momtourage

Book Related

In an attempt to save money and staunch the growth of my knitting book collection, I put two books on hold at the library, thinking it would give me more time to peruse than at the bookstore, hoping I would identify and learn certain techniques during the two weeks allotted to me. But I guess with knitting books, it just doesn't happen that way. An order has been placed and the books are now en route to my permanent collection. Oh well, at least I know exactly what I'll be getting.

 



And now that the yoga challenge has timed out (though I am keeping to an every other day schedule, which is a bit more realistic) I am free to return to voracious reading. The book club I belong to meets tonight and we will be discussing a book I read not just once but twice over the past month, one that I highly recommend.

I noticed that this particular book, A Short History of Women, struck quite a chord with readers on Amazon. People either loved it intensely or found it unreadable, a type of controversy that I always find probably means it is something worth exploring further. I wonder if this is partially due to the grimness of the subject matter, which involves a similar emptiness in the characters' lives over place and time or the fact that it imparts a sense of futility and ennui whilst and after reading.  Which I don't think is a bad thing, mind you. However, reading it the first time I was so caught up in the mood and plot and was left with such a hollow feeling myself (it is impossible not to search for similarities in one's situation) that I decided to give it another shot. I felt like I was missing something important. Well, I was; namely the craft of the writing - so beautiful and carefully constructed that I was compelled to read passages aloud. I am looking forward to discussing it tonight.

And so I turned from this much lauded (and hated!) novel to another, Chronic City. Yes, I respect this writer immensely and yes I have read all of his novels thus far, but I do find them dense and slow reading. So I am also reading a very powerful memoir I found in the Brooklyn History section of the library. Oh, and various children's books to my sons. Though I did finally admit that I actually lost Moominland Midwinter - the first library book I have ever ever lost, much to my eternal shame. Wherever could it be? We never took it out of the house so I can only conclude it has been spirited away by some Moominish character. Perhaps.

Learning Curve

Since I am home with a bad cold today, I took the opportunity to finally put the finishing touches on those very subtle Faeroe Island Mittens I was supposed to have finished and mailed off two full weeks ago. But better late then never, right? And you know how I feel about those zzzz... type projects...I felt that this project could have easily become one of those.

So here they are, in all their glory, languishing on Sam's art clothesline. Something about the blue paint and the light in his room made the mittens photograph true to color.

I have to admit, they grew on me a bit more as I neared the end of the project. I'm still not thrilled about the very very subtle color contrast. A shade or two up would have been, for me, ideal. Also, this is the last time (you can quote me) that I use alpaca yarn for a color work project. I always forget how much that stuff sheds until I work with it again. And don't even get me started on stitch definition. But at any rate, here they are, warm and cozy and most importantly done.

Follow Through

With much hesitation and largely due to peer pressure (the friend I had gone to the yoga workshop with on Friday was determined to go back) I did, once again, find myself at Golden Bridge on Sunday evening. Plus I do hate to just abandon something once I start it (admitting defeat), and I had, after all, paid for both sessions in advance(cheapness). Then I found out that the broken capillaries in my hands weren't life threatening or even that big of a deal so I couldn't use a health excuse. So there you go, and there I was, luckily in the back of the room this time where I felt I could let myself take it easy if need be.

But the need really didn't arise, unless you count the 5 plus minutes of Paripurna Navasana during which I had to come up and down to collect myself several times. In comparison to the vigorous routing out of negative energy from 2009 in the first session, this one was positively meditative. Which was extra good due to the fact that my legs still ached from the 54 frog 'jumps' I had done two days earlier. Also, I like chanting and there was a lot of that, though my feeling about chanting is similar to my feeling about religious recitation - that it is always more satisfying to do in Sanskrit/Hebrew/some language that is not English. Oddly, (to me) English was pretty pervasive. And to be frankly judgmental, I just don't like the Long Time Sunshine that is sung at the end of every class. There is a flatness and earnestness to it that is not to my taste. Still, at the end of the class I felt at peace, and went straight home to take the large dose of Vitamin C recommended by Gurmukh, though I skipped the soothing shower as I didn't want my splashings to wake up the kids.

The next day I did yoga for 30 minutes and I thought my god, that was way too short. I guess the step down from 3 hours was a bit abrupt. And the more I think about it, the more I feel my exploration of this type of yoga is incomplete. There is a Kundalini yoga studio in my neighborhood. I suppose I will find my way over there before too long.

Too Far?

I have said it before. When I am in reading mode, I read exclusively and voraciously. When I knit, I am productive like nobody's busy. And now it seems that when I take up yoga in a serious way, I maybe push my body too far.

I say too far, because I noticed what I think are tiny burst blood vessels on my hands yesterday. And I think it may be due to all of the hand motions - clapping and shaking and raising - that I did in a Friday night, 3 hour long yoga workshop. That's probably not a good thing.

