NO STRESS, IT'S A 'NOTES' DAY
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know that Fridays are a favorite day of mine -- not just because it is the end of the week, but because it's 'notes' day. The day when I can write in the blog in an almost point-by-point format, offering tidbits of information about my week, and including a tip that I pull from my memory bank or my workshop/training notes.
This week, I need a 'notes' day. Yesterday morning was perhaps one of the more stressful I've experienced in a while. The issues surrounding my parents' care were sitting right in front of me -- house to sell (slow market); car to sell (since they had 2 homes, which state is this car titled in? and - once I figure that out, how do I deal with a lost Michigan title when I live in Utah and my parents are in Washington?); what savings they had are dwindling as we wait for the house to sell; and - worse - neither is very happy in their living situation.
Then, a more minor but troubling detail - my cats are struggling with something intestinal. Rather than risk them running loose in the house, I decided to whisk them off to the vet and leave them with her to research, watch, and - basically - deal with their messes. After several months of this, I am about at my wit's end. Fortunately, the vet is conscientious and doing her homework; she called last night to offer an update and a plan of 'attack'. Fingers crossed.
So, in the span of a few hours, stress rained like some of the recent downpours we've experienced in SLC. I even found myself calling my housekeeper (I've finally hired one), to find out where she was. The prospect of having to clean my house, deal with the above, teach classes, and manage the other day-to-day activities, was more than I wanted to handle. She was running a bit late, but called to say she was coming.
All began to change. Dealt with the car title, resolved at least temporarily the cats, housekeeper on duty. Me? Loaded dogs into the car, and off to Pilates, dropping the needed replacement car title documents off at FedEx on my way.
Good class, good opportunity to let some of the stress go and even laugh a bit. I also noticed that my confidence and my strength continue to improve. For example -- standing on the reformer (a moving contraption: wooden frame, movable padded surface controlled by springs and straps), with one foot on the soft bed and another on the wood frame, then opening legs side to side OVER the springs. The first time I tried this, it was scary; this time, once I got into position - the movement went well and I was even able to stand up straight, extend arms, and look at myself in the mirror as I opened and closed the legs! Things they are a'changin!
From Pilates, a straight shot over to the studio for my semi-private with the less-than-flexible couple. I so enjoy them, and their movement into the practice. It is amazing to watch people who never dreamt of seeing themselves in a yoga class acclimate to this new and very different environment. Every "oh, this hurts", is followed by "it hurts, but it's just that I haven't been moving this way and, now that it's over, I feel great". And then, they try it again, and it feels better.
Then Yoga Hour - me teaching. Another uplifting hour of watching people 'get it'. For one, it was simply beginning to re-shape down dog; for another, it was lifting feet from floor in Bhekasana and beginning to experience the strength the pose gets when we place the inner edge of the feet together once off the floor. The smile and the nods were great. And, the others? I hope they were feeling some 'ah-ha' moments, as well.
So, stress relieved, I grabbed a salad and headed home. Two new books to read "The New Yoga for Healthy Aging" -- good ideas of restorative and modified poses for those students who deal with injuries/conditions, or aging, or are just plain stiff. The other? "Anatomy Trains" --- not such an easy read, but a valuable one that offers the theory that our fascial layers will affect the action of the muscles. It doesn't nix how we've been schooled in the way muscles work, but it does ask us to consider these overlying layers of connective tissue that run through the body; how they affect movement and the way we carry our bodies, especially if the layer is tight or pulled up somewhere. Interesting.
Almost forgot a 'tip', so I'll insert a reminder I received recently of John Friend's five principles for teachers and students (which we all are):
1. Be like the sky. Be open, have a beginner’s mind.
2. Be like the Earth. Embody your deep talents.
3. Be like water. Feel. Be fluid, be sensitive, be compassionate
4. Be like fire. Have a burning for the highest. Aspire to serve. Dare to be courageous no matter the darkness.
5. Be like air. Like the wind that can move around any problem. Be imaginative and innovative.
I am thinking that through yesterday morning's stressful moments, I employed #5, without even being aware of it. Oh, there were some very stressful moments; moments when I thought 'this must be what it feels like to really lose it'. Then I took a few breaths, and I began to think about alternatives - things I could do to handle the issues. And, once I did them (once I used my 'air' quality), the stress began to loosen its grip on me.
