Making the Break
Posted in on byToday, I did something I NEVER thought I'd do again. Today, I used a BAR SOAP for my shower ::GASP::
I stopped using [commercial] bar soaps AGES ago, for the simple fact that they made my skin feel sticky, scratchy, tight, and dry. It was gross. I switched to lovely liquid shower gels, and eventually bar soap was nothing but a very bad memory.
Fast forward at least 20 years. I am now making my own bar soap. I can't stop thinking about bar soap. I am obsessed. Bar soap, bar shampoo, bar dog shampoo, bar shaving soaps. Every waking moment, and most of my sleeping moments, I am obsessing about soap!
As my first batch of soap has now cured for a full week, and while it feels like 5 weeks is still a lifetime away, I know that one day soon my bar soap will be ready for it's debut in my shower. And to be fair to it, I want to make sure that by then, I am not still harboring some of the terrible memories from my previous bar soap experiences. To this end, while shopping at the mall with my niece yesterday, I popped into L'Occitane to pick up one of their "famed" Shea Butter Milk Bars. And today, it made it's debut in my shower.
I was a little hesitant as I unwrapped it. I sniffed it, and then really inhaled the scent. It was delightful. I then put the soap in my hand and felt it's smoothness and firmness. The beauty of the bar was in it's simplicity. Once in the shower, I started lathering up the soap and was pleasantly surprised at the thick, rich lather. The soft scent filled the air and I could feel the soap doing it's thing, getting me squeaky clean without drying my skin out.
Once I was done, I immediately toweled off, noting that I wasn't soaking wet as I normally was with my usual shower gel. Not sure what happened there. I also noticed a tiny "drag" on my skin, but nothing that was unpleasant. Once I finished toweling off, I applied my usual tiny bit of home made body butter and immediately noticed the difference. The body butter absorbed nice and evenly and immediately left my skin feeling like absolute silk. I must admit, however, that I did miss my shower gel just a little, but my excitement for using my own, hand made soaps is such that I will continue using the milk bar as a point of reference until mine have cured. I know that with a bit of trial and error, I will be able to find a formula that is absolutely perfect for me, and that journey into the awesomeness that is soap making is what continues to drive my enthusiasm.
Here's to hand crafted soap [bars]!
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Buh Bye Tide!
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I have recently been on a do it yourself bender that started with lip balm (more on that in a near future post.) I blame Pinterest. And the Internet in general. I mean, think about it. You can find instructions on how to make a bomb via Google or Bing. How hard could making your own lip balm be? Or, in tonight's DIY adventure, laundry detergent? Yes, I went there. I made my own laundry detergent.
I have to say, there aren't near as many "recipes" for DIY laundry detergent as there are for other things, like facial scrubs, shampoo and yes, my favorite, lip balm! But the ones I did find were pretty basic, inexpensive, and chock full of stuff that I normally use in my wash anyway, so I figured, what the hell, let's do this.
I headed to my local Wally World with my ingredient list in hand. I practically ran to the laundry aisle, partly from the crazy excitement that inevitably possesses me when I have a new project on hand, and partly because I just love the smell of the laundry detergent aisle in pretty much any store, but especially at Wally World. I tossed the Borax, baking soda, super washing soda and softening crystals into my cart and scanned the aisle shelves for the laundry bar soap. My recipe, which I found via Pinterest over on How Does She's blog, called for Zote soap, but I'm big into scents, especially when it comes to my laundry detergent, so I wanted to smell the Zote and any other bar soap they had. I smelled the Zote soap, and it was okay - clean, fresh, light. There was the added bonus that they had a white version, (their original version being pink) and, even better, they had a box of the stuff that was already pre-chipped, sliced, slivered! That meant no grating. It also meant a slightly higher investment in your detergent and since I was wanted to see the least expensive way of accomplishing my task, I opted to skip on the pre-grated stuff.
Curious to smell some other soaps, I looked around for other options. My eyes finally landed on something called Fels-Naptha, which while I'd never heard of it, it had been listed as an alternative to Zote in several of the DIY formulas I'd researched. Some of the other choices for laundry bar soap were Dr. Bronner's and Kirk's Original Coco Castile, though I think these are more body soaps than they are laundry, and I was unable to find them at my local Wally World (but you can bet your butt I will be ordering Dr. Bronner's Eucalyptus for my upcoming DIY Body Wash adventure!)
