I have to admit, my enthusiasm for the challenge dropped off significantly this week. I suppose that’s mostly due to five straight weeks of doing some combination or sequence of the same 13 practices (I mentioned last week that I was a little ticked off about the online challenge consisting of the same practices as the DVD, just in a different order). I had been doing really well until the weekend, and then missed two days (Friday and Sunday)! I could have kicked myself.

To get back into the swing of things, I treated myself to a real, actual yoga class this evening at my favorite local studio. I was sore from playing tennis on Sunday, but once the class started, I forgot all about the achy muscles and creaky joints. Classes are generally longer than a DVD practice, but they move at a slightly slower pace. Poses are held for much longer, though, which makes me get past that point where it’s slightly uncomfortable. I’m always amazed at what my body can do – the postures it can hold, and the lengths of time for which it holds them – when I just give it the opportunity.

Maybe I’ve been away from live classes too long, or maybe my brain was tired, but it felt like something a little bit magical happened tonight. I don’t know if I can quite put it into words, but I’ll try: This particular studio is on the second floor of a building situated right in the middle of our little downtown area. Also, a massive fog descended earlier today, reducing visibility to virtually nothing. So, looking out the windows during class, all I could see was fog and the hazy glow of streetlights. I felt like I was tucked in a treehouse in the middle of the clouds.

As we got to the end of class, we took eka pada rajakapotasana (pigeon) as our final pose. While I’m usually not a fan of pigeon, at that particular moment it was the only thing I wanted to do. And when we got to the second side of the pose, I felt something release; I just let go and melted into the floor – hip, forehead, arms, everything. We stayed there for a good long while, and I felt so safe and content and at peace in pigeon, enveloped in my cozy little treehouse in the clouds. (Still no crying. Maybe it’ll happen one day.) I wish I could bottle that feeling and carry it around with me, because it was truly amazing.

My vegetarian experiment is still going well; no major meat cravings to speak of (though I’m a little tired of black bean burgers). On the yoga front, I’ve decided to forego doing the specific practices assigned to each day for the remainder of the challenge (that is, unless a certain one strikes me as particularly appealing). Instead, I’m going to broaden my horizons with more live classes, other DVDs and maybe even some of my own practices. I’m going to listen to my body and do what seems right in that moment. If I want to kick my own butt with an hour of Shiva Rea, I will do that. On the other hand, if I play tennis for two hours, I’ll probably just do a few gentle poses to work out my lower back and then take savasana. And that, I have come to learn, is perfectly okay.

You Asked, I Answered

I’ve tried to address the most common queries I receive, as broadly and accurately as possible. But, at the end of the day, this information is largely based on my own experience and the research I did when I was preparing to transfer; keep in mind that every school is different, as is every student’s transfer experience.

Can I transfer after first semester?

In a word, no.

Though the material taught during the first year is pretty standard, the structure of the academic year tends to vary across law schools. The school I attended my 1L year had year-long classes – we didn’t even receive an official grade until the end of the year. Some schools, on the other hand, will offer fewer classes each semester, but you’ll knock out the whole course in one term. So, allowing students to transfer after first semester of 1L is really not feasible.

Can I transfer after second year?

Again, generally not.

You pretty much have one shot to nail your transfer: between 1L and 2L. Now, many law schools will grant visiting student status to students who come in after the beginning of the second year. However, there are two things to note about this: 1) visiting status is usually granted based on extenuating circumstances (we had one student whose husband got transferred to the area, and we also received several visiting students who were impacted by Hurricane Katrina), and 2) your diploma will still come from your original school.

How difficult is it to transfer law schools?

This really depends. Many schools have an established transfer program and accept the same number of transfer students each year; others only accept transfers to account for attrition from the prior year. So, depending on where you apply, you may be competing for one of 20 spots, or one of two.

But, no matter where you apply, you’ll be competing with the best of the best. There’s no set rule, but it’s safe to say that you’ll have the best chance of getting in if you’re in the top 10% of your 1L class. Study hard!

What is the process for transferring law schools?

I’ve outlined the timeline I used when I transferred. Of course, your individual experience may vary – and please feel free to share it with me!

Does my LSAT score matter when applying to transfer?

