Healing Tree Yoga & First BBQ of 2009
After my morning post, I hit the treadmill for a 6 mile run (55:25/9:14 pace). I decided that this was my last long run on a treadmill. By mile 5, I just wanted the run to be over– I wasn’t tired, I was just bored! No matter how many fun treadmill workouts I have, 6 miles is pretty much my max for running on a treadmill!
I had a quick shower after completing my run then headed to Healing Tree Yoga for “Beginner Yoga:” Basic movements and postures designed to reduce stress, increase self awareness, build strength & balance. Designed for those new to yoga or want to take a gentle pace.
I had visited Healing Tree in the past for a massage, but never to take a yoga class. I was excited to be going for a class this time!
Before entering the Wellness Center, guests are asked to remove their shoes.
Inside was a peaceful, babbling fountain, which I found kind of funny because Mal’s parents’ own the exact same one! There was also a small retail shop with all sorts of yoga apparel and equipment, candles, incense, books, jewelry, tea, and even Larabars.
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After paying for my class, I was invited to relax in the waiting area, which was a lovely sitting room with comfy chairs, tables, beautiful art work, and even snacks!
I was about 20 minutes early for class, so I helped myself to a cup of hot tea and a piece of Ginger Betty cookie.
There were also yoga mats to borrow in case you forgot yours or do not own one. I brought my own yoga mat yesterday.
The yoga studio was bright and sunny.
The class itself was GREAT! I loved it so much, I signed up for a 10-pack of classes, so you’ll be hearing much more about Healing Tree Yoga in the future! I could easily go on and on about yesterday’s yoga class, but I will briefly summarize:
New Poses and Practices:
- Goddess Victory Squat: A great pose for your quads.
- Fire Breathing: Breathing quickly in and out through your nose.
- Benefits include:
- Quickly oxygenates your blood, thus helping the body detoxify itself and remove waste more effectively.
- Builds lung capacity and helps purify the respiratory system.
- Generates heat and increases your level of energy by activating the energy flows in your body.
- Synchronizes your entire system under one rhythm, thus promoting greater internal harmony and health.
- My thoughts on Fire Breathing: At first, I thought it was a little weird, especially since we sounded like a room full of pugs! Fire breathing is basically very fast sniffing and shallow breathing at the same time. The instructor guided the fire breathing at a steady rhythm for about one minute. I’m not sure that I felt any different after the fire breathing exercise, but I was very warm, which I liked a lot!
- Benefits include:
Reflexions:
- The instructor: She was friendly, kind, and knowledgeable, and didn’t take herself too seriously when she forgot part of one of our Sun Salutations. Her response: “you need to be able to laugh at yourself!” Her style of instruction actually reminded me of some of the YogaDownloads– straightforward, easy to understand, and relaxing.
- The music: Loved it! Highlights include: “Black Bird” by the Beatles and “Orange Sky” by Alexi Murdoch.
- The spiritual aspect: This class was much more “spiritually-focused” than what I have been doing for the Yoga Challenge. As you know, yoga makes you more aware of your own body, your breathing, your thoughts, and your inner self. Through the poses you are suppose to attain a mind and body balance as well as body balance. Personally, I don’t think I have connected with myself at an emotional level through yoga quite yet. I realize that making this connection takes time and patience. I enjoy many aspects of yoga and meditation, so over time, I hope to be totally comfortable with the spiritual aspects of yoga. I’m getting there– just very slowly!
- Group practice: I liked being in a group setting quite a lot. It was very inspiring and motivating seeing people of all shapes and sizing practicing yoga together. As cheesy as it sounds, I felt like I was part of something bigger.
First BBQ of 2009
I love warm weather! It makes me so happy! It also makes me wonder why I live in such a cold city!? 
(Man, I need a vacation to a warm place!)
Bella loves sunshine, too! How cute is her pink bow?
Bella with her brother, Grady…
I was starving by the time we arrived at our friends’ house for the BBQ. I had run 6 miles and did 75 minutes of yoga, so I wanted FOOD ASAP!
I snacked on tortilla chips and salsa like they were going out of style!
I also munched on a couple of small handfuls of peanuts. Mal did too. (He’s so handsome! )
The grill masters hard at work…
For lunch/dinner, I ate 3/4 of a Hebrew National hotdog with ketchup and mustard.
I also had the most amazing cheeseburger! (I told ya I was hungry!)
Our friend, Johnny, whipped up the burgers for us by dipping the meat into a mixture of breadcrumbs, egg, garlic salt, and salsa then mushing it all together into a hamburger patty. He noted that these burgers are a little “high-maintenance” because you have to flip them constantly on the grill so that the breadcrumbs don’t burn, but they were well worth the hard work. My burger was one of the best I have eaten ever!
Over the course the day and evening, which included basketball-watching and card playing, I drank three Catamount Maple Wheat brews. I’m surprised that I am not sick of this stuff yet!
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Mal and I just made a To Do list for today, so we’re off to tackle it!
P.S. Did Saturday fly by or what?!?
Posted by: Tina 33 comments
Posted in: Uncategorized
Tags: catamount maple wheat, Healing Tree Yoga, Hebrew National
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 10:45 am
I went to the first BBQ of ‘09 yesterday too! Lots of burgers, hot dogs and beer all around. I can’t wait for summer
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 10:46 am
I agree, the treadmill is SO boring! I only like to run outside. What a fun day you had!!
