Author: yogamarathonmom
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A very nice gym, a liminal space
By Jay Hiller, June 1, 2023 Photo by Ivars Utināns on Unsplash A small windfall fell into my lap a few weeks ago, and I decided to use it on a membership at a nice gym this summer. I thought it would be a good place to go in the afternoons when it’s hot. I’ve…
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A conversation, not a wrestling match
By Jay Hiller, May 30, 2023 Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash In her book, Yoga For Bendy People, Libby Hensley recommends that foam rollering be approached as a conversation with your body, rather than a wrestling match. By that I think she means that we should approach foam rollering as an inquiry and not…
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Foundational yoga poses are valuable for their own sake
by Jay Hiller, May 30, 2023 Photo by Jon Moore on Unsplash “And that’s quite the warm up and the stretch,” the well known yoga teacher on the streaming service said as he led Warrior I, a pose some people would describe as foundational. It’s never been my favorite and something about him saying that…
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Finish something
By Jay Hiller, May 24, 2023 Photo by Reid Naaykens on Unsplash There are two unfinished needlepoint projects under my desk. I started one of them in 2002 and the second one in 2006. I know the point where I stopped working on them and every time I glance in their direction it zaps a…
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How yoga saved my sewing machine
By Jay Hiller, May 23, 2023 When I was a little girl, I knew someone, Filomena, who had a foot pedal sewing machine. Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash A few years after I started practicing yoga, I got up from my sewing table and as I turned away, I got my feet tangled up…
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Yoga works
By Jay Hiller, May 22, 2023 Photo by Richard Jaimes on Unsplash A long time ago, when I was just starting to practice yoga and after taking a yoga class I called my sister and said, “This yoga crap isn’t working. Maybe I should start drinking.” I was joking but it was during a period…
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Too easily stressed
By Jay Hiller, May 19, 2023 Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash I got a text a few hours ago, that stressed me out. And then I remembered something important. I don’t remember what was stressing me out on this date a year ago. I’m sure there was something, because I worry a lot. And…
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I need more mat Pilates in my life
By Jay Hiller, May 19, 2023 Photo by LOGAN WEAVER | @LGNWVR on Unsplash A long time ago I attended mat Pilates classes once a week. The teacher, Amanda Avis, was exceptionally good. I learned so much and then…she moved out of state and I just haven’t made time for it again. I impulsively decided…
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Book review
Wave Woman: The Life and Struggles of a Surfing Pioneer by Jay Hiller, May 18, 2023 Betty Pelmbroke Winstedt’s life is lovingly recounted by her daughter in the book, Wave Woman. Wave Woman: The Life and Struggles of a Surfing Pioneer by Vicky Heldreich Durand is a unique biography. It’s the story of Betty Pelmbroke…
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An ongoing experiment
By Jay Hiller, May 17, 2023 Photo by Alex Kondratiev on Unsplash It took me a while to realize that for many years I’ve been running an ongoing health experiment on my body. I try stuff, sometimes with good results, as in swimming, running, yoga, weightlifting, sometimes not so good, as candy bars advertising themselves…