It’s official!
As of last
Monday,
I am now
40 years old.

I wrapped up my 30s with a day of fun with girlfriends. (Many thanks to Angela, Heather, Amber, Katia, and my fellow new 40-year-old, Oana for the lovely brunch, presents, love and cupcakes . . . oh so good.)

Yep, now for the big 4-0. (A super-big number in the eyes of my 20-year-old daughter.)
I don’t feel too bad about it, though, because – when I was 20 – I couldn’t do this:

Not that doing Bakasana (shown above) is life-changing or anything, but it was a pretty cool thing to accomplish in the past year and just a small representation of how I hope to continue growing stronger — and maybe more playful — as I move along in this journey.

40 Days & 40 Nights

Since 3/12 kicked-off a new decade for me, I thought I would have a little fun with my first 40 days of 40.
So, I’m spending 3 minutes per day on 12 activities. These aren’t totally foreign activities to me, I’m just formalizing my commitment to these things being included in how I get my 40s rolling.

My twelve things:

1.  Meditate — Sometimes on something; sometimes on nothing. At times, meditating is about stilling your mind in order to just “be.” Other times it’s lovely to focus on a particular topic or concept. One day it was raining, so with each breath, I considered the blessings that come from the rain (growth, nourishment, cleansing, etc.).

2.  Read a Sacred Text — The first week was spent reading any bible verse numbered 3:12 (Genesis 3:12, Exodus 3:12, etc.). I also expect to incorporate other texts in order to compare, contrast, and contemplate — a few minutes at a time.

3.  Journal — Inspired by the “morning pages” of The Artists Way (and the new journal I received as a b-day gift from my friend Heather), I’m just doing a random, free flowing, whatever-comes-out kind of writing. (Since I can only fill a half page in 3 minutes, this is ending up as 6 minutes, or one page.)

4.  Massage — Just taking a few minutes to show different parts a little love and be appreciative for the role they play in my life. For example, the first day, I gave myself a little foot rub and gave thanks for my feet carrying me throughout my activities and my life.

5.  Dance — Inspired by a yoga class I took a couple of weeks ago in Florida, where in the middle of class the teacher put on some drum music and said something like “Okay, now move around like every part of your body is hitting the drums.” Admittedly, that was weird and felt awkward at first. But there were only about 8 people in the class and everyone had their eyes closed, so you could do it and not feel like anyone was watching. After the first minute (and after she said “Just let go, we’ll be doing this for the whole song.”), it was very liberating.  I decided you can’t really feel anything but good when you’re dancing around, so I’d add that to my daily routine.

6.  Headstand — I can do it by the wall, but again, in Florida I dared to take my feet off the wall and actually was able to balance. Feeling empowered, I decided I’d work on doing a headstand in the middle of the room (yikes! no wall to kick up to). A week in, and I can get up on my own with out kicking up. It’s crazy scary (still worried I’m going to flip over and bust into the furniture), but each day is getting better and better.

7.  Handstand — This one is actually harder. It takes a lot of core strength (and sometimes my back is not feeling cooperative). But, I’m just committed to kicking up on my own first (with wall), then, I’ll move on to something like . . . this . . .

8. Face Yoga — Yes, I said Face Yoga. As in, exercises you do with your face. Because, well, I am forty, after all.  And if I’m to live to, say 120 or so, I’d like to do so without any pokes or pulls or stretches from outside sources. So, this is the one thing on the list that is all about vanity and counteracting the wrinkles and sagging. (Though, I’m totally tempted to re-frame this as a way of leaving no part of my being out of my yoga practice, bringing attention to a previously neglected area, so that I can truly live a holistic yoga lifestyle . . . yeah, that’s the ticket!)

9. Language Study — I thought I’d like to be fluent in Spanish, Italian, and Greek by the time I was thirty. Turns out you have to actually do something (regularly) in order to become fluent in a language. (Go figure.) Though I can order a coffee or find the bathroom in any of these languages, that really wasn’t what I had in mind, so I’m rekindling my language fire a few minutes at a time (more on that later). Last week was Greek, this week is Italian, next week Spanish (and I’ll probably throw some Sanskrit in there after that just to bring the yoga side in). How do you study a language just a few minutes at a time, you ask? I found these podcasts from Radio Lingua Network. Very cool.

10. Friend Attention — This one sends the love out. (Because, I mean really, enough about me already.) I’m just picking a friend or family member randomly to either say a prayer for, send a note to, or whatever seems like the right thing for that particular person.

