camping in michigan ! two tents are safer than one !

I set up two tents so it looks like I have company!!! Safety first! haha Someone would be way less likely to murder a group of people instead of just one, right? I think my idea is brilliant although it's debatable whether or not I've lost my mind! ;)
 

releasing chakras and making a new friend

I've never had my "chakras" released so I had no idea what to expect!! Jasprit talked me through the process – I'm game. He explained that I needed to completely and utterly surrender myself. As lie on the blankets, my body should remain completely lifeless. He will then position me in ways to help release my tension, etc... Easier said than done! 

 CHAKRAS:

• Sahasrara - Chakra (Crown Chakra)
• Anja - Chakra (Brow or Third Eye Chakra)
• Vishudda - Chakra (Throat Chakra)
• Anahata - Chakra (Heart Chakra)
• Manipura - Chakra (Solar Plexus Chakra)
• Svadhisthana - Chakra (Sacral or Spleen Chakra)
• Muladhara - Chakra (Root Chakra)

Here's a good website that describes chakras in more detail! devinelight.biz

The session was an out of body experience. "Letting go" is not as easy as it sounds! My (very recent) past NYC life was all about "control" so this is a complete departure for me. This is why I'm taking this journey!

After class, Jasprit and I walked over to get coffee and chat. I was so happy that I stumbled into his class. He has such a positive, gentle, but focused energy about him. Jasprit is fascinating person. I like fascinating people. Jasprit not only teaches and owns the RussaYog studio(s) (Ann Arbor & Santa Barbara, CA), but he's also a Professor of Engineering at University of Michigan! He has an steadfast following and is revered at the school. So much so, the UVM Medical School has just added a "Yoga for Life" class as part of the full credit curriculum! The mind is just as powerful as the body, and kudos to UVM for recognizing and embracing yoga! Now Jasprit will be teaching his yoga philosophy to med students as well as his normal engineering classes. While Jasprit has an impressive resumé, what's more inspiring is his outlook on life and the role yoga plays. I wish I had a tape recorder during our coffee talk because everything that flowed from his lips was poetic and so meaningful. I hope to spend more time with him so a bit of that rubs off! 

Lucky me! It looks like I will be spending more time! Jasprit made me an incredible offer I can't refuse... while I'm driving through California, if I'd like, I can stop at their Santa Barbara studio and live with them (as part of the family) for approx. 4 weeks while I get certified!! It's more than just getting "certified" though. I'll be learning the meaning behind the yoga philosophy, culture, language, etc... It will be such an enriching experience. His studio is right across from the water. I feel like the planets have aligned for me. I'm not sure why I walked into that class in Ann Arbor on that day, but I'm so glad I did. I walked in for a reason. 

Stay tuned! This post has a part 2!

lulu 'observing' RussaYog (yoga) class in ann arbor

The instructor was so cool, he let Lulu observe class from the back of the room. She patienly watched the whole time. :)

russayog with ropes | ann arbor, michigan

During my 'google' search on yoga studios in Ann Arbor, i stumbled upon RussaYog. With all of the ropes dangling from the ceiling, it looks pretty cool. I need to try it! 

Location: RussaYog 215 S. State Street | 2nd floor | 48104

Cost: $10 for class (teacher/owner did not seem remotely concerned about collecting. I paid after class, but i got the sense it's similar to the 'Yoga To The People' philosophy).

Venue: Colorful, bright, inviting, fun.

Style: Vishram

Class size: 9 students (5 girls, 4 guys)

Level: Beginnger/Intermediate  

Description:

The RussaYog experience is a unique, muscular yoga using ropes and fabric. RussaYog embodies the strength and power of a weight-training workout, the inner calm and outer awareness provided by yoga. Your body and mind become light and alert.

