Good Morning! I started my day off by waking up early and changing into my running clothes around 5:30. Perfect, I thought. I find the silence of the morning road beneath my feet very soothing and that is just what I needed. Until I randomly got back under the covers while Mike was getting ready for work and snuggled in. Although I didn't fall back asleep and my mind was racing through a checklist of things to be completed, it was kind-of nice to take the morning off. I took 60 minutes of hot yoga last night as I am learning a new script and then taught the last class of the night. I woke up pretty early Monday morning as well to hit the gym doing cardio intervals and strength training then did 2 hot yoga classes Monday night. Sooo....I guess the crawl under the blankets this morning can be justified (maybe?!).

I was doing some research the other night on the yoga poses that are taught during our Topaz class to explore the benefits of each pose as well as the breathing exercises that begin and end the class. I discovered a lot of benefits (of course!) to hot yoga as well as a pose, Standing Separate Leg to Knee which are listed below.

 

• Helps abdominal obesity, diabetes, thyroid, blood sugar balance, pancreas and kidneys.

• Works endocrine, reproductive and digestive system.
• Works obiliques, iliopsoas, quads, deltoids, trapezius, biceps and triceps. 

I can honestly say my blood sugars have been pretty steady recently and it could be a combination of the slight adjustments to my pump settings that were made in October as well as the continuous yoga and running I have been doing. Well that is a good feeling! I have noticed my pump does not always like to stay of for the entire 3 days if I am doing a combo of the running and hot yoga during those days...weird.

What is your favorite yoga pose and why?

Make it a great day!

7th Topaz Class

Tonight was the 7th Topaz Hot Yoga class I have taught. Such great energy in class. My first 2 or 3 classes I wondered how much I was really going to enjoy teaching. As I stood at the front of the room and 53 new students stared at me for 45 minutes while the heat was blazing, I felt like the silence was enough to make me commit yoga suicide.
However, nothing will ever replace the feeling I get right after I am finished teaching. And tonight I looked over and said "sinking down one more inch..." and all 53 students sank down, reluctantly because it was difficult for them, but they obliged. Towards the end of the class in the final savasana, I told them to make their exhales the same length as their inhales as we tend to leave stale air in the body, I opened the door for some cool air on them and they all laid there. Breathing very deep, focused on their breath and practice. That's when you know you are doing what you should be doing. I honestly feel complete teaching hot yoga to a room full of students.
Talk about rewarding. It felt amazing! I feel like my practice is improving as well while I am teaching. I was hoping I could hold Tree pose tonight while everyone was looking to me for instruction

11. Tree Pose

Tadasana

Benefits: Facilitates hip and knee mobility. Excellent for posture and balance. Aids in rheumatism and circulatory disorders.

I am hoping you have all been doing well! I am off to some much needed sleep.

I did hold it by the way ;) I will begin learning my script for Diamond soon and then I hope Black Opal, my favorite vinyasa class.








"A good teacher is like a candle-it consumes itself to light the way for others".