Awesome food, awesome company - Beth's lingerie shower

This week has been awesome. One reason is that Corey is in visiting from Trinidad! Another reason is that Beth, Corey's bestie, just got engaged and we hosted a super fun bridal lingerie party organized by Corey.

Here are some pics (mostly of food) as the others I can't publish as it would spoil the surprise for Beth's new hubby. I must say, Corey knows how to throw a great party. This very tasty food was both healthy and colorful, and provided just the right festive setting.

Miss Bethany Wesson, the lovely bride-to-be!

Part of the spread: that's spinach dip past the pretzel chips 

Chicken sausages: cilantro lime, and apple with cinnamon

Veggies on a bed of arugula with hummus

Lime shrimp with water crackers and Parmesan crisps

Tiny caprese skewers

Guacamole with peach, pineapple salsa, black bean dip

Herbed goat cheese, prosciutto, aged Gouda, pepper jack bites

On a side note, another few reasons this week has been a great one:

--> I've learned and refined more skills in the kitchen at the Star of Hope Women and Family Emergency Shelter - always a bonus! It's an amazing place to volunteer.

--> I tried a new arm balance pose at yoga for the first time called Astavakrasana (Eight Angle Pose) - and nailed it on the first try on both sides! This is a really tricky one as you can see below, so it's pretty exciting.

--> I FINALLY did King Pigeon on one side at yoga - after nearly two years of trying. Now for the other side!

--> I'm really proud of Greg who has been working so very hard and is doing great things.

This week, I'm feeling especially blessed and very grateful. I'll end with a quote from President Kennedy that I hope inspires you too:

'As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.'

-- John F. Kennedy  

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Bowing to your Sensei

The phrase 'bow to your sensei' conjures up different pictures for all of us. 

For some, it's Karate Kid. For others, it's Rex in Napoleon Dynamite. 

 

For me, today it meant acknowledging defeat by yoga. That was one TOUGH session. Boot camp tough. Jello-leggy-how-am-I-going-to-get-down-these-stairs-and-drive-home tough. 

But I made it to the bitter end. 

And tomorrow I'm promising myself a slightly more relaxing workout. 

I've been here before, mentally and physically. Let's see if 'pain amnesia' kicks in by tomorrow morning!

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Stretching your yoga capabilities

Yogaaaah

Age is truly mental. Look at what contestants and play-at-home folks of all ages are accomplishing, thanks to 'The Biggest Loser.' If nothing else, this long-running show proves that the battle for well-being is not waged with a scale or food, but in the space between your ears.

I've recently hit some new benchmarks with my yoga practice. While I'm only 'intermediate' and might never get to 'advanced,' it's ok because I know that I'm more flexible now than I ever have been. 

Here are a few secrets to achieving new heights in yoga:

1. Breathe. Yoga experts say this is critically important. Breathing right not only improves your form, but it allows you to sink progressively deeper into each pose. 
2. Go to smaller, less attended classes and ask the instructor to correct your form.
3. If you take yoga at a full-service gym, arrive 30 minutes early, hop on a cardio machine for 20 minutes, then do 5 minutes of rolling before going into class. Your muscles and tendons will be ready for serious stretching.
4. Avoid discouragement with reinforcement. Start with poses you can do really well so that you have a positive mindset, and gradually work into the new pose or perfecting an existing one. Reinforce your new poses by reviewing them online, then try them in front of a mirror. 

Thanks to the above, I now can achieve heels-down on my first downward facing dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) in practice. It used to take at least four to get there.

From Yoga Journal

I can do a proper revolved triangle (Parivrtta Trikonasana).  It's still not my favorite pose, but I've been working hard on twisting technique while keeping a deceivingly calm facial expression.

From Yoga Journal

I've been able to do a Bird of Paradise (Svarga Dvidasana), which was exciting and uplifting until I got a major charlie horse!

From Athleta

And I completed a very awkward looking extended side crow without tipping over onto my nose in the first two seconds! (no, this is not me in the photo)

The secrets are balance, strong core and finesse

I couldn't have done any of the above even a year ago. Be encouraged, dear reader: if this old bird can do a great pigeon pose, you can too.  
 
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