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Thursday, June 30, 2011

The Yoga Project

A few years ago I took a yoga class at UT Arlington and I absolutely loved to practice. Since then I have discovered that my cable provider has free ExerciseTV yoga videos that you can download so I've been doing those every once in a while, when I had the house to myself (which is next to never). I like practicing in a group setting where we are all flexing and bending towards our own inner peace. However, I don't like having me inner peace intruded upon by staring roommates that can't seem to make themselves scarce for an hour and insist on sitting on the couch to watch me stretch and contort myself while I try to balance on one foot as if their piercing eyes and the confounded looks on their faces aren't invading my practice. I've asked several times for them to join me but they refuse, so then I ask them to go somewhere else and stop staring. But the next time it's the same story over again so I eventually stopped practicing at home which meant I had stopped altogether.

Until I heard about The Yoga Project, a studio in Arlington that practices Baptiste Power Yoga done in a room heated to 95 degrees. It sounds pretty intimidating when you read the description, but they offer a $3 Basics Class on Saturdays that sounded like a good way to check it out. I invited a couple of friends to check it out with me that were also excited about trying a yoga class. If it was terrible and we hated it then we only lost an hour and $3 so we set out not really knowing what to expect.

When we got there we filled out the waivers, paid the $3, and went inside to lay out our mats. When we got inside we noticed that people had their mats laid out but on top of their mats they had long towels that covered the mat and a hand towel and water bottle sitting next to their props. When we asked what was up with the mat towel the lady in front of us told us how much we would be sweating and that they mats can get slippery. So we followed their lead and laid out towels as well.

During the class we did sweat! But it was absolutely incredible I left the class feeling detoxified and like I had a great work out. I've been back twice so far and I really kick myself that I didn't sign up for the $39 unlimited classes for a month offer that you can only get your first time. But since I'm still a student its only $10 a class for the regular classes and I have my eye on a class tonight that I would like to attend.

Practicing Yoga really does wonders for my health, happiness, and sanity. I am so glad that I have once again found a way to practice and I highly recommend stepping onto the mat to anyone.

Namaste

Thursday, June 2, 2011

My New Little Garden

After going to the grocery store and getting remarkably little for $52.76 I have decided that there are a few things that I can do to alleviate the strain on my little paycheck: 
  1. Check the store circulars to see if any stores have what I need on sale
  2. Check for coupons before I head to the store
  3. Grow some of my own food
Now do not worry, I'm not about to go coupon mom on this page. : )

I have however begun what I hope will become a prosperous garden. Today I planted two tomato plants in my little patio. Even though there is not a whole lot of space in my back yard there is enough for a few extra plants. If this goes well there is one particular bush that I would not mind putting out of its misery in order to reclaim some extra garden space. 

I went to Ace Hardware today and picked up two little tomato plants, some fertilizer, a soaker hose, and 2 tomato cages.  When I got home I cleaned up the little planter, trimmed the bush that is already there, and planted my two little seedlings. Then I wrapped the soaker hose around the cages so that I just have to turn the faucet on and they'll get a nice big drink. 



If this works out, I plan on also planting potatoes, peppers, and strawberries. I thought about corn, but they get a little to big and you have to plant corn early in the spring around Valentine's Day. 

I also rescued this little guy from sure demise since it was right were my tomatoes were going to go. I figured I'd grow it like a bonsai, and it will have a nice indoor air conditioned life.  


I'm not sure what kind of tree it is, but its a cute little one and has nice leaves. I really hope it survives the transplant.