Got to work this morning and it was positively spooky: the lights were flickering and only few people had power in their cubicles, so we spent a couple of hours in the dark...
How very Halloween-y ;)
Monday, October 31, 2011
Scary!
Happy Halloween, peoples!
Go Tigers!! :)
Got to work this morning and it was positively spooky: the lights were flickering and only few people had power in their cubicles, so we spent a couple of hours in the dark...
How very Halloween-y ;)
Got to work this morning and it was positively spooky: the lights were flickering and only few people had power in their cubicles, so we spent a couple of hours in the dark...
How very Halloween-y ;)
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Plymouth Segway Rental :)
I did something really cool last Saturday. I finally got to ride a Segway and oh man, was it fun! I am totally going to do this again!!
The place we rented the Segways, Plymouth Segway Rental, offers 1-hour tours of the park by Plymouth. Our guide was fantastic and the area is really nice. We got lucky with the weather: it was cold, but sunny. Did you know you can ride through shallow puddles, gravel, grass, and uneven terrain? I didn't! I thought we'd be staying on paved roads, but these Segways can definitely handle rougher ground. Fun! Try it when you get a chance!
The place we rented the Segways, Plymouth Segway Rental, offers 1-hour tours of the park by Plymouth. Our guide was fantastic and the area is really nice. We got lucky with the weather: it was cold, but sunny. Did you know you can ride through shallow puddles, gravel, grass, and uneven terrain? I didn't! I thought we'd be staying on paved roads, but these Segways can definitely handle rougher ground. Fun! Try it when you get a chance!
Monday, October 17, 2011
Meeting the Boss (a. k. a. Bikram Choudhury)
Saturday was the big day... Bikram (the guy, not the yoga) was in town and it was time to meet the legend!
He held a lecture and patiently signed our books. Here is mine:
He held a lecture and patiently signed our books. Here is mine:
And he was even available for a hug! Sorry for the goofy editing :D
Friday, October 14, 2011
This is how I roll
I've mentioned it a couple of times... work is kinda crazy at the moment. I don't know when I have to work the next day and where. I'm just kind of on stand-by and the 60-hr week last week didn't help either... blah.
Anyway, this is the result of my vagabond lifestyle...
Why yes, I do have a laptop, a case of water bottles, an oscilloscope, yoga clothes and yoga towel, random food items, dress shoes, and more electronic measuring equipment in my trunk. Doesn't everybody?
Two yoga mats and yoga clothes drying on my improvised drying rack. When I go to yoga and then
straight to a customer, I hang up my wet, sweaty clothes on the hangers... not ideal, but better than having them rot in a bag in my car for 10 hours.
Yep, just trying to make it work...
PS: I'm trying my new blogging app for the first time. Hope this post doesn't look wonky.
Anyway, this is the result of my vagabond lifestyle...
Why yes, I do have a laptop, a case of water bottles, an oscilloscope, yoga clothes and yoga towel, random food items, dress shoes, and more electronic measuring equipment in my trunk. Doesn't everybody?
Two yoga mats and yoga clothes drying on my improvised drying rack. When I go to yoga and then
straight to a customer, I hang up my wet, sweaty clothes on the hangers... not ideal, but better than having them rot in a bag in my car for 10 hours.
Yep, just trying to make it work...
PS: I'm trying my new blogging app for the first time. Hope this post doesn't look wonky.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Summer's last Hurrah (or: Fall in Michigan)
These past few days, we were blessed with gorgeous weather. (70 degF = 21 degC, for all metric unit lovers.) After the humid and hot summer, this felt like heaven.
Not only did it feel good, but the clear and sunny days and crisp nights turned the trees into a million different colors, all beautiful... look and see!
Across the magic lake...
Michigan from its best side <3
Not only did it feel good, but the clear and sunny days and crisp nights turned the trees into a million different colors, all beautiful... look and see!
Across the magic lake...
Michigan from its best side <3
Friday, September 23, 2011
Meh.
Yeah, so about that 30 Day Challenge... it didn't happen. It turned into a 7 Day Challenge instead.
Benefits from only seven consecutive days of Bikram Yoga:
- more strength (Yay, finally progress in Balancing Stick!)
- back bends are getting... back bendier (Hurray, Half Moon and Camel!)
- forward folds are getting... forward foldier (Wow, whole new perspective on Stretching Pose!)
- ...?
