Most people come to Yoga for its physical benefits. I am not an exception. Sometimes, if you practice long enough, you begin to want to learn more about it . . . and Yoga is about more than just Asana.
Pull up a chair and mug with Coco and Deborah and me for the ultimate coffee tea date, where I talk yoga, racing, and traffic — because that’s probably what I’d tell you if I were meeting you for a hot beverage.
If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I had almost a two week break from being at my moms in the middle of October. I really needed that break. It also forced my mom to actually start taking rides from some people who live/work where she is — something I had suggested.
If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you that it’s kind of surprising to me how much my student is loving her private yoga sessions.
If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you Fall is definitely my favorite time of year to race. I’ve had years when I’ve raced almost every weekend for a couple of months. There’s less likely to be snow during Fall (although it can rear its ugly head) and the temps are often my friend.
If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you lately if there’s a traffic jam, you can almost bet I’m in the middle of it. Traffic isn’t that bad here, as it’s a relatively small city, but there’s been a lot of construction on the major highway. I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve been stuck in traffic. Once coming back from my mom it took me literally an hour to go what normally takes 15 minutes. Thankfully this last visit I was able to leave early and it wasn’t so bad.
The worst part is that it changes from day to day, even from morning to afternoon so it’s always a guessing game what the best route is — a game that I seem to be constantly losing.
If we were enjoying tea/coffee . . .
I’d tell you Mr. Judy and I had a discussion one morning about how my new “career” is great — because the antidote to stress can actually be found in Yoga (although Yoga teacher burnout is a real thing, too).
Stress out about demoing for the studio owner (it went ok, although I messed up a bit but she’s going to put me on the sub list)? Meditate on it! Yes, meditation is actually a part of Yoga. In fact there’s something called the 8 Limbs of Yoga; Asana is just one limb.
I thought it was a cool conversation because Mr. Judy actually recognized that Yoga is about more than the postures. Which is very true.
Have you been stuck in traffic more often lately?
Have you ever heard of the 8 limbs of yoga?
Is yoga all about Asana (postures) for you?
I am also linking up with the Fridays with Fairytales and Fitness from Fairytales & Fitness.
Chocolaterunsjudy 
I’m on a travel break too at work. You haven’t seen travel until you go LI. So glad I don’t leave there anymore. Travel and construction everywhere in addition to getting there from Albany.
I’ve never thought about yoga as just postures. Or I’d have never returned. I find it relaxing. And just a different activity from tennis and running.
Unfortunately it rarely fits in my busy life.
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I used to live in Austin, remember, which is a largish city (but not on par with say LA or NYC, thank goodness!), so I do know what heavy traffic is like. But I’ve been getting stuck a LOT the last few weeks.
Yoga isn’t necessarily relaxing. It can be, of course, and it can also be a darn good workout done right.
Good luck tomorrow!
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I love that you are finding so much more in yoga than you expected. My body is so much happier when I have yoga in my life and I hope I can figure out a way to keep it there. Very exciting to be added to the sub list! Congrats
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I had been practicing yoga for many, many years prior to taking my YTT.
Can’t wait to hear about your retreat! I would dearly love to do one someday.
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Traffic is crazy around here. Never heard of the 8 limbs. Yoga definitely makes me happier.
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Yes, CA is notorious. Thankfully we aren’t anywhere near to that level, but it’s still been frustrating lately (including this morning as I got rerouted all over the place and my GPS flew off the dashboard . . .)
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Ugh! to traffic jams. We have some here near Lancaster and Bill and I were stuck in one caused by a crash on Tuesday evening. We wanted to arrive at running club early so we could get a run in before dark, but after we got stuck in the traffic jam, we got there just as the runners were leaving the parking lot where we met. Oh, well. We did 3 miles before it got dark, which was plenty.
I am going to have to do some research on the 8 limbs of yoga. That is so interesting!
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I had heard of the 8 limbs of yoga prior to YTT, but hadn’t really delved into it much. Seriously, I swear it’s more like the 24 limbs because some limbs have limbs!
