Studying Yoga / Fasting / Raw

I don't think it's gotten below 70 during the day for as many days as we haven't had rain and that's 140! Holy moly, the weather is SO nice, I absolutely adore Arizona right now. Do you know I've been here SIXTEEN years. Good grief. The weather in June will be warm, probably 90s and above. You certainly need to get your butt back down here!

I'm such a crazy girl and that's the bottom line. The entire time I've been teaching fitness classes at SCC I had never taken advantage of my 6 free credits per semester. I simply didn't realize how much that really was. I took 5 credits this semester ($335) and only had to pay the registration fee ($5). That is one smokin' hot deal. When I finally figured out what I was missing out on, I got my rump in gear and am now in my second semester of Yoga training.

This semester we are continuing to learn all about the eight limbed path of enlightenment (yoga). The thing that's had the most impact on me is that there is so much more to yoga than the asanas (postures). I'm adept at doing the asana, but wasn't as in tune with the rest of my mind / body / spirit connection. The whole experience is quite satisfying.

The yoga we are learning is a combination of Iyengar and John Friend's Anusara. Each of my instructor's has their preference so I'm getting the best of two yogas.

In alignment we study the principles of aligning the body to create the largest and most expansive stretch allowing good energy to flow into the body / bad energy out. It's all about give and take, but alignment of the body is specific. Feet flat on floor and grounded, knees over ankles, hips over knees... etc. Iyengar is very focused on proper form.

I am actually NOT raw at the moment. I've been water-fasting since Monday! I was getting sick on Friday and by Sunday I thought, "THIS is ENOUGH." So, here I am four days later, nine (yes 9) pounds lighter and completely recovered from the sniffles. The loss of weight reveals to me that I was really holding a lot of water. I couldn't have chose to fast at a better time since next week is spring break. I don't have any yoga classes nor do I have to teach any fitness classes at SCC. I do have one class I have to teach, but I'll take it EASY. (They'd probably freak out if I passed out!) Anyway, I'm water-fasting for an entire seven days to really clean out the gook. I'll re-evaluate on Monday and see how many more days I want to do. I may switch to the Master Cleanser and do 10 days of that before transitioning back to raw. I figure after all of this fasting I won't be so quick to cram junk into my body.

I've encountered the same problems that you have. I've learned that when I fasted previously, I was always worried that there wouldn't be enough food for me to eat when I finished, so I'd start hording all kinds of crazy food (like chocolate bars, candy) so I'd have them when I finished. Then, after the fast I wouldn't eat them, but it was comforting to know they were there JUST in CASE. I've been reading Iyengar's book "Light on Life" and it has really awaken me to the fact that I was giving into greed and that there would be ample food available to me, always. I gave all the chocolate and candy away the next day. *laughing*

I truly adore raw and steamed foods. My problem with cooked food starts when I do things with friends and family. I don't want any extra attention or light shone on the way I'm eating or not eating. I despise that. So, when in groups I always act "as if" and no questions are asked. BUT, as you've stated, that is a slippery slope.

Gaining Weight / Raw: I guess I'm overdoing the fat. In the future I'll back off to 1/8 of a cup of flax a day and see how my body reacts. I know that I have a problem with dried fruits and nuts. Big problem. *sigh* AND I love peanut butter. I would eat 2 oz a day. That, plus the flax, plus raw nuts equals BAD news.