The Aftermath

Well, it has been a full week since Be the Change Challenge has ended. I thought I'd give everyone an update on what happened and how things are going.

Journey of the Yogini collectively raised $5900 for the Women's Innovation Centre in Nepal!

Pretty amazing, right? Right!

 

On my first day of dietary freedom, my first indulgence was a little bit of coffee. It was amazing. And insanely, my first initial thoughts while the warm dark brew washed over my teeth was the Public Swimming Pool scene from the coming of age film, The Sandlot. You know, when the nerdy boy pretends to drown so the Barbiesque life guard, Wendy Peffercorn, would give him mouth to mouth resuscitation and he could make his bold move by French kissing her. "This Magic Moment" by the Drifters was the soundtrack song and it came into my mind as soon as the first splash hit my lips. I even told a few of my more fun-loving caffeine junkie customers who were awaiting my reaction to coffee after a whole month.

 

 

I've been into the cookies, yes, and I ate a bunch of cookies this weekend. I've been very relaxed about dairy, which I don't feel great about...It was a downhill spiral after eating an Alfredo pasta sauce and there were St. Albert cheese curds brought into the house. My stomach has been in knots. The only alcohol I have had, and it was a big deal, was red wine at a family dinner. I should not have had the second glass because I woke up at 2 AM with a racing heart and I couldn't sleep a wink after. I got up at 4 that morning and tried to play ball with Gus with zero light and went in to work a half hour early. No hangover, just feeling like a hummingbird was in my ribs. However, I have kept up with my daily oatmeal or a smoothie for breakfast and my lunches at work are still the usual vegan friendly sushi splurge. I'm still in doing my make up routine too.

 

How about my home practice? It's slid this week.

 

I'd like to keep blogging my personal practice in order to go deeper within. I had some truly amazing experiences this summer during my YTT with the evolution of my home practice.

 

I had a wonderful day with Susan and Lynn in the Byward Market, and later we were joined by Debbie at The Table restaurant. I want to thank these fantastic ladies for today. Susan taught her first Karma Class today, and did such a good job I thought she had been teaching already on the sly. I had not seen Debbie since Graduation and it was so much fun to reconnect over dinner. She has the ultimate wild child 1960s stories. They went off to Pure for Megan's 2 hour Agni Vinyasa, a Hot Fire Power style class, to be joined by Louise and Stefanie. From taking Megan's women's classes, I knew this class was not going to suit my body's needs at this time. Knowing to honour my body's cycles in my practice is the best gift I have received from my YTT and the Challenge.

 

Honouring and Nourishing the Self may be the focus of my next Blog...

 

It's 8:20 PM, so the Yoga Girls are probably just entering Savasana right now. It's time for some Couchasana and Bookasana right now. Until next time! Namaste.

 

Being FABULOUS

One hour to go until donations are closed and the 30 Day Challenge is over. I have personally received $250 in donations and collectively we are around $5000, last I heard. The land for the Women's Innovation Centre in Nepal was purchased several weeks ago. How truly amazing. I always wear my UNAKO scarf with pride.

 

Yoga Teacher Graduation Day, Pink Floral Scarf hand made in Nepal by Tharu women

http://iwenunako.com/shop/


I am so thankful that I won a free spot in Be The Change. I saw it advertised last year and might have let it pass me by again this year if I had not been given the incentive. If anybody would like to join in next year, I highly recommend doing it. I'm going to put away my $50 next summer to do it all over again. In the Facebook group for BTCC and the Yogini Dialogues group we have free access to great forums where we are bonding and sharing throughout the Challenge. I hope there will be one more final email sent out by the JOY team and the Karma Krew at 6:00 AM for me to read while I play fetch with Gus out in the field.