RY strives to create holistic wellness by using: 

Pranayam (breathwork), 
Kriyas (movements), 
Asans (postures),
Vishram (release and rest) a five-layered holistic fitness based on: 
Flexibility: reach, open, bend, twist
Strength: hold, pull, press, squeezeStamina: give sustained effort
Balance: focus the body and mind
Release: rest and reflect

Summary:  You definitely need/gain upper body strength taking this class. With the use of props (rope and dora), you utilize your own body as resistance for intense strength training and deeper flexibility. I'm definitely going to be sore!

Class was awesome and unique. Everyone was so incredibly friendly and the teacher, Jasprit, had an incredibly inviting ease about him. He also scored major points for allowing a little spectator into class! Lulu sat and observed (it was funny).

I pulled my lower right back either driving or at Bikram... probably a combination of both. Jaspret could tell I was hurting. After class, during the mingling session (with snacks!), he offered me a free private yoga class the next day to work on my chakras, which will help my back. YES! Sign me up! 9am! So excited. 

bikram yoga | ann arbor, michigan!

I finally found a yoga studio that offered a full schedule of classes – more than just once or twice per day! I had options, finally! I must be in a big city! I've been doing podcast yoga every morning just to make sure I get my daily dose, but I was DYING to take a class. Yay, for Ann Arbor Bikram. Plenty of classes to choose from! 

Location: Ann Arbor Bikram Yoga 3227 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Cost: $18 for class + $2 towel rental 

Venue: Dedicated Bikram studio. Room had padded floor and teacher is on elevated platform - similar to other Bikram studios. I'm beginning to detect a theme here...

Class: Bikram

Class size: Medium (not overcrowded)

Level: Intermediate  

Description: You sweat your a## off in 104 degree heat working through 26 poses. Bikram is the same 26 poses each class. Heat is meant to warm your muscles so you can get deeper into your poses.

Summary:  I almost passed out! I have been eating healthy and I've done Bikram before, but for some reason, this class kicked my a##. I got so incredibly dizzy in the beginning so I had to sit it out for a bit. I got back into it, but definitely not my best performance - at all!! I truly DID NOT want to pass out and have these folks call 911 with lulu sitting right outside in the 'yoga office'. What would become of lulu? Who would take care of her.  All of these things ran through my mind – so I sat down and skipped (probably) every other pose!! I was not feeling it!! I guess the 'traveling' caught up with me – that and the heat!!

Other than zip code, there was no difference in the yoga you might find in NYC. It's definitely all about the teacher – and Brett was good. I loved that he remembered everyone's name and would call you out during class if you needed fixing (I got called out a lot! haha I didn't mind!!). The number one place I'm sure I'll see a difference is in the "cost" per class. I would imagine it will be a bit cheaper in some places where the real estate is less expensive. Not sure though! We'll see.

me (after apparently walking through a windstorm) and the the three "yogi" bears!

i heart ann arbor, mi

Who knew Ann Arbor was such a GREAT town! Ok, don't answer that, I'm sure a lot of you knew. The point is, I didn't!! My friend Domenic, who hails from Detroit and went to UVM, suggested I check it out. He knows me pretty well and thought I would love it – he was right! I would never have gone if he did not convince me! Great sales pitch! Thanks, Domenic! Btw, Domenic's nickname is "Dude Reinvented" –– he just quit NYC life to reinvent himself in Vegas (for a job, not to gamble)!!

pesticide or not to pesticide

I stopped at a local, home-grown farm market when I rolled into OHIO. Looked like a healthy choice! When I asked the girl if there was anything grown without the use pesticides, she said no. Makes sense because it wasn't an 'organic' farm market, but I was still a bit surprised there was NOTHING to buy. I guess it was just an eye-opener is all. I did roll upon another small farm market on my drive and they had raspberries and snow peas that were grown pesticide free, so I bought them! I never thought to ask before! I just assumed it was all healthy. It's definitely better than fast food; however, if I can eat organic on this trip I will! 

