Coming Up On Another New Year

Boy, they sure are going fast. The years, I mean. Here I am, thinking about resolutions, changes and goals for the upcoming new year. I don't really know where to begin. Yoga says that we should set intentions and not goals. I always have lots of intentions. They are always the same.

I intend to get a grip on my food. Yes, I'm at a good weight but will I ever really be happy with my weight? I am at a weight now that I can hold without any trouble, or work. I eat what I want and exercise almost every day. Now that I'm teaching yoga exercise is not a problem. My eating is, however, terrible. If Richard knew he would have a field day with me. I am going to set an intention to be more mindful of my food. I will pay more attention not only to what I eat but to what I eat when I am eating it. I remember a few years back when Laura, Beth, Vennie and I were the "Fab Four" (not anymore, long story) I talked about yogic eating. Slowing down while eating and really noticing the tastes and textures of the food. I am going to do that this year and I am going to start today. I am not going to wait until "next year".

Another intention that concerns food is that I intend to cook more at home. We spend way too much money on eating out and not only does it cost lots of money but it's full of salt and totally bad for you. I was recently at Bob's office and he said that if my blood pressure doesn't go down he is going to increase my blood pressure meds. Salt is one of the reasons for my higher blood pressure. Salt is found in restaurant food. I am going to try to cook outside the box and make some new recipes that don't include salt. I really don't want my health to be effected by my eating.

Speaking of health I intend to incorporate a little more exercise into my life. I ordered Bob Harper's DVD's that were on sale which I'm hoping will help. I walked 4 miles yesterday at the track and I am going to go back to some weight training. Three times a week should be sufficient however every day would be better. I want to get back to the track more often and maybe some pilates to flatten the stomach too.

I intend to save money. I need to save money so that we can go to Glacier National Park for Kerry's wedding in August. She is getting married on Irv's birthday, August 11. Pat and I are going to buy a new car (finally) and take a really long road trip. Kerry bought us a tent for Christmas and I have the camper's stove so just an air mattress and we are ready to go. I want to have a lot of money to spend on this trip. I need to be more mindful about my spendable cash if I want to attend my daughter's wedding without any money worries.

I still have some time before the new year comes but I think this is a good start for my intentions. I guess the goals will have to wait. :)

Thanksgiving with the new In Laws

Kerry told me that Frank's parents were going to go to a buffet for Thanksgiving so I offered up an invitation to them for Thanksgiving dinner. I really didn't think that they would come but they did and it turned out to be a wonderful first Thanksgiving dinner for all of us together.

I was totally stressed that there wouldn't be enough food but I was totally wrong. We had turkey for the meat eaters, Tofurky for Kerry and me and enough sides to kill a horse. We also had Kerry's favorite Boston Cream Pie that said Happy Birthday Peewee because besides Thanksgiving it was also Kerry's 25th birthday. Cousin Stevie brought an apple pie, Jon brought flowers and Frank's parents, Ron and Joanne, brought a gorgeous edible arrangements fruit thing, and wine. Yep, we had it all. We all ate too much food and sang happy birthday to Kerry.

When dinner was over Pat and Ron sat at the table talking while Joanne, Kerry, Frank and I rolled around in the yoga room. Frank and I did headstands and then we all just talked. It was really fun. I like Joanne very much. She is very open and friendly. It's quite a difference from Mike's parents who always felt that we were from the wrong side of the tracks. I think Joanne and I will be friends. I'm happy about that.

I was very happy to open our little house to Frank and his parents. They are really nice and they seem to love Kerry. I felt good being the one to bring the new extended family together. We need to get used to it. Kerry and Frank will be married in August and like it or not we will all be one big happy family. You know what? I like it. :)

Kerry's getting married, a new car and life rocks

It has been a really long time since I have posted here on my, kind of, life story. I don't really know why but I'm back and it feels good.

