Saturday, June 25, 2016

Abundance on a Saturday

Someone's front yard flower garden
On the morning walk with the ladies, I saw this abundant garden and had to stop for a quick picture. And I do mean quick, because the pace of these Saturday morning walks is on the fast side (like around 4 miles an hour) and I'm always struggling to keep up. Every once in awhile Cindy (our leader) will stop long enough to let the stragglers catch up; I really try not to be one of them, so it gave me the chance to snap these flowers. Although I'll never be able to keep up with the fastest walkers, I am determined to be in the middle of the pack, at least.

It was cloudy to start, but it has now become mostly sunny out there, and I'm filled with satisfaction at having my walk done and a whole day of enjoyment ahead. Yesterday I finished the book I was reading, A Tale for the Time Being, and I was actually bereft because it was done. Although I struggled to get into the book, by the time I finished Part I, the characters and story had come alive for me. That link is to a New York Times book review that will tell you about it.

Many people I've talked to weren't able to get into the book, and I understand why. But if you do read it all the way through, I don't see how you could fail to fall in love with it. But that's just me. I guess you either love it or hate it.
Laifong, my new yoga teacher
A couple of people have asked me what the difference is between gentle yoga and Level I, so I looked up the class descriptions at Yoga Northwest. Here's the description of their gentle yoga:
GENTLE YOGA/BACKCARE is for people with back, neck, knee or shoulder problems, are plus-sized, elderly, or weak and need a slow paced class.
GENTLE YOGA II is for students who have “graduated” from the gentle yoga/backcare class, but still need gentle exercises due to old injuries or physical restrictions.
And Level I might not give me the chance to put my leg behind my head (Laifong teaches more advanced classes, too, obviously) but this level is designed to provide a balanced program of flexibility, core strength, postural alignment, breathing, relaxation and awareness. This coming semester I will take one Gentle II class and Laifong's Level I. Maybe I'll regain the flexibility I had when I was younger. It's amazing what the body can do, even when it's got some mileage on it!
:-)

18 comments:

  1. Simply a stunning cottage garden !
    I would be happy just to walk without an aid right now, four miles an hour...phew :)
    How interesting the Yoga levels can be, I've always wanted to take a class.
    ~Jo

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  2. LOVE that colourful garden.
    I am as flexible as a brick and slowly and steadily you are shaming me into doing something about it.

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  3. Such a beautiful garden.

    One of these days, in the not too distant future, you'll tell us about putting your leg behind your head like Laifong in the picture. You go, Jan!.

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  4. Walking is one of the best exercises you can do. It is esy on the body and still gives a good cardiovascular workout.

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  5. I could never put my foot behind my head even as a child...no hope for me now:(

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  6. I love the jumble of plants and colors in that garden. I read Ruth Ozeki's book a couple years ago - it was short-listed for the Booker Prize. I found the writer's character to be too metaphysical and the teen's character to be very bleak. I couldn't relate to either of them. I was glad for it to end. With Laifong as your teacher, you may be more flexible than you were as a child!

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  7. When I see all those gorgeous flowers I sometimes wonder why I am so not able to learn their names like my Mother and many gardeners. I can conduct a bad and know musical theory and the way intrument work but I am hopeless with flowers except for a few basics like tulips, roses and so on.
    I think you will get sone flexibility back. Muscles will be happy that you are reconnecting with them.
    I touch my toes and such regularly to stay nimble but I'm no loner quick.

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  8. What a beautiful garden, so filled with brilliant colors. Good luck with the yoga. I would never be able to put my foot behind my back. Lol.

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  9. Sounds like pre-jogging--LOL! Whew!
    What a gorgeous flower bed!
    Now that is one limber lady. I couldn't do that when I was a child! ;)

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  10. Four miles an hour is a good clip and now you are a Yoga gentle one graduate. You go girl.
    Balance, core and flexibility are causalities of aging but they don't have to be. You are inspiring me.

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  11. I love Yoga. Good for the body and soul....

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  12. Gorgeous flowers! The last time I tried to do yoga I ended up not being able to walk for a week.

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  13. I'll just say I did yoga for exercise and leave it at that...SAYING and actually doing are two different things....it's not for me. LOL

    Love the flower garden. I finished a book recently and just can't get back into the 2nd book like I had been after reading the other....it's like losing a good friend.

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  14. Always enjoy your blog.
    This time from Croatia, but soon hoping to rejoin the group in Bellingham !

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  15. I just showed that pose to my granddaughter and she couldn't do that! Good gosh!

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  16. I just put a HOLD on that book. Thank you for the recommendation. I will have to do a book recommendation for two books I've read recently and really loved. A Man Called Ove (Fredrik Backman) and Molokai (Alan Brennert).

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