11. Savor Something — Just as it sounds. Take three minutes to just enjoy and experience something. The taste of a birthday gift caramel (thanks Oana!), the joy of an unexpected free Starbucks, or the sound of church bells ringing in the distance.

12. Try Something New — This last one might be the most challenging of all. I mean, how do you try something new in only 3 minutes? (Well, this weekend, I combined 2-days worth into 6 minutes, watched a “How to Play the Guitar” video and tried to play along.) Other ideas are taking a different route, eating a new type of food, using a different nail polish color, trying on a crazy wig (I’m determined to do this one), or whatever interesting possibility presents itself.

PS: I even incorporated it into this January wallpaper!
(Just click the image below and then right click the large image to set as your wallpaper.)

First, I saw this video on The Today Show about two women who opened an ice cream shop in New York City and — in Rwanda. As I watched the video of the Rwandan women dancing and singing about this new ice cream shop, it took me back to my trip to Uganda 10 years ago (where we experienced similar singing and dancing, constantly, in every village we visited).  I thought to myself “Wow, Africans seriously sing and dance about every little thing.”  (I realize that this is a major generalization, but I’ve seen and experienced it enough to happily take inspiration from it.)

{I decided that I would be on the lookout
for something special (big or small)
that I could sing and dance about.}

Then, I saw this video posted today by the Happiness Project which talks about things like keeping a gratitude journal (or not) and looking for cues in everyday life that will remind you to be thankful.

At this, it really seemed like a theme for the day that was worth sharing.

So, not likely a coincidence, it looks like the rest of November will be spent contemplating celebration and gratitude. I haven’t burst into song and dance yet (though I did experience joy and gratitude when the autumn leaves fell and swirled around me on my walk this morning), but I’m keeping my eye out for an opportunity to celebrate.

On a side note: Join me this weekend for my Gratitude Flow Yoga if you’re up for a little gratitude and celebration too!

This weekend I tried a new (to me) Hot Power Yoga class at Atlanta Hot Yoga.  It was an hour and a half of flowing from pose to pose in lots-o-heat, with a teacher who clearly knows her stuff.  Overall, a great way to get in a good workout, burn a few calories, loosen up tight muscles, and get some balance — sorta.

As most any yoga teacher will tell you, it is actually a sign of an experienced yogi to take a break, when needed. “Regain your breath in Child’s Pose and rejoin the practice when you’re ready,” is what we tell you.  So, when I got a little light-headed about an hour in, I did just that.  (Kristen, your humble yoga wisdom is so inspiring! Um…NO.)

So, today my glutes are S-O-R-E. Well, half of them are, anyway. Since one of my highest goals in life is to find balance, the muscles screaming at me from only half of my tush have me thinking . . . How did this happen?

Here’s how:  I stopped in the middle of a fairly challenging sequence, only completing it on one side, and rested while the class did the other side.

While this might seem like a wise thing to do when feeling light-headed, my imbalanced booty tells me otherwise.  I actually felt light-headed at the BEGINNING of the first side, but — deciding that I would “push through” until the end of the sequence — I flowed on.  However, it was more challenging than I expected, so once I finished the first side, I knew I had to pause – um . . . NOW . . . or I’d be paying an unexpected visit to a neighboring yogi.

So, while at first blush, stopping seemed like the wise thing to do, it turns out it was a little late.  And now my insensitivity and arrogance are literally a pain in my butt. As I move through my day today, I’m reminded that there is a difference between pushing your edge (like holding a pose a little longer when you’re feeling tired) and ignoring important signs from within (Yo, Kristen, you’re gonna pass out, if you don’t take a moment to get your breath back on track!).

I hope this helps you move a little more mindfully, today, too. (I know I am!)

As an extra treat for participating in the A Taste of Yoga event at Atlantic Station a couple of weeks ago — I won the raffle!! The prize was a bag-full-o-goodies from lululemon.  I picked up my prize today and was super excited to find a GIANT yoga tote bag, yoga mat, towel (great for hot yoga, including yoga outdoors!), a stay-in-place headband, a water bottle, a hat, and a $50 gift card to shop for even more lululemon gear!

Had a great time at the event, won a prize, and Atlantic Station is considering making free yoga part of their regular event schedule = yoga happiness!