So much has happened since my last post. Kerry came home twice. Once to buy a brand new white Kia Soul. Her life is taking off. She is doing so well and I am more than proud. I love her so much and she never fails to make me the proudest mom on the face of the earth. She also came home to pick up the car and drive it home with Frank. She bought it at Coral Springs Kia and I, of course, negotiated a great price for a perfect car for her. I think it would be a great car for Pat but as long as he wants to drive "the son of sweatmobile" he is free to do so. I also love the no car payment aspect of the SOS. :)

More importantly Kerry and Frank have decided to get married. Both Pat and I are very happy about this latest development. They seem perfect for each other. They are both travel bugs as well as biologists. They are also both only children. It's a perfect match. The plan is for them to be married at Glacier National Park on August 18, 2010. We are waiting for the approval from Glacier. It is a gorgeous place for a glorious event.

My yoga teaching has been really great. Juliana went away and I got to teach 3 out of 4 Juliana's home classes per week for 6 weeks. My teaching really grew leaps and bounds. I also subbed for Juli and Joy at The Yoga Source. Classes in general are very sparce. Many students go away on vacation. I've picked up a lady from the Yoga Source for my home classes occasionally and I have also taken on an older gentleman who has requested 3 privates per week. We are doing very well and he finally has started to let go a little bit. It turns out Pat knows him from the pool tournament world. One Sandy also likes her privates and I need to call her and let her know that I am back from my trip which I will blog about another time. I love my classes but I would really like to teach more.

I have my private with Juliana tomorrow. I will be blessed. :) :)

Dental Issues

I went to Dr Spector's office for a check up today and Katrina found a pocket in my gums that was very large. She did an x-ray and I was told that the tooth is not good. It looks like my choices are going to be a dental implant that costs $3200 and is not covered by insurance or an apicoectomy which is one of the most painful dental procedures out there. I know this because I have had two of them. I got a black eye with both of them and was down for two weeks.

I am very scared right now. I'm not sure which is worse. The apico is extremely painful and expensive but my dental insurance will help out the the cost of that. The implant is not as bad as far as pain is concerned (I am told) but it is not covered by insurance. I am also having some pain in my lower left area that Dr Spector says is from the scaling that we recently did but I have my doubts about that. I'm hoping that the pain will go away. It seems to be getting worse.

If I have an apico I'll have to sub out my Sunday class because as I remember Dr Flax only does big operations on Fridays and there is no way I'll be able to teach on Sunday. I really don't want to have to do that. I am developing a following with that class and I don't want to lose it but there really is nothing that I can do about it.

I guess I should just wait until my appointment with Dr Flax on Friday and see what is said. Whatever it is it is and there is nothing I can do about it. I have to accept whatever happens and not freak out. Freaking won't do me any good. I need to follow my own advice and live in the present moment.

Back to 155.5

The scale was not my friend this morning. It read 155.5. On second thought maybe the scale was my friend by telling me the truth. A real friend tells you the truth no matter what even if you don't like what you are hearing and I don't like it at all.

It's not as if I didn't know. I know my eating has been out of control lately. I don't know why. I'm not upset by anything new. I mean, I miss Kerry but I always miss her. She did tell me that she would be spending her spring break with Frank in Gainesville and not be coming home at all but I know that's what makes her happy. It's what I want for her. I want her to be happy. I have my new yoga studio up and running. I love it and so do the students. I am teaching two fantastic classes at The Yoga Source and they are growing every week.

I also know that I have not been getting any exercise besides yoga. It's really all I do. I need to get some kind of cardio back in my life. Although I have been walking with Michele a few times a week we are not really walking very fast and it's not really much of a challenge for me. I've given up weights completely. I absolutely need to get back on track with my exercise because as the exercise goes so goes the eating.

So today is a new day. I am going to Juliana's yoga class at the Source and then when I get home I am going to do some cardio. It's cool out today so I could actually bring my sneakers with me and stop at the track on the way home or I could do a richard video in the yoga room. I don't have a TV in there anymore so I'd have to put it on my laptop but that's ok.

It's all about calories in and calories out and I know that. My calories in has been way more than my calories out. Get a grip, Claudia. It's what you need to do for your health and that's all that matters. I need to be healthy for Pat and Kerry and for me and my own peace of mind.

I'm a yoga teacher!!!

