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Since teaching Yoga is my full time gig, I'm always trying to come up with ways to accommodate my students and appeal to new ones. I know, I know… ya can't please everybody… yet I think I've figured out a way to relieve a little more stress where I can.
When I teach my regular classes on weeknights at 6:00 or 6:15 PM, many people are racing through rush-hour traffic to make it to class on time. And while it doesn't bother ME for anyone to come in late… I know it adds to THEIR anxiety-level, thus producing the polar opposite effect of what the practice is designed for. (Let's face it: no one likes being that one person who makes everyone else reconfigure their little piece of Yogic real estate, right?)
It never fails. Before every class I receive texts or messages from "regulars" giving me a blow by blow of their boss calling a meeting or some work or home-related catastrophe that pushes their zen to the back burner. There's even a group of regular practitioners whose practices have fallen to the wayside due to scheduling conflicts. I mean… I GET it. Work comes first, 'family as well. Dinner's gotta be made, homework corrected. Shit happens.
OK so here's the deal. Starting this Monday night- October 6th- I'll be adding in a one hour, all-levels Yoga class at Yoga Source in Coral Springs, FL, from 8:00 PM-9:00 PM. Since it's closer to snooze time, it'll naturally be a slower flow- heavy on the relaxing floor poses with a more chill vibe and lighter on the (dreaded to some) Chaturangas. The cost will be $10 at the desk and won't be deducted from your class package. Heck- you don't even need a class package. just bring a ten-spot and you're IN!
So if you're tired of breaking your booty to make a class or just want something a bit lighter for your Monday evening… this will be ideal for you. And if you've already carved our your weekly Yoga schedule but were hoping to add in another class, this $10 hour may be the perfect complement to your regimen.
*If you're thinking, "Yeah… her "all-levels class" is probably a thinly-veiled description of yet another ass-kicker… you're mistaken. Remember: I teach privates, a more "mature" group twice a week for years, as well as chair yoga at nursing homes. Contrary to what my family may tell you… I CAN be gentle and would love this opportunity to explore my softer, more nurturing side with YOU, friend. Namasté
How May I Assist You?4
I'm always fine-tuning my Yoga practice as well as my Yoga teaching. Question: Do you like to be assisted when practicing in a regular class? I'm not talking about a private… that's a horse of a different color. I'm talking- in a class. Do you like when the teacher comes around and physically adjusts you or would you rather be left alone?
When we Yoga Teachers get trained, we spend umpteen hours studying anatomy, the asanas, alignment, how to adjust students in the poses and how to deepen their experience. In a class it can be tough figuring out why a student's doing a pose incorrectly. Is it because they're confused with the verbal cues, or rather instinctively modifying for an injury or condition? How are Yoga Teachers supposed to know what students bring into class?
Some teachers ask students to divulge their injuries prior to starting the class, yet it's my experience that this takes way too long and turns into a depressing gripe session, so I just basically announce before we start, "If you have any injuries, ailments or conditions, please modify the poses to your degree." I'm not sure they choose to listen and often times students trickle in late anyway.
Here's what I do before I take a class: If I'm going through anything that may affect my practice, I either text the teacher (assuming we're friends) or let them know quickly before we start. Maybe I'll say, "Don't bother adjusting me because I'm modifying for…." Since I usually take my friends' classes, they get to know my issues so I'm kind of just reminding them.When I'm in a class and there are students in need of more assistance, I really hate for the teacher to have to work any harder… knowing what that's like. It's a courtesy and I'm just happy to be able to practice.After all- it's not like I don't know what I'm doing.
Don't get me wrong: we teachers enjoy yummy assists, being reminded of our form and perhaps some habits we're dipping back into. We're ALL students and the roles shift sometimes a few times per day. There's nothing better than having a trusted friend lie on your back in a seated forward fold and quietly sharing a joke when the other students aren't paying attention.
Yet what about students who dislike having their personal space invaded? What if you ate garlic last night and just don't want anyone coming close? Ladies-you know how sometimes that Yoga top you keep meaning to get rid of somehow creeps back into the rotation? It's hard enough trying not to be distracted by your left boob rolling out during class… you don't need a teacher's assistance to make THAT happen- (especially in my class where you know there's a possibility you'll be blog material!)
OK now I'm the Teacher. It's "show time", I've given my speech, (most people are still trying to forget about their hectic day at that point to even HEAR my spiel) and it's "go time". As I work the crowd I wonder who will welcome my hands on them and who won't. Class size determines much of who gets assisted and how often. If beginners are there it presents a whole new scenario. My class is an all-levels class, yet some newbies may figure out within the first 5 minutes that perhaps they're in over their heads.
The studio where I was trained taught us some pretty intricate adjustments and assists. We weren't able to even put down our mat when learning how to teach a class. It was all walking around, talking and adjusting. it was a bitch to learn yet I'm grateful I did. I sprung out of the box strong as a new teacher, yet over the years have softened up considerably with hands-on adjustments and… well… just about everything.
People don't always come clean with their issues. They neglect to mention that they just finished physical therapy on their knee replacement or have been nursing a strained rotator cuff. What I may interpret as their lack of body awareness in the pose may actually be them modifying their practice. How's one to know? We teach Yoga; we're not mind-readers.
When I try a teacher I don't know, I walk into a class looking strong, wearing a bandanna (to catch my sweat) and unroll my mat like I've been to this rodeo before. The teacher usually gives me way too much credit based on my appearance. They start walking towards me while we're in a prayer twist. Uh oh… here it comes… as I brace myself. Judgement call: do I pretend it's all good and allow them to take me deeper (knowing I'm going to be screwed for days), or do I say "No thanks"? That's always dicey. I don't want any nearby students hearing our exchange and thinking the teacher is too aggressive. I definitely don't want other students knowing I'm a teacher. That's way too much pressure!
Of course, I stay silent. Yeah… you read that right. Me. The one who'll call out a newbie with, "Hey new girl! Can we get stop arranging our outfit every time we come to standing?" I shrink like a shy little school girl and just take what I have coming to me. Damn my bandannas! Curse these biceps!
When I'm teaching, I may see someone half-assing their Triangle- 'same as they've done for years- and I know they have the strength to go further and haven't mentioned an injury. What should I do? Do I gently persuade them, give a two-finger assist? A "touch correction"- as many of my friends refer to it? Do I amp up my verbal cues based upon what they're doing and hope they know it's them I'm truly calling out. Or do I stand behind them and physically take them deeper watching their face for signs of jaw-tightening? Answer: It's an on-the-spot judgement call and fingers crossed… I make the right decision.
Teaching Yoga is a trip. I'm trying to motivate, inspire, demo, explain, challenge yet "give permission" to back off, while continuing to call out the correct poses, DJ and know whether my students want me touching them or not. Vinyasa Flow classes move swiftly. There's not always much time for careful, prudent decision-making. It's kind of a "listen to your body, push where you can, back off where you need to and just keep flowing" kind of situation. Getting the flow and knowing your body comes with dedication to your practice. You can't dip into a class in lieu of a Xanax and know what the hell you're doing. Sorry but it just doesn't work like that. You will get hurt!
"Getting hurt in Yoga. Is that even possible?" you ask.
I've been hurt in class. Yup. I have had zealous teachers- some my close friends- push me too far not knowing I was sitting on an ice pack the night before or perhaps not believing me when I told them. (?) I've been twisted to the point of seeing stars and held in balance poses that- if the teacher lets go of me- I'm totally going down. I've even had my shoulders "smoothed down" in Savasana with such force that I swore the guy set me up for a major injury. I've been commanded to do poses that I knew weren't right for me at the time and chastised for my explanations after class.
Teaching assist experiences I've had: One student yelled "Ow!!" when I lifted his tight-hamstringed leg an extra inch.(something a Yoga Teacher never wants to hear). Students saying "Thank you, I never realized I was doing it wrong." Students saying, "Don't touch me." Students saying, "Feel free to lay on me." Students apologizing for "not being good." Students bursting into laughter. Students collapsing out of inversions. One of my favorite guys was in a handstand and slipped on his own sweat. I tried to "save" him- resulting in me straining my hamstring pretty badly, yet pretending I was fine. (We laugh about it now.) My own husband yelling, "ASSIST PLEASE!" after falling from a high-powered ascent into his headstand with me on the other side of the room. (Domestic squabbles in those classes happen sometimes; it's fun.) My daughter saying loudly, "Get off me," (insert teenage mean girl tone) when I went to help her. The list goes on.
What worries me more is what I DON'T hear.
I never want to hurt anyone or push them beyond their capabilities yet I aim to motivate students to work towards their edge if possible without heading towards pain. Often times students don't know the difference. Ego factors in, and the need to "perform", please me, and do more than they did in their last class overshadows that stinging pain in their lower back they've been ignoring for weeks. They muscle through the full expression of every pose and voila! They're toast. I sure don't want to contribute to that.
I recently took my friend's class and going into it knew where I'd need to modify. My back was tight and my toe was aching from cutting the nail too low-which meant no rolling over the toes for me. I didn't mention it to her, yet as the class progressed, my back pain diminished, my toe stopped bothering me and she challenged me to back bend in a way I usually don't. I was concerned about the aftermath but ya know what? I opened up freely and beautifully. She also assisted me into a wide-legged forearm balance I'd never tried and literally had my back- which I totally appreciate and will remember for quite some time. She took me deeper when I was ready to quit. She allowed me to stop when she knew I'd had enough. I left feeling friggin' amazing!
