Valentines Day Partner Yoga at Balance!!!

Day Thirteen: One more day left!!!!

Got out of the car at the hotel the training is in, walked three feet and I hear my name shouted across the parking lot. Linda was rushing toward me. She was surprised but very happy to se me back today. She thought after yesterday I probably wouldn't come back (she said she wouldn't). Her opinion was that James was too harsh and went too far, very unlike him. That he should have put a pause in the conversation due to the emotion, and continued in another meeting. But the fact that I came back was "brave and showed maturity." She said I should just follow my heart no matter what. So that was really meaningful actually. That it wasn't just me that felt out of place about it. Enough that she even felt the need to tell me.

Before class, Matthew did his best best ribbon dancer impression and it was awesome.

Morning group class. Uneventful. Surprising how many people didn't know gate pose.

The rest of the day was taught by James web designer, Michelle. She came to GSP and class this morning, not impressed. She was also 45 minutes late to dinner last night. And she looks like Janes twin sister. So immediately, not into it.

Plus in talking about the web, 80% of what she says is total common sense. It's slightly aggravating and a time waste. The handout alone would have been plenty if information.

I'm also hindered by the fact that I no longer have zero future plans.

Its the common sense factor. And I'm not Internet savvy to begin with. I can only imagine how suicidal Nate is.

Afternoon on marketing by the same guest instructor. Woohoo

GSP was weird. I feel like James can't make up his mind. He took out the transverse lunge, leaving me with no prep pose for wide splits, but then helped with my handstand taking me further by starting my bent elbows lead out. Just so back and forth. I'm in and then I'm out, and then back in.

They ALL showed up....

This past weekend I was lucky enough to teach a Saturday morning yoga class. It's always a big class, but I knew it was going to be insane this weekend. I had nine of my friends telling me they were going to come to their first hot yoga class EVER. Well, seven hot yoga virgins, one had been two ONE hot yoga class, and one hot yoga instructor.

I have always wanted my friends to come to class with me, or even a class that I am teaching. But one or two at a time! So I can interact with them, give them some special attention, and if I'm teaching, I'll totally style the class around their needs. But when there are NINE of them. You're just screwed. I'll be honest, I didn't expect them all to show up. I figured a few would forget, a few would be hungover, and/or a few would just chicken out. They ALL showed. But so did 25 other students.

My biggest class has been 21 before Saturday. Usually 16-18. The studio itself has never been able to hold more than 31. We end up having to turn people away. But with the chaos of having only a half an hour turn around from the prior class to mine, we somehow crammed in THIRTY FOUR people into my class.

I was pretty nervous going in, knowing that many people that I personally know were going to be there. If its strangers, you can just get by knowing that they don't know you and if they don't like how you teach, they never have to go to a class you are scheduled to teach again. But when you know them, its so different, you want to please them! You NEED to please them. And with the varied level of bodies coming in, boy howdy I was in for it.

But with 34 people, I was literally brushing sides with my mat neighbors. Who thank GOD were Tim to my left and Nate to my right. The two people I want most next to me through that insanity. It got so hot and humid I thought I would black out. But thats when being the teacher feels the absolute best. Feel like passing out? Oh thats right childs pose for a few breaths, drink break, or lets just let the cool breeze in.

With the amount of people, I didn't get to talk to everyone in person afterwards, but I got immense praise from a few immediately after, including the people I most wanted to impress, and Facebook went wild later that day with how much everyone loved it. In fact, I think only one actually didn't like it. He thinks I tried to kill him with the heat. I think he just needs to buck it up. But he never down talked it to me, so Ill let it slide, at least he tried.

All in all, it went swimmingly, but lets just try to span out the friends and newbies from now on. Give my heart a few extra years to live.

But thank you to Tim, Nate, Chris, John, Creed, Jeff, Kayla, Sarah, and Matt for surviving that heat, you all did amazingly well!

DPP Catch Up!

I swear this week lasted a month and an hour all at the same time. I needed the weekend to catch up on everything, and it was even busier than the week! So forgive me, I must do what I hate, three December Photo Project Posts in a row.

Friday:
Last Gauntlet of the session. Only to receive my brand new wraps AFTER class. I want to go punch things NOOOWWWW.

Saturday:
Got called in to teach class with Corinne not feeling well. An hour to prep. Happens. Certainly got my adrenaline going right out of bed! Only to straight to work at UNI, then a coffee and sushi date with the boys.

Sunday:
Brunch with the boys again. And an afternoon of prepping yoga practices for the next few classes. Yoga after blueberry pancakes induces lots of groans and collapsing in sleepitude onto the floor.

For Me?!?!

Last weekend, Tim spent Friday night carving our pumpkin that we've had since September. I hadn't really planned on carving it, but he was dead set on it. So he did, and the kitties of course put in their opinions on it as well.

But little did I know that he had a reason! Saturday night, Tim picked me up from work (UNI football, I was beat) and he turned the opposite way of the house. Told we were picking up dinner, I was confused, because he had been to the grocery store at least three times that week, telling me he was going to make me dinner. Then he informs me there are people at the house, for me, cause they were all there to celebrate my birthday!!!

