What I learned at yoga tonight

Dropped in on a beginner's class at the Omaha Yoga and Bodywork Center where we rested in corpse pose at the beginning and end of class. We did some excellent stretches in the middle.

I learned to keep my arms bent when reaching behind and clasping the hands together. The stretch up is not as big, but more effective than with straight arms. Good one to remember during the work day.

We were going for bed-time yoga and so didn't get too crazy with the physicality. We did enough, though, that I worked out some neck and shoulder tension that had built up over the course of the day at the PC.

However, we did create some nice energy with an exercise where we started with feet together, knees bent and bouncing like Tigger. Then, we swept the arms up to the front with a bounce, out to the sides with a bounce, then way over head with a bounce and sweeping back down to the floor. Repeat several times and next thing I knew, I felt a tingling all through my body.

Loved this instructor, Vidyarani, who was subbing and turns out to know all my other new yoga friends. Of course, they all know each other:)

What's a yoga slut?

I first heard the term "yoga slut" from my friend, Devon. This summer I went a little crazy with the yoga classes ... I've been to classes with Carly, Amy, Molly, Mark 1, Mark 2, and Susi. So, being with six yoga teachers in about 6 weeks makes me a "yoga slut." Hey, they were all great!

Anyway, "yoga" and "slut" together is funny to me.

Day One

I get whiny when my neck hurts, which as recently as last week was most of the time.

Over the last 15 years, I've tried all the over-the-counter meds, lots of chiropractors, a physical therapist, a massage therapist, pilates, even a random yoga class here and there. And they all helped, at least for a while. But still the next day, my neck hurt again.

Fortunately for me, I have some relentless yoga-loving friends, one of whom, probably tired of the whining, hand-picked a yoga class for me back in June. All I had to do was show up at this lady's house at the right time in stretchy pants. No membership fee, no long-term contract. No unpleasantness.

Yoga, I discovered, is perfectly lovely, a delight. I've met many wonderful people, found myself in some surprising positions, studied the writing of an assortment of Buddhist monks, counted my wayward thoughts for several minutes several days in a row, and attempted drinking a glass of water mindfully. It's been fun. And today, all day, my neck has felt pretty good.

Namaste.