This is the roller coaster which is Yoga. Had I shied away from her assist I would have left satisfied yet not gotten over my backbending plateau. Would I have taken myself there had she just verbally cued me? Probably not. Could I have gotten hurt? Possibly. Did I? Nope.
So back to my original question. I'm truly interested in getting your feedback on verbal cues vs. hands-on adjustments. Do you expect your teacher to give you a pass because they know your issues or do you want to be challenged to the max every time? Do you like the cues or the actual hands-on assists?
I vacillate between both. Sometimes I hope the teacher comes to me. Other times I pray they pass me over. Sometimes I need to physically guide my students and other times I swear I'm never laying a hand on them again. The practice of Yoga mirrors life. We explore our capabilities and learn a helluva lot about ourselves- and as a teacher… others. Like I always say… we're all in this together.
Practicing What I Preach12
A recurring theme in my blogs is walkin' the talk, living a balanced life and admitting that my addiction to exercise and Yoga is something I'm not proud of. I really strive to live my life with moderation but I ain't gonna lie…it's HARD! These days, the words "Practice what you preach" seem to permeate my practice.
Lately I've noticed a kind of acceptance in my practice. I'm starting to question my motivation for wanting to master certain poses. The other day I was practicing my Handstands at the wall while waiting for a private to meet me. He walked in, saw me in a Handstand next to the wall and said, "Go girl!" As I descended, he said, "That was fantastic." I said, "Well it'd be really fantastic if I could do it without the wall behind me." In all innocence he asked, "What practical use in life does this pose serve?' I laughed and said, "Well… it makes me feel strong, unafraid and gives me an adrenaline rush. Every time I invert, I stay up and off the wall for longer periods of time."
He's a doctor, and always looks at things both medically and philosophically. We started listing the beneficial aspects of inverting -how it's good for ones' circulation, stimulates the lymphatic system, helps varicose veins and produces an overall euphoric feeling. Yet in our class, we always lie side by side in the pose called Viparita Karani (Legs Up The Wall), chatting and enjoying the very same benefits with a lot less effort. 'Made me wonder why it's so important for me to achieve the Handstand sans wall.
The next day, the tables were turned in that Yoga Teacher/student/back to Teacher kinda way. I was the student in a workshop-style class at my friends' new place called P.S. Yoga Studio. (See what I just did there?) The Teacher was preparing us to wrap and bind- which is a grip in various poses that deepens the sensation. I can usually do the bind she was showcasing yet as I began wriggling my wrist to meet my fingers while pulling more length into my spine, it was obvious that this time it wouldn't be prudent. Oh yeah… my body was talkin' to me alright- in fact it was screaming, "WHEN IS ENOUGH EVER ENOUGH?"
I suddenly realized that perhaps the 'ole wrap and bind was exacerbating my back pain. And-although it's common sense and I should know better-there it was: my Yogic epiphany! So much of my practice is based on ego. Not ego in the way of showing off to fellow students or Teachers… but trying to prove to myself that I've still "got it"!
In Yoga, we Teachers always stress the importance of shedding our ego. We say things like, "Leave your ego at the door," and "Modify for any injury or ailment." I've recited this stuff in every class- to the point where I didn't even realize I've been ignoring my own advice! Binding in a pose, doing a headstand when I've seen cervical spine damage in my own X-rays, deep twisting in a morning class when I was laying on an ice pack the very night before due to OVER EXERTION, and not listening to my own body… is just stupid.
I should know better! Why can't I listen to my own rhetoric? WTF is wrong with me?
I don't want you to think Yoga has caused my injuries. It hasn't. I cringe to think where I'd be without my practice on so many levels. I suffer from severe herniations in my upper and lower spine, bone on bone discs and now arthritis is creeping in. Arthrtitis? Isn't that for "old people"? I suspect mine could be the beginning stages of Psoriatic arthritis since I'm a candidate, although any arthritis is not out of the question for someone over 50.
Years of pounding the pavement, training for races, fast-walking, lifting heavy and Power "Yoga-ing" without taking any days off have proven to be too much-coupled with getting rear-ended (when I braced upon seeing the car coming). That day, I remember barely being able to lift my leg up to get into the van, due to a back injury I was being treated for. Of course I didn't allow it to heal properly, ('story of my life).
A few months after that, we moved two households without any movers thinking we'd "use it as a workout". I remember Peter and I didn't even miss a day of our workouts throughout our move. (#addiction) Ignoring pains that reoccurred within the first two weeks of my Yoga Teacher Training- and not telling my Teachers I needed to back off- just added more fuel to the fire.
Newsflash: Practicing 8 hours a day of intense Yoga, interspersed with sitting for extended periods of time listening to lectures is not easy. (#ignorance is bliss).
One of the worst practices that Fitness Trainers and Yoga Teachers can adopt is teaching too many classes, jumping in and out of poses to demo (without being sufficiently warmed up) and neglecting rest. I am guilty of every one of these. Some days I have 4 students in a row because everyone's schedule just works out that way. On the days when I have "off' (usually only teaching one class) I find it hard to even leave my apartment anymore- rather opting to write, or lay on my bed with my Corgi.
I'm no longer going to feel guilty about it either.
While I can't say I'll be teaching or taking Restorative Yoga any time soon-"not that there's anything wrong with it"-I'll certainly be showing and practicing more modifications when my back is iffy. I've cut down on the amounts of weight I lift, try to stay off the pavement in lieu of a soft-bed treadmill and have started taking days off from my routine when I have a heavy teaching schedule. (OK: confession: I took 2 days off so far, 'didn't feel a diff. and scrapped it…but at least it's a start!)
Like a smoker jonesin' for a butt when they're trying to quit… it's easier said than done.
There's nothing wrong with giving up some of my contortionistic poses especially if they are causing me pain. Like 80s mullets and shoulder pads, maybe it's time to- like the poster my friend Jen shared on Facebook- "Chill out homie and let that shit go."
Less time pushing the physical part of Yoga means more time pushing the spiritual aspect-which is meditation (future blog topic). Yes… surprise of surprises: I find it extremely tough to meditate! I'm guessing you knew that. Obviously someone like me would find meditation challenging. My mind is in such overdrive that if I'm not having 5 conversations with friends/students simultaneously or involved with something at home… I'm probably concocting a new business opportunity, stirring the pot on Facebook or… watching some ridiculous reality show on Bravo. Get it? It's not that I'm hyper or always need to keep busy, I'm not repressing any deep-rooted trauma either…I just find it hard not to "ruminate" as my "Legs Up The Wall-guy" always points out.
The most positive lesson I am learning from my pain is EMPATHY towards my students. It's actually a gift. Lightening up on myself has enabled me to lighten up on them, offer more modifications and has sharpened my ability to tune into people's psyches in a more intuitive way.
As a student it's helped me hone the poses I used to take for granted and look at them with a fresh perspective, since some days- even Balasana (Child's pose)-hurts like a mother. Many teachers use Ashtanga Guru Pattabhi Jois' line- "Practice and all is coming." I never use this line although it's probably true for most students in terms of learning the asanas. I find there are just some poses I could practice 'til the cows come home and-like I tell my students who push too hard- there's nothing to be gained but an Advil and an ice pack.
Who cares if my Yoga practice ain't what I think it should be or what it used to be? I've still got a pretty damn good practice. Everything else changes so why shouldn't our practice evolve? Why shouldn't I experience pain and learn how to manage it? Most of my students have successfully battled diseases and healed from major injuries. Others endure chronic conditions and have learned to just go with the flow. One of my students has suffered three strokes- each of which could have ended her life. She struggles with WALKING yet comes to my class and never complains! Isn't it true that "into each life a little rain must fall"?
Who knows? Maybe one day I'LL be saying, "Practice and all is coming." I have a feeling that the "all" has nothing to do with the asanas and everything to do with a deeper level of enlightenment.
My new mantra: So much to learn, so much to teach. Yet now it's time to practice what I preach.
Welcome to the New Age6
For those of you who don't know, I'm 51. My husband just turned 52 which means soon I'll be there too. We've been playing the "work out, eat right, practice Yoga game" for decades. Maybe you have as well. Are we cool with aging? Am I- as a Yoga Teacher- accepting of what's happening with my body as I get older? Well……
We're all facing the inevitable signs of aging and I'm curious about how this process affects people who have been working out, practicing Yoga and eating clean for decades- like I have. OK before some of you get all "It's not what's on the outside that matters, Sandee", and start throwing Yogic Sutras at me… whether I teach Yoga, work at a Hair Salon, am a Nurse, Nun or Neurosurgeon…I am just like you. I still see and feel the effects of aging and as much as I'd like to be in denial-the music is gettin' louder and it's time I face it!
The only anti-aging beauty regimen I performed until I was 40ish was applying sunscreen to my face. I lived a healthy lifestyle because it felt good. Back in my late teens, my friends thought I was a total idiot because I'd say "I have to work out" before we hit up the clubs.
Relatives laughed when Peter and I toted Boca Burgers to barbecues and passed on the ice cream cakes at kids' parties. Fellow vacationers couldn't understand why we'd get up extra early to work out before breakfast. Any of our work schedules had our workouts before or after them or sometimes both. Our choices have kept us feeling and looking healthy and out of the doctor's office yet when it comes to visible aging, lately it seems like Father Time is gaining on us no matter which running shoes we switch to.
