Meat-free, Dairy-free, Gluten-Free, Oh My!

As many of you know, my health has been a bit troubled the past few years due to severe inflammation in my joints.  I have spent countless hours going to doctor appointments, surgery, physical therapy and having a battery of tests done.  All of this resulted in a 'best guess' diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis, with my rheumatologist saying that medication was the only way to ease my aching joints and all of the unpleasant side effect that came along with it. (I won't bore you with the details.)

One Year Accomplishment: Soda

It occurred to me last week that I just hit the one year mark of... no soda!  Feels really good to reach this mark.  Not that I drank a ton before, but I wanted to make a conscious effort to remove it from my diet entirely.  And I feel much better for it.  

Slow and steady always works best for me.  I wonder what I will eliminate or add next?

30-Day Challenge: Bikram Yoga - Update 4

Phew!  This morning I completed my 16th class, and let me tell you I am super sore!  Friday I seemed to hit a bit of a wall, and ever since I have been really stiff, sore and lacking the motivation I found in the first two weeks.  

I am, however, battling on.  Not to worry. :)

I have also been experiencing a bit of knee pain the past few days.  I may have been going a bit too far into a few of the postures without realizing it.  So today, I held back a little bit from any postures that involve the knees in an effort to prevent compromising my knees.  

It felt really good reaching the 50% mark yesterday.  It feels like a great milestone to reach at just the right time.  Knowing I have less days ahead of me than behind me, has inspired me once again to push forward with the challenge.

And now, as promised... four more postures.

13.  Savasana  (Dead Body Posture)

Dead Body Pose facilitates powerful blood flow, then lets circulation return to normal, creating internal cleansing and greatly magnifying the benefits of the postures that precede it.  We begin to learn relaxation in this posture.

14.  Pavanamuktasana  (Wind-removing posture)

Wind-Removing Pose compresses and massages the ascending colon and descending colon.

It also messages the transverse colon and compresses the entire digestive system.  It strengthens the arms, prevents flatulence, improves hip flexibility, and firms the abdomen and thighs.

15.  Pada-Hasthasana  (Sit-up Posture)

stretches the spine and increases flexibility, as does Half Moon.  Both poses firm and trim the lower body, where many problem areas, especially for women, reside.  It also works the muscles, ligaments and tendons of the legs and improves circulation there as well.

16.  Bhujangasana  (Cobra Posture)

Cobra Pose strengthens the lumber spine, relieving pain and combating slipped or herniated discs, scoliosis and arthritis in that region.  Other important benefits include improved digestion, relief from menstrual disorders, improved appetite, and raising low blood pressure.  Cobra Pose also improves the functioning of the liver and spleen.

Thanks for all the love on Facebook, it is keeping me going!  Here we go with another week!

30-Day Challenge: Bikram Yoga - Update 2

Well, this morning I completed class number nine of my 30-day challenge!  It is feeling really good going to class every day.  I find my balance getting so much better (even in the difficult standing bow posture!), and my flexibility gradually improving.  

At the weekend, getting to class requires a bit of extra motivation as the class is 30 minutes away.  But I managed to make it both days to the morning class.  And we even managed to fit some snowshoeing in Sunday afternoon, as well!

Another big thing I have noticed is improved posture.  This is a big one for me, as I naturally slouch quite badly.  I find the biggest difference in my lower back; it seems to automatically arch back already, at just 9 classes in.  One really big focus of Bikram yoga is back bends, focusing on every part of your back.  Mine is not very easily manipulated at the moment, so my back bends are quite shallow, but I hope to improve this soon.  I also hope to get more flexibility in my hips; they are very tight and inflexible, so I hope to see progress in these two areas over the remainder of this challenge.

And finally, here are the next four postures in the series, along with a few of their benefits.  The first three are a part of the balancing series... aka they really get your heart rate up!

 5. Dandayamana-Janushirasana  (Standing Head to Knee Posture)

 Improves flexibility of sciatic nerves and strengthens hamstrings and leg muscles.

 Works muscles of the back, biceps, triceps.

 Helps squeeze and flush out internal abdominal organs (gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, uterus, ovaries)

6.  Dandayamana-Dhanurasana  (Standing Bow Posture)

Moves all the blood from one side of your body to the other and back again.

Develops balance, increases size and elasticity of the rib cage, firms abdominal wall and upper thighs.

Improves strength and flexibility of lower spine

Builds patience, determination and concentration

7.  Tuladandasana  (Balancing Stick Posture)

Forward tilt of your torso sends high-speed blood pouring into the heart, especially the neglected region, cleaning out the veins and all of the arteries, strengthening the heart muscle.

The same rejuvenating flood rushes to the brain as well.

Strengthens your powers of concentration

8.  Dandayamana-Bibhaktapada-Paschimotthanasana  (Standing Separate Leg Stretching)

This posture is like kryptonite for sciatica!

Strengthens and stretches those poor crushed and shriveled sciatic nerves, as well as the tendons in the legs

Massages internal abdominal organs and small and large intestines, and gives added flexibility in the pelvis, ankles, hip joints, and especially the last 5 vertebrae of the spine.

