Is it Spring or Summer?

I hope your spring is going well. I see that we have had a normal spring here in Texas with all kinds of weather. It's been nice to see some rain but that heat can wait awhile. Just last week, I was cold!

I finished out winter and welcomed spring by working a part-time job at the TCC (Tarrant County College) fitness center in downtown Fort Worth. This is at the campus that TCC purchased from RadioShack and is the fitness center where I taught yoga classes when I worked for RadioShack (and for awhile afterwards). I was a basic gym grunt, managing the facility while the Director was on maternity leave. It was nice to get out and interact with people on a regular basis and getting paid to work out and teach a little yoga was icing on the cake.

I'm still teaching yoga classes locally. Please check the sidebar for my schedule and if you're a member at LA Fitness or Keller-Pointe, I hope to see you in a class sometime. It's great to see folks embracing yoga and showing improvements in their fitness and their lives because of it.

For the first time in a long time, I participated in several races this season. I started with the Half-Marathon at White Rock Lake last fall, followed by the Cowtown Half-Marathon in February, and then a 10K, and finished with the Komen Run for the Cure 5K in April. After a short break, I'm back to running and thinking about my first triathlon once I figure out how to swim properly!

I also gave in to the social networking craze and joined Facebook. Click the sidebar link and see my profile or send me a friend request if you would like.

Shanti ("Peace")

Yoga On the Mat - Seated Twist

ARDHA MASTYENDRASANA
(Seated Twist)

I love twists. They feel wonderful when the body is warm and ready to move. They give us a release from a tense spine, provide openings in our upper body, massage our bellies, and by using core strength, allow us to be feel grounded and stable.





After a quick warm-up, sit in staff position (sitting tall, legs extended, hands next to hips) and bringing the right foot in towards the middle of the body. Straighten thru the back and press into the floor with the extended leg, flexing the foot. Engage core strength by tucking in thru the abdominal muscles. Take the left arm and hug the leg while moving the belly button to the right easing into the spinal twist, ending with the head and neck. Take the right arm to the back for a little support. Maintain strength the core. Avoid using the right arm as a crutch.

Hold for 4-6 deep breaths and release slowly back to the center, re-stabilizing in staff position. Switch legs.

Do We Really Have Bad Yoga Practices?

L.A. Wilson is a writer, editor, and marketer living in Fort Worth, Texas. She is a dedicated yoga student, practicing Hatha Yoga as often as she can.

Recently when I was practicing yoga I was fighting it. That’s the only word I can come up with: fighting. Something in me was fighting hard. My mind refused to stay in the postures and even my body didn’t want to bend or make effort. Then, moving into headstand, not even IN headstand but going up into headstand, I fell flat on my back, hard, even managing to come off the rug I was practicing on and land everything from the shoulders down on cold, unyielding tile.

The words “I’ve landed flat on my back” popped into my head. That was, ironically, exactly what I needed to happen. It’s what I needed to become aware of: I feel like I’ve landed flat on my back. In fact, I’ve never believed that I can land on my feet. With the problems I’ve been having in headstand lately, I’m afraid to go up into the unknown, don’t trust that I can go there, that I can “achieve” this pose. The fear of falling flat keeps me from excelling.

After that I decided I had definitely earned some time in child's pose. Going into that pose the voice said, “I’ve been fighting since I was a child.” I suddenly felt very tired, and knew that I no longer wanted to keep fighting. Then my mind finally surrendered and relaxed. Like a petulant child, once I had paid attention, the mind stopped misbehaving. I received the gift of realization that the constant fighting is a manifestation of my fear: not being in control.

Do we really have bad yoga practices? The daily practice is what it is and no more. Maybe we need a bad yoga practice to bring us to an awareness that we’re not getting on our “good” days when we can be smug about what a great Warrior II we accomplished.

The trick is listening. Falling flat on my back forced me to listen. Next time you’re having trouble with a pose, instead of trying harder or just resigning yourself that this is one of “those” days, breathe and listen. You will be amazed at what you suddenly come to know.

L.A. Wilson can be reached at lawilson0525@yahoo.com.

Mexican Stew

This recipe is from Mark's family. It's a great way to have "Mexican" food that isn't loaded with fat. Enjoy a whole grain benefit by serving with whole-wheat tortillas. Yummy!

Mexican Stew

1 lb. lean stew meat (beef), chopped into small chunks
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 to 3/4 cup water
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 heaping tbsp cumin
1 can Rotel (chopped tomatoes and green chiles)

Heat 1 tbsp cooking oil in *pressure cooker on medium high to high heat. Brown meat and onion. Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup water to cover meat. Cook under pressure (10 psi) for 10 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes and then run cold water over lid before releasing pressure.

Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 30 - 45 minutes.

Serve with warm flour tortillas.

*If not using a pressure cooker, cook the meat and onion until the meat is starting to get tender and then add the remaining ingredients and simmer for 30 - 45 minutes.