Oh my goodness, I can't believe it's over!
Yesterday was CA-RAZY! We had a super class in the morning about teaching Yoga to kids, which was very helpful and insightful. Then I went to the mall with a few girls for lunch and had my first experience with Beard Papa's creme puffs.... Thank GOD I discovered these at the end of my trip, because they are almost worth staying in San Francisco and becoming very fat for. SO DELICIOUS!!! In the afternoon we had a little gathering to say whatever we wanted to say to the group, which turned into a big tear fest. There wasn't a dry eye in the house, there was much hugging and laughing and tears. What a wonderful group of people :) And then? Ahhhh, our certificates! So beautiful!
Then we all put out our mats for Friday Happy Hour... a horrifying 90 poses in 90 minutes Yoga class. Yikes. Needless to say, I faked my way through about 30 of those poses (haha) because really... no.... just no.
After that we went to hang out on the patio of an apartment of one of the trainees. We ate and froze and then decided to go back to the studio to finish our party. Mark Twain wasn't kidding when he said "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." IT'S COLD HERE! Upon returning to the studio there was much wine and good music and a few of us started dancing. I even managed to have a few Salsa tracks thrown in there. The director of the studio arrived, bringing with him some marijuana... yikes... so I stayed in the dancing area rather than the blue-aired lobby... ugh, that stuff smells so vile! I said to some people "I never expected THAT!" and they said "really? I did." I guess that's San Francisco for you. Sometimes it's like living on a different planet.
I've gotten to know some really wonderful people and have learned so much! I'm glad I did it and I have to admit that I'm really proud of myself. YAY ME!!! Heehee.
Tomorrow is Disneyland, which I am over the MOON about! SO so so so SO excited! I won't be able to post for a few days, but when I get back, absolutely.
I love you and miss you all!
Gillian
Showing posts with label Yoga Babe In Training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yoga Babe In Training. Show all posts
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
The Retrospective Post
Wow, I can't believe I'm actually done! Technically I still have tomorrow, but I'm done all of the assignments, all of the exams, and tomorrow is just one last lesson (teaching Yoga to Kids) and then our "ceremony" and one last practice. WOW!!!
The final exam today went REALLY well. I was so nervous beforehand, we were madly quizzing each other, and we got paired up (lucky me, I really like the girl who I got paired with!) She went first and I had a GREAT practice, and then I went and she was like "wow. Promise me you'll teach. You're such a good teacher!" YAY!!!! Lots of positive feedback, and I couldn't believe how quickly it went! We all went out for dinner and drinks afterwards, which was fun :) I'm really going to miss my fellow trainees! What an interesting assortment of people they are, and all so smart and funny and supportive *sniffle* I'm glad to be done the course because it was really intense and emotional, but I will miss the people a lot.
I guess it's time to answer the questions then, isn't it?
1. Are you buff?
Uh, no. I'm stronger, but I still look the same. If you were to TOUCH me, you'd feel a difference, but I don't think I look at all different. If you just poke my belly (which I know you will, Nathan) you'll feel it's solid, but I'm not going to rush out and wear a bikini.
2. Can you do a headstand?
Uh... also no. In fact, I've been told that I just don't have the shoulder strength to do that yet, but in another three months, yes. So ask me again in three months.
3. Have you met the love of your life/Can we stop worrying about your old-maid status?
Again, no. I'm sorry. But I'm optimistic about the guys in Nova Scotia.
4. Will you, in fact, teach Yoga?
Maybe. I'm going to teach mum and dad (and anyone else who is interested! Free Private Yoga Instruction!!!!) and go from there. I think I have to see what will fly in small town Nova Scotia and go from there!
5. Are you Zen/Non-Attached?
Haha, well... I'm tired! Does that count?
6. You just finished Yoga School! What are you going to do now?!
I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!
Love you and miss you and see most of you in a week!!!
Gillian
P.S. One of the instructors showed us this Monty Python video on "Learning to Fly"... oddly similar to how WE learn to fly "Arms out, fingers together, knees bent, head well forward!" Hahaha. Love it!
