That little hidden gem called Psoas

I have been working for the past few weeks on the Psoas muscle with Perri at Living Yoga Studios, and it’s a lot of hard work! Its health is so vitally important to the overall of our wellbeing, as not only is it responsible for helping us stay upright, its tightness can also be causing knee problems, neck and shoulder tightness, and lower back pain. And when we say “engage your core”, this is what we are talking about!

As with any other muscle group, you have to first release it, stretch it, and then finally able to strengthen it. Strengthening a chronically tight muscle will only encourage continued bad form, and not positive changes to correct it. But gaining access to the Psoas can be quite very difficult. If you are interested, the book we are using is called “The Psoas Book” by Liz Koch.

Something else I have been working on is my back. I have a hyper-flexed lumbar spine (lower back), and a straighter than normal thoracic curve (upper back). What this means is I can wear high heals without hurting my lower back (I still don’t because it’s bad for my feet), and my worst enemy is downward facing dog.

Yup, you heard right, I can’t do the “picturesque” down dog without rounding my lower back : ( So for me it’s all about keeping the hips steady, stabilizing the back, and bending my knees deeply. I really appreciate learning this from Perri because it used to be so awkward and strenuous on my upper back when I try to do down dog.

BAD: when I get my feet to the ground like this, see how rounded my lower back is? BAD BAD BAD! Downdog is never about getting your heels to the ground, but working on having a nice flat back first!

GOOD: when I bend my knees, and it feels so much better! Yes I know it’s not picture perfect, but who cares? It’s perfect for my body and what I can do now. Alignment before achievement!

So, the two important things I’ve learned:

1. Just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should!

2. When you know better, you do better : )

Here’s a sample of my work on flattening my back in preparation for Handstand and Forearm Stand. A happy back makes a happy yogi! Oh and a cute kitty helps too!

Tips for travelling with a kitty cat

As LSS crawled into bed and slept on my belly last night, I’m reminded how happy we are that she made it safe and sound to Kingston with only a few small hiccups along the way.

So what worked and what didn’t?

First off LSS does not enjoy car rides, period. I have seen cats that love being in the car, but LSS is definitely not one of them. She was so nervous the first time that she hyperventilated all the way, panting like a dog with her tongue out, and looking as if she’s going to pass out any second. Thankfully she didn’t, but it did not help whether she was inside the kennel or out about; she was just freaking out.

So we took her for short drives here and there before our big move, and we found out that she was better when it was cloudy or dark outside. Perhaps the bright light of the day blinded her, so she had no clue where she was or where she was going, which can be nervous for anyone. But after a few rides she was getting better, from complaining and meowing right way to a delay of 10 minutes. We saw any progress as welcoming, and after visiting the vet and researching other people’s experiences online, we bought a bottle of Feliway spray, which says it will calm your kitty during stressful situations by simulating the natural scent cats make when they are happy and rub themselves on objects.

Er, that didn’t work, not even a little bit. The reviews were very mixed, some saw great results and some not so much. After that flunked, we decided against giving her any other pills, fearing she would drool all the way or be even worse. Also the pills are very expensive (a few hundred I think?), so we just crossed our fingers and hoped for the best.

By the way we got a hard case carrier for her on sale from Canadian Tire at 50% off, thinking we would fly her via cargo. Then I got all teary imagining she would be all alone in a loud airplane, freaking out without us, and maybe even clawing the door until she bleeds out her nails… Anyways, we did not fly her in the end, and padded her cage with a foam block and some cushioning sheets, so it’s fluffy and more comfortable. If we had the money we would totally get her a sleepypod! Maybe this Christmas if she’s a good kitty (and I have a job).

On the first day of the big move, she meowed for the first hour and half none stop. We had to be like the horrible parents that we are and let her tire herself out, because there was no way we were going to keep on stopping or let her out of the cage. In the end she got too tired and just gave up, and was nice and quiet for the duration of the day. We were really proud of her, but she was absolutely furious inside her cage, giving us the evil eye look whenever we checked in on her.

So we bribed her each night at the hotel with yummy wet food, but she was shy and hid underneath the bed for most of the time. On the last day of the trip she was getting pretty used to it until we hit some smaller highways that was very bumpy. She clearly voiced her opinion and none of us was feeling that great. We stopped at the next resting area and took her cage out of the car to give her some air. It was interesting because after we got back into the car, she didn’t make a sound at all; it was like bursting her bubble that if we let her out of the car, she would be back home with familiar surroundings.  Once she understood that it was actually safer inside the car, she had no problem for the rest of the trip.

