Fact #257: Yoga times a million

I want to be able to do this when I'm 50.

Actually, I want to be able to do it sooner than that. I mean, I'm not really setting a goal to wake up on my 50th birthday and suddenly, out of nowhere, be able to do this pose. What I'd like is to be able to do it before then, and still do it when I'm 50.

Today was the last day of my 30 day yoga pass at Amazing Yoga. I didn't make it every single day, but I went close to 25 times. And I'm not gonna lie, I feel awesome. Amazing. Bendy and strong. Full of breath.

So now comes the part where I have to get a little more proactive about keeping this amount of yoga in my life. I totally can't afford another monthly pass -- I'm supposed to be saving my dollars for moving expenses. I'm trying to get into their volunteer program, so I could go to one free class a week. And they have some discounted rates for classes with teachers in training.

But the other thing I'm gonna have to do is start doing yoga at home. But, like, really doing it. Doing it with focus and intention, the way I do when I'm at the studio. There are a ton of yoga podcasts of 60 or 90 classes, good ones too. I just need to get out my little mat, find the warmest spot in my house, and do it.

Until I can do scorpion pose.

And when I can do that pose, keep doing it.


Til tomorrow!

Fact #227: Nonstop yoga!

A little while ago I got a Groupon for 30 days of unlimited yoga at my old favorite studio, Amazing Yoga. 30 days of yoga?? Pinch me, I must be dreaming! It's generally a little too pricey for me to go on a regular basis, so I was super excited about this deal.

I started yesterday and I plan on going every single day for the next month. After that, I'll go into yoga withdrawal and just hang around outside the studio doing downward dog and crying. It'll be awkward. For everyone.

But first -- nonstop yoga, day 2! Bring it on!


Til tomorrow.

Fact #135: At least it'll be worth it to get up at 4:30

Tomorrow I open at Big Dog. Then I'll run home for an hour or two before I head off to rehearsal for the rest of the day.

So it'll be a long day. But I have a strategy for survival --

Step 1) Coffee coffee coffee.
Step 2) A big bowl of the most delicious oatmeal in the world.
Step 3) Yoga to reset.
Step 4) Coffee coffee coffee.
Step 5) Acting!!

And really, those are four of my top favorite things in the world. So busy or not, it's bound to be a good day!


Til tomorrow.

Fact #113: The 30 days of Thanksgiving

Wait, October is over already?!? Geez!

Well, at least the focus on pumpkin as the main ingredient of everything continues into November. I'm not ready to say goodbye to delicious pumpkin bread/beer/pie/rolls/ice cream yet.

I like November. Not as much as October, but it's still a pretty good month. It feels fall-ish, but there's a hint of winter right around the corner.

In honor of this month's theme, here are some things I'm grateful for:

• I'm grateful for my family. They're the best and I love them all so much.
• I'm grateful that every day I find something to laugh about. Sometimes I laugh so hard that I cackle like a witch (I can't help it!).
• I'm grateful that I get to do what I love.
• I'm grateful that even though I'm not making my full living from acting (yet!), I have wonderful survival jobs.
• I'm grateful for the friendship and love in my life. It's pretty awesome.
• I'm grateful for all the puppies in the world.
• I'm grateful to be healthy and active and able to run and do yoga (even though I'm very uncoordinated).
• I'm grateful for a long list of amazing, vivid, unforgettable moments in my life, and the expectation of many additions to that list.
• I'm grateful that even though sometimes the world is terrifying and sad, there are a lot of people who are trying to make it better.
• I'm grateful to slowly but surely be figuring myself out.
  
• I'm grateful for any combination of pretzels and chocolate.

Love you all. Happy Thanksgiving (month).


Til tomorrow!

Fact #92: Pittsburgh, I like you

Today I went to the Carson Street Deli for the first time. I love finding awesome new places in Pittsburgh!

I'm a little embarrassed that I haven't been there before. It's right across the street from my yoga studio, so I've literally spent hours staring through the window, dreaming of sandwiches while I flow through yoga poses. Mmm. Sandwiches.

Anyway, I finally went in this afternoon, and got a very delicious lunch. They have lots of tasty looking things on the menu, and they use fresh local ingredients.

PLUS, they're my new favorite place to buy beer! I got a great mixed six pack! The guy stocking the beer fridge saw me browsing and recommended Dogfish Head's Burton Baton, which I'm super excited to try.











Yumbly in my tumbly.









Til tomorrow!

Fact #83: Yoga'd!

The yoga studio I've been going to, Amazing Yoga, switched (back) from being a donation based studio to having set prices for their classes. Waaahh! I'm really sad about it, and sad that their experiment of making yoga accessible regardless of income seems to have failed. They didn't even make it a year.

In the spirit of pay-what-you-can, I paid what I could. But seriously, I'm poor. I can't be going to yoga every day at $15 a class. And they just raised the rate for their monthly membership, too. Double waaah!

They do have a 'work for yoga' program where you volunteer time at the studio in exchange for classes, so I'm trying to get in on that. But in the meantime, I'm.. sigh.. resorting to yoga at home. I shove the coffee table out of the way, throw down my yoga mat in the middle of the room, and play one of the free podcasts that Amazing Yoga has on iTunes.

I'm having a little trouble though. This is how it usually goes:

AY Podcast: Come into downward dog pose. Breathe in. Breathe out.

Me: Downward dog, ok. Breathe, right. Got it. Hmm, I'm thirsty. Ooh! I should make some coffee!

AY Podcast: Hold plank pose.

Me: Yum, this coffee is delicious. Wait, what? Plank? Oh, right, I'm doing yoga!

AY Podcast: Hold warrior two pose. Open your hips. Energize your fingers.

Me: Ah, this is great! I feel so energized. Hey, I wonder if I got any emails...? I better check. Could be important.

AY Podcast: Transition into an inversion.

Me: Wow, there's a lot of dust under the couch. Have I EVER swept under there?

AY Podcast: Come into fish pose. Breathe.

Me: (walking out of the kitchen, eating a bowl of cereal) Geez, is that thing still going?

So, um, yeah. Yoga at home is not an easy task for the easily-distracted. I'm working on it though! I much prefer going to the studio, but until I can fit it back into my budget, I guess I'll use this as a chance to practice my focus and concentration.

This is my favorite yoga pose. Does that make me lazy?

Til tomorrow!