I'm sure there was more, but I cannot remember right now. After my vacation I quickly gave up the romantic idea of making yoga a major priority right now. A stressful work project had (still has) me traveling through metro Detroit and working 10 hour days, day after day. after day. after day. after day... I realized, putting the additional pressure of a challenge on myself was stressing me out and making me anxious.
Alas, this was not the time for a 30 Day Challenge. My challenge is making it to yoga 2-4 a week and that is OK for now.
Namaste.
Benefits from only seven consecutive days of Bikram Yoga:
- more strength (Yay, finally progress in Balancing Stick!)
- back bends are getting... back bendier (Hurray, Half Moon and Camel!)
- forward folds are getting... forward foldier (Wow, whole new perspective on Stretching Pose!)
- ...?
I'm sure there was more, but I cannot remember right now. After my vacation I quickly gave up the romantic idea of making yoga a major priority right now. A stressful work project had (still has) me traveling through metro Detroit and working 10 hour days, day after day. after day. after day. after day... I realized, putting the additional pressure of a challenge on myself was stressing me out and making me anxious.
Alas, this was not the time for a 30 Day Challenge. My challenge is making it to yoga 2-4 a week and that is OK for now.
Namaste.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Bodies.
I finally got to see an exhibit of plasticized bodies. It was fascinating and interesting. I learned quite a bit about bones and body tissue. More importantly, I gained a deeper understanding of the things that I knew already.
I recommend visiting one of these exhibits to anyone with an interest in anatomy. I've always loved anatomy (I'm a mechanical engineer after all and our bodies are mechanical masterpieces) and my yoga practice has fueled this interest even more.
No photographing allowed within the exhibit, so you will have to make due with me tickling the poster-body :)
I recommend visiting one of these exhibits to anyone with an interest in anatomy. I've always loved anatomy (I'm a mechanical engineer after all and our bodies are mechanical masterpieces) and my yoga practice has fueled this interest even more.
No photographing allowed within the exhibit, so you will have to make due with me tickling the poster-body :)
Sunday, September 4, 2011
My Bikram Birthday (and a new Challenge)
The end of August marked the "One-Year Anniversary" of my Bikram yoga practice. In this one year, I've done a 30 Day Challenge (but mostly had a 3-4 times per week schedule), I have taken a couple of brakes, I have practiced at three different studios (on two different continents), I have practiced at home a couple of times... all in all I have practiced 150 times.
I am happy with my practice: my postures are decent enough and always evolving, but more importantly, I see tons of benefits from my practice both physically and emotionally. Life sure has been interesting in the past 12 months... what with moving across the Atlantic ocean and stuff... a lot of things have happened underneath the surface, too: I have found new direction and purpose in my life, I have found a deeper awareness and kindness and happiness and ♥ and lots of other big words, and I'm sure 90% percent of that has come directly or indirectly from my yoga practice. It is safe to say, this yoga has transformed my life... or maybe I should say: I have transformed my life with this yoga.
In the last couple of months, especially during the summer months, it has been hard to keep up a regular practice. It is still a struggle to make it to the studio some days. What do you expect? This yoga is freaking HARD and it's freaking 105 degF in the room (that would be 40.5 degC)! In some weird way, it was easier to get my butt to the studio during my 30 day challenge in March than it is now. Reason being that now I have a choice... do I go and challenge myself in class or do I sit on my butt, eat a pizza, and cuddle on the sofa? Take a wild guess what I often picked... if you need another clue: I currently only fit into 2 pairs of the 8 jeans that I own.
So it's time for another challenge! I'm doing my own little 30 Day Challenge in September. It's going to be very different from my first challenge in March... the weather is still nice and summer-y now... I have more of a social life now than when I had just moved here... I'll be the only person (that I know of) doing a challenge at my studio (in March there were about 40 of us)... I'm actually practicing at two different studios right now, so at times I'm out of my normal environment, without my usual yoga friends... but yeah, my body really needs this now and my practice always improves so much when I practice on consecutive days.
Either way, I have started a 30 Day Challenge on September 1st... let's see what happens :)
I am happy with my practice: my postures are decent enough and always evolving, but more importantly, I see tons of benefits from my practice both physically and emotionally. Life sure has been interesting in the past 12 months... what with moving across the Atlantic ocean and stuff... a lot of things have happened underneath the surface, too: I have found new direction and purpose in my life, I have found a deeper awareness and kindness and happiness and ♥ and lots of other big words, and I'm sure 90% percent of that has come directly or indirectly from my yoga practice. It is safe to say, this yoga has transformed my life... or maybe I should say: I have transformed my life with this yoga.