                 

So far, so good!  Only 21 more days to go!

30-Day Challenge: Bikram Yoga - Update 1

Well, I am happy to report that I am 4 days into my challenge and going strong.  It may not sound like a great accomplishment, but I am happy to see myself sticking with it, and hey I'm more than 10% in now!  Ha!  As strange as it might sound, after four days in a row, I am already experiencing improved balance in the postures. I think the more regularly you attend class, the quicker you see results like this.  I am still in desperate need of improved flexibility, but I am excited to see how that progresses through this challenge.

I thought I would share some of the poses from Bikram with every update that I post, along with some of the benefits each pose offers.  I knew a lot of these benefits from the instructors in class, but found it really fascinating just how good each and every pose is for your body.  It makes me appreciate my time in class a lot more knowing the benefits my body is experiencing.

Bikram yoga consists of the same 26 poses, in the same order, each and every class.  Some might find this to get a bit boring, but I love the predictability of it.  I also think it is easier to progress further into the postures when you do the same ones each class.  There is 60 minutes of standing poses, followed by 30 minutes of floor poses.  The room temperature is about 105 degrees Fahrenheit and approximately 40% humidity.  Yeah, you sweat.  A lot.

Here are the first 4 poses.

1.  Pranayama (Standing Deep Breathing Pose)

          Benefits:  Pranayama prevents respiratory problems (such as bronchitis, emphysema and shortness of breath.)

2.  Ardha-Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose)

          Benefits:  Strengthens every muscle in your core, increases flexibility of the spine, firms and trims the waistline, hips, abdomen, buttocks and thighs.

3.  Utkatasana (Awkward Pose)

        Benefits:  Tones and shapes legs, heals chronically cold feet, relieves rheumatism and arthritis in the legs, helps cure slipped discs and other problems in the lower spine.

4.  Garurasana (Eagle Pose)

        Benefits: The Eagle pose is the only one that opens up the 14 largest joints in the skeletal system, improves flexibility in the hips, knees and ankles, and supplies fresh blood to the reproductive system and kidneys.

The next 30-day challenge update will be up this weekend.  Do you think I can stick it out for the full thirty days?

I Need a 30-Day Challenge in My Life

I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like I need to challenge myself to push through the not-so-good times.  For some reason, I just haven't been myself lately.  I honestly told Chris last night that the only way I can describe it is that I feel like an alien has taken over my mind and body.  Sounds silly, but I honestly have struggled to get back to feeling like myself.  I know that there is one thing that is likely to help above all others, but when I am not feeling so great, I struggle to make it a routine in my week.

What is it, you ask?  Exercise.  

Since I am limited (still) on what I can do, physically, I am turning back to Bikram yoga for this challenge. Starting Sunday (because we have friends in town this weekend), 30 Bikram yoga classes in 30 days.  It might seem extreme, but it is very doable and I feel like I need a reason to get up and go every day.  And a challenge to tell myself that I can commit and follow through.  You see, I often give up on things when I lose motivation, and that is a difficult habit to break.  So, I am telling you this so that you can help keep me accountable!  I will post an update on my progress twice a week, and be honest about if I have missed any days (though that is allowed, if I double up and do two classes another day - eek!).  

So here we go.  Sunday March 9th through Monday April 7th. Complete 30 classes.

Wish me luck!

Seeking Mindfulness

Most people, upon hearing that I am about to turn thirty, jump to the same question: when are you going to have kids?  It's a perfectly logical question, I suppose, but truth be told it is one I often struggle with.  Hear me out.

You may call me a daydreamer, but I often fantasize about traveling to remote places of the world and helping those in need.  Or living somewhere very culturally different to the West for a year or two.  And let's not forget about my ongoing need to realize my true passions in life and fulfill my own potential.  

Why can't you do those things at the same time as starting a family, you ask?  (It's okay, I ask myself this question, too.)  The truth is, I am not sure how to balance these priorities in my life.  And they really are all priorities.  I may not need to move halfway around the world, but I do need to feel like I am making a difference.  Like I am not falling into the life that is expected of me, but instead, that I am creating the life that I want to lead.  How do I balance finding inner peace-of-mind, gratitude and life balance, while surrounded by faster, better, more, more, more, here in the west?  And if we do start a family, how do I impart these important things on a little one?

We read so many books, watch so many documentaries, and can recount all kinds of a-friend-of-a-friend stories about people who move to India and return a changed person.  A more centered, grateful and happy person. Which I suppose is part of the appeal.  But how then do we manage to make these necessary changes without an intercontinental move?  I think immersion in this case, as in so many others, is very important and helpful in achieving your goals of inner piece and mindfulness. 

And therein lies my struggle to find this without disrupting my life, along with many other goals that I have.  I dream of using my creativity to impact the lives of others, and often brainstorm ways to combine my two passions, both in a way that is true to who I am, yet unique to me and only me.

