My alarm clock didn't go off...

Ok, I know weekends are supposed to be for chilling, but I had every intention of hitting a 9:45 spin class, doing Pilates and heading to a meditation.

So, what happened? I forgot to set my alarm! I thought I did. Did I turn it off, go back to bed and forget?? Alas, I wound up getting up at 10:30 which sux because it means that I am NEVER gonna be able to fall asleep at a decent time tonight. Le Sigh.

At least I had my meditation to look forward to. I started my meditation "practice" last year with Energy of Breath Institute and today’s event was Chakra Loop Breath with Live Drumming at the pretty attune wellness and yoga in Soho. It's one of my favorite meditations because the sounds of the LIVE drums are so powerful and really enhance the experience.

Very often when I speak with people about meditation, they say it's not for them because their mind is too busy to stop, they can't be quiet/sit still for that long. And I tell them my prior understanding of meditation was blown out of the water when I went on a meditation retreat, where I discovered dynamic meditations. I mean wasn’t meditation what one did in Yoga?

When I found out that there are dynamic, movement based meditations like dancing and breathwork and water meditations, it was a new world opening up. I remember one meditation where I was beating a yoga mat against the floor. How ya like them apples? What happens after these meditations is that you become so exhausted that your mind has nothing to do, but... guess what... be quiet and you just want to chill out. It's great stuff and you should turn your world on its axis by trying one of these meditations.

And if one does not resonate with you, there is one out there that will. Meditating is a profound experience and it's also an imperfect one. (I mean my mind does wander occasionally when say um I am supposed to be focused on breathing in and out of my Chakras.) We owe it to ourselves to carve out some time to have a restorative experience.

Along with Energy of Breath Institute, I also like the quality meditations offered by Meditation from the Source. Many Yoga and Pilates studios have special events and workshops so you can also ask the staff for recommendations.

Ahhhhh, limp noodle

I am sitting here slouched in my chair because I am as loose as a goose. I think it may have had something to do with the YAMUNA BODY ROLLING™ (YBR) session I had last night. I decided a few months ago that it would be nice to learn how I can relax and ease my tight muscles without having to splurge for a massage. So I enlisted Rohi from the Energy of Breath Institute, who is certified in YBR to give me some lessons.

YBR uses balls that you roll over to release tension in your muscles and increase range of motion. I have seen people use the foam rollers to work out their tightness, but the idea of a surface with a little more give appealed to me.

(Last night was our second session.) So for 1.5 hours, Rohi and I literally rolled on the floor, placing the ball on various parts of the body and to enhance the stretch, I was directed to breathe into it the body part I was working on. We started with the IT band, then moved to the quads and then to the tummy (um thankfully I did not have a full belly). We also worked on the sacrum and my neck which I have been feeling a lot of tension in. (DAMN my desk job.) My Gyrotonic trainer says that it's a product of having to work with computers where we have a tendency to jut our chins forward when we work.

In spite of the OUCH moments (when I hit really tight areas), it was most enjoyable and I have some lil balls at home that I got on sale from Gaiam that I think I shall use as I am watching the tube!

Urban Rebounding Glooooryyy

I just got in from an Urban Rebounding class at the NYSC at Mercer Street. There is a gem of an instructor there by the name of Jim Linehan. I discovered him a few years ago, but did not go consistently as it did not fit with my schedule and I was getting my rebounding fix at the 14th street NYSC. Alas, the well of decent instructors has dried up and Ladies and Gents, lemme tell ya Jim is my SALVATION and I now attend his classes religiously.

It's sooo hard for me to find a cardio activity that is enjoyable and this class is bliss. I sweat cats. dogs and elephants, but man what a way to feel FIT AND ALIVE. I used to be in Rebounding heaven when there were 3-4 classes during the week to choose from. But somehow NYSC has managed to let these instructors slip through their fingers $%^&*(!!

Anyways, Jim is DIVINE and it's no surprise that he's actually a performer in "real life." Classes are a work of art in choreography with music that is chosen with meticulous care. His high energy is infectious, whether he is singing to the music or showing off his amazing moves to motivate us as we are working out.

There's an extra special something that I always look forward to 40 minutes into the class... I always look at the awe in newbies faces when they experience it for the first time, but you'll just have to come to a class to see what I am talking about.

NYSC at Mercer Street
6:00 pm Urban Rebounding
Tuesdays

Horton Technique at Alvin Ailey

Ok, you should all know that I have about 8 left feet and one of my many goals when I grow up is to be able to shake my groove thang on the dance floor with confidence.

So enter the Horton technique. After some prodding from my pal Heather who swore that I would like it because it was based on "technique" rather then actual full blown dancing and my Gyrotonics instructor mentioning that the teaser in Pilates looked like a Horton move, off to a 7 pm Monday class at Alvin Ailey I went. Oh, I should also mention that when I grow up, I also want to be a Pilates trainer. Hence why I liked the Horton and Pilates connection.

Heather and another pal Reiko joined me for 90 minutes of pure fun! I loved the live drummer and though the class was packed we managed to not get into any accidents. I would say that I followed about 50% of the moves, but the rest of the time, I was just focusing on enjoying myself. The instructor was way nice and did not make me feel bad about not always being able to follow along.

Will I do it again? I sure would! I just wish it were at an earlier time......