When I started blogging about yoga last year, I received several emails from readers asking how they could begin practicing yoga or how to incorporate yoga into daily life.  Many of you asked for recommendations on books and DVDs, or questions like:  “I am ______,  can I still do yoga?”  As for that last question, I can proclaim happily and resoundingly “YES!”

While I started researching yoga in my teens, I did not begin a formal practice until college.  Since I had practiced on my own – and not with a trained teacher – I realized that I had been doing some things incorrectly.  Once I started working with some instructors who knew about alignment and how to thoroughly teach beginners, I got so much more out of my yoga practice.  Now that there are so many wonderful resources on the market, it is much easier to learn more about yoga from your home.  This can be especially comforting if you have any issues with group classes.

When I began my yoga practice, I was nearly 80 lbs overweight and extremely self-conscious about my body.  I was born with good flexibility, and even as I gained weight, my flexibility remained in tact, although I was very weak, specifically in the upper body.  I was not comfortable in my own skin, and the idea of being in a class with people half my size and doing poses that involved sticking my rear in the air was just about the last thing I wanted to do…  but I did love the way that yoga made me feel, so I practiced at home, and I slowly began attending group classes and sitting towards the back, soaking it all in and becoming familiar with the poses.

In 2006, when I decided to fully commit to a more healthy lifestyle – reaffirming my (then) vegetarian diet (now vegan) and beginning a regular exercise routine – I complemented my cardiovascular work with two sessions of yoga per week.  My gym offered classes and although the room was filled with about 40 people, I made a point of going.  I learned about an adjoining studio to the gym where classes were smaller with more teacher-student interaction and solid emphasis on foundational poses, alignment and form.  These classes were probably my first “dip” into the yoga practice that I now enjoy each day.

…and slowly… great emphasis on the slowly… I am becoming more comfortable in my body, and more confident in myself.  My muscles CAN hold me up in poses because they are much stronger now; cardio work, weight lifting, and hours of yoga have made that possible.  Yoga’s mental and emotional benefits have also affected my life – clarity of mind, fewer mood swings, and an increased awareness of myself and of others’ needs.  I set aside time for yoga each day now – some days’ practice is longer and more challenging, others are calming and relaxing.

Last weekend was my second session of Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) at my Local Yoga Studio (LYS, go figure!)  and it was another amazing weekend.  I feel an increasing bond with the other students and our teachers.   This weekend was even more teaching practice than the first week, and we broke in to small groups and led each other through sequences of poses.  We all flubbed our words a little bit, but in the accepting atmosphere of the class, it was fine, and it was educational for all of us.  The weekend is structured over three days – Friday nights, Saturday afternoons and Sunday afternoons.  Each session has a reasonable asana practice led by our teachers.  On Friday nights, we tend to do more administrative work – talking about the certification and getting our  paperwork filled out for our observations and apprenticeships.  We also do a comprehensive review of the previous session, and sometimes introduce some new material.  We end the night with a wonderfully relaxing restorative practice – blankets, and eye pillows and deep breaths.  Saturday is a true focus on asana as we “learn” a pose, and immediately turn to our neighbor and “teach” them what we just did.  We do this throughout the day and then come back for a lecture on  anatomy.  Last session, we learned primarily about the muscles and bones in the feet and legs.  We are quizzed on these muscles, so we definitely have to pay attention and learn the names!  Our next quiz will be on the back muscles and the shoulders – so much to learn!

Sundays open with a long meditation practice, sometimes guided by our teachers, and sometimes in silence.  It is one of my favorite times all weekend and I look forward to it.  We return to teaching practice for a few more hours and then end with discussion on our readings, specifically the philosophical subjects.  We take Sanskrit breaks through the day, reviewing the names of many of the poses that we have learned in the original language of yoga.  I have always enjoyed learning languages, so this is another favorite time for me.

