Poetry Tuesday: Yoga and...Samosa Wrap

Though I bend
You do not bend,
Tortilla you are
Stiffer than my hips.
Microwaved, even.


[The newly certified Kara started a Sunday afternoon yoga class in the neighborhood. $10! It's so challenging and that is awesome. After the first class, I ate this.]

If we hold hands, we can make a circle.

Our knitting triangle has become a square with the addition of another Jenni. This one is a brainy blogger whom I quite respect.

Jenni hosted last week's knitting session (once again, we didn't get to the "watching Twin Peaks episodes" part, which happens about a third of the time) with style. She turned out to be the sort of get-together host I really appreciate. She even made a toasted sandwich for a latecomer who hadn't gotten a chance to eat dinner before arriving. Now that's classy.

I started the evening with a spicy ginger tea, then moved on to the World Peace Cookies. I recognized them as they came out of the oven, as the recipe is one I tried for this year's cookie party.



As a bonus treat, Jenni shared an Australian candy bar (also distributed in New Zealand) called Cherry Ripe. It was like a Mounds bar crossed with a Cherry Mash. Delightful!

I'd forgotten about this guy.

I suddenly recalled a childhood staple I hadn't eaten in years -- the grilled peanut butter and honey sandwich. Oh, how I loved them.

So I made one after work on Friday, as a nod to "after school snacks" of yore.

It's just as good as I remembered, even with more "grown up" whole wheat bread and raw honey. I want another and another and another...

Was this the same day I polished off 1/3 of a package of Oreos?

I don't recall. But, either way, thumbs-up to the Whole Foods mini pie!

I eat oatmeal more than once a year, but you'd never know it based on my blog posts.

Last year's creamy oatmeal toppings (and the recipe) are discussed here.

This morning, I had my oatmeal with flax seed, organic brown sugar, pecans, dried cranberries, butter, whipping cream, and a little too much salt. Go light on the salt, kids!

I'm not saying Rob isn't a "Really Good" guy.

I'm just saying "Rob's Really Good Lemonade" is more "good" than "really."


[Edited to add: It's good enough that you might disagree and add that "really" right back in. I wanted it to be more tart, but I speak for no one but myself.]

Alexander and...Almonds OR "Am I (un)doing this right?"

Maybe it's the alliteration, but I was really in the mood for almonds after my Alexander Technique group class. Here comes another one of my NYC Yoga Passbook experience posts:

Pass 3: Two classes in the Alexander Technique (1 attended so far) through ACAT (The American Center for the Alexander Technique), Union Square. The first class is a group introductory class, free with or without the pass. The second class allowed through the passbook offer will be a one-on-one session with a certified teacher. Rebecca from ACAT says, "let folks know to bring their coupon to the group demonstration. We are prepared to assign private lesson teachers at the event."
Date(s): 2/1
Instructor(s): Lisa Lutton, with hands-on assistance from Jane Tomkiewicz and Elizabeth Reid.
Thoughts: Even without the passbook, you can attend this class for free on the first Monday of each month. But that didn't make it seem like less of a value to me, when all was said and done. I appreciate that the passbook informed me about the session, which I otherwise wouldn't have known about.
I entered ACAT's space on 14th Street with a slight timidity, but eventually found myself feeling there hung a certain golden glow over the evening. The room warmed up, and so did I. Lisa Lutton (who also teaches in private practice on the upper west side) had a special air of calm authority about her, without seeming at all authoritarian. Need I say her posture was lovely? After Elizabeth welcomed us and introduced her, Lisa gave us an introduction to a few ideas behind the intentional, thoughtful movement that the Technique seeks and why it is efficient and desirable. We watched her demonstrate with her own body, and then with volunteers, the physical possibilities when one thinks "forward" and "up" while sitting, rising, standing, and even running.
Our small class (only six non-teachers/non-trainees were in attendance) then broke into 3 groups of two, each with a teacher, to practice a bit more focused upright and table work. I still feel like The Alexander Technique approaches "magical" when one first experiences it, due to how infinitesimal and almost "accidental" adjustments seem (though, of course, they're no accidents), but I am also convinced of its utility. I was in Lisa's small group, and she offered both verbal and kinesthetic/physical feedback while working with us. Something clicked for me on the table as she spoke about "undoing" and "doing less" with our bodies. I could feel progress when I occasionally managed to harness the "thinking without trying" she described. Who knew I needed to think about making my ribs go "mushy" to release inhibiting tension?
At the end of even such limited one-on-one work, and after a surprising but not at all upsetting tear rolled down my face (isn't it interesting how an emotional response can sneak up on one during new forms of physical movement?), I felt more stretched and buoyant for a few minutes, before sinking back into my poor posture and bad physical habits. I tried to think and un-do and allow my body to do less all the way home on the subway, and it felt good even though I have barely scratched the surface of "right."
I know it would take work to progress and retrain my body, but the effects of Alexander felt very real to me after this class. I'm interested in doing more work in the Technique, and will be looking into the "volunteer student" program ACAT offers to support its teacher trainees.
Post-Workout Comestibles: A handful of almonds felt right.
Total passbook classes/Goal: 4/40