I taught my second class at the Yoga Source this morning. How thrilled was I when I saw a bunch of people in my room waiting to take my class? Lisa from last week was there with her friend Gail who works at the front desk on Wednesday and then 4 ladies that I didn't know!!! Yay!!! I had 6 students and I really felt in the groove. I was really feeling my class. I still need to improve though. I forgot to invert and I forgot fish pose. On the other hand I went and got bolsters from the Hatha room and started them lying on them. It was really cool. Then we did some seated postures and then I brought them up to standing and we did some half sun salutation. Then we did triangle, both sides of course and then we went into wide legged utanasana, to the right, to the left, spider and then my favorite squat down and come up and finally down forward bends, twists and savanasana with Lavander oils. It totally rocked. :) :)

The salon went well. It was just Erin with a bad back and Tim so I took it really easy with them but it turns out that the half sun salutations helped Erin with her back along with half moon. Yay. Go me!!! I am pretty awesome. Yep, pretty awesome.

I have jury duty tomorrow. I hope they don't want me. I sure as hell don't want them!

My letter to Richard

Hey Baby, :)

How are you? I saw you on TV and once again you looked very svelte and fabulous which is always wonderful to see. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas holiday with Lenny and Cathy. The new year looking very bright for both of us. Ok, so you have a new TV show coming which is way cooler than what I have going but my stuff is pretty cool too. :)

Cool thing number one is....As you know I became certified by the Yoga Alliance and I have been teaching my own classes in a small studio that I share with a friend. I have also been subbing for some of the finest yoga teachers in this area at the premier studio, The Yoga Source. It is not easy to break into this studio. They are very picky about who they allow to teach there and just being on the sub list is a huge accomplishment. Well, guess who got offered her own gentle yoga class at 9:00 every Sunday morning? Yep, Me!!!!! They got great feedback from the students who were in class when I was subbing and it seems that they were looking for someone just like me for this early morning slot. I think they are looking to attract some of the more mature (did you like the way I phrased that?) ladies who might be intimidated by the younger teachers. They said that they loved my positive attitude, my energy and style of teaching. Last Sunday was my first class and it was a fabulous experience. I'm sure it's going to take a while before the word gets out but I'm teaching at The Yoga Source and I am more than thrilled about it. I got to meet all the other teachers at the Christmas party and I've also scored a few more subbing gigs. As a matter of fact I'm subbing today. Yay.

Cool thing number two is....I got on the scale this morning and it said 149.5. This is the first time I have been in the 140's in about 3 years or more and I feel great about that too. I've been much more active lately and I've also been watching my portions more. Yes, I've always known thats the way to do it but actually doing it was the hard part (as you know). I am very proud of both of this. I even went hiking in the Everglades yesterday. Wow! Go me! :)

In December I started thinking about making my New Years Resolutions and I was really apprehensive about it. I know you are a fan of them but I've always had trouble keeping the resolutions that I have made in the past. In a wild, crazy moment I said to myself that teaching my own classes at the Yoga Source was going to be one of my resolutions for the new year never really thinking that it would ever happen. I did it last Sunday, January 2. Resolution 1..check! I also made a resolution to see 14anything even 149.5 on the scale again. This morning I saw 149.5. It's January 6. Resolution 2..check! The last resolution that I made is that I am going to come to LA to spend some good time with Laura and come to see you for my yearly visit. That one may take a little while longer because of money issues but I'm going to do that too. :)

I just wanted you to know what is going on with me. I'm very proud of myself and I'm thinking 2011 is going to be an awesome year for both you and me. :)

I love you so much.

Claudia

New Years Day

I am feeling pretty good today. I'm a little nervous about my class at The Source but nothing too terrible. I'm sure once I get started I'll be fine. I really need to look my crowd over and teach what they will want. They are coming to a gentle yoga class so I guess I should give then just that. Gentle. OK, we'll do pranayama on our backs and warm up there. Then I will bring them to seated. Maybe some eagle arms with circling and sweeping, half moons, maybe some twists too. Then up to hands and knees, balance, knee to chest, cat, cows, maybe some child to table with arm sweeping, and then up to standing, half sun salutes, half moons and some triangles. If I have time some forward bends and twists and to the back for relaxation. It sounds like a good class to me. I know Ruth will be there and Wendi said that she would be there too. I'm secretly hoping for a big turnout. :)

The front reception area at The Yoga Source

I lifted weights today while watching the Gators play Penn State in the Outback Bowl. I'm not feeling real good about this. I'm hoping that next year will be better with the new coach. At least I have the Irish (how ironic is that?) LOL