This training experience is definitely affecting me in ways on and off the yoga mat.   I think that yoga has the unique ability to do that – because it is so much more than a way to stretch your hamstrings or open your shoulders.  It continues to be an amazing journey.

Because there are hundreds of books and DVDs on yoga – so many different styles and traditions! – I feel unqualified to truly recommend the *best* one out there… I haven’t seen them all, and I probably never will. Plus, my needs may be very different than yours.   If you are a brand new beginner, I would suggest DVDs so you can easily see how the instructors and models move in and out of the poses.   There are many resources available – so many free ones too! – that can introduce you to yoga.  Due to the fact that their website is so robust and filled with information, I often suggest Yoga Journal.  They have a great “Beginner” section with lots of videos of classes, as well as videos of certain poses.  Yoga Today is another website that offers free online classes.   If you feel uncomfortable practicing in front of others at this time, these videos will tell you about key alignment points and avoiding injury.  If you have the resources near you, I would definitely suggest trying a class at a yoga studio with a trained instructor.  Many studios give first-timers a free class or a discount, so it is worth trying!  I think you will like it! 

–

**For details of poses above, click on links:

1. Virabhadrasana I,  2. Adho Mukha Svanasana, 3. Urdhva Dhanurasana

I was lucky enough to have a Monday off after a long weekend of Yoga Teacher Training (next post!)… here is what I did on my “off” Monday…

Brussel sprouts are one of those vegetables that really suffer from overcooking.  The bad reputation that they have received over the years is undoubtedly from the mushy bitterness that comes from keeping them on the stovetop far too long. 

Miniature cabbages and such a pretty green!  I picked these up at the market and found a recipe that sounded like a delicious way to use them.   I didn’t really grow up eating Brussel sprouts, but in recent years, I gained an appreciation for the little cruciferous veggies! 

Brussel Sprouts Risotto
3 c Brussel sprouts halved
1 T oil (olive or canola)
1 c chopped apple (peeled)
1/2 c chopped onion
1/2 c chestnuts or walnuts
1/2 c vegetable broth
salt and pepper to taste

Cook the Brussel sprouts in boiling water until desired softness (better al dente than over done!) In a large skillet, combine oil with apples and onions and cook over medium-high heat until soft , about 3 minutes. Add Brussel sprouts, nuts, broth, and seasonings. Cook, stirring frequently, until broth has soaked in, about 5 minutes.

Risotto made with oil and veggie broth on the stovetop (followed the arborio rice instructions from the package subbing oil for butter to make it vegan) and added some onions, some crushed garlic and a dash of seasalt and ground white pepper.

Kris often prefers his food with a bit more salt than I do, so he also added a few sprinkles of soy sauce to the top and reported that it tasted good… you can easily experiement with some different seasonings!

<< >>

I cast on for my sister’s birthday present late last week, and I was looking forward to a day of knitting progress yesterday.  I can happily report that it went as planned:

This is the Honeycomb Vest pattern from Knitty, and I am using Elsebeth Lavold’s Silky Wool in the “Cedar” colorway. The original pattern uses a small cable stitch, and after I swatched a few repeats, I wasn’t feeling the love.  I thought it was very pretty but it was too tedious… so I pulled out some of my stitch dictionaries and found a textured stitch that wouldn’t make me dread knitting this vest. That is way too much bad juju to put into a vest for my little sister!  I found a simple broken rib pattern that slightly resembles the honeycomb stitches, and I am zipping right along with it. Since I changed it up a bit, I am now calling it the Cedar Vest – that seemed fitting.

I love this yarn – one of my favorites, for sure.  I made the Glee Tee with it in 2007, and when I saw this yarn last year at The Mannings, I picked it up immediately.  The color was too amazing to pass over… and I think it will be a great color for my sister too!

…I am planning several other gift knits this year – mom is next (her birthday AND Mother’s Day), and she has already chosen a pattern, and then I have some great ideas for my other sister’s birthday this summer… and lots of baby knits on the horizon… I love to think about all of the possibilities, but now I need to get those fingers flying!