BTCC has given me a great opportunity to express myself through writing, something I have always enjoyed doing. I'm having a very Carrie Bradshaw evening. And it's a Monday! The Cosmos will come later and Yogini's are generally shoeless throughout the day. I've dedicated this night to being FABULOUS. I ate well, had some Sex in the City,  Ayurvedic massage (I'm still working on that jar of delicious oil I was given) and my ritual bath with a book.

I hope this Blog has entertained you and I hope to continue writing for an audience in the near future. Thank you to everyone who has supported me in raising funds, and supported me in my personal transformation over the past month and this summer with my Yoga Teacher Training. I pledge to actively pursue my own happiness and wellbeing throughout my life in order to be there for others. This is the greatest lesson I have learned thus far.

 

Power of the Domestic Kitchen Goddess

Sunday night's finally here. It's time to unwind. I've got a tired, panting, drool-dripping dog under my feet.

I had good intentions to go to Pure today for one of Tiffani's classes, but had a complete Domestic Kitchen Goddess day instead. Chris and I did our groceries early this morning, but when I looked in the cupboard for my PieBird Vegan Pie Crust ingredients, I was short on coconut oil. I have been using a ton of it lately. Its even good instead of butter on bread. So he kindly dropped me off at Bulk Barn on his way to another softball tournament. Lo and behold! Coconut oil was $13.00 instead of $16.00!!!

What is PieBird you ask? I believe it would be likened to my version of Mecca. It's a B&B Vegan Farm out near my Brother and Mother's little houses on the prairie. I have yet to go. I've been experimenting with this pie crust recipe every time a holiday is close by.  Enjoy this baking with goats video:

 

I don't know what I am doing wrong, but my pie crust is always too crumbly and I leave out the extra half cup of flour and use extra ice water. It tastes amazing, but does not have the same easy quality of using Tenderflake (Pork Fat) and eggs. The goat tongues slurping the flour might be what's missing. This vegan crust is rustic, and my vegan crust at home is the Art Brut version. (If you are avoiding anything, like dishes, packing your lunch or ironing, and choose to Google Art Brut, it's not a rock band).

 

Two pies came out of my productivity. One to sample, and one to freeze for Thanksgiving weekend. The 10 lbs. of McIntosh apples Josie and Adrian gave us last Sunday are half gone. And one quarter was eaten solely by myself over the course of the week. 

 

But before the pies, I started with a soup I've been putting off making for sometime. That's where all the No-Yoga-Class-Today thing started. I've literally been chopping, peeling, boiling, baking and freezer-bagging my way through the day. Leek and Asparagus Soup from Metro's daily recipe. I just polished off a bowl while typing.

 

 

 

 

Super easy, and quick!

 

My next project was to peel, de-seed and cube the three Butternut Squash that have been standing guard over my kitchen for at least two weeks. Chris likes squash, so its exciting when he likes a "gross vegetable", but only if it's in a pureed soup...There's four bags in the freezer now for the Apocalypse.

 

 

I tidied up for my Instagram food-porn photoshoot, but this was a huge mess and the biggest job of the whole day. Gus was eating squash peelings as I hacked away with both peeler and giant knife. I took a break before cubing the squash to call my Grandma and eat a slice of pie.

 

There is a very happy fellow eating his dinner over a hockey pool draft right now. When I told him there was a slice of pie waiting for him on the stove top, to quote him: "That's the nicest thing anybody has ever done for me!" I am a modern woman, and a Scorpio, but I know spoiling a man from time to time is the way to a happy home. He's acting like he's never been fed in his entire life, even though I do it almost every day. That's the power of the Domestic Kitchen Goddess.

 

 

 

 

Erich Schiffmann, Essential Oils and the Prancercise Lady on a Saturday

It's Saturday afternoon and I am just lazing about, taking some much needed "me time". I've been sitting on the couch with the footrest up, talking to my mum on the phone and reading Yoga Journal and Yoga International that I picked up on the way home from my morning adventures.

 

Cozy wooly sweater, guacamole recipe, articles on Erich Schiffmann, Happiness and Art :)

 

I adore Erich Schiffmann. Great article on his thoughts on personal practice.

