Countdown

Radiation #34 complete: check

Eyebrows fully grown in with no need for pencil: check

Eyelashes almost fully returned: check

Radiation wound 90% recovered: check

Travel-sized toiletries purchased: check

I cannot believe that I've only got two more radiations and I am done, done, done with treatment! And, then time to escape and run to the other side of the earth for two whole weeks. The next four days will be a whirlwind of preparations to set foot on that plane to Sydney Friday night.

Each day, I feel strength returning. Physical strength. Emotional strength. Mental strength. Yesterday, I had the best yoga practice I've had since I can remember. Physically, I was able to move in ways that I hadn't in quite a while. As a result, I could literally feel the lifting of tensions and stress and pain. Yoga is magic. I'm looking forward to the opening of my body, mind and heart as I practice more freely each day.

Okay, I can't focus to write. I'm too excited because we are leaving for Australia on Friday. Woo.

Kale, kale, everywhere.....even in Mammoth!

No, I didn't buy this cat hat but, I regret it and want it.

Okay, it is a kale conspiracy. Yes, just like the bloody wheatgrass. My mother used to boil kale and put vinegar on it. Sorry Mom but, you ruined kale for me forever. Kale is also an excellent food for iguanas: they thrive on it. To me, kale is meant for iguanas. Not me. Vitamins or not.

After lazing about all day yesterday, except for 90 minutes of yummy yoga while Todd snowboarded, we descended into the village and had an excellent dinner.

I chose the Ono for dinner but, there was a huge dilemma. The ono came on a bed of kale. I asked our Fast Times at Ridgemont High looking-waiter if the chef would substitute the broccolini for the kale. No way dude! Apparently, the chef at Petras is an artiste and will not substitute anything in his creations. Broccolini: NO. The broccolini was served only with the New York Steak. No broccolini for you! Soup Nazi anyone? With a little fanagling (sp?), I did manage to substitute spinach. HA!! I swear, I have never seen, heard or smelled so much kale in my life.

Today, I feel good. I've finally relaxed a bit and feel like I am on vacation. Todd and I did some yoga to begin the morning. For the first time in the history of visiting a ski resort town, I am not going to ski or snowboard. Now, for those of you who have seen me on those pieces of equipment, you can stop laughing. Although I may not descend the mountain very elegantly, I have fun. For some reason, I just don't feel strong enough.

Instead, we are going sledding! Yee-ha. You can't go to the snow without careening down the mountain and laughing like a maniac. That is the plan! Then, a yummy, cozy dinner at the condo. A little R&R before the surgery.

Yoga for Fit2Wed Bootcamp at Mission Bay Park

It was an incredible morning on Mission Bay this morning. The sun began peeking out around 9:15am, just as the class was finishing up their sun salutations. We faced the bay, enjoying the view of calm waters.

Practicing yoga at a park has its pluses and minuses. The loud boombox at the nearby picnic table was a minus. The beautiful San Diego morning was a big plus! We also had a little terrier decide he wanted to join the ladies yoga group. I believe most of us agreed he was a plus! Being in this type of environment is a perfect reminder that yoga doesn't have to be so serious! You can laugh and still have a lovely practice.

I was thrilled to be able to work with the Fit2Wed Bootcamp women for a second time. Fit2Wed is a 12 week bootcamp program designed by Jessica Thomas and is a smashing success. The program is intense, fun and best of all gives fabulous results to its participants. Check it out at www.getfit2wed.com.

I became involved when Jessica attended one of my yoga classes at SculptFusion yoga. We spoke after class and decided to see if the boot campers would be interested in adding an occasional yoga class to their already busy regime. They were! Yoga is an excellent addition to a cardio and strength-training routine and I hope all the participants enjoyed it as much as I did.

I love my job!

We have to keep transforming ourselves

to become who we ought to be. I love this quote and it really seems to sum up my life path.

I was feeling a little discouraged the other day because I was questioning if I'd made the right choices in my career. A niggling little fear crept up and made me ask the question (again) whether I was crazy to quit corporate life as a lawyer and teach yoga and pilates full-time. What was I doing again? How was I going to support myself? Was I wasting my education? ...And, and, and....

But, as usual, whenever fear creeps in, an affirmation comes to remind me that I am in the flow, I am living my dream, I am doing what I should be doing with my life!

One of my newer yoga students came up to me after class and told me that she wants to cry at the end of my class because she knows she has to wait a week to take it again. She said it was the favorite part of her week. How amazing is that? How grateful do I feel? I receive these reminders almost every single day. I never got this type of validation when I was an attorney. Or in sales. Or any other "traditional" career hat that I tried to wear.

The bottom line is that wellness and nurturing have always been my passions. I made a giant detour leaving the personal training field for a 10 year detour into law and sales but, I've returned. And, I know I am on the right track!

Many of my lawyer friends, well, many of all my friends, tell me that they can't leave their current career because 1. they spent a lot of money on school, 2. they've invested time in the field, etc etc. I always say, Who cares! Are you happy? The last 6 months that I practiced law, I cried daily in the shower before I left for the office. Not happy.

Life is too short to waste it. We are all really good at several things. That doesn't mean that we have to do them for 30 years and be unfulfilled.

I really do believe that if you've got a passion for something, go for it. Of course, be responsible, set up a safety net (at least a little one!!) but, try it. What is the worst that can happen? Failure? I think that my great failures were my biggest learning experiences and were just part of my path.

This is my first real blog entry...not sure if I'm doing it right?? But, I've got to get it started, right? Until later.