All Halloween decorated, balloons, tableclothes, little pumpkin tinsel and skull lights. It was absolutely adorable in the house. He'd even completely cleaned while I was at work! The food table had all sorts of snacks and smores and the pizza we'd picked up. The island had been turned into a drink station with hot chocolates and other fun beverages! It was awesome.

And the best part, set up on the porch was a portable little fire pit that he had bought. AWESOME. Smores year round! Right in the backyard!

















It was a great night. Matt was there when I got home. The Day's from Next Level were first to arrive, and Nate came up from Des Moines, Julie came down from Minnesota and brought Nick who also had Brandon show up. Jayson brought a friend, and later Dieter showed up. It was a pretty sweet night. One I havent had in a long time. The bars were far more entertaining than normal (it being the weekend before Halloween and all) so we ended up closing down the bars. Something I havent done in well over a year or two. Craziness. Although, the craziness was only helped by the discovery of the glory of Rumchata.


I hate surprises, but I loved my surprise party. Great great night to remember :-)

Great Weekend.

Fall is officially here. This past weekend was totally relaxing but yet packed with awesome. 

• Made numerous combinations of peanut butter, chocolate, honey, corn flakes, awesomey goodness.
• Played with a new puppy in an elementary school parking lot at 10 at night. 
• Hot yoga both Saturday and Sunday. New studios make me happy.
• Drove down to Iowa City to Wilson's Orchard. Huge apples. Sugar free apple butter. Super cute shop. 

• Perfect Weather.
• Shopping at the Outlets for Tim to get new work pants after dropping major inches this summer.
• Getting sucked in to buying myself stuff at UnderArmor.
• Traumatic "fashion" sighting though. I mean, really, someone purposefully put this outfit together for a public display?! My my. But the workers were in too tight sweatpants and Hawkeye shirts...so I guess it makes senses ;-) 

• Friends from out of town visiting
• Watching the races at Cattle Congress 
• Even more people convening and hanging out at Toads and BWW 

• Beautiful day on Sunday to hang out, go on walks, convertible rides and take naps with kitties,

Girls in Boston!

               

  

 

       

Graduation Day!!!!

Day Fifteen: James Freestyle Level up Practice, Yoga Business, Personal Story/Goals, Personal Notes, Group Picture, Graduation Ceremony and Cake!

• Wendy was super cute this morning and passed out mini flashlights so that we would all remember to let our lights shine. 
• James introduced the concept of warming up on our own, going through sun salutations or anything we needed so we wouldn't have to waste class time doing them.
• Because we warmed up ahead of time, we were able to go super freestyle and James put forward quite a few challenging, deep and fun poses. 
• Poses like Spider, Turtle and half Crane! aka, poses that make you yelp, oh! my hamstrings and inner thighs!
• But yet, getting into transverse lunge, I went  as deep as I could go, and looked around, thinking, going this deep looks like Im in a whole new position versus what it normally looks like!
• Yoga studios are failing because their business models don't work. Very few and far between studio owners are actually making money right now. 
• Sharing our thoughts on our own personal futures, its nice to hear Ann not just say that I am a good yoga teacher, but demand that I ask for a full time job, not just sign up for the sub list as a beginning.
• The more famous you become in yoga, the more you think you're a rockstar, and quite a few yogis seem to think that way. Including S. Nardini apparently. And parties like one.
• I love the idea of writing your name on a piece of paper, then passing it around the room so people can write you a little note on it. A perfect way to end 2 SOLID weeks together. Then the person right before you folds it into "origami" before giving it to you. Some creative ideas…thats for sure ;-)
• It doesn't matter how organized or adult you are about it, taking a group picture and getting everyone in place is near impossible. 
• Nothing reflected the experience more than sitting outside, and walking in the ceremony, across three yoga mats in any way we wanted (lots of bowing and curtsies) to get our certificates. 
• James had three options. Handshake, high five, or hug. No fist bumping, chest bumping, or picking up. So cute.

• I reached my time to get my diploma, "You better teach." Im telling you, these people know how to create confidence. 
• There was even graduation cake for us! Sweet treats for sweet people.

• Waiting to take pictures and say goodbye to James and Ann was like waiting in line for santa. And John was a great elf ;-)
• Leaving that room was strange, knowing I wouldn't be back. So much time spent there. 

DPP #9: Helpful smile in every aisle!

Nothing like a late night shopping trip to HyVee to get food that you totally forgot you have to make for the next day with a cohort that clearly loves some Curtis Stone action in the meat department.....(pun intended?)

An Ode to the Bridal Filled Wedding!

An Ode to the Wedding:
The Brides came out, said their vows.

Everyone grinned and clapped, a few cheers were roused.

Cocktails mixed and drank, a tasty dinner was eaten.

But then there was the cupcakes, to which all the rest was beaten.

Cute and simple. As are the girls.

They looked simply radiant in their white and pearls.

Chatted with friends, remembered old times.

A lot of clinking for kisses, making those glasses chime!

Then came the dancing. How did we survive?

Everyone on the dance floor, all night long we jived.

Ceremony over, reception put to bed.

What comes next, bonfire and smores you said?!

The day was fantastic, there's no way it could have been equaled.

Best wedding I've ever been to, so next year, let's give it a sequel!