I slept past 7, which I aimed to do. I had a great bowl of oatmeal with apple slices, cocoa powder, cinnamon and honey, then took Gus out to the field. The usual.

The Challenge has been doing fabulous things for me. For starters, the salt and vinegar chips I was snacking on last night, tasted only of oil. I woke up this morning feeling icky from them. There definitely is milk in them because I was feeling congested. So long Miss Vicky's! Even though I was feeling gross, today I put on that black pencil skirt with a slit up the thigh that I have never worn and kept at the back of the closet for 3 years -- and it FIT and I looked HOT! I wore it with my little ankle boots to take on the world between Bells Corners and Barrhaven. So now I am officially into my skinny jeans and the skirt. I spend all day eating and snacking and taking care of me at my own pace, not doing any kind of radical thing other than caring about what I eat and what I do.

One of my favourite things I've been doing is my aromatherapy baths at the end of each week (or a few times a week). My preferred scent is  3 drops of ylang ylang and 2 drops of sandalwood essential oil.  I just read about a coconut oil hair mask infused with 2 drops of sandalwood to prevent split ends. I even find myself doing asana in the bath or even the shower mid hair rinse. I just can't get enough. I loved this quote about practicing your own way in the Schiffmann article:

 

 

Bubble Bath Yoga can totally be a thing. It's definitely sexier than Prancercising!

 

 

Yeah, yeah, this is old and we're over it. I still think this lady is adorable.

 

Well, I bid you all adieu for the last Saturday posting. I'm off to fold 3 big baskets of laundry and maybe make enough soup for the coming winter out of all the squash I still have.

 

 

And once the Challenge is over, I have a coupon for a $2.00 Pumpkin Spice Latte (WITH SOY!)

Chocolate to the Rescue!

There are only 3 days left of the Challenge. What's playing on Songza tonight? "Your Own '80s Training Montage" Playlist.

Last time I touched base was Monday night. It's been a hectic work week and I was incredibly grateful to Yogini extraordinaire, Bodine Waterfire , of Sweet Guru, for hand delivering some of the most amazing organic, raw, chocolate coconut truffles to me at work this Thursday. Check out this budding new raw dessert business on Facebook. I've been sharing her page on my own Wall. And Tina Turner just started playing "The Best", so I dedicate this song to you, Bodine. It's Friday. Do people still call radio stations and send out dedications any more?

Thursday was one of the days were the proverbial shit hit the fan at work. On total shit days, am I ever glad for having done my practice in the morning to keep me in check. Normally I would have spent the afternoon dunking about 5 cookies into a really big cup of black coffee. I shared the chocolates after lunch with all of my co-workers once things were under control and nobody was in line. My gluten/lactose free girl, and my vegan boy were ultra happy to share the treats that were lovingly created to please all. The rest of the chocolates went to the yoga girls in Yogini Yoga with Megan.

Our Thursday evening Yogini class at Upward Dog was just what I needed to unwind. Especially since I missed out last week.  My new routine is to getting two giant veggie samosas for five bucks in the ByWard Market to eat on the bus ride home. Somehow they stay warm through the class and I have the best dinner.

Before class started, Chelsey gave me a little gift bag with Raspberry Tea (for PMS, 'cause it's a women's class), a sea shell and a Goddess Card of Queen Maeve. She had one for everybody.

Today I got up, took the dog out, ate an apple and read a book on the bus. Work was busy but lunch proved to be slow. By 1 PM I was ordering my vegan friendly sushi next to the restaurant I work in.

 

Eating Sushi, Like a Bossss!

 

Avocado, Cucumber, Inari Roll

 

Oh! And before I go, I broke a nail last night, and never thought I would get so mad at something so stupid. With 3 days to go, I had to cut my elegant lady nails. Oh well. They looked great, but are not very practical with all the avocado I prepare and eat. They may or may not be something I continue to strive for after the challenge.