Yes and no. You do have to submit your LSAT score (and therefore need to make sure that you have a current LSAC registration). Schools do look at it. However, it matters much, much less than it did when you initially applied to law school. Ostensibly, the LSAT is a predictor of your future performance in law school, but with a year of actual classroom experience behind you and the grades that accompany it, there’s less need for a prediction.

I was never a good standardized test taker (until, ironically, the MBE portion of the bar exam), so I had a supremely mediocre LSAT score relative to my academic abilities. However, I ranked 4th in my 1L class, so the predictive value of my LSAT score was relatively low. Conversely, if you have a high LSAT score but didn’t do well in your first year, there may be a perception that you didn’t do as well as you are able to, which could weigh against you.

Should I even transfer law schools?

Transferring law schools is a very personal decision, and the reasons vary widely. Before you actually do it, I recommend making a list of pros and cons – both for transferring in general, and for transferring to each school to which you are accepted – and ensure that your reasons are sound and defensible.

I address this question in much more depth in this post about whether to transfer.

More Questions? Ask Away!

As I said, I’ve attempted to answer the questions that I’ve seen appear most often. However, if you have another question, please feel free to submit a comment below, and I’ll edit this post to include the answer. This resource is for you, so don’t hesitate to ask!

I’ve completed the first week of the online challenge, which seems like a good point to check in and reflect. Writing every day during the first challenge was a good exercise for me, but doing so again might prove repetitive. So, a weekly update seems more reasonable and palatable this time around.

The Good and The Bad

First, the bad: I was super excited for something new and different in my yoga routine, so it disappointed me greatly to find that this “new” 21-day challenge was simply the same practices from the DVD set, just arranged in a different order. Major bummer.

But, I have committed to doing it, so that’s what I’m doing. I have such little confidence in my ability to follow through on things these days, and am hyper-aware of my tendency to start something and not complete it. Because of that, I think I’ve maybe begun to tend to the other extreme, being doggedly determined to stick with various projects and commitments until their completion.

Another fairly major downside to the online challenge is that the videos are embedded in the browser using Flash, so they can’t be downloaded. This means that for people like me whose computer and yoga mat are on opposite ends of the house, it is difficult to make the logistics work. After lots of technical assistance, I plugged my laptop into the TV to play the video. That is, until I realized that I already have the whole thing on DVD (head, meet desk).

Now, the good: I have everything on DVD, so no more messing with plugging my laptop into the TV! Also, the practices are relatively short, which means that a) there’s no excuse not to do something each day, and b) I can easily supplement with other DVDs in my collection.

By the end of this challenge, I will have more or less done a daily practice for 42 straight days (and since December 28th, I’ve only missed one day!). While searching for my header graphic, I stumbled on this blog, where I read the following comment:

My teacher… says it is better to practice 10 minutes each day during the week than one day a week for 70 minutes. The habit of practice is important and tends to grow into longer practice sessions without much effort.

It’s true: I find that frequently, I do more than the day’s prescribed sequence, just because I want to. I know that I need to add more variety (cardio, strength) to my fitness routine, but I’m pleased that I have at least achieved some sort of consistency. It’s the little things.

An Extra Challenge: A Meat Hiatus

I also added eating vegetarian as a component of this 21-day challenge. So far, so good. I find it pretty easy to eat meat-free, and with the single exception of some amazing looking sushi last night, I have not been tempted to veer off course. (I resigned myself to veggie tempura and the avacado, cucumber and asparagus roll, while vowing to return on January 30th).

For me, the most challenging parts of eating vegetarian are 1) finding enough protein, and 2) avoiding carbs. I’m so used to getting my protein through meat that I sometimes forget that I have to actively find alternate sources. And, because I really shouldn’t be eating many carbs anyway, it’s doubly hard to resist the urge to replace meat with extra bread, pasta, etc.

Accentuate the Positive

Since I have been doing yoga daily, I have noticed a substantial decrease in the number of negative thoughts I have. It’s striking, really. I’m even mostly over the fact that there are zero new practices in this 21-day challenge. I was, however, highly annoyed to be woken up this morning on my holiday off by my neighbor’s tree-cutting and chipping activities. I’m not sure why that couldn’t wait until tomorrow. In any case, I’m grateful to have the day to myself so that I can do things like write, with this helpful little gremlin sitting in my lap:

In the next week, I plan to maintain the consistency of my practice and increase the intensity. I’m also hoping the sun will decide to shine so I can get out on the tennis court at least once without freezing. At least spring is (hopefully!) right around the corner!