And, today?
This week, I need a 'notes' day. Yesterday morning was perhaps one of the more stressful I've experienced in a while. The issues surrounding my parents' care were sitting right in front of me -- house to sell (slow market); car to sell (since they had 2 homes, which state is this car titled in? and - once I figure that out, how do I deal with a lost Michigan title when I live in Utah and my parents are in Washington?); what savings they had are dwindling as we wait for the house to sell; and - worse - neither is very happy in their living situation.
Then, a more minor but troubling detail - my cats are struggling with something intestinal. Rather than risk them running loose in the house, I decided to whisk them off to the vet and leave them with her to research, watch, and - basically - deal with their messes. After several months of this, I am about at my wit's end. Fortunately, the vet is conscientious and doing her homework; she called last night to offer an update and a plan of 'attack'. Fingers crossed.
So, in the span of a few hours, stress rained like some of the recent downpours we've experienced in SLC. I even found myself calling my housekeeper (I've finally hired one), to find out where she was. The prospect of having to clean my house, deal with the above, teach classes, and manage the other day-to-day activities, was more than I wanted to handle. She was running a bit late, but called to say she was coming.
All began to change. Dealt with the car title, resolved at least temporarily the cats, housekeeper on duty. Me? Loaded dogs into the car, and off to Pilates, dropping the needed replacement car title documents off at FedEx on my way.
Good class, good opportunity to let some of the stress go and even laugh a bit. I also noticed that my confidence and my strength continue to improve. For example -- standing on the reformer (a moving contraption: wooden frame, movable padded surface controlled by springs and straps), with one foot on the soft bed and another on the wood frame, then opening legs side to side OVER the springs. The first time I tried this, it was scary; this time, once I got into position - the movement went well and I was even able to stand up straight, extend arms, and look at myself in the mirror as I opened and closed the legs! Things they are a'changin!
From Pilates, a straight shot over to the studio for my semi-private with the less-than-flexible couple. I so enjoy them, and their movement into the practice. It is amazing to watch people who never dreamt of seeing themselves in a yoga class acclimate to this new and very different environment. Every "oh, this hurts", is followed by "it hurts, but it's just that I haven't been moving this way and, now that it's over, I feel great". And then, they try it again, and it feels better.
Then Yoga Hour - me teaching. Another uplifting hour of watching people 'get it'. For one, it was simply beginning to re-shape down dog; for another, it was lifting feet from floor in Bhekasana and beginning to experience the strength the pose gets when we place the inner edge of the feet together once off the floor. The smile and the nods were great. And, the others? I hope they were feeling some 'ah-ha' moments, as well.
So, stress relieved, I grabbed a salad and headed home. Two new books to read "The New Yoga for Healthy Aging" -- good ideas of restorative and modified poses for those students who deal with injuries/conditions, or aging, or are just plain stiff. The other? "Anatomy Trains" --- not such an easy read, but a valuable one that offers the theory that our fascial layers will affect the action of the muscles. It doesn't nix how we've been schooled in the way muscles work, but it does ask us to consider these overlying layers of connective tissue that run through the body; how they affect movement and the way we carry our bodies, especially if the layer is tight or pulled up somewhere. Interesting.
Almost forgot a 'tip', so I'll insert a reminder I received recently of John Friend's five principles for teachers and students (which we all are):
1. Be like the sky. Be open, have a beginner’s mind.
2. Be like the Earth. Embody your deep talents.
3. Be like water. Feel. Be fluid, be sensitive, be compassionate
4. Be like fire. Have a burning for the highest. Aspire to serve. Dare to be courageous no matter the darkness.
5. Be like air. Like the wind that can move around any problem. Be imaginative and innovative.
And, today?
- 10 am, Gentle Yoga at The Yoga Center (me teaching)
- Free time (retail therapy?)
- Airport trip
Hope you have a nice Friday,