"It's All in The Hips"

Back to work today and one week left of Be the Change 30 Day Challenge.

Looking back, the time has flown. And I can honestly say that I have a home practice now. I think I have practiced more than I did in my teacher training. I'm even still journaling and checking in with my body, mind, and emotions before practicing.

I just came downstairs after finishing a half hour of freestyle hip-opening asana, hoping to plan a new class sequence. In Yoga classes you will probably hear your teacher talking about how our hips store a lot of our emotions, and in Yin style, or restorative classes, be prepared to release those emotions and have a box of Kleenex handy. Think about it: grudge holders sit and stew on their issues rather than talk them out and resolve their hurt feelings and old people have a life time of memories stored inside their bodies and they get tight and end up with injuries. We need to let things go and move and shake around in order to be our best selves.

Go Granny!

 

Mandlebaum!

 

 

And as Chubbs, from Happy Gilmour would say, "It's all in the hips!"

 

 

 

"I'm just easing the tension, baby"

 

 

And pardon me, but holy shit is there ever a lot of tension in my hips. I honestly spend most of my practices making faces and screeching. As a new teacher I am constantly practicing talking my imaginary class through the burn to find their edge, while smiling and joking about it. Its not surprising I have these goof-ball YouTube clips on this post. "I'm just easing the tension, baby!"

 

 

http://www.spiritsinstone.com/hip-stretches.html 

 



Right now I am enjoying some much needed alone time to decompress from the weekend and the first day of the week. The man's out at his softball game and Gus is sleeping by the door. I've been indulging in some self-care, asana, and possibly my fourth cup of herbal tea. Personal time and space is sacred. Revel in it when you have it.

 

Tomorrow is a busy day catering to a bunch of men in a board room. I'll be serving them coffee first thing in the morning and checking on the poor dears again before someone else brings their lunch. I need to recharge my energy to keep up with the Mandlebaum's.

Thrown Off Balance

Today is the Autumnal Equinox. The Seasons are coming into balance, preparing the Earth for Winter. As we come to an end of the 30 Day Challenge, I am feeling the shift towards balance.

However, I was thrown off balance yesterday. I thought that I had checked in with everyone, and found out who was safe from Wednesday's tragic bus accident. Knowing who was alive took a huge weight off of everyone once the press released the identities of the victims. I did not expect to find out on Saturday as I was leaving home, that somebody I know from my community is in intensive care and will be needing so much aid in the coming months. And as for the Barrhaven people that I have not yet seen come in to the restaurant, you are in my prayers that everything is all right.

Immediately after learning this sad news, I spent the next 75 minutes in the comfort of my Yoga community for Justine's Dharma Yoga class at Mountain Goat, Nepean. In Dharma Yoga we practice for a "higher purpose". Our group dedicated the practice to the victims and those experiencing loss or grief. I was absolutely shaken. I was thankful for sharing the group's energy to ground me. For the rest of the day I was out on errands and could not stabilize myself. All I wanted to do was go home and process and grieve. It's been years since I have dealt with depression, but when that heavy chest pain, and drowning anxiety that I used to have daily, starts to pull me down, I get really scared of it. The only way I can explain it is drowning. It finally subsided when the victims were named, and then all came crashing down again. I don't want to see any of the debris at the train tracks tomorrow morning. Hopefully it's gone.

I had all kinds of cute Instagram pictures of my healthy foods, but I don't really care about posting them. I've kept on track and my kitchen is full of butternut squash and a giant bag of apples a friend brought.

This Challenge is raising money to help ex-bonded slaves in Nepal. Our world has become a global village through communicative technology. It's absolutely amazing what we are doing through Journey of the Yogini. But don't forget about your community and your neighbours. A stranger is a friend you have not met yet. Say "hi" and lend a hand where you can. Experience human connection and touch people's lives. That's why we are here.