Day 12: ISHTA June 25, 11:15 am 12:30 pm

BACK TO BACK BABY! It's the Friday before my teacher training begins so I decided I was in desperate need of a restorative class with Gina. Hands down she is the most wonderful restorative yoga teacher ever! Her voice is exactly what you want to hear when your eyes are closed and you are trying to relax. She lights her aromatherapy candles and rubs a sweet smelling lotion on her hands which fills the small room with a warmth and coziness that makes me feel safe. To me Gina's class is like a treat to my body. It's here that I try to repair the damage done by everyday wear and tear. I simply can't get enough. This is the first time however that I took a restorative class directly before a regular open level class. It was heaven! I was so relaxed and in tune with my body that I knew where to push and when to give in and relax. The 12:30 class was slated to be taught by Douglass Stewart, but much to my delight it was Peter that subbed in (FYI nothing against Mr. Stewart, I have never taken his class, I was trying to achieve that today!). I took Peter's class last week and left feeling light hearted and easy going. That is just the type of class everyone needs on a Friday. His humor wins me over time after time. I felt so grounded and rooted down during my entire practice. And what a bonus that my problematic lower back was no issue whatsoever.

Day 9,10,11: ISHTA June 22-24

OK so I have fallen off the blog wagon...my apologies. This is harder than it looks! So a nice condensed recap of the last few classes will have to do for now. On Tuesday I took Amy's early morning class at 7am. It was great. Really peaceful and relaxed, but intense every now and then. It was the only class that my schedule permitted me to take but it was well worth the early rise. NYC at around 6 am is so amazing, especially in the summer when its bright but still cool. Wednesday my schedule was the opposite and I had to take the last class available at 8:15 pm. Cassandra was teaching and never disappoints. She has a really great calm vibe about her and she always ends the class with a sanskrit mantra or some form of a song. She also always plays amazing music and gives great adjustments in poses. Thursday's class was really different. Meaghan was teaching and she has the type of body that women look at with skinny envy and most men probably think something totally different! She is tall and long and lean, in a very ballerina-ish way but still has some curves and strength to her frame. She was so tall and graceful that it was a pleasure to watch her demonstrate poses like warrior II and triangle pose. It definitely motivated me! It was in the schedule as an intermediate class so I was nervous at the start, but I have learned that placing too much focus on what level you might be at is not the point of yoga. Some days I feel pretty advanced and others all I need is to go back to basics and keep it simple. If anything, I am learning how to listen to my body. Once I started practicing this, my mind stopped fighting me back and my yoga practice became more enjoyable and beneficial. Props are your friend! Just because some days I need to use the blocks because my back or legs just aren't feeling like they can fully support me in a pose, doesn't mean my practice doesn't count or that I am a beginner or weak. This act of becoming humbled by your own body has taught me that its ok to not always do what everyone else is doing in class. It's YOUR practice, so do what serves you and only you! What a valuable lesson...I hope I can remember this.

Day 8: Summer Solstice June 21st, 10:30 am

There are almost no words to describe this yoga class I was a part of. There had to be around 500 yogis and yoginis in attendance just for this class alone. For the first time I joined people from 33 different countries to celebrate the official start of Summer in Times Square NYC outside on the hot pavement. The class was taught by the "JivaDiva" aka Alanna Kaivalya a Jivamukti teacher. Despite the sweltering hot sun and equally hot and sometimes smelly pavement (I was close to the gutter) the experience alone was wicked (I'm from Rhode Island). They used the term "Mind over Madness" to promote this event and they were right on the money with that slogan. I had to try my best not to get distracted by the cameras and ogling that was taking place a mere 5 feet away. Somehow I managed to transfer my nervous energy into motivation. It helped that I dedicated this class to my mom. I kept the intention I set very close to my heart, even when beads of sweat dripped down my face and I could think of much easier things I could be doing with my time. But that is one of the great gifts of this challenge. I could be doing tons of other things with my time this summer, but for the first time in a long while I am just dedicated to doing something I find joy in. It feels pretty amazing!

Day 7: ISHTA June 20th, 5:15 pm

Today was pretty bad. I decided to take a restorative class because I was stressed out and tired. I got to class full of optimism and sadly that did nothing for me. I could not relax or even attempt to quiet my mind. I felt like everything was wrong. Every single pose of the class I wanted nothing to do with it! Now, this as you can imagine frustrated me even more. I could feel everyone else relaxing and loving the class. I even heard one guy snoring so he was clearly relaxed. I was fighting to stay with it, I was that girl that was fidgeting every 5 minutes and trying to readjust to find some ease and comfort. The only thing I can say is that at least I made it through.