The final exam today went REALLY well. I was so nervous beforehand, we were madly quizzing each other, and we got paired up (lucky me, I really like the girl who I got paired with!) She went first and I had a GREAT practice, and then I went and she was like "wow. Promise me you'll teach. You're such a good teacher!" YAY!!!! Lots of positive feedback, and I couldn't believe how quickly it went! We all went out for dinner and drinks afterwards, which was fun :) I'm really going to miss my fellow trainees! What an interesting assortment of people they are, and all so smart and funny and supportive *sniffle* I'm glad to be done the course because it was really intense and emotional, but I will miss the people a lot.
I guess it's time to answer the questions then, isn't it?
1. Are you buff?
Uh, no. I'm stronger, but I still look the same. If you were to TOUCH me, you'd feel a difference, but I don't think I look at all different. If you just poke my belly (which I know you will, Nathan) you'll feel it's solid, but I'm not going to rush out and wear a bikini.
2. Can you do a headstand?
Uh... also no. In fact, I've been told that I just don't have the shoulder strength to do that yet, but in another three months, yes. So ask me again in three months.
3. Have you met the love of your life/Can we stop worrying about your old-maid status?
Again, no. I'm sorry. But I'm optimistic about the guys in Nova Scotia.
4. Will you, in fact, teach Yoga?
Maybe. I'm going to teach mum and dad (and anyone else who is interested! Free Private Yoga Instruction!!!!) and go from there. I think I have to see what will fly in small town Nova Scotia and go from there!
5. Are you Zen/Non-Attached?
Haha, well... I'm tired! Does that count?
6. You just finished Yoga School! What are you going to do now?!
I'M GOING TO DISNEYLAND!!!
Love you and miss you and see most of you in a week!!!
Gillian
P.S. One of the instructors showed us this Monty Python video on "Learning to Fly"... oddly similar to how WE learn to fly "Arms out, fingers together, knees bent, head well forward!" Hahaha. Love it!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The Final Stretch
Wow, this week has been busy and the Internet has been sketchy! I wrote a big long post yesterday and then got disconnected before I could save it! D'oh! I'm sure it's all irrelevant by now anyway.
It's been a good week. The director said my independent practice was beautiful, which was exciting. He also brought in a massage therapist who gave us all back massages, which was very nice also. My neck/shoulders required much work and I was nearly crying by the end it hurt so much! Ah well. We had guest speaker in to talk about Ayurveda, which was really interesting! It's been a good week! Lots of tests and assignments due, and now I'm done all except for the Final Practical Exam tomorrow. I AM nervous about this one, since we have to teach an hour-long class to a classmate. It would help if I knew who I was being paired with, because I know some people would really help you out if you were going on the wrong track into a pose (give you physical hints, etc), and other people wouldn't. When I'm doing the practice on my own I remember the sequence, but when I'm teaching it to someone else my mind blanks sometimes and I forget what comes next or what a pose is called. I've been trying to study but I feel completely burnt out. At this point I just want to be finished!!! All I have left in me tonight is to repeat the seated series to myself in the shower and hope for the best.
Two Days Left!
Love,
Gillian
It's been a good week. The director said my independent practice was beautiful, which was exciting. He also brought in a massage therapist who gave us all back massages, which was very nice also. My neck/shoulders required much work and I was nearly crying by the end it hurt so much! Ah well. We had guest speaker in to talk about Ayurveda, which was really interesting! It's been a good week! Lots of tests and assignments due, and now I'm done all except for the Final Practical Exam tomorrow. I AM nervous about this one, since we have to teach an hour-long class to a classmate. It would help if I knew who I was being paired with, because I know some people would really help you out if you were going on the wrong track into a pose (give you physical hints, etc), and other people wouldn't. When I'm doing the practice on my own I remember the sequence, but when I'm teaching it to someone else my mind blanks sometimes and I forget what comes next or what a pose is called. I've been trying to study but I feel completely burnt out. At this point I just want to be finished!!! All I have left in me tonight is to repeat the seated series to myself in the shower and hope for the best.