The Presidents’ Day holiday allowed me to spend time finishing up some projects. It also afforded me the time to pull out all the stops and snap some special photographs of said knits:

Santiago Shawl
Pattern based on the Verona Shawl by Morehouse Farms
Yarn: Handspun single ply wool from Santiago, Chile – a gift from my dad
Needles: Size US 9s
Measurements: Length – 5′ 5″  / Width – 2′

Stockinette stitches for inches and inches.  Every moment was welcome and savored.  I truly enjoy the simplicity of stockinette, and this will not be my last shawl in this fashion.  My Verona shawl is my most wearable knit – at least once a week in three seasons of the year – and this new Santiago shawl (named after the city where my dad purchased the yarn) is sure to follow in the same footsteps.

Like Verona, this shawl also has a story.  I started this shawl last summer, just a week or two after I contracted Lyme disease.  It had not hit me full force yet, but as I got sicker and sicker in late July and early August, this shawl was one of the only things that I could work on… the simple stockinette was comfort when my mind and my heart couldn’t handle anything else, and when I was scared about what the next day would bring with it.   My knitting was slow, but I pressed on with the shawl.  When I got healthier, I set the shawl aside – and it sat in my knitting basket for many months untouched.  In January, I picked it up again.  And now, it has a new purpose.

It tells the story that I need to remember about sickness and health and about the importance of being mindful in everything I do.  Mindful of each breath in and each breath out – every knit stitch and every purl stitch.

The yarn was wonderful to knit.  It was raw and over spun in sections and crunchy and flubby and perfect.  I love to be reminded of the source when I am knitting.  In this case, the source was some lovely ivory fleeced Chilean cordero.  My dad bought this yarn for me when I was a new knitter – back in 2004 – and it sat in my stash for a long time.  I am so happy that it is now this amazing shawl.  Thanks so much for making this possible, dad

As I bound off on the shawl yesterday, I had the inspiration to focus on the natural ivory of the yarn, pairing it with some white clothing.  From there, I wanted to experiment with some photographic elements, and I asked Kris to help me put together a photoshoot.  We picked up a Strobist Kit with remote flashes last year.  Kris uses it a lot for his aquarium photography and I have used it occasionally for both light box photography and FO shoots.

There are different kits available for different kinds of DSLR cameras; we chose the one that works well with the Canon Rebel series for my Canon Rebel XTi.  It includes the remote flash, the stand, the umbrella, as well as the hardware needed to hook it all up.  Since the initial purchase, we also picked up another remote flash secondhand, and bought a second umbrella.  So, when I chose the corner of the stairway landing for the photography shoot, I knew it was going to be a good spot with lots of light.  White walls, space for the umbrellas and stands, and lots of walls for the light to reflect.  All I had to do was style the photograph… white tee, shimmery lip gloss and a hair clip!

The overexposure of the photos was the key.  We turned the flashes on the highest brightness level and the umbrellas really reflected the light.  After the shots were complete, I processed my photos (as I do for *all* of my photos) through Adobe Lightroom software.  Very minimal processing on the shots because they really turned out better than I expected.  I increased the clarity of the shot so that you could see the stitch definition on the shawl, as well as the distinction between my skin and the wall behind me (ahem… I have been called an albino before…) Other than these small modifications, the photos are natural and raw…

…just like the yarn of the shawl!

Sometimes I enjoy winding the skeins just as much as I enjoy knitting with them. 

The joy of preparation.

The whirring of the swift. 

Living in the moment as my hands glide across the fiber.

Casting on for my sister’s new vest in the beautiful golden orange.

Planning the Whisper Cardigan in the wonderful gray.

<<< >>>

Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool in “Cedar” colorway

Cotswold handspun singles from Nova Scotia in ivory and gray

<<< >>>

I did not plan to use these colors together, but I was so pleased with how they looked next to each other.  I have to keep this in mind for a future project.

