Venus Effects

I touched briefly on the Venus Transit that happened last week. I honestly don't know a lot about it in depth. I watched a great webinar by Elizabeth Peru who explained how it effects us on a personal energy level. It's funny not knowing a lot, going about your daily shiz, then reading about the Venus thing and having an 'yes that's me moment.' I know, I know, nearly everything we read about can be related somehow back to our lives. I am starting to believe a lot more about the 'universal energy' and how the planets effect us. 

Being more authentic to our souls is something I am drawn to from the Venus Transit. I've mentioned before my appetite and food choices have changed dramatically of late. Even today I could only manage three pieces of my six pack of sushi at lunch. Good job my fellow instructor friend was having the opposite problem and couldn't get enough food in. My friend's reassured me that I just don't need as much food as I used to think I did. I now know when I'm satisfied. 

Another thing that has changed is my clothing choice. I do try and dress for the occasion, look nice & turned out. However, now more than ever comfort reins over fashion. With time being short & getting ready for work at the studio it's easier to shove on something easy. My heels are tucked away in the back of my wardrobe. 

After being so frugal last year, making do with the winter clothes from the previous year I have now decided to over haul my 'work wardrobe.' It's time to clear out and make room. I certainly did just that. Charity bagged everything I'd not worn for a year or two or had been eaten by the 'fabric softener' incident. I bought coat hangers and new garment bags to keep everything nice and dust free. There is something very satisfying about having a clear out isn't there?

A good friend of mine has started working at a very high end high street clothes shop. I had never set foot in this shop until she started working there. The first time I called by I looked over all the racks very impressed by the style and choice. The quality was great, well made, thick fabric, nice a tailoring & made in Australia. Until I read the price tag. Way, way more than I ever spend on a single item of clothing. Okay, I do invest in decent stuff for day to day and yoga but we are talking $200 + for office pants and even more for a dress. The t shirts were $80. Not my territory. 

Three months on since my first visit I now own two dresses and two t shirts from there. Only because they have the most amazing sales! 50% off brings it down to the upper most I'd pay for clothes at full price. Of course me being the great justifying person I am, I convinced myself that these dresses are for the office and the evening. Summer and winter wear when layered up and down. I will wear them at least once a week!

The style of the dresses is very me but not me of late. I've returned to my old favourite style of sleek pencil skirts. They are similar in style I know but I've been known to buy the same garment in all the colours. The neckline is very Victoria Beckham and extremely flattering. One dress might not last very long season wise as it has a peplum detail (as rocked by the Duchess of Cambridge last weekend) but who cares, I'll probably keep wearing it in years to come anyway! 

I'm very happy with my new purchases, it'll be nice to get out of the baggy tunic tops & sloppy jumpers I've been hiding behind for a while. Hiding yes, time for 'me' to get back out there. I even had my hair tidied up and the fringe I was test driving cut back in. I feel more polished again and less slap dash thrown together with crap apres yoga hair. I'm feeling less 'can't be bothered' about lots of things.

Bringing this back to Venus, it's no surprise I've been drawn to feminine, classic styles is it? After all women are from Venus right....

Dress #1

Tidy wardrobe, everything in garment bags

Dress #2

Chakra Balancing

It's been a crazy few weeks. May was a bonkers month. Twists, turns, ups and downs. This is obvious as my writing here has been very neglected. I've been wanting to write, I have lists & lists of potential posts ready but just haven't had chance, time or energy to get them posted. 

Funnily enough I'd booked myself in early for a Chakra balancing treatment at Bodhi J. I was feeling frazzled. Emotionally I'd been on a roller coaster. Self inflicted I know! I was so ready for this treatment. No surprise which of my energy points were out; root, sacral & throat. First two are definitely down to my hormones getting back to their natural state after years of being pumped with false ones. Throat, well, I've not been speaking up for myself, sugar coating and even yes small white lies have been told to cover up my real feelings or thoughts. My aura was still glowing with genuine intention, my heart is in the right place. 

I certainly felt more centered after wards but totally knackered. All I could do was get myself home and collapse! I think this must be usual, after all suddenly having your personal energy tapped into, moved and adjusted it is going to be draining. 

A couple of weeks on I'm feeling good. Things feel more settled. It may be because of the Venus Transit that came through this week. All the recent craziness has come to a head and dispersed. Truths are out, problems have been recognised but solutions still need to be put in place. 

Meat & Nuts

This might seem a bit bizarre for a breakfast food but it works, meat & nuts. After Kat Eden's food seminar last month I have been trying to clean up my diet. Christmas saw me well & truly fall off the wagon head first into the bowl of chips whilst riding the dessert trolley. 

I gave the meat for breakfast a good two week go before the festive mayhem kicked in and it worked. I was fuller for a lot longer in the morning than when I have my usual carb based breakfast. It did mean preparing and pre cooking my meat for the mornings I was teaching. Cooking eggs at 4:15am wasn't too much of a drama. Making a big veggie frittata is perfect. It's lasts a few days, can be eaten hot or cold and on the run. Here's the link, via Kat, to the blog post by Charles Poliquin all about the meat & nuts breakfast....

Now Christmas is over & the damage is done I'm back to it. Some of my friends are trying detox diets; raw, vegan, juice, vitamin cleansing type things. I fully support their decisions but I need some energy to get me through my busy day. I've tried the detox cleanse thing before. I got really sick and spent a lot of time sleeping. Side effect of that type of diet. I was recently reading that the cold turkey approach doesn't actually do you that much good either. Steady, sensible lifestyle changes are better to avoid the withdrawal symptoms than suddenly stopping everything 'bad' for a few weeks. It's like the 'diet's don't work' theory, they don't, you have to change your eating habits for life. No good watching what you eat for six weeks, losing weight then go back to your old eating habits. What happens? The weight comes back. 80% clean foods, 20% not so clean is the best way so not to be deprived and risk the binge eating fall out. 