So tell me, How are you doing with your 2012 fitness goals so far? What has worked, and what hasn’t?

Victoria’s Picks

Victoria – who blogs over at Mommy Marginalia – and I met through a women lawyers’ networking group and became fast friends. Like, instantly. We bonded over our love of yarncrafting, good books and great beer. Every Christmas, we give each other a used book; it’s a fun challenge to hunt for great deals on books.

The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton: It’s The Secret Garden all grown up with a delicious mystery spanning three generations.

Super Natural Every Day: Well-loved Recipes from My Natural Foods Kitchen, by Heidi Swanson: Equal parts eye candy and intellect candy – beautiful, easy, healthy recipes compiled in such a way that you want to sit down and read the whole book.

Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson: The story of the most influential event of the late 19th century that you’ve (probably) never heard of.  Some will love the American Jack the Ripper angle; others will be amazed at the scale and transience Chicago World’s Fair – and how many important figures it touched.

Half the Sky, by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn: If you think feminism has run its useful course, think again.

Under the Chinaberry Tree, by Ann Ruethling: Parents and non-parents alike will enjoy these timeless children’s book recommendations (who doesn’t love to curl up with a picture book from their childhood once in awhile!).

Heather’s Picks

Heather – who blogs about strategic volunteering – is the CEO of the metro Atlanta affiliate of a national non-profit that serves girls and teenagers. She’s also just an all-around kick-ass person. When she sent her book list, she said, “I love that you think I have time to read!” Of course I do, Heather – I’m not sure there’s anything you can’t do!

The Help, by Kathryn Stockett

Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, by Chip Heath and Dan Heath

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, by Daniel H. Pink

Saturday, by Ian McEwan

Shopgirl, by Steve Martin: He is BRILLIANT!

Shannon’s Picks

Shannon is the current Junior League President and a recovering attorney. She and I borrow books from one another like some people trade clothes, and I give her 100% credit for introducing me to the joys of audiobooks. We have whiled away many an afternoon together over coffee, swapping book recommendations.

Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline: I don’t usually like science fiction in any format, but this book grabbed me and held me from the first page, and I’m absolutely astounded at the amount of research and knowledge of 1980′s pop culture, music, movies, and video games that went into writing it.  The story is fantastic, the writing is fast-paced, and if you’re a child of the ’80s, this book is a trip down memory lane with something for everyone.

The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern: This book is a beautifully-written, visually (in your imagination) stunning love story of dueling magicians in a nature vs. nurture – raw talent vs. rigorous practice – life or death competition, set against the backdrop of a most unusual traveling circus.

Moonwalking with Einstein, by Michael Foer: My non-fiction selection for the year.  A fascinating study of how and why the ways that we are taught to memorize information have changed over time, together with an intriguing look into the author’s participation in the U.S. Memory Championship.

The Twelfth Enchantment, by David Liss: A somewhat surreal, highly entertaining mystery.  If you’ve read and enjoyed The Somnambulist by Jonathan Barnes or The Manual of Detection by Jedediah Berry, you’ll enjoy this book.

Under the Poppy, by Kathe Koja: I bought this book for its cover (I do that sometimes), and the story turned out to be absorbing: espionage, murder, redemption, enduring love, and lots of marionette puppets, set in a rather unique brothel in the 1870s.  The characters are desperate, flawed, and entirely sympathetic, and once I got past the inconsistent punctuation (apparently based on the character narrating at the time) and the sometimes whiplash-inducing change in narrators, I realized that I couldn’t put it down.

Lila’s Picks

Lila is my grandma, an avid reader and overall just a cool lady. When I was little, my favorite thing to do when visiting her was to go to the local bookstore, where she would treat my brother and me to a new book. She currently lives just outside Memphis, but I’m super excited that she will be relocating about ten minutes from my house this spring!

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, by Jamie Ford: A young Chinese man and Japanese girl have been friends for years. WW2 arrives and she and her family are sent to an internment camp. There is great animosity between these two countries. Both families are Americans but the feud continues. A fascinating story you won’t soon forget.

Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, by Helen Simonson: The story of a retired British officer in a small town and the lady who is from another culture and owns the shop where he gets his newspaper every day. Delightful and very thought provoking.

The Accidental Mother (followed by the sequel, The Accidental Family), by Rowan Coleman: A young career woman suddenly has two little girls orphaned (sort of) by the death of her best friend. Their dad, divorced from their mother, is somewhere but has been gone a long time. You will be entranced by the little one who refuses to take off the Angel wings made by her mother.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: It’s WW2 and the British island has been occupied by German troops. An intriguing story with an intriguing cast who depict the many ways the human spirit lives on – no matter what !!

Home to Big Stone Gap, followed by Big Stone Gap and Big Cherry Holler, a trilogy by Adriana Trigiani: What a delight to discover this marvelous writer. A small town in the South holds some unforgettable people and their “doings.” She has written other books, all terrific.

Also, ANYTHING that is written by Robyn Sisman is a great read.

She adds, “Erin, I know that last author was one too many but we just can’t NOT mention Robyn.” That’s okay; I think I can give you a pass… but just this once (wink, wink). 

Erin’s Picks

Looking back at the list I keep on Goodreads.com, I had a hard time choosing my top five this year. Unlike last year, when I had trouble keeping my list to only five books, this year I struggled to find five that truly stood out. I read some very good books, don’t get me wrong, but I feel like this year’s list isn’t as rock solid as last year’s. In any case, I’m in the middle of several excellent books that I didn’t finish in 2011, but hope to be able to put on my list for 2012!

The Secret History, by Donna Tartt: A fantastic book about a college student who gets drawn into a mysterious and prestigious group of Greek scholars at a small New England liberal arts college. As he gets drawn further into their world, he learns about a secret that they all struggle to keep, and that slowly tears them apart. The beautiful language makes this book a pleasure to read. It’s easy to see how it has influenced many others since, like Tana French’s The Likeness and Marisha Pessl’s Special Topics in Calamity Physics (which was one of my picks last year).

Freakonomics, by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner: I know I’m late to the party on this one, but this is a fascinating read that demystifies many real-life riddles and shows that, at the end of the day, economics simply revolves around the fact that people are motivated by incentives. It offers a new and eye-opening perspective on the world. I also read SuperFreakonomics and enjoyed it as well, though not as much as the original.

The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon: With a story that begins in the secret Cemetery of Forgotten Books, this is a book for book lovers. Young Daniel Sempere is initiated to the Cemetery by his father, where he chooses a book that he will protect for the rest of his life. When he sets out to find other books by the same author, he finds someone has been systematically destroying them. A gothic novel in the classic sense, the city of Barcelona, with its dark spires and shadowy alleys, is just as much a character as any of the humans.

Call Me Ted, by Ted Turner: Love him or hate him, pretty much everyone agrees that Ted Turner is a visionary. (I, for one, happen to fall into the “love him” camp). This book is a fascinating look into his life, his passions and how he became an innovative entrepreneur. What I love about it is that you can really hear The Mouth of the South as he tells his incredible story – this is no ordinary autobiography.

The House of Silk, by Anthony Horowitz: For the first time, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s estate has authorized a Sherlock Holmes story written by someone else. However, if I had picked this book up without knowing who wrote it, I would have sworn that Conan Doyle himself authored it. Though the nefarious scheme revealed toward the end has a decidedly modern twist, this is a fantastically written book sure to satisfy even the staunchest of the Holmes purists out there. It’s still in hardcover, though, so you might have to be patient (or check your local library) if you don’t have an e-reader.

New Year, New List

Hopefully something in the lists above grabs your interest and gets added to your reading list for this year (I know my stack of unread books just got much larger!). I would be remiss if I didn’t give many, many thanks to my wonderful friends and family who graciously provided me with your thoughtful recommendations – your contributions really make this project fun, interesting and rewarding. Of course, I’ll be making the rounds again at the end of this year to get your top five from 2012. That is, unless the Mayans were right. Until then, Happy New Year, and Happy Reading!

P.S. For those who haven’t yet submitted a list, it’s not too late: Either respond in the comments below, or send me an e-mail, and I’ll add you above!

