Manduka Yoga Mats & My 40 Days

For the first time I have jumped on the January, I feel a little sluggish and over indulged, it is time to cleanse wagon. I brainstormed options including fasts, diets and even renewed my gym membership. At this point I am not willing to put who knows what into my body nor am I looking to put a band-aid on my situation or run on a treadmill for hours on end. I am healthy strong and determined but lacking motivation and playfulness that once led me into endless adventure.

I need a spark to ignite my fire. I want to be inspired from the inside out.

I know that change comes from within. What I am looking for does not come from a supermarket shelf, energy drinks or meal replacers. I want a personal revolution, not a diet shake. I need activity and intellectual challenge not counting calories and skipping meals.

I need yoga for the long winter months. I have been doing a few of Baron Babtiste's yoga videos for a year now and have enjoyed his style and the physical results that I have seen practicing with him. My home practice was dwindling and the thought of going back to the only studio I knew for 6 years, Bikram was less than exciting. I came across Karen Piccone's studio, Beyond Limits Yoga in Bellingham. There, Baron Baptiste's 40 Days to Personal Revolution found me. I had found my "match."

Starting January 15, 2012, I started on my 40 day challenge. I, Michelle Stiles, am going to practice yoga for 40 days, cut out alcohol, caffeine and limit my sugar intake ( I am a baker of all things sweet and lovely). I am going to meditate, read, and journal for these 40 days. I am going to embark on a personal revolution. Yoga is taking me there. This is my nutrition for life.

In a country that is obsessed with image, I have found the most truthful mirror, my yoga mat. The mat is a reflection of what I have to offer and what I put out to the world. The practice of yoga is far more that a physical journey, yoga has the power to open up the spiritual being and stretch the intellectual one that exist within each of us. Creating a ritual, becoming familiar with the poses that yoga holds, getting accustomed to stepping onto your yoga mat at some point everyday will result in a physical change it will provide a whole body transformation.

I came across Manduka's website and lights went off. For me within seconds of looking through their beautiful and inspiring business I knew that this was the supportive community I wanted to immerse myself in. Manduka was a familiar brand to me already from word of mouth. I knew they made the best yoga mats out available on the market. I did not realize what a respectful company they have grown into.

I have been in search for a sufficient yoga mat for years, my standards are high.

Manduka has answered. 

I have a knee that is full of scar tissue, pins and a few screws. Pressure on my knee is painful, making certain yoga poses unpractical. I need a yoga mat that provides enough support through Manduka's denser, thicker foam, their mat ensures that my knee will have the proper protection, comfort and cushioning from hard surfaces, like the floor of our house and the yoga studio. The Manduka yoga mat provides enough cushion that I can practice frog pose (Mandukasana) without excruciating pain in my knee.  The Manduka yoga mat is suitable for a variety of surfaces including hard wood, cement, carpet and even grass. The Manduka mat lets you forget about the floor as you rock front to back, as you lay on your back and bring both knees to your chest, as your wrists get a little extra cushion.

Along with unparalleled cushioning, the PRO series comes in two lengths, 71" and 85" for all of us who like the space on a mat or like most of my family, run a bit taller. This is a wonderful option and I must say that clocking it at only 5'7" I enjoy all 85" of my Manduka mat.

The Manduka PRO series does offer cushion and a little extra space, with that comes extra weight and bulkiness. That is to be expected if you are looking for the extra support. Manduka does offer other lines of mats that are not so bulky and offer a different functionality. 

The moment I started a conversation with the fine folks at Manduka I was in love, their customer service is unmatched, the turnover was lightening fast and the follow up was proof that they are a company here to stay and are committed to proving a superior product to a world of yoga practitioners that deserve well designed products.

Manduka produces a product with the body, mind and soul in as part of their mission. Their products and employees are proof.

There is not another yoga mat available with this sort of rigorous innovations, dedication, respect or  community that Manduka offers. The Manduka PRO will be my foundation for my 40 days of yoga and for a lifetime of practice.

