And my first thought was, "How could she do this to me?!"

Like as if it's about me.

I kind of suspected this was coming, but I think I was in denial.  It hit me like a ton of bricks the night I found out.  To the point that I cried through half the class like a fool.

She's been teaching me yoga for four years.  And I adore her.  (Have I told you that before?)

I have learned so many things from her.  I can't even count the various poses, breathing exercises, and modifications she has taught me that I just do instinctively now, as if I've never not known how.

Tonight at class I heard so many people telling her how much they'll miss her, how much they have loved her class, how they are selfishly so very upset with her for daring to have her own life, and for letting that life take her away from our little yoga class.

It made me think, please let me live the kind of life that makes people that upset whenever I leave them.  That is a pretty good legacy to leave behind.

Project 52: Power Yoga

I've been seriously slacking in my Project 52 updates, but I have actually done several things on my list.  One item I wrote down was to attend at least one Power Yoga class this year.  I've been pretty diligent about attending Gentle Yoga and Yoga Flow, but I've been reluctant to try the more intense class.  Honestly, the only reason I went when I did is that my mom was here, and she wanted to go.

So, how was it?  Well, it was hard.  I wouldn't say the poses themselves were more difficult.  The movements were essentially the same, but in power yoga, it was all done more quickly.  It was more of a cardio workout than the other yoga classes I've gone to.  At one point I had the thought, "I can't decide whether this is horrible or wonderful."  That pretty much sums it up.
I mentioned to a co-worker this week that I went to yoga, and she was completely shocked.  She stopped me mid-sentence and asked, "So are you like super flexible?"

No.  I'm not.
Then she asked, "So, you can't like cross you legs behind your head?"

No.  I can't.
It's not really like that.  At least not where I go.
I adore my yoga teacher.  (I may or may not have mentioned that before.)  I think she does an incredible job of helping each person focus on yourself, your body, what feels right for you, etc...  She encourages everyone to follow our own breath, and she always shares modifications to make each pose more or less strenuous.  She talks about letting go of competition and judgement, both of others and of yourself.
It's amazing.  And for me, it's about stress relief, not about bending into crazy positions.  All I know is, I feel better after I go.  But I'm not planning on going to Power Yoga again anytime soon.  I"ll stick to the two easier classes.