With only the Fels-Naptha as an alternative to Zote, I grabbed a bar, held it up to my nose and inhaled deeply. WOW! My eyes flew wide open. This stuff was everything I wanted my clothes to smell like. Super clean, fresh, soapy and just a hint of perfume, but not overly feminine nor masculine. I was hooked. I put the bar in my cart, and added two more. The recipe only required two bars but I figured one more bar would help boost the scent, the washing power and certainly couldn't hurt.
With all my ingredients accounted for I beelined for the hardware section to get a five gallon pail with a lid. Found one easily enough for about $4. A bargain as the bucket and lid were very sturdy and absolutely perfect for my little experiment.
Ready to get the party started, I checked out, telling the cashier about my detergent making adventure while she scanned my goodies. She seemed interested but I suspect was really just being polite. I then drove home, unloaded my bounty and set everything up on the counter.
The players:
1 (4lb 12oz) box of Borax, found in the detergent aisle
1 (3lb 7oz) box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, found in the detergent aisle
1 (3lb) tub of OxyClean, found in the detergent aisle. This item is optional but I've used with my regular detergent and it's an awesome booster.
2 (14.1 oz) bars of Fels-Naptha (or whatever laundry soap you prefer). Also found in the detergent aisle.
1 (4lb) box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. I suppose you might find this in the baking aisle, though mine was in the detergent aisle, right next to the Super Washing Soda.
And last but not least, 1 or 2 (depending on how soft and scented you want your laundry!) (55 oz) bottle(s) of Purex Crytals Fabric Softener, found in the detergent aisle. I got Lavendar Blossom for mine. Smells dreamy.
1 (5 gal) pail with a lid
1 long wooden spoon
Scene 1:
Grate your bar soap. I suggest using a good sized bowl to grate your soap into; a single bar yields a substantial amount of shavings. You can use a food processor or do it manually using a cheese grater. If you use a food processor, do one bar at a time, emptying the container between bars. My first go round, I used the larger grate but with the second bar of soap I went finer. I wound up with a 50/50 mix of thicker to fine soap shavings. I recommend going as fine as you can on the grate because the finer the shavings, the easier it will dissolve in your wash. And don't worry about the soap residue on your grater or food processing disc. This stuff isn't like wax as it dissolves very easily even in cold water, making clean up a snap.
Scene 2:
Dump your grated soap into your 5 gallon bucket.
Dump in the Borax; give it a stir with your wooden spoon.
Dump in the baking soda; stir it up
Dump in the super washing soda; stir some more
Take a break. Inhale deeply. SMILE.
Dump in your Purex fabric softening crystals; grab that wooden spoon, tap out a little tune on the side of the bucket, then stir
Dump in your Oxyclean and stir, stir, STIR
Scene 3:
I stirred 'til I didn't feel like stirring anymore. Then I popped the lid onto the bucket, made sure it was on there nice and tight, then tipped the bucket on it's side and started rolling it around the kitchen floor. No kidding. Way easier than stirring. Plus, all that super fine, yummy smelling powder was in the air from my having poured it into the bucket and was starting to give me a tiny headache (it smelled really good but it was also really strong!) so I was trying to minimize getting more of it into the air. This definitely did the trick. After about 3 minutes of mixing my detergent, I got the bucket right side up again, peeled off the lid and looked down at my awesome smelling detergent. I was thrilled! I then scooped about 2 gallons worth into a cute glass container I'd picked up at the store, tossed in my tablespoon sized scoop, capped it with the lid and triumphantly carried it to my laundry room. Not known for my patience, I ran into the bedroom, grabbed a bunch of denim out of the hamper and threw it in our HE (high efficiency) washer with 2 scoops of my newly made detergent (2 tablespoons of detergent is all you need for a load). Immediately the smell of clean started filling the air. Guess I'd soon find out how well this stuff works.
Some things I learned while researching my DIY detergent formula:
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I have to say, there aren't near as many "recipes" for DIY laundry detergent as there are for other things, like facial scrubs, shampoo and yes, my favorite, lip balm! But the ones I did find were pretty basic, inexpensive, and chock full of stuff that I normally use in my wash anyway, so I figured, what the hell, let's do this.
