Four years ago today...

...I married the love of my life! Happy Anniversary to the best husband ever! You rock my world!

Spelunking on our honeymoon in Belize!

"...chronicle your days, one photo at a time..."

That is Momentile.  One photo a day for a year. I just started today. Better late than never, right?

http://mtile.us/yogabuzzz

As we were about to jet out of church today, an "announcement" on the projection screen caught my eye.  Probably because it was BIG and red, but mostly because it was about a race.  I love running races, but haven't done one in a while (almost 6 months to be exact).  But I was intrigued.  I decided to do a little more research when I got home and found it's a race to raise money and awareness for the fight against women's cancers.  Definitely a good thing, in my opinion! Mosaic's She Community (what they call their women's ministry) has a team that's running (or walking) and I decided that I wanted to be a part of it.  

Sadly there's a chance we will all be affected by some type of women's cancer, if you haven't already been. Whether it be your mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin or friend.  This is something we should all be concerned about.  One out of every seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.  This year alone more than 182,400 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, more than 21,600 will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and more than 56,800 will be diagnosed with other women's cancers.  More than 68,900 will lose their lives to these deadly diseases.*  

If you'd like to help me in the fight against women's cancers, please consider visiting my fundraising site.  Your donation will help fund important research into the cause and cure of women's cancers, prevention, education and support service programs.  I greatly appreciate your support, and any donation amount, small or large, makes a difference and helps bring us one step closer to a cure! 

*statistics from www.revlonrunwalk.com

They are MIIIIINE!

The oh so coveted Cynthia Vincent for Target wedge sandals!  Mom found them at the Target close to her house & she picked me up a pair! THANKS MOM!!!! Unfortunately, I'll have to wait over two weeks before I actually get to try them on. (Since I'm going for a visit the middle of May I figured I could wait until then...). I'm pretty stoked considering I've already seen them selling on Craigslist and Ebay for double what they cost at Target! Just a little ridiculous, but oh aren't they just so cute?

Beach Livin'

Day 21

Today was my 21st Bikram yoga class in a row. Officially only 9 classes left until I am finish the 30-day challenge! I had to take an earlier class because of commitments this afternoon and I was not feeling it. I went, set-up, went through all 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises, then got the hell outta there. I felt weak today. I think because it's "yoga" people think it doesn't require strength. Please, go take a class and then get back to me. I had trouble in Standing-Head-to-Knee staying balanced on my one leg, and I could just feel myself giving up. Even in Eagle pose, I had trouble balancing. It frustrates me, but I also do acknowledge that I've been working hard these past 21 days. To me, doing this is more challenging than training for a marathon. But like I told myself when I was training for a marathon, "if this were easy, then everybody would do it!"

The two poses mentioned above:

Standing Head to Knee Pose - currently, I am working on bringing my elbows to my calf muscle, but still can't quite get them below just yet to move to the next step of the posture. (Both knees should be locked - if your standing knee isn't locked, the posture is over!)

Eagle pose - I'm there. Can wrap my toes all the way around my calf & see them. Hands in prayer position. Currently I'm working on sitting down lower (squeeeeeeze your inner thighs) and arching back to have a straighter back. It ain't easy.

What do you mean "advanced series?"

I ended up taking the 6pm class last night for day 19 (!!!) of my 30 day Bikram challenge. It was crowded and... HOT! Luckily, Nicolle opened the door a few times for a nice relief throughout the 90 minutes.  But something she said in the midst of her delivering the dialogue caught my attention. I don't even remember what pose we were in, or anything else, except that she said (paraphrased), "but that's Bikram's advanced series... 84 postures..." I'm sorry. What? There's an advanced series with more postures? What do you mean advanced series?? What the hell am I doing considered? How is this the first time I've heard of this? Well, I take that back. I saw a flyer thing on the bulletin board in the studio that said something about an Advanced Class. I just figured it was for, advanced Bikram students. Not that there was actually a Bikram class with MORE poses & a longer class! 

Then a few things came together. I had always wondered why I sometimes saw it referred to as, "Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class." That's even the title of his CD (the dialogue).  But I just figured it was because you do this yoga practice at your level. During class there could be first timers standing next to teachers. Obviously, there's a difference in how far each person goes into each person. Hell, it varies for me on a day to day basis. But that's totally ok. That's how it's supposed to be & that's what I love so much about it (among other reasons) - you do each posture the best YOU can. I'm not watching you because I am watching ME.  Although, I must admit, when there's an instructor taking the class, I do find myself sneaking glances at what they look like in Standing Bow Pulling Pose. Because normally, they're in the standing splits. It's beautiful, graceful, and fascinating.

Anyway, I love this blog and her explanation of the "advanced series." She's currently in Teacher Training to become a Bikram instructor.

I guess it just amazed me so much to learn of the advanced series because as much googling I've done on Bikram yoga, I've never seen it come up. Ever. I'm thoroughly intrigued but in no way want to try it out anytime soon. From what I've read, you have to have at least 6 months of regular Bikram practice and/or be invited to come. I would say that my Bikram practice is "regular," but I've only been doing it for 4 months. After the 30 day challenge ends, I hope to practice 5 days a week. I mean, that's "regular," right?

And I don't feel miffed at all about the hard work I've been doing daily being referred to as Bikram's "beginner" class.  Even those in Teacher Training, being taught by Bikram himself, to teach his yoga all over the world, only* do the "beginner class" twice a day, five days a week (once on Saturday) for nine weeks. I can't even imagine...

*tongue-in-cheek

back in business

I will eat my words (& even leave my previous post up). I don't really care. I felt more connected through Twitter (not that that's necessarily even a good thing). Since I can't reuse my old name, I had to create a new one. And those that know me, know that I am not very "right brained" - so my new name is: yogabuzzz (with 3 Zs). 

www.twitter.com/yogabuzzz

tweet!

lululemon!!