All in all, LSS was very cooperative and we are very appreciative of it. But for our next move to Coldlake, we might just have to fly her and see how that goes. Poor LSS, you had no idea what you got yourself into did you?

My Five Fave Tips for Peaceful Travels

We have finally arrived in Kingston with LSS, and it was quite the trip! She stayed quiet for the most part, but voiced her opinion and gave us resentful glares when we chose to go the bumpy smaller highways. She was also skeptical of the hotels, hiding underneath the bed for the most part. But all in all, I would say we all survived and made it in one piece! I was so happy to wake up this morning to the sun and a free yoga class with Bethany right by the water, courtesy of Lululemon.

Today we also have a guest post from Kendra Thorton on her favourite five tips on peaceful travels, probably something I should have read before ours : )

My Five Fave Tips for Peaceful Travels

I love seeing new places and creating new experiences. Some of the best times I have ever had have been while travelling. One thing I have found over the years is incorporating balance why you travel is essential.  Having been fortunate enough to travel often, I have had the time to pinpoint these five ways to make sure that you travel peacefully and stay balanced:

• Be Flexible – No, I’m not talking about yoga…yet! Sometimes the best way that you can have a good time is to just take things as they come. Roll with the punches. Don’t let the little things get you down. If it seems that things just keep going wrong, just keep in mind that nothing lasts forever. It won’t be long before a stroke of luck will hit and you’ll be feeling good again. Luggage lost, took a wrong turn, or maybe just a little jetlagged? Simply, breathe deep and keep moving forward…it’s vacation!

• Get The Most Bang For Your Buck – It’s become a game for me to find places to stay with the most to offer from swimming pools and hot tubs to full continental breakfasts and in room Jacuzzis. The amenities I look for differ depending on whether I am traveling with my kids, my husband or my girlfriends. Travel review sites like Gogobot are a great help. I just type in the amenities I want and these sites do the searching for me. Saving money comes in many forms. For example, you won’t need to spend as much on expensive restaurants if you can eat at the hotel as part of your included costs.

•  Healthy Eating Tips – We all love vacation; however, we don’t like bringing our “extra” weight luggage home with us! Just because you’re on a getaway doesn’t mean you need to go overboard in the food department. If you’re out to eat, remember leftovers always make for a great money saver the next day, just leave it in your hotel fridge. Also, throughout the traveling day I like packing little nutritious snacks that keep my energy high and my bad eating habits low.

• Take A Staycation – Instead of putting a big trip on your credit and worrying the whole time about how you are really spending money that you don’t have, stay close to home! It’s amazing how so many of us never see the sights in our home state. Look around you as if you’d never been here before. What would you do as a tourist in your home state? Believe it or not, sticking close to home can be fun and easier on your wallet.

• Keep Your Fitness Present – Exchange that pair of high heels in your duffle bag for your running sneakers or better yet, keep the sneakers and slip in your compact yoga mat! Many hotels in major cities offer free yoga classes on their rooftop…how cool is that? Or take a look at Kimpton Hotels in Chicago, D.C., NYC, Miami, Boston, etc. because they offer a free yoga mat in every room along with on demand fitness TV!

Whether you are on the road heading across the country or even just getting away for the weekend this Fall, try and remember to bring your healthy lifestyle choices along. There is always room for balance and I assure you that it is worth it to do a little preplanning and a lot of relaxation once you have arrived to your destination!

Thank you all for your continue support of my blog, and may the new adventures begin!

Sophie the Cat (part 1-4)

For LWS, hope you are doing well in Vancouver. I miss you. ❤

 

1.      Intro

Whoever said life’s better under the sun has no idea how much it hurts my eyes. Sure, I love lying in the sun to nap, but that’s only to make the day go faster. The real fun begins when the sun sets and darkness falls; that’s when the magic happens.

People call me by many names, but my Mom calls me Meow Meow, or Mew Mew, mostly the same sounds but with different tones when it comes to my brothers and sisters. I lost them when I was still a kitten, and life’s been pretty hard on my own since. Luckily the people in this neighborhood all have been very kind to me, welcoming me inside their homes and providing me with food and water. I switch around a few of them each week, but home is with Patty the building manager.

I have to admit, I’ve become very independent because of my upbringing, so I’m not a fan of sharing spaces with other cats that have lived a sheltered life, or to associate myself to a certain person. No one owns me, and I am a free agent to do as I please. No litter box, no collar, and definitely no locking me inside for a window ledge!

This is the adventure of my life, or so as I remember it.

2.      The new girl

It’s been a while since I’ve met anyone new, and as much as I’m proud of my jumping abilities, I can only visit ground floor suites. I also have to be weary of not getting into icky situations where they sweep me out like the plague with a broomstick, or worse.

