A Tamago Gohan Lover

WoYoPracMo Day 8:I have a prize! I have a prize!

2008-02-09T00:41:00.000+09:00

-Mont Blanc

This is NOT macrobiotics. It contain a lot of suger and cream, but simply the taste is great. I have been taking a sweet class at a cooking school. This is my recent work. Baking cakes is my favorite thing to do beside doing yoga. I am obviously addicted sweets. As I am getting interested in macrobiotics, I decide to take a macrobiotics sweet class at the academy from April.

I had a good practice this morning I had had a terrible low back pain two days ago. Today, it was much better, I was able to do all primary series. It was a joy! I also did backbends. I normally do backbends 6 times but today I did 8 times. When I finished 6, Matt asked me to do 2 more. Oh, no... I did somehow. As a result, my legs were shaking. Apparently, I need more strength of my lower body. After that, I did dropbacks with Matt. I hardly stood by myself, so Matt had all my weight. I felt sorry for him.

I have been trying to walk my hands or legs in backbends. But I am worndering if I should walk in legs or hands or both? And my prior goal for backbends is standing up without any support. To do that, how should I practice? But for now, I need to straighten my arms more and more. There are tons of questions.

I thought it would be rash to say focsing on backbeds since I am a "low table" backbender. But now I realize it's really good. I found some struggled backbenders. I am not the only one person who is suffering from backbends! I was encouraged during the practice.

I have just checked the forum. I got a prize! Yay!

WoYoPracMo Day 7: My Feb Intention & Macrobiotic Class Day 5

2008-02-07T23:15:00.000+09:00

-Natto and Daikon whole wheat spaghetti
-Pumpkin and carrot soup
-Hijiki with vegs
-Apple and millet compote

It's already the 7th! I had intentions at the end of Jan. But I fail most of them. So I decided my intention is "focusing on backbend". Backbend is Nemesis, it's terrible. When I started Ashtanga yoga, I was not able to lift up my head from floor. It was torture, maybe it still is...

My backbend has been changing recently. So this month, before I go to AYC, I want to focus on my poor low table backbend.

It was the 2nd lecture class of the macrobiotic academy. It was about Yin and Yang. We studied the basic concept of Yin and Yang. It was interesting and fun. But I felt I missed something. Yes, no meal!!

So I cooked some dishes which I learned at the academy for dinner home. GOOD!

now I am

2008-02-05T11:21:00.000+09:00

like him... can't wake up...

WoYoPracMo Day 31: Macrobiotic Class Day 3 GOAaaaL

2008-01-31T21:00:00.000+09:00

-Brown rice with veg
-Pumpkin soup
-Deep fly fu(dried wheat gluten) with sweet miso sauce
-Dried strips of radish salad with plum pickles dressing
-Boiled chinese cabbage with grated yam
-Apple and millet compote

This is the last day!! Yattaaaa!

It was the very beginning of my moon holiday a-nd I have a new back pain from moon salutation on Day 27.... orz But I decided to go to the studio for the last day of WoYoPracMo. I did primary up to Mari C. I did it very slowly, no banddha and no jumpbacks. After the practice, Matt asked me if I was OK. I hadn't explained to him about my condition before the class so he was worried. soooorry.

Here is my result of this month! This is a great experience. Thank you, Yogamum!!! And tomorrow is the first day of Feb, I will post my intention for Feb.

Day1(ladies' holiday):Restorative yoga for 1hour@home
Day2:Primary series@Tarik's special class
Day3:Primary series@Tarik's special class+d
Day4:Primary series@Mysore Tokyo+d
Day5(Sat):Restorative yoga for 1hour@home
Day6:Primary series@Mysore Tokyo+d
Day7:Primary series@Mysore Tokyo
Day8(new moon):Restorative yoga for 1hour@home
Day9:Primary series@Mysore Tokyo+d
Day10:Half primary series@home+Restorative yoga for 1hour@home
Day11:Primary series@Mysore Tokyo
Day12(Sat):Restorative yoga for 30min@home
Day13:Primary series(up to baddha kona)@home
Day14:Primary series@Mysore Tokyo
Day15:Primary series@home
Day16:Primary series@Mysore Tokyo
Day17:Primary series(up to pachimotasana)@home
Day18:Primary series@Mysore Tokyo
Day19(Sat):Restorative yoga for 30min@home
Day20:Primary series@Mysore Tokyo +d
Day21:Primary series@Mysore Tokyo +d
Day22(full moon):Restorative yoga for 50min@home
Day23:Restorative yoga for 15min@home
Day24:Primary series(up to standing series)@home
Day25:Primary series(up to ardha baddha padmo)@home
Day26:Primary series(up to janu sir A)@home
Day27:Restorative yoga for 30min@home
Day28:Restorative yoga for 10min@home
Day29:Primary series(up to Mari B)@home
Day30:Primary series(up to bhujapida)@Mysore Tokyo
Day3１:Primary series(up to Mari C)@Mysore Tokyo