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LoL on the traffic. Jordan swears that mom & I bring it with us because he never hits it – and inevitably we will or he will driving one of us (usually me) around.
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Well, I’ve seriously been hitting traffic almost every time I drive lately. We really liked that there was so little traffic here after living in Austin so long, where traffic is a major issue!
Good luck tomorrow! You’ve got this — I know you’re going to have an incredible time.
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It seems like there are 100 construction projects going on at the same time in my city so I’ve been experiencing traffic way more that I would like recently!
I think it’s awesome how much you have taken to yoga! It’s always nice to find something that you’re really passionate about. Congrats on being added to the sub list!
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I’ve been practicing yoga a long, long time. But YTT definitely takes it to the next level! Thanks, Kim!
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The town where I live is actually considered a “big” small town, believe it or not. At least it’s big for Iowa standards. My commute to work, if I time it right (which I seldom ever do), should take about 7-8 minutes. I have a knack, though for hitting all five traffic lights…or getting behind the left-turners (who are not using their turn signals) or driving parallel with the dude in the “fast” lane who will not let me get over. I know, first world probs,…but they are annoying when one is trying to get to work on time LOL
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Traffic is always frustrating, big city or small town. I just seem to be trapped a lot more often than is usual lately.
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You probably know that traffic in and around Chicago is brutal. Summer construction is a cluster and there are road projects that go on for literally years. Before I even think of postures, yoga is breath to me. Breath that reminds me to calm down and let tension go.
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I can’t even imagine driving in a city as big as Chicago. I think DC is the largest city I’ve ever driven in, and that was many moons ago.
Yoga is absolutely about breath, but not everyone gets that!
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Yoga is about the breathing and the relaxation and community for me. I do the postures if I can! I love the photo of you sat up high, and I’m glad you’ve had a breather from ferrying your mum around and she’s found some alternatives.
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Well, that breather was brief, it’s been gung ho this week too but it will hopefully be getting more back to normal soon (more about that in my WRD tomorrow).
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I started doing yoga shortly after my oldest was born–I had pretty bad post-partum anxiety and since I couldn’t run for about 8 weeks, I needed something! The videos I used would put Mike to sleep. I guess you can say that he learned the benefits of an asana practice way back in the day. Passively.
We have terrible traffic problems here–I have to drive into the city tomorrow for my race and I’m dreading the drive home. Normally I’d take public transportation but my friend Steph is averse to that idea–not sure why–and she doesn’t like to drive into the city. Sigh.
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I can’t even imagine driving in a big city like Chicago. Austin/DC are the biggest cities I’ve ever driven in. I hope your race & drive went well today! You’re a good friend!
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Fall is a beautiful time of year–if I did any running, it’d be my favorite time to run as well! 😛
The traffic here has gotten hooooorrrible lately, but I’m super lucky/blessed that my new job will be against traffic so I get to miss it all!
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My husband used the same strategy with his job (against traffic). Worked for the most part!
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We have pretty bad traffic in the DC area, and they just narrowed a main road near my house down to one lane in each direction. so that gets backed up in the afternoons. I think my toga instructor has gone over the 8 limbs of yoga, but I didn’t pay much attention. 😛
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DC is horrible. It was horrible over 30 years ago when I lived in MD & it hasn’t improved! Ours is nothing like that, but they’re adding new onramps & closing others & I just seem to keep getting stuck lately. 😔
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I’m glad you were able to get a break from being at your mom’s.
I feel the same way about traffic around here. No matter what I do I feel like it takes me twice as long to get there as it should. And, if I have to drive into Boston, just forget it!
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Boston is nuts! I could never drive there. Well, never say never, I guess.
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I rarely drive and have to say I don’t miss it. I don’t miss traffic jams for sure!! We have crazy traffic here. It’s a tiny country with almost 18 million inhabitants and about 9 million of those inhabitants driving. All to the west (we live in the East which equals a traffic jam if we are going anywhere except to Germany). Thank goodness for biking is all I can say.
I know very little about Yoga. And apparently I have a lot of stress. But adding one more thing to learn / do may not be the answer to solve it right now. I don’t know. It seems like a good idea though.
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