The Good

I like so many aspects of this challenge – both the concept and the DVD collection itself – that I have a hard time narrowing them down to a few points:

• Quality. Yoga Journal used its name recognition and presumably healthy budget to get a strong battery of instructors like Jason Crandell and Elise Lorimer for the challenge. Each one has a noticeably different style and perspective, but are all adept at cuing and sequencing. The production is also good, with clear audio and a set that is free from distractions.
• Pacing. Not just the pacing of each individual practice (which is more up to the instructor, anyway), but rather the overall pacing and progression from one day to the next. Each day’s practice thoughtfully progresses towards the week’s challenge pose so that once you get to Day 5 of each week, you are prepared to tackle the challenge pose practice.
• Accessibility. This challenge presumes some knowledge of yoga, so it’s not for total beginners. However, the practices are very doable for an advanced beginner. The instructors also do a good job of providing variations of most of the poses to suit different ability levels, so intermediate yogis can find more of a challenge if they want one.
• Realistic. This challenge is less of a sprint and more of a marathon. Not every practice leaves you sweating and tired; if that were the case, many people might not make it past the first few days (e.g., P90X). Moreover, the length of the practices, which vary from 15 to 45 minutes, makes it easy to fit the challenge into your schedule. Though I’d love to have 90 minutes every single day, the fact is I don’t; but most people likely can find at least 20-30 minutes.
• Value. In the three-ish weeks it took me to complete the challenge, the price on Amazon dropped over $5. Still, the $32 I paid was well worth the 300 minutes of yoga I got.

The Not-So-Good

I don’t like nitpicking on what is overall a great idea and product. However, a couple things stood out to me that could be improved, should YJ release another DVD collection:

• Variety. I know I just discussed the great value the set provides. There are 13 practices total, so several of them repeat. It is kind of neat to be able to measure your progress on a particular practice from one week to the next. However, I do wish there had been a bit more variety in the practices. For instance, I understand having the third day of each week focus on core strengthening; however, it would be great to have three progressive core sequences that add difficulty each week. I, for one, would pay more for greater variety, but I might not be in the majority there.
• Intensity. Perhaps I’m being obtuse, but a couple of practices left me feeling like I was lacking something. In fact, I combined Days 6 and 7 of each week, and sometimes followed my daily practice with another short practice from Shiva Rea’s Daily Energy. I understand that the point is not to feel utterly spent at the end of each practice (see “Realistic,” above). But, I just felt that some days didn’t rise up to the level of intensity that I wanted or expected. I would love to see a more advanced level challenge; who knows, perhaps the good folks at Yoga Journal already have one in the works.

What Did I Learn?

I got tremendous benefits from this challenge, and not just physical ones. Practicing yoga each day and blogging about it was a great way to manage the stress of the holidays and start the new year off on a high note. I have taken so much from this experience that I hope to parlay into wonderful things for 2012 and beyond:

• Strength. I feel stronger, mentally and physically, after completing the challenge. As each week progressed, the Day 1 flow practice seemed less difficult and exhausting. I didn’t dread those chaturangas quite as much. I also gained some mental fortitude: Even on days when I didn’t feel like rolling out the mat, I did it anyway. Every time, I felt better afterward. I had been questioning the strength of my willpower lately, and this helped to reinforce that I really can do anything when I just resolve to do it.
• Prioritizing. Along those same lines, if something is important to me, I will make it a priority, as I did with both practicing and writing over the course of the challenge. I still tend to one extreme or another in most aspects of my life, so I often prioritize some things to the detriment of others. I wish I could say I learned balance from this challenge, but I still struggle mightily with it.
• Accountability. A tip frequently doled out to those setting goals is to tell everyone you know about it. For this challenge, I set a goal of not only doing the practices, but also blogging about them. For all I know, there are only two or three people who have been reading my nonsense. However, by putting it out there on the Internet and posting on Facebook, I felt a greater sense of accountability to follow through, which contributed to my success.
• Acceptance. As a life-long perfectionist with OCD tendencies, I tend to be pretty hard on myself. This challenge taught me not only to be aware of my limitations, but to accept them and where I am right now. I listened to my body when I was sick, and tried not to beat myself up for not fitting yoga into my insane schedule the couple days around Christmas. And it was beyond frustrating to fail at urdhva dhanurasana, especially when I know that I can do it (and have done it before!). But I took a step back and tried to be kinder to myself: Every day is different, and some days certain poses or practices are just not meant to happen. Ahimsa begins with not harming yourself, mentally or physically.
• Writing. I enjoy writing – it’s a great creative outlet that lets me flex my mental muscle. I have not made enough time for it in recent months, but the 21-day challenge spurred me to write more. While I won’t hold myself to writing every single day from here on, doing so for the duration of the challenge allowed me to rediscover how much I like it. I also learned that the more I write, the more I enjoy it, and that the best topics are those that excite and interest me. Most importantly, I realized that my writing doesn’t have to (and never will) be perfect before I hit the “publish” button.
• Consistency. Last but not least, I realized the tremendous benefit of consistency, both in practicing yoga and in writing. The more often I do both of those things, the more I enjoy them. Practicing yoga regularly makes me a much more tolerable person to be around, and I feel stronger and calmer. Writing frequently gives me a sense of accomplishment and provides a great outlet. I also find that when I write often, I get more ideas for topics, and it just snowballs. It’s a pretty cool feeling.