Two Days Left!
Love,
Gillian
Monday, June 18, 2007
I Don't Bend That Way!
For those of you wondering "what does Gillian do all day?" here is a video I found on YouTube of people doing Ashtanga Yoga really well. Personally, I'm not that good. I can do most of these poses, and if not the "full" pose, then the modified version. I still can't do the ones where they are JUST balancing on the arms, and I can't say that any of us have tried the ones where they have their feet behind their heads... that's just for creepy circus folk... Also, we don't get to do Yoga on mountains with monkeys running around in the background, which I'm very sorry about. This week we get to choose three poses that the instructors will give us extra help on... mine are ALL arm balance ones, so we'll see if I can muster the shoulder strength from somewhere, and then I can show off when I get home.
For now, here's the video:
No wonder I'm tired!!!
Miss you!
Gillian
For now, here's the video:
No wonder I'm tired!!!
Miss you!
Gillian
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Ashtanga Yoga is a Science of the Mind...
... or so we've been told.
This week has been hard. We had fair warning that this yoga practice would open emotional floodgates, and that the second week would be the Week of Tears. I didn't really believe that, but oh boy, now I do. The paper learning is basically done, so it's ALL Yoga ALL day. When we aren't doing our practice, we're doing physical adjustments in the poses. When we aren't doing the physical adjustments, we're doing the posture break-downs. It is 100% physical and meditative, 8 hours a day. It's a lot like counseling in a way; We are forced to look at all aspects of ourselves internally and externally, and I'm not kidding when I say that each breath, each way you move your eyes, each limb even an inch off is subject to scrutiny and criticism from the entire class. This isn't to say that that class isn't supportive, because they are. But what I AM saying is that your faults are being magnified during an entire day of extreme physical pressure. I hurt a lot, emotionally and physically.
The other major contributing factor has been Sunday's lecture on Non-Attachment. The concept of Non-Attachment is to love and desire, but not to the point where you feel that your happiness is dependent on something external (such as having money, or cars, or George Clooney.) So while we had this lecture we were asked to identify our attachments, and explore them. How would it feel to remove our FEAR of losing them? For whatever reason, this struck a cord with me and that, coupled with the physical scrutiny, cut a big path to my heart and I have been on the verge of tears ever since.
This is a hard concept. It has forced me to be entirely honest with myself. Yes, we all have attachments, and I will never remove family from my attachments, because my happiness is very much dependent on their presence in my life. I just don't care, they are, and I like it that way. But this openness, I think, also allows you to see other people differently. Somehow their damage is projected onto you and the sadness and love and empathy is magnified. It probably doesn't help that I'm really homesick, too. I feel so lost and exposed, and any smile from a kind guy on the bus just makes me want to bury my head in their shoulder and cry. It's not right, but there it is.
I'll be very glad when this month is over. I don't know if I'll want to teach or not. Maybe. We'll see.
There ARE a few good things. I got 100% on my quiz, I'm losing fat (albeit, in weird places, like my rib cage) and my muscles are taut (maybe just tight?) and getting stronger. The teachers are happy with my improvement and say I'm doing a good job, and the Inner Critic is quieting... I got to do physical adjustments with the cute male med. student today (heehee) which gave me an excuse to feel his muscles with a contemplative gaze on my face ;) Nice.
I guess that's it for now! I'm going to Target tomorrow, so if you have any requests then send me a text message before 5pm Calgary Time.
Love you and miss you!!!
