Systems Recovery
Whew! Thank god i went back to Kripalu! The long and short of it is, i found out the hard way what happens when a person goes from meditating several times a day to not at all... i think i freaked out a lot in the two weeks before going back to Kripalu. Suffice it to say that i meditate while i walk to and from the T now, as well as up to the Pru, and just before bed. And so far, though it's only been a few days, i do feel like my lessons are sticking.
The short version of the fully culminated second session at Kripalu is that i have a meeting with one of my teachers when i get back to talk about future possibilities involving me at Kripalu. He just so HAPPENS to be the Director of Professional Training, so that can't be a bad guy to have on my side. The most wonderful about how this came about is that they think i'm doing such a great job, that he was excited when i told him i wanted to me involved. Literally excited. I love having so many doors opening in front of me! We'll see what happens ... :)
The other thing i have to say is that daN is the sweetest boyfriend on this planet, and other guys should take lessons from him on how to be a good boyfriend. Not only did he come to pick me up, but he greeted me with a gift of three CD's i've been jonesing for for a while (and if you know daN and i, you know we don't buy cd's terribly often, so it's always a special thing anyhow) -- Tegan and Sara's "So Jealous," Billy Joel's "The Stranger," and Massive Attack's "Mezzanine." AND, he also brought a receipt that he saved from his previous night's grocery shopping excursion, which included soymilk, POM, and other vegetables and things preventing me from having to do any grocery shopping when i got home! daN is the best. That, and it was so nice to kiss him :)
Work has been really good this week. People are, as usually, letting me ease in at my own pace, and i've been jumping into cool places i want to go. Today, another department administrator and i went to an offsite afternoon conference for our online client management tool, and it was SO COOL! I learned so many amazing things about its wireless capability (and wireless capabilities in general) and there was wine, cheese, fruit, etc provided afterwards. And it was a BEAUTIFUL day, so we walked back together. Not bad. And this morning, i really took at my own pace, i left half an hour late, and i made it to work about 12 minutes after i usually do.
The other great news is that i'm really feel as though i'm hitting a stride with my teaching style now, as well as with assists, visually being able to tell things about alignment on students, and other things that help make me a good yoga teacher. YAY!
Last night, we had a small shindig here in Somerville! Lyrica was in town last night, so there was a small but special congregation of Lyrica and some regulars who are near and dear to my heart -- this extended family of mine that allows this area to be a home. I'm so grateful for all i have in my life. So many good things.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
The Moment
from email to Judy: "it's not that they're being harder on us that i haven't written as much, it's that i'm more comfortable here now that i don't feel the need to get out my computer as much. it's partially that and that before, there was so much to write, so many tenable things that i could describe, like the food, the new people, the surroundings, the pedagogy, and now, the new things that i am experiencing are so much harder to put into words. this morning we had the president of the kripalu center talking to us about yoga philosphy, and there was so much wonderful new information to take in, and such an incredible chanting at the end... i don't even know how to describe it. and yoga this morning was vigorous and wonderful, and breakfast was wonderful. i don't even know what to say. i'm so lucky to be here.
spring is such a gift. things are waking up and i can feel it."
it's funny how familiarity with surroundings makes me feel more at home here, makes me feel connected here, makes me feel less like i have to connect to home elsewhere because my home is in me, too. don't let me get too esoteric here, because i did just get out of a really fascinating experience with Dinabandu about the philosophy of yoga. one of the most interesting things, i thought, is that yoga is about experiencing life's learnings and changes on all levels -- physical, mental, psychological, and emotionally, otherwise, we won't fully integrate them. that's why romantic love is so invigorating. he talked about the science of yoga, and quantum physics, and how the chakras are actually located physically around glands in the endocrine system, and the chemistry of spiritual and emotional experiences... whew! so much to internalize. so i sit here and write. i think that's part of my integration process, though.
tomorrow is our day of silence (what's the sanskrit word for that, again?) and i'm really looking forward to the challenge and the gift. how often in the "real world" would i be able to get away with not saying anything. it would be considered totally rude. the big challenge will be not calling home to daN and not hearing him say "i love you" before we go to sleep, not saying "i love you" to him. but i know he loves me, and for a day, i'll let myself have the experience of just knowing. it makes me want to cry, and maybe i will, and there it is.
but it's a BEAUTIFUL day out, and i have a walking date with one of my yoga tribe members, so off i go to enjoy the next moments of sunshine, comradery, fresh air, and a different kind of health and expression: the earth on this second day of spring. yesterday i went to a wonderful vinyasa class during lunch, which was perfect for yesterday. fresh air is perfect for today.