WoYoPracMo Day 25-30: Thanks for a high-tech mask

2008-01-30T19:11:00.000+09:00

a chai soy latte at Hachiko Crossing.

This was a small reward for enduring the nasty cold for myself.

Day25:I was getting better, I was able to speak little bit. I did primary as same as the previous day. But I didn't ujaiiy strongly. I felt I lost my balance so I stopped at ardha baddha. I felt good after practice.

Day26:I was able to speak and eat. But I still woke up every few hours because of the sore throat. I could do ujaiiy, not so deep, but fine. My balance was back so I kept going until Janu sir A, I was so happy I could do sitting postures. I realized when I did jump through, my blood pressure didn't stay clam so I stopped at Janu sir A.

Day27:My sleep was messed up. Since I was not able to sleep for long time, I slept during daytime. On this day, I went to bed around 2 or 3am. Although I was getting better rapidly, good! I didn't know why but I didn't want to practice Ashtanga, so I did restorative yoga for 30min instead. I did moon salutation many times. After the practice, I recalled my sore back. Ops, maybe the moon sal was not good for my back...

Day28:I still had a sore throat every time I woke up. I used a humidifier and a mask but my throat was dry. During daytime, I was OK. Our room was a mess, so I started to clean up. I really didn't want to practice yoga, any yoga for no reason. So I did only my favorite postures for 10min. I was hoping to go to a studio the next day.

Day29:I was not confident if I should go to a studio. I decided not to go because my throat was still sore morning. I went to a otolaryngology hospital again. I love the hospital since they have online check in I don't need to wait for a long time. The doctor said my throat was much better. After that, I went to a drug store to buy some masks. I found a high-tech(?) mask. The mask has a small pocket to keep a wet filter. This is so creative! I usually put a small wet gauze but it dry out soon. Have you seen this kind of mask?

I got one, it might work for me.I skipped my psychology class this night. I felt dizzy and I had a fever again... My plan for this day was doing a short restorative yoga before going bed. I went on my mat and I started sun sal A unconsciously. It was after dinner so I was full, no bandha. Anyway I went through up to Mari B. What was that...? I wore the mask with crossing fingers.

Day30:It worked! No sore throat, no anymore! I would get the mask more. I still coughed and sneezed little bit but it should be OK. I went to the studio. How nice. The studio was busy. I did primary up to bhujapida. I was heavy but my breath was deep. I went to Starbucks at Hachiko Crossing. (Japanese call Starbucks SUTABA.) I got a chai soy latte to indulge myself. I confirmed my flight ticket to US. I am ready for the Guruji USA tour. I am so HAPPY!

WoYoPraMo Day 24: Macrobiotic Class Day 3

2008-01-25T01:41:00.000+09:00

Yesterday, I was not able to speak. This morning, my throat was still sore but little better, only little. I decided to go to the macrobiotic class.

-Hijiki with vegs

-Veg with Miso dressing

-Veg Soup

-Mix brown rice

-Sesame and salt sprinkling dressing

-Tsukemono

-Amazake

I was wearing a mask and sitting and trying not to touch anything during the class. I was boring just sitting and looking but I didn't want to infect anyone. Even though I was just sitting, I was little tired. But the meal was amazing. I got some sleep after the class.

Before dinner, I did yoga, in fact, ashtanga yoga. I was wandering whether I should do Ashtanga. But I decided to do because somehow I was able to do ujay and I didn't have a high favor. I thought some sun sultations was enough, so I did ten A and ten B. I was very careful of my breath. I was cheking my sore throat if it was getting worse. I also made sure I curled my tongue up. Ken Harakuma said it help to moisturize throats. I sweated a lot, really a lot. I felt good so I decided to keep going. When I did warrior, I felt tired then I moved to the last three postures of finishing series. I took a bath, I felt really good.

I am not so confident if it was right. It was kind of trial or testing. Let's see what will happen next morning, if I will be getting better or worse...