Overall, I had a great experience doing the 21-Day Challenge. I learned new approaches to poses that had previously eluded me, and came to enjoy the benefits of having a regular yoga practice. In fact; I have already started Yoga Journal’s new online 21-Day Challenge and hope to integrate a consistent practice going forward. The daily challenge – both yoga and writing – became something I actively looked forward to rather than just another thing I had to check off my list before going to bed. Most importantly, though unexpectedly, I learned so much about myself: My abilities, limitations, strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for growth. I certainly got my $32 worth, and so, so much more. Namaste!

We’re already to the end of the 21-day challenge! Need to catch up? Make sure you start at the beginning!

It’s been a gloomy sort of weekend, with lots of fog and rain. But, that certainly beats a year ago, when we were preparing to get snowed in for a week. I feel like I have fallen behind on a lot of things, but was determined not to fall behind on my schedule to complete the 21-day challenge. So, I was happy to wrap up a long and busy weekend with some yoga.

Day 20 – like Days 6 and 13 – was a 30-minute tension-release practice. This week, the practice focused on side bends – something I don’t generally pay a whole lot of attention to. This practice was also led by Jason Crandell, so of course I enjoyed it tremendously (which is not to say that the other instructors aren’t good; there’s one I don’t like, Jason Crandell is my favorite, and the others fall somewhere in between). It was challenging, but very doable and provided the opportunity for varying degrees of intensity. The sequence included some really great poses like parivritta janu sirsasana, which I love, even if I can’t grab my big toe or get my head all the way to my knee. There were also some really great variations on trikonasana and parsvakonasana that allowed me to get full side stretches all the way from my fingers to my toes. I’ve never done Bikram so I can’t make any judgments about it, but I personally enjoy variety in my practice (Bikram devotees, feel free to convince me otherwise!).

After the side-bending practice, I went ahead and did Day 21’s week-ending evening practice as I have the last two weeks. I’m not sure my feelings about it have changed substantially, though I did appreciate it a little more after such a long weekend. FatDog found it relaxing as well; by the end he was curled up on his bed, snoring away. (I wish I’d had my phone with me to take a picture, because it was really priceless). And with that, the 21-day challenge came to a quiet and peaceful close.

I’ve been pondering my next steps and challenges. I’ll be posting a full recap of this challenge in the next couple of days to reflect on what I learned and how I feel. Yoga Journal’s 2012 online 21-day challenge starts tomorrow, and I have signed up to do it. I will likely not blog about it everyday, but will probably post a weekly recap. As I mentioned the other day, I’m considering adding the extra challenge of eating vegetarian during this next 21 days.

Thanks to all of you who have shared in this journey with me by reading along and providing encouragement and accountability. I look forward to sharing new challenges as the year progresses. In the meantime, Namaste.

If you’re just now starting to read about the 21-day challenge, make sure you start at Day 1 to get the full story!

It’s been kind of a long weekend. I spent Friday night and all day today up in Blue Ridge at a board retreat for a non-profit with which I volunteer. The trip was productive, as these things go, but I was decidedly happy to pull back into my own driveway this evening. Even though I was tired from the whirlwind of the last 36 hours or so, it was so nice to roll out my mat for another day of the 21-day challenge.