from email to Judy: "it's not that they're being harder on us that i haven't written as much, it's that i'm more comfortable here now that i don't feel the need to get out my computer as much. it's partially that and that before, there was so much to write, so many tenable things that i could describe, like the food, the new people, the surroundings, the pedagogy, and now, the new things that i am experiencing are so much harder to put into words. this morning we had the president of the kripalu center talking to us about yoga philosphy, and there was so much wonderful new information to take in, and such an incredible chanting at the end... i don't even know how to describe it. and yoga this morning was vigorous and wonderful, and breakfast was wonderful. i don't even know what to say. i'm so lucky to be here.
spring is such a gift. things are waking up and i can feel it."
it's funny how familiarity with surroundings makes me feel more at home here, makes me feel connected here, makes me feel less like i have to connect to home elsewhere because my home is in me, too. don't let me get too esoteric here, because i did just get out of a really fascinating experience with Dinabandu about the philosophy of yoga. one of the most interesting things, i thought, is that yoga is about experiencing life's learnings and changes on all levels -- physical, mental, psychological, and emotionally, otherwise, we won't fully integrate them. that's why romantic love is so invigorating. he talked about the science of yoga, and quantum physics, and how the chakras are actually located physically around glands in the endocrine system, and the chemistry of spiritual and emotional experiences... whew! so much to internalize. so i sit here and write. i think that's part of my integration process, though.
tomorrow is our day of silence (what's the sanskrit word for that, again?) and i'm really looking forward to the challenge and the gift. how often in the "real world" would i be able to get away with not saying anything. it would be considered totally rude. the big challenge will be not calling home to daN and not hearing him say "i love you" before we go to sleep, not saying "i love you" to him. but i know he loves me, and for a day, i'll let myself have the experience of just knowing. it makes me want to cry, and maybe i will, and there it is.
but it's a BEAUTIFUL day out, and i have a walking date with one of my yoga tribe members, so off i go to enjoy the next moments of sunshine, comradery, fresh air, and a different kind of health and expression: the earth on this second day of spring. yesterday i went to a wonderful vinyasa class during lunch, which was perfect for yesterday. fresh air is perfect for today.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
At Kripalu. Again.
Just a quick note to mention that i'm back at Kripalu. Instead of rewriting what i just wrote in a big email, i'll post and add.
i'm so happy to be back here at kripalu. it's wonderful being back with this group of fellow trainees, and i've been lucky to end up in the same room i had last time with almost the same set of women (minus one) -- it made for a lot more comfort. daN was a big sweetie and brought me out here on st. patrick... i mean, EVACUATION DAY, so it was so nice first of all to get an extra day with him that no one else had, and second of all that i was able to arrive in a much more comfortable and shorter period of time.
this session is all about the asanas (postures) and it's been so much fun working in so much detail on asana. i feel like time is flying by already! is this the second full day i've been here? already?
wednesday will be a new experience -- we are all taking a vow of silence for the whole day, eating lightly, and will be doing sadana (practice ) all day. i am so thrilled to have this opportunity. how often can people go somewhere and actually BE ABLE to not talk the entire day and have it be OK without having to be rude. i will be wearing a tag that says "in loving silence" and we'll see how it goes. i'm looking forward to it.
otherwise, life here is wonderful as usual. the food continues to be incredible (i bought the cookbook!) and we all continue to try to practice brahmacharya (moderation) and tapas (discipline) while we attempt not to stuff ourselves silly with the amazing food.
i guess it's time to go, because i am getting sleepy, and waking up at 5:30 was a lot easier when i went to bed at 10 than it was when i went to bed at 11:15.
Just a quick note to mention that i'm back at Kripalu. Instead of rewriting what i just wrote in a big email, i'll post and add.
i'm so happy to be back here at kripalu. it's wonderful being back with this group of fellow trainees, and i've been lucky to end up in the same room i had last time with almost the same set of women (minus one) -- it made for a lot more comfort. daN was a big sweetie and brought me out here on st. patrick... i mean, EVACUATION DAY, so it was so nice first of all to get an extra day with him that no one else had, and second of all that i was able to arrive in a much more comfortable and shorter period of time.
this session is all about the asanas (postures) and it's been so much fun working in so much detail on asana. i feel like time is flying by already! is this the second full day i've been here? already?
wednesday will be a new experience -- we are all taking a vow of silence for the whole day, eating lightly, and will be doing sadana (practice ) all day. i am so thrilled to have this opportunity. how often can people go somewhere and actually BE ABLE to not talk the entire day and have it be OK without having to be rude. i will be wearing a tag that says "in loving silence" and we'll see how it goes. i'm looking forward to it.
otherwise, life here is wonderful as usual. the food continues to be incredible (i bought the cookbook!) and we all continue to try to practice brahmacharya (moderation) and tapas (discipline) while we attempt not to stuff ourselves silly with the amazing food.
i guess it's time to go, because i am getting sleepy, and waking up at 5:30 was a lot easier when i went to bed at 10 than it was when i went to bed at 11:15.
