getting stuff done: creating my life

I am very proud to annouce that I just taught my very first ever yoga class. I taught 8 people, 7 ladies and one feller a "gentle, traditional class" as a cover teacher in a little hall in Seaford.  AND  they liked it!  By the end I got really into it, but I have to say that I was nervous, especially as my lesson plan seemed not enough at all.  We were 10 minutes in, and a quarter of a way through my lesson plan for a 90 minute class!! Not only that, but the elderly ladies present seemed perfectly fit, flexible and more than able to do stronger poses!  I had to think on my feet - adding in more poses  and rely somewhat on my intuition as to what pose would be good to do next.  But as I said, they seemed happy and even said that they would be very happy for me to teach them again if Rosie ever needed cover again.  PHEW!

Its so good to actually start teaching.  I have learnt so much from that experience. And when I go to my next class as a student (and as a teacher) I will have so much more awareness . 

So -  a bit more of 'getting into the arena'  Bring it on.

Its funny because, the other night, I dreamed I taught a yoga class.  I know that this probably sounds odd given that I am half way through my 2 year course, but until that dream I was couldn't actually  picture myself teaching.  I knew that I wanted to learn to be a teacher obviously as I had signed up for the teacher training! But to be honest I could never actually see myself doing it.  Something so far removed from reality I could not even imagine myself doing it. Like knowing you are planning to visit a foreign country but can't envision being there because its too new.   It was part of our course that half way through we MUST start teaching.  I can see why, it changes so much and there is so much more to learn and for the next few terms I will have the support of the class and our teacher to ask questions and compare notes. 

And doesn't it show something that a a dream can really really help when it comes to reality.  I dreamt I taught a yoga class (luckily it went well! ha ha!) and from that I had a new vision of myself.  And I felt confident (with butterflie,s I admit) to go and teach today.  Before that dream I  hadn't offered to cover the class.  And when I did,  I was told it was already in hand.  It turned out to be my fellow student who was regretting taking it on, as she was overworked and exhausted this week.  So I jumped in and  she was very happy to let me go do it.  SO.  My first class ever.  I am pretty damn pleased with myself.  A good day. 

I did a bit of reading today in the gallery and realised that I have kind of slipped into some bad habits.  And I intend to pick myself up and start again!  So yesterday was a day filled with (very good) brie and a lot of red wine..... which was all very nice and all.  But today and hence forth I am going to be eating a little healthier.  I made some soup (tomato, lentil and carrot) and later today I will be making some meusli according to a recipe given to me by my friend Vicky who does actually live in the Alps (so it must be good!).  And this week is going to be a bit more back on track with healthy eating, regular yoga and some getting stuff done.  Hurrah. 

You know how if you wait long enough you will find someone is out there putting your idea together without even asking you?  Well I feel a little bit like that when I cam across this project.  (Thanks to Mira Reisberg for sharing it with me).  A few years ago I read about the Sartorialist and his success as a blogger who took photos of fashionable and stylish folk he saw on the street.  And at about the same time, I realised that I was no longer that keen on dressing like a teenager.  I became (and still am) fascinated by older ladies who dress with style and aplomb.  And wanted to start a Sartorialist for all those I spotted.  As it happened I am not a photographer, nor am I someone who acts on all my ideas (more to the point) and it never really went beyond me thinking about it, keeping my eye out for cool old ladies and trying to think up a name for for my imaginary blog.  Anyway, there is one.  Its called Advanced Style and they are using kick starter to fund their documentary about the amazing ladies they came across.  Of course in New York City.  And they are pretty out there.  But I love it never the less.  When I am old...... I think I might want to weather feathery falsh eyelashes??  Perhaps my interest was not to look quite so extremely fashionable as these ladies, but I still keep an eye for a stylish way to head into old age.  Beige I shall never wear, but big costume jewellery is definitely happening.  And I am already making liberal use of the interesting scarf. 

Rock on.

Well I posted about this a while back.  And putting yourself out there can sometimes be a little uncomfortable.  And so it is today.  ouch.  Definitely and experiment with an unexpected result.  A bit of time to think about what to do about it.  Back in the saddle?  or a different game? But still a bit ouch.

On the upside I have found a co host for the Brighton Likemind and my first  was actually already co hosting) will be Friday 15th June.  Looking forward to that.

And the yoga is going well.  I have devised an extended star chart with particular poses to practice on it.  I will be able to do Navasana for 1 minute by the end of the term.  I will!

I think it was Buckminster Fuller who wrote that there is no such thing as a failed experiment.  Only and experiment with unexpected results.

Its surprisingly scientific to be thinking of living experimentally.  But also deeply artistic.  In my book anyway.

Its investigative and exciting. And it has a no failure rate.  Just unexpected results.

