Day 1 of my second 30 day challenge and the first day of Grow Your Yoga and I am unable to take a class. EEP!
Not how I wanted to start this challenge but sometimes plans go awry and having hands that are swollen to twice their size (down from yesterday's 4xs their size) would make a host of poses very inaccessible. PLUS, the body rash/hives do not respond well to heat.
BUT it's only day 1 and for week one of Grow Your Yoga focusing on "Be Healthy" I feel I really need to respect my body and listen to it.
This month is going to be one to reconnect with my body fully and completely. Listening to it's needs and moving forward in my practice.
Maybe going to class and just laying in savasana would be okay...
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Cat Love pt. 2
This blog post may result in some tears (okay, let's be honest, I'm going to bawl) which is why it's later than I intended.
After my sister took Neva back I had this space that was void in my life and so I rushed out a few days after he had been gone-it was just under a week- to the HBSPCA to find my new furry little love.
Now, I'll be honest, I probably shouldn't have gone to replace Neva so quickly, circumstances abounded and I needed to fill the hole in my heart so started by looking at the SPCA website where I discovered a delightful little nugget sleeping in his photo named Shrimp.
Off to the SPCA I went Shrimp's picture in hand with my mum and now ex-boyfriend in tow.
Arriving at the shelter I was surprised at how busy the place was (which is good!!), we found one of the volunteers/workers and I asked about Shrimp, the lady looked him up in their database and informed me that he was currently in a foster home.
I'll be honest, I was disappointed, but there was this giant room with kittens running around and this one precocious little boy walking away from us with his jet black tail straight up-the rest of his body was white (with various black spots in random spots).
So I ventured into the room with the kittens unsure of how you go about "choosing" one...but my dilemma only lasted a split second, if that, when this adorable little monkey ran to me and put his front paws on my legs standing to get to me. I knelt down and picked him up-the nugget with the jet black tail, he snuggled in and the SPCA employee scanned his chip. Her reaction? "Oh! This is Shrimp! He must have just gotten back."
So I carried Shrimp over to my mum and my ex to see what he thought of them, approval from all parties meant I had met my new partner in crime.
We filled out the appropriate paperwork, borrowed a carrier and headed to Wal-Mart so I could pick up some essentials. One being a harness which when I clipped onto Shrimpy that day in August 2008 I told him meant he was loved.
Now I should mention that neither of my parents were thrilled with me getting a cat, nor was my brother who is allergic to cats, and I should mention that it as hard the first couple weeks with a new kitten that wasn't my Neva.
Sleeping on the bathroom floor the first night I had Shrimp and having him literally sleeping wrapped around my neck purring is an experience I will never forget. Thinking he was lost and finding him curled up on my sister's dresser sleeping. Him getting out of the house and sleeping under the porch by the hot tub (clearly he was a smartie from the start!) and my ex stamping on all the porches only to have Shrimp bolt out and around to the door we let him in and out of.
And starting my third year of university with such a happy, calm, and pretty freaking cool cat was just the beginning of my journey into "Crazy Cat Lady".
Stayed tuned for Part 3! More Shrimp stories and adventures.
Shrimp is a box cat.
Enjoying the view in Ktown.
Getting snuggles.
Little Kitty face!
He was so tiny!!
Kitty toes ftw!
If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much. -Mark Twain
After my sister took Neva back I had this space that was void in my life and so I rushed out a few days after he had been gone-it was just under a week- to the HBSPCA to find my new furry little love.
Now, I'll be honest, I probably shouldn't have gone to replace Neva so quickly, circumstances abounded and I needed to fill the hole in my heart so started by looking at the SPCA website where I discovered a delightful little nugget sleeping in his photo named Shrimp.
Off to the SPCA I went Shrimp's picture in hand with my mum and now ex-boyfriend in tow.
Arriving at the shelter I was surprised at how busy the place was (which is good!!), we found one of the volunteers/workers and I asked about Shrimp, the lady looked him up in their database and informed me that he was currently in a foster home.
I'll be honest, I was disappointed, but there was this giant room with kittens running around and this one precocious little boy walking away from us with his jet black tail straight up-the rest of his body was white (with various black spots in random spots).
