Practice yoga regularly

After my 2-week pass at Yoga Works ended, there was a special for a 20 class package, and I bought it. I tried a couple of different classes, and then, due to some important life happenings, kept away. I came back this past week to try an Iyengar class with Paul Cabanis, and I LOVED it. It’s a mid-day class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so it’s not as crowded as say, an evening or weekend class, and I love the teacher’s good humor, expertise, and attention to his students. Because of his disarming humor and focus on one’s own body, there’s none of the pretentious vibe that can unfortunately happen in some yoga classes. Tuesdays and Thursdays meets my need for a regular class. It’s also perfect that these are the days I don’t have group training at my gym. Now I can’t wait for Tuesday so I can do yoga again!

My goal is to practice yoga regularly, but I have not been practicing at all for quite some time. I managed to attend one Yoga class on the beach in May and one in June. Realizing that this was not a regular class, last Saturday I went to my first Yoga Works class. There was a discount for a 2-week pass of unlimited Yoga classes, and I took it.

I’d love to go oodles of times a week, but I know that if I set an outlandish goal, I will most likely fail to meet it and feel demoralized. Setting a realistic goal to attend once a week is still healthy and allows me to feel successful. This way, if I do more than that, I can feel extra proud, and if I don’t, no harm has been done. Here, “regularly” means no less than once a week.

This past Saturday was a glorious morning to have yoga at the beach with an amazing teacher. I only wish I’d taken a picture of the splendor of a view I had.

http://www.meetup.com/Heart-Opening-Yoga-All-levels/

I’m here in Santa Monica, looking for a job, and we are looking for an apartment while hubby Carlos starts his new assignment here.

Yesterday, I spent the whole day walking around Main Street. It’s where Carlos works, and there are lots of shops and coffee shops to see. It seemed, to me, that every other person carried a yoga mat! In the early evening, I saw a steady stream of people coming out of their “hot yoga” class at Yoga Works (yogaworks.com). There’s a new student’s special at the Main Street location of two weeks unlimited classes for $30 that expires Sept. 30. Carlos and I want to sign up when we move in!

Also, I ran into a store called Natural High, which sells organic/biodegradable clothing, shoes, and home products like sheets and rugs.

They had a yoga mat that I just would love to have. Will add photos later :)

This post has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: 7 September 2008
Many apologies to the people of Yoga Works! I assumed that because the people streaming out of Yoga Works were all aglow, and in some cases, drenched in sweat, and because when I went into Yoga Works to get a schedule, the place was like a sauna, that the Tuesday night class was a Hot Yoga class (a Hot Yoga class is one in which the room temperature is brought up to something like 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit). It turns out that the class gets steamy because of its great energy alone. Can’t wait to try it, and thanks to Terri of Yoga Works for the information!