Busy days
I have had a few busy days teaching. Yesterday, I taught my at Still, my 9AM class, which I adore. Then later, I taught the 6PM Restorative class, which is so special and magical. Soon I will be taking over "The Practice" class. I will add to my schedule a Tuesday and Thursday class that will go from 12:30 to 2:15PM. I am very excited to teach a class where I get to practice with the students, explore and play.
So I've been quite busy. Plus the gloomy, end-of-sumer weather has made me a bit tired. Also, I just paid my quarterly taxes, plus there's a few yoga workshops that I want to do, and I have found myself feeling a little anxious about money. Around this time of changing seasons, the vata element can become unbalanced. When vata becomes unbalanced there's a tendency to worry and become anxious. Aryuveda recommends going to sleep early, waking up early, eating well and resting more. Inspired by this, I planned to do a seven-day detox (my first one).
But alas, it wasn't meant to be...
I was on my way to checkout at Whole Foods with all the ingredients for kitchari (a mung bean and rice dish), dhaal, and ginger tea with herbs. Then I smelled some bacon, turned around and ate a few samples. Oh well. I realized that I am not ready for a full detox. But the good news is that this week I did end up eating some kitchari and dhaal, and drinking several cups of ginger tea. I also been experimenting with curtailing my TV watching, greatly. And last night for the first time I slept on the hardwood floor- supposedly it's good for the back. I will try it again tonight.
Today was quite a lovely day. Taught some classes in the morning. Then went to see my Rolfer, Mary, and we had quite a moving session. We explored a new area: the face. Mary had me play with inhaling and softening the maxilla bone (upper jaw) and exhaling and releasing the mandible (lower jaw). This kind of awareness brought a release on my C1 vertebrae, which was tender. We also played with noticing the movement of the Sacral Iliac Joint. My left S.I. joint is quite stuck, often painfully. We did a lot of walking awareness exercises. I left her house more in my body.
Then I got home where my dear, life-long friend Ana picked me up. We had dinner in Venice and then went to a writing workshop on "Invoking the Muse." I have known Ana for most of my life. We are from Puerto Rico, we both lived in New York at the same time and now we live in Los Angeles. I call her "my artist friend" because to me everything she does, from the way she dresses to the way she cooks, is art. We were reminiscing about how back in our NY days I would have a few "salons" in my apartment, where a group of us could come together and write. I miss that!
Tomorrow is a full day. I have an early private client. Then I go to Black Dog to teach the Teacher Training morning session for three hours. Then I go home, rest. Later I return to Black Dog at 6Pm for a Yoga Mala. I and a few other teachers from BD will be holding a benefit class for "Yoga Gives Back." We will guide the students through 108 sun salutes. It should be fun and wonderful!
Off to sleep on the hardwood floor.
Lastly-
Dad, your birthday is almost here! I am grateful to you. I remember how every night you would call your father, without fail. Every night you picked up the phone and called your dad and said, "Viejito, que ha pasado?" You never failed. I witnessed how much love you had for your father. Now, each of these September days when I write my blog about you, it is my own way of saying that I am thinking of you Dad, and wishing you well.
Te quiero Papi. Bendición.
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