I'm tired and very very sore.
(yes, I did go yesterday too, but I didn't write about it)
Friday, August 29, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
After that...
Immediately following Aaron's read through "Yoga Day 2":
a: You purchased a yoga mat?
me: no!
where did you get that idea?!
a: uh uh!
you said it in your blog!
the blogesphere never lies
me: it lies
I tell you! It lies
...
ps - I used my BN discount on my new mat (doesn't that help!?)
a: I SUPPOSE so
So where's my mat?
blogs... they sometimes get you in trouble
a: You purchased a yoga mat?
me: no!
where did you get that idea?!
a: uh uh!
you said it in your blog!
the blogesphere never lies
me: it lies
I tell you! It lies
...
ps - I used my BN discount on my new mat (doesn't that help!?)
a: I SUPPOSE so
So where's my mat?
blogs... they sometimes get you in trouble
Yoga Day 2
So, I went to yoga again. It was a lot different this time. I felt so much more comfortable because it wasn't a totally new place. I also had an easier time as far as the workout itself! I never felt dizzy or nauseous like I had yesterday. I felt pretty focused and motivated. I think I actually had a little bit of fun because I saw myself overcoming things I could NOT do yesterday. I also noticed I was able to focus on my breathing better, which kept me calmer and more focused on the positions - rather than panicked and totally unable to balance.
The people (teachers, owner, students...) at the studio are so nice too. The owner even remembered that I came for the 4:30 class yesterday. And the teacher remembered me too. Also, I met two people right before class today. The guy that I met had his last day of undergraduate college today so he was really excited. The lady was so sweet, asking how I was feeling after doing one day of it and asking what I think will get better and how it'll help me. They're so welcoming. It's fun! Vern, the owner, said the goal of the studio is to make Yoga the funnest part of the day. I like that. I can handle that :)
I bought myself a yoga mat today too. I told myself I'd hold off on that for a while to make sure I was really committing to this, but I'm so excited, and I REALLY wanna stick with it. (I hope I can afford it!)
Tomorrow Isabell (a friend from work) is joining me. I'm excited about having a friend with me!
On a deeper level:
I think our generation of Christ-followers has mostly grown away from silly rules and restrictions of associating with other religious practices, but still some might think it's odd that I practice yoga (yes, it is typically a religious practice... from India!). Here's my take, in brief - God has gifted people with the wisdom and knowledge of how to care for the body. For some reason, God gave yoga's founding fathers an amazing insight to the body; how wind is drawn and released, how muscles are built by contracting and relaxing, how minds are stabilized through rest. What these people have missed is that God created the body to be restored through these amazing processes and is, therefore, worthy of ALL praise and adoration. But because they've missed this point, should I avoid yoga completely? I say no - in actuality, the physical elements of yoga (the exercise part) honor God by proclaiming His product (the body) is a. worth taking care of and b. made in a way that could not have been done by anything/anyone other than a divide, all powerful, and creative being like Himself. For that, PrAiSe GoD!!!
Plus - what a GREAT place to show the love of God; a place where many are open to spirituality!
So... I press on - through the sweat, through the hurts (uh huh!), through the 90 minutes per day - toward a healthy body and better understand of God's complex creativity.
"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another."
- Walter Elliott
The people (teachers, owner, students...) at the studio are so nice too. The owner even remembered that I came for the 4:30 class yesterday. And the teacher remembered me too. Also, I met two people right before class today. The guy that I met had his last day of undergraduate college today so he was really excited. The lady was so sweet, asking how I was feeling after doing one day of it and asking what I think will get better and how it'll help me. They're so welcoming. It's fun! Vern, the owner, said the goal of the studio is to make Yoga the funnest part of the day. I like that. I can handle that :)
I bought myself a yoga mat today too. I told myself I'd hold off on that for a while to make sure I was really committing to this, but I'm so excited, and I REALLY wanna stick with it. (I hope I can afford it!)
Tomorrow Isabell (a friend from work) is joining me. I'm excited about having a friend with me!