Friday, March 17, 2006
Off to Kripalu
Last time i went, the Bogs brought me to South Station so i could catch a bus that would bring me out to Lenox in roughly four hours, after accounting for the 45 minute wait at the Springfield terminal. Today is St. Patrick... i mean, Evacuation Day (a state holiday that the Irish rallied to have celebrated as the day the British evacuated.... and it just so happens to correspond with St. Patty's day, not that that had anything to do with it...) so Massachusetts state workers (my lovely daN among them) have today off in celebration of ... Evacuation Day.
At any rate, you don't see me complaining -- i'd take it off too, and in fact, i have, and daN is driving me out to Kripalu today in a relaxed way so we can be together longer. It's been a lovely morning -- we got up relatively early (7:30) and brought our car to the dealership for #2 of three free oil changes, walked around in the old neighborhood a bit (man, is Allston a dump) grabbed some snacks at the Whole Foods in Brookline, and swung by the bank. Now i'm sitting here at the dining room table with my laptop set up, importing more music onto my iTunes, and drinking a cappuccino i just made. This beats the bus.
I am SO EXCITED about Kripalu. I'm totally psyched about having their apple crisp, and the Sausalito Spice Tea, and the sauna, and the new friends i've met there, and the yoga. Oh, the yoga. I'm so excited about 4:15 yoga today! (yes, AFTERNOON.)
Life is good.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Can't Believe How Fast Time is Going.
Yes, it is time. This Friday, i get to go back to Kripalu! I can't believe it! And since i've been there before for a training already, i know what to expect, i know what's hard, i know what's not, and i can just be completely excited with no nervousness at all. YAY!
And i am really excited for the food.
This was a good weekend. As you might have seen on the Sabrefencer's blogspot, we celebrated her birthday on Saturday night at a place that was like the Union Fair on bracelet night capped off indoors with a "nightclub" and Somerville's Finest townies. I felt so at home that it was uncomfortable at times! But i played pool, rolled with it (despite the fact that i hurt my shoulder so i didn't get to festivitize as much as it would have been really fun too -- ala lazer tag or bumper cars) and drank the best and incidentally cheapest gin and tonic i've ever had!
Saturday during the day, daN and i drove to Kane's Doughnuts -- a mom and pop venture of a place that's been around for fifty years with the same crappy counter, glass tables, and handwritten signs. I love it! They have doughnuts heavy and dense New England style the size of your face. My personal favorite there is the original coconut glazed, and daN was in love with the chocolate butternut. Beware! Chocolate butternut doughnuts are made at the Dunkin's in Maine... but nowhere else. So he was THRILLED to find a delicious and incidentally HUGE chocolate butternut doughnut. (And i have to admit, it feels funny to fully write out the word "doughnut" rather than abbreviating it the way Dunkin's does.) Then we drove around for, oh, i'd say about an hour looking for a beach before we finally gave up and found 128 and went to the Fells before dark. It was such a lovely day to be outside!
Whew! More to go! Saturday night, Kal-El and Gilly spent the night at our pad, and it was so great to chill with them in a relaxed setting for a while. We went for breakfast at our favorite joint Johnny D's, famous for their jazz brunch in Davis Square on Saturday and Sunday mornings. As usual, it was incredible. I got one of their specials -- the cranberry pear compote crepes topped with lightly sweetened ricotta. Holy crap. I hadn't tasted something so good since the day before when we were at Kane's, and that's sayin' somethin'. Anyway, it was a good weekend. I got tired and eventually blew off a lot of my errands, but i did make it to Filene's to get a Cuisinart drip coffee maker with a built in grinder, water filtration system, a gold coffee filter, and a timer... something that usually goes for $150 i got for $65! Yay! Yes, that's one of the few drip machines that lives up to my ludicrous standards for coffee preparation.
And soon, Kripalu.