Gillian
This week has been hard. We had fair warning that this yoga practice would open emotional floodgates, and that the second week would be the Week of Tears. I didn't really believe that, but oh boy, now I do. The paper learning is basically done, so it's ALL Yoga ALL day. When we aren't doing our practice, we're doing physical adjustments in the poses. When we aren't doing the physical adjustments, we're doing the posture break-downs. It is 100% physical and meditative, 8 hours a day. It's a lot like counseling in a way; We are forced to look at all aspects of ourselves internally and externally, and I'm not kidding when I say that each breath, each way you move your eyes, each limb even an inch off is subject to scrutiny and criticism from the entire class. This isn't to say that that class isn't supportive, because they are. But what I AM saying is that your faults are being magnified during an entire day of extreme physical pressure. I hurt a lot, emotionally and physically.
The other major contributing factor has been Sunday's lecture on Non-Attachment. The concept of Non-Attachment is to love and desire, but not to the point where you feel that your happiness is dependent on something external (such as having money, or cars, or George Clooney.) So while we had this lecture we were asked to identify our attachments, and explore them. How would it feel to remove our FEAR of losing them? For whatever reason, this struck a cord with me and that, coupled with the physical scrutiny, cut a big path to my heart and I have been on the verge of tears ever since.
This is a hard concept. It has forced me to be entirely honest with myself. Yes, we all have attachments, and I will never remove family from my attachments, because my happiness is very much dependent on their presence in my life. I just don't care, they are, and I like it that way. But this openness, I think, also allows you to see other people differently. Somehow their damage is projected onto you and the sadness and love and empathy is magnified. It probably doesn't help that I'm really homesick, too. I feel so lost and exposed, and any smile from a kind guy on the bus just makes me want to bury my head in their shoulder and cry. It's not right, but there it is.
I'll be very glad when this month is over. I don't know if I'll want to teach or not. Maybe. We'll see.
There ARE a few good things. I got 100% on my quiz, I'm losing fat (albeit, in weird places, like my rib cage) and my muscles are taut (maybe just tight?) and getting stronger. The teachers are happy with my improvement and say I'm doing a good job, and the Inner Critic is quieting... I got to do physical adjustments with the cute male med. student today (heehee) which gave me an excuse to feel his muscles with a contemplative gaze on my face ;) Nice.
I guess that's it for now! I'm going to Target tomorrow, so if you have any requests then send me a text message before 5pm Calgary Time.
Love you and miss you!!!
Gillian
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Boy Am I Tired!
This Yoga thing? Is really hard work. I am so tired. I knew I'd be tired, but I didn't think I'd be THIS tired. I've also noticed that the Yoga has seeped into my brain. For Example? I found myself in a Yoga stance on the cable car. I think I might also be ready for my quiz tomorrow, but let's not jinx that.
Today I'm happy for a variety of reasons:
- I'm happy that the Sanskrit names feel less scary.
- I'm happy because my Yoga Practice today went really well. I was feeling the breath and the poses and I came out of it drenched in sweat and with nerve-endings all a-twinkle.
- I'm happy because I finally realised that not having shoulder strength is NOT the end of the world.
- I'm happy because I didn't have a class with the owner of the studio today, who really brings down my vibe.
- I'm happy that it's almost Saturday, and that's my only day off.
- I'm happy because I went shopping after school and bought some super-cute clothes (such good shopping here! Droooooool!)
I went to Victoria's Secret and Old Navy (I know we have those in Calgary, but this one has 3 floors and actually has size SMALLs left.) I also went into Forever 21, which made me feel Definitely Not 21, because the music was too loud and I'm no longer adorable enough to get away with green gingham baby-doll dresses... I DID stand there staring at them for a few minutes but, I dunno, I should dress my age... or something.... maybe. Maybe when the post-Yoga Buffness kicks in.
Okay, I shouldn't put off my homework any longer *sigh*
Love you and miss you,
Gillian
Today I'm happy for a variety of reasons:
- I'm happy that the Sanskrit names feel less scary.
- I'm happy because my Yoga Practice today went really well. I was feeling the breath and the poses and I came out of it drenched in sweat and with nerve-endings all a-twinkle.
- I'm happy because I finally realised that not having shoulder strength is NOT the end of the world.
- I'm happy because I didn't have a class with the owner of the studio today, who really brings down my vibe.