Yesterday was a busy day, and I was planning to leave for Blue Ridge in mid-afternoon. So even though I didn’t post yesterday, I actually did get up early to do my practice for Day 18. Like Days 4 and 11, this was a practice designed to build stability and alignment, with this particular one focusing on forward bends. Having practiced (almost) every day for the last three weeks, I’ve come to appreciate them more, and have noticed a little bit of an increase in my flexibility. Where I used to be so hyper-focused on my legs and hamstrings, I’ve learned to feel my whole body in the bend, particularly the ways in which it affects my back and neck. Instead of feeling strained in positions like janu sirsasana, I now enjoy the restfulness and work toward the day when I will be able to rest my forehead on my knee.

Since today was the 5th day of the week, the 30-minute practice focused on a challenge pose practice (like Day 5 and Day 12). Today’s challenge pose was urdhva dhanurasana, or Full Wheel, which is what the girl in my fancy little header is doing. This practice was led by Jason Crandell, whose cueing and instruction I really like. The sequence leading up to the challenge pose was really wonderful, with lots of small backbends and hip openers, as well as several standing poses to energize the the quads. Surprisingly, I didn’t even balk when we did Pigeon Pose, which usually sends me into fits. I still can’t get my butt fully on the ground in Pigeon, but I’m learning to enjoy its intensity (though I confess I have never cried while in Pigeon, and honestly, I feel a little bit left out).

We finally got to Full Wheel and I pictured myself lifting effortlessly into the pose – the last peak pose of the challenge! After all – believe it or not – I’ve successfully done Full Wheel many, many times. So there I am on my back, hands at my ears, ready to go. I lift and press up, and… nothing. I can’t do it. I try again. I still can’t. I get my head bent under, and rest on it. I gave a lot of thought to just forcing myself to do it because I know I can, but realized that wrenching myself into the pose was not the way to go. First, I could have really injured myself. Second, forcing a pose is entirely contrary to the idea of accepting whatever abilities and limits you possess at that moment.

So, I collapsed into a frustrated, sweaty pile on the floor. And then the self-criticism began: Was I just tired? Did I fail because it had been a couple months since I’d done Full Wheel? What the hell was wrong with me? I am trying tell myself that it just wasn’t meant to be today, that I could try another day, that I am strong and capable, but these are hard things for me to accept and internalize.

Along those same lines, I read an article in the New York Times the other day that bothered me (and apparently others, too). It provided one anecdote after another about people who had injured themselves by forcing poses and teachers who encouraged such behavior. Y’all, this is not what the yoga I know is all about. Granted, many poses are challenging, sure. But, there is a major difference between pushing yourself to the edge of what is comfortable, and ignoring your body in order to wrench yourself into a pose. The article seemed to gloss over the fact that 1) there are many obtuse and/or poorly trained yoga teachers out there, and 2) there are many students who lack self-awareness, ignore their body, and/or practice yoga for the wrong reasons.

I have had many yoga teachers, but none of them has ever encouraged me to do something unhealthy or injurious. To the contrary, each and every one of them has tried to instill a deep understanding of the need to listen my body and accept its capabilities at any given moment. So, Full Wheel wasn’t going to happen today. Perhaps I will try again soon.

So tell me, are there poses that you can do some days, but not others? What do you do when that happens?

Ready for more? We’re almost done; check out Days 20 and 21!

Are you just now checking out the 21-day challenge? Well, make sure you start from

It has finally warmed up a little bit after a couple of absurd nights where the overnight temperature dipped down into the teens. I find it much easier to be productive when I’m not half frozen (which begs the question of how I managed to graduate college with honors after three years in upstate New York, but I digress). It’s also easier to drag myself out of bed in the mornings. Good timing, Mother Nature, because today’s practice in the 21-day challenge called for me to get my yoga on in the morning.

Because Day 16 (like Day 2 and Day 9) is a 15-minute morning practice, I figured that I had no excuse not to make an extra 15 minutes in my morning routine today. Thirty minutes would be pushing it, but 15 is doable. Honestly, I was so tempted to skip this practice this week, since it’s taught by the instructor that I feel “meh” about. However, I made a commitment to do the 21-day challenge and not the 19-day challenge, so I sucked it up and did it. I felt fine and awake afterward, so I found it strange that I suddenly felt really sleepy around 10:30 this morning. Whatever, I’m done with this one and don’t have to do it again.