So I ventured into the room with the kittens unsure of how you go about "choosing" one...but my dilemma only lasted a split second, if that, when this adorable little monkey ran to me and put his front paws on my legs standing to get to me. I knelt down and picked him up-the nugget with the jet black tail, he snuggled in and the SPCA employee scanned his chip. Her reaction? "Oh! This is Shrimp! He must have just gotten back."
So I carried Shrimp over to my mum and my ex to see what he thought of them, approval from all parties meant I had met my new partner in crime.
We filled out the appropriate paperwork, borrowed a carrier and headed to Wal-Mart so I could pick up some essentials. One being a harness which when I clipped onto Shrimpy that day in August 2008 I told him meant he was loved.
Now I should mention that neither of my parents were thrilled with me getting a cat, nor was my brother who is allergic to cats, and I should mention that it as hard the first couple weeks with a new kitten that wasn't my Neva.
Sleeping on the bathroom floor the first night I had Shrimp and having him literally sleeping wrapped around my neck purring is an experience I will never forget. Thinking he was lost and finding him curled up on my sister's dresser sleeping. Him getting out of the house and sleeping under the porch by the hot tub (clearly he was a smartie from the start!) and my ex stamping on all the porches only to have Shrimp bolt out and around to the door we let him in and out of.
And starting my third year of university with such a happy, calm, and pretty freaking cool cat was just the beginning of my journey into "Crazy Cat Lady".
Stayed tuned for Part 3! More Shrimp stories and adventures.
If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much. -Mark Twain
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Cat Love Pt. 1
Just over 5 year ago I was entering my 2nd year of University and looking after my sister's cat-Neva. I had volunteeried to take him as my sister looked for work and wasn't sure where she would end up.
I knew that I would be able to give him a good home and she would be able to not "let a cat hold her back." I did not however envision myself falling in love with the little bugger. Neva is a Himalayan/Siamese mix and my sister found him on the side of the road in Thunder Bay with his brother abandoned. Anyone who knows a little about cats should know that Siamese cats are not usually the friendliest.
Such was the case with Neva. He was very territorial and nippy, biting or attacking out of nowhere. I learned quickly though that what he was searching for in those attacks was affection, acknowledgement that he was there and really just cuddles and love.
He also loved going outside (on a lead) and so I'd study on my porch while he rolled around on the small patch of grass out front, explored the neighbours flowers, and greeted the visitors on the sidewalk. We then started going for walks and as much as he would sniff, I would inform him if we didn't walk we'd just go home and so there I was going for hour long walks at 11pm with my cat on snowy Kingston nights. And even after that first hour I'd have to drag his adorably fluffy tush home.
He became my best friend and he was not the same cat I had taken on, nor was I the same girl who took him on.
But after all is said and done, he had to go back home once my sister got settled and I was left with a hole that I needed to fill...with some more fluffy love.
Cats seem to go on the principle that it never does any harm to ask for what you want.
- Joseph Wood Krutch
I knew that I would be able to give him a good home and she would be able to not "let a cat hold her back." I did not however envision myself falling in love with the little bugger. Neva is a Himalayan/Siamese mix and my sister found him on the side of the road in Thunder Bay with his brother abandoned. Anyone who knows a little about cats should know that Siamese cats are not usually the friendliest.
Such was the case with Neva. He was very territorial and nippy, biting or attacking out of nowhere. I learned quickly though that what he was searching for in those attacks was affection, acknowledgement that he was there and really just cuddles and love.
He also loved going outside (on a lead) and so I'd study on my porch while he rolled around on the small patch of grass out front, explored the neighbours flowers, and greeted the visitors on the sidewalk. We then started going for walks and as much as he would sniff, I would inform him if we didn't walk we'd just go home and so there I was going for hour long walks at 11pm with my cat on snowy Kingston nights. And even after that first hour I'd have to drag his adorably fluffy tush home.
He became my best friend and he was not the same cat I had taken on, nor was I the same girl who took him on.
But after all is said and done, he had to go back home once my sister got settled and I was left with a hole that I needed to fill...with some more fluffy love.
Cats seem to go on the principle that it never does any harm to ask for what you want.
- Joseph Wood Krutch
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Gluten Free?
For just under two weeks I've been trying to follow a gluten free diet.
After the August long weekend full of giant pains in my intestines, doing a small amount of research, I thought it added up that I might have a gluten intolerance. And I am not a big "go to the doctor for every small mishap" person, plus, going gluten free isn't really going to harm my health-oh less carbs and more veg? Yeah terrible for my health.
