InsightsfromtheMat

  On April 28th, I will be running The Canaan Valley 1/2 Marathon . Today, I finished my first long run, 8.1 miles.   The Crazy I live on the Beach in Florida. My house is, legally, 5ft above sea water, Canaan Valley is 3,100ft above sea water. I am, also, 48 years old, haven't run more than a 10k in over 20 years, and my life of late has been anything but smooth. The smart, not crazy , person, decides to sign up for a 1/2 Marathon at elevation, with 2.5 months to train. My justification: we have to close down the ski house, we get to spend time, and say goodbye for the summer to our ski family.  Totally sane, and not even a little bit crazy. The Gratitude My life has been a little topsy-turvy as of late. I have been focusing on Gratitude as a means to focus on the positive.  First , for the ability to run a 1/2 marathon. Not everyone has that ability to run a 1/2 marathon. Even though it will probably take me as long to run this 1/2 Ma...

So you have decided you want to try a Yoga Class, Congratulations on the first step of your Yoga Journey.   In Yoga, it is not necessary to spend a lot of money to get started; fancy clothes and mats are not required.   Wear comfortable clothes that allow for free movement and for a small fee, most yoga studios, have mats you can rent.   But if you really want your own mat, or are practicing at home, these are the things to keep in mind. Yoga Mats of Various Thicknesses First, yoga mats are thinner and stickier that typical exercise mats.   The stickiness prevents you from sliding and allows for a better grip, especially during balance during poses.   Mats, typically, rage from 1/16 inch to ¼ inch.   A 1/16 inch mat is very thin and is most often used as a travel mat.   The thickest mat, ¼”, is best for restorative yoga and can make balancing poses challenging in a typical class.   Most mats are 1/8” thick and ar...

You may wonder why I am talking about Scuba Diving & Yoga?  Simply, without my yoga practice I would not have made it through the weekend.  Pranayama, or yoga breathing, helps us to focus our mind during our practice.  Research has shown that it is also effective in calming the central nervous system and clarifying our thoughts.  I, like many, have struggled with anxiety, especially with some of the activities that we enjoy.  Scuba Diving is no different.  What follows is how I have used my yoga practice to control my anxiety, the side effect has been an increased confidence in my scuba skills and in myself. PADI Open Water 2017 In November 2017,  I jumped back into the water to get my PADI Open Water (OW) Diver Certification.  This was something that I have wanted to do for a long time, but FEAR , had stopped me from achieving it.  By sorting through my fear, and taking baby steps, I was back under the water.  SUCCESS!...