Body, Mind and Spirit

Hi everyone! Hope you all had fantastic weekends!!! Weekend was good here. Boston temps were Ahmazing yesterday. I think we topped out around 75 degrees...WITH a perfectly sunny sky. Wow! Not typical weather around these parts in March for certain. But people are just so much happier. People are outside. My windows are open. Truly, this weather is good for your body, mind, and spirit. Today was much cooler at around 50, but sunshiny and nice. I'll take it!

Last weekend we had some terrible weather. We got over 10 inches of rain in 3 days. The earth, streams and brooks could not take any more water. And so then came the floods. So many people and many feet of water enter their homes. Roads were shut down. Destruction. Terrible. By Tuesday the sun came out and the clean up began. My heart goes out to all those affected by the rains.

I ended my wonderful weekend with a divine Bikram class this afternoon. After being disappointed with the studio being closed yesterday for renovations I was so looking forward to class today. And it did not disappoint. First, the studio looks so great. Second, there was a good amount of people in class, but not crowded at all. Lots of room to spread out. Third, the heat was good. You know it's hot when you are sweating before class even begins. And fourth, and possibly most important, I love where I am with my practice. Oh sure, my foot still hurts and yells at me sometimes. But I love that I am more controlled with the postures. That I do each posture with 100% effort. That the fans don't bother me. That peoples breathing and sighing don't bother me. Nothing bothers me. Really, I'm just as surprised as you! Truly I am. I love how happy I am to be back in that hot room. I love sweawting. Many times this is my favorite 90 minutes of the day.

On another note…And slowly but surely I’m managing to let that guard of mine down little by little. And you know what? The more you let it down, the more you allow happiness to enter your life. I'm done being afraid of being hurt again. Oh sure, it might happen. But we can't live our lives being afraid. We have to open up and just see where things go. Life is good my friends. And life is meant to be lived.

I hope you all have an amazing week ahead. Not sure how many days I'll get to the studio this week with work so crazy, but hoping at least 2-3 times. And then Friday....CELTICS GAME. Yay!

Enjoy the evening.

Cheers and Hugs! Traci

Time to Sweat! (and I did!)

Good Morning to you! And Happy Saturday! Pretty gray out there today. Not exactly a nice sunny day, but at least we have a couple days off work to recharge right? Another busy week at work. I hired 8 people plus 4 temps. So Monday I have 13 New Hires starting with our growing team! Right now we are about 750 people in our company. No end to the growing in sight. Whew! Also planning a Granite Telecom Celtics Night outing for some of our team. I set up/organized a night where there will be about 100 of our employees going to the game on the 14th of April. Last home game of the year so it should be tons of fun! Not the same Floor seats I'll be sitting in on the 26th but Loge and still good.


Anyways...I slept in a little bit the morning and didn't wake until about 8:30. I lied there in my bed and started to bend my toes back and forth. Actually felt pretty ok. Since this injury happened my foot is usually so tight in the morning that it's tough to even bend the toes. Much better this morning. Much.

I was still in my cozy bed when I made the decision. Right then and there I said...Today. Today is the day. IT"S TIME. This is the day I head back to the Bikram studio I have missed so, so much. This is it guys! I need it. I know it won't be easy and I'll still need to modify certain postures but I'll be there. I think I'm actually a little nervous. I haven’t had a good sweat in weeks! I need to think about where to set up my mat. You know I am usually a front row kind of girl. But I think I might move myself to a nice hidden spot, as I’m not sure how my body is going to do today.

3:30pm is the class I'll be heading to. The class is with Zeb. He’s a newer teacher to our studio. He joined us while I was out on injury so I have not had the pleasure of taking his class. I have heard some good things from fellow students who have been so nice to keep in touch with me and update me during the past several weeks. Excited to see and practice on the new carpet in the studio too! Yay!

Ok people...Wish me luck. This could go either way. Either I'll walk out of the studio saying..YES, I'm back. Or I'll walk out saying...Ok, you tried but your foot needs a bit more time. Being the ultimate optimist I sticking with the "I'm back!"

Couple of errands to get done before class so I'm off to get those done. Trying to pack my yoga bag but it’s been so long I feel like I’m forgetting something!

One more thing...BYC: Remember how we had that pact about letting our guard down a little bit?  Slowly but surely I've been doing it.  So far so good.  Still cautious but getting there :) .