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 11:00 am
Oh I haven’t had a burger in so long!!!! I love summer. Burgers, hotdogs and potato salad!!!
That yoga studio is so cute!!!
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 11:22 am
That Yoga place kind of reminds me of the place I go to for Bikram Yoga. I just went for my second class this morning, it was great!
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 11:30 am
The healing tree yoga studio reminds me exactly of my yoga studio, it just looks so peaceful and bright
I am so happy that grill season has started! My favorite time of year, have a good rest of the weekend
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 11:41 am
That yoga studio looks wonderful-i have been feeling a blah with my yoga. It has been turning into a bit of a chore even though i love doing it. I think i will splurge this week and visit a yoga studio as well…ps…i WANT that burger-yum!!!
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 11:57 am
Who taught your class at HT? It may have been one of my former lululemon coworkers… I LOVE those Ginger Betty’s cookies! By best friend’s mother always bought them for us in high school. They are to die for.
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I wonder the same thing about living in Boston, haha. I loooove me some sun. Enjoy the great weather!
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
YES!!!!! BBQ!!! I’m so excited for the weather to get nice enough here to cook out…
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Glad you enjoyed the yoga studio! Look forward to hearing more about your practices there.
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 12:10 pm
I don’t even like meat and that burger looked oddly appealing to me…probably because of your fabulous description and the close up melty-cheese pic, yum!
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Glad the yoga session was great! The Beatles!! Your BBQ just got me so excited for the summer
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Day 19: 70min of Vinyasa Flow + Sadie Nardini’s Challenge
Day 20: Sadie Nardini’s 70min Yoga Cardio + meditation
Day 21: 70min of Vinyasa Flow + Core Yoga
Day 22: Challenging 70min of Sadie Nardini’s Fire Detox
love yoga!
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Hooray for yoga, of course!! I finally mastered temple pose (it was KILLING my tailbone), just FYI
BELLA AND GRADY ARE PRECIOUS!!
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I have been taking a longer break than I thought from yoga because of my spring break. But since it’s over tomorrow I will probably hop right back on the horse, er, mat
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
well it SOUNDS like an amazing burger! aggggghhh this post is making me literally crave the summer. We’ve had teasing weather and I just can’t wait to be out on the bbq!
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 12:57 pm
oooo How I love BBQ’s:) That burger looks amazing!
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 1:07 pm
YAAAAY for yoga! i’d love to start attending yoga, too! haven’t been to a class in SO long!
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 1:12 pm
Ahhh so jealous! I was just talking about how I can’t wait to have “the first BBQ”… I’ve had summer on the mind too much to concentrate lately!
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Wow! Amazing fun!
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 1:28 pm
love bbqs!! i had my first of the season and definitely had both chicken and a big burger. it’s the first one which means enjoying all the grilled goodies is a must
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Tina, once again thank you for starting this challenge. This morning when I was in yoga my teacher kept using me as an example because my poses are really improving. I was finally able to put the top of my head on floor in high split foward bend! she wants me to start doing headstands soooooooon woohoo!!!!!
Btw it is funny you mentioned blackbird from the beatles because this am after yoga I was listening to the “across the universe” soundtrack while I walked back home and I kid you not, the minute that song came on, a black bird flew right infront of me (made me smile lol)
heading out to lunch and shopping with sis and niece…have a great day!!!!!!!!!
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 2:10 pm
That yoga studio looks phenomenal! I’ve never heard of the poses you posted and they sound really interesting. I’m so excited for the warmer weather and more cookouts.
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 2:31 pm
that yoga studio looks great!
i need to find that maple beer- it sounds so good!
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I am so jealous of that yoga studio! And of that BBQ! Yum.
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 6:14 pm
the yoga studio looks amazing! Group class is really good for spiritual reflections, yoga teachers always know what to say in the right moment!
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 8:26 pm
The burger looks and sounds wonderful! I love that they played Blackbird in your class – maybe I would go to yoga if they did that at my gym..
on Mar 22nd, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Your cookout looks really good. This is a question about the fountain. Do you know where or what kind it is? I’m going to replace my and I like that one.
on Mar 23rd, 2009 at 2:56 am
Every once in a while, you just need to sample both the hot dogs & hamburgers on the grill. I like to make the “combo” burger, where you split the hotdog down the middle, and use it to top your burger
on Mar 23rd, 2009 at 7:21 am
Today I went to a Yoga Works Hatha Blend class. Parts of the class were challenging – we held chatarunga for some time and did some other interesting arm strength maneuvers – but overall it was not too difficult. However, I did get quite warm and sweaty (until the final resting position at the end when I became chilled due to my sweating). Next, I am looking to try a Vinyasa flow class.
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 9:33 am
[...] I had to do my “long run” on the dreadmill this morning. I know that I said I would never do a long run on a treadmill again, but the weather outside was frightful this morning– dark, rainy, windy, and cold! Yuck! The [...]
on Mar 30th, 2009 at 7:06 am
[...] Hopefully, I will get back on track with my yoga practice soon. I pre-paid for 9 more classes at Healing Tree Yoga, so that should be motivation [...]
on Sep 2nd, 2009 at 7:26 am
[...] and I decided to take a yoga class bright and early this morning at Healing Tree Yoga, so I set up a blog post ahead of time to publish this morning. And what better thing to post than [...]