**The opinion is mine and honest and if you know me you know I love my yoga. I searched Manduka and asked if I could try their product and they lovingly agreed to send me a mat. I loved it the moment I unrolled it for the first time. **

Second Guesses

Here I am, two weeks before the Chuckanut 50km race, second guessing my decision. I had great intentions registering for the race, ambitious goals at the time to up my running, be dedicated and train. The time has come, my quads are tooth picks, my body is fatigued with stress (me left eye won't stop twitching), my lower back is tweaked, and my mind is obviously not there. I am questioning my ability to run at this point.
Someone finally had some influence on me, the most unlikely of people. I have heard the argument a thousand times over that it is "unnatural" or "we are not built" for such distances. I had always disagreed. "Polish Bob," a fellow climber and my new massage therapist, of all people didn't make that argument. He put it in different terms. First, it takes my body at least two weeks to recover from such an effort. I usually don't rest for that long and wind up with injuries. Second, why put all one's eggs in a single basket. Really one can only run a couple ultras a year. What you get sick, injured, life just gets in the way. You have trained, basically eat, thought, slept, breathed with the intent of this race and now you can't compete. BLAH! Such is life I know but one is much more likely to suffer from major burn out with this type of training. Third, the likelihood of getting injured in these races is dramatically increased. Not the best...
Maybe I was just open enough today to finally listen to someone. I think that I just don't want to do it so I am open to any excuses I can find. I am not in very good shape nor do I have the confidence that once burned inside of me, pushing me to the limit. What ever the reason, I am admitting it, I just don't want to run that far right now.
***Ahhh*** It is a load off already. Who knows, I might still run it, I have to sleep on the decision because I tend to make hasty decisions.
As of now I am stoked on yoga, my floor bow is my favorite posture, I can do great back bends, I feel strong, and I have a great foundation for the coming climbing season. Distance running is another story. Is it a story of the past? Right now I think it is. I am not shutting the door on it completely, I will still get a couple runs in a week, I just don't want any pressure to run. Oh and biking is way cooler than running!

Sunday....

Sunday....

This is what my house looks like today and it is beautiful. It is quiet, sunny, and perfect. John is wiped from a l...o...n...g... week at the office. I had a trying week that sucked much of my energy. The house smells of sweet banana cake that is about to come out of the oven and a crock-pot full of split pea soup. There is nothing a little home cooking, sunshine, and love can't comfort. Now John is headed out for a ride and I am going to practice yoga. In the morning, it will start all over.

All that there is

For a long time I've believed that the secret to a happy and healthy life is the ability to celebrate cheap thrills, everyday miracles, little things. If you save yourself for the happiness that comes from big *wow* moments like a big trip to an exotic place, a big race, to climb the next mountain, promotions, most of life is sure to be depressing or at least boring. Finding beauty in the everyday is no small task but a way of life.
My life these days are geared towards finding pleasure in the small things. Sometimes the forty hour week is like looking down the barrel of a gun ( it is really not that bad ). Coping yet not becoming complacent with this is a matter of necessity.
Enjoying each day for what it is can be a blessing, acknowledging what is happening and then letting it go. Then it is just a matter of finding beauty in the small things. For me it is the baby step improvements in yoga, a brisk walk in the cool Northwest air, a tasty lunch, the confidence that comes from running again, trying my hardest at what I am doing, whatever it takes.
In the end this is all that there is.

saving grace

Friday....
*sigh*
Another work week behind me, and I for this I can count my blessings. I am employed and as this world spins, this is a very fortunate situation to be in. I know that if John or myself were to find ourselves unemployed (pretend that we don't own a house and have numerous other financial obligations) we would once again go chase our bliss and live out those fantasies that we both are constantly day dreaming about. Some day, one day. I know that we will find our groove one day. Until then, weekend warriors and a promise of a wonderful future. I have a wonderfully purposeful life.

