Fattest guy in the room

I have this friend, see. His name is Kevin, and he's part-dad, part-robot, part-reallycoolguy. And he  decided to get healthy. I'm feeling really inspired by him, and I'm excited to walk with him on his journey. On his blog, he asked for some healthy recipes, and since I'm planning on trying a new one today, a coconut curry kale and sweet potato soup I read about in Yoga Journal, I thought I'd share it here and let all of you know how it turns out.

Also, I had to repost his Portlandia clip about pasta addicts because it's hilarious.

Obsession? Pain?

In a bid to understand why people love hot yoga, I picked up Benjamin Lorr's new book, "Hell-Bent: Obsession, Pain, and the Search for Something Like Transcendence in Competitive Yoga." In the book, Lorr falls in love with Bikram Yoga because it helps him lose a bunch of weight and get into crazy good shape. So he quits his job and commits to spending nine weeks in a shabby  hotel so that he can train to be a Bikram teacher, spending $11,000 for the privilege. His journey is a definite must-read for yoga geeks like me, because he makes some excellent points about what it means to practice yoga. Watch Lorr talk about his journey here.

For one, he mentions that "to define yoga is to limit yoga." The physical extremes that he and his fellow yogis strive for actually look nothing like the yoga that most people experience in class; but knowing that the body can achieve such extremes does illustrate yoga's unlimited reach.

For me, I can't help but think about Brahmacharya. That's the yama, or yogic restraint, of nonexcess. To practice yoga to a point where an arm and shoulder become completely paralyzed, as in Lorr's case, is to ignore the concept of moderation that is so important for wellness. As Deborah Adele says in her excellent book "The Yamas & Niyamas,"

In yogic thought, there is a moment in time when we reach the perfect limit of what we are engaged in. It is this moment of "just enough" that we need to recognize.

Basically, Brahmacharya just reinforces the common sense approach of "moderation in all things." Maybe heating a room to 110+ degrees and backbending until you lose control of a limb isn't the best idea, but it's important to test your limits once in awhile in order to feel truly alive.

A bubbly new year's resolution

Now, I'm not one to get all gung-ho and make ambitious resolutions at this time of year, because I know how difficult the change process is and I think the whole "New Year, New You!" phenomenon is just a setup for failure. But today, I'm taking a cue from Tom Haverford and making this the year to "Treat Yo Self."
To that end, I vow to take more bubble baths. I resolve to enjoy a fine cup of coffee in the morning and not feel guilty about my caffeine dependence. I promise to move my body in ways that I enjoy as many days of the week as I want. I plan to read a ridiculous amount of new fiction. I intend to write a ridiculous number of words about new fiction. I resolve to wear my new nerd glasses with no hint of irony. In short, by the end of 2013, I'll probably look a lot like this guy:

And I can't wait. Happy New Year!

Yoga for dudes

Once again, Bill Broad has written an interesting piece for the New York Times on the dangers of yoga. This time, he specifically targets men. He cites some disturbing numbers that he uncovered while researching emergency room data that indicate men are getting hurt in yoga classes much more often than women. His medical adviser attributes it to the strength that men bring to the mat; because their muscles can be used to force their bodies into poses, they suffer many more injuries than their more flexible female counterparts. It's yet another reminder to practice yoga with a qualified teacher who can offer modifications to ensure the safety of, and optimal benefit for, each participant.

Top Chef? Not quite

As someone who likes to be prepared, I often cook a big batch of something or other on the weekend so that I can portion it out for weekday lunches. This week, I treated myself to a big ol' batch of curry squash with tofu, served over quinoa. The delicious butternut squash was a remnant from the last CSA box of the season, courtesy of the the awesome Andy Watson over at Sprouting Acres farm, who I can't praise enough. The dish turned out to be filling, satisfying and crazy healthy, and it saved me so much time during the week that I was able to relax and enjoy one of my favorite TV shows, "Top Chef." No, I might not cook like Stefan or that dude with the handlebar mustache, but having a homemade lunch ready in minutes feels so much better to my body than nuking yet another frozen tray of factory-assembled, oversalted junk. I feel so grateful to have the resources to cook such healthy, comforting food. So I ask you, what do you cook for yourself that brings you comfort?

The ultimate staycation

It was a busy autumn season for me, with classes, working, reading and writing. Those who know me know that I love to overbook my schedule. I hate to miss opportunities to learn and grow, so I take classes, I say "yes" to volunteer opportunities, and I practice yoga with abandon. In that spirit, I decided to practice a little ahimsa for myself this past week. The first yama in the yoga traditions, ahimsa teaches nonviolence. It's this principle that most yogis cite as their explanation for a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle -- the principle that all life is sacred and deserves respect. With the idea of ahimsa in mind, I decided to practice nonviolence on myself and take a vacation consisting largely of lazy days with my nose in a book. Here's what I read:

"The Fault in Our Stars," by John Green (incredible)
"The O'Briens" by Peter Behrens (not bad, not great)
and most of
"The Round House" by Louise Erdrich (not finished yet, stay tuned)

As my vacation draws to a close, I feel refreshed and renewed. The lesson I learned on my staycation is this: I often commit subtle acts of violence against myself by packing my schedule from dawn to dusk. By quieting my life, I was able to connect with my higher self. I feel like a completely different person, one who is prepared to be of service to those who seek my support.

Also, I totally organized my sock drawer. Bring it, winter!

More love for yoga therapy

The latest edition of ACE's newsletter includes a wonderful article that spells out the niche of yoga therapy and its impact on the fitness industry.  It's so great to see something about which I'm so passionate finally be recognized by the mainstream fitness world!

Check it out ...

http://www.acefitness.org/certifiednewsarticle/2946/yoga-therapy-a-new-fitness-niche/