My Yoga Classes

As I mentioned a post or two back, I have started to teach Yoga classes here in Delisle.

I taught my first class in Martensville 5 years ago. I absolutely loved it. I still do.

I am teaching three classes in one day, which is rather difficult. Difficult for several reasons. First and most difficult is the fact that Paul travels a lot so I need to find a sitter for two separate times. The evening one is not hard to do as there are several teenage girls who sit for us. The daytime is something else. I am having such a hard time finding a sitter. I got one for tomorrows class just this afternoon. Talk about cutting it close. Athena isn't old enough to just sit and draw or read while I teach, obviously. The second reason is that it is difficult for me physically to do three classes in one day. Third is that I get home at 8:30 at night and I am not tired at all. I eat my dinner then and have a glass of wine but I can't sleep. Frustrating.

All that aside, I just love teaching Yoga. I love helping my students to discover the great benefit of yoga. I love bringing the body/mind/spirit connection to their awareness. I love when they say they are standing a little taller, breathing a little easier and that they feel more flexible, their headaches are manageable, that their anxiety and hot flashes have decreased. I love to help them in a therapeutic sense with their various ailments.

I am able to incorporate what I know about alternative medicine and eastern therapies into the classes. They appreciate this as well. I love when I can put them in Savasana and through mindful meditation, bring them into a state of deep relaxation. I cannot extol the benefits of yoga on every level enough.

I haven't been able to convince my own family though. My sister Lyse practices yoga and she loves it. My daughters have dabbled in it. Jen is on the hunt for a prenatal video to do, so that is good. I caught Paul reading my Yoga Journal magazine the other day. When I asked him if he wanted to practice with me he declined saying if he can't do it exactly right, he doesn't want to do it at all. Humph! As they say, "a prophet is without honor in his own country" or more commonly, "the shoemakers children go without shoes." Someday...

Jessica and her new puppy Pinner.

I'M BACK!
Jen asked me if I had quit blogging. I have not.
We were without a computer for about 10 days, which was tough, but we made it through. ;)
We have just been so busy lately.
Athena started preschool like I posted before. That is going really well for her. She is not happy about leaving her shoes there though. She brings them home with her every week. She has also started swimming lessons. ALONE. She is by far the youngest in her class. Her poor teacher, Cal, spent most of the first class saying "Athena, come here. Athena come back here." Poor guy. She had soooooo much fun though. She shouted to me in the middle of the class "Mom! I am so happy!" and "Mom, I am swimming. Can you see me?" Very cute. We took her out for pasta directly after class. I have never seen her eat so much.
I also started teaching yoga classes. Paul, of course was away in Houston for my first week so I had the problem of finding a sitter. I am teaching 3 classes, all in one day. What was I thinking? Tough stuff. I was surprised to learn that I have 38 students in all. Quite a turnout for a town of just over 800 people. There are some women and a man who drive in from Vanscoy just for the class. One woman comes all the way from Grandora. Nice. The classes are going well. I'll blog about that later.
This past week we were in Regina for a couple of days. Paul helped Jordan with some painting and repairs and I tried to give Jen a break from the drudgery of moving. Got to spend some time with my little Abby. What a sweet girl she is. Jen and Jordan's house will be so nice for them. Jen's choice of paint color is wonderful. I love it. I am looking forward to seeing it after they are all moved in. Abby will have an enclosed yard to play in, which will be nice. IN SUMMER. Which leads me to my next thought... Abby is just like Jen when it comes to cold. Weather or otherwise. We went swimming in our hotel pool. Little Athena would climb into the swimming pool, swim to the other side (she has a swim suit with a flotation device built right in) and come out, jump in the hot tub and go right back to the other pool. Over and over she did it. Talk about good Hydrotherapy. Abby wanted to be with Athena but each time Jen would dip her into the pool she would say "Get me out! It's too cold!"
Like mother like daughter. That is why I say that Abby will enjoy her yard IN SUMMER.
Talk about a disjointed post. Oh well.
Anyway, I will return to blogging regularly as things begin to settle down. Jill and Eden are coming out for dinner tonight. That will be nice. Athena spent the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa in Moose Jaw. She feels very comfortable there. Barely blinks an eye when we leave her. On a sick note, Bentley, on of their dogs peed right on her face when she pet him. He was on his back and when she rubbed his belly he let it go. Of course it hit her face. She cares little as she loves those dogs. Except Silky, who "pees on the floor and bites her sandwiches" by her report. She gets home today around 4. We miss her but we got to sleep in 2 days in a row, which was nice.
Paul leaves tomorrow for Winnipeg for 5 days. It is not fun to be a single parent half of the time. Hats off to those of you who do it full time. I mean you Jill.

Show Yourselves!

I have just learned that this is De-Lurking Week. So if you read this blog often, sometimes, rarely,whatever- leave a comment, even if you have left one before!

TRUE STORY

The other morning, Athena asked to go outside.

I got her dressed in her ski suit

and sent her out the patio doors.

Paul was reading the paper and
I was talking to Jen on the phone.

She has just started to go out to play by herself.

I usually leave the window open so I can hear her.

Today I did not.

After about 10 minutes Paul hears her calling.

He goes to the patio door and says,

" Michelle, she is up in the tree!"

Sure enough, she is shouting,

"MOM, HELP ME DOWN!"

Paul ran out in his house slippers

and I, of course, ran to get the camera.

Proof is in the picture above.

She's pretty high up isn't she?

A Couple of Cute Stories

Yesterday, Athena was playing in the front room

with her basket of animals.

I had little to do so I decided to go up and down the step.

Just the first step.

You know, like in step class.

Just for a bit of aerobic activity.

Up up, down down.

Up up, down down.

I saw her watching me curiously.

She walked over and said,

"Aw Mom, you can't get up the stairs?

I will help you."

*********

Second story:

I got some pictures developed.

I was putting them into frames.

I put a large Black and White one of her

into a nice matted frame.

I held up the picture and asked her

who it was.

She said,

" Its Athena Amaris, but why do I look like a ZEBRA?"

How cute is that?

By Request
I have had a request to post a few pictures
of Jessica's art.
The first picture is the one she just made
for Jen and Jordan.
The second is one she made for me.
Both are textured.
The third picture is one of
my budding artist at work.
The pictures I took don't do them justice.
Jess gets better at her craft
with each creation.
We are very proud.

FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL

Today was Athena's first day of school.

I had been trying to prepare her for a few days beforehand.

This morning I told her that today was the day.

"No, I don't want to go. I want to stay home and be a puppy dog"

was her response to me.

"Just try it. There will be kids and toys and a teacher there."

I pleaded.

So, Paul dropped her off. She went to the top of the stairs.

She met the teacher.

Another child arrived to whom she shouted from the

top of the stairs,

"Come on up. Take your jacket off."

With that, he left her.

I went along to pick her up.

We listened at the door as the teacher said

"Okay children, get your boots on. It is time to go."

Then we heard "MEOOOOOOOOOOW"

We looked at each other with wide eyes.

Paul opened the door.

There was our little kitty on all fours.

I asked the teacher if she was a kitty all morning

to which she replied "Only half of the time,

but she sure can talk. I don't think she stopped talking

all morning. She told me she would like to come back."

Phewsh.

That went better than I thought.

She loved it.

She talked about exercises and temperature.

Now I have 2 whole hours a week to myself.

I wonder what I will do.