On a deeper level:
I think our generation of Christ-followers has mostly grown away from silly rules and restrictions of associating with other religious practices, but still some might think it's odd that I practice yoga (yes, it is typically a religious practice... from India!). Here's my take, in brief - God has gifted people with the wisdom and knowledge of how to care for the body. For some reason, God gave yoga's founding fathers an amazing insight to the body; how wind is drawn and released, how muscles are built by contracting and relaxing, how minds are stabilized through rest. What these people have missed is that God created the body to be restored through these amazing processes and is, therefore, worthy of ALL praise and adoration. But because they've missed this point, should I avoid yoga completely? I say no - in actuality, the physical elements of yoga (the exercise part) honor God by proclaiming His product (the body) is a. worth taking care of and b. made in a way that could not have been done by anything/anyone other than a divide, all powerful, and creative being like Himself. For that, PrAiSe GoD!!!
Plus - what a GREAT place to show the love of God; a place where many are open to spirituality!
So... I press on - through the sweat, through the hurts (uh huh!), through the 90 minutes per day - toward a healthy body and better understand of God's complex creativity.
"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another."
- Walter Elliott
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Yoga Day 1
That's right... today I started up yoga again. I did it back in San Diego, kinda back in the day. I do it at a hot yoga studio (Bikram Yoga in Covina). They keep the temp at 101-103 degrees. It helps muscles stretch easier and makes you sweat like a mother! It's good because you sweat out a lot of toxins, but man is it sick. The worst is when you have to put your head down and the sweats runnin' in your eyes and... eck! And yoga aint no small thing. Man, I was gettin' dizzy and nauseated... I had to take a break and sit a few times. It's intense. The first week is always the hardest. But my plan is to go at least 4 times in the next 7 days, and 3 times per week after that. Before, in San Diego, it was really helping my back and made me feel really healthy - that's what I'm hoping for again!
Anyone wanna join me? $10 for unlimited classes for the 1st week!
Anyone wanna join me? $10 for unlimited classes for the 1st week!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Not a Professional
Apprently, I'm not a professional blogger. Not even close, really.
Sorry I've let you down, fans! Sorry I've failed to tell you about all the dumb things I think about all day! :)
Perhaps now that my phone has internet access (as if I need it to) I'll be more dilligent or something. We'll see, no promises!
Sorry I've let you down, fans! Sorry I've failed to tell you about all the dumb things I think about all day! :)
Perhaps now that my phone has internet access (as if I need it to) I'll be more dilligent or something. We'll see, no promises!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Closing
Our trip is coming to a close. It's been both exciting, heart wrenching, and HOT!
This week we've done a lot of tourist type things. We've been to a few more temples and traveled to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.
We've also had opportunity to hangout with some nationals. A great coffee shop called Costa Coffee has employed quite a few deaf people. Two of them quickly befriended our team. One of them is a Christ-follower and the other is Hindu. The Hindu friend, Rajeev, told us that we much see a temple called Ashratam, so we asked if he would take us and show us around. Both went with us on Thursday. It was horribly hot but the temple was immaculate. ...In the US I had watched and IMAX film with Paula (Aaron's mom)about an Indian boy who traveled through India and became a Yogi... it turns out the boy that this boy was the central focus of worship in this temple. The temple had the IMAX film for us to watch as well as a ride (Pirated of the Carribean style), and an exhibition that walked through the stages of his life. Many of the things he was know for sounded a lot like the things Jesus did - cared for the poor, lived simply, taught peace, etc. It was all quite interesting. We talked with the two deaf boys more about our experience when we went back to Costa with them.
I've also grown fond of a girl named Sonia. She's Hindu but very modern. She walked us through the ISKCON temple this morning. She kept telling us "...but this is mythology, and I don't really believe it." And she pointed out that she thought it was pretty ridiculous that this huge temple was build so nicely (and expensively) but there are still people starving right outside of its doors. She admitted that she only really held onto Hinduism slightly because it seems to give her some soft of peace in hard times.... very interesting! I have her contact info and I really hope to keep in contact with her. She's a really neat girl outside of those things too. Very nice, very gentle, and so giving.
