I hope that Monday has been kind to you. I realize that I am in the minority but I love Mondays. I love the start of a new week and the opportunity to take control over setting the tone for the week.
That said, my Monday wasn’t totally easy breezy…because sometimes they just aren’t. I started my day on a great note with a new personal training client and then headed over to Y2 to catch the 9:15 hot vinyasa. I was really looking forward to practicing since I had been away from my mat all weekend. Drenched in sweat, I searched for my physical limits in each of the postures. When standing series was finally over and we hit the floor, I felt content and exhausted. And then the emotion flooded in. That’s what I love so much about yoga. It forces you to deal with what is going on in your head and your heart. There’s no pushing aside/”it’s okay” when you’ve pushed your body and mind to that point of your practice.
Everything is okay. I just have some things that are weighing heavy right now and I am working to let go of them. I encouraged my evening class to do the same. Make the practice an exercise in letting go. I shared with them that when I speak in class it is often in regards to something that is going on in my own life and what happened on my own mat this morning. Being open, honest and vulnerable has been one of the biggest challenges of teaching yoga for me but it only leads me to a stronger connection with my students.
Rewind. The eats.
We arrived home from around 7:30 on Sunday night and Brandon requested soup for dinner. Luckily, I had all the ingredients on hand to make broccoli cheddar soup and we had bread in the freezer. This was actually my first time making broccoli cheddar and it was delicious. I’ll definitely share the recipe soon.
Natalie sent us home with apple cake with caramel icing and it was soooo good. We definitely enjoyed a slice for dessert Sunday night and another small slice tonight! Apple cake might be my most favorite fall dessert.
Lunch today after training + yoga was a garden vegetable tempeh sandwich on whole wheat with mayo, honey mustard, avocado, spinach, colby jack and tomato.
We tried a new recipe for dinner. I got home from teaching yoga around 7:30 and we got busy in the kitchen making tandoori chicken with yogurt sauce, Indian spiced potatoes and roasted broccoli. We loved all of the spice that went into this dish and it is a definite make again. Ethnic foods/spices are so tasty!
Tuesday is my busiest day of the week so I must get myself to bed. Alarm is set for 4:45 a.m.!
Recipe for those potatoes please!
Those eats look SO yummy! And apple cake is my favorite fall dessert too! My mom makes a really good apple cake with cream cheese frosting, its so good! The caramel glaze on top although sounds like a heavenly combination:)
apple cake is one of my all-time favorites and also reminds me of my mom! 🙂
cream cheese frosting is the best!
Will you post the recipe for that dinner? It looks so good! I am always trying to find new dinner ideas and I think I might have to make that tonight.
Are you reading my mind?? This post could not have been more timely. I have some stuff weighing heavily on me, too, yet nothing is actually wrong. Sometimes that can feel even harder. Lately I have been really drawn to yoga, which I think has something to do with what I’m going through emotionally. I just feel safe in that space somehow- separated from everything else that’s whirling around in my world. It’s like my brain can finally rest. Very much looking forward to my class tonight!
clara – i know exactly what you mean. i crave my yoga mat sometimes to get that release i need. other times (like the one above) it hits me by surprise. regardless, i love every minute on my mat and ever lesson learned!
Oh I just love Tandoori chicken! Now all I want for dinner is Indian food… and it’s only 10 am 🙂
Oh man, I would love that recipe for the chicken!! I love tandoori chicken. 🙂
I never realized it, but you’re right–once you enter into svastna, emotions come flooding in.
it’s true. after you get through the standing series and physically let go, it gives space for you to really feel and just be you.
Sounds like you needed some yoga. 🙂 I could really go for some apple cake about now…
I cried on my mat this weekend too! Yoga can make you feel so vulnerable sometimes; it’s unreal.
it’s amazing. i love it. i am thankful every day for my practice!