I will start out by saying - I Love Yoga! The fact that I haven't gotten off my b-tt to do it in 2 years...Well, I wouldn't call myself lazy...so, blame the baby and lack of sleep-that's my story and I sticking with it! I prefer to snooze the extra hour, than to get up an exercise. The truth is there is no good excuse. You work out - you get more energy, you sleep better, it helps reduce stress/keep your immune system strong. It is a win win situation. I urge patients to get active, to get their heart rate up, to stretch, to start yoga. I give myself the same pep talk, but I don't seem to be in the "compliant patient" category when dealing with myself. The good news - I started again!
This is the second Thursday I have made it to Lisa Eisenberg's Mom Kundalini Yoga Class. It is Thursday morning, after school drop off (9:15-10:30am) - perfect timing! The class is held at her home near LFCSA (Los Feliz Charter School for the Arts - temporarily located in West Hollywood!). Lisa's daughter, Lulu and my Lishai are in the same 1st grade class. Lisa recently gave birth at home, in the water (!) to her second child, Lotus. So, now that Lotus is 4 months, Lisa is getting back into the teaching thing. She received her teacher's training at Golden Bridge under the tutelage of Gurmukh. If you heard of her, it is because she is the seik that was seen with Madonna and countless other Hollywood celebrity. She espouses natural childbirth and teaches a pretty well-known prenatal yoga class here in Los Angeles. Lisa has been coming to Lishai's 1st grade class on tuesdays and teaching the kids yoga before lunch, which they LOVE! She also teaches privately. (For more info call Lisa at (310) 210-4214).
Historically, when I have gone back to Yoga after a long long break, there are 2 responses. The body resonse - Not too bad after the class but wait 'til tomarrow - every muscle will be sore, I won't be able to move for 3 days. The mind response during the class - Will this ever end? This is torture!
So I went to Lisa's class with trepidation and... I must say, I impressed myself! The first class was challenging, only slightly torturous - a mind over body exercise in endurance. The feeling afterwards was AMAZING! Strong, flexible, light - full of light, light as air. I am high as a kite, naturally of course. Until I pick up the kids and reality sets in, I can't walk around carefree, head in the clouds, one with the universe. But I may have noticed that I had a bit more patience with the kiddies! I took some sublingual Arnica Montana and wake up the next day - not sore! Wow! Love that stuff! Usually my body feels like it has been put through the ringer. Muscle groups that had been hibernating are activated, etc. REMEMBER THE ARNICA!
Today I went back to get my OHM on with Lisa! There were 2 other moms there. Lisa starts of the class with a chant -Om Namo Guru Dev Namo (I salute the creator within - totally relate to that!), And then the class involves Kriyas (exercises with breathing). The first one was to increase the immune system, to prevent colds/viruses/strengthen the digestion - How perfectly in tune with life right now, right? Siting on our knees (not my favorite), Hands held above the head, palm facing palm, eyes closed focusing through the point between the eyebrows (3rd eye), Inhale and then pump the stomarch, exhale, and repeat. Kundalini Kriyas are different from other Yoga forms I have learned. There is alot more breathing focus and it feels we doing each one for 2 minutes. I can feel energy coursing through my body and there is a very  interesting shift that occurs in the brain! The class ends with a laying down (corpse pose) relaxation to music. This is definitely my favorite part. Then Lisa invites us for some Yogi tea (with plenty of milk and honey). In comparison to other yoga styles, I must say, that I miss the flow style yoga with poses - warrior, triangle. I feel my body gets stretched,  and I feel tall and strong - a more exercise work-out feeling. Kundalini yoga feels like it is activating the electro-magnetic field in the body. The class is growing on me with each session. I am looking forward to next Thursday. I like what it is doing for my mind and spirit as well as the body. If I can get motivated, maybe I will begin a hatha class on tuesdays... whoah - twice a week? Maybe I am becoming the compliant patient I have always wanted to be!