In the last couple of months, especially during the summer months, it has been hard to keep up a regular practice. It is still a struggle to make it to the studio some days. What do you expect? This yoga is freaking HARD and it's freaking 105 degF in the room (that would be 40.5 degC)! In some weird way, it was easier to get my butt to the studio during my 30 day challenge in March than it is now. Reason being that now I have a choice... do I go and challenge myself in class or do I sit on my butt, eat a pizza, and cuddle on the sofa? Take a wild guess what I often picked... if you need another clue: I currently only fit into 2 pairs of the 8 jeans that I own.
So it's time for another challenge! I'm doing my own little 30 Day Challenge in September. It's going to be very different from my first challenge in March... the weather is still nice and summer-y now... I have more of a social life now than when I had just moved here... I'll be the only person (that I know of) doing a challenge at my studio (in March there were about 40 of us)... I'm actually practicing at two different studios right now, so at times I'm out of my normal environment, without my usual yoga friends... but yeah, my body really needs this now and my practice always improves so much when I practice on consecutive days.
Either way, I have started a 30 Day Challenge on September 1st... let's see what happens :)
Friday, September 2, 2011
Take me out to the Ball Game! --- No, really!
Yay, I made it to a baseball game! My first ever! If you remember, I've attempted to go before, but the game was cancelled due to bad weather.
I've come to appreciate baseball in the last couple of weeks, so I was pretty stoked :) It helps that the Detroit Tigers are a pretty good team too!
Detroit Tigers vs. Kansas City Royals
Scoreboard at Comerica Park (Believe it or not, but I even know what all the numbers mean!)
Me with the hot dog... hey, it's a tradition :)
I've come to appreciate baseball in the last couple of weeks, so I was pretty stoked :) It helps that the Detroit Tigers are a pretty good team too!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Amusement Park Yoga :)
PS: This is me in Camel Pose in front of one of my fave rides at Cedar Point in Sandusky, OH.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Vacation!!!
After eight months of work, I finally have a week off :))) And you can all take a wild guess about where I went on DAY 1......
Gosh, I love South Haven, MI <3
More South Haven...
Gosh, I love South Haven, MI <3
More South Haven...
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Cravings.
I have been thinking about cravings a lot lately. In the past, I have mainly known food cravings... I have learned to understand what my body needs when I crave certain things. Cravings chips or french fries? I'm lacking salt. Craving fruity candy, gummy bears? My body is longing for vitamins and fruit will do the trick. Sour candies? Lacking vitamin C of course! Chocolate? Oh-oh, better eat something and quick!! Salmon? My body wants protein...
So yeah, food-wise I'm pretty "in tune" with my body's needs. But recently I have had cravings for yoga postures, particularly these:
Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Paschimotthasana or Separate Leg Stretching Pose (picture from Bikram's official page)
Pada-Hastasana or Hands-to-Feet Pose (amazing picture from here)
These new cravings pose a question of course... what do they mean? I'm assuming I don't crave the posture for the posture's sake. I've never particularly enjoyed these postures. Actually, now that I think about them some more... they are both postures in which I am slowly "making progress", by which I do not mean that I look like the pictures above. But I feel like I have finally "understood" the postures... where I have to release, where I have to engage... and yes, I guess I am slowly moving towards the full expression (forehead on the floor or locked knees). More importantly though, I know how to work into the posture correctly, to get all the benefits it can provide for me... (even if it doesn't look picture-perfect.)
Aha! -- What are these postures' benefits then? They both strengthen the lower body, the legs, and stretch the spine.... aaaaah, stretching the spine... something most of us can benefit from, huh? In addition, the first posture massages the abdominal organs and improves flexibility of the hips, pelvis... Sounds good to my office chair-bound body!
So my guess regarding these cravings is: my body is longing for more stretches for the spine and the hips as I am sitting in my office chair for most of the work day. Either way, I'm really enjoying these postures during my classes now! :)
Have you had yoga posture cravings? Which one? And can you tie these cravings to something your body needed at the time?
So yeah, food-wise I'm pretty "in tune" with my body's needs. But recently I have had cravings for yoga postures, particularly these:
These new cravings pose a question of course... what do they mean? I'm assuming I don't crave the posture for the posture's sake. I've never particularly enjoyed these postures. Actually, now that I think about them some more... they are both postures in which I am slowly "making progress", by which I do not mean that I look like the pictures above. But I feel like I have finally "understood" the postures... where I have to release, where I have to engage... and yes, I guess I am slowly moving towards the full expression (forehead on the floor or locked knees). More importantly though, I know how to work into the posture correctly, to get all the benefits it can provide for me... (even if it doesn't look picture-perfect.)
