Friday, June 24, 2011

Smile...

Did I mention my dental surgery in my last post???? Oh, of course I did!!!! Anyway, I am feeling fine and doing well...but do have a swollen right cheek and am a little black and blue around the mouth and chin area. Eeek!



But, I managed to soldier on and taught my Take it Easy Yoga class today in Topsfield. In spite of not being 100%, I could pretty much do everything today...with the exception of that one last "pose". We finished our warm-ups, completed the standing sequence, did a couple of balance postures, and then enjoyed a nice long relaxation. We're seated and our hands are in the "namaste" position. And, now I turn to each one and say..."turn up the corners of your mouth..."

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Whoops....June is almost over...






...and I haven't posted anything here yet! Well, I have been busy attending yoga classes and teaching my regular class at the Little Brook Village complex to seniors. Classes are going well and although I am not practicing daily, I am practicing regularly.


But today's post is all about taking it easy. Yes, that's the theme of this blog but there are times when I find myself pushing the envelope. Not today! I had some dental surgery yesterday that left me a little bit weary and a lot swollen. So I decided to put "take it easy yoga" to the test.



My screened-in porch looks out to a beautiful garden. I began by taking a few deep breaths in and out while looking at the flowers in bloom, the small fish pond, and then noticing the squirrels and chipmunks at play. In a few short moments, I was completely relaxed. With hands at the heart, I began to synchronize my breath with movement. The hands push out on inhale, release and open wide on exhale. Close the hands on the next inhale and bring hands to heart on the exhale. From here, I moved into "namaste" circles...going very slowly...noticing my breathing. After a few minutes, I returned to my living room and sat in my little "recliner" for some relaxation/meditation.


Yes, it was just a few hand and arm movements, a little breathing, observing, awareness...but to me, that is what yoga is all about. It's something you can always do - if you have an hour or a few minutes - if you are feeling fit as a fiddle or a little under the weather. Remember, take it easy!