Other exciting acquisitions of the day: i got a really pretty blue shirt to wear while doing yoga at American Apparel today...
I also got 4 skeins of a beautiful magenta merino yarn for to make a sweater.
Recent obsession (and i do mean obsession): finding cheap cashmere.
Yes, it is time. This Friday, i get to go back to Kripalu! I can't believe it! And since i've been there before for a training already, i know what to expect, i know what's hard, i know what's not, and i can just be completely excited with no nervousness at all. YAY!
And i am really excited for the food.
This was a good weekend. As you might have seen on the Sabrefencer's blogspot, we celebrated her birthday on Saturday night at a place that was like the Union Fair on bracelet night capped off indoors with a "nightclub" and Somerville's Finest townies. I felt so at home that it was uncomfortable at times! But i played pool, rolled with it (despite the fact that i hurt my shoulder so i didn't get to festivitize as much as it would have been really fun too -- ala lazer tag or bumper cars) and drank the best and incidentally cheapest gin and tonic i've ever had!
Saturday during the day, daN and i drove to Kane's Doughnuts -- a mom and pop venture of a place that's been around for fifty years with the same crappy counter, glass tables, and handwritten signs. I love it! They have doughnuts heavy and dense New England style the size of your face. My personal favorite there is the original coconut glazed, and daN was in love with the chocolate butternut. Beware! Chocolate butternut doughnuts are made at the Dunkin's in Maine... but nowhere else. So he was THRILLED to find a delicious and incidentally HUGE chocolate butternut doughnut. (And i have to admit, it feels funny to fully write out the word "doughnut" rather than abbreviating it the way Dunkin's does.) Then we drove around for, oh, i'd say about an hour looking for a beach before we finally gave up and found 128 and went to the Fells before dark. It was such a lovely day to be outside!
Whew! More to go! Saturday night, Kal-El and Gilly spent the night at our pad, and it was so great to chill with them in a relaxed setting for a while. We went for breakfast at our favorite joint Johnny D's, famous for their jazz brunch in Davis Square on Saturday and Sunday mornings. As usual, it was incredible. I got one of their specials -- the cranberry pear compote crepes topped with lightly sweetened ricotta. Holy crap. I hadn't tasted something so good since the day before when we were at Kane's, and that's sayin' somethin'. Anyway, it was a good weekend. I got tired and eventually blew off a lot of my errands, but i did make it to Filene's to get a Cuisinart drip coffee maker with a built in grinder, water filtration system, a gold coffee filter, and a timer... something that usually goes for $150 i got for $65! Yay! Yes, that's one of the few drip machines that lives up to my ludicrous standards for coffee preparation.
And soon, Kripalu.
Other exciting acquisitions of the day: i got a really pretty blue shirt to wear while doing yoga at American Apparel today...
I also got 4 skeins of a beautiful magenta merino yarn for to make a sweater.
Recent obsession (and i do mean obsession): finding cheap cashmere.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Friday, March 10, 2006
Friday Night
Laura and Dave just came over for dinner, and it was a lot of fun. I felt like i was in a neighborhood, because they live close by and walked here (we drove them back) and Q stopped by while she was walking her doggies because she wanted to see my highlights. Wee! By the way, i got highlights! They're REALLY light. I hated them for the first couple days, but now i'm starting to get used to it, liking it, and am no longer shocked when i look in the mirror.
In other news, the preschool teachers at the Harvard Business School like me and want me to teach them yoga! For a few weeks until the end of semester, anyway :)
Life is good. I go back to Kripalu next Friday, St. Patrick's Day, to continue my training, and i'm really looking forward to it. The pace of life recently has been hard for me to keep up with, and general exhaustion has been the cause of several difficulties of mine of late, among them, irritability, low immune system, weird digestive issues, etc. Ah well. I'm actually starting to contemplate the benefits of having a food allergy test once and for all. I'm DEFINITELY contemplating colonics.
But that's it from here. I can hear daN getting ready for bed in the bathroom, and that just trigored a pretty strong "bed" reflex in me. Mmm. Sleep.
Laura and Dave just came over for dinner, and it was a lot of fun. I felt like i was in a neighborhood, because they live close by and walked here (we drove them back) and Q stopped by while she was walking her doggies because she wanted to see my highlights. Wee! By the way, i got highlights! They're REALLY light. I hated them for the first couple days, but now i'm starting to get used to it, liking it, and am no longer shocked when i look in the mirror.