Whatever you have planned for your Saturday I hope you enjoy it. And remember…Take time to breathe!
Cheers...Traci

***UPDATE***  Quick note...Went to the 3:30 Bikram class.  How was it?  One word...Divine.  I have to go rush to get ready to go out but it felt so great.  I felt strong and happy and nearly pain free.  God have I missed that studio.  Fill you all in on the details tomorrow.  For now, have a fabulous Saturday night!  Be safe.  Love...Traci

Things just take time...

HI!  Hope everyone is having a fabulous week! You all ready for Friday? I know I am!!!

Still no yoga. Still no running.  Been wearing my running shoes to work everyday this week (very nice look in a dress with sneakers!) and I seem to be getting around the building pretty good.  But by the end of the day...OUCH!  Our facilities guy George (who is AWESOME!) gave me some ice packs so I can ice my foot when I get a free moment (haha...what's that?).  By the time I get home my foot is sore and a little swollen.  This thing will just need a little more time to heal.  At least I'm out of the boot!

Anyways...Hope you all enjoy your Friday tomorrow!  Weekend is quickly approaching.  Any good St. Patty's day events/parties planned?  Luck o' the Irish!  Maybe I can find a four leaf clover and wish for my foot to heal! Time....Things just take time.

Good night guys...talk to you soon.

Cheers...Traci

Wearing TWO shoes

Hello Everyone! Have a great week? Hope so. Work was insane this week. I'm always busy, but this week was just NUTS. Multiple projects that needed to wrap up at the same time. Seriously didn't have a chance to breathe all week. Picture me flying around our 130,000 sq ft building from meeting to meeting in my air cast! Finally yesterday around 5pm yesterday afternoon I finally felt my body relaxing. My boss and I just looked at each other as if to say...we made it! We kind of have the same mentality in that we love organized chaos. We thrive on it. At some points this week I really thought my head might explode though! Happy to say I made it through.

For all my hard work this week I was rewarded with Floor seats, row A to the Celtics game (the game is on a Friday in a few weeks). These are amazing seats and you can literally fist pump the players as they walk by. So much fun. Thanks boss! I appreciate it!

You know what I could have used this week? A good sweat. AKA a Bikram class! That would have calmed me down, loosened me up and helped my focus. My head kept saying go, go, go. My foot kept fighting those words and saying no, no, no. So I did the right thing. I listened to my foot and continued the healing process.

And boy am I ever glad I did listen to it. I got home last night and as I took the air cast off I closed my eyes, crossed my fingers and held my breath. In my head I'm thinking...Please, please, please. Please let there be no pain as I put my weight on this foot. I place my foot on the floor, open my eyes and breathe. Hmmm, this feels pretty good! Perfect? No. Better? YES! So, So much better! Yippee. Not only that, but the hip? The hip is also a ton better. I can feel it guys. I can. I can feel my body healing. I can feel myself getting stronger and back to normal. And I'm happy. Oh so happy.

As for the air cast...I have clearance to shed it for the most part. Doc says it might be a good idea to have it at work as I am constantly on the go and I am not 100% healed. But today? No air cast for this girl today! I have not one but TWO running shoes on right now and it feels almost normal. Oh I wouldn't attempt a run or anything. No no no. But I am so pleased to say I do believe Bikram may be in my future this week. YAY!!!! Happiness. I just need to wrap it for class and ice it after. I'll need to take it easy, but at least I’ll be in there.

I'm seriously busting at the seams here in Boston. I cannot wait to jump into my yoga clothes again and SWEAT! Funny how much one can miss sweating :) I think this break really made me realize how much Bikram is a part of me. How I am meant to do it. How I need it in my life. You ready to welcome me back Bikram? Silly question. Of course you are. You always are. You just sit there waiting and when we're ready to come back you're there opening the door and saying, "welcome back my friend".

Thanks to every single one of you who offered me words of encouragement over the past few weeks. I truly, truly appreciate them. Honestly.

Franca: Thanks for the email and update on the studio. Made me even more excited to get back!!! I WILL see you very soon!

Ok! So what’s up for today? I have some errands to run (with two shoes on!) and then tonight I’m helping my sis celebrate her birthday. Should be a fun night! Have a great Saturday guys! And I just have to say…It’s good to almost be back.

Enjoy the day people!

Lots of Cheers and Smiles and Love to ya!  Traci