WoYoPraMo Day 18:I am still here.

2008-01-18T21:07:00.000+09:00

I have been practicing but I didn't have time to blog.

I went to the studio I had thought it had been the last lesson before Tarik had left Tokyo for Mysore. But he has already been frying.Less people. I did primary without backbends. Matt tryed to help my supta-K, but I was still afraid of my back although the pain was less and less. So he let me do that by myself easily. I also skipped dropbacks but did backbends carefully. It was nice.

I went to dinner at a restaurant with Danna-san(my husband) and his co-workers. My junior-high school classmate is the manager of the restaurant. It is a special restaurant. The outside looks like a house, just someone's home, but the inside is a nice restaurant. non signs, non advertisements, so unless someone introduce the restaurant, you never know.

The main dish was one-pot dishes. Yammy---.

WoYoPracMo Day 17:Kushi Macro Basic1:Day 2

2008-01-17T20:53:00.000+09:00

This was the second day of the macrobiotic class and the first cooking class.

-Tofu steak with veg sauce.
-Miso soup
-Boiled veg with sun flower seeds sauce
-Whole rice
-fruits jelly

Since this was the first cooking lesson, we cooked very simple menu which can be the fundamental of Macro. What I was surprised was we cooked whole veg. This is the concept of Macro, but it is still new for me. We chopped green leeks including their roots that I had always thrown away. sorry...

Whole rice was tender and soft. The teacher told that people tended to cook whole rice too firm, especially in restaurants. For digestion and taste, it would better to be soft.

I was not able to sleep until 3am so I couldn't get up this morning to go to the mysore class. The one day before, I went to my aunt's house to fix her laptop. I also helped another thing for her moving and I listened her chatting for long time, literally *listened*. I was busy for working for the laptop, calling some people to set up for her moving and listening her for all day. She wanted to go to her new apartment with me to see the building. She drove me there. We was not able to get into the room, so I was waiting for her in her car which smelled smoking. I was covering my nose whole way. It was OK, because I wanted help her but I was totally exhausted and sick. I was on bed around midnight but my brain was still busy. I couldn't stop my thought and felt carsick. Then stayed awake until 3am.

I woke up late so I had 45 minutes for practice before the class. I did primary series up to Pachimo with lot of san-sult B. I wanted to do more and more.

O-misoka(New Year's Eve)

2008-01-05T22:57:00.000+09:00

New Year is the biggest holiday in Japan. When I was Michigan, I didn't miss Japan so much. But during new year's holiday last year, I missed Japan very very much. I had planned a trip during new year's holiday and had thought about what I wanted to do. All of things had been about Japan. So we decided to stay in Tokyo.

On o-misoka, we went to my favorite Japanese cafe in Ginza.

Kanten Azuki Shake(Agar-red bean paste)

Kishi-men(Thin-flat Udon)

Awa-zenzai(red bean soup with millet)

I was very satisfied...

Then we went to Marunouchi building to listen to symphony No.9(Beethoven). One of Danna-san's co-worker participated in the chorus. Although most of them were not professional, the performance was brilliant. It is tradition to listen symphony No.9 on new year's eve in Japan. Is it only here? or all over the world? Anyway, it was nice.

We went to a massage salon as I got cramps. The salon is my favorite. It is Taiwanese. They use a lot of steamed towels and massage oil. The end of the massage, they step onto you. This is strong massage and very effective.

As my cramps relieved because of massage, we went to a sushi restaurant. The restaurant was almost full and many of customers were foreigner, I guess they were tourists.

Night of new year's eve, Japanese eat Soba(Buckwheat noodles) to wish longevity and peace of a new year. But apparently we were not able to eat Soba this night... we went home and took a nap to be ready for the count down.

We went to an observatory in Roppongi Hills. There were an count down event from 11pm. I arrived there before 11pm but it was already full. We were not able to watch the live but we could get into the observatory. The view was splendid. We got drinks and got a space by the window. We had a good view of Tokyo Tower. 10 minutes before the midnight, the tower's illumination was changing.

Blue

Small white

Blue with 2008 +fireworks(at Tokyo Disney Land)

Blue, white and orange

Orange(normal color) with a beautiful moon

Happy New Year!

WoYoPracMo Day 5:Pajama Yoga

2008-01-05T20:32:00.001+09:00

I confess...

We woke up around noon... I had a headache since I slept for twlve hours...

