The Big Plunge

Throughout my twenties, my Italian grandmother lamented my single status. As all her other grandchildren married and reproduced, she was wont to introduce me as her "granddaughter...the unmarried one."

Finally, at the ripe old age of 30, I too got married. This meant that she could stop saying Hail Marys to that effect and I could feel relieved that she'd now stop asking if I'd met any "special friends" during our daily conversations.

I'd earned a blessed reprieve. Or so I'd thought.

Until...she started asking when she'd see great-grandchildren. Ah, le sigh. It seems marriage is not enough for a little Italian nonni.

In much the same way I resisted marriage, I've stubbornly resisted the kid pressure. Maybe it has something to do with all that getting up every three hours for round the clock feedings. And cleaning up someone else's poop. And the whole 18 years (minimum) of undue responsibility--the idea of another (utterly helpless!) little being depending on you for their food and safety and care. I couldn't just go away for the weekend with friends or hubby anymore.  I couldn't have wine with dinner, mimosas with brunch, or vodka...ever?! (OK fine - not "ever," but at least for a year or two given pregnancy and breastfeeding).

That level of commitment is so very intense and overwhelming. And I'm kind of a wimp and definitely a commitment-phobe. Which basically boils down to...fuhgeddaboudit.


So here I am, nearly 34, and my biggest responsibilities are my indoor plants year-round, and my garden in the summer. No fish. No cats. No big burden of responsibility.

Until I decided I was ready for at least a little more responsibility. And suddenly, getting up every three hours for the first few months and cleaning up someone else's poop didn't sound quite as bad.

Which is how I knew I was ready for the big plunge: a puppy!

Enter: Pelu. An adorable mutt from MacAllen, Tx. Her mom was a cockapoo (half cocker spaniel, half poodle and trust me, that sounds better than the alternative "poodlecock") and the dad is a mystery. My vet says she looks like a border terrier. And given that, at five months, she's only growing longer and not taller, I think she may be part long-haired dachshund as well.

I got up every few hours to let her out for the first few days of housetraining. Then I realized this tiny puppy and I were soulmates: she could hold it for at least eight hours. Heaven! Mama can sleep!

Yes, she is utterly dependent on me for her care, food, safety, and well-being. But surprisingly, that isn't as terrifying as I'd feared. I can actually handle it. She loves to snuggle. She can entertain herself for hours while I work. She naps like a champ. And she has a sassy, loving, irrascible personality that is entirely endearing.

Which makes her just about the most perfect little creature in the world and exactly the right amount of responsibility.

Still not ready for kids though! :)

Napping...like a boss

Another Brush with Crazy at the Coffee Shop

Just had an utterly lovely week at a yoga retreat. Yoga everyday, walks outside in the snow, yoga everyday...amazing, organic, nutritious food that you don't have to plan, shop for, or clean up after...yoga everyday...ah, le sigh.

And now, back to reality. Stopped at a coffee shop on the way home. After several hours in the car, I'm stretching while I wait for my tea.

Deceptively sane-looking man in his 40s-50s approaches.

Him: What are you doing?

Me: (mid side-bend) Um...stretching?

Him: The universe punishes those who drive in poetic ways.


Me:  Ok.

Him: Drivers poison our planet with their driving...And their cars...And now the planet...and the universe are punishing you in poetic ways for your driving.

Me: Ok.

He leaves. I'm still waiting for my tea, still stretching. He comes back and says - NO JOKE - "I forgot my crayons." Grabs a box of crayons from the table near me, returns to his seat at the counter, and proceeds to start coloring.

I did not dare to look to see if he was coloring outside the lines.

Does this stuff happen only to me?

OM for the Holidays Part 4 and 5

*This article appeared in its entirety in a yoga newsletter over the holidays. This is the final installment. Hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

 

Holiday Scenario #4: You’re back in your childhood twin bed, at your in-laws, or bunking on the floor. Bottom line: Counting sheep just isn’t working. You’d kill to catch some Zs.
YA: Restorative yoga to the rescue! Try child’s pose and legs up the wall pose (described above). Start with 5-7 minutes each, extending your exhale, and stay as long as you like.

Holiday Scenario #5: You ate a tad too much turkey, a few too many latkes, or way too much stuffing. Now even your elastic-waisted pants are straining.

YA: Twisting poses are your friend. They stimulate and aid digestion. Try any of your favorites or the following: Modified Marichi’s Pose. Sit on the floor with both legs extended out and follow as described above. Let the left fingertips find the floor behind your hips. Switch sides.

Lay on your back with your arms out in a “T.” Inhale and draw your left knee into your chest. Exhale and let the knee cross the body, moving toward the floor on the right (it doesn’t have to reach the floor). Stay for a few deep breaths. Switch sides.

