The latest

Adjusting to the new schedule of yoga, catering and dive bars.... My sleep schedule is jarring, and I find myself waking up, in spite of when I go to bed.  This will prove to be a challenge.

The most challenging aspect has been my footwear.  I purchased a new pair of shoes.  They were required to work for the catering company.  No Mary Jane's (my shoe of preference), no tennis shoes, had to be polishable black shoes.  And, in my case, I need orthotic shoes to support my arches.  Actually, as a kid, I experienced foot issues from an early age.  I had to find shoes that were quality and more expensive.  From a very early age, lol.

I bought shoes and believed they would be perfect.  Instead, I struggled.  Immediately.  Sporting multiple blisters.  I would bandage the back of my foot and then be surprised that the blisters would deepen and alter placement.  It was irritating.  Eventually, I used inserts to aid in my comfort.  Not perfect but did minimize the discomfort.

The bar situation is a few times a week.  Close to my apartment.  A nice change up from what I have been doing.  Of course, yoga is the focus of what I am trying to do.  Earlier in the week, I hosted a happy hour at my apartment for a small group.  Yoga, snacks and wine.  It was perfect.  Next week, I have a larger space to host the Detox to Retox Yoga Happy Hour.  I think I have settled on my appetizers for that session.  Mediterranean Cous Cous salad, Broccoli salad and a hummus and red pepper feta spread.  Maybe a pineapple salad as well.  I would love to bring hot appetizers, but I do not have a hot box to ensure keeping the heat.  I envision a sliced tomato topped with feta bruschetta or stuffed mushrooms.  I am unable to provide that at this point.

I see so much opportunity and potential.  The last few years I stopped offering the session in November.  Actually, from November til April or March.  This upcoming year could be annual.  I see it happening.  Maybe shifting January to juice and clean food.  I am still plotting out my execution.  

I am thankful for the opportunity to build on my foundation while returning to something I know.  Bartending and catering.  This enables me to meet new people and potentially attract new clientele.  I am best when I am interacting with people.  

Moreover, I am expanding my culinary skills (finally).  Although, I know, I have been blessed.  Exposed to incredible food from restaurants, caterings, private parties.  I feel more confident testing out new recipes and combinations.  More and more I am reminded that the majority of people do not cook for themselves.  Plus, I can bounce ideas off of Chef Tom who inspires me to do what feels right for me.  

Sleep will come.  Naps are available.  I feel healthy, confident and blessed.  Cheers to an incredible Friday!

New opportunity for yoga

Yoga is moving indoors!  Check out this new location and time.

Saturday morning yoga has been a staple of my practice and teaching.  Typically, four to six people attend.  Sometimes more.  Sometimes less.  Sometimes it is a private.  I am consistent and teach to whomever attends.  I love this session.

We shall see what the winter brings.  As well as the new time.  I wish there was an opening in that 9:30 times slot.  Yet, there is not, and all of my regulars seem open to the new time.  All I can do is be consistent and continue to build.

Saturday mornings.  10:45. Denver Capitol Hill Jazzercise Studio.  New flow weekly.  Looking forward to meeting you.

Calendar of Events....November

 

Check it out!  Yoga events and classes for November.  Consider joining.  I offer virtual and in person classes.  Consider joining.  

I need an assistant to incorporate some of the things I would like to achieve.  For some reason, I am struggling with the copy and paste option between apps and my email.  I am frustrated.  Eventually, I gave up to put it out.  It seemed more important to post the yoga opportunites.

Enjoy your day.  Make it a beautiful start to your month.  Let's celebrate gratitude.  

November's Happy Hour Event

This is the current flier for the Detox to Retox yoga happy hour.  A little blurry since it was curated to be the size of a flier.  I am becoming more confident with editing and will continue to do so.  It is all a work in progress.

I do think this is a childhood trigger for me.  Never wanting to look stupid and that has stagnated me in some areas of growth.  However, I acknowledge it is time to get past through limiting beliefs.  I must.  No one else is going to push me to the next level of business success.  I have been incredibly fortunate with word of mouth.  I am grateful to my tribe and the ripple effect that has been building.  When I first started out, I shut down the happy hours in November because I thought that people would be too busy with holiday parties and shopping.  I refused to put it out there.  I allowed myself to listen to others instead of seeing what could happen.  There is potential to offer happy hours year-round.  January might be a little subdued or juice driven, lol.  I won't know until I get there.

If you are interested in attending, please contact me.  Either a message on this platform or I do have an email account associated with my yoga business.  tastelifeyoga@gmail.com  

Have a wonderful start of your week!  Consider joining a virtual class, in person session or the happy hour.

Saturday morning yoga aka book club

Indoor yoga session this morning which was awesome.  Woke up to snow which was unwelcome.  I was thankful that we had already prearranged to have an indoor space available.  My clients went all out.  Tater tot casserole with homemade tomatillo salsa to accompany the wonderful Sauvage rose.  

Thes session, itself, was fire (in my opinion).  We rearranged the furniture.  Then, arranged us like tetris to make the most of the space.  I offered adjustments throughout the session which I am getting comfortable with once again.  The pandemic prohibited touching your face.  So, the idea of touching someone else has been off limits since then.  I forgot how much I enjoy adjusting people.

The conversation that occurred afterwards is a testament to the community I am building.  People paired off and moved around to catch up with others.  There is a pumpkin party to attend later this afternoon.  I managed to find a wig for my costume tonight at Dominique's house.  She had several options to choose from.