To back up a bit, I have long been interested in Kundalini yoga. At least interested enough to take one class at my local yoga clothing shop (in addition to selling comfy clothing they also offer occasional, inexpensive classes). I also briefly fantasized about doing a Kundalini weekend at Kripalu and checked in several times with the class schedule at Golden Bridge. (But never actually made it there.) So when a friend told me she was doing a weekend workshop with Gurmukh and asked if I wanted to join, I said why not. On Friday we found ourselves in a packed room, waiting for the workshop to begin. Then it did begin, and went on and on and on. Now, I knew that one repeats actions for an extended amount of time in this type of yoga. You just don't get into a pose and hold it, deepening into yourself. Nor do you flow into another pose, as in vinyasa yoga. To provide a better picture: Let's say you raise your arms, shoulder height straight out. Now bring them into a goalpost shape, hands raised, palms flat to the outer walls of the room. Now repeat this action at a pretty rapid pace for at least 4 minutes. You are probably chanting or singing at the same time too - which is somewhat of a welcome and trance inducing distraction, but then what happens to the breath?

And that is what I found myself worrying about often. I am most familiar with yoga that emphasizes the breath as life force. And maybe it was because I am a novice to this practice, but I often found myself not breathing or out of breath or trying to imagine how I could fit my breath into the practice in a comfortable manner. That said, there was a lot of collective energy to experience, which is something I normally don't feel in other practices. So there were things that I observed/experienced that I would want to find again, and other things that nagged away at me, and made me wonder if I was really getting the benefits I should from this practice.

Suffice to say, I am still mulling it over. And hey, an extended workshop format is probably not the way to jump into anything physically demanding. I spent some time yesterday doing restorative yoga, because I needed to and in preparation for the continuation of the workshop tonight. But can I do it? Is it even physically possible? I will see how the day progresses and then decide.

Day 17

With a single-minded intensity, I did get through the 15 days of yoga (in a row) challenge I had set for myself (with the help of a less strenuous 15 days over the month of January suggestion from the yoga studio I find myself most often at these days, the awesome and conveniently located Bend and Bloom.) The challenge was good for me. I definitely strengthened and toned my body and focused my mind. One friend even said I had 'that yoga glow.'

And I did use up the 20 class card that I had optimistically purchased in September, but had only used 5 classes from. (It was due to expire in March as well.) A lot of planning and finagling of child care went into this experiment. I was lucky enough to have friends join me for the two Saturdays, which provided something to look forward to at critical moments. (Oh those lazy weekends...) I got into a rhythm of daily practice.

But now it is just me and the various dvds I have managed to pick up at stoop sales over the past couple of years. And there is something somewhat lonely about that. I figure I can still go twice a week to studio classes (and I did purchase anther 20 class card), but for the bulk of the time I am on my own.

I have the best of intentions, and two days of media assisted lessons have worked out just fine. But let's see how long I can keep it up.

Balkan Goodness

One of the most excellent things about having a spouse with an interesting and unconventional job is that sometimes it leads to a completely unexpected urban experience. For instance taking the subway up to 207th Street last night to go to the Golden Festival.

Huh? Never heard of it? Me neither until about a couple of weeks ago. Well here is the information.

3 stages, a heady lineup of bands from all over the country, spirited dancing, and delicious Balkan snack plates. I am not a toe-tapping, participatory type, but I found it impossible not to join in. And the beauty of it is, that you too can listen to the bands who played on the Kafana stage last year, as they were recorded for WFMU radio station's Transpacific Sound Paradise. Which is always worthwhile listening by the way. And later this week, when the archives are posted, you will be able to listen to this year's broadcast as well.

The next morning, I tried to show my six-year old son how to do a simple line dance. I think that with a little practice we both might become part of the above picture in 2011.

Do as I say...

Not as I knit.

Subtle colors, right? Well, seeing as this is the only (of about 15 photos) that actually gives a vague idea of the Faroe Island pattern of the mitten, I say it is too subtle, especially considering the work that went into it.

And it all stems from the best of intentions. A friend with a winter birthday loves soft fabrics and classic colors, so I decided to knit her super warm (dog-walking) mittens from Folk Mittens. I adapted the cuff from the single color it calls for and the contrast seemed fine. As you can see, I plugged ahead, thinking that the more mitten I knit, the more evident the pattern would be. Well, it is soft and warm and the pattern is nice, only you have to squint to see it in anything but broad daylight. And now that I have come thus far I feel compelled to finish the second mitten as well. The thought of ripping it out and using the yarn for another project seems too grim.

But lesson learned. Alpaca is NOT suitable for color knits.

