Happy New Year!

Today is a much better day. For one thing, it was already sunny when we woke up and pleasantly warm throughout the day, though it has steadily gotten colder in the last few hours.

Also, I made it to a hot class this morning. The boys woke up cheerful and I fed them breakfast, had some coffee and a string cheese, and went to my class at ten. It was PACKED - don't know if I've ever been to such a crowded class before. Debbie started off with kind of a New Years, set your practice, be kind to yourself and be mindful pep talk, then did about 45 minutes of non Bikram poses, most of which I had done in a Vinyasa class previously. We did a bunch of down dogs, some stretches, boat pose, and a few others. Then James took over and did an abbreviated Bikram series, one of each pose. Boy, was I sweating by the time he started. The funny thing I am noticing is, when I am having a day where I struggle, I struggle most in between poses and not so much during. For example, I felt dizzy and nauseous between standing head to knee and standing bow pulling, but not at all during the poses. Wierd! People around me were dropping like flies and I wanted to sit down, but I knew if I could get through the stillness between poses, I would be fine.

In between standing and floor series Debbie read something about yoga, how many of the branches have adherents that claim their branch of yoga is the only way, but what she read traced all the branches back to Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, and she read a little about that work. It was about five minutes - fascinating.

I sweated so much that I looked like someone had turned the hose on me. I was so dehydrated after the class that before I even got home my mouth was totally dry. I also felt very wiped out. The class went about an hour and 55 minutes - no wonder. After I ate and drank a bunch of water and took a shower, I had tons of energy. I went to blockbuster and Publix, then came home, undecorated the tree and the house, pulled a bunch of boxes from the attic, and organized what was left. Some stuff I retrieved is already in the back of my car to go to Sally Ann's....boxes of other stuff are stacked in my room for me to go through and either box back up for consignment, use, or donate. I also vacuumed downstairs and put the furniture back where it belongs.

Those crocs that I bought myself less than a week ago - how did I ever live without them? They are so comfortable, it's like not wearing shoes. I leave them by the back door and step in and out of them all day. I love them! I might have to get myself another pair in a different color.

Tonight we are having the traditional black eyed peas, rice, chowchow, sauteed spinach and whole wheat rolls (no cornbread, because I always wind up throwing away the leftovers). Then Lee & Will are going to watch Goblet of Fire and Michael and I are going to snuggle on the sofa by the fire & watch The Sound of Music - Michael's never seen it and I can't wait to watch it with him.