When I worked as the Receptionist at a local Hair Salon I was immersed in the beauty regimes of the clients. I remember secretly thinking "Really?" when women in their early 50s would squint and pull back their credit card slips to see them before signing. Then six weeks later at the end of their next appointment, they'd fish around for their "new readers", and whip out these hot pink, leopard, ugly ass, oldies specks- almost with pride. I used to say to myself, "Ugh… that's such an old fart thing to do; I'll never wear them!" (I bought a pair but Peter's stolen them. Me? I just ask someone else to read what I need or squint harder- adding more furrows to my forehead.)
Thinning hair discussions, pancake makeup, wigs and hair extensions-coupled with constant talk of anti-aging serums, creams and surgeries permeated the salon floor but I just stayed in my Yogic Bubble and listened, feigning interest yet secretly thinking "That's never gonna happen to me. All my years of working out and practicing Yoga…I doubt I'll worry about such a silly think as aging."
Once- I believe I was around 45- while swiping someone's credit card, I swatted away what felt like a bug under my arm. Nope- 'nothing there. It happened the next day and the day after that until I finally turned to see what was on my arm every time I swiped a credit card. I'll never forget the moment I realized it was my arm flapping! Seriously. I was crestfallen. Could this be happening?
The changes were coming maybe every year. I'd notice a new birthmark, my feet seemed crustier, teeth seemed to dull more easily, back was stiffer if I sat too long. "Word on the street" was that the REAL changes would be seen/felt after hitting 50.
Well, here we are; It's all happening now- to me and to Peter. 'Perks of marrying someone your own age is that we're truly in this together. I think the biggest changes for us began at 51. We've got wrinkles that have morphed into furrows regardless of sunscreen, teeth that dull with every glass of Merlot, spots that one could play connect-the-dots with for fun, thinning hair, sprouting hair where you don't expect to, failing eyesight and aches and pains we have no idea how originated.
I joke with my students about my eyesight- that I can barely recognize who's in my class until I'm about 6 inches away from them. Once my own daughter was in class and I didn't even know it 'til halfway in. My friend Pam and I are known in our Yogic community to dim the lights when we teach- joking that by the time we reach 60, we'll be teaching with flashlights in the dark.
I asked my daughter to find me a mascara that didn't leave marks under my brows and she told me it's not the mascara. She said, "Your eyelids are drooping now so your lashes are hitting the skin." Why thank you young, bright-eyed beauty whose eye shadow looks model-perfect even after a Hot Yoga sesh.
They say Karma is a bitch? No…GRAVITY IS! Years of weight training had taught us how to maintain our musculature yet no amount of knowledge or training can chase this dragon. I can squat til the cows come home and my old butt will not return. Mine now resides on my daughter's backside. Round derrieres seem to be in vogue these days so I proudly pass the torch.
Our 18 year old son can go to the gym 3 days in a row and keep visibly adding to his 6 pack, eating anything his heart desires… yet we could break sit up records or skip a few meals and not much is gonna change.
"But you look great for your age!" The first time I heard that-around 42- I was completely insulted. Today? That's high praise and I'll gladly gush like a teenager and say, "Awe…why thank you!" or do that thing we women do: start alerting you to my flaws.
A topic we ladies of a certain age discuss is Menopause. The hot flashes I hear my friends describing sound dreadful and-like death and paying taxes-are inevitable. Hot Yoga aficionados going through Menopause often times end up switching to Yoga in A/C or huddling around the one lone fan. I get it. And no: wearing teeny tiny shorts ain't happening for the most of us. That ship has sailed if it ever was in port.
So what can be done? Hair color, extensions, eye lifts, Botox, fillers, veneers, implants, tummy tucks, Lipo, rejuvenation, spray tans, fillers, expensive facials, serums, anti-aging creams… all viable solutions with various costs and risks to be considered. But it's like decorating your home. 'Buy new drapes and your carpets will look old. Where does it end? It's like chasing something you can never catch.
Must I add "No judgement"? Puh-lease! Like Joan Rivers says, "Grow UP!" I could give a rat's ass what anyone- even Joan Rivers- does to help alleviate looking or feeling the effects of age, so seriously: don't bore me the inevitable "Beauty comes from within."
For me, now's the time to pull out the big guns and dig even deeper into Yoga-which teaches us acceptance, awareness and appreciation of one's blessings- rather than blemishes. Yes: I will buy more heavy-duty tights that compress my over-50, saggy skin more efficiently, Crest White Strip my teeth, maybe get some hair-thickening shampoo and apply more sunscreen… but unless someone wants to fund my treatments, there's not much I can do besides shift my perspective.
I write a lot about perspective and this topic requires a very positive one. Sometimes I'm strong enough to face it, sometimes… not so much. This morning before class, I was talking to one of my students about why I was wearing bangs. (The ladies at the salon taught me "bangs before Botox") and as the students trickled in, each of us added something to the mix. No matter how Yogic we are, we all have mirrors, and eyes, that- when used with corrective lenses- see the changes occurring.
Yesterday after class I was chatting with my student Molly. She's also in the fitness biz as the owner of a Karate Dojo. I was telling her how I'd just seen my old high school friend after years and how fascinating it was seeing how well my friend is aging when she never works out at all. Molly's in her early 40s and she and her husband enjoy a lifestyle that reminds me much of mine with Peter. I advised her to maybe lighten up on her routine- how Peter and I have most likely overdone it and how we all need to give our bodies a break. She agreed and said she was probably taking the rest of the day off.
When I got home, I texted Molly asking how she felt after my class and she admitted she was going for a run with her hubby. I laughed because I was heading to the gym for a big blast of a workout myself! Oh well… "Take more days off" sounded good but who were we kidding? Old habits die hard and I guess in the long run- even if we're putting more mileage on our bodies, getting more sun than we should and experiencing aches and pains where and when we hadn't in the past, we'll probably be this way well into our golden years.
When I teach, I say "It's not a competition, comparison or critique…." and in Yoga- it certainly isn't. So now I am mustering up all my words to remind myself when it comes to this crazy part of the journey called aging. I am vowing to give myself a break, laugh at these changes rather than loathe them and know that my body is truly only my shell- the best stuff is on the inside. (Oh yeah… and bangs…'definitely gonna be rockin' the bangs!)
Things That Make You Go Hmmm14
One of my students shared something with a few other students after class the other day. We were discussing binding in a Yoga pose and she said, "Once Sandee told me (in a private session) that I may be able to bind if I lost 10 pounds." At first I said, "No way! Did I say THAT?" We were all giggling and then I explained that I probably said, "Binds could be easier for us all if we lost ten pounds."
In MY defense, I was including myself and my point was that for me, I find a little less weight makes it easier to slide under my thigh and clasp my other hand. A bind (and there are different types) is a grip on hands, ankles, toes- when in a Yoga pose- that'll take you deeper, yet is never the AIM of the pose. Regardless of ones' weight, it's not always possible or even necessary. I've also told my students, "I'm a cupcake away from binding". I never meant that this gal (who also happens to be my friend), should lose weight and I've made sure she knows that.
Clearly this statement had an effect on her for her to remember it. What other flippant things have I said that maybe didn't "land right"? I'm trying to be careful with my words yet as a no-filtered, smartass from way back… it's not always easy. This lead me to dredging up some key moments in my life when what someone said to me was taken a certain way- not always adversely- just in a way that I've never forgotten it.
Here are a few of MY life-changers: random things people have said to me that have stuck:
My 8th grade Catholic School Teacher sure laid one on me. She was one of the "lay Teachers": meaning not one of the nuns (Oh I remember much of what THEY used to say to me- all of which was more amusing than anything.) Since as far back as I can remember, I questioned what we were being taught. Much of it fascinated me and as I got older confused me even more. After 8 years of Catholic School, mandatory church attendance on Holy days, the 40 days of Lent, all of our religious instruction, plays, choral performances… Mrs. Davies said, "You all know that everything we taught you throughout these 8 years were all just STORIES, right? Adam and Eve, the loaves and fishes, water into wine… they were all made-up stories from the Bible we used for teaching you lessons."
I remember feeling betrayed since I seemed to be the only one asking for scientific proof, only to be told "Have more faith and don't question." That day I decided I no longer wanted to be part of something that was based on lies. (That's how my mind worked at 13.)
Fast forward to me graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in my early 20s. Armed and ready to take on Manhattan and trade my internship at Calvin Klein into a full-time gig, there I was in my interview, at the point when salary is brought up. "Don't accept anything under $15,000/year," we were advised, so I went in and plead my case to which my boss stated the annual starting salary was what she thought a generous $12,000. When I told her it wasn't enough, she stood up from behind her desk, slammed her hands down and yelled, "Oh yeah? Well…WAR IS HELL AND LIFE IS ROUGH, SISTER!" What the WHAT? To this day I have no idea what she meant yet have replayed that scene in my head so many times- something right out of The Devil Wears Prada. Cut to me standing in a payphone on Broadway crying to my Dad. I moved out of Manhattan and said good-bye to the rag biz forever. (MY 20 year old brain hadn't evolved much from my 13 year old brain, in retrospect.)