Day 12

Only 3 more sessions and I will have completed my January yoga challenge. Of course, the whole idea of yoga + challenge is quite amusing to me as I am drawn to a slow and gentle, heart opening, type of practice. I like to relax into a pose whenever possible, and I always look forward to savasana, though I suppose one can find challenge even in this pose through ease and settling yourself into a calm state of mind. I am trying to actively witnessing the ups and downs of my new everyday practice. Days 2 (inertia/laziness) and 10 (impatience) have been the most difficult for me thus far.

And so on day 10 I decided to reward myself with a rare treat - a super deluxe pedicure. To tell you the truth, I had been noticing that my feet (dry skin, uneven toenails, non-painted) looked woefully unkempt compared to those of the others in any given class. Well, that has been taken care of.

I know, I know, what was I doing evaluating feet when I should have been mindful of many other things? I just couldn't help myself.

At the salon, I was drawn to the shade pictured above. Strongly. (And I have never chosen purple polish in my life before.) Only later I recognized it as the exact shade of my son's mat, which I have been borrowing. (My mat has been used for so many Bikram classes that it is positively disgusting. Note to self: investigate how to recycle that thing.)

So today, although I found the class highly enjoyable and just right in its pacing I am positively dragging right now. My older son has been up and down the past two nights with a fever and of course I have been right there with him. I hope that a good night's sleep will recharge us both.

Day 9

Today was not a great day in the yoga challenge trajectory. For the first time I really felt the soreness in my muscles - a kind of fatigue that was inevitable due to previous inaction. BUT (and a big but) I did manage to get through the class pretty much as guided, though I did find my mind wandering and substituted a few cobra combos for the updog alternative. I felt the slog part of the project, which I am assuming is part of the process, something I will work through and assess later.

I even thought about taking a day off. I don't know, in physical terms, what my sluggish body is telling me. If I try tomorrow and it is as full of effort as today I may do so. Only I know me, and losing momentum is fatal.

Arctic Front

The same degree of cold seems much colder in Brooklyn than in Maine. Perhaps it is due to mindset, or the dismal lack of snow, or the chill that seeps into your boots from the concrete sidewalks. A few weeks ago, I was happily skiing in below zero temperatures. But this morning, back in the city, I begrudged the brisk walk of only a few blocks to go shopping. Though some of it was undoubtedly due to the difference in task.

So what to do, in the winter, in the city, when spring seems most distant? You can choose one route and seek out warm places - the tropical greenhouse at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the library, the coffee shop with delicious hot cocoa. Or you can embrace the cold, decide to snuggle in and knit soft alpaca mittens, read wonderful and moody winter-themed stories and books, cook soup, sip tea. There is a stillness to winter I will miss when it's gone, best to make the most of it while it's still here.

Done!

Just a quick post to mention that the two year odyssey of the Latvian Fingerless Mitts is finally over!

I am very pleased with how they turned out in the end. Now onto the next pair of folk mittens...

Addendum

Perhaps on par with the dullness of an excessively long conversation about one's overachieving children is an excessively long discussion of one's personal exercise regimen. So prepare to be bored if you are of a mind to read any further. In fact, here is a pretty picture of what is either an out of season asparagus bed (or just some nice, calming, green colored plants) as compensation for reading thus far.

Today was Day 5 of my yoga challenge. I set my intention at the beginning of the practice on just focusing on each pose as it came along, trying to avoid anticipating or making judgments on particular poses I really don't like. (Hello, Rabbit) Because it was a surprisingly fast-paced class, I found that excess thoughts were not meandering in with their usual frequency. In fact, at times I struggled to keep up. I even broke my secret rule of chaturanga! (On the first day I made a decision to conserve energy for the long haul by only doing knees-chest-chin to cobra, rather than chaturanga to updog.) Oh well.

And then it was time for the inversions. Groan! I have practiced yoga, off and on, for almost 20 years without ever doing an unassisted headstand. And for some reason my competitive drive or shame at not being able to keep up just never kicked in in this arena. I am the person who contentedly swings around to do legs up the wall, though I do admit to a particular fondness for shoulder stand, so it's not all inversions that I shun. I think it's due to some odd fear, or lack of control, or fear of control, or all of those things all mixed up in an unpleasant stew. 

At any rate, there had been a special request for pincha mayurasana. Huh? You can click on the link for a picture, but basically this is a forearm stand. Your head is not grounded and your legs are in the air, making a graceful bend towards your head. When the instructor demonstrated it I silently snorted. As if! Still, I gamely put my forearms to the floor and tried to picture myself getting up there. Really, I had not the slightest clue as of how to do this. But instead of giving in to lazy habit and doing legs up the wall I decided to give headstand another shot. It suddenly seemed quite reasonable in comparison.

Before I knew it, there I was - up there and balancing! Yes, I did use the wall to help me get situated, but I really was up there, rather comfortably just hanging out without any help from the wall or another person. It was all me for a good 40 seconds. Then I came down and went up again after a brief rest, just to make sure it hadn't been a fluke.

In short, hooray.