- I'm happy that it's almost Saturday, and that's my only day off.
- I'm happy because I went shopping after school and bought some super-cute clothes (such good shopping here! Droooooool!)
I went to Victoria's Secret and Old Navy (I know we have those in Calgary, but this one has 3 floors and actually has size SMALLs left.) I also went into Forever 21, which made me feel Definitely Not 21, because the music was too loud and I'm no longer adorable enough to get away with green gingham baby-doll dresses... I DID stand there staring at them for a few minutes but, I dunno, I should dress my age... or something.... maybe. Maybe when the post-Yoga Buffness kicks in.
Okay, I shouldn't put off my homework any longer *sigh*
Love you and miss you,
Gillian
Monday, June 4, 2007
WHAT HAVE I DONE?!?!
You know how you make a really stupid mistake sometimes, and you think "wow, that's it! I've reached the maximum level of stupidity! I can not possibly surpass this dumb-ass move!" ... and then you go to Yoga School and realise that actually, you CAN, and you just DID?!?!
That's exactly how I feel...
what...
the hell...
was I thinking???
Oddly enough, my classmates are all really nice and also entirely clad in Lululemon. So things were fine until the Yoga started happening, and then, YE GODS, the pain. THE PAIN! I hurt. I am exhausted. I have a test Friday on the Sanskrit names of the standing poses. And do you think I know which one is Padangusthasana and which one is Padahastasana? Of course I don't. What about the difference between Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana A, B, C and D? Not even a little.
I'm having real trouble turning off my Inner Critic. Part of me says "hey, it's only been two days and think how much you've learned already! Think of Suryanamaskara! Think of Vinyasa!" and then the other one that says "TEST FRIDAY!!!! NOT A TEST OF SURYANAMASKARA OR VINYASA!!!" And then there's the whole hand-stand debacle... the debacle being that I can't DO hand-stands, and when I say "I can't do that" I just get that yoga-zen smile and a "yes you can." Here, shall I demonstrate and break my neck for you, or would it just be easier to walk in front of a Cable Car? I SAID I CAN'T!!!!
And Also? San Francisco smells gross.
*eh-hem* Okay, enough venting. Can you tell I'm a little stressed, and not at all zen? Some good stuff has happened, really. I've already made a few friends and learned a lot and ... um... went shopping... and.... uhhhhhh... hmmm. I dunno.
I'm really hoping that this week is going to be the hardest and then everything will get easier next week once my muscles have stopped screaming and I start to become more familiar with the routines and Sanskrit names. Right now I'm so tired that I think I'm going to just go to bed (yes, it's 9pm, got a problem with that?!) and study tomorrow, bright and early. Or maybe I'll wake up and this will all have been a bad dream. I really hope so.
If you have any suggestions for learning Sanskrit, please let me know!!!
Gillian
That's exactly how I feel...
what...
the hell...
was I thinking???
Oddly enough, my classmates are all really nice and also entirely clad in Lululemon. So things were fine until the Yoga started happening, and then, YE GODS, the pain. THE PAIN! I hurt. I am exhausted. I have a test Friday on the Sanskrit names of the standing poses. And do you think I know which one is Padangusthasana and which one is Padahastasana? Of course I don't. What about the difference between Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana A, B, C and D? Not even a little.
I'm having real trouble turning off my Inner Critic. Part of me says "hey, it's only been two days and think how much you've learned already! Think of Suryanamaskara! Think of Vinyasa!" and then the other one that says "TEST FRIDAY!!!! NOT A TEST OF SURYANAMASKARA OR VINYASA!!!" And then there's the whole hand-stand debacle... the debacle being that I can't DO hand-stands, and when I say "I can't do that" I just get that yoga-zen smile and a "yes you can." Here, shall I demonstrate and break my neck for you, or would it just be easier to walk in front of a Cable Car? I SAID I CAN'T!!!!
And Also? San Francisco smells gross.