In other news, the preschool teachers at the Harvard Business School like me and want me to teach them yoga! For a few weeks until the end of semester, anyway :)
Life is good. I go back to Kripalu next Friday, St. Patrick's Day, to continue my training, and i'm really looking forward to it. The pace of life recently has been hard for me to keep up with, and general exhaustion has been the cause of several difficulties of mine of late, among them, irritability, low immune system, weird digestive issues, etc. Ah well. I'm actually starting to contemplate the benefits of having a food allergy test once and for all. I'm DEFINITELY contemplating colonics.
But that's it from here. I can hear daN getting ready for bed in the bathroom, and that just trigored a pretty strong "bed" reflex in me. Mmm. Sleep.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
War on Terror
Donald Rumsfeld is giving the president his daily briefing.
He concludes by saying:
"Yesterday, three Brazilian soldiers were killed in an accident."
"OH NO!" the President exclaims. "That's terrible!"
His staff sit stunned at this display of emotion, nervously watching as the president sits, head in hands.
Finally, the President looks up and asks...
"How many is a brazillion??!"
Update to Practice Teach
Good news! I've been invited to come back a second time and do a larger group of people this time at the Children's Center this coming Monday evening! Keep your fingers crossed and the good vibes coming.
Incidentally, this coming Tuesday i'll be getting highlights in my hair and may or may not be getting a haircut. We'll see :)
Good news! I've been invited to come back a second time and do a larger group of people this time at the Children's Center this coming Monday evening! Keep your fingers crossed and the good vibes coming.
Incidentally, this coming Tuesday i'll be getting highlights in my hair and may or may not be getting a haircut. We'll see :)
Friday, March 03, 2006
Men's Classes
Disclaimer: The following is a joke that reinforces harmful gender stereotypes. I do not approve of this kind of a joke. That having been said, it's pretty damned funny.
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 4
Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The Floor
Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.
Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.
Class 5
After Dinner Dishes --- Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink?
Examples on Video.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning
at 7:00 PM
Class 6
Loss Of Identity --- Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other.
Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM
Class 7
Learning How To Find Things --- Starting With Looking In The Right Places And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming, "Someone Stole The G__ D___: _________________" [Fill in the blank].
Open Forum .
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.
Class 8
Health Watch --- Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health.
Graphics and Audio Tapes.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 9
Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost --- Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined.
Class 10
Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks?
Driving Simulations.
4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.
Class 11
Learning to Live --- Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife.
Online Classes and role-playing .
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined
Class 12
How to be the Ideal Shopping Companion
Relaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.
Class 13
How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy --- Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late.
Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 14
The Stove/Oven --- What It Is and How It Is Used.
Live Demonstration.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.
Upon completion of any of the above courses,
diplomas will be issued to the survivors.
Disclaimer: The following is a joke that reinforces harmful gender stereotypes. I do not approve of this kind of a joke. That having been said, it's pretty damned funny.
WINTER CLASSES FOR MEN AT THE LEARNING CENTER
FOR ADULTS
REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED BY Monday, March 27, 2006
NOTE: DUE TO THE COMPLEXITY AND DIFFICULTY LEVEL
OF THEIR CONTENTS, CLASS SIZES WILL BE LIMITED TO 8 PARTICIPANTS MAXIMUM.
Class 1
How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays --- Step by Step, with Slide Presentation.
Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.
Class 2
The Toilet Paper Roll --- Does It Change Itself?
Round Table Discussion.
Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.
Class 3
Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and Avoiding The Floor, Walls and Nearby Bathtub?
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 4
Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The Floor
Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.
Meets Saturdays at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.
Class 5
After Dinner Dishes --- Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink?
Examples on Video.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning
at 7:00 PM
Class 6
Loss Of Identity --- Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other.
Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM
Class 7
Learning How To Find Things --- Starting With Looking In The Right Places And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming, "Someone Stole The G__ D___: _________________" [Fill in the blank].
Open Forum .
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.
Class 8
Health Watch --- Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health.
Graphics and Audio Tapes.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 9
Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost --- Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM Location to be determined.
Class 10
Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks?
Driving Simulations.
4 weeks, Saturday's noon, 2 hours.
Class 11
Learning to Live --- Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife.
Online Classes and role-playing .
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM, location to be determined
Class 12
How to be the Ideal Shopping Companion
Relaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.
Class 13
How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy --- Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates and Calling When You're Going To Be Late.
Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.
Class 14
The Stove/Oven --- What It Is and How It Is Used.
Live Demonstration.
Tuesdays at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.
Upon completion of any of the above courses,
diplomas will be issued to the survivors.
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