Friday....
*sigh*
Three day weekend and a forecast of SUN SUN SUN!
I am going to dust off the bike and pedal my toosh around on some trail, maybe even run, spend lots of time outside, with friends, and practicing yoga. I am officially going to tune up the commuter and........ start riding to work again! I have been toying around the idea the last couple of days as there is more daylight hours and the weather is becoming a bit more stable. I have been seeing more commuters on my commute, there is power in numbers, once the drivers get used to seeing bikes again I feel a bit safer. I have actually been a tad bit envious of those pedal pushers, it is time for me to start at least a couple days per week.

Friday....
*sigh*
This afternoon, I head to the doctor. I am going to have a more removed on my shoulder. Years of unprotected exposure to the sun has caught up to me. Yikes, they are serious about the need to cover up from the sun, 25 and my skin is already mutating.
Love the skin you are in. Cover up!

Friday....
*sigh*
One last thought... a positive one....
I have been adamantly trying to be ME. I feel wonderful, all things considered. After a wake up call at the end of December I decided to take the reigns back. I have cut back significantly, almost completely, on alcohol consumption, stopped drinking coffee laid off the meat, really focused on yoga and improving my practice. I feel incredible. This time of year, January and February have been trying times in years past. I don't want to have to go through that ever year. It just takes too big of a toll on myself, John, Natasha and my family who have to help me through it. So I am helping myself through it. I feel incredible! I have gotten over the hard part of cravings for those fantastic beverages, found substitutes, and practiced a bit of self control. Yoga has done wonders as well, I really believe that is as good if not better than what the teachers say. It is the healthiest thing I have ever done for myself.
Yes, to be back in control, or should I say to surrender control and just be....

Have a wonderful weekend.

Harnessing the power of good intention

The work of Humberto Maturana really resonates for me. Here it is summarized within a very simply statement:

If you keep on doing what works, then the stuff that doesn’t work will simply fall away. Do what works and those habits, actions and behaviors will stay and the elements that don’t work will be eradicated from the ‘system’. You are not trying to change things that don’t work. Nature will take care of the change if you focus on conserving what works.

***Sharing with you from www.hotyogadoctor.com***

A very useful formula to ‘resolve’ your wishes into real results

Attention + Intention + Skill

Attention (the first part of the equation) is not a ‘Secret’
Placing attention on what you want (or having a Resolution) is a great start. Tension exists between what or who you are now and what you don’t have or who you would like to become.
‘The Secret’ gave us a great tool but it was only a tool. It tells you to constantly put your attention on wishing to have something. Without any other action on your part, your unconscious mind will create a perpetual state of WISHING to have something and not creating it for you. This attention is good for motivation but it can be a trap. This tension, or what psychologists call “cognitive dissonance” (the difference between your present and desired state) won’t make things magically appear, but it probably IS the first step!

You need Intention and Skill too
Intention is the energy you use to keep renewing your commitment and your activity around your chosen outcome. But you also need to have the SKILL to take yourself to a higher level and make the shifts necessary.
For example, it is one thing to put your ATTENTION on being a great tennis player. You may even have the INTENTION to practice. Life can get in the way and as you know, attention can get diverted and our best efforts get sabotaged for any number of reasons.
You will probably improve with practice but your wish could be thwarted if you don’t have the right SKILLS required to take you a higher level.
You need to learn, develop or seek the skills that you don’t have, so that you can get ‘there’

Face book took me hostage!

I was introduced to this little culture of Face book last week and now the site has me hooked. It has been a blessing. I have found long lost friends, neighbors, classmates and such. I really feel like an Internet nerd. It is just this easy way to stay connected to people who often move frequently for various reasons. So, if you haven't been sucked into it, Face Book is worth a shot; if you have, look me up (Michelle stiles).

Keeping things real and using my free time doing things besides sitting at my computer chatting through a laptop, I have been practicing Bikram Yoga several times a week. I started a couple of weeks ago with a girlfriend in hopes of recovering from my knee injury. Wow, it has only bee two or three weeks and I have seen dramatic results. Not only has my yoga practice improved vastly, I went in there with about 35% flexibility in m,y knee and very minimal strength. With yoga I was able to slowly build strength and mobility. I feel that I am back to a solid 75%, I really don't think that I could be at this level without yoga. Yeah, here I am singing the praises of yoga!