Happy Songs - Free At Dawn, Small Black

This music is so uplifting. It makes my heart swell, full of hope, full of the feeling that I can do anything. Who doesn't  need a good dose of that?

What Genius Invented the Sports Bra?

For Mother's Day my kids, who are incredibly awesome kids, gifted me with some adorable yoga clothes. It was a thoughtful gift because I'm in the process of finishing my yoga teacher training and currently teach yoga two nights a week.  All that was missing from my ensemble was a sports bra. No problem. Shopping for a sports bra should be a piece of cake, right?

Ha!

Sports bra shopping is NOT for the feint of heart. There are only three options when it comes to sports bras.

1. Uni-boob - I don't care who you are, it doesn't look good. No one can pull off uni-boob.

2. Flat on a hot tin roof - I understand that a sports bra needs to be supportive but come on...having your chest squeezed into a reverse mammogram is not okay.

3. You must be a contortionist yogi of epic proportion to get out of this bra.

I accidentally went with option 3. I chose the bra I took home because it was my actual bra size and looked like it would be supportive without being compressive. Support is important. I don't want those things wandering around during down dog, who knows where they'd end up!? What I failed to notice was that while this bra looked like a regular bra it had no hook and eye closure...I had to pull it on and off over my head. Hmm. How hard could it be?

Again I say, HA!!

Getting it on wasn't so bad once I shoved the "ladies" into the cups but getting it off...sigh. There was a moment of horror where I'd gotten the thing over the boobs but it was stuck under my armpits. I struggled for a while before realizing with horror that I was stuck.  I was about to ask my twelve year-old for help until I got a glimpse of myself in the mirror. Oh how I wish I could erase that image from my brain!  After much twisting, bending and grunting I managed to get the darn thing off without scarring my daughter for life.

I'm happy to report that now I can take it on and off relatively unscathed. I just needed practice and perseverance. And hey, now I can reach my hands over head and down my back making mermaid pose more accessible. Silver lining, right?

Happy Songs - Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are

I love this song! Happy beat and happy lyrics. "Girl, you're amazing. Just the way you are." We need to hear that at least once a day from someone even if that someone is our self.

Yoga Adjustments

Adjustments during yoga can be absolutely amazing. A gentle touch from a knowledgeable instructor can lead you into a pose you thought you'd never be able to do. Adjustments during Savasana can help deepen your relaxation. Sometimes an adjustment can even trigger an emotional response and help you let go of something that really needed to be let go of. I witnessed all of these things during my latest teacher training weekend. The focus of this training module was Thai Yoga Massage and Anatomy because yoga instructors need to know how to do adjustments safely. All Yoga teachers should attend this training module or watch Paul Grilley's Anatomy for Yoga DVD. At the very least they should never hop on and crank away like the cartoon above. 

Yoga adjustments and yoga poses should never be painful. A little discomfort is okay, but not pain. Discomfort yes, pain no. Delicious stretch that's so intense you might be sore tomorrow good, pain BAD. Say it with me, PAIN BAD. 

PAIN BAD!!!

 JUST SAY NO, NINJA KICK THAT MEAN YOGA INSTRUCTOR AND LEAVE IF YOU HAVE TO!

Pain bad. 

I know there are yoga instructors out there who will push, pull and sit on someone to try and get them in to what they think Downward Facing Dog is supposed to look like. But what if the body they're sitting on isn't designed to do it that way? I have a friend who's been doing yoga for twenty plus years and she can't get her heels to the ground in down dog. My yoga teacher can't do a back-bend because his arms won't even go back to his ears. Their bodies don't do what they're being asked to do. 

A good instructor will provide adaptations to poses or give an alternate pose. Don't let anyone make you feel like you're doing something wrong and don't let anyone cause you physical pain. 

Namaste. 

Happy Song - Hotel Song by Regina Spektor

I have no idea what this song is about. Googling didn't help, no one seems to know what it means. There is much debate it. All that's really important to me is the upbeat, catchy tune. I'm choosing to ignore the fact that I overheard my daughter singing, "A little bag of cocaine..." in the shower. Hopefully she doesn't sing it at school.

Cincinnati Rollergirls

I recently went to the Roller Derby for the first time. The organizer of my group decided we should get in to the spirit of the evening. She said we all needed roller derby names. If I haven't had my proper dosage of coffee I have a hard time remembering my own name, let alone coming up with something clever. I asked friends, patients and co-workers for help with my roller derby name. I had several good options, FERnace, FERminator, Physical Terrorist, Body Bender...but I went with Allie Catraz. I just liked the sound of it. (One of my friends suggested Bitch on Wheels but we won't talk about that.) The most surprising thing about the responses to my saying I was going to roller derby was the frequently asked question, "Are you going to be in it?" 

Am I going to be in it? Apparently I seem the type of person who possesses a desire to violently knock people down. What the hell?? Maybe I should lay off the coffee. Or smile more. Or knock people down less...

Seen in The Rear-view Mirror

Clap along if you feel that happiness is the truth!

On the way home I glanced in the rear-view mirror and noticed the woman behind me singing. I mean really singing. It was quite a performance. She put everything into it and didn't give a damn who saw her. I felt an immediate bond with her because I do the same thing. I'm not stopping at the best part of a song just because someone might see me. Why should I be embarrassed that I like music? It's not like they can hear me. And so what if they can? I'm never going to see them again. I watched and tapped along with her until the light changed.

Watching her belting it out left me with a smile on my face and made me think of the many things I've observed in the rear view over the years. More often than not I see people doing something positive. Yes I've seen people arguing and people crying alone in their cars. I always send them the only thing I have to offer, happy thoughts. The most horrifying thing I've seen was a clown. In the car right behind me! (I may have screamed...clowns are scary.) I love when I see people singing and laughing together. Maybe it's a husband and wife, maybe it's two best friends or a parent and child. Doesn't matter, I love seeing people truly enjoying each other's company. It renews my faith in the human spirit. The majority of us are good people with good intentions. So the next time you're coming to a red light as your favorite part of a song is approaching, don't stop singing. You might make someone's day.