I headed to my local Wally World with my ingredient list in hand. I practically ran to the laundry aisle, partly from the crazy excitement that inevitably possesses me when I have a new project on hand, and partly because I just love the smell of the laundry detergent aisle in pretty much any store, but especially at Wally World. I tossed the Borax, baking soda, super washing soda and softening crystals into my cart and scanned the aisle shelves for the laundry bar soap. My recipe, which I found via Pinterest over on How Does She's blog, called for Zote soap, but I'm big into scents, especially when it comes to my laundry detergent, so I wanted to smell the Zote and any other bar soap they had. I smelled the Zote soap, and it was okay - clean, fresh, light. There was the added bonus that they had a white version, (their original version being pink) and, even better, they had a box of the stuff that was already pre-chipped, sliced, slivered! That meant no grating. It also meant a slightly higher investment in your detergent and since I was wanted to see the least expensive way of accomplishing my task, I opted to skip on the pre-grated stuff.
Curious to smell some other soaps, I looked around for other options. My eyes finally landed on something called Fels-Naptha, which while I'd never heard of it, it had been listed as an alternative to Zote in several of the DIY formulas I'd researched. Some of the other choices for laundry bar soap were Dr. Bronner's and Kirk's Original Coco Castile, though I think these are more body soaps than they are laundry, and I was unable to find them at my local Wally World (but you can bet your butt I will be ordering Dr. Bronner's Eucalyptus for my upcoming DIY Body Wash adventure!)
With only the Fels-Naptha as an alternative to Zote, I grabbed a bar, held it up to my nose and inhaled deeply. WOW! My eyes flew wide open. This stuff was everything I wanted my clothes to smell like. Super clean, fresh, soapy and just a hint of perfume, but not overly feminine nor masculine. I was hooked. I put the bar in my cart, and added two more. The recipe only required two bars but I figured one more bar would help boost the scent, the washing power and certainly couldn't hurt.
With all my ingredients accounted for I beelined for the hardware section to get a five gallon pail with a lid. Found one easily enough for about $4. A bargain as the bucket and lid were very sturdy and absolutely perfect for my little experiment.
Ready to get the party started, I checked out, telling the cashier about my detergent making adventure while she scanned my goodies. She seemed interested but I suspect was really just being polite. I then drove home, unloaded my bounty and set everything up on the counter.
The players:
1 (4lb 12oz) box of Borax, found in the detergent aisle
1 (3lb 7oz) box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, found in the detergent aisle
1 (3lb) tub of OxyClean, found in the detergent aisle. This item is optional but I've used with my regular detergent and it's an awesome booster.
2 (14.1 oz) bars of Fels-Naptha (or whatever laundry soap you prefer). Also found in the detergent aisle.
1 (4lb) box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. I suppose you might find this in the baking aisle, though mine was in the detergent aisle, right next to the Super Washing Soda.
And last but not least, 1 or 2 (depending on how soft and scented you want your laundry!) (55 oz) bottle(s) of Purex Crytals Fabric Softener, found in the detergent aisle. I got Lavendar Blossom for mine. Smells dreamy.
1 (5 gal) pail with a lid
1 long wooden spoon
Scene 1:
Grate your bar soap. I suggest using a good sized bowl to grate your soap into; a single bar yields a substantial amount of shavings. You can use a food processor or do it manually using a cheese grater. If you use a food processor, do one bar at a time, emptying the container between bars. My first go round, I used the larger grate but with the second bar of soap I went finer. I wound up with a 50/50 mix of thicker to fine soap shavings. I recommend going as fine as you can on the grate because the finer the shavings, the easier it will dissolve in your wash. And don't worry about the soap residue on your grater or food processing disc. This stuff isn't like wax as it dissolves very easily even in cold water, making clean up a snap.
Scene 2:
Dump your grated soap into your 5 gallon bucket.
Dump in the Borax; give it a stir with your wooden spoon.
Dump in the baking soda; stir it up
Dump in the super washing soda; stir some more
Take a break. Inhale deeply. SMILE.
Dump in your Purex fabric softening crystals; grab that wooden spoon, tap out a little tune on the side of the bucket, then stir
Dump in your Oxyclean and stir, stir, STIR
I stirred 'til I didn't feel like stirring anymore. Then I popped the lid onto the bucket, made sure it was on there nice and tight, then tipped the bucket on it's side and started rolling it around the kitchen floor. No kidding. Way easier than stirring. Plus, all that super fine, yummy smelling powder was in the air from my having poured it into the bucket and was starting to give me a tiny headache (it smelled really good but it was also really strong!) so I was trying to minimize getting more of it into the air. This definitely did the trick. After about 3 minutes of mixing my detergent, I got the bucket right side up again, peeled off the lid and looked down at my awesome smelling detergent. I was thrilled! I then scooped about 2 gallons worth into a cute glass container I'd picked up at the store, tossed in my tablespoon sized scoop, capped it with the lid and triumphantly carried it to my laundry room. Not known for my patience, I ran into the bedroom, grabbed a bunch of denim out of the hamper and threw it in our HE (high efficiency) washer with 2 scoops of my newly made detergent (2 tablespoons of detergent is all you need for a load). Immediately the smell of clean started filling the air. Guess I'd soon find out how well this stuff works.