I had tons of fun a couple of weeks ago at A Taste of Yoga at Atlantic Station. About 20 people showed up to Central Park to try out four half-hour yoga sessions led by local instructors. (Not me, I just went to get my sweaty flow on.)  The event was free and Smart Water was on hand to keep us hydrated.  Check out this short video below.  (Not bad, you can’t even tell it’s a million degrees out!)

They are considering making this a regular event, so if you want to put your vote in for more free yoga at Atlantic Station, be sure to visit their Facebook Page and like one of the posts about A Taste of Yoga.

Proof Why Yoga is for Every Body
by Zen Friend

If you are interested in yoga, there is absolutely no excuse why you shouldn’t give it a try. Zero. Allow me to explain. Practicing yoga in San Francisco’s Castro District is great for people watching. But that’s not what I am there for. During class, I am typically so internally focused on my meditation, breath and asana movements that I don’t tend to notice others much. However, our teacher periodically asks us at the beginning of class to acknowledge the other people in the room, our community that has come together to share our practice. Today I made eye contact with a man I’ve seen before but hadn’t paid much attention. For the sake of clarity, I’ll call him Bob. Read full article ->

Traditional Home Remedies with Basil
by Natural Medicine

All parts of basil (ie. leaves, stems, roots, seeds and the flowers) are reputed to have therapeutic virtues. This holy plant has been used by traditional / herbal practitioners as analgesic, expectorant, antidiabetic, carminative, anticancer, antifungal, antimicrobial, antiasthmatic, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, hypolipidmic, antiemetic, antispasmodic, antirheumatic, hypotensive, adaptogenic and diaphoretic. These medicinal properties are believed to be due to the presence of essential oils and other active compounds in the plant. Read full article ->

“Downward Dog” Your Way to a Better Mood
by RealAge.com

If life’s got you feeling frazzled or blue, adjust your mood for the better by striking a few yoga poses. According to a small study, this popular joint-loosening, muscle-toning exercise cranks up brain levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that helps take the edge off anxiety and helps bust up blue moods. Read full article ->

16 Quick Summer Recipes Under $3 a Serving
by Delish.com

Trying to stick to a budget? These quick, cheap, and healthy summer meals will help you meet your goal. And keep your spending in check all summer long with these low-cost healthy dinners, gourmet chicken recipes, and Mexican-inspired meals. Read full article ->

Yoga and Energy Management
by Yoga Journal

Oh, I adore yoga today. Over a 20-year career in health care practice, you can’t help but see that health care, indeed life care, has everything to do with management of energy. Read full article ->

For more interesting yoga lifestyle updates,
follow me on Twitter (@sweetescapeyoga).

How to Train Your Puppy Mind
by Gorgeously Green

Meditation is literally the game-changer for me – it transforms my day completely, IF and WHEN I do it!! Why is it so hard to commit to sitting down for a few minutes everyday in an attempt to quieten one’s mind? Probably because quietening anyone’s mind down is a hard thing for even the most seasoned yogi to do. Read full article ->

Hello, My Name is . . .
by Chris Guillebeau

I’m not a minimalist. I think it’s good to be intentional about what you own and how you take up space in the world, but I have no desire to move to a 300 square foot apartment and religiously track the number of socks that I own. Read full article ->

Most Important Pose of the Lot
by Gorgeously Green

Like our Yoga Expert, Natasha Rizopoulos, a vigorous/manic yoga practice is much more to my liking than a slooooooow stretchy kind of thing. I like to move on my mat, to feel I’m seriously accomplishing something. When I used to teach large yoga classes, I would so identify with women who looked although they were going to crawl out of their skin when I put them in Savasana (corpse pose) at the end of class. Now that I’m insanely busy, I’m realizing that this seemingly boring pose is arguably the most important pose of the lot. Read full article ->

How to Take an Outdoor Yoga Class
by Well & Good NYC

Outdoor yoga requires some mat-iquette. With outdoor yoga classes about to overtake the city’s parks and piers, and yoga studio roof decks opening, we thought it timely to go over a few practical mat-on-the-ground rules, so you can get the most out of your plein air practice. Read full article ->

Natural Remedies That May Help You Sleep
by Health.com

If sleep has plunged to the bottom of your to-do list, you’re not alone. Although the National Sleep Foundation recommends getting seven to nine hours of sleep a night, the average American logs only six hours and 40 minutes. What gives? Read full article ->

For more interesting yoga lifestyle updates, follow me on Twitter (@sweetescapeyoga).