First Chair Yoga Class

It's not the same as teaching exactly, since I'm using a video.  But since I'm working with seniors and doing chair yoga, I feel safer using a video.  But I still felt responsible for what people thought of it.  They seemed to like it--we'll see who comes back.  But one lady wasn't happy--she was speaking to a friend in another language, so all I could decipher was "yoga...yoga"  before she walked out.  I first thought she didn't like the slow start, and/or the fact that there is more speaking (her English isn't good).  But it may be that she thought I was going to use a different video.  She had brought an exercise video to me at the start of the class--I thought she was just returning it.  But she came back at the end of the class and asked for the video.  So maybe she thought I was going to use the video she had borrowed, and was disappointed to find out that I was going "yoga".  But with my personality, I have trouble not taking things like that personally. I'll check with the activities director to see if she can figure out what happened.

But I like doing this--I would prefer not to use the video, but I think people like the video--and I haven't done chair yoga before.  We'll see how this progresses...

Taking stock...

It's been a year since I left my job, and I'm ruminating a lot about what I have and haven't done over the past year.  I find it harder to explain to people what I do each day; I think it's because I'm trying to explain it to myself.  Not working for pay weights heavily on me.  I have an offer to work for entry-level research pay.  The pay itself doesn't bother me, but working full time does--would make it harder to keep the flexibility I like to have.  But I suppose that means the pay bothers me--I might not mind giving up the flexibility if I were getting paid something closer to what I left behind.

Need to Un-Whine

I've had difficulty feeling comfortable skiing, which is pretty standard for me.  Boots are heavy, skis are heavy, clothes are heavy.  And I'm the only person who's still wearing a one-piece ski suit.  I noticed that a year or two ago--one pieces just disappeared.  Not sure why, but I finally told my family this was the last year for mine--hard to keep the sleeves from falling on the ground when you go to the bathroom; feels somewhat restricting when I try to stand up straight.  But my biggest whining had to do with seeing--ever since I stopped being able to wear contacts (dry eyes) I've had much more difficulty seeing while I'm skiing.  Last year I made the mistake of bringing my glasses that automatically turn dark in the sun (I forget what that's called).  The glare of the snow makes the glasses turn dark, even when it's not sunny.  So last year I was caught in a storm where I literally could not see--glasses turned nearly black, can't see with or without them, whiteout snow conditions.  I could tell which way was down, and that was it.

So this year I didn't make that mistake, but I still have trouble with fogging when it's snowing and I'm trying to ski.  Glasses fog under the goggles, so I can't wear the goggles, which protect my eyes and cut down on glare.  So I whined about that--kept reapplying Cat Crap, which is supposed to help but doesn't when it's snowing.  I decided to take a day off from skiing (yesterday) to un-whine.

Fortunately, it didn't snow today so I could wear the goggles over the glasses without either fogging up.  But next year I may try to get contacts to wear for skiing--without the bifocals, which don't work for me anyway.  And I'm definitely getting a new (two piece) ski outfit.   But I'll stick with Spyder; my one-piece is very warm and has some nice features.  For a one-piece

Eat, Pray, Lose...

I think I was destined not to read Eat, Pray, Love.  My first copy disappeared when my beach bag was swiped at Virginia Beach last August.  My son bought me a new copy for Christmas--a creative and thoughtful gesture.  So I started reading it (again), got a little farther (but must still admit it did not draw me in), and packed it to take on our ski trip.  We left quite early yesterday, and were cutting it close, so I stood in line at the check in counter while my husband and son said they would take care of the bags.  They didn't bring the bags to where I was standing--they waited by the counter--so I didn't realize that my carry on bag was missing until we were checking in. By then the taxi was long gone.  I was stunned--lots of emotions--as in "I can't count on them..."  But I held my tongue--doesn't do any good once something has gone wrong.  I've learned that I won't rely on anyone else to take care of my stuff.  So of course, Eat, Pray, Love is in the missing bag.  Along with a couple of yoga books I was planning to use to develop class routines (now I have another excuse not to do this...), our camera, headphones, hairbrush, small liquids...  And of course all of my medications.  I tell my son never to check medications--to keep them with him.  Usually is good advice.