Some things I learned while researching my DIY detergent formula:
- This is definitely HE washing machine safe
- This detergent is not very sudsy; if you are expecting sudsy, you will be disappointed. Please do not let that be a deterrent Suds does not necessarily mean clean. Suds merely means sulfides. A lack of sulfides is a more natural product, easier on your skin and clothes, and definitely easier on your washing machine
- I spent $28.16 for the detergent ingredients. I made enough detergent to do approximately 640 loads of laundry. That's five cents (yes, you read that right) per load of laundry, and 1.75 loads of laundry per day. For a year. It's okay, you can re-read that last sentence. Go ahead, I'll wait for ya'.
I had a blast making this and am excited to see how this stuff performs over the next few weeks. I will definitely do a follow up post after a few uses of the detergent. If you decide to try this for yourself but can't wait for my review, you can hit me up here or on my Facebook page, and I'll be happy to try and answer any questions you may have.
Final scene:
My washer just dinged. Clothes are done. Took a minute from writing this blog to get the jeans into the dryer. They smelled great coming out of the washer and upon inspection, appeared to be squeaky clean. First impression? This stuff is awesome, and for five cents a load? I'm hooked.
Here's to doing it yourself and doing it cheaper AND better!
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30 Days of Thanks: Days 5-11
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As is my habit, I've started about four new projects this week, quickly casting aside any unfinished projects for the new ones. This is a testament to my inability to commit to any one project at any one time. I almost always go back to my unfinished stuff and eventually finish the project, but yeah, I'm easily distracted. Same can be said about my blog. I love to write, usually, but this week has been all about lip balm and knitting (I'll save the details for another post, another day). With soft supple lips, cozy blankets and trying to stay on top of writing a novel crowding my brain, this week's casualty was my 30 Days of Thanks blog series. Please know, failure to blog what I'm thankful for on any given day doesn't mean I didn't recognize what I was thankful for. As I mentioned at the start of the series, I have more to be thankful for than days I have left to count those things on. And for that, I am beyond grateful. I am blessed. But, as it is November and Thanksgiving Day is just around the corner, here's my list of things I'm thankful for for the last day days, listed in no particular order.
Day 5 - My cousins. They are my sisters, my best friends. I love them dearly and thank God daily for them.
Day 6 - A home filled with love and most days, peace. I am able to accept that sometimes these things get lost in the crazy of life, but I am deeply thankful that they have always returned.
Day 7 - Freedom of speech. This last week was election week and a week of enlightenment as friends and family touted their political convictions on the social media sphere. I may not always, or ever, agree with some of their opinions, but I respect that they care enough about our country to passionately defend their views.
Day 8 - Veterans. These are the folks who sacrifice everything defending our country and it's freedoms. There aren't enough words to thank these incredible individuals.
Day 9 - Technology. It makes it possible to have daily "face to face" conversations with my parents via a computer and the Internet.
Day 10 - God. Everything, and I mean everything, begins and ends with Him.
Day 11 - Warm, fuzzy boots. I don't mind being cold, so long as my toes are warm.
Here's to the big and little things!
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Day 5 - My cousins. They are my sisters, my best friends. I love them dearly and thank God daily for them.
Day 6 - A home filled with love and most days, peace. I am able to accept that sometimes these things get lost in the crazy of life, but I am deeply thankful that they have always returned.
Day 7 - Freedom of speech. This last week was election week and a week of enlightenment as friends and family touted their political convictions on the social media sphere. I may not always, or ever, agree with some of their opinions, but I respect that they care enough about our country to passionately defend their views.
Day 8 - Veterans. These are the folks who sacrifice everything defending our country and it's freedoms. There aren't enough words to thank these incredible individuals.
Day 9 - Technology. It makes it possible to have daily "face to face" conversations with my parents via a computer and the Internet.
Day 10 - God. Everything, and I mean everything, begins and ends with Him.
