Sunday, September 16, 2012

Yogi of the Month

Excerpt from Manhattan Beach Bikram Yoga Newsletter...


"Yogi of the Month"
Suzanne Hansen

  
Suzanne embodies the yoga spirit, she donates a portion of her jewelry sales to Uprising Yoga, a non-profit that brings yoga to youth in juvenile hall. Congratulations Suzanne!

A letter from Suzanne: After graduating from high school in late sixties I packed my bags and headed for San Francisco where all my hard work had earned me a scholarship at the San Francisco School of Ballet. Yahoo ! I loved dancing with all my heart but coming from a small town in Wyoming when I arrived in San Francisco, wild eyed and bushy tailed, there was a whole lot more going on than ballet. Haight Ashbury was calling my name and before I knew it I was a flower child instead of a ballerina. 

After years being away from ballet and raising a family, my husband passed away from cancer and I was suffering from depression. I found I had left a part of me on the dance floor that gave me an inner strength and independence I no longer enjoyed. 

My, now 33 year old youngest, son suggested I take a Bikram Yoga class with him. He said, "If you like it mom, I know it will be so good for you." From day one I was smitten. I couldn't breath, my face was beet red, pride was all that was keeping me in the room. My mind was going crazy "What's wrong with you? You can't even stand on one leg for more than 2 seconds; You used to be able to do that; for crying out loud - you used to balance on your toes and leap over skyscrapers at the jump of a hat." I couldn't run out of the room because my son was standing next to me. "With bulldog determination something rose up inside me that said "I CAN DO THIS".

It didn't come overnight that I could catch a glimpse of myself in the front mirror when I twist into a pretzel, or that I could raise my leg in standing bow above my head, I still can't hold it there for long ;o), or that I could hold camel for a full minute. Each time I come to class, I do the best I can and I'm seeing something in myself I haven't seen for, well, 40+ years.
Depression is gone, low energy has been replaced by high energy and I'm accomplishing things I wouldn't even let myself dream about BBY (before Bikram Yoga) to coin a phrase. I just finished the 30 day challenge and I'm so proud of myself that I bought a new Yoga outfit as a reward. (I feel pretty snazzy).

I'm so grateful to be a part of the Manhattan Beach Bikram Yoga family because that is truly what it has become. I have new hope for a very bright future. Thank you from the bottom of my Yogi heart. 

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Farmer's Market and Mom

Mom is in Los Angeles visiting from Seattle.  Yea! Mom!.  Her 89th birthday is on Tuesday so we will find some place fabulous to go for dinner and celebrate.

We headed out this morning for the Farmer's Market in Mar Vista and picked up some outstanding Heirloom Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Avocados, Hard Sour Dough Bread.  Yummy my favorite Tomato Sandwich for dinner.

So here we are.  Mom is the one on the right

We ended our experience with ice cold coconut water, mmmm how refreshing on a hot summer day at the market.  The coconut itself was so heavy I didn't know if mom was going to be able to carry it.  But she is a strong woman.   Can you believe, by looking at her, that she will is 89 years old?????  I love her..

I love going to the market on Sunday morning.  I stay strictly to the Organic Veggies just after I buy a pastry full of sugar and usually chocolate and do a taste off from all the vendors walking around with non-organic slices of nectarines, peaches, cheese, bread with pesto on.  I'm very strict about what goes in my mouth at the Farmer's Market NOT!!!  I cheat on myself on Sunday.


The rest of the week, I'm a good girl shopping and buying at Whole Foods.  Have I ever told you that I am a Certified Nutritional Consultant through the Global Institute of Alternative Medicine?  Just another not well known factoid about me that you probably will never need to tap into.  However, from time to time, I will mention some stored knowledge I have learned about Living Well and Feeling Better.


Well, just offering a bit of fun til I'm back at the torch or jewelry bench tomorrow.  Wonder how much work I'll actually get done while mom is here.  We'll see.  I'm certainly not going to worry about it.  She is my number one priority.

Love you
Later then,
Suzanne


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