My solution will be a work in progress and will likely (hopefully!) evolve over time, but I have a few action items that I plan on taking to get me started.

The first priority must be focusing a bit more time and effort into meditation.  It may not be meditation in a small tribe of Monks, but rather an old stone building in downtown Denver, however the concept remains the same.  Clear away the clutter and achieve the ability to calm my own mind.  I think this small step is the most important, as it is so much easier to tackle difficult challenges when you can control the thoughts and noise of your own mind.  So for me, that means attending regular meditation sessions until I am able to achieve successful meditation at home, or anywhere, on my own.

Priority number two is one that I have already made some progress on, at least in terms of research.  I may not know how to combine my own caged creativity with giving back to the community just yet, but that doesn't mean I can't start giving back a bit more.  After a lot of research over the past few months, I have found a nonprofit organization that feels like a good fit for me to start volunteering my time with.  It requires a minimum of 2 days a month, which should be very easy to begin incorporating into my schedule of work and play.  Hopefully it will grow from there.

And my final priority to get me started down this path, is making my friendships a more vital part of my life. Having moved around the country a fair bit over the last ten years has meant that my friendships are also scattered around the country.  I plan on nurturing those existing friendships a bit more, and focusing on creating a more stable network of friends locally in an effort to feel more settled and happy here in Colorado.

I hope to continue adding to this list, as I progress through this journey, and I'm sure I will learn a lot along the way.  One thing that I find extremely important when it comes to all of these things, is believing that I am enough.  I heard this quote from a motivational speaker recently, and realized that I fall victim to this more often than I realize.  So just a little reminder to myself every day, that I am enough.  Simple, yet powerful.

Do you think it's possible to master the art of mindfulness while living in the chaotic West?  I do, too.  With a little patience and a lot of effort.  Who's with me?  :)

Daylight Savings Saved My Life

Okay, so that is a slight exaggeration, but for the past 6-7 weeks, I have been struggling to wake up in the morning and just an overall lack of energy throughout the day.  I assumed it was the change of the season, and it seems to a certain extent that I was right.  More specifically, the fact that it was staying dark so much later in the morning.  I would leave for work under a blackened sky, and it would stay that way until long after I settled into my cozy office at work.  

Well, I am happy to report that with the falling back of time this past weekend, I have a renewed energy!  It is light before I finish getting ready for work in the morning and I seem to have adjusted accordingly.  Now, believe me, I understand that it won't last for long.  But it at least gave me a chance to catch up, which I hope will allow me to adjust a bit easier when the morning darkness returns.  

Did you struggle with the changing of the seasons this Fall?  How did you compensate for your lack of energy?

I am embarking on a new challenge/adventure this week, and am looking forward to the next few weeks.  I will share a bit more once I am successfully on my journey (no, it's not pregnancy! ha!).  Stay tuned for more details over the next few weeks!

Is that too much of a tease?  Okay, I'll give you a hint.  It has to do with healthy living.  Any guesses?

Habits

Habits are a tricky thing.  Why is it so easy to create a habit, yet so hard to break it?  I tend to have better success if I start small with habits.  

How so?  Well, over the years, I have had lofty goals of wanting to work out every day, or lose ten pounds, or keep a spotless house.  The way I approach these things has historically set me up for failure.  Assuming that I will go from a messy ("well-loved") house to a spotless one (and keep it that way!) overnight, is unrealistic.  Or that I will suddenly exercise every single day.  So I decided to start smaller, and give myself a better chance of success.  

The result?  It works!  Slowly but surely.  In today's world, we can have virtually whatever we want at the drop of a hat, so this slow approach was not my preference.  But I did recognize that it was the approach that yielded the best results.  

For instance, a few years ago, in an effort to be healthy and avoid illnesses down the road, I started buying organic fruit, and doing more research when it came to GMOs and doing my best to avoid them.  I didn't say, okay no more sweets, fried food, meat, soda, processed food, non-organic foods, etc.  I started small.  I was already buying fruit and vegetables, so I started to change until I bought almost exclusively organic.

Then, about a year and a half ago, I eliminated meat from my diet.  And I haven't looked back. Most recently? I gave up soda 4 or 5 months ago, and it didn't feel that difficult.  Because I was doing one thing at a time.  The most difficult part was not that I missed the actual soda, just that it was an automatic habit to order it out at restaurants.  My best advice?  Find drink alternatives that you can fall back on that are healthier.  Water is the obvious choice, but a small fruit juice, healthy lemonade or tea are all great alternatives.

I really want giving up sugar to be my next goal, but having a sweet tooth like I do, I know this one will be much more difficult.  But I know that as long as I take a slowly but surely approach, and forgive myself when I crack and give in to my sweet cravings, that I will get there eventually.  Luckily, I have a really supportive (and healthy!) husband to help me when I need it.  

Now if only I could get better at the whole messy house "habit."  Hey, some things are just better left alone. Or to a house cleaning service.  No one's perfect, right?

What habits have you successfully kicked?  What tips can you share to help me on my journey?