I love heat. Radiating sunshine, warm ocean waves, sweat trickling down my back...it's a wonderful thing...which is why the minus 15 wind chill this morning forced me to attend Hot Yoga. It was an amazing 75 minute class taught by Janet at Yoga One in Cedarburg. Hot yoga is taught in a room at about 95 degrees. The moves gradually build in intensity and the heat from within your body becomes greater than the heat around you. The instructors at Cedarburg are outstanding. You move with intention and fluidity as their verbal cues are exemplary. Janet did not have notes and yet every motion connected to a new one and each stretch expanded the length of one's muscle and mind. At one point, near the end of the class, a few of us laughed as we were clearly not doing the pose she was teaching. She laughed along with us and said, "It is good to laugh in yoga, for what you do on the mat, you will do off the mat." If one of my resolutions is to do more yoga, another one would be to laugh and smile more each day. Janet also commented that yoga provides calming input to the nervous system. If we can be calm on the mat, we can be calm off the mat. So many things around us contribute to heightened anxiety, worry, hasty activity...even my running, as healthy a choice as it might be, heightens the excitability of my nervous system. To engage in an activity like yoga that has proven benefit for easing stress and anxiety is health-generating. In addition, we are all going to have moments that we experience elevated stress be it a sick child, a fender bender, an unexpected financial expense...if we have trained and we have skills to calm our nervous system then, even when times become more stressful, we will be able to return more quickly to that calm state.
Last year I attended the Detoxifying Hot Yoga New Year's Day two-hour workshop. As I returned home from the intense two-hour program I recall hearing a song on the radio by a group, Avalon, Testify to Love. I claimed this song as my theme song for 2009 to encourage my thoughts and actions to be rooted in love. I was not always successful in my quest but Testify to Love did provide a framework and a focal point within the course of my days. This year I declined Hot Yoga New Year's Day in order to cheer for my beloved Auburn Tigers as they defeated Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. This game will certainly become a classic in college football archives. The Tigers celebrated premature victory three times before the game finally concluded in a sea of penalty flags and trick plays.
I was glad Cedarburg offered Hot Yoga today, perfect timing to clear my mind and create focus after a busy and fun-filled holiday. On the ride home, in my relaxed state, I considered what current song might help direct my actions, words, and work for 2010. I tend to be drawn to groups like Lifehouse, The Fray, Creed... rock bands whose lyrics are influenced by both the physical and spiritual world. I do believe when we look at one another from our heart we see beauty, miracles, and goodness all around us...even in such troubled times. I know I allow myself to be consumed by the physical things of this world rather than transformed by the spiritual things of this world. The right music can transform my attitude which in turn transforms my actions.
Two songs repeatedly come to mind...one is from a group Kutless and the other Uncle Kracker. One day I would love to make my own videos linking these songs to special pictures---but I need a tutorial. Until then, I will simply download the YouTube video for your pleasure. Please feel free and share a song that inspires you!
Kutless and What Faith Can Do: Challenges us to function without fear....to live boldly and to appreciate those around us. A spirit of faith and gratitude helps me to "not sweat the small stuff."
Uncle Kracker and Smile: Reminds me of my kids, my husband, my family, my friends from childhood, college and today, my coaches, trainers, clients, and colleagues...I am thankful for all of you in my life...you all make me smile...thank you!
Last year I attended the Detoxifying Hot Yoga New Year's Day two-hour workshop. As I returned home from the intense two-hour program I recall hearing a song on the radio by a group, Avalon, Testify to Love. I claimed this song as my theme song for 2009 to encourage my thoughts and actions to be rooted in love. I was not always successful in my quest but Testify to Love did provide a framework and a focal point within the course of my days. This year I declined Hot Yoga New Year's Day in order to cheer for my beloved Auburn Tigers as they defeated Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. This game will certainly become a classic in college football archives. The Tigers celebrated premature victory three times before the game finally concluded in a sea of penalty flags and trick plays.
I was glad Cedarburg offered Hot Yoga today, perfect timing to clear my mind and create focus after a busy and fun-filled holiday. On the ride home, in my relaxed state, I considered what current song might help direct my actions, words, and work for 2010. I tend to be drawn to groups like Lifehouse, The Fray, Creed... rock bands whose lyrics are influenced by both the physical and spiritual world. I do believe when we look at one another from our heart we see beauty, miracles, and goodness all around us...even in such troubled times. I know I allow myself to be consumed by the physical things of this world rather than transformed by the spiritual things of this world. The right music can transform my attitude which in turn transforms my actions.
Two songs repeatedly come to mind...one is from a group Kutless and the other Uncle Kracker. One day I would love to make my own videos linking these songs to special pictures---but I need a tutorial. Until then, I will simply download the YouTube video for your pleasure. Please feel free and share a song that inspires you!
Kutless and What Faith Can Do: Challenges us to function without fear....to live boldly and to appreciate those around us. A spirit of faith and gratitude helps me to "not sweat the small stuff."
Uncle Kracker and Smile: Reminds me of my kids, my husband, my family, my friends from childhood, college and today, my coaches, trainers, clients, and colleagues...I am thankful for all of you in my life...you all make me smile...thank you!
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