A final word of wisdom? Yoga travels, so don’t forget to take your OM hOMe or with you wherever the holidays take you!

OM for the Holidays Part 3

*This article will appear in its entirety in a yoga newsletter over the holidays. In advance, I'll be posting sneak peeks to provide you with yoga assists for your most common holiday scenarios.

The holidaze is upon us. How can your yoga practice support, ground, and boost you through the season? Here are five common scenarios and possible yoga assists.

Holiday Scenario #3: You’re heading home for a holiday bash via plane/train/automobile and your back is killing you.
 

First, roll up a jacket or blanket and place it above your waistband to support the natural lordotic curve of the lower spine. This works best as a preventative measure, but is helpful at any point.

Yoga Assist: Try modified marichyasana (Marichi’s Pose). Draw your left knee into your chest, wrap around the shin with your fingers and elongate the spine. Wrap your right arm around your left leg and gently twist toward the left. Modified standing ardha chandrasana (half moon pose) is a great release for the lower back muscles. If possible, stand in tadasana (mountain pose), feet shoulder width apart (or stay seated). Inhale the arms straight up. Exhale and drop the left hand to the hip as you up and over the head to the left with the extended right arm. For the upper back, try modified garudasana (eagle’s pose for the arms). Seated or standing, bring the arms in front of you at a 90-degree angle, elbows even with the shoulders. Stay here, or drop the left elbow below the right and twine the forearms, bringing the palms together. Take a few deep breaths and switch sides for each pose.

If you’re driving, pull over first. :)

 

OM for the Holidays Part 2

*This article will appear in its entirety in a yoga newsletter over the holidays. In advance, I'll be posting sneak peeks to provide you with yoga assists for your most common holiday scenarios.

The holidaze is upon us. How can your yoga practice support, ground, and boost you through the season? Here are five common scenarios and possible yoga assists.

Holiday Scenario #2: Between the holiday frenzy, your grandma’s “Why are you still single?/How’s the job search going?/When will I have grandkids?” and your mom’s “If only we saw you more…” the fam’s driving you crazy.
Yoga Assist: Try to get some time on your mat to re-center yourself. No classes available? Try a few sun salutations at home. In adha mukha svasasana (downward facing dog), a grounding, detoxifying inversion, let the accumulated negativity flow out with each exhale. For extra energetic detoxing, take a few rounds of lion’s breath. As you exhale through the mouth with the tongue out, consciously commit to releasing any tension or stress that needs to go. No room or time? Just sit quietly and try lion’s breath.

OM for the Holidays Part 1

*This article will appear in its entirety in a yoga newsletter over the holidays. In advance, I'll be posting sneak peeks to provide you with yoga assists for your most common holiday scenarios.

The holidaze is upon us. How can your yoga practice support, ground, and boost you through the season? Here are five common scenarios and possible yoga assists.

Holiday Scenario #1: Somewhere between Logan, your layover, the phlem-y cougher next to you, and the recycled plane air, you started to feel sniffly…and now are in the midst of a full-blown cold.
Yoga Assist: It's common knowledge that being stressed, getting little sleep, and taking on too much puts you at greater risk for getting sick. During the holidays, it's easy to fall prey to all of these. Fight back with yoga, which can reduce stress, boost immunity, and help ensure you sleep better—all keys to preventing and recovering from the sickies. Also, as cold viruses live in the nasal passages, try the ayurvedic practice of using a neti pot, available at any pharmacy or health food store.

Already sick? A vigorous practice may sound about as appealing as a root canal. If so, a few gentle restorative poses might be just what the doctor ordered. You'll still harvest all the immune-boosting, stress-reducing, sleep-inducing benefits.

Start with balasana (child's pose). Bring your toes together and keep the knees a bit wider than the hips. Rest your forehead on a block or your stacked hands. You can gently roll your forehead left and right as you slowly inhale and exhale. This can feel really good for sinus congestion, and may enhance the relaxation response. Then roll onto your back and take supta baddha konasana (supported butterfly). Draw the soles of the feet together and support under each knee with blocks or pillows. Place a rolled blanket or towel under the neck for support and gentle elevation. Next, try viparita karani (legs up the wall pose), supporting under the hips with folded blankets or a bolster. If you have one, place an eye pillow over the eyes. Hold each pose for 5-7 minutes. Come out slowly by resting in the fetal position before gently sitting up. 

Stay tuned for Part 2! 

A Gift From the Gardening Gods

Just in time to get the weekend started off on a good note! I got my organic produce delivery. And there, nestled among the butternut squash, bananas, lemons, and various other veg, was this magnificent example of just how awesome nature can be...

 And just in case you missed it...

And in case you need the close-up in order to see the naughty...

Happy Friday!