Luckily I hung on to my computer--my instincts told me not to let it out of my sight.  Should have done the same for my carry on bag, obviously.  Yesterday I replaced what I could at the local drug store (they don't even have a CVS or Walgreens here, so selection was limited).  Tried to take a poised, yoga-ish outlook--something that can be hard for me.

Besides, it's possible we left it on the curb outside our house.  But most likely it stayed in the taxi.  I've called the taxi company's lost and found, so far to no avail.  But they haven't connected with the driver, so it's still possible that he has the bag.  If, by the time we return home, the bag hasn't turned up, I'll come up with a replacement plan for the more expensive items.  But I'm not getting another copy of Eat, Pray, Love.  Not unless I put it in something I want to get rid of...

Kate McGarrigle

I'm surprised I never heard of her--I saw an article about her in last Sunday's NYT Magazine (in memorium--she died in Jan. 2010).  I went on YouTube and listened to different versions of Heart Like a Wheel (Kate and Anna; Linda Ronstadt with Kate and Anna) and to Mendicino (with her children Martha and Rufus Wainwright).  Beautiful, thin voices sounding very much in the old Appalachian folk music tradition (Scotch/Irish)?  She's from Montreal, but reminds me of some of the voices from Nova Scotia.)  I couldn't stop listening--this is what I love about YouTube--one song leads to another.  I'd like to get the first album she did with her sister; I want to hear more songs from it first.

And then the family connections I explored by googling--her ex-husband Loudon Wainwright III, whom I've heard of but whose music I don't really know; Rufus and Martha and Lucy Wainwright Roche.  Loudon III's bio said his mother was a yoga teacher--given that he was born in '46, that must have been quite unique.  Made me think about my son being able to tell people that I'm a yoga instructor.  I think it sounds better than "former government executive".

I could listen (and sing) to music all day long.  But I've never been able to settle on a vocal style--my voice has too many problems with each style.  So I've probably messed it up more by trying to move from folk to pop to art songs to opera and back again. And I can't let go--I still want to figure out how to sing well consistently.  Something that has eluded me since late grade school.  A saga in itself.

I was shocked...

...to see the changes at Talbots--at least the store at Tysons Corner.  I'm not sure when the last time was that I was there, but it had changed so completely--it now reminds me of an Ann Taylor Loft store without the reasonable prices.  I really was stunned.  Armed with a gift card, I had expected to find a number of items on sale that I would like--as I had last year.  But I only saw a few items that I liked, and neither was on sale, so they were expensive.  I cashmere sweater cost about $250, and they said it wasn't on sale.  I checked on the Talbots web site when I got home, and found what I think is the same sweater on sale for about $187--a bit better.  So I'm going back tomorrow, this time to the Pentagon City store, and see if I can find that same sweater on sale.  I printed out the sale info from the Internet.

I don't know whom they're trying to appeal to at this point.  Sure seems like they've lost their way.

I ache...

I take health for granted, so being felled by back and leg aches is very difficult.  Also very difficult to stay positive when it hurts this much.  So instead of yoga helping me stay healthy, I've been plagued by physical problems.  I can't believe how much has happened this past year--seems like the worst started with tearing my right quad.  I'm not sure it ever healed properly; my right thigh, hip and lower back currently ache constantly.  What may have done it yesterday was the amount of time I spent doing balance (one legged poses).  I do vrksasana (tree pose) with variations,  virabhadrasana III (warrior III), and ardha chandrasana II (half moon).  Plus the usual--sun salutation, virabhadrasana I and II.  Ot maybe it was when I sat in the beginning pose of seated forward fold--maybe I pulled my leg.  Whatever it was, it's been a tough day.