Anyway, the first week was not as planned. I was dreadfully tired and could not figure out why. Again a small amount of research and a few discussions with more researched friends I discovered that I was in the withdrawal stage. I believe I'm passed that stage now. Except in a moment of weakness (and a bit of emotional eating) last night I ate bruschetta at work and today am paying for it. The good news is that the food that hurts me is starting to just look unappealing now. Whoohoo!
I should note that I'm not following a "strict" diet-I'm reading labels and avoiding gluten whenever possible but I had cake last weekend and ate around the cake for the icing...and did that again with an ice cream cake-ate the ice cream but left the best part(the fudge and cookie crumbs SIGH), I've also eaten things that have the warning "made in a factory that processes, nuts, wheat, etc" but like I said, I think it's an intolerance not anything super severe.
OH and I am in love with rice crackers-the 98 cent variety from No Frills is super fantastic!!! It's been a slow process but overall I'm excited for this. It's not as hard as I thought-my favourite coffee shop near my work makes gluten free waffles and treats that are tasty. Pinterest has been a huge help finding recipes. Overall, slow and steady will make my tummy happy! (and maybe help in those unnecessary pounds I've previously talked about!)
“After I was diagnosed with celiac disease, I said yes to food, with
great enthusiasm. . . . I vowed to taste everything I could eat, rather
than focusing on what I could not.”
― Shauna James Ahern
After the August long weekend full of giant pains in my intestines, doing a small amount of research, I thought it added up that I might have a gluten intolerance. And I am not a big "go to the doctor for every small mishap" person, plus, going gluten free isn't really going to harm my health-oh less carbs and more veg? Yeah terrible for my health.
Anyway, the first week was not as planned. I was dreadfully tired and could not figure out why. Again a small amount of research and a few discussions with more researched friends I discovered that I was in the withdrawal stage. I believe I'm passed that stage now. Except in a moment of weakness (and a bit of emotional eating) last night I ate bruschetta at work and today am paying for it. The good news is that the food that hurts me is starting to just look unappealing now. Whoohoo!
I should note that I'm not following a "strict" diet-I'm reading labels and avoiding gluten whenever possible but I had cake last weekend and ate around the cake for the icing...and did that again with an ice cream cake-ate the ice cream but left the best part(the fudge and cookie crumbs SIGH), I've also eaten things that have the warning "made in a factory that processes, nuts, wheat, etc" but like I said, I think it's an intolerance not anything super severe.
OH and I am in love with rice crackers-the 98 cent variety from No Frills is super fantastic!!! It's been a slow process but overall I'm excited for this. It's not as hard as I thought-my favourite coffee shop near my work makes gluten free waffles and treats that are tasty. Pinterest has been a huge help finding recipes. Overall, slow and steady will make my tummy happy! (and maybe help in those unnecessary pounds I've previously talked about!)
― Shauna James Ahern
Friday, August 17, 2012
Maf the Dog
I'm blog-failing. And going to do something that is so incorrect, but hey that's me!
I'm currently reading Andrew O'Hagan's novel The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog and of His Friend Marilyn Monroe that my bookish friend MoMo gave me because it reminded her of me and I am loving it. I've been reading it for longer than I'd care to admit due to life but whenever I can I'm reading a page or two and working my way through.
It's not secret that I'm a lover of Marilyn and intrigued by her life, her real life, and not that glamorized Hollywood version of biographies, articles, and the like. I wish I was able to have a conversation with her because she is fascinating.
It's also no secret that the love of my life is my darling Shrimpy, who-no isn't a dog, but who-yes has ventured through my muddled life with me for the last 4 years in quiet (and sometimes not so quiet) attention. He's known when I'm sick before I do and takes care of me the same way I take care of him.
So O'Hagan combining Marilyn, her "unreported" life and writing it from the view of her dog Maf is an automatic love! However, that's not to undermine the exquisite writing style, the use of gorgeous imagery and word play, and the insight not into Marilyn but into humanity. The book is a work of fiction so how much of it is true, anyone can guess, but suspending reality and indulging in creation the novel is a work of art that reaches into the human psyche and motivation.
Maf is a wonderful narrator and learning about his "culture" is fantastic. The novel has made me smile and cry on the same page. It's a magical read and I cannot wait to get to the end...well, in some ways.