I overheard discussions about sports, dogs, grief, food and poop (long story).  I am thankful for my decision to pursue this path of yoga.  Make it a great day!

Consistency and other food issues

Continuing with the ripple effect.  Opting to create the life I want instead of settling for what is known or familiar to me.  

Not always easy.  Nor does it make sense.  When you pave your own path, you are entering unchartered territory.  Or, I have always considered it that way.  There is not a handbook on how to navigate the unconventional path.  Yet, it is the way that I have always preferred.  

In hindsight, maybe, I wish I had spent more time cooking at home.   I believe my body is a temple and I have done well by it for the most part.  However, in all honesty, I have been lazy.  Relying on what is convenient instead of what is best for me when it comes to nutrition.  Working in restaurants that offer staff meals groom you to eat whatever is put in front of you since you are hungry.  Even if you don't like goulash.  Or hot dogs (a high-end restaurant that will remain unnamed on a weekly basis offered that as staff meal at least once a week.  I loathed that option.  It was disrespectful in my option.  Especially since they did not have hot dogs on the menu.  It felt like the management believed we would eat anything.)  The best restaurant meal was probably the first restaurant I worked in.  FIfi's was the premier fine dining restaurant in Lawrence, Kansas, when I attended college.  Wine spectator awards, the best calamari, and the special occasion restaurant that everyone wanted to go to.  They made us whatever we wanted.  With the exception, if there had been an off-site event, we would eat what was offered at the event.  I was spoiled.  I learned how to make a martini, open a wine bottle (properly) and had access to phenomenal food.

I intend to do better.  More cooking at home, earlier in the day, and possibly changing how I eat.  Focus on the vegetables first, then the proteins and fats, before finishing with starch.  I listened to a podcast earlier about glucose and the importance of getting that in order.  Avoiding diabetes, a hormone imbalance and extra weight gain.  

Believe me, I have struggled for about a year to contend with that.  Trying to figure out where this sugar belly is coming from and how to minimize it.  After listening to the podcast, I am considering changing up not only how I eat but making sure that I get movement following a meal.  A walk, squats, dancing.... anything that stimulates movement.  The podcast also suggested drinking apple cider vinegar in water prior to the meal.  Actually, I do not mind drinking apple cider vinegar in water.  It was not a shock to me or something I thought was out of bounds.  I am curious to see if these small changes make a difference. I believe they will.  

This evening I loaded up my stirfry with broccoli and bell peppers.  I attempted to pick out the vegetables, first.  Then proceed with the rice.   It will be interesting to see how I feel after making a few tweaks.

Enjoy your night!

Thankful Thursday

I am grateful for a solid night of sleep.  As noted yesterday, I have been struggling with insomnia to a certain extent.  Waking up, routinely, at 3:15ish to toss and turn.  When I manage to calm my mind, eventually, I wake up to the recurring thought.  Be it work stress, financial stress, work related dreams (the absolute worst which I still frequently have back decades to when I worked at Fifi's, the Bull or Palm.  The worst places were the high-volume ones where I would have dreams where the printer wouldn't stop printing tickets.  I'd wake up, convinced, that I was surrounded by 50 unmade drink tickets.  And that the servers were furious with me for having to wait for their drinks.)  To avoid some of that nonsense, last night I read for about fifteen minutes before I went to bed.  Truly, I believe that minute amount reading helped me relax and ease into sleep.  The lack of stimulation from technology really is something.

I woke up, naturally, around 4:45.  Purposefully, I woke up, listened to a guided meditation before beginning my routine.  I eat a clove or two to aid in my oral hygiene.  Oil pull for twelve minutes.  I listen to the Reid out, typically, while setting up my fruits and vegetables to juice.  Relaxing start to the day and keeps me accountable.  Today I read for forty-five minutes which was a new addition to my routine. A welcome addition to how I start my day.  The meditation component seems likely as well.  Inspires the tone of the day and leaning into the echo/ripple effect.  Creating the life, I want, instead of the uncertainty of where I am at now.  

A couple years ago, I bought an infrared sauna bag with the intention of using it daily.  Unfortunately, the sauna is subpar.  I should have invested more research and money into this product.  I wish the heat was more intense.  I tried to use it for three weeks or so.  Since then, it has been tucked away in my storage closet.  Yesterday as I was contemplating how to spend the next few days, I considered adding the dry sauna back into my morning routine.  While lying in the sauna I could either meditate or read.  Two items that I want to include in my morning.  Or doing sun salutations.  

During the pandemic I was more active.  Stronger, even.  Inspite of the amount of chatarangas I do on a daily basis. Looking back, I did lean into inconsistencies, underperforming and enjoying wine lunch with Tom.  He is the ultimate enabler.  

Stress, eating at random times, becoming lax with my no dairy policy all things that have occurred in the last six months.  Yes, my echo reflects precisely where and I am at this point today.  It's as if I cannot get out of my own way.  I have so many things to be thankful for--my health, my relationship with Tom, supportive friends and an amazing yoga base.  Why am I limiting what I want to achieve?

Meditation will be helpful and remembering how many wonderful things I have in my life.  Clean water, a reliable vehicle, family, opportunities to write letters to friends and walk on a daily basis.  I am thankful and fortunate.  

Thank you for letting me unload my endless monologue in my mind.  Celebrate, enjoy & taste life~