Day 11 - Warm, fuzzy boots. I don't mind being cold, so long as my toes are warm.
Here's to the big and little things!
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30 Days of Thanks: Day 4
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There is so much I am thankful for that these posts are actually a lot harder than you might think. How do I pick one thing? God has blessed my life so abundantly that there is always something to be grateful or thankful for. But blessings don't always seem blessings when first we receive them. And it is about that I will write about today.
I am thankful for the challenges God allows me to put before myself daily. They are often so much harder and sometimes more painful than I think I can bear, but inevitably they serve as a reminder that I am never alone, that I need not fear, and that, in Christ, I can do all things.
It was the broken road that led me to my husband. It is the hard and painful experiences that bring me closer to God. It is the hardships that make me appreciate the blessings. And for that, I am thankful, every day.
Here's to being the clay in the Potter's Hands!
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I am thankful for the challenges God allows me to put before myself daily. They are often so much harder and sometimes more painful than I think I can bear, but inevitably they serve as a reminder that I am never alone, that I need not fear, and that, in Christ, I can do all things.
It was the broken road that led me to my husband. It is the hard and painful experiences that bring me closer to God. It is the hardships that make me appreciate the blessings. And for that, I am thankful, every day.
Here's to being the clay in the Potter's Hands!
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30 Days of Thanks: Day 3
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Today I am grateful for love. Not so much the feeling, as this can be fleeting. But love, as an action, is a true gift.
It is often what motivates me to keep fighting in the face of adversity. Love of knowledge pushes me to keep learning. The love of family drives me to become a better person. The love of friends teaches me selflessness. My husband's love strengthens me. And the love of a forgiving and gracious God humbles me and reminds me that, when love is an action, it is ever-growing, ever-changing and always, absolutely always, is worth fighting for.
Here's to loving life, on life's terms!
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It is often what motivates me to keep fighting in the face of adversity. Love of knowledge pushes me to keep learning. The love of family drives me to become a better person. The love of friends teaches me selflessness. My husband's love strengthens me. And the love of a forgiving and gracious God humbles me and reminds me that, when love is an action, it is ever-growing, ever-changing and always, absolutely always, is worth fighting for.
Here's to loving life, on life's terms!
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30 Days of Thanks: Days 1 and 2
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This year it seems the big thing on the social networking sites is to note, daily and for the month of November, what one is thankful for. I love this idea! Granted, I have things to be grateful and thankful for every day of the year, but taking a month to share some of these things with friends, to declare to my tiny universe what I is meaningful to me, well, what's not to love?
Without further ado...
Day 1 - My Family
I am always grateful for my family - but as I get a little older, I have come to appreciate them in ways I never thought possible. My mom's strength and patience. My dad's unconditional love. My brother's support. My husband's love and ability to make me laugh. All of my in-laws, for accepting me as a part of their own family. When it comes right down to it, no matter how amazing my life is, or isn't, it is my family that I want to share the good and bad times with.
Day 2 - The Insanity of not One, but TWO jobs
In an economy when people are being forced to make career changes they wouldn't otherwise make, or are having a hard time finding work in the first place, I am deeply grateful that I have two jobs. Though I often complain about all the work I have, I am actually grateful that I have this to complain about, for I know the alternative would be much worse.
I've learned not to take God's gifts for granted, and even more importantly, to understand that everything that comes from God is a gift, though it may not always feel that way. Being overworked has been good for me, so long as I remember to balance it with a dose of quiet time for Him, for me, and for my small family.
Here's to an awesome Thanksgiving month!
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Without further ado...
Day 1 - My Family
I am always grateful for my family - but as I get a little older, I have come to appreciate them in ways I never thought possible. My mom's strength and patience. My dad's unconditional love. My brother's support. My husband's love and ability to make me laugh. All of my in-laws, for accepting me as a part of their own family. When it comes right down to it, no matter how amazing my life is, or isn't, it is my family that I want to share the good and bad times with.
Day 2 - The Insanity of not One, but TWO jobs
In an economy when people are being forced to make career changes they wouldn't otherwise make, or are having a hard time finding work in the first place, I am deeply grateful that I have two jobs. Though I often complain about all the work I have, I am actually grateful that I have this to complain about, for I know the alternative would be much worse.
I've learned not to take God's gifts for granted, and even more importantly, to understand that everything that comes from God is a gift, though it may not always feel that way. Being overworked has been good for me, so long as I remember to balance it with a dose of quiet time for Him, for me, and for my small family.
