The Silver Lining

“The next time you encounter fear, consider yourself lucky.This is where the courage comes in. Usually we think that brave people have no fear. The truth is that they are intimate with fear.” -Pema Chödrön  Today is one of my final hard training days before I take on “one of the most grueling road races in…

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Hello, my name is NOT G.I. Jane.

“Don’t believe what your eyes are telling you.All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you’ll see the way to fly.” -Richard Bach  “I don’t wanna run.  I don’t wanna climb. I’m sick of fighting. I’m exhausted.” These thoughts cross my mind daily.  I do not wake…

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Legs on Fire: Starting My Training for Mt Washington Road Race

    Exciting update: I’ve received an official registration to run the Mt. Washington Road Race in my Father’s honor!   The CEO of Northeast Delta Dental (the event sponsor) got word of my quest and contacted me to offer a complimentary registration. Turns out, a friend in the narcolepsy community tweeted about my quest and…

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Crow Pose: To Risk Falling On Your Nose

  A crow is a large garbage-eating bird with a loud cry.   It is also inverted balancing yoga pose in which you prop your thighs against armpits, squeeze abs tight, hinge forward and pray not to nose-dive! Over the past 6 months of practicing yoga, my reaction to crow pose has been consistent: “Oh…

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When Motivation Doesn’t Grow On Trees (Part I)

Let’s be honest, motivation doesn’t grow on trees. At least not where I live.  Here, it’s getting darker and colder by the second. A perfect time to talk about motivation and where to find it! NIKE says, “Just Do It” as if it’s that simple.  Maybe it is for some – but not me.  For me,…

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Taking Risks & Discovering Nia

“One hour of life, crowded to the full with glorious action, and filled with noble risks, is worth whole years of those mean observances of paltry decorum.” – Sir Walter Scott Photograph provided by Nia Technique (www.nianow.com). Out of Habit: Like most mornings, I awoke a creature of habit. I had no intention of stepping out…

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Surviving Heatmaggeddon

    The District is hotter than hot. Walking outside this morning, I started sweating before breathing.  Although I notoriously complain about being “too cold,” I’ve changed my tune – Help! I’m melting.  In yoga class the other day, our teacher said this heat wave serves as a reminder of the eternal shifting nature of…

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Adventures of the Sleepy Yogi: A Mid-Summer Day’s Challenge

Today’s 12 noon class marked #21 of my 21 Day Yoga Challenge! It also rung in the Summer Solstice at 12:16pm EST (the moment that the Earth’s axis points closest to the sun). Yet, my midsummer day’s practice was far from a Shakespearian dream or Buddha’s enlightenment. Instead, I hung upside down in down-dog, battling nausea. To…

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It’s a bird! It’s a flower! It’s YOGA!

  When I heard that “Bird of Paradise” was the Pose-of-the-Month at Tranquil Spacethis June, I was skeptical.  Another bird? I love yoga’s Pigeon and Swan poses – but Bird of Paradise sounded exotic… and challenging. The Bird of Paradise is a very colorful bird.  It’s also an orange flower. In yoga, it’s an advanced…

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All Roads Lead to Downward Dog

  Do NOT wear short shorts to yoga class. You will end up in compromising positions. You will expose your upper-thighs to your neighbor yogis. I should know this. I’m not a yoga novice.  Yet with all my yoga pants in the dirty laundry bin this morning, I quickly threw on jogging shorts and left for…

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