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The debate rages on over whether to have music or not have music in yoga class. It's a sensitive topic, because like any other art music is completely subjective. One persons noise is another persons symphony. In fact, funny enough, one of my best friends told me while chatting the other day that one of her instructors played AC/DC in her hot flow class and she "...JUST LOVED IT!!!!" Where, conversely, I would just not be impressed with hard rock getting me all out of my personal ebb and flow in flow class...
When I was a child I was always being called a “Know it All”. This at the time was really fine, because I really did think I knew it all. I was happy with being such a genius actually, and so I continued with this “I know it all” attitude for a long time. The funny thing about time is all the stuff you find out you were wrong about during its passing.
Through the years, the biggest problem I’ve found with being a “Know it All” is when you enter a situation feeling like an expert, and leave feeling like a complete idiot.
My father, is one of those handy men who can literally “do anything” and not only can he do everything, he can do it all incredibly well. He was a diesel mechanic in the military before becoming a regular mechanic, before becoming a self-employed contractor.
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| Yes, this is a picture of my soup! |
Today marks the second post in my 30 week Primary Asana Series Challenge! 
In the book, Iyengar has his hand flat palm down on the floor, and his legs are further apart. Back foot is at a 90 degree angle to the front foot which is straight forward.
You can put your hand anywhere along your leg to where it feels comfortable, and bend as far as you can comfortably. Looking up at your palm is also dependant on how it feels for your neck, you may look straight forward until you feel more limber. 
In this pose your body should make one straight angled line from your feet to your hand, with space between the body and the leg. Your front foot should be pointed straight ahead with your knee directly in line with the ankle, and your back foot should be at a 90 degree angle to the front foot, parallel with the back of your mat. 
Again, in the book Iyengar has his legs further apart, his hips facing directly forward, and his lunge is deeper than my pose is. 
From Warrior I extend your arms one front and one back, widen your stance, ensure the back foot is at a 90 degree angle to the front and if comfortable look over the front middle finger. Press into the mat with both feet evenly, and ensure both feet are flat on the floor. Adjust your stance to allow this.
Try to tuck in your tailbone and ensure the front knee is directly over the ankle. It has a tendency to fall inwards sometimes. The deeper into the lunge you go, the harder it is to hold, so do so at your own pace. 
You can put your hand anywhere along your leg to where it feels comfortable, and bend as far as you can comfortably. Again, looking up at your palm is also dependant on how it feels for your neck, you may look straight forward until you feel more limber. 
This pose is an intense stretch. In the book Iyengar has his chest completely flat against his leg, with his nose touching! Which I obviously do not! 
You can shorten your stance, clasp your elbows behind your back, or leave them forward (as opposed to the prayer position that mine are in), and only stretch to your comfort zone. Shoulders should be back, try not to round the back.
There are a lot of ways to get into this pose, and if you can't go all the way in right away that is no problem! Just start with holding the pose where you can. 
From shoulder stand above, let your legs come down to where they sit comfortably - whether that is on the floor or not. If you can stop supporting your lower back you can extend your arms along the floor behind you, or even clasp the palms. 
Savasana is a resting pose, to let your body rejuvenate and rest after the postures. 
Here is another fabulous, easy, time-friendly and mouth gratifying recipe for all you cleansers out there, and for anyone else looking to add a healthy little ditty to their culinary repertoire! (If you like, you may use beef to make regular chili, or no meat and double the beans for a vegetarian chili... Works well with any of these!)
For instance, take yoga. I have an almost daily home practice where sometimes I really just sit in certain poses for extended periods of time in order to increase my flexibility. I love stretching and the noticeable increased mobility I get from it. Then, I also have my more spiritual home practices where I’m totally focusing on my mindset and my breath, and following a certain series of asana (poses). This practice centers me, and makes me feel amazing. Although neither of these particular practices is really raising my heart rate enough to be effective for accelerated calorie burning, what I am doing is completely essential to my physical and mental fitness.
Mmmmmm.... Just planning out another day of fun, fresh, and fulfilling food! Sometimes it's hard to believe that you can eat healthy food and never feel for a second that you are missing out on anything. The funniest thing, is that when I'm really eating a good clean diet and actually taking the time to seek out great meals and get creative in the kitchen, I find that I actually like all the food MORE. Yes you heard me right! MORE!! And let me tell you, I love good food!
Okay, so it’s just two weeks! We can do this challenge and be successful! All it’s going to take is a little bit of "preparedness", some “I really want this”, and a good solid bunch of “I’m not giving up”! During a cleanse/detox is the best time to let yourself be a little stubborn. Your waistline, your digestive system, and your insides in general will thank you from within!!!