A vest in two weeks flat, and I could not be any happier with it! Do you get that feeling when you are plugging away on a project and you can actually visualize yourself in the future using/wearing that project? You see yourself so happy that it is now in your life. You look at it admiringly and try to remember life before it. You could easily wear it everyday – making it part of your “uniform”.

My Tess Wrap Vest is this kind of garment. My own personal uniform.

…A beautiful lightly variegated moss stitch vest uniform….

Tess Wrap Vest
Pattern: DROPS vest, originally titled Sleeveless Jumper with Belt
Yarn: Tess Designer Yarns Superwash Merino, 1.2 hanks (~650 yards)
Source: Maryland Sheep and Wool, May 2007
Needles: Size US 7 and 8 circulars

…and just because I love it so much – more photos! this time with a yellow top…

Can you tell why I like it so much?   It is just so darn wearable!  If you are familiar with the original pattern, you will notice that I made a few modifications.  The original pattern has a 2×2 ribbing for the hem, and the front panels and neckline.  While the ribbing looked okay (enough to attract me to the pattern) I thought it looked a little odd at the bottom when (inevitably) the picked-up stitch rib portion is shorter than the hem rib section.  I opted to go with a double moss stitch pattern – it keeps the spirit of the original, but adds more depth, in my opinion.  It also did not draw in severely at the bottom edge.  The collar is one of my favorite features of this knit:  I knit it for about 9 centimeters on each side, so I had enough of an edge to turn the collar up or down.  I could have knit even more for a more dramatic flare collar, or even put a few short rows in there for some more differentiation… but I am happy with how this looks the way it is now. 

The yarn was great to work with – Tess Yarns have been a favorite of mine for several years, and this was my first time working with this weight (worsted) rather than the sock weight.  The deep brown was what drew me to this yarn back at the Festival stand in 2007, and it is what I still love about the vest.  There was a little dye transfer on the needles and on my hands, but nothing too major.  The yarn is sold in huge 570 yard hanks, so, I only ended up using about 1.2 hanks, approximately 620-650 yards of the yarn with the Medium size vest.  I still have more yarn – it would make some great hat/mitten/scarf combos, I think.  I am looking forward to May’s Festival so I can pick out another color of this yarn for another future project!  Tess Designer Yarns is always on my list of places at MDSW!

When I first started this vest, I knew that I didn’t want to knit over five feet of knitted i-cord for the belt, so I decided to try my hand at some braiding techniques that I read about in one of my Christmas gift books.  I picked up 200 Braids to Twist, Knot, Loop, or Weave with a gift certificate to the bookstore.  It is an Interweave Press publication from 2007:  “profusely illustrated” (as one reviewer noted), spiral-bound, and very informative.  I see this book as a great resource for all sorts of trims and finishes for knitting and weaving projects. As I flip through the pages, I wish there had been something like this available when I was a child – my sisters and I were obsessed with making friendship bracelets out of DMC floss when we were young, and this book has so many designs that we would have loved! 

There are so many techniques discussed in the book, and it has great photos to illustrate each step of the process.  Yarn is used in several of the samples, as well as ribbons, thread, beads, satin cords, fabric strips, etc.  There is so much you could do with this!

Selected images from the book, 200 Braids...

Following some of the models outlined in the book, I decided to braid some sample yarns I had in the stash alongside the Tess yarn for this belt. Of course, once I started going, I had to make another… and I probably could have kept going to make more and more belts!

Tess Merino / Araucania Pomaire / Zaol Big Cash

 I love how they turned out – simple, quick to make, and uses up some stash! Funny thing is, after making two of the belts, I figured that I preferred the vest without a belt… I like the way it looks open. I have the option to wear the belt if I want, but in the mean time, I can use these braids elsewhere – as hair bands, or as straps for my yoga mat!

Vest-uary Vest #1 complete!