Days 5 and 6: ISHTA & Sankalpah June 18th, 11:15 am 5:30 pm ISHTA June 19th 8:15 am

After the intense back pain from thursday I drifted over to ISHTA for a restorative class mid morning. All I can say is that I will be back again and again. All the walking and carrying big bags and just everyday life can really catch up to you. I had to make time for myself to relax and let go. This was the perfect place to do just that. Gina was a lovely teacher and knew just what adjustments to make for me to ease into a deeper stretch and state of relaxation. She had a great sense of humor too, which I always apreciate in people (not just yoga teachers). She lit an aromatherapy candle and gave us all little eye pillows to use when we were in poses on our backs. That had to be the icing on the cake for me. I am a relative newby to the practice of restorative yoga...I guess I must of thought that my body didn't need much restoration, but I could not have been more wrong. I think I have some pent up stress, tension and anxiety to release (Gina I apologize in advance) so I will make this a part of my weekly routine. I clearly must have been feeling good after Gina's class because I went to Isaac's class at Sankalpah the same day 5 hours later! (NOTE TO SELF: stop parking your mat so close to the back wall...you don't actually like that spot! Stop trying to hide!) Class was great, just the amount of intensity I could handle. I am trying to listen to my body more. The problem is that my mind is obnoxiously loud! I guess I will just tack that on my list of TO DOs then mercifully try to let it all go when I am in Gina's class :) Isaac has a good eye and pretty much shows up at my mat just when I think about possibly going easy on myself...THANK YOU a thousand times for that. Everyone needs a good kick in the pants some time.

DAY 6! ISHTA: 8:15 am Raquel

I didn't think I would make it to this very early Saturday morning class. I set my alarm nevertheless for 6:50 am to make it in time from my apartment in East Harlem to the studio on E 11th street. To my surprise, I was up before my alarm and ready to go by 7:15 am. So I headed towards my class feeling quite proud of myself for being one of a few people up and out buzzing around town this early on the weekend! As I settled into class I had an "ah ha moment" (yes I love me some Oprah) I felt like yes, this is what I will continue to rise early for and travel near and far for, YOGA! I was so beside myself that I couldn't help but smile. All this even before class started. Raquel was an awesome early morning teacher. I'm convinced there is a separate skill set for teaching such early classes, especially in NYC. She was soft spoken and gentle and explained everything very well with great demos. She also encouraged us to feel our breath and movements instead of thinking too much about it. She ended with some cooling breathing exercises and some restorative poses! Yum!

Almost one week down and I am feeling pretty good.

Day 4: Sankalpah June 17th, 6:00 pm

Dear Body,

It is only day four and you are acting up. Please cut this out asap. Thank you kindly!

Now that I have said my peace, hopefully my lower back will ease up and RELAX. I had a stressful day so maybe that is why my back is pinched and screaming? I think I actually need to ice it...hmmmm maybe now while I watch my dose of reality tv (Bethenny Getting Married on Bravo...don't judge!) Im so tired from Isaac's class that a good sleep is just what I need. But his class is just what your body asks for, that could be because he asks every person what they want to do in class and then carefully crafts it based on us! Whatever he does, he does it well and it keeps loads of people coming back for more (me included)! Tomorrow I will be at ISHTA for the 11:15 am restorative class...just what MY body needs.

Day 3: ISHTA June 16th, 1:45 pm

Class this afternoon with Jason at ISHTA was really great. It was a small class of three so we all got a lot of hands on adjustments and attention. Jason helped me to understand a better way to express my chaturanga so I dont keep stressing my lower back out. The sway in my back that looks so great in jeans and dresses doesn't help me much when I am in yoga class searching for stability in my low back and core! I think I can still feel the red velvet cake somewhere in my tummy...no good! Im doing better though now with the sugar cravings as I sip homemade ginger, mint and lemon tea. Im so excited for day 4 of class at Sankalpah. My friends Hiedi and Maria will be joining me and it's sure to be a hot, intense class. Isaac is teaching, which can only mean wonderful things as everyone just soaks up his every word and movement, all the while completely inspired by everything he does! So far week 1 is going well.

Day 2: ISHTA June 15th, 7:30 pm

I didn't really feel like going to class today and it's only day 2! I blame it on the layers of red velvet cake I consumed over the last two days and nights while celebrating Eleanor's 24th birthday. But who could cave on day 2!!! I wouldn't be able to live with myself! So off again to ISHTA for the final class of the day. The teacher was HILARIOUS! Peter was light hearted and gregarious and it made the class fly by with ease and grace. He brought his sense of humor to the mat and it made his class great, not just good. I will definitely be returning to his classes whenever I can get there. A good belly laugh during downward dog never felt so right! Hopefully the lunchtime class I plan on taking tomorrow at ISHTA can live up to Peter's class. Even though it's only Tuesday night...I am looking forward to class/day 4 at Sankalpah. I am going with 2 good friends to take Isaac's class...I have described his class as like going to church...enough said! :)

Day 1: ISHTA June 14th, 8:15 pm

After eating a massive bon voyage lunch at Ruby's in Soho (Eleanor's last meal before heading back down under) I didn't feel much like a yogini that was ready to start a 60 day personal challenge. So I waited until the last possible minute and took the final class at 8:15 pm with Cassandra at Ishta. It was just what I needed. We did a lot of restorative poses and she was very easy and gentle with us this late at night. Don't get me wrong though, I did sweat a lot. She also sang a beautiful chant towards the end of class that was so soothing and calming. I am so glad that I finally got to class, despite the food baby that was growing inside of me!