"When it comes to the story of people's lives, isn't it strange that we seldom know them in their quiet, reading moments?"
-Maf the Dog, The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog, and of His Friend Marilyn Monroe
I'm currently reading Andrew O'Hagan's novel The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog and of His Friend Marilyn Monroe that my bookish friend MoMo gave me because it reminded her of me and I am loving it. I've been reading it for longer than I'd care to admit due to life but whenever I can I'm reading a page or two and working my way through.
It's not secret that I'm a lover of Marilyn and intrigued by her life, her real life, and not that glamorized Hollywood version of biographies, articles, and the like. I wish I was able to have a conversation with her because she is fascinating.
It's also no secret that the love of my life is my darling Shrimpy, who-no isn't a dog, but who-yes has ventured through my muddled life with me for the last 4 years in quiet (and sometimes not so quiet) attention. He's known when I'm sick before I do and takes care of me the same way I take care of him.
So O'Hagan combining Marilyn, her "unreported" life and writing it from the view of her dog Maf is an automatic love! However, that's not to undermine the exquisite writing style, the use of gorgeous imagery and word play, and the insight not into Marilyn but into humanity. The book is a work of fiction so how much of it is true, anyone can guess, but suspending reality and indulging in creation the novel is a work of art that reaches into the human psyche and motivation.
Maf is a wonderful narrator and learning about his "culture" is fantastic. The novel has made me smile and cry on the same page. It's a magical read and I cannot wait to get to the end...well, in some ways.
-Maf the Dog, The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog, and of His Friend Marilyn Monroe
Friday, July 27, 2012
Triangle of Health
I'm a big believer in being healthy-mind, body, and soul.
Sometimes though it's hard to have the stars align though and have your mental health, match up with your physical health, and spiritual health.
And oh boy, am I struggling with being physically healthy.
It's not that I can't make it happen, lose the weight I need, build the muscle properly, eat right, etc. I am capable. I can do it.
What is happening is the fear of past mistakes, past mishaps.
Mentally and spiritually I am a place I don't think I could have imagined, a year, two year, three years ago. And I am scared to give up that happiness I've struggled to attain, through all sorts of drama, through situations that should never have occurred, and through my own mind.
Going backwards is a huge fear I have, and I think a lot of people have, yet we dwell in the past, look to the future and leave the present passing us by.
So, slow and steady, maintaining control and letting go when I can't control, small changes and I'll move forward, regain the "body" I had, and in the end be better for it. Why? Because I won't be the militant miserable girl who I used to be when I did it before, but I'll be able to recognize my progress, celebrate the small victories, and teach myself how to maintain this for my life.
Man needs difficulties; they are necessary for health.
Sometimes though it's hard to have the stars align though and have your mental health, match up with your physical health, and spiritual health.
And oh boy, am I struggling with being physically healthy.
It's not that I can't make it happen, lose the weight I need, build the muscle properly, eat right, etc. I am capable. I can do it.
What is happening is the fear of past mistakes, past mishaps.
Mentally and spiritually I am a place I don't think I could have imagined, a year, two year, three years ago. And I am scared to give up that happiness I've struggled to attain, through all sorts of drama, through situations that should never have occurred, and through my own mind.
Going backwards is a huge fear I have, and I think a lot of people have, yet we dwell in the past, look to the future and leave the present passing us by.
So, slow and steady, maintaining control and letting go when I can't control, small changes and I'll move forward, regain the "body" I had, and in the end be better for it. Why? Because I won't be the militant miserable girl who I used to be when I did it before, but I'll be able to recognize my progress, celebrate the small victories, and teach myself how to maintain this for my life.
Man needs difficulties; they are necessary for health.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Oy Vey
My lack of updating is atrocious. I've had a lot of ideas running around but between new jobs, yoga studio responsibilities and my every-once-in-a-blue-moon free time I've just let this slide the last little bit.
That being said, things are going and I've never lived in the moment more than in the last month. It's a wonderful feeling.
So I just let go of what I know I don't know
And I know I'll only do this by
Living in the moment
-Jason Mraz
That being said, things are going and I've never lived in the moment more than in the last month. It's a wonderful feeling.
So I just let go of what I know I don't know
And I know I'll only do this by
Living in the moment
-Jason Mraz
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)