Bikram Yoga is the perfect detox. Sweat it out, whilst getting a full body workout. When I'm practicing hard and serious I automatically cut back on crappy foods. Sugar and muscles don't mix. When I eat rubbish my practice suffers. I watch my hydration more carefully so I'm getting enough liquids too. The past few weeks because I wasn't practicing as much I let that slip & felt horrible for it. So here I go, new year, new me, back into shape. Not so much for vanity reasons but for optimal health, energy & a stronger yoga practice. 

What I have learned from training so far...

Every teacher I spoke to before training said nothing will prepare you for training. Now I understand how hard it is to describe the experience. You really just need to go to understand it. Even my notebooks would make no sense to anyone reading them who hasn’t been through the course. (even though they aren’t allowed to read them….copyright issues again!)

Now I do understand why my mentor pushed me to not quit the 60 day challenge when I was so broken down, tired and strung out. It made Training feel like a breeze in comparison. Clever lady. I had nothing to worry about but yoga & dialogue. No housework, husband, animals, driving or full time work to deal with.

I’m sure it will take a lot longer than a few days to absorb what I’ve just been through. Even now though I can see a change in me. In the airport I was super chilled out. I wasn’t worried about being seated at the gate hours & hours early. Lining up to board I stepped aside and helped usher a family with small children ahead of me as they’d miss their early call to board. Patience & understanding at work.

I had chance to do my Karma Yoga on my way home too. I got a great seat on the plane at the back, aisle seat, baggage space, next to a pleasant, chatty person. Just before take off the Stewardess approached me and asked if I minded moving. A fellow female passenger had requested that she be seated by another lady. So they picked me. Hmmm did I look normal?? Of course I agreed, giving up my good seat to help someone else is a good thing to do. I know some women are uncomfortable sitting by a strange man for 17 hours, especially on a night flight. Turned out the man didn’t want to switch so I stayed put. (I ended up talking about the Mahabharata with my seat mate, who would have thunk it I’ve learned a new conversation topic, maybe with Indians only though!)

Learning not to judge is a new skill I’ve required. You never know what’s going on with someone so don’t start getting on their case without knowing the details. You may never know the details so tread carefully. Don’t poke the crazy! There is a fine line though in class between being lazy and genuinely struggling. Once I get to know my future regular students I’ve been told you can gauge this. If someone always rests their hands of their head between half moon and backbend or can never keep their arms out for the whole of awkward it’s time to ask why. A recurring pattern of bad habits may well be an injury or just the dreaded laziness. The latter will require gentle handling to encourage them they can keep their arms in place! Another skill, don’t be a bitch. A firm hand and encouragement go a long way rather than yelling and criticising.

Being sympathetic to others needs is one I’m still working on. I'm usually quick to be down on people who are down. I see it as a waste of energy/opportunity. I am learning not to be up in people’s faces all the time when I think they need cheering up. Give others their space when needed and stay out of drama that doesn’t concern me.

Finally saving a little energy for myself. In order to serve others better I must learn not to go around dishing out 100% energy in everything I do or I’ll crash. Then I won’t be any use to anyone. Not everything we do has to be totally selfless. Keep 10% back for me.

This is just the beginning I'm sure we will never stop learning and discovering from this. 

Yoga Stoned

Reaching the half way point of the challenge has been awesome. With the crazy emotional week behind me and some positive light shining my way I had an awesome run of great classes this past week. 

We waved goodbye to instructor Adam last Sunday. His class was hilarious. He was thinking of introducing one of those cattle prod zappers to class so he could zap people who don't turn their toes back in sit up. He even asked me how his dialogue was as he walked by me in Triangle on his way back from the air con switch. Funny, I couldn't comment as he'd just gone past the paragraph's I knew. 

I finished that class totally yoga stoned. That glorious feeling of pure bliss you get when you've worked hard and have totally in the zone. Your mind doesn't work at all and this is the time I usually forget things, usually my stuff at the studio. 

Monday I was stoned again. Had a great evening class at 6pm. I matted down in the hot area. Front row, left, by the podium, right under the hot air vent. I was blasted with super hot air for the most part of the standing series. The class was busy, lots of newbies and I delivered a pretty good set of Awkward. No evil stares this time or maybe there were but I didn't notice. I didn't rush, I didn't yell, it felt great. 

People were dropping like flies in the class. The energy was scattered and the newbies struggled and faffed which is totally understandable. If that class was my first I would have been laying out too. Strong students were down. I have no idea what happened to me but I flew through. Usually when the energy is out it gets to me but I must have been in the right place. I came out feeling awesome, stoned again but not even craving water.

I had another flying class on Tuesday. I went to the Scarborough studio so manged to get one more class with Adam in. I'm getting used to practicing at 7pm now. I get home really late but it's nice as I don't have to rush from work and take my time. Stoned again three days in a row. 

It all caught up on me on Wednesday. It felt like I had a hangover. Probably a little dehydration as getting home at 9:30pm didn't give me much time to drink lots of water. A week of evening/afternoon practice got me out of a rut. I hate not being home at night but from my practice point of view it's much better for me. 

I'm on an unofficial avoidance plan too. I won't go into it too much but I've decided to distance myself from certain negative energies that have been confusing and conflicting. It's been two weeks now since I encountered some and not been in contact with the source since. I didn't start out trying to dodge, it just happened and I'm happier for it. 

Positive thoughts, good times and staying true to myself is the mantra for the next few weeks.