Once when I was selling a family membership at the Health Club where I worked-when filling out the contract-I said to the woman, "…and if you put your son's birth date back a year- making him 11- he'll get a free membership for a year." This was our standard way of "throwing the customer a bone" since we didn't offer much for kids under 12 anyway. It was a sales tool that made us look like we were giving them a freebie when we needed to close the deal. I'll never forget how she looked me in the eye and said so sincerely, "Oh thank you, Sandee, but I can't do that. I'm a Jehovah's Witness; I don't lie." I was flabbergasted! I mean- what could I say? "Yeah… well I went to Catholic School where we were lied to on a daily… now I'm a Salesperson and I lie…" #awkward
Here's another line that's emblazoned in my skull. My ex-husband (yes: I-like many of you- have an ex) once turned to me and said in a casual way, "Gee. For someone who runs 50 miles a week, I can't figure out how you still have cellulite." Tears streaming down my eyes, I'll never forget exactly how that remark hit me like a ton of bricks. From that second on I hated him. That's right. (And did I mention he's my ex?) Of course that's not the only thing he did or dumbass thing he said, yet that one insensitive comment- which clearly hit the nerve of that century- epitomized the metaphor for everything I didn't want in a life partner. See ya, dude!
Another memorable moment in my life which I've written about before is the time when- after going through mega hours of trying to push my daughter out only to have a C-section- (8 hours of pushing to be exact but who's counting?)- the doctor came to see me the next day, listened to me talk about the experience and how I had "trained hard to have a perfect birth". He laughed, shook his head and he said, "The most beautiful, easy and effortless births are from women who are usually extremely out of shape. They just lay there and the baby slides right out." Words can't describe how THAT made me feel. It was like, "Oh thanks for telling me NOW!" (In retrospect I couldn't have had it any other way but hormone-scattered, post-partum mothers shouldn't be messed with like that, right?)
Once in this Unitarian Universalist Church I was taking the kids to, I was describing someone to my friend and fellow Unitarian Judith. The woman I was describing was probably in her 60s and had some really deep wrinkles on her face. She was a hip, California-type, ex-Hippie and I was trying to remember her name. Before saying "She's got a lot of wrinkles" my friend said, "Oh I know… it's the woman with the really interesting face!" At the time, I hadn't thought of them as "interesting"- only wrinkles. Looking back, my friend Judith was so spot on. They WERE interesting and SHE was interesting. I always remember Judith's perspective when I see my own new wrinkles now and try to see them as "interesting".
Which brings me to the next mind-blower: the day my Mom looked at my forehead when I was speaking (a few years ago), stopped me mid-sentence and blurted out, "Oh Sandee. You have to stop using so much expression! Your forehead is loaded with wrinkles! Can't you just be a little less animated?' Um… no, Mom, I can't. Thanks though. Couldn't you just consider your daughter's face "interesting"?
I like to remind my students that we can't control everything in life- or actually anything. We can, however, control our reactions and shift our perspectives. Before we react unfavorably to something someone says to us, it's probably best to decipher the context in which it was said. When I realized that my "10 pounds comment" was innocent, meaningless, and I was including myself in it- yet my friend may have taken it to heart… I took a look back at some of the game changing phrases I think of often and for what reasons they had an affect on me.
Getting older is rather freeing, yet for someone who has always spoken her mind my "work" is knowing when to temper my words. We're all a work in progress and never know how our words will affect the people we speak to. My aim is for someone to remember something I've said or written and remember it as honest, positive and hopefully inspiring!
It's Not Always All About YOU!2
In the Yoga world, there's a lot of talk about "Gurus". Some students of Yoga consider their teacher to be their Guru, yet it's my opinion that we're all equal. I'm just like you.
I know you may envision your teacher sitting in meditation for a half hour prior to class-(and this is not to say some don't)-speaking for myself and my teacher friends, we're pretty much doing the same thing you're doing prior to the music starting. I'm usually texting my son to "Please take Lou out before he explodes" or chatting up a student prior to class asking if her daughter's still being a shithead that day. (And commiserating with her if MINE is…) Even if you have one of those teachers who purposely arrives late to every class in that "I've arrived. My time is more valuable than yours so we start when I make my entrance" kind of way, teachers are just like you.
Yoga Teachers have Yoga skills that you pay for and benefit from, yet we're not in any way elevated from you. In my teacher training, the topic was brought up: Should we socialize with our students? The consensus was that we should remain kind of "elevated" … be private. That's not who I am. If I like you and I'm seeing you a couple of times a week for years, then I'm interested in you and feel it's ok to share should you be interested in me. I'm teaching you Yoga-not curing cancer, solving world conflict or feeding hungry people. It's Yoga.
You never need to be ashamed or embarrassed by your behavior. I see you on Facebook. You go out, party, rant about what irks you and basically be human. While I may not post the things I do so much…believe me- I've got stories too. I occasionally overeat, drink, party, stay up too late watching trash TV and wonder if my ass is getting fat in my tights and if you can tell. I'm like you.
In the same way you cringe when I come over to adjust you, hoping you're not sweating too much and stinkin' up the studio… I, too, wonder if you'll possibly object to my sweaty hands touching YOU.
I like to espouse the benefits of meditation yet struggle-like you perhaps-to successfully carve out the time to sit silently, watching my thoughts come and go like I'm watching a movie. (What the hell does that mean, anyway?) My mind moves as fast as the next gal's- flitting from one kids' schedule, to parents' wishes and hubby's needs all in a New York minute. Meditation is no easier for a me than it is for you but I do try. Sometimes I'm successful and manage to gain a little inner peace, then my washer stops and I run to retrieve my tights before Peter puts them in the dryer. Meditation interrupted. Next!
Do you think I'm talking to YOU during class when I say, "Practice the art of nonreactivity"? I'm actually speaking to myself. When you wonder if I have some sort of sixth sense because I'm saying "Let that crap from your day GO." Nope. I'm reminding myself out loud to just forget about the fact that my son keeps reminding me, "You've never looked older." Well, DUH! You haven't either, manboy and just you WAIT…! (See? 'Just like you.)
Do you think I'm Superwoman because I can do some fancy pants Yoga moves that elude you? For every one I CAN do, there are three I CAN'T! How can I balance so well while talking you ask? (I could probably send my hubby a sexy text simultaneously at this point.) It's called REPETITION! I do these moves several times every day. I mean… it'd be sad if I couldn't, at this point.
When I'm the student in a class- when the tables are turned- I'm exactly like you are! I recently took a class where all the other students were not only jumping their feet between their hands, landing at the top of their mats… no- THESE rock stars were all piking up into Handstands with soft landings! Shouldn't I be doing that? I complimented myself on having no ego or jealousy because I do what I can. 'Ain't gonna lie though: I was giddy like a school girl when the teacher unknowingly snuck in one of my faves- YOU know-the one where we sit in seated staff pose and press our hands to the mat to lift our lower bodies? Yay ME: I NAILED that shit and the other gals didn't! #playingfieldleveled
'Impressed with my Sanskrit or how I can remember it all? Put me at your job for one day and- unless it's at a retail store, gym or hair salon- I'm pretty inept. And don't expect to teach me quickly: it took me 6 months to figure out how to close out the register at the hair salon where I worked and I almost got an ulcer in the process.
Oh and about that Sanskrit. Again: studying and repetition. I remember once when I put my students into reverse tabletop and proudly called it by its Sanskrit name: Chatus Pada Pitham. Then I took my friend Tamara's class (who had taken the class and heard my pronunciation), heard The way SHE said it and felt like a Yogic dumbass because hers made mine sound ridiculous! I now stay away from that one, because try as I do… my New York accent totally annihilates it.
Now if it's eloquent Sanskrit, stories from the Bhagavad Gita or lofty explanations of every asana, you'd have to take my friend Philip's class. With his sexy South African accent and bombastic delivery, his class reminds me of a High Holy day in my old church where the priest seemed to be speaking in tongues (minus the sexy part). If you want hands-on adjustments that'll send you into the next stratosphere, that'd be my friend James. One of his his hands spread open is the size of most men's two hands. He's a magnet for the sweet spot. You like listening to the voice of an angel? That'd be my friend Michelle. She's got a voice that could lull you to sleep. Juliana's classes are for those in need of healing in her creative way and her Venezuelan accent is to die for. (Especially the time she called Instagram "Instant Gram" repeatedly. So. Classic.) Me? I can probably make you laugh so hard you'll forget what was bothering you when you got to class. Yet are we "Gurus"? Nah.
If you're looking for a Guru, ask yourself why. YOU are your best teacher. If you're just looking to figure out your shit and learn some tools to help you deal with it, then connect to someone you like and realize that we're all in this together. We teachers are students as well. It's actually amazing how Yoga Teachers can lead a big class then turn around, unroll our mats, and switch to BEING lead.
So next time you read a Yoga Teacher's class post using inspirational words of wisdom and you wonder if it's tailor-made for YOU… remember we speak to ourselves while we're teaching you. Yoga teachers, Yoga students, Yoga Studio owners and Yoga Studio cleaning people… we're ALL just trying to find our way sharing the common bond called YOGA. There's no hierarchy, trust me.
Yogis: Enlightening or Annoying?12
A current trend in Yoga that has me befuddled yet amused is the practice of Yoga Teachers and exuberant practitioners (most likely FUTURE Yoga Teachers) posting their Facebook and Instagram pics-infusing YOGA into everything and anything they share. 'Seems that Yoga has become so uber-trendy that it can be configured into any situation.
At this point, I'm immune to it yet I always wonder what other people think …and if they'd be honest with their assessments.
OK let me just preface this by saying 1) Stop reading if you take yourself too seriously and 2) Feel free to comment afterwards by hopefully adding something funny. If this offends you in any way then I apologize in advance. It's Yoga, people… we ain't coming up with a cure for cancer or solving world peace.