*eh-hem* Okay, enough venting. Can you tell I'm a little stressed, and not at all zen? Some good stuff has happened, really. I've already made a few friends and learned a lot and ... um... went shopping... and.... uhhhhhh... hmmm. I dunno.
I'm really hoping that this week is going to be the hardest and then everything will get easier next week once my muscles have stopped screaming and I start to become more familiar with the routines and Sanskrit names. Right now I'm so tired that I think I'm going to just go to bed (yes, it's 9pm, got a problem with that?!) and study tomorrow, bright and early. Or maybe I'll wake up and this will all have been a bad dream. I really hope so.
If you have any suggestions for learning Sanskrit, please let me know!!!
Gillian
Friday, June 1, 2007
Contemplating Your Navel...
No really, that IS one of the sections of my Yoga Manual. "Contemplating Your Navel" ... Really... I can't say that I've ever contemplated my navel, but apparently this is the time to do so!
I'm feeling better about the whole Yoga thing today as I have now read the manual and worked though most of the Primary Series DVD and I don't feel in over my head. Amy also took me out for a lovely dinner last night and made me feel much better by reminding me that I really do know this stuff, and it's not at all going to be like a bad dream where I arrive at school and realise that I forgot to wear pants. In fact, if any Granola Hippies scorn me for my Lululemon attire, then they aren't really engrossed in the Yoga practice anyway, are they? That behaviour doesn't really count as "union with the universal", because I am, in fact, a part of the universal. Maybe I'll make a T-Shirt that says "Love me! I'm part of the universal." ... or I'll just wear my Hello Kitty T-shirt the first day as an extreme challenge to them to love me :P Hahaha!
Moving on, here are a few interesting quotes from my manual...
“The breath should always be louder than the internal dialogue.”
Hmmm. My inner dialogue is fairly non-stop, so this might be problematic. I have this image in mind of me clutching my head in the middle of class and yelling "Shut UP!!! SHUT UP!!!" ... nice.
“Take the ambition out of it. You are competing with no one.”
Well thank HEAVENS! That's all I have to say about that.
“Every painful experience is an opportunity to let go.”
Uh.. Good... and you'll teach me how to do this, right? For a nano-second I considered going outside and purposely being stung by a wasp so that I could let go of my fear, but then I wasn't sure if that's what they really meant... or if it would just hurt and make me cry.
Well I think that's it for now. I can't believe that I'll be in California tomorrow! Weeeee!!!
Love,
Gillian
I'm feeling better about the whole Yoga thing today as I have now read the manual and worked though most of the Primary Series DVD and I don't feel in over my head. Amy also took me out for a lovely dinner last night and made me feel much better by reminding me that I really do know this stuff, and it's not at all going to be like a bad dream where I arrive at school and realise that I forgot to wear pants. In fact, if any Granola Hippies scorn me for my Lululemon attire, then they aren't really engrossed in the Yoga practice anyway, are they? That behaviour doesn't really count as "union with the universal", because I am, in fact, a part of the universal. Maybe I'll make a T-Shirt that says "Love me! I'm part of the universal." ... or I'll just wear my Hello Kitty T-shirt the first day as an extreme challenge to them to love me :P Hahaha!
Moving on, here are a few interesting quotes from my manual...
“The breath should always be louder than the internal dialogue.”
Hmmm. My inner dialogue is fairly non-stop, so this might be problematic. I have this image in mind of me clutching my head in the middle of class and yelling "Shut UP!!! SHUT UP!!!" ... nice.
“Take the ambition out of it. You are competing with no one.”
Well thank HEAVENS! That's all I have to say about that.
“Every painful experience is an opportunity to let go.”
Uh.. Good... and you'll teach me how to do this, right? For a nano-second I considered going outside and purposely being stung by a wasp so that I could let go of my fear, but then I wasn't sure if that's what they really meant... or if it would just hurt and make me cry.
Well I think that's it for now. I can't believe that I'll be in California tomorrow! Weeeee!!!
Love,
Gillian
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