What Ana Does

I was in San Diego last week helping out my sister and I met this pink car that says "it's time for yoga and a smoothie" in a very girly voice and "there's so much to see!" and I thought ... hey, that's ME in preschool toy form. So my sweet, iPhone-obsessed niece snapped this picture of me after a yoga class, drinking a berry smoothie, and I just couldn't feel more "seen" by an inanimate object.  I mean, the toy car is actually looking up at me with adoring eyes! And I could I be more SoCal?! Related posts: More very Me posts 

I've been practicing yoga for over 20 years. You'd think I'd be awesome at it, but I'm not. Though I can follow verbal prompts without looking at the teacher and make micro-adjustments to get into the positions "correctly." (Subjective.) And every time I start at a new yoga studio, and meet a new yoga instructor, my experience grounds me and gives me confidence. But there's also a few comparisons and critiques in the back of my head. Each instructor brings such a different perspective to the same litany of positions. And after 20 years, there are a few truths that now always occur to me. Such as, Downward Dog is actually a resting position. I used to dread it, all beginners do, but now it's more relaxing than most resting postures. Or, I don't even glance at the other students in the classroom. My world narrows to my practice on my mat -- my body, my breath. And cues from the instructor. A skill honed from very full yoga classes when yo...

This week, I'm a yoga teacher. Which is bananas because I've never taught yoga, nor am I certified to do so. But my sister is coaching soccer at a nearby summer camp and needed to occupy the kids for a few hours this week. And I've been taking yoga for 20+ years , soooo I'm "mostly" qualified. The cool thing is, teaching yoga has been on my goals list for years. But getting certified is pricey and a huge time commitment. And never being in front of a class before, it's hard to know if it's worth the effort. This was a good experience to help me decide if this is something to look into as my next possible career. But this week just reminds me of my current mantra: That's just who I am this week, folks. A summer camp yoga teacher. Who know, next week, I could be an art dealer! Related posts: My deep thoughts about yoga More on Staying Home

For a long time, I've been resistant about bringing my daughters to the gym with me. And it was an effective excuse for years. It just felt so selfish. I as putting myself before my babies. They were so little and I was a full-time working mom, wasn't it better to spend time with them and not on myself? But, geez, this is totally dumb logic. There are plenty of reasons adults need to be active and exercise. And taking care of yourself is NOT selfish. You can't pour from an empty cup. So all parents need to take time for themselves. Duh. We teach our kids about nutrition and making good choices about what to eat, so the gym is just an extension of that. It's a habit they will need to learn, too. Pay your grocer today or your doctor tomorrow is the adage for eating right, and it works the same if you replace grocer with gym. So ... this advice presupposes YOU love the gym, and you might not. But it's never too late to find an activity you can get passionate ab...

This year marks a big anniversary for me -- a yogaversery ! I took my first yoga class 20 years ago this summer. It was in Minnesota and the instructor -- there are very few certified yoga instructors then -- was an older man who was a crazy-strict yogi. He would come by my mat often to make adjustments and SHOVE my back down so I could reach my toes. But I was stressed that summer and twisting my body up like a pretzel and focusing on breathing was such good medicine. I fell in love with yoga right then and there.  Yoga was just becoming a "thing" back then. So, I was kinda an odd duck for practicing. Look at it now!  Since, I've practiced yoga in six different states and even more studios, and it's been fun to look back at all the places and people I learned from. In California, I took Hatha classes with a crunchy old hippie focused on chakras and "worshipping" your body. There was also an older women who taught retirees at the local YMCA. Sh...

Hairline on the Move! Dear Self, You are aging and here's how I know: First, you pulled out the yoga mat after a several-month absence (inexcusable, I might add) and now, two days later, you can't walk without wanting to cry. Tying your shoes for soccer practice later will feel like cruel torture. You've known sore muscles in your youth, of course, but nothing this serious. We hear it's a sign of age and we don't like it. In the future, if you want to take a few days off from yoga/exercise, FINE. But never again take longer than a week away from your mat. You will be sorry. You saw the way that guy looked at you as you limped down the hallway and stairs. Not OK. Let this be a lesson to you and keep moving. For today, take some Advil and stop sniveling. You can also see the aging all over your face. The little wrinkles next to your eyes are getting deeper -- which isn't so bad, really. It's giving your face a little more character. But they're ...