I understand why Yogis post pics and videos of themselves and/or their Yoga classes. I get it. We're promoting Yoga in today's visual world and for those who may still be curious or those who currently can't get enough, these shots will be inspirational, educational and beautiful. I do it. Yeah… it used to bother me but I've jumped on the bandwagon and taken pics, gotten my share of likes and patted myself on the back for being able to suck in my stomach long enough for a photo to make it look effortless.
How much YOGA on social media can one take and are we making ourselves look unbalanced by infusing Yoga into parts of life that really need not be "Yogic"? Yoga's a big part of my life- it's my profession- yet I don't see other people shoving their job in my face ad nauseam.
One student/friend of mine had me teach a birthday Yoga class. That was totally cool since we combined her love of the practice with some goofy post-class Yoga poses against a backdrop of "Keep Calm and Do Yoga". 'Best part was the special little Champagne splits she handed out as favors with the labels reading "Namasté, bitch". 'Great balance between her Yogic life and her real (Irish) life.
Another student/friend is now a Yoga Teacher AND a financial guy helping divorced women navigate their finances after their break-ups. At first I couldn't wrap my head around how he was going to mix his Yogic life with his professional life, but damned if he isn't making it work. I love how he does Tree Pose in his suit balancing on his pool ledge. Hey- if nothing else, Yoga's a great place to meet potential clients depending upon what you're selling. Yoga tends to attract people in transition so kudos to him!
But what about the incessant postings of Yogis whipping into their poses in random public places? Am I odd? Because when I go out to the movies, for example… the last thing on my mind is having Peter get a shot of me balancing a tub of popcorn on my prayer-posed hands while standing on one leg. I may be able to lead a packed Yoga class without getting nervous now, yet when in Rome…I wouldn't even think of doing Yoga where others were enjoying the venue. (Nor does Peter ever say, "Hey hon: before we walk in to this funeral, I just noticed this great little ledge that I think your Astavakrasana would look AWESOME on!")
I feel a Yoga Studio is the perfect place for asanas as is the beach or whatever natural, woodsy area you're in… if you're visiting a beautiful place and want a backdrop of your poses for your cover page or something. I get that. I'm talking about breaking out in Yoga poses in the airport or straddling your kitchen counters. (Ok the one my friend did was friggin' hysterical and her friend mocking her was even BETTER). It's getting crazier by the minute with the maniacal postings of poses- as if Yogis actually live this way.
Let's just say that prior to all of our photo opps and selfies, one would never consider doing a Handstand on a restaurant table next to dining patrons or straddling one of those red balls in front of Target ( which are used to stop cars from plowing through the front doors and killing shoppers, by the way. NOT as Yoga props.) How 'bout wearing a bikini at a rock concert? Yeah… that seems like a good place to break into Standing Split.
Would we even be doing these acts of "look- at- me- showing- off- in- public" if there wasn't someone photographing us? ('Assuming we're not shit-faced and/or in college.)
Why don't people in other professions infuse what they do outside their work environment? I have a student/friend who's an Ophthalmologist and I'm pretty sure she doesn't go up to fellow restaurant patrons while waiting for her meal asking them to cover one eye and answer her when she asks, "Which one is clearer: A or B? One or Two?" I've never seen a Ballerina pirouette across the Post Office floor while waiting in a Christmas time line or a Weightlifter feel the urge to bench press little people and children. Do Race Car Drivers get to practice every time they drive their kids to school or Runway Models walk the mall like they're walking a catwalk? Yet Yogis 'round the world are programmed to strike a pose wherever and whenever it suits them. I mean… it's not like anyone's looking at them. Oh wait! EVERYBODY'S looking at them! Yet isn't that the point?
The very people who espouse humility, non-ego and self-discipline just can't seem to control these Yogic urges, huh?
Even Pilates people abstain from this ridiculousness. I have many Pilates friends and I've never seen one Facebook pic of 'em break into their "hundred" in a Doctor's office waiting room let alone in front of the Eiffel Tower. (They'll actually LOVE this blog, by the way… but for real: Yogis are totally guilty of indulging. Damn those Pilates people: they ARE better than us!)
I'm wondering if your family thinks you've gone mad once you've immersed yourself in Yoga. Have your friends abandoned you? I don't know about you but if I'd ever attempt a Yoga pose in a nonyogic setting-and my kids or childhood pals were there to witness it, they'd rip me a new one but fast! (Remember: my "kids" are now sarcastic adults.)
Here's a classic example: My daughter cruises through our apartment with Yogic radar tuned to her highest setting. 'Times I don't even think she's listening and I'm talking to Peter when she'll walk by singing "Everything's always about Yoga!" (in her faux operatic, mocking voice.)
My son will wait a few days- maybe a week-and ask me when my next class is. He waits 'til when he knows I'm running around distracted, and when I say, "Why? 'You wanna come?" He says, "Yes I was thinking maybe today's the day…..", then he breaks down in a fit of snorting laughter mumbling, "Gotcha!"
In all seriousness I find the truest Yogis are the ones NOT engaging in social media. (Yes I know I'll get slammed big time for this and yes I realize that by saying this, I run the risk of branding myself inauthentic.) Lord knows I love my social media, pop culture and staying connected to people that jazz me. I guess once again it all comes down to balance- a running theme in my blogs and something I- like you-struggle to maintain.
If you can come up with any instances of busting someone taking their profession into normal civilian life, please share. And don't include dancers or athletes. Dancers dance on dance floors and they're expected to be better than everyone else. Athletes can't help being awesome when they're playing for fun, yet I'm sure they don't pinch hit or slam dunk in inappropriate arenas. I want to know why Yogis have the right to practice asanas while going about their day to day or flashing mudras like gang gestures in every selfie. ('Also guilty.)
What is it about Yoga that allows us to lose our minds and blur the lines between our practice and the real world? Could it be all the Yogic breathing that's causing this bombastical boasting or has this ancient practice just become a trendy way for people to seem edgy and cool wherever they choose? Enlighten me.
Perception Is Reality1
When recently subbing a class for my friend, a student walked in, saw me setting up and nervously asked if I was subbing. When I told her I was, she got a pained looked on her face and said, "Oh… you're HARD." I asked her what she meant and she said, "You teach a hard class; You push us." Reluctantly she and her friend decided to stay.
As the class progressed I noticed that this particular student was doing what I always notice a "rebel student" does: In my experience, they tend to set up their boundaries and show who's boss by not listening to what I'm saying. In this case, it wasn't the "moves" (In Yoga the poses are called asanas), rather the Yogic breathing. She chose to breathe her way, (panting through her mouth) as opposed to the Yogic breathing I'd explained (reverse breathing through the nose)- thus creating her own "hard class".
At first I saw a kind of "Ain't nobody's got time fo' DAT" kind of attitude. ("Breathing the way SHE'S telling me to breathe? Yeah… NO!") Okay- fair enough. No matter how many times I demonstrated and reminded them, this lady was going to show ME, alright. She breathed through her mouth and proceeded to pant, sign, bitch and moan through every advanced option SHE chose.
When I teach a class, I offer usually 3-4 options in every asana. It's like looking at a menu when you're pressed for time. You make a quick decision based on what you're feeling and order! You don't just grab something you're unsure about- especially if you're not really that hungry and new to the restaurant. Capiche?
I show the different versions of the pose- sometimes I only do the first "expression"…other times I'll maybe point out someone doing the "final expression". Once the class gets rolling, it's pretty apparent there are enough choices for each student to make that everyone can move along pretty freely.
That said, why did she say I was "hard"? Seriously- if she truly listened to what I was saying, shouldn't she have realized that the class is only as hard as you make it? There's permission to be prudent, to fall… to experiment and fall on your ASS or to just lie in Child's Pose. As a teacher, it's funny to me that some students will grunt, groan and muscle their way into a pose that clearly ain't happenin' for them that day (nor maybe ANY day) as if they're trying to impress me. I really could give a rat's ass, by the way. Honestly I'm most concerned with the personalities, habits and tendencies that the practice exposes than seeing any fancy pants pose someone can "perform".
Don't get me wrong: I have practiced, taught and had my mind blown by some epic feats of grace, strength and fearlessness. yes I DO love when my students – and when I- nail a pose we've been working on. What I mean is that there are different levels of the poses and with Yoga, you can't really be labeled a beginner just as you can't be labeled advanced. First off, our bodies are so different, curvatures of the spine, past injuries, age, stress levels off the mat…all of these affect our "level" and it changes on a daily. I have students who are working towards certain poses for years with the possibility of attaining them…or the possible reality of NOT.
To clarify, let me give an example: Anyone on Facebook or Instagram- who practices Yoga- can agree that there are a plethora of photos streaming the 'feed. (Mine looks like one continuous Yoga Journal magazine.) While it truly is amazing to see what the human body is capable of, or what exactly the Grasshopper pose is supposed to look like… it is by no means THAT incredible that some bodies are simply just more bendy than others. 'Same in class. The very people who are hyper-flexible, are often times incapable of holding any pose for more than a few seconds because they lack focus and concentration.
If I notice that happening, I tend to beam in on them and have the class hold their asanas longer than usual. I mean- where will the growth or the challenge be to have someone move swiftly from one pose to another if "their work" is more in the feeling and maintaining said pose? How can these asanas even be beneficial if your body's not in them long enough to register the physical and mental benefits?
The problem- or work- that this particular student had (in my opinion for that night) wasn't that of a physical obstacle- but more of an attitude adjustment. She walked in, saw me, had taken my class before and deemed my class "hard". So her entire experience was now how she was proving to herself and me that SHE was right: my class was hard. She let her perception and preconceived expectations tarnish her ability to stay in the moment. If she truly listened to my breathing cues, and subtle reminders to take appropriate options she would have realized that my class was only as hard as she made it for herself!
