Call Off the Downward Dog

Last night was the final yoga class for the session. For some reason, our teacher decided to work the three of us extra hard. We did balancing and stretching and so many Downward Dogs I almost rolled over and played dead.

Suffice it to say there was a workout to be had, and have it we did.

At one point Sis and I were doing a pose that resembled an airplane in flight. One of us got mixed up as to what side we were supposed to be doing, so we ended up facing each other. After we'd held the pose for a good fifty-two minutes straight, we started rolling our eyes at each other and making faces to signify "WHEN IS THIS MADNESS GOING TO STOP???"

And then we started to laugh.

Shortly thereafter we both got in trouble for not paying attention, so we had to do more Downward Dogs.

Arf.

I seem to be the only one in our class that actually has sweat glands. I bring a towel with me to class to mop up my face occasionally, while the others seem cool as cucumbers. At least that's what I thought, until Sis told me she uses deodorant on her hands before class to keep from slipping on the mat. I guess our sweat glands are just in different places.

Since our class was so small, we became friendly with the other lady that attended. Verna told us she was having a holiday party, and she'd made apple cinnamon MOONSHINE to celebrate the season. Of course, we questioned her about what went into it, so she gave us the "receipt" to try. Not only that, but to celebrate the end of class she brought small mason jars full of samples. I haven't tried mine yet, but she said when I do I should be careful. Apparently it packs quite a punch.

During the relaxation at the end of class, our teacher gave all of us foot massages. That was a gift indeed! She used a massage oil made by Indigo Wild called Zum, and the scent was wonderful. I later found out it was frankincense and myrrh - very appropriate for the season. Today I purchased some lotion with that scent, and it makes me happy.

It reminded me of Jesus washing the feet of others, and that's what I thought about all during that time. I think I will equate the scent with that gift from now on.

Christmas shopping is almost done for the year. Thankfully, Amazon is available to those of us who don't want to fight crowds. In addition, Sears and Wal-Mart have had their share of online orders. Shopping used to be the bane of my Christmas existence, but nowadays it's almost pleasurable. The gifts have started rolling in, and now have only to be sorted and wrapped. We don't have even one wrapped gift under our tree as of this writing.

We have so many celebrations for Christmas it was hard to get them all into one day. In the morning The Boy, The Girl, Hubster and I will open presents and eat a leisurely lunch, then deliver cookies to the neighbors (if I ever get them baked). The 28th Hubster's whole family will meet for dinner at his brother's home. On January 4th we'll meet with Sis and her family in the afternoon, then have our extended family dinner and presents that evening at our son's home.

This year our extended family gathering is having a European Tour for Christmas. Eldest Son and his wife come up with something new and different every year, and we always have a great time together! This year, each of us will bring a dish from a European country. The Girl has chosen Italy, The Boy, Greece, Eldest Son and his wife have France, and Eldest Daughter has Ireland. We have yet to choose. Any suggestions? We're charged with bringing an entree and side dish.

Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas!

Yoga Night

Oh yes it's Yoga Night and the feeling's right 

Oh yes it's Yoga Night, 

Oh what a night, oh what a night! 

Oh yes it's Yoga Night and the feeling's right 

Oh yes it's Yoga Night, oh what a night
(with apologies to Kool and the Gang)

As you may have guessed by now (because you are an astute and obviously intelligent reader), tonight is YOGA NIGHT.  Come 6:30 p.m. I will be gettin' down to some namaste and sweat.

I don't know why it is, but I try to talk myself out of going to this class every week.  Take today, for instance.  

Today has been a rollercoaster.  I hadn't even gotten to work this morning when I got a call that the phone system was wacky.  My receptionist called in sick again, and for some reason the elevator stopped working.

We had the annual Hanging of the Green today instead of after Thanksgiving due to a scheduling conflict, so there was additional pressure trying to make sure everyone had a good time and participated in the decorating, cookies, and funny awards.

Somehow during all of the excitement my shoulders decided to freeze in sailor's knots up around my ears.  

FUN TIMES.

So, being the ever-optimistic person I am, I said to myself, "Self, this would be a good time to SKIP the yoga tonight."  

And then I slapped myself across the face and regained my senses.  

Because it is exactly days like this one that make the yoga class so very worth the money I spent on it.

Yoga, in case you are not aware, is a slow-moving form of exercise that stretches all different parts of your body.  You do what you can do, and what you can't do, you don't.  And during the class, all the tension and angst and whatever is bothering you just slips away as you try to master whatever pose you're supposed to be doing.  

At the end of the yoga, I feel like melted butter.  It's a feeling I would wish on everyone.

True, I sweat like a pig during the class.  But I have a towel that I use to mop up.  True, I can't do every pose.  But I can modify most of them to my unique capability.  True, the class is in the evening when I feel most tired.  But I come out of class feeling not as tired, relaxed, and happy - if a little smelly.  So does everyone else.

Our little class started out with about twelve people, and it's now down to four or five.  I like to think of us as the Enlightened Ones.  We are finding that the longer we do the yoga, the better able we are to...well...do the yoga.  We are also finding out that we can laugh at ourselves.  One of the ladies has a hard time telling right from left.  I wobble from side to side, sometimes falling over.  But that doesn't stop us, because we know we'll feel so much better after the class.

So I'll go to class tonight, tired or not.  And while I'm there, I'll think of you and wish you the same relaxation and peace I feel when I'm done.

It's the least I can do.

Namaste.