First I did Internal salt water bathing. It took for two hours to end. After that, I ate some dry fruits and oatmeal. Then... we took a nap for one hour... and then I checked email, news and other stuff... after that... we took a nap again... very short one...

OK, I guess I was tired, I should take a rest. I decided to practise some kind of gentle yoga. I prepared some candles, incense and music. I did micro yoga and sun-sal from Nirmal yoga. After I warmed up, I did some postures from Hatha yoga. My practise was for one hour today. It was gentle but I sweated little bit. I felt good.

So, this is time to go to bed again...?

WoYoPracMo Day 4:Finding a space

2008-01-05T20:31:00.000+09:00

I worte about my pracise on my blog. But I changed my mind that it would be better to write here. I can copy and paste, and then I can add my personal life to the blog. ^ ^;

Mysore Tokyo started today. The studio is much bigger and warmer than yesterday, and I keep my black mat there, so I was very comfortable.

I moved my mat 4 times this morning. First, I got a space in the middle of the room. When Dannasa-n got a space in the front of the room, but he didn't want to practise there, so we switched the spaces. After I finished prasarita, I realized the space was chill because of the windows. I found a space in the back side of the room, then moved. After few minutes, a lady who finised backbends wanted to move to the back for finishing, but she couldn't find. So I offered her to switch. The new space was fine, it was next to a small heater, nice. For finishing, I moved to the back again.

Unlike yesterday, I felt good. My stomach was sick and I was hearvy, but anyway I was not blue anymore. My practise was much better. I did full primary, backbends, and dropbacks( with assist, of course). OK, all will be coming to me...?

I am thinking about tomorrow. Saturday is Ashtanga holiday. What will I do?

WoYoPracMo Day 3:BLUE BLUE BLUE

2008-01-03T12:55:00.000+09:00

Although I went to bed early last night, this morning I couldn't hardy get up. I turned off a alarm so many times. After one hour, I finally got up. But I was blue totally blue without any reason. I didn't want to go to practise, I didn't want to practise.

I went to the studio anyway but my stomach was sick, I was hearvy and I was down, maybe mad. I didn't know for what. When I was this kind of mood, I used to skip practise and take a rest. I thought it was better for myself, instead of forcing myself to practise. But at Sharath's conference, he said "If you don't want to practise, then practise. You will get most benefits through the practise. YOU DO!". When I heard this, I thought I didn't want to hear that, so I had to practise when I didn't want!! After that, I follow his instruction and I am getting realize that is true...

That's why today I went to a mysore class and practise. I did full primary with 6 times backbend and drop-back! Hey, how could I do that?? After the practise, I was better, little bit, only little bit.

I think my organs are tired of gorgeous dinner, parties and so-on. I need fasting.

WoYoPracMo Day 2:The first mysore class

2008-01-02T22:37:00.000+09:00

A studio we usually practise are closed until the 4th. My teacher, Tarik, rent a space at another yoga studio. The space is smaller than usual so we have to make a reservation. Danna-san also went to practise with me.

I don't practise during my period, but as I am a member of WoYoPracMo, I practised past two days. I guess because of that, I am flexible as usual. It's great! Thank you, WoYoPracMo.

The studio was full, it was totally packed but chill. I am going to the studio tomorrow, maybe I need to wear a jacket.

WoYoPracMo Day 1:Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T16:46:00.000+09:00

This is the beginning of the year and WoYoPracMo!

We went out until midnight last night. So we got up almost noon. Danna-san practiced first and I taught. He is back to practise 2 weeks ago. Last week, he can not catch his foot at ardha baddha-pad but now he can. How quick is that.

Myself, I got moonday so instead of the primary series, I did some micro-yoga and sun salutation fron Nirmal yoga, and the sequence for lady's day from Iyenger. This help me to overcome cramps.

I will do same practise on moondays, Sat and any other days when I can't practice Ashtanga yoga.

A year-end party @ Ashtanga Yoyogi

2007-12-30T20:30:00.000+09:00

I practice at Mysore Tokyo, but no class on Sunday normally. So I sometimes go to Ashtanga Yoyogi on Sunday.

I went to Ashtanga Yoyogi with Danna-san today. Actually Mysore Tokyo had a mysore class today but I chose Ashtanga Yoyogi because they had a year-end party after the class. It was a potluck party.

My moonday was just about to begin and I had a homeparty yesterday and ate a tons of crabs. So I was heavy and stiff and my stomach was still full on morning. Somehow I woke up and went to the studio. My practice was terrible but feeling was good. I felt nice stretch everywhere and my circulation was getting better. I decided to practice up to Navasana before I started but I did up to Baddhakona. Altough my postures were so poor, I was so happy.