To assume in Yoga makes an ass out of you and… as for me…? Jeez,I tend to make an ass out of myself pretty much every class in some fashion by keeping it light and having fun. If you walk into a class and set yourself up for failure, you could possibly "fail". Yet the reality is if you allow yourself to just let it happen organically, learn how to back off and remember you're there to FEEL something… ANYTHING… then every time you practice you'll learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible.
My class is only "hard" if you want it to be.
Living With My "Dark Passenger"4
I have a confession to make and what better forum to raise the awareness of addiction than here? I went well over a month without writing my blog because of a secret obsession that took hold of me.
One Saturday in between teaching Yoga, my husband Peter and I sat down to watch TV. We cruised Netflix and landed on the Showtime series we had heard about-although never partaken of: Dexter.
At first I was all, "No way, Peter. I'm not going to invest my time watching a show about a fictitious character who's a self-professed forensics lab geek by day and vigilante serial killer by night!
Let's back up here. About the name: My maiden name is Dexter. Even stranger is the character's full name: Dexter Morgan. My grandmother's maiden name was Morgan. The names Dexter and Morgan are used commonly in our family after my Dad's mother. My son Julian's middle name is Dexter, and my nephew Stephen Dexter- an actor- is regularly asked if Dexter's his "stage name". I always wondered how someone with a famous name connected to crime or serial killing… like the name Dahmer for instance…would keep the name. I always told Peter, "I'm happy to have the name Versace. (It speaks to my fashion sense and can get us a table in any restaurant rather quickly). At least I didn't marry someone with the name of a serial killer." Little did I know my name WOULD someday be associated with one!
So why did this show become an addiction- causing me to temporarily lose my mind? After the first ten minutes of watching one of my favorite actors- Michael C. Hall- cruising through the streets of downtown Miami, looking for bad guys while his narration described the mind of a sociopath… I was hooked. The unusual premise, coupled with fast-moving story lines where anyone could be here today and gone tomorrow kept me glued to the tube. Thus began the obsession: my escape from peace, love and light by day to blood spatter (only amateurs say "splatter"), syringes of Etorphine (an animal tranquilizer), and precision, well-thought out hack jobs by night.
Much like seeing the name Versace everywhere, it was fun hearing the name "Dexter Morgan", "Dexter" and "Dex" (my Dad's nickname) peppered throughout every episode. I also liked that the show was set in Miami making it fun to spot locations-(many were actually filmed on sets in Cali.)-or the possibility I'd spot "extras" I might know.
Without giving any of the plot lines away (should you decide you can take a whiff of this and escape full-on addiction), it's fascinating to learn how the brain works- how a sociopath justifies his "kills' and how even a Yoga Teacher can root for the killer. After the first victim gets cellophane-taped to the killing table and forced to atone for his sins only to be punished by Dexter, the knives, blood, torture and murder become de rigueur.
Anyone's who's watched The Sopranos knows that when the writing's superb and the killers are shown to have a human side- even a "killing code"- it's easy to root for the bad guy. After all- they're ridding society of even WORSE guys, right?
I realize that people may think a Yoga Teacher spends their off-time chanting, meditating and devising new Yoga sequences. Well… I do, I do… yet- being the multi-faceted, balanced being that I AM…I also enjoyed a program with a sinister theme, rich character developments and riveting story lines- something so polar opposite to what I'm immersed in 24/7. I never worried that I'd go to the dark side or pollute my meditative mind with anything evil… it was merely entertainment.
I compare watching Dexter to when I homeschooled. My world consisted of breastfeeding, Barney, workbooks, playgrounds and puppet shows by day., yet at night as my kiddies were fast asleep, I'd dip back into adulthood watching Howard Stern. Not the America's Got Talent Howard: the original outrageous Baba Booey and Robin Quivers Howard: you remember… the foul-mouthed chauvinistic angry Howard who sanctioned tossing baloney on strippers? Doing something harmlessly contradictory to your persona feels good sometimes.
The only part of my Dexter addiction I regret was the length of its run. Lasting from 2006-2013 meant a lot of shows so for about 6 weeks, I "raced" my son – who was also hooked- to watch all 8 seasons. That's 12 episodes per season which spanned 7 years on Showtime yet thanks to Netflix can be 'binge-watched" in record time. It felt wrong.
What started as something Peter and I could enjoy together on his two nights off from work, became my nightly guilty pleasure. So after I bid my last Yoga student farewell, I'd go home, hope no one else was there and settle in for 2-3 episodes of Dexter. Sometimes the last one would take me to past 1:00 AM when I needed to wake up the following morning at 6:00 AM to teach. Not being big on sleeping, I seemed to tolerate this schedule well. The problem began when I'd try and catch an episode (or two) during the day between classes.
The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.
I'll admit it now. I lied a few times when asked to do other things in between classes. I told my Mom I was finally going to "rest" the way she's always telling me I need to. I wasn't resting. I was watching Dexter trying to stay ahead of my son. and concocting stories about how I spent my days- stories as elaborate and secretive as Dexter's cover ups1 It was then I realized where my son gets his obsessive behavior from; he was doing the same thing! In lieu of making music, he was watching Dexter just like I was rather than writing my blog, playing our piano or accomplishing other necessary tasks.
It got to the point where I couldn't wait for it to end. My son-who beat me to the end- waited for me to catch up and then we both enjoyed the final episode together. There. Done! We're FREE- just in time for Orange Is The new Black! (OK: THIS one only has two seasons which means my daughter and I finished our long-awaited, second season in a week!) The apples don't fall far from the tree.
So when people "invite me" to play Candy Crush, or insist I HAVE to watch Breaking Bad or Game of Thrones… I just shake my head, say "No thank you" and do something else that seems innocuous… like… I don't know… Facebook! Surely THAT'S not addictive, right?
We ALL have our tendencies, habits…even addictions. I prefer to keep mine as healthy as possible and continue using my Yoga practice to remind me that maintaining balance is a lifelong effort and we're all a work in progress. (Just like Dexter was… is…) no spoiler alert here!
"I Really Have To Get Back To Yoga"8
Now that I've been teaching Yoga full-time for four years, I've noticed the same pattern I saw back when I managed a team of salespeople for a major New York Health Club in the 80s. People come in looking to change their lives going full blazes into their work out or their Yoga practice. (We Yoga Teachers like to refer to it as our "work IN".) They make it part of their routines and 'next thing you know…they're "regulars".
Lately I've been thinking about the students whom I no longer see in class- the ones who used to arrange their work and family schedules around my classes, purchase multiple class packages in multiple studios and message/text me asking where I was teaching that day. Their groove was set and they needed their fix. Yet something happened and I stopped seeing them in class. How does this happen? How can something so vital to their well-being at one time get away from them, fading into a mere memory?
I've heard it takes 30 days to make something a habit. This is why I'm a big fan of a 30 day trial heath club membership or a Groupon of 10 classes to a Yoga Studio. I feel that if someone allows a full month to integrate their new routine into their life, there's a pretty good chance I can keep them.
Practicing Yoga awakens ones' body, mind and spirit. After the first few classes, you feel muscles you never knew existed. Beyond this obvious wake-up call to the body, you take in more oxygen than you possibly ever have, producing a euphoric, calm and relaxed state of being. Couple this with the obvious aesthetic changes and BOOM: a new healthy habit has been formed and you're on your way to enlightenment.
So what are some of the reasons people fall out of their practice? I've noticed that whenever there's a change in schedule, time change, move, injury, procedure… something's gotta give and that can unfortunately be one's Yoga practice. I've lost students to the obvious move out of the area. Some have turned to other fitness modalities and upon catching up regularly…I find that they're perhaps spinning for a few months, then running, then Pilates and maybe finally BACK to Yoga. Some people get bored more easily than others or perhaps don't see or feel the changes they're looking for. For me, it's a combination, yet for some- finding the combo that works can be a lifelong mission.
Here are some of the common reasons I've heard people abandon Yoga: They move away from their "home studio" and the drive becomes too much, there aren't any studios in their area or classes that fit their schedule, (although in SoFlo I find that hard to believe since there seems to be a studio every 1/4 mile and classes on the hour), they gained weight, sustained an injury and never made it back, had a baby, the time changed messed them up, their kids are home from school, their money sitch isn't allowing them to purchase classes, caring for an elderly and/or sick relative, having to get home after work to walk the dog, opting to sit down and not wanting to get back up to get to a class…and boob jobs: Yes- I've lost 3 students to boob jobs. 'Not sure if their breasts were too tender and painful in certain poses or if the 30 days off just took them in other directions. Basically any change in routine can cause someone to fall out of their practice. It happens. Life gets in the way; I get it.
I myself have no idea firsthand how it feels returning to Yoga after an absence because once I started, I never stopped. 'Same with working out. Sometimes I wonder what it'd feel like and almost long for that "first time" feeling yet I'm not willing to stop for the experience of being a newbie. (yeah… #healthyaddiction)
Here are some things I've heard people enjoy upon resuming their Yoga practice:
The smell of the mat, the incense, the feel of connecting bare feet to a sticky mat, the music (especially the Indianish, Yoga music that most people don't listen to on their car radios), the deep breathing…fresh oxygen pouring into every nook and cranny, that stretched-out feeling opening every pore and cell of your body, and the camaraderie of fellow Yogis. The hugs. I've never felt so much good will and solid people to people connections as I have in the Yoga community.