A few months ago, a girl moved in across the street, and I’ve been watching her from afar. It seems that she lives on her own, and recently bought a bicycle. She comes in and out of her sliding window doors during the day, and I kind of like her. I hope she likes me too.

Then the perfect chance came, she was having a party, and I can smell all the yummy food inside. I decided to venture in, and maybe even be part of the fun. As I was tip toeing underneath the table, I heard someone yell out in surprise, “Sophie, do you have a cat?”

There was a bit of fumbling, and I soon realized that I was not welcomed here; one of the guests was allergic to me. Just as I was about to retreat, Sophie caught me off guard and scooped me up. I instinctively drew out my claws, and before I knew it, a bloody streak came down on her arm. I wanted to apologize, but she already gasped in pain, threw me out of the window door, and shut it close behind her. I ran back home as fast as I could, sat on my bed, and licked myself clean as I tried to catch my breath.

I felt like a failure; our first meeting was an utter disaster! Patty came over and petted me gently on the head. “What’s wrong Sophie?” she asked. I looked up at her, only if she had knew what I’ve just been through, how I met a girl with the same name, and how shameful it was to be thrown out of the door. I didn’t want to think about it anymore, so I let Patty scratch my neck as I closed my eyes and tilted my head up.

3.      Life with Sophie

It took me a full month to gear up the courage to see her again. It was a sunny afternoon, and I sat lazily on the front porch of the entrance way to her apartment building. As she rode by on her bike, I felt my heart starting to pound; what if she remembers that scar I left and runs away from me? After leaving her bicycle in the yard, she walked back towards the front door and saw me, trying to be as cute as I can. Then she smiled, and her smile was as warm as the sun. I hopped right away to her window door as she walked inside the building. This is going well, I thought to myself.

She soon came over to the door and let me in. Her apartment was small but tidy, and I walked straight into the kitchen area. She leaned down and petted me on the back, allowing me to smell her scents as I rubbed the side of my face on her. Now she’s all mine!

From then on, she would leave the window door open with just enough space for me to squeeze in. I would come over as often as I can to keep her company, and in turn she bought me a cute bowl and fed me every night. It’s not the same food as Patty and others give me, but Sophie says it’s good for me because there’s no grain.

Some nights Sophie would forget to leave the door open, but will always wake up when I call her to let me in. I also like to announce my arrival by going to her bed and wishing her sweet dreams. Sometimes I would sneak in on a rainy afternoon, nap on her cushiony chair, and wait for her to get back. She’s always in a good mood when she sees me, giving me treats and hugs. I’m not too fond of hugs, but I would do anything for those treats!

I’d say we have a pretty good life together.

4.      Parting gift

Recently Sophie had been keen on putting a collar on me, saying it’s reflective and safer for me at night. She did however have the decency to remove that obnoxious bell, but when Patty saw it, she was quite amused by what was hanging on the collar.

It was a note left by Sophie, and to my horror, she’s leaving us! Patty had a long conversation over the phone, telling her my story, and giggling away. I sat quietly in the corner, looking out the window and seeing her place through the trees. I decided right then and there that I’m not going to go see her anymore, might as well cut it off now before I feel even more depressed. I’m always the one saying goodbyes, not the other way around!

Sophie still left the window door open for me every day, but I can sense her disappointment when I never showed up again. I saw the truck coming and going to take all her belongings, and finally her leaving with luggage through the front door. She looked around, probably for me, but I stayed home and pretended that I didn’t care.

A week after she had left, I saw the window door open again. I ran up closer to take a look, hoping she had changed her mind and came back. But to my disappointment, the apartment was empty, someone must have left the door open to vent out the new paint smell.

I sneaked inside the door; everything was oddly familiar except it was empty. I walked through the living room to the bathroom, hoping to find something that would remind me of her. Then there it was, hidden in a closet, a blue blanket.

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What does the blue blanket do? How will it change Sophie’s life? Stay tuned for the next chapters!

Side B of the track: My life with LWS

How to make paper flowers for your vase

What you will need:

1. Colored tissue paper (I used construction paper but tissue paper will work better)

2. Metal wires for the stem

3. Green floral tape for wrapping the stem (found in art and crafts stores)

4. Double sided tape and scissors

How?

1. Cut the tissue paper in a long strip and cut across like grass

2. Lay double sided tape on bottom and place the metal wire on one end

3. Roll the strip up

4. Use the floral tape to wrap on the bottom of the flower and the metal wire

5. Use your fingers to spread the flower petals apart and you’re done!