Sunday

Good morning. It is 41 degrees and cloudy here in Upstate NY. The forecast is talking temperatures in the 60s later today and we'll believe it when we see it. I attended a yoga class yesterday and have soreness in places where one never expects to experience soreness but I will say this, yoga is fantastic. I am returning to becoming quite the devotee. I used to practice yoga and take regular classes then fell out of it slowly but surely 4 years ago. Well, I'm back. The yoga body is a little leaner, a little more energized, and more capable of being flexible. Yoga feels good to do and it does require a bit of exertion, it can get the heart pumping. One aspect that is quite appealing are the restorative poses accompanied with deliberate conscious breathing. I like the ratio of 1 to 2 with 1 being the inhale and 2 the exhale. For example I use my heart beat to count 4 beats on the in breath and then 8 beats for the exhale repeating this pattern for several minutes. Resting in a restorative pose while breathing with this pattern, one feels extremely relaxed and simultaneously aware. It's helpful in a stress inducing world.