Some have told me it's like having a dry spell in sex then returning as a virgin. Hmmmm.
All the feelings you experience as a first-time Yoga practitioner come rushing back when you revisit your mat. No one ever regrets practicing… they only lament NOT practicing. So if you once were really into Yoga -then took a sabbatical for whatever reason-just know it's all there waiting for you when the time is right and YOU decide it's time to dig back into your innermost sensations- for better or worse.
I took over 30 days off from writing my blog. I wasn't sure if I'd resume it but realized that- like Yoga- when the time's right, and the opportunity presented itself… I'd be back. Hopefully you'll go right back to enjoying my blogs in the same way I'll welcome you back to my class should you decide to return. I think I speak for all Yoga Teachers: we just want as many people as possible to be well-adjusted – both physically and emotionally- and we're always here to guide you back, no explanations necessary.
So smooth out that wrinkled, old Yoga mat in the back of your trunk, find those tights buried in the bottom of your hang out drawer, tell the family you're taking some much-needed and well-deserved "me time" and get back to your bliss!


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Amidst the turmoil of the First World War, a new breed of superhuman is born as a result of illegal chemical weapons. While some members of this unique new class of society choose to fight against injustice, others use their extraordinary capabilities to spread terror. However, something far more powerful is lurking on the horizon, a threat that could erase them from existence for good.
The Chimera Brigade Book One (COL)
The year is 1938, and a new generation of super-powered creatures, born as a side effect of secret chemical weapons, has taken control of the capital cities of Europe…
But a new, even more powerful threat is looming, one that could yet erase them from existence and shift the balance of power.
"Gorgeously detailed and atmospheric" - Paul Cornell

subset: commoncrawl


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MC: You can choose a helper.
Seohyun: UNNIE!
Yuri: YOONA AH~
Yoona: Who am I supposed to choose?
Seohyun: Unnie~
Yuri: Yoona~
Yoona chose Seohyun:D
Yuri: TIFFANY!
Tiffany: *gets up*
Yuri: You are still the best<3
Comparisons photos from the anime and in real life Ikebukuro. I own none of these photos but if you're looking for someone to thank, thank kissmygeass on Livejournal (http://kissmygeass.livejournal.com/).
reblogging this again..


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"It was definitely a weird experience when a song goes to pop radio like that. The rock side of things is bands on the road, playing, partying and doing it because they love music. The pop thing was, like, how can we make money?"
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"We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible wth ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love."
"That's just what I felt. Now I'm on the good side. It felt a little weird at first, but it's an adjustment that I can make. It felt good to put on the purple and get out there with the fans. They embraced me."


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Christmas Eve Mass Opening Music Part 2 @ Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish
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... will be there, oh just over that little hill and I have made it............a half a mile later and Brian off in the sunset, actually sunrise, sort of, and the balloons were disappearing out of site, oh dear Feeling rather hungry now and having seen, or not seen as the case may be, enough balloons, we decided to go,into the town and get some breakfast. Ah, it is only 6.30 and there is nowhere open, hm, so it's back to our little wooden hut for a coffee ...
The Land of the Turks - Part 2 (16th-20th June)
... had told us that we need to brace ourselves in a certain way when landing. That made me feel a tad nervous that it wasn't going to be a smooth touch down. As we came closer to the ground we realised that the pilot was going to land the basket on the back of a trailer. Amazingly he did this so perfectly it was a completely smooth landing. I don't know why they told us to brace ourselves because we were on the trailer without even feeling a thing. After going back to the hotel for ...
"He Who Knows Himself is Deified"
... given and takenall these are yearnings, the arc of whispers that ricochet out from the wingsof angelic medicine keepers. The shaman's way is not to be understoodThe pilgrims' path is not to be comprehended. The Voice of Light The Symphony of NecessityIs meant to be a Breath on ...
"It's a Magical Fairyland!"
... group of hikers during our time in the valley, so we mostly had the place to ourselves.
After 10 miles of hiking, we went back to our cave and took long cave naps. We had earned our afternoon hibernation after waking up at 4:45 a.m. and doing all of that hiking. We went out to a nice dinner and got two local specialties: manti, a Turkish ravioli made with beef and garlic tomato and yogurt, and testi kebap, a mix of meat and vegetables cooked in a clay pot that ...
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The presidential election of 1884, in which Grover Cleveland ended the Democrats' twenty-four-year presidential drought by defeating Republican challenger James G. Blaine, was one of the gaudiest in American history, remembered today less for its political significance than for the mudslinging and slander that characterized the campaign. But a closer look at the infamous election reveals far more complexity than previous stereotypes allowed, argues Mark Summers. Behind all the mud and malarkey, he says, lay a world of issues and consequences.
Summers suggests that both Democrats and Republicans sensed a political system breaking apart, or perhaps a new political order forming, as voters began to drift away from voting by party affiliation toward voting according to a candidate's stand on specific issues. Mudslinging, then, was done not for public entertainment but to tear away or confirm votes that seemed in doubt. Uncovering the issues that really powered the election and stripping away the myths that still surround it, Summers uses the election of 1884 to challenge many of our preconceptions about Gilded Age politics.
Acknowledgments Introduction
Prologue: Judgment Day
Chapter 1. No Business To-Day Other Than Politics Chapter 2. The Dispirit of '76
Chapter 3. The Bloody Shirt—In Hoc Signo Vinces Chapter 4. The Politics of Personality Chapter 5. O Temperance, O Mores!
Chapter 6. The Protection Racket Chapter 7. The Democrats Rise from the Dead Chapter 8. The Passing of Arthur Chapter 9. We Love Him for the Enemies He Has Made Chapter 10. The Public Be Crammed!
Chapter 11. Love's Libels Lost Chapter 12. Windypendents' Day Chapter 13. Ireland Sold for Gold!
Chapter 14. Sideshows Chapter 15. Carrying the War into Africa Chapter 16. Local All Over Chapter 17. Clerical Errors Chapter 18. Lord! But We Skirted the Edge!
Chapter 19. Justice at Last!
Notes Bibliography Index
"Another voice for Cleveland"
The Blaine tariff fraud
"His own destroyer"
Death at the polls and free from "federal interference"
"Mr. Tilden's body-guard"
"This puts me in the devil of a position"
A cartoon of what Democrats thought Readjuster rule meant
"Rival rag-pickers"
"The 'magnetic' Blaine"
"A grand Shakespearian revival"
"A big job"
"Her platform going to pieces"
"Senator Bayard strikes his grand attitude on the tariff question"
"Cleveland the celibate"
"Made harmless at last!"
"Blaine leans towards Logan"
"Phryne before the Chicago tribunal"
"He courts the mother and means the daughter"
He can't beat his record
"Those dogs won't fight—they are dying of starvation"


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Tag: TrackingSpeed
Mac 101: Adjusting your mouse and trackpad speed
More Mac 101, our series of tips and tricks for novice Mac users. If you've ever used the trackpad on a PC laptop connected to an external monitor and noticed how many times you have to swipe your finger across the pad to get the mouse cursor from one screen to the other, the end result can be...
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Home » News » Energy
PSNH discount carries a cost: Loyal customers pay more, those who switch offered lower rate
The staff of the Public Utilities Commission and the Office of Consumer Advocate are recommending that the PUC end the "alternative default energy rate" because it hasn't been working as intended, and has been harming PSNH's longtime, loyal customers.
"To date, the alternative energy default rate has failed to achieve the stated goal of providing a measure of benefit to default rate customers," the staff attorney and consumer advocate wrote in a June 23 letter to the commissioners.
"Energy prices were steady when the pilot program was developed and filed," he said, "subsequently, they became very volatile and the rate did not produce the relief that was expected. We are open to revisiting the rate and exploring a range of practical options for implementation of an alternative rate that might be more effective."
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Concealed carry fight looms in the stateREADER COMMENTS: 48
- Misleading women: Does Kuster think they're bad at math? - 0
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School's out for voters


text: Match the Celeb With the Cell Phone by Tech 2/17/08 0 Reactions 0 Shares Print 0 0 0 0 0 This young starlet sure knows how to accessorize! At least she still manages to show a bit of class among all her jewels with her chic BlackBerry. Any idea who it is? Take a wild guess below! Read More Match The Celeb With The Cell PhoneBlackBerry Get a Personalized Living Newsletter Help us customize your newsletter by selecting your interests (optional): Food Vegetarian Home Tech DIY Love & Sex Link Love Snapchat says ads to come this weekend — BuzzFeed Tech We may see a Microsoft wearable in weeks — ReadWrite Batteries that take only 2 minutes to recharge — is this real life? — Newser The ultimate Bluetooth keyboard for the ultimate multitasker — Cool Mom Tech 4 surprising business uses for the iPad — Chip Chick A new, hilarious Marcel the Shell video is here! — POPSUGAR Celebrity


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Rugby Union
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Match Links
- Aviva Premiership
- 1st Mar 2013
- Ground: The Recreation Ground
- Att: 11,953
Bath v Gloucester - Aviva Premiership preview
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Having missed Gloucester's last five matches, fly-half Freddie Burns is back for Friday's Aviva Premiership clash with Bath at the Rec.
The 22-year-old last featured in the Amlin Challenge Cup fixture at home to Mont-de-Marsan on January 19, but has been sidelined with a knee injury ever since.
However, after a patient period of rehabilitation, Burns is back as director of rugby Nigel Davies makes just three changes to his starting line-up.