Top foods to eat organic: THE 'DIRTY DOZEN'

Not all of us can afford to go 100% organic every time we shop. The solution? Focus on avoiding those foods that come with the heaviest burden of pesticides, additives and hormones.You can reduce your exposure to pesticides by as much as 80% by avoiding the most contaminated foods in the grocery store. Pesticide residue is a fact of modern agriculture: Not all the pesticide used to kill bugs, grubs or fungus on the farm washes off under the tap at home. Government tests show which fruits and vegetables, prepared typically at home, still have a pesticide residue. The Environmental Working Group takes that government data and publishes an annual list of the Dirty Dozen, those foods most likely to have the highest pesticide residues. This year, celery takes the number one spot, and both blueberries and spinach make an appearance (displacing lettuce and pears). The best way to avoid pesticide residue on foods is to buy organic produce; USDA rules prohibit the use of pesticides on any crop with the certified organic label. 

DIRTY DOZEN (in order of most harmful): Celery • Peaches • Strawberries • Apples • Blueberries • Nectarines • Bell pepper • Spinach • Kale • Cherries • Potatoes • Grapes

 

GREAT TIP: if you're eating the skin of a vegetable or fruit, best to buy organic! Makes sense, right!

NUTRITIP: Healthier Milk. Buy certified organic milk. It doesn't contain antibiotics or added bovine growth hormone (BGH)

HOW DO PESTICIDES HARM US? Many studies have shown pesticide and other toxic exposure linked with significantly increased cancer, birth defects, and diseases of the reproductive, immune, and neurological systems. 

Many studies have shown pesticide and other toxic exposure linked with significantly increased cancer, birth defects, and diseases of the reproductive, immune, and neurological systems. This has been shown in home use (including with children and pets), occupational use (farmers, farm workers, exterminators, and workers in manufacturing plants), and people living near farms.

For instance: Farmers are generally healthier than the population, having higher physical activity and lower mortality from heart disease and some cancers. But they have a significantly higher risk of cancers that are commonly associated with pesticide exposure, such as Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, leukemia, and malignant lymphoma. The studies name pesticides as one of the likely reasons for this increase. And other studies have shown that those farmers using higher amounts of pesticides have are more likely to get these cancers.

READ MORE HERE! (Healthworld.org)

KOOLATRON + WHOLE FOODS = A HEALTHY ORGANIC ROAD TRIP!!

Snoozer car seat for Lu was a great purchase; however, the ALL-TIME best road-trip purchase was my KOOLATRON P27 THERMOELECTRIC COOLER! It's a cooler that acts like a refrigerator and plugs right into your car lighter – use the adapter at night and plug it right into the wall of your hotel room! 

My Koolatron is the only way I'm able to eat healthy on this trip – which makes a HUGE difference – I feel great! I stop at WHOLE FOODS MARKET to load her up, and off I go! It's big enough to hold days worth of food and tall enough for a wine bottle (not that I'm carrying one of course, just sayin'). So far I've loaded up in Whole Foods Darien, CT • Whole Foods University Heights, OH • Whole Foods Ann Arbor... Two great things about following Whole Foods Markets on my trip – 1) I'm eating healthy and 2) Whole Foods Markets are located in more affluent areas so even if I'm not familiar with the town, the market leads me to a great spot! (Hence meeting Greg in University Heights, OH!). I'm sure I'll run into trouble at some point finding one at some point, but right now it's great!

I HIGHLY recommend everyone who travels in a car to get one. They have small or large models. Perfect if you have kids! Never need to worry about ice. LOVE IT! Everything stays so cold! This baby is going to keep me from ever having to go through a drive-thru! (although I've been to McDonad's twice.... but that was just for coffee!!). Hard to believe but the McDonald's fries aren't even tempting. Once you really start eating healthy, that junk is a COMPLETE turn-off. Big question is whether or not I can stay away from the McDonald's hot fudge sundae --- my ALL-TIME favorite. (I don't think one will kill me! haha)

My co-pilot, snoozing on the job!