Adventures in Nasal Cleansing

This is my brand new Netti Pot.  Ever since I started yoga training I have been hearing about the wonders of the Netti pot and  nasal cleansing.  "It will change your life", they said.  I resisted.  The thought of pouring water in one nostril and having it come out the other nostril just sounded unnatural.  The talk continued.  For allergies, for colds, it just makes sense... we clean our mouths, why not our noses, add turmeric as an anti bacterial, etc, etc. 

Then one day I was in class and just feeling kind of lousy.  I felt like I had a cold coming for weeks that just wouldn't go away.  My teacher asked if I was putting turmeric in my Netti.  I confessed that I didn't own a Netti pot.   Once again the virtues of the Netti were presented. 

That evening on my way home I stopped by vitamin cottage and bought, you guessed a Netti pot.  I bought the cheap plastic travel one in case I hated it, I didn't want to throw down more than a few bucks. 

So the next morning I got up and boiled some water because there was no way that I was going to have any brain eating bacteria in my nasal passages.  I added the salt and let it cool to approximately body temperature.  Step two, I went into the bathroom, tilted my head and shoved the end of the spout up my nose.  At first it felt like the water was heading up into my sinuses but then, the water started pouring out the other nostril.  Success!  I continued on the other side.  I had it down, I didn't drown and it was relatively easy. 

So using the Netti every day, no big deal.  It takes less time than brushing your teeth.  But.....one morning, I forgot to boil the water before I took the dog out.  Completely ruined my timing.  I still have to get to work you know.  Apparently, I didn't let the water cool long enough.  I poured the (way too warm) water into my nostril and thought I was going to burn off my nose from the inside out.  I'm sure it wasn't as hot as I thought but from the inside of my nose I couldn't tell that.  I immediately stopped and added some cold water from the tap, brain eating bacteria be damned, my nose is on fire!

In case you are contemplating beginning this practice her are some helpful tips;

1. Boil the water, brain eating bacteria is nothing to fool with.
2. Make sure the water is neither too hot or too cold, both are uncomfortable. (hot is worse)
3. Don't forget to add the salt.
4. Make sure you have tissues close by.

I'm not sure that nasal cleansing has changed my life but I think I'm breathing better and my nose feels less dry.  I don't feel like I have a cold anymore, and it's not uncomfortable or time consuming so I will continue.   The real test will come in August....allergy season.

Yoga Toes & Pianos

My husband stretching his toes

Me stretching my toes

My new old piano

We had a long break from teacher training due to circumstances beyond anyones control.  In the meantime to keep busy I worked on convincing my husband that it would be healthy for his feet to work his toes a little bit.  Surprisngly, he was receptive and even more surprisingly he allowed me to photograph his feet.

Also during the hiatus I was the recipient of my mother's piano.  We had to decide where to put it, rearrange furniture and have it moved.  It was a project.  But the result is we now have a piano and I'm having fun remembering how to play.  Stumbling along but enjoying the journey. 

Back to teacher training this weekend. 



I know I know

This is really just a teaser post.  This isn't a real post at all.  Very soon I will tell you all about pianos, moving and yoga toes.  Until then.....

Yea Yoga!

Another weekend has come and gone.  Working all week and then spending all weekend in teacher training is hard work.  I'm tired. 

We spent a lot of time on anatomy.  I like to think I have a pretty good handle on the muscles and bones etc.  After all I read.  And not only that, but I exercise and I have been on a somewhat regular basis for awhile and I like to know stuff so, like I said... I read.  However internalizing the subtle differences between anterior and ventral, posterior and dorsal, proximal and medial & lateral and distal sent my head spinning.  This is going to take a few day to sink in. 

I'm also still working on getting my exit strategy for the morning perfected.  Saturday, I managed to take the dog for a walk, pack my lunch and a snack, my water bottle and all my books.  When lunch time rolled around, I didn't have a fork. (Not to worry, I didn't starve, extra forks were available).  When I got home I realized I left my glasses and my cell phone at the studio.  Again no big deal, the room was locked and I would be back on Sunday.

Sunday comes, I don't have time to take the dog for walkies, I pack my lunch, fork included but no snack.  I forget my water bottle.  I arrive at the studio, my cell phone is there but I can't find my glasses.  This sucks, they are not in the lost and found, or the office or behind the desk.  At lunch time I root through my car.  There they are under the seat. 

More anatomy, more philosophy and oh, by the way, I don't know how to breathe.  Except now I do.  Back home, have dinner, a little more reading, go to bed.  It's Monday, 5:30 am, walk the dog, pack lunch, go to work.  Whew.

A Not So Long Weekend

So who knew?  Yoga is more than asanas.  A revelation.  I know, I know, not to everyone, but to a vast majority of people including me to a certain degree.  Before starting this class I knew that there was more to yoga than just the poses.  What I didn't know was how much more.  So for those of you who were concerned about just how I was going to survive 16 hours of yoga practice, let me put your fears to rest.  Over this past weekend I was not doing a physical yoga practice for 8 hours each day.  We did a lot of talking and reading and observing and breathing and sitting on the floor.  I have not spent so much time on the floor since elementary school.  It's HARD! We talked about yamas and niyamas, we talked about physiology and anatomy.  We did do an asana practice each day but only for about an hour or so.  And, (this is the best part) every day after lunch we lay down on our left side for ten minutes to let our food digest.  Some of the students are resisting nap time, but not me.  I love it!  All in all, a good weekend.  I'm already looking forward to next weekend. 

Day One!

My very first yoga teacher training class was last night.  When I left the house I was feeling a little nervous.  This is a big commitment.  What if I can't do it.  I might be too old to start teacher training.  I mean taking yoga classes a couple times a week but teaching yoga is another story.  I showed up anyway, after all I put down a deposit.  There are 10 students in the class, all women.  Apparently this is somewhat unusual.  The instructor told us that for the past few years there have been at least a few men in all the classes.  Immaterial.  Not a lot to say about this first class, mostly introductions, why we chose to participate, going over the sylabus, the typical first day of almost any class.  I imagine that this weekend will give me a better taste of what to expect.  Saturday AND Sunday from 8-4.  And there's homework and that's what I'm off to do now, enough of this time wasting blogging stuff, I have 6 chapters to read.  Stay tuned for the next chapter and see if I make it through the weekend.