Days 6 - 14 Yoga Challenge

I have come to the mat every day. I promised myself I would and so I have. Most of the past week, however, I have done little more than a few sun salutations.

Maybe my feeling hormonal and physically drained inspired this lull. Perhaps it was lack of motivation due to being unemployed and bored. Regardless, this week has been less than shining in the yoga category.

Tonight, at 10:30PM, I decided this aimless moping was enough. No more watching reruns and movies. No more overeating nut date cookies (well... maybe just not quite so many).

I lit a candle, dimmed the lights, and went to the mat. As I was still respecting my cycle and it was late at night, my practice did not contain any strenuous or inverted poses. It was beautiful. Once again I was floored by the strength in Mountain pose. Despite my less than herculean efforts in the past week, I am more centered and flexible than I was before. There is a core of peace and power growing in side me. I am looking forward to seeing where it goes.

Chocolate Banana Maca Smoothie

I felt like a pick-me-up today, so I threw cacao, bananas, hemp seeds, coconut butter, a couple dates and maca into my vitamix. My delightful drink is topped with chopped pecans and goji berries.

Bronwyn's Zucchini Mushroom Soup

Right before we filmed our second Vibrant Maine video this evening, we had a lovely raw vegan potluck at Bronwyn's apartment. The star of the meal was undeniably this beautiful and delicious Zucchini Mushroom Soup that Bronwyn made. Isn't it gorgeous? It was even yummier than it looked. :-)

Day 5 Yoga Challenge

Today I spent an hour doing the Sparrowe/Walden Sequence for Premenstrual Syndrome, for hopefully obvious reasons. I was a little skeptical going into it, as the poses all seem too easy. I feared boredom and feeling like I was wasting my time, but I could not have been more wrong. This may have been the most transformational practice I have done yet.

“Heart of the Rainforest” played again and I felt the urge to light a couple candles sprinkled with lavender essential oil. Three sun salutations began my practice and then I launched into the sequence. Most of the poses included some form of supportive bolster while lying relaxed on the mat. Though there were only ten poses, you are meant to remain in each for several minutes.

There was something incredibly moving about respecting PMS in this way. My entire menstruating life I have been told over and over again how annoying women are during this time – how we overreact, sulk, lose our tempers and are quick to cry. This time of our cycle is treated with less respect even than menstruation itself, which I suspect only serves to perpetuate the imbalances that promote all “annoying” PMS symptoms. Christiane Northrup writes in her book, “Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom” that the time just preceding menstruation is a time of reflective introspection. It is a time to respect our “shadow side”, confront difficult questions, and treat our bodies, minds and souls with loving care. How would our cycles be different if we truly respected the different states we enter as our hormone levels change?

For me, the week before my period can have both negative and positive effects on me – but it is always intense. The darkest moments are coupled with the most transcendent and loving revelations. There is nothing neutral about this time. How could I channel this intensity if I consistently respected it in all areas of my life? What if I gave myself the space and time to be still? What if I allowed the darker thoughts and emotions to emerge? I have spent so much time trying to immediately dismiss the negative energies alive in me that I don’t give them the chance to be heard. Perhaps the turmoil associated with this part of the menstrual cycle is there to inspire us to listen to what the darkness has to say, so we can let go of old patterns and go with open eyes into whatever direction is healthiest for us.

Day 4 Yoga Challenge

I seem to have felt particularly independent and rambunctious today – I chose to rebel against the prescribed sequences and do my own thing. My practice today was only 30 minutes, but it was a good 30 minutes. Most of it consisted of variations upon the sun salutation, done slowly, loving every second, every feeling, every place of resistance.

I practiced to a nature-sounding album called “Heart of the Rainforest” by Primal Instinct. I have had this CD since I was a kid. My memories of listening to it are all very positive; I would put it on whenever I felt really motivated and inspired. It was playing during many late night organizational rampages, when I would decide to turn over a new leaf and start by moving all my furniture around. It also accompanied me during numerous journal entries and peaceful baths with candles. I have so many calming and uplifting memories associated with this particular combination of birds chirping, wooden flutes, drums and chanting that hearing it now automatically transports me to peace.

I felt a little resistance to starting my practice today. In the past, most of my extravagant goals have lasted three days. The fourth day is when I historically meet resistance. I am proud to say I went to the mat anyway, and was grateful as soon as I took my first breath in Mountain Pose.

Ginger Almond Vegetable Sushi

My lunch today:

untoasted Nori

carrots, beets, spinach

Ani Phyo's Ginger Almond Pate recipe

nama shoyu - sprinkled with sesame seeds

I have made Ani Phyo's ginger almond pate recipe several times now. It is simply heavenly. Almonds, ginger, garlic, lemon juice and salt.

Usually I would put some sprouts and avocado in the sushi as well, but I am out today. Even so... mmmmmm!

Day 3 Yoga Challenge

Silence again today. Just me and my mat. A beautiful seagull kept flying close to my window – its wings had lovely colored patterns underneath. It seemed to be saying hello… though perhaps it was simply intrigued by the street construction below.

Today I returned to the Woman’s Essential Sequence from Day 1, but this time I did twenty out of the twenty-six poses instead of just eleven. Like yesterday, I warmed up with three sun salutations. The whole practice session took about an hour.

Plough Pose was difficult again today, but this time it was more the physical stress than the imposing presence of femininity. Child’s Pose was once again a time of healing – my hips releasing more of whatever stagnant mess has been hanging out inside, while the folded nature of the pose caused me to stay with myself in the moment.

Let me take this moment to express my sublime love for Downward Facing Dog. I remember a time when it seemed difficult to me, hard on my wrists and my neck. Now I know there is simply nothing better than relaxing into Down Dog after Warrior, Triangle, or back-bend poses. Everything just hangs in floating bliss – and one of these days my ankles will be able to touch the floor.

Tip for Downward Facing Dog: imagine that you are pushing the floor away with your hands. This takes the weight off of your wrists and assists in promoting a healthy pose.