I am planning my Summer Salad Supper Club.  And quite frankly i have no idea how to run a supper club.  Without it costing me money at least.  Venue.  Well that's the first sticky point.  And is it some sort of public event. Or should I invite folk I think would like to come as if it were some kind of party.  Its at this point that I wish my home was a venue.  So that i could at least experiment cheaply. 

But I like the idea of running as an experiment.  Try this and see what happens.  Am thinking out write.  Not out loud as am in the shop.  I could run it on July 3rd.  in my house.  as Hub and Bub are away, my house could be free and my own for this time and I could use it as a venue. 

Or where? I would like it to be somewhere like a studio.  But i have no studio space.  And who would I invite? I guess I should make it semi public. Otherwise it is just a party. 

And there i am vereing off into other territory.

The art of living experimentally.  OR is that it.  Just try and see.  And track what happens?  its pretty damn simple really isn't it.

The trick is to instigate interesting experiments.

I am trying being a host at likemind.  I wonder how this will work and what will happen! 

I will let you know. 

Supper Club? Summer Salad manifesto? Its an experiment.  I will keep you posted.  Navasana by attempting to do it everyday  (using my sticker chart to mark my progress?  or something slightly more scientific?

I will let you know how it goes!

image from the Kitchen Yogi http://thekitchenyogi.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/benefits-of-paripurna-navasana-or-boat.html

And all the seated poses.  That is us, this term.  I am challenged.  Highly challenged.  There are some poses which my body allows me to do with ease.  And I know that these same poses are massive challenges for some folk.  But here, with the seated poses, and forward bends with legs straight I am coming up against my own weak spot. I am faced with a mountain.  Or so it seems to me.  Our whole class has been challenged with being able to hold Navasana for 1 minute by the end of the term.  For most of them the challenge is being able to hold it for that long.  I can't even get anywhere near the pose just yet.  I am cursed with the knowledge that I have put Navasana on my wish list.  Like, I wish I could do this pose, one day I will be able to do this pose.  And here it is.  My deadline, the no way out, I have to work hard at it and practice this pose and keep practicing it.  Even though I don't like it, even though the frustration of being so far from it really gets to me.  Even though it is very uncomfortable.

And then there is Pascimottanasana.  Seated forward bend.  Perhaps even more a nemesis.  A pose I hate that I am going to have to learn to love.

Yesterday in class I was getting more and more frustrated by it.  I could feel a strange resistance building up, anger even.  I was getting hot and bothered.  And the talk was all about how it is all in the mind, how if we are unconscious we would be able to be bent into the postures because we would not be resisting.

And then I was asking if I needed to sit on a block or not.  (If you are tight in the hamstrings, you need to sit on a block to do the pose) so I got the attention of our tutor, who looked at my pose, yes I needed a block, and I needed support under my knees and then he decided to adjust me in the pose, which is where the teacher physically helps you further into the pose.  It was very intense.  In a way I felt my body was screaming, I wasnt in pain as such, but it was a big stretch, huge.  I found myself getting really upset, and wanted to come out, and asked to come out, and he said, no you are fine, breath, breath into it.  And I just burst into sobs and sobs.  I had heard about this sort of thing happening in yoga.  I have never seen it, much less experienced it.  I  had been convinced I could not bend further, but I could, and I had come up against a massive resistance and it was emotional.  I still feel a bit shaken.  I must say I hope that this will help in general in these seated poses.  I guess I am going to need to change my attitude to them all.  I cannot as yet see the point at which I will enjoy them.  But I can see that here, in this term I have some very juicy stuff to work with.  Proper challenges.  Fear facing stuff.  Resisitance breaking, new attitude forming, uncomfortable, hard work.  Wish my luck!

On a lighter note, we went to see Sarah Jarosz perform last night.  She was on stage with two other incredible musicians Nathaniel Smith and Alex Hargreaves.  All of them look about 12.  ( think they are about 20 in real life) They were absolutely incredible.  The kind of briliance that is entrancing and mesmerising and transporting.  Cant recommend them more highly.

It seems like manifestos are the order of the day at the moment.  I had just had a go at one and now I am totally inspired  by this post about a summer manifesto.



I have been harbouring the idea of a summer salad supper club since a discussion I had over lunch at the Inventing Day.  And this manifesto notion has given some shape in my head.

The Summer Salad Pop Up Supper Club Has a manifesto. (A summer manifesto)

This Summer
Try 3 new salads
Try 3 new drinks
Try 3 new desserts
Eat outside as often as possible in good company

Rules Bring a sensational salad, dessert and summer drink and your recipes with you to share.

On a personal level I am including the above, as well as

Go to the beach more often
make Elderflower cordial. (go on a country walk to find the flowers?)
Practice Navasana (personal goal to be able to hold this for 1 minute)
explore the Sussex countryside
investigate and plan and go on adventures to family friendly places in and around Sussex
Paint LOTS.  Make this one painting day a week.  Aim to establish Friday as MYDAY.