Mike Tindall returns in midfield, and will skipper Gloucester against his former club, while Nick Wood is named at loosehead instead of Dan Murphy.
Meanwhile, Bath welcome back Paul James, David Wilson, Francois Louw and Matt Banahan for this derby clash.
Test props Paul James and David Wilson, released by Wales and England respectively, come back into the front-row either side of hooker Rob Webber, whilst Dominic Day and Dave Attwood continue their tough, impactful combination in the second row.
Francois Louw returns to the blindside flank and skippers the side, meaning Carl Fearns switches to the openside as Ben Skirving continues at number eight.
A mix of experience and youth is selected in the half-backs, with 98 times capped Peter Stringer linking up with Tom Heathcote once more.
Flyer Tom Biggs takes his place on the left wing, with the exceedingly robust Horacio Agulla on the right.
The bulldozing Matt Banahan returns to the midfield to join Kyle Eastmond in the centres, with Nick Abendanon completing the line-up at full-back.
Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Matt Banahan, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Ben Skirving, 7 Carl Fearns, 6 Francois Louw (c), 5 Dave Attwood, 4 Dominic Day, 3 David Wilson, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Ross Batty, 17 Nathan Catt, 18 Anthony Perenise, 19 Will Spencer, 20 Mat Gilbert, 21 Michael Claassens, 22 Sam Vesty, 23 Semsea Rokoduguni.
Gloucester: 15 Rob Cook, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Mike Tindall (c), 11 Jonny May, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Akapusi Qera,6 Tom Savage, 5 Will James,4 Lua Lokotui,3 Rupert Harden, 2 Darren Dawidiuk, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Dan Murphy, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Peter Buxton, 20 Andy Hazell, 21 Dave Lewis, 22 Ryan Mills, 23 Martyn Thomas.
What they said...
Gloucester Director of Rugby Nigel Davies
"Freddie wasn't far away last week, but he's firing on all cylinders and it's great to have him back. He's a very chirpy character who brings a lot to the group with his energy, let alone his ability.
"Ryan (Mills) has been fabulous though. Coming straight back after a long injury, and not playing in his natural position. He's played in three big games for us and done a great job. He deserves a lot of credit for what he's been able to do."
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|Aviva Premiership
|Friday 14th November
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|Northampton vs Exeter
|Saturday 15th November
|Sale vs London Irish
|Bath vs Newcastle
|Sunday 16th November
|Leicester vs Saracens
|Wasps vs London Welsh
|Friday 21st November
|Harlequins vs Sale
|Newcastle vs Gloucester
|Saturday 22nd November
|London Irish vs Bath
|Exeter vs Wasps
|Sunday 23rd November
|Saracens vs Northampton
|London Welsh vs Leicester
|Friday 28th November
|Bath vs Harlequins
|Saturday 29th November
|Leicester vs Wasps
|Exeter vs Saracens
|Sunday 30th November
|London Irish vs Gloucester
|London Welsh vs Northampton
|Newcastle vs Sale
|Saturday 20th December
|Sale vs Exeter
|Gloucester vs Bath
|Northampton vs Leicester
|Saracens vs London Welsh
|Harlequins vs Newcastle
|Sunday 21st December
|Wasps vs London Irish
|Friday 26th December
|London Irish vs London Welsh
|Aviva Premiership
|Sunday 12th October
|Aviva Premiership
|Wasps 29 - 22 Bath
|Saturday 11th October
|Northampton 43 - 10 Sale Sharks
|Saracens 28 - 21 Gloucester
|Exeter 44 - 24 London Irish
|London Welsh 3 - 23 Newcastle
|Friday 10th October
|Leicester 22 - 16 Harlequins
|Sunday 5th October
|Newcastle 29 - 24 Exeter
|Sale 25 - 14 Wasps
|Saturday 4th October
|Gloucester 33 - 16 Leicester
|Harlequins 52 - 0 London Welsh
|London Irish 12 - 19 Northampton
|Friday 3rd October
|Bath 21 - 11 Saracens
|Sunday 28th September
|Wasps 35 - 18 Newcastle
|Exeter 36 - 13 Harlequins
|Saturday 27th September
|Northampton 31 - 24 Bath
|Leicester 19 - 22 London Irish
|Saracens 40 - 19 Sale Sharks
|Friday 26th September
|London Welsh 10 - 46 Gloucester
|Sunday 21st September
|Newcastle 10 - 35 Northampton
|Saturday 20th September
|Bath 45 - 0 Leicester
|Harlequins 26 - 23 Wasps
|London Irish 32 - 36 Saracens
|Sale 46 - 8 London Welsh
|Friday 19th September
|Gloucester 22 - 25 Exeter
|Sunday 14th September
|Newcastle 18 - 20 London Irish
Experts & Blogs
Phil Edwards
Read the thoughts and opinions of Phil Edwards with skysports.com


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By Maria Langer | Saturday, October 11, 2014
Your Twitter experience is all about who you follow. After all, those accounts will generate the content you see when you visit your Twitter home page.
There's no real limit to the number of Twitter users you can follow—and with more than 271 million monthly active users posting 500 million tweets every day, there's always something new and fresh to read.
But as you might imagine, keeping up with all of these posts can quickly get out of hand—especially if you don't check your Twitter newsfeed regularly.
So how do you keep your Twitter newsfeed manageable? Here are some tips.
By Jethro Jones | Sunday, September 14, 2014
Are you interested in learning and becoming a better teacher? Twitter chats are one way to focus your learning and get tons of information in a very short amount of time.
You might even get so much information that you can't get through it all. That's OK! Take what will help you become a better teacher—and then share with others the tools and tips that worked for you.
By Jess Stratton | Monday, July 21, 2014
A few weeks ago, I showed you how to download your Facebook timeline to your computer. This week on Monday Productivity Pointers, I'll show you a similar feature in Twitter.
By Maria Langer | Saturday, June 28, 2014
If there's one thing that's true about any Web-based application, it's that change is inevitable. While Twitter doesn't often make major changes to its interface, the recent update to its user profile feature was a complete facelift, leaving a cleaner look and more features for sharing information about yourself with others.
By Jess Stratton | Monday, December 16, 2013
Explore Monday Productivity Pointers at lynda.com.
Your website is the first place potential customers will visit to find out more about you, so it's important to keep your site active, current, and consistently updated—establishing your professional persona in the best possible light.
In this week's Monday Productivity Pointers, I'll show you how to publish a Twitter feed to your website; using a WordPress blog as my example. I'll also show you how to embed a Google calendar into your site so it's clear to potential clients that you're an active professional.
By Jess Stratton | Monday, September 16, 2013
Have you ever found yourself frustrated after pasting a URL into your Twitter update and finding there's only a few characters left for your post? Well, I have good news: There's a simple solution that lets you have your cake and eat it, too.
In this week's tutorial, I'll cover what a URL shortening service can do for you, introduce some of the shortening services and the options they provide, and explain some reasons you'd want to consider using a URL shortener to begin with.
By Jess Stratton | Monday, September 09, 2013
Welcome back for another Monday Productivity Pointers! In this week's free episode, I'll give you a brief, high-level overview of how to use Twitter for social networking. I'll cover some reasons why you might want to use Twitter, how to read and navigate the main Twitter stream, the process of finding and following new users, and how you can reply and retweet other tweets of interest to your followers. You'll be up and running on Twitter in no time!
By Matt Bailey | Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Explore this course at lynda.com.
How much time and money should I spend on social media?
This frequently asked question sums up the frustration of countless business owners and website publishers. Many social media experts say it's essential to have a social presence. But not all businesses are the same, nor do they all make money the same way, so it's critical to first develop an integrated online marketing plan before executing a successful social media strategy to promote it.
Define your messaging
Start with your marketing message and strategy, and clearly define the unique value proposition of your business. What do you bring to the table that sets you apart from your competitors, or solves your customers' problems more efficiently? Once your message aligns with your business goals and reflects your strengths, you'll need to assess how and where to communicate it.
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Is there a rumor you've heard that you would like to track down? Is there something in the city — like playground equipment or a pothole — that needs to be fixed? Rick Romano answers some of the mysteries of life in Wauwatosa and helps solve everyday problems.
What is the construction project on 115th Street near Bluemound Road?
Issue: Our reader specifically asked about the construction he saw on the Underwood Parkway along the Menomonee River.
Status: Construction at 115th Street and the Parkway is part of a $7 million effort by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District to rehabilitate a two-mile stretch of iron pipe known as the Underwood Creek force main.
A force main line is a sewer drained under pressure from a pumping station rather than by gravity.
Work is from the Underwood Parkway east of the Elm Grove border to, eventually, along Watertown Plan Road east of Highway 45. Corroded pipes, discovered by inspection in 2007 and 2009, are being repaired with a thinner fiberglass liner.
"It's a newer technology," said MMSD Senior Project Manager Keith Kalinger.
Kalinger said the project began two months ago and is scheduled to run through spring, 2015. He said work on the pipeline, originally built in 1983 as an important part of the district's pollution abatement program, will be completed in sections so that the main will be available in case of overflows.
Bicyclists may use the trail that runs along the parkway during the duration of construction, Kalinger said.
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- The Malt Shoppe opens Friday in Wauwatosa
- Taste of the Town: Eddie Martini's remains a classic stop
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- Wauwatosa's Center Street, lined with schools, could see sidewalks, bike lanes
- Wauwatosa negotiating financial aid for Underwood apartments
- Weekly Planner: Oct. 23
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- What to expect as Wauwautosa YMCA changes hands