There were plenty food.

This was what I got.

Most of food were handmade and brilliant!

Barry with his students.

I don't know him well and his students but it seems he has been making a good community.

I asked him how he studies Japanese. He said he uses a website whose name is JapanesePod101.com. Tarik who is a teacher at Mysore Tokyo uses this website too. I listen a sample lesson. It was interesting. It was a conversation between two men. One man had a very strong accent, closed to slang. But the conversation was very natural. I found EnglishPod101.com. I will try this site.

Christmas in Tokyo

2007-12-27T22:06:00.000+09:00

Christmas in Tokyo is huge, very huge for ... different...way. It's all for dating and dating and dating and some for children, no Christianity at all. All fine restaurants and hotels are full booking. (But those restaurants have to be western, not Japanese)

Most of young single guys and ladies start looking for dates around Nov. Because some people really think being alone on Christmas Eve (Not Christmas) means miserable. I think it comes from magazines, TV, and any other media. The young also knows that it doesn't mean anything but they still want to find somebody or something to do. Fortunately I am married so I don't need the hunting. ^ ^ ; (never do)

I went to a homeparty at my Ashtanga friend on Eve with Danna-san (it means my husband in Jpn.) and his friends. After the party, on the way to my home, I peeped some restaurants. All were packed with young couples and groups (twenty, teen and few thirty) . Do only young people live in this town??

I love this holiday. Beautiful decoration, gifts and sending cards are lovely, it makes me happy and peaceful but little weird.

We had a family Christmas party before the eve. We ate Temaki Sushi which is kind of Sushi rolls that people make rolls by themselves on tables so that they can make their own tastes. Danna-san's brother has just came back from Kentucky as he finished his internship. So he missed Temaki Sushi so much.

The left sock with a white reindeer is mine. Mom (Mother-in-law) gave me!

On the Christmas, Danna-san cooked veg-christmas dinner for me.

I think it is very hard to practice during the holiday season. My stomach is still full on every morning and I am getting heavier clearly...

Yogi Homewarming Party

2007-11-17T23:25:00.000+09:00

It was Saturday, so no class. I had a homewarming party among my yoga friends in Tokyo. It's kind of late, because we moved in this house in Sep. I was not ready to have guests and organize something but I really wanted. I was having a good time. We talked about Yoga and Yoga and Yoga. I baked three kinds of cakes and cooked Indian curry and pasta and so-on. It seemed they enjoyed the food, especially they love the curry so much. I thought I cooked it enough but I run out it quickly. Now I know Yogi love curry.

I enjoyed cooking, chatting and eating. Now my stomach is full, completely full. I am not sure whether I can practice tomorrow...

Where am I?

2007-11-15T17:18:00.001+09:00

Can you find me?

Flock of Warriors Originally uploaded by govindakai

Yoga Yoga@Austin

2007-11-12T15:49:00.000+09:00

I met a ashtanga teacher, E-san, who teaches Ashtanga at YogaYoga in Austin where I attend David Swenson's teachers training six months ago. We were a platform and were wondering which train we should get on to go to the workshop place. It was so obvious that we were heading to the center. So we asked each other how to get there. We chatted in the train and realized I had been to her studio. We were suprised with it, her co-workers are my TT mates and moreover she had lived in Chicago, Midwest!! We enjoyed chatting about Austin, Chicago and Ashtanga.

Meeting new people is the one of the gifts Ashtanga yoga gives me.

R.Sharath's workshop in Tokyo

2007-11-11T10:34:00.000+09:00

Sharath's workshop started from today. This is the second time he comes to Japan to have WS. The first ws was two years ago. It was a nice experience although the ws space was terribly packed with people, between mats was about 1 or 2 inch. I made good friends there.

Today the place was in a sports center in a suburban of Tokyo. There were over one hundred people but the space was huge enough. I got a space on the first row and next to Dan who is my first ashtanga yoga teacher. Next to Dan, there were May and Barry. It was nice to practice with many ashtangi.

I have been practicing alone in my place for a while, so I was little nervous before the class. But I was not so bad as I expected. But I was tired than usual I think it's because of vinyasa. When I do jump back, I do up and jump without stopping. In Sharath's counting, there were pause between up and jump for a second. It made me tired. I should do vinyasa like this.