Here's to an awesome Thanksgiving month!
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The Yoga Challenge - Day 1
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I suck at committing to exercising. Frankly, it's because I hate to sweat. And let's be honest, I'm a bit lazy. I work crazy hours all the time and when I'm done working, all I really want to do is veg in front of the TV or read a book. So yeah, exercise? Despite how desperately I need it, it's not at the top of my priority list.
Lately however, my stress levels have been hitting all time highs, and it's starting to take a noticeable toll on my body. My neck and shoulder muscles are so tight I can barely move. Even in my sleep, I'm tense. I bite down so hard when I sleep I can barely open my mouth when I awaken. The pillow winds up jammed against the headboard as my shoulders tense and shoot up around my ears. My breathing is crazy shallow and I know my body is in serious need of some oxygen and oxygen rich blood.
I tried massage and seeing a chiropractor. While both helped, they provided minimal relief and the reprieve was fleeting. I knew the time for finding a long term solution to my high stress levels and the resulting physical tension was fast approaching.
I'd long and oft heard the benefits of yoga, specifically Bikram yoga, a yoga that is practiced in a room that is heated to a mild 105 degrees Fahrenheit. I knew that this was an exercise that would likely relieve most of my physical symptoms, and very likely, would help me learn to manage the mental stress as well. Knowing this, however, and actually getting myself to a class, as anyone who knows me will tell you, are two things that are completely worlds apart. After much contemplation, and telling myself I was going to at least try a class and check out what it was all about, I finally tucked my lovely new squishy yoga mat and towel under my arm and dragged myself to class. All the way there, I thought to myself, "Are you nuts?? It's gonna be so HOT! You're not going to be able to breathe, much less move! And you're gonna be so sweaty and gross!! Turn around. Go home! You don't really want to do this!!" This inner monologue lasted right up until I walked to the front door of the yoga studio.
Upon entering the studio, I was greeted by two incredibly friendly women who gave me some basic info and instructions for surviving my first practice. I nodded and grinned stupidly at their messages, as I could already feel the dry heat emanating from the hot yoga room. I slowly made my way back to the dressing rooms, put my stuff away, took a long pull on my water bottle, and walked curiously into the yoga room.
First thoughts? Man, it was HOT! Luckily, I'd just come in from outside where it was somewhat chilly, so for the first few minutes, the dry heat actually felt quite nice. I found a not too crowded spot on the floor to lay out my mat and proceeded to quietly lie in the dim room and collect my thoughts. I tried to focus on breathing deeply and acclimating to the heat. After about 5 minutes, I could feel the heat really start to penetrate my muscles, my breathing became deeper and I actually started to relax a little. Once the practice started, I surprised myself by being able to do many of the poses and actually hold them for the necessary length of time. I definitely had to remind myself to breathe several times, but overall, the beginning of the class was not near as bad as I'd expected.
Half way through the class, we switched from standing poses, or asanas, to floor poses. It was at about that time that the heat hit me, and not in a good way. The combination of heat, deep breathing, and somewhat aerobic first half of the practice had me feeling short of breath and light headed. I know most of that was just a testament to how out of shape I am, but I also knew enough to take the second half of the class a little easier. I tried many of the poses, but the heater air was getting harder to breathe, feeling heavier and thicker which each breath. I started wondering how much longer the class would last, and at one point, the desire to walk out of the class to get some fresh air was overwhelming. Thankfully, I successfully talked myself back from the ledge and finished the class. I still tried each of the poses toward the end of class, however the attempts were much less concentrated than those in the first half of the class, as at this point it was taking all I head just to keep breathing and not pass out.
Finally, the instructor said the magic word that released me from what felt like hell. "Namaste!"
I slowly stood up and collected my now soaked towel and mat. I carefully walked to the door, feeling light headed and a bit dizzy. Then the door opened and what felt like an icy blast hit my whole, sweaty body. I suddenly felt wide awake and ridiculously elated! I'd done it. I'd managed to stay in the hot room for the whole class!
As I headed home, a sense of bliss enveloped me. I felt good. My body felt good. My head was clear. I could breathe! When I arrived home, my husband asked if I'd managed to stay in the hot room the full time. When I replied, triumphantly, that I had, he got up to give me a hug, and as his arms wrapped around me, I felt myself overwhelmed with a crazy assortment of emotions. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry, so a weird blend of both came tumbling out of me. I thought surely I'd fried my brain in that crazy heat, but then I remembered having read something about high emotions being released during or after a practice. I chalked up the emotional overload to my first yoga class.