For my birthday, from my wonderful sister-in-law, I received the MOST awesome, totally unexpected present: a gift card to lululemon! Since my new Bikram yoga obsession, I've been dying to buy a few of their bras/shorts for yoga. And because there is no shame in the Bikram studio, you have to practically wear next to nothing (there's a chick that literally does the class in a bikini) as to not die of heatstroke (not really), I wanted a "cute" sports bra. But honestly, $42 seems a bit steep, so I've avoided going in there. UNTIL I GOT A GIFT CARD! I purchased my first official "yoga bra" and few other over-priced yoga items and didn't even feel guilty. I have a feeling this may be the beginning of a new yoga-wear obsession. That's all.

Update:  I wore my new sports bra for my 8am Bikram class today and was about one asana away from a wardrobe malfunction. I was kinda paranoid the whole class that the instructor may get more than he bargained for, but all was well. For future purchases, I'll go with the smaller size.

Birkam 30 Day Challenge - Day 12 of 30

I'm almost halfway there...almost. Today was day 12 of my 30 day challenge. It was the hardest class to date. You may wonder how one class can be harder than the next when it's the same postures, in the same order, for the same amount of time each and every class, but trust me, it can be. I think a lot of it depends on the time of day (the later the class, the warmer the room gets), what I ate the night before, how much sleep I got, etc. And lately the asana room seems to be getting hotter and hotter. Don't get me wrong, the heat is good - it helps you get into the postures, stretch deeper, and I swear you sweat out the demons (a great detox).

Most of the time this class is mind over matter. The instructor even brought that up today (as she was watching us drop like flies). Physically, I know I can do this class (as in making it through 90 minutes while giving it my best go at all the postures).  But today, mentally, I knew I was checking out WAY too early - by Standing Head to Knee Pose, I was over it.  By the way, that's only the 5th posture - 21 postures and about 1 hour left to go! I kept focusing on how hot I felt, other people sitting out of postures, and even leaving the room. PROOF that it felt way too hot in there and I wasn't the only one feeling it. I couldn't let it go and mentally, I checked out. BUT... I used my "bulldog determination and Bengal tiger strength" and made it through 90 minutes and managed to do every single posture.

Tomorrow is a new day and it'll be a totally different class. Sure it'll be the same 26 postures, in the same order, for 90 minutes in a really hot room, but it will be different - it could feel harder, it could feel easier, but it will be different.

And now I know why it's called "Bikram's Torture Chamber!"

On a fun side note, I came outside the studio & there were a few girls standing around. No biggie until one of the guys from my class came out and they asked for his autograph and took several pictures with him. I just had to ask... Russell Martin of the LA Dodgers.

it's mah birfday!!

Tweet tweet

Yes, I deleted my Twitter account. A few people have noticed and I'm sure some never will. I don't really have a great explanation except that honestly, who really cares what I had for lunch today? Or that I went to yoga today? Or whatever. Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't care what you had for lunch... so why would I think that you care what I had for lunch?

I only had a few friends/family members that used it & most not that frequently.  I found myself checking it incessantly and honestly, I just got bored with it. There wasn't a lot of conversation going on. My friends & family know where to find me... SO... I just don't see that it matters. I have Facebook and I write a blog. My voice is out there enough. So, if you ever really care to know what I'm up to, you know where to go!

Do yourself a favor...

and listen to this.

He is The White Buffalo and his voice is magic.

I first heard him on the soundtrack that came with the surf DVD "Singlefin: Yellow" (still my favorite surf DVD, by the way). One random day in Santa Barbara, Rob and I were in Channel Islands Surfboards and I saw a flier near the entrance. It said The White Buffalo would be playing at SoHo, a restaurant/bar in the area. I had to go, to see him live, to see what kind of man would have a voice like this. Well a GIGANTIC man would. Seriously, he's like 6'6" or something, has long hair and a beard that only someone living atop a mountain would appreciate.

We've since also seen him play at The Viper Room and will be seeing him again next Tuesday at The Mint in LA. Happy birthday to me! Thanks Rob, I love you and you're awesome.

"Come fly with me..."

I woke up the other day with this song in my head... no clue as to why. Well, maybe because so much of who we are revolves around... well... flying. Traveling. Seeing the world. Exploring new places. Deciding the week before that we're going to go to London for a few days... or the day before that we're going to soak up the sun in Mexico. And this song makes me think of a time so glamorous.

And as much as I love Michael Buble and his "recreation" of this song... how can you really compare to Frank Sinatra? You can't.

LOLZ

Dhanurasana (Bow Pose)

I KNOW this is the pose that is making my butt sore! My least favorite at the moment... (oh & HELL NO I'm not even close to looking like this!)

I found this great article via Twitter! It's great! I love it! Obviously, traveling is a passion for me and my husband (sorry if that's improper grammar). Believe me, we're just as guilty as the next guy, but I can honestly say, none of the crap we buy, compares to the experiences we've had traveling abroad. So yeah, WHY NOT save your money to have these experiences? Maybe it seems out of the realm of possibility? I don't know. Not for us, so maybe we don't have an excuse. Things are just things. They get replaced by the "latest and greatest." And I know I've said it before... there is no thing that I own that compares to the experiences of walking around trying street food in Tokyo, seeing the Eiffel Tower and how it lights up at night, surfing in Australia, drinking (lots of) Guinness in Dublin... you get the point...

This article made me rethink why we buy so much stuff. We don't need it, so why buy it... and what she says about packing... wow, without fail, I always over pack. And I always get irritated when I get there because I brought WAY too much stuff. Anyway... read it.

Raking in the Miles and Money By Traveling
by Suzy Guese