After work, I ran a bunch of errands and even though I was a little tired, I went ahead and did Day 17. It just felt weird not to do yoga in the evening. Also, I want to make sure I can finish this challenge before starting the new one on Monday. Day 17 is the same 20-minute core practice as Day 3 and Day 10. I know I was a little ambivalent about this practice the first time I did it, but have added some intensity the last two times to really get the most out of it. I suppose that might indicate that the problem was with me, not the practice.

When I first started this venture, I was so daunted by the idea of doing yoga everyday for three weeks straight, but now it’s become a part of my routine that I prioritize. Already, I’m looking forward to the new online challenge that starts next week. I was tempted to blog about that one, too, because writing about my practice everyday keeps me accountable. But, I’m not sure y’all really want to read about my yoga rants for 42 days in a row. I’m also feeling the need to add another component to the next challenge. I am considering going vegetarian for the duration of it, just to see if it makes a difference in how I feel. Crazy, I know, since I’m the girl who raves about the joys of beef tenderloin. But, 21 days is not a terribly long time, and I frequently eat meat-free meals as it is.

But I’m curious to know what you think, so tell me, what are your ideas for a new component to add to the next 21-day challenge?

Ready for more? Check out Days 18 and 19!

Let’s rewind a bit first: On New Year’s Day, I made a big dinner and had some friends over for a casual, quiet meal. The menu consisted of beef tenderloin, pecan green beans, macaroni and cheese and the Pioneer Woman’s crash hot potatoes. Despite our very best efforts, we ended up with lots of leftovers.

On Monday, post-office reorganization and yoga and pre-wedding dress shopping with my friend Heather, I realized I hadn’t eaten anything all day.  In my haste to get out the door, I threw a salad together with some dinner leftovers and wow – it was unbelievably good. So good, in fact, that I scarfed it down without taking a picture. And also so good that I made it again to bring to work for lunch today (hence the plastic container). At least I remembered to snap it with my iPhone camera before eating this one.

For the salad, I used:

• Rocket lettuce (I love rocket anytime, but the flavor goes particularly well with beef)
• Leftover cold beef tenderloin, sliced thin
• Leftover green beans, sliced into 1” pieces
• A generous spoonful of pecans from the leftover green beans
• Crumbled gorgonzola cheese
• Balsamic vinaigrette

So good, and so simple. This salad definitely reinforces my love of leftovers.

Now it’s your turn to tell me: What’s been your best leftover creation?

First time reading about the

It seems that Wednesday snuck up on me this week, I suppose because of the extended weekend. Not that I’m complaining; these things just always come as a bit of a surprise to my fragile, change-averse brain. It was also chilly again today, which made my body want to shut down and hibernate for the next couple of months. I was feeling a little bit lethargic when I got home, but I avoided the temptation to nap. Instead, I forged ahead into the third (and final) week of the 21-day challenge.

It’s hard to believe that I’m into the last week. Day 15 – like Day 1 and Day 8 – is a 45-minute vinyasa practice. I suppose the third time was the charm with this sequence, because I really enjoyed it today. The pace and intensity were just what I needed to pull me out of my sleepy haze. And, after having done it a couple times, I finally “get” what I’m supposed to do and how the vinyasas flow, so I could focus more on the perpetually elusive goal of being present. I truly felt stronger when I finished, and like I had completed the practice with more energy and purpose and with better form than either of the two previous times I’ve done it.

I’ll confess: I’m having a hard time crawling out from under my to-do list. I know it will get done, and I’m trying to focus on plugging away at one thing at a time and not getting overwhelmed. As the Chinese saying goes, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Not like I have anywhere remotely close to the proverbial thousand miles to travel, but I like the sentiment. And as always, I struggle to maintain a proper balance between the various things I need to do, rather than hyper-focusing on one to the exclusion of others. First-world problems, I suppose.

So, I’m interested to know: What helps you prioritize among the important things that compete for your time and attention?

Ready for more? Check out Days 16 and 17!