Why It's Matt & Me 4-ever!

He’s tall, dark and …100% rubber.

Yes, I’m talking about my yoga mat, Matt.

It was love at first plank. And trust me, I’ve been through one or three “Matts” in my day, so I know what I’m talking about.

Naturally, at first I was leery, fearing yet another mat would dump me. After all, the number of failed moon salutations over the years was astronomical. And downward-facing dogs? They were never a “pawsitive” experience with those other mats. So, no, not this girl’s best friend.

Then along came Matt.

I’d heard Matt could handle a really hot woman. It’s true. Perspiration is no sweat. Matt lays there almost begging “Bring it on!” Another positive, going longer than 20 minutes is no problem for Matt, which is good as the classes I attend are generally over an hour.

But, you ask, you’re over 50, don’t you worry Matt will leave you for a younger “yogini”? Sometimes. So, here you have it. When we’re not together, I tie Matt up. I use my yoga strap so it looks innocent enough, like you know, I’m just trying to be neat and keep my yoga gear in order.

So far Matt hasn’t complained. That’s right, Matt has no opinion…and could care less about the TV remote.

-- Diana Black

Now a Blog Circle Member! Read it at Vibrant Nation!

Why Not Jump?

I love yoga. Love LOVE LOVE it! (did I mention I'm kinda crazy about it?)

Partially because every time I go to the mat, I discover something new... about the practice and myself. This week, it was forearm stand.

No, the picture isn't me...for lots of reasons! One being if it were, there would be a yoga friend, Sheri, holding my right leg so that I would not fall. (Thank you, Sheri, for giving me the courage!)

So here I am, nearing a birthday that I'm sure the numbers got reversed somehow (yeah, that's about right...36...that's how old I feel...most days!) and tackling something like nearly standing on my head. (actually that's one of ultimate yoga goals.)

Now, I'm finally getting to the point of all this. Lately I've been letting myself jump from one creative project to another. Allowing myself to jump from this activity to that activity. From one book to another (before reading "The End.")

WHY? It makes me feel alive. It keeps me MOVING! (Used to be I was afraid that if I did not stay on one thing until it was completed, I would never finish it. And that would show lack of committment and ownership.) But what I've learned instead is this: If there is something my heart aches to do (okay, let's assume it's within the "cause no harm" category!) in any given moment, and I deny it...that moment is dead.

May every moment we are priviledged to live, be alive.

Jump to it!

--Diana

NOW I know why...

I've never been a fan of The Honeymooners, and even less thrilled with Ralph Kramden's threat, "To the moon, Alice!"

Now I know why. I experienced firsthand the pain of moon travel during yoga class. I crumbled before we were halfway to the moon, halfway through a FULL, NON-STOP series of lunar poses!!

I can't remember if the "cow" position (above) was actually in that series, but it pretty much looks like me crawling to my car after class. (Okay, maybe add a couple pounds here and there...)

Now the thing is this, when we began the series, the instructor reminded class that solar exercises are the masculine side of yoga, lunar the feminine. Having completed 5 sets of sun salutations the day before, I thought, Hey, lunar will be a piece of cake!

I could write more about WHY I thought that. WHY I erroneously assumed lunar (aka feminine) would be less intense than solar (masculine). My instructor confirmed for me that I'm not alone. A lot of people have the same reaction...

I'd rather hear YOUR thoughts on this subject...WHY is feminine ever equated with easy?

Why are feet so fetching?

I mean it. I have this thing for feet.

Back of the ankles and toes especially.

Trying my hand at yoga again, I’m reminded that feet are so neglected. (Ya think? High heels!) Except for the occasional pedicure, we rarely play with our toes, just letting them wiggle and our feet flex.

Good news? Once we start pampering them a little, they start to forgive us. AND guess what? They love being up in the air. Higher than our heads. (Think babies grabbing their toes and sticking them in their mouths!)

Okay, maybe we don’t want to go THAT far, but tell me…why are you still sitting there with your feet under your desk? Get off that chair, onto the floor, feet in the air…now wiggle those toes!

At the end of the day, what other parts of our bodies are we taking for granted?

The Sun Exercise Has Set!

Here I am practicing my Yoga poses! Okay, I lied. Heck, after a couple of decades away from Yoga, I'm lucky to put my shoes on after class! A heating pad, warm bath and Aleve have become my friends.

Back in that other lifetime, I could do the Sun Exercise with such grace and ease. Now, I feel fortunate when I don't slide off the mat or lunge into another person with my backside.

The word I will use for the experience at this phase of my life is humbling. When you have to grab your leg with one hand and move it forward, or flop into a position like a hog in mud while others are doing some swan maneuver, it makes you look at your body in a whole new light.

You have to love your body for at least getting you to class. You have to love it for managing to flop onto the mat and not into the spinning bikes lined up in the back of the room knocking them down like dominoes (becuase of course, you always head straight for the back of the room and scoot others' mats around to make a space for yourself).

So I'm here to encourage ANYONE who has the slightest nudge to take up Yoga to do it. Take it at your own pace, and be grateful for the chance to embrace something new.

Okay, where did I put that Aleve bottle?