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 start, our instructor invited us to set an intention or dedication. In honor of the solstice, I set "light and positive change" as my intention. Warming up, I felt centered and peaceful.

Moving into more challenging twisting poses -  my strength melted quickly as a wave of nausea came over me. My muscles trembled and beads of sweat dripped from my nose onto the mat.  My head was light and my gaze unsteady.

On occasion, my narcolepsy medications leave me nauseated. I've minimized these side-effects with good habits and tricks I've learned over the past 4 years.  Yet, the 21 Day Yoga Challenge has required me to dig deeper into my body and mind's boundaries than I would otherwise. During this challenge, all of me - the athlete and the person with narcolepsy - has been exposed.

Instead of my usual mantra: "Breathe in - Let, Breathe out - Go," today's mantra was,"Don't throw up, Julie. Don't throw up."

When unbearable, I took child's pose for relief, but my competitive fighting spirit got me up and back in sync with the others quickly.  I teetered between extended side-angle and collapse.  Inconveniently far from the exit and bathroom, I wasn't sure I would make it gracefully out of class if necessary.  Yet, I placed myself into the palms of fate and trudged on.

Before long, we began our cool-down and the discomfort dissipated. From here, I was home free - overcoming nausea and officially completing the 21 Day Challenge.

This challenge has taught me that every day is new and different. Thoughts, feelings and emotions are always shifting and no two moments, minutes, days or yoga classes are alike. Yoga and meditation invite us to pay attention to this shifting - for better and worse.

My 21 day challenge experience has run the gamete. One day, tears streamed uncontrollably down my cheeks as I thought of a close friend who had recently experienced a great loss. Another day, I was fixated on a post-yogic frozen yogurt - debating Pinkberry versus Mr. Yogato.  Other days, I was able to quiet the internal chatter and "ride the breath" - achieving stillness of heart and mind.

Surprisingly, I only fell asleep for a split second once during the 21 classes.  My success isn't quite as glitzy and glam as a marathon, but I've gained invaluable strength and confidence. I plan to continue with a regular yoga routine (3-4 days a week).

In closing, a big CONGRATULATIONS to the other Tranquil Space Challengers! There were over 60 yogis attempting this challenge.  I'd love to hear about their experiences or anyone else's adventures with yoga and meditation.

Contestant May Have Narcolepsy on So You Think You Can Dance

Copyright FOX

So You Think You Can Dance is my favorite television show. I was surprised to learn that one of this season's contestants may have narcolepsy.

On last night's episode (Wednesday June, 15th 2011), each contestant had 8 seconds to list interesting traits about themselves. During Melanie Moore's 8 second interview, she said:

"I'm Melanie Moore, age 19, Marietta Georgia, I love chocolate chip cookies, I collect nail polish, I used to wear a helmet because I was narcoleptic, and I really want to be on Ellen..."

Melanie's phrasing - "I used to wear a helmet because I was narcoleptic" leaves me uncertain if she has narcolepsy or not. Narcolepsy is a chronic autoimmune neurological disorder, thus if she was accurately diagnosed with narcolepsy, she would still have the condition.  

Also, I have not heard of anyone wearing a helmet for narcolepsy, but maybe this would be a form of protection if she has severe episodes of cataplexy (a form of muscle paralysis/loss of muscle tone unique to some people with narcolepsy).

To my knowledge, this was the first time Melanie mentioned narcolepsy on the show.  Maybe with a little more explanation, this will make more sense.  Obviously, she was rushing because she only had 8 seconds to describe herself.

If Melanie Moore does have narcolepsy, I hope it will be discussed much more, as she would be an incredible role model for the many children and young adults with narcolepsy!

Regardless, she is a beautiful talented dancer and I wish her the best of luck this season. I will keep you posted if I hear more.

Here is her breathtaking routine with Marko from last night:

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 Space this 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 standing, bound, balancing pose. Oh my!

On Day 1 of the 21 Day Yoga Challenge, our instructor led us slowly into position. 

We began in yoga squat, twisted to one side, placed one arm behind our backs and the other underneath our bodies to grab hands.   This bind is just the beginning, but I was already lost.  Unable to grab hands, I used a strap to connect my bind. 

Next, we were supposed to rise and stand on one leg, while reaching our other leg out into the air...  Straight, if possible.

I couldn't balance, so lowered to the ground and watched others stand around me. A few fellow yogis completed the pose perfectly, which mystified me. 

Now, on Day 11 (half way there!!),  I've grown stronger and more flexible. Yoga's no walk in the park, but I'm making REAL progress.  My Bird of Paradise is proof. My arms connect without the strap now and I can balance on one leg easily.  It's far from "perfect," but perfect is not the point.

11 days completed; 10 to go.  Yoga has surprised me in its difficulty and its comfort.  Every day, I push myself and sweat profusely.  There are moments I hate it... Yet at the end of every class, I open my eyes relaxed and refreshed.  Perhaps yoga is a slice of paradise and I'm a bird still learning to fly.

All Roads Lead to Downward Dog

Photography by Julie Flygare: www.julieflygarephotography.com

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 class.   Once in the studio, I confidently rolled out my mat and plopped myself down.

"Let's begin in Reclining Bound Angle Pose," the instructor said.

I slyly looked to see what others did.  Many of the basic positions are automatic to me, but not this one. My neighbors laid on their backs and spread their legs in butterfly-position.

Yoga Squat

"Great, I love this pose!" I thought. Yet, as I reclined and opened my legs, I cringed - realizing short shorts was a really bad idea.

As class continued, many positions made short shorts a regrettable choice, including yoga squat, happy baby, and all warrior poses. If I authored "Yoga for Dummies," Rule #1 would be: Wear Pants.

Nevertheless, I tried to ignore my fashion faux-pas and concentrate on my practice.  Today was Day 4 of Tranquil Space's 21 Day Yoga Challenge. Currently, yoga is kicking my butt.

In high-lunge pose, my legs trembled uncontrollably beneath me - not quite strong enough to hold my body's weight for that "one more breath."

In downward dog, beads of sweat dropped from my forehead onto the mat. While cradling the baby, my "baby" (a.k.a. lower leg) slipped from my wet grip, falling to the mat with an ungraceful thump!

I've spent more time in downward dog these past 4 days than napping, eating or watching tv. My instructor appropriately described today, "All roads lead to downward dog."

My perception of yoga has shifted. I used to equate yoga with stretching, not realizing how much strengthening is involved.

From the outside, yoga looks prim and proper - like a slow form of ballet.  Elongated bodies in sleek spandex twist and turn in unison. We dive forward, drop to chaturanga, lift to down-dog.

Yet, beneath the skin of measured movements and breathing - bodies are hard at work. Muscles are heated, hamstrings are stretching. For now, I am quivering and clawing towards greater strength and flexibility - the promise of yoga.

Hopefully yoga is like running and will get exponentially easier with time.  Sore and weak, I will hydrate, take extra-strength Advil and get to bed early for tomorrow's class. Perhaps the best cure for the aches and pains of yoga is more yoga!