Tomorrow we leave (in the late evening). I'll admit that I'm pretty excited to go home. I miss feeling "at home" and I have been dealing with this weird heat rash thing that I've never seen before. Aaron is also sick with a flu of some sort. We miss our cat and we miss the comfort of our bed :)
So... soon we shall see you friends! SOON!
Signing off,
Spotted and Eager
This week we've done a lot of tourist type things. We've been to a few more temples and traveled to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.
We've also had opportunity to hangout with some nationals. A great coffee shop called Costa Coffee has employed quite a few deaf people. Two of them quickly befriended our team. One of them is a Christ-follower and the other is Hindu. The Hindu friend, Rajeev, told us that we much see a temple called Ashratam, so we asked if he would take us and show us around. Both went with us on Thursday. It was horribly hot but the temple was immaculate. ...In the US I had watched and IMAX film with Paula (Aaron's mom)about an Indian boy who traveled through India and became a Yogi... it turns out the boy that this boy was the central focus of worship in this temple. The temple had the IMAX film for us to watch as well as a ride (Pirated of the Carribean style), and an exhibition that walked through the stages of his life. Many of the things he was know for sounded a lot like the things Jesus did - cared for the poor, lived simply, taught peace, etc. It was all quite interesting. We talked with the two deaf boys more about our experience when we went back to Costa with them.
I've also grown fond of a girl named Sonia. She's Hindu but very modern. She walked us through the ISKCON temple this morning. She kept telling us "...but this is mythology, and I don't really believe it." And she pointed out that she thought it was pretty ridiculous that this huge temple was build so nicely (and expensively) but there are still people starving right outside of its doors. She admitted that she only really held onto Hinduism slightly because it seems to give her some soft of peace in hard times.... very interesting! I have her contact info and I really hope to keep in contact with her. She's a really neat girl outside of those things too. Very nice, very gentle, and so giving.
Tomorrow we leave (in the late evening). I'll admit that I'm pretty excited to go home. I miss feeling "at home" and I have been dealing with this weird heat rash thing that I've never seen before. Aaron is also sick with a flu of some sort. We miss our cat and we miss the comfort of our bed :)
So... soon we shall see you friends! SOON!
Signing off,
Spotted and Eager
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Hanuman's Temple and Sikh Gurdwara
Today we went to the Hanuman temple and Sikh Gurdwara. It was neat to go again. I think I draw nearer to God each time I re-learn how unique He is. He's not chaotic and unpredictable. He's just and quick to act. He's welcoming and kind to all, like the Sikhs, but He's promised eternal salvation to those who come to Him! He is not partial (whereas the Hindu Gods give favor to those who give lots of money and flowers and food).
Also, I'm constantly amazed at how complete, how whole, how provocative the Word of our Father is. He has already addressed, so clearly, the things that are happening here, even in this present age. Today I read Romans 1 and 2. I see the things in this text lived out in my surroundings here. They have indeed traded in truth for falsehood! They have indeed seen the wonders of God but turned away! They are indeed not only practicing lawlessness, but ENCOURAGING and HONORING it!
I love our Father! What a mighty One He is! What a righteous and loving One we serve. What a personal and accepting Lord we know! What a forgiving Son we love!
Signing off,
An Admirer
Also, I'm constantly amazed at how complete, how whole, how provocative the Word of our Father is. He has already addressed, so clearly, the things that are happening here, even in this present age. Today I read Romans 1 and 2. I see the things in this text lived out in my surroundings here. They have indeed traded in truth for falsehood! They have indeed seen the wonders of God but turned away! They are indeed not only practicing lawlessness, but ENCOURAGING and HONORING it!
I love our Father! What a mighty One He is! What a righteous and loving One we serve. What a personal and accepting Lord we know! What a forgiving Son we love!
Signing off,
An Admirer
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