In the twenty four hours since my first class, here are the observations I've made:
I must go get ready for my next class! But I will keep you posted on my progress and observations, so please come back soon!
Here's to relaxing!
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I'd long and oft heard the benefits of yoga, specifically Bikram yoga, a yoga that is practiced in a room that is heated to a mild 105 degrees Fahrenheit. I knew that this was an exercise that would likely relieve most of my physical symptoms, and very likely, would help me learn to manage the mental stress as well. Knowing this, however, and actually getting myself to a class, as anyone who knows me will tell you, are two things that are completely worlds apart. After much contemplation, and telling myself I was going to at least try a class and check out what it was all about, I finally tucked my lovely new squishy yoga mat and towel under my arm and dragged myself to class. All the way there, I thought to myself, "Are you nuts?? It's gonna be so HOT! You're not going to be able to breathe, much less move! And you're gonna be so sweaty and gross!! Turn around. Go home! You don't really want to do this!!" This inner monologue lasted right up until I walked to the front door of the yoga studio.
Upon entering the studio, I was greeted by two incredibly friendly women who gave me some basic info and instructions for surviving my first practice. I nodded and grinned stupidly at their messages, as I could already feel the dry heat emanating from the hot yoga room. I slowly made my way back to the dressing rooms, put my stuff away, took a long pull on my water bottle, and walked curiously into the yoga room.
First thoughts? Man, it was HOT! Luckily, I'd just come in from outside where it was somewhat chilly, so for the first few minutes, the dry heat actually felt quite nice. I found a not too crowded spot on the floor to lay out my mat and proceeded to quietly lie in the dim room and collect my thoughts. I tried to focus on breathing deeply and acclimating to the heat. After about 5 minutes, I could feel the heat really start to penetrate my muscles, my breathing became deeper and I actually started to relax a little. Once the practice started, I surprised myself by being able to do many of the poses and actually hold them for the necessary length of time. I definitely had to remind myself to breathe several times, but overall, the beginning of the class was not near as bad as I'd expected.
Half way through the class, we switched from standing poses, or asanas, to floor poses. It was at about that time that the heat hit me, and not in a good way. The combination of heat, deep breathing, and somewhat aerobic first half of the practice had me feeling short of breath and light headed. I know most of that was just a testament to how out of shape I am, but I also knew enough to take the second half of the class a little easier. I tried many of the poses, but the heater air was getting harder to breathe, feeling heavier and thicker which each breath. I started wondering how much longer the class would last, and at one point, the desire to walk out of the class to get some fresh air was overwhelming. Thankfully, I successfully talked myself back from the ledge and finished the class. I still tried each of the poses toward the end of class, however the attempts were much less concentrated than those in the first half of the class, as at this point it was taking all I head just to keep breathing and not pass out.
Finally, the instructor said the magic word that released me from what felt like hell. "Namaste!"
I slowly stood up and collected my now soaked towel and mat. I carefully walked to the door, feeling light headed and a bit dizzy. Then the door opened and what felt like an icy blast hit my whole, sweaty body. I suddenly felt wide awake and ridiculously elated! I'd done it. I'd managed to stay in the hot room for the whole class!
As I headed home, a sense of bliss enveloped me. I felt good. My body felt good. My head was clear. I could breathe! When I arrived home, my husband asked if I'd managed to stay in the hot room the full time. When I replied, triumphantly, that I had, he got up to give me a hug, and as his arms wrapped around me, I felt myself overwhelmed with a crazy assortment of emotions. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry, so a weird blend of both came tumbling out of me. I thought surely I'd fried my brain in that crazy heat, but then I remembered having read something about high emotions being released during or after a practice. I chalked up the emotional overload to my first yoga class.
In the twenty four hours since my first class, here are the observations I've made:
- I slept long and hard, and it was a very deep, dreamless, very restful sleep
- I feel more energized - I am able to focus my mind more easily
- I am breathing deeper in a resting state
- My appetite is wildly under control; I've not been binge snacking and portions are very small
- I can't seem to drink enough water
- I am not as worried about things outside of my control
- I am insanely excited about my next yoga class!
I must go get ready for my next class! But I will keep you posted on my progress and observations, so please come back soon!
Here's to relaxing!
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