Cultural Experience = Ritual Pre-Snow Shopping

Husband decided since the most vacation he could lose today for staying home would be 4 hours, and he might actually lose less if they close even earlier, he wasn't going to screw with commuting in and trying to beat the snow home. Too many ways for that to either be extremely annoying or fail completely. Fairfax is closed for the day, so AG33 will stay home with Husband. In 5 minutes, I'm waking up The Barbarian and we are heading out. But I got up at 4:45 ish and did a *really* nice yoga session and I'm in jeans and I know I'll get out early today and the Tarheel in me still loves a day of snow coming down and secretly hopes to see 30 inches of snow in one storm, so...

The stores were CRAZED last night. Particularly the really fancy grocery stores were out of control. My usual, down at the heels store was extremely busy, but not out of control. Except sadly, I got burned at the checkout. I went through the self-checkout, my usual gig, and I was only behind two people, but the person I was immediately behind turned out to have some sort of palsy/arthritis/confusion disorder. She didn't know how to scan. She was bagging like her life depended on the bags being PERFECT, she was confusing the machine by taking things on and off it, making it pause for customer service attention on nearly every scan. OMG, I wanted ot say JUST LET ME DO IT! But I thought that would probably be really rude.

For some reason, I didn't think Costco would be particularly different from usual, but it was also swarming. Problem there was the parking lot. And also the fact that the kids were getting their dinner there and teh food court people were not bearing up well under the onslaught. Then, in the saddest moment of hte evening, AG33 managed to dump half of The Barbarian's dinner onto the floor. Totally an innocent accident, but I coudn't very well tell her, sorry, dinner's over, so we had to stand in line AGAIN for another piece of pizza for her.

Getting our shopping done there was a breeze, though the wait for the registers was crazy. But in true Costco fashion they moved it along and things kept moving. You never had the feeling of desperation...

In all, I should have gone out Wednesday. But it makes me happy to know we are set for being completely snowed in for several days.

Predictions range from 12 inches to 30 inches - though we are unlikely to get 30 inches, as that was predicted for people about 10 miles NW of us, "if you have any elevation." I'm guessing we get the same 17" we got in December, based on the way the forecasters are talking. Snow at a rate of 2 inches per hour tonight, they promise.

Getting Started 7: Dancing Warrior

Crossposted at sun_salutation.

Disclaimer: I am not a yoga instructor. I don't know anything about exercise safety or fitness instruction. I'm not even an advanced practitioner of yoga. But I have come to love yoga and am completely self taught.

You know your own body best, so please respect your known health conditions and use the variations offered by instructors that are best for you. Remember to balance where you are now with where you could be in the future. There is no perfect pose.


Virabhadrasana II (Warrior II)

Let's add three important standing postures, then do something fun with them.

( Virabhadrasana II )

( Shoulders Down )

( Comments for Lunges )

( Reverse Warrior )

( Extended Side Angle )

Dancing Warrior

Now, for something fun!

Watch this on YouTube: Shiva Rea, practicing one of her Dancing Warriors.

This is a beautiful sequence. It will be challenging, but doable, for a beginner, build a lot of heat, and probably be a little yoga cardio for you.

She does the Surya Namaskar B Vinyasa, but from Warrior I, extends her arms to the sides, opening out into Warrior II. Then she flows back into Reverse Warrior, pauses, flows forward again into Extended Side Angle with the elbow on the knee, then rises back into Warrior II before dropping into the lunge and drawing back into Downward Dog to complete the vinyasa.

As you can see, this sequence holds you in the lunge for the entire flow, as you shift your torso and arms for the various postures. You'll feel the burn. :D


Building Your Routine

So your hitting the mat tomorrow morning. Wanna do a big practice?

Start with three rounds of Surya Namaskar A, to get warmed up. Start with the lower backbends and simplier variations and build up to full Chaturanga and Upward Facing Dog.

Then do three rounds of Surya Namaskar B.

Then do Chair Twist.

Then do the vinyasa, rise into Warrior I, pause, and expand into Warrior II. Hold Warrior II for five breaths. Do both sides.

Vinyasa, rise into Warrior I, pause, expand into Warrior II, pause, reach back for Reverse Warrior. Hold Reverse Warrior for five breaths.

Vinyasa, rise into Warrior II, pause, reach forward into Extended Side Angle. Five breaths.

Vinyasa. From Downward Dog, raise the right leg to stroke the sky. Right leg forward to Warrior I, expand to Warrior II, reach back gracefully to Reverse Warrior, extend forward to Extended Side Angle, rise up for Warrior II, and vinyasa. Try to do these in time with long ujayii breaths: Rise up to Warrior I on an inhale, exhale to Warrior II, inhale to Reverse Warrior, exhale to Extended Side Angle, inhale back to Warrior II, and exhale to Chaturanga. You may find this breath placement very challenging. I say, breathe through your mouth if you need to and don't worry too much about breath placement at the beginning. Brian Kest, on the other hand, says if you can't do the breath placement, you are pushing too hard, back off. I push anyway. *defies Mr. Kest*

Watch Shiva do it a couple of times, then do the best you can. Do the other side, stroking the sky with the left leg. Try a few more rounds, as you feel able, but try to be even on both sides.

Return to Mountain Pose. Finish with the relaxation you prefer.

That's a good morning's yoga!

Namaste.