The Flawed Yogini

01/02/2022

Self-love gentle flow focused on heart-openers and breathwork. February 5th, 12 midday ET, online!

You need: I like to always have handy a chair, blocks, a strap, blankets, and a bolster or pillow. :-D

https://app.flowell.co/classes/1182

16/09/2021

Oops. Forgot to share that I turned 58 on the 25th of August!

I don’t even like wheel pose but it has taught me oh so much, including that sometimes, in order to grow and evolve, we need to do things we’re not crazy about.

Each and every day I tell myself that NOW the practice of yoga begins. Yoga sutra 1.1.

13/09/2021

I’m a big proponent of colonoscopies as they can save lives. After undergoing six myself, I’ve mastered the art of the prep.

I’m a big proponent of colonoscopies as they can save lives. After undergoing six myself, I’ve mastered the art of the prep.

11/05/2021

At 55 I set out to learn how to handstand by the age of 60. To my surprise, I accomplished it by my 57th birthday. What’s next?

At 55 I set out to learn how to handstand by the age of 60. To my surprise, I accomplished it by my 57th birthday. What's next?

03/04/2021

I was today years old (57) the first time I did this pose.

Please know that I would not even have tried if I didn’t know I have the strength in my shoulders and arms to avoid compromising my neck!

The funny part was that I told my husband what I was going to do and asked him to direct me as to whether my legs were aligned or not.

He said “more to your left” and I’m like “I’m upside down, that means nothing to me” 😭😂

But since I was facing away from him I couldn’t see him I’d he pointed this way or that way.

In the end I realized that over the past two years I have acquired the strength to hold the pose and move my legs around until he said “there” 🥴 and so here’s the picture. I can see room for improvement but it was my first ever try! 🤓

Do I see myself continuing to try new things as I age? I do. And if I were to lose my physical abilities I would still pursue all my other passions like writing and communicating and maybe something new!

Just the other day I was admiring at 69 and at 75 and thought “yeah that will be me.”

Barring accidents or illness. Because sh*t happens, don’t we know.

What have you done for the first time at an age society has told you is “too old”? (Or hey, maybe “too young” - I’ve been on that train too!)

31/03/2021

This is me doing wheel pose at 57. This in itself is not so important. Now slide to see me doing wheel pose at 52.

In both pictures I was doing my personal best at the time, so really they are both valid.

Asana (the poses) is just one small part of what yoga really is (more about that in previous posts).

The point of this post is that I don't realize my own progress, whether in doing wheel pose (which as an aside I do not love but practice it bc it's a heart-opener), in writing, parenting or any other aspect of life.

And then I see side by side pictures, or read an old book or article I wrote and realize how far I've come.

It's easy to get discouraged when you don't see results right away in any endeavor. But quite honestly, the key is to keep on going, day in day out.

Not everyone is equipped to do that.

In yoga it's called "tapas" - self-discipline. (it's more than that, but you get the idea).

Are you frustrated because you want results now? How do you get past that?

NB.- I had a slipped disc at 41 that took two years to heal, and I have two vertebrae that are fused together. AND I have scoliosis. Don't be fooled by appearances.

28/03/2021

Did I think at 27 that I would be doing this at 57?

I didn't really think about it.

I was too busy trying to get a handle on an extreme eating disorder, major depressive disorder, anxiety and panic attacks.

Now I know one thing: my path to recovery and self-love is NOT the ONLY path.

I don't believe all women my age should be doing arm balances.

I don't believe everyone should meditate.

I don't believe you should do what I do to be happy.

Yoga (and not the poses: the philosophy, the spiritual aspect of it all), has taught me we each have our own journey.

I only share mine.

Who am I to tell anyone "you should ..."

The truth is, you should do whatever the heck you want, as long as it doesn't harm anyone else.

What do you think?

25/03/2021

If all goes well, I will be 58 in August.

I say "If all goes well" because I'm increasingly aware that life can change on a dime.

With my dad's health issues after a lifetime of being super active, and having lost three good friends to cancer in the last three years (one of them my best friend, Belinda), I do NOT take my health or mobility for granted.

While my pictures could inspire younger people to realize that how we age is, to a large extent, up to us (and I take advantage of that), I also have friends and acquaintances my age and even younger with invisible illnesses, who don't have access to such shenanigans.

I never want to offend or make them feel bad.

But then I also know that not everyone is interested in exploring what their minds and bodies can do in the way that I do it. That's not bad of course, it's just different.

I am up for my sixth colonoscopy soon (once I'm fully vaccinated) which I will NOT skip, especially after my dad's diagnose of colorectal cancer.

And well, while I am able to, I will continue to explore the body, the mind, the soul.

An aside: let me tell you, those combat boots made this pose harder. :-D

How do YOU appreciate your body, mind and spirit, whether you are 27, 57 or 87?

25/11/2020

What if I told you this IS a yoga pose?

The more I delve into yoga, the more I realize the real yoga happens OFF the mat.

Yoga is not a sport or a physical activity, although it can be both if that's what you choose.

For me, yoga has become a way of life.

The real yoga is self-study, discipline, sitting with discomfort, learning to trust the process, learning from tough situations, and more.

Yoga is not a religion, but the practice of yoga can actually enhance your religious faith if you have it.

I am extremely grateful for what I learn off of the mat, in everyday life. But I would not be open to these teachings were it not for the eight limbs of yoga.

I am also grateful that yoga is a practice that starts NOW. And this means that I don't have to wait for the next day, the next week, the next month, to start over.

NOW the practice of yoga begins.

"Atha Yoga Anu Shashanam"

What do you think?

27/10/2020

My version of 57 is unique. It's not better, it's not worse, it's my version.

This should be great news for all the younger people here. :-D

We have a certain amount of control over how we age, and I use that knowledge to my advantage.

I've always worked out for mental health, from a young age.

I've also had many injuries. Some I can recall off the top of my head:

Tendinitis (more than once)shin splints, lumbago, sciatica

Slipped disk (took me almost 2 years to recover from that one in my early 40s)

Broken tailbone 4 times (falling while rollerblading, and otherwise silly accidents)

I also have 2 disks fused together (just naturally, apparently there is no cartilage between them and I found out in my 30s)

Hip injury after training too fast and too hard for a half marathon

Close call with colon cancer 2 years ago (I've written a lot about that one, and how a great specialist saved me from a colon resection via colonoscopy procedures)

I have painful bunions that affect how I do certain things, including walking long distances

After each setback I was able to correct course, sometimes going against doctors who recommended surgeries (back surgery) that I never had.

Anyhow, this was a fun day with my kiddos and hubs on Saturday.

How do YOU take care of yourself today to contribute to a mobile tomorrow?

PS.- This is all barring illness and accidents, things we can't control.

Repost from my main account

16/10/2020

Wherever you live any day is a good day to practice gratitude!

Grateful that at 57 I can do this stuff without breaking!

You may or may not know that side plank is a much-debated pose in yoga. Is it good or bad for your shoulders? Depends on whom you ask.

One way or another, in yoga and in life I try to be mindful of whatever pose or situation I’m in. My background in fitness and dance does help me a lot in being aware of what is going on in my body.

And this is how I try to live .... grounded on one hand and reaching for the stars (or my feet) with the other!

What are you grateful for today?

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Photo by

11/10/2020

When I was younger I did not really consider this would@be me at 57. 🤪

That’s all I got today. 😂

Next step: doing this out on the water!