Aha! -- What are these postures' benefits then? They both strengthen the lower body, the legs, and stretch the spine.... aaaaah, stretching the spine... something most of us can benefit from, huh? In addition, the first posture massages the abdominal organs and improves flexibility of the hips, pelvis... Sounds good to my office chair-bound body!
So my guess regarding these cravings is: my body is longing for more stretches for the spine and the hips as I am sitting in my office chair for most of the work day. Either way, I'm really enjoying these postures during my classes now! :)
Have you had yoga posture cravings? Which one? And can you tie these cravings to something your body needed at the time?
Friday, August 19, 2011
I'm walking...
This song has been on my mind a lot this week. Remember the Jetta vs. Pick-up truck story? I'm finally getting the body damage fixed and it was more extensive than it looks... which means I have been without a car since Monday and will get it back next Monday at the earliest... Luckily I live close to work, sooo... I'm walking :)
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
7 a.m. Bikram Yoga
I've got a new habit. About three times a week I take a Bikram Yoga class at 7 a.m. before I go to work. This might not sound super exciting except for if you know me, and know that I usually don't get up before the clock has a big fat eight (or at least a seven) where the hour is noted. So yeah, it's a pretty big deal for me to get up at 6:15 to make it to 7 a.m. yoga.
What makes me get up this early, you ask? A fresh, non-smelly yoga room. Quiet, focused fellow yogis and an amazingly calm vibe. Relatively empty classes. Having my evenings free for my LIFE outside the yoga room. Coming out of the studio into a fresh new day/world. Reeeaallly improving my flexibility in the morning classes! The opportunity to see dawn... :)
Who would have thought that even I can make it out of bed early for something that is important to me? ;)
What makes me get up this early, you ask? A fresh, non-smelly yoga room. Quiet, focused fellow yogis and an amazingly calm vibe. Relatively empty classes. Having my evenings free for my LIFE outside the yoga room. Coming out of the studio into a fresh new day/world. Reeeaallly improving my flexibility in the morning classes! The opportunity to see dawn... :)
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Love this App!
Just a quick shout out to one of my favorite apps on my iphone... Tracker Lite!
I use it to mark off the days on which I've taken a Bikram Yoga class. It was especially useful/uplifting during my first 30 Day Challenge in March. Actually, even now during non-challenge time, I just LOVE ticking off another day in my calender after I'vedragged my butt to gracefully finished a yoga class, YAY :)
Here's the screenshot from this past month... I'm happy with how often I've made it into the hot room, considering I'm busy busy enjoying summer and all that it entails this year :)
Namaste.
PS: Total number of Bikram classes attended since starting eleven months ago... 141... yeaaaah :)
I use it to mark off the days on which I've taken a Bikram Yoga class. It was especially useful/uplifting during my first 30 Day Challenge in March. Actually, even now during non-challenge time, I just LOVE ticking off another day in my calender after I've
Namaste.
PS: Total number of Bikram classes attended since starting eleven months ago... 141... yeaaaah :)
Sunday, July 24, 2011
That's hot.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
You can take the girl out of Germany, ...
... but no chance in hell that you can take the Autobahn out of this girl!
This is the Michigan State Police, disagreeing with my German driving style.
This is the Michigan State Police, disagreeing with my German driving style.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Pool
I finally made it to the pool at my apartment complex. It's a three minute walk from my apartment and it's free. Not sure why I haven't done this before... perfect place to chill after work :)
Monday, July 11, 2011
Right here.
Hi world!
I just wanted to pop in to say, I'm still right here, where I'm supposed to be :) Well and kicking, enjoying summer, and way too busy to post haha!
Honestly, there is not much going on... I'm practicing Bikram as often as I can, I work as seldom as I can (kidding!), and enjoying my "new life"... it's awesome! Hope you're all well!
I just wanted to pop in to say, I'm still right here, where I'm supposed to be :) Well and kicking, enjoying summer, and way too busy to post haha!
Honestly, there is not much going on... I'm practicing Bikram as often as I can, I work as seldom as I can (kidding!), and enjoying my "new life"... it's awesome! Hope you're all well!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Picnic.
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