Miss Ginger Hates the Gym!

Really, she does! That's why she's so "curvy"! You lift a heavy object, you set it down, you do it again. You call that exercize. She calls it indecision!

That's why she likes yoga... it's kinda like dancing, but not so complicated. Plus, she likes the names of the poses! They sound so funny, and she can never remember them all, but she has memory devices to remember the "landmark" poses so she doesn't get lost! And Darla doesn't even get mad when she sometimes giggles in class when she thinks of these silly names!

Some are easy to remember, if not so easy to do! Utkatasana is the sanskrit name for "Awkward Pose", which it certainly is!

Some of the rest are harder on the tongue and the memory!

Ardha Chandrasana is the Half Moon Pose, but Miss G can only remember it as Artichokeasana!

Dandayamana - Dhanurasana is the Standing Bow Pulling Pose, which Miss G remembers as Dandymanasana!

Balancing stick is Tuladandasana, which of course Miss Ginger remembers as Tallulahndasana!

And finally, Supta - Vajrasana; Fixed Firm, or The Reclining Hero's Pose, which of course makes Miss G think of this:

On a lot of the others, she can never remember the name, but it doesn't really matter if a bitch can get her legs up over her head! For the record, Miss G cannot, but a girl can dream, can she not?

The Day Has Finally Come!!!

No, not St. Patrick's Day, silly! That comes every year!!!



Today is the grand opening of a very special place right here in the Heights, Darla's Yoga Garden!!!


Miss Ginger was first introduced to Darla several years ago when she had another studio here in town. The first time she went, she thought she was going to DIE! And she was like "WTF? Why would anyone want to DO this?!"

At that point, Darla was teaching a pretty strict Bikram series, with the Bikram instructed dialogue and the Bikram-taught expectation of yoga room discipline. Sometimes it was kinda rough, as you were instructed to "lift... more... reach... higher... pull...pull...pull!!!"

But then, after it was all over, and Miss Ginger had washed the sweat off and gotten her breath back, she thought "I DID it!" What an accomplishment!! Plus, it was the cleanest, purest feeling afterward! And, that night, she slept like a baby!! After that, she was pretty much "a regular".

That original studio closed. Drama ensued. Yoga ceased for a while. Then, Miss G got an unexpected email from Darla that said, basically, "for those of you who wish to do yoga with me, I have found a place!"

Darla had found a place to do yoga, and a place of peace for her soul. Pursuant to the drama mentioned above, Darla no longer taught "Bikram" yoga, she taught "hot yoga". No "brand name" meant there was no expectation that the "franchise" be respected. She could teach as she wanted. Teach as she needed. And teach, she did!

A room above the kitchen at the local Hare Krishna sat unused- uncomfortable, hot, and too difficult to air condition. So, the Krishnas installed mirrors and a dragon heater and rented it to Darla to practice her craft!

It was fun to meet Darla at the temple and do yoga! There we were, in our special yoga clothes, with our special yoga mats, and our special water bottles, driving expensive imported cars- and there were the Hare Krishnas- often in their unusual garb and interesting hairdos, living their life of devotion. And there was mutual respect. And admiration. And love.

We had great yoga at the temple. Small classes. People who were there for the yoga, not for the "scene." We discovered "silent" yoga, with sitar music, and kirtans, and amzing relaxation. Darla practice with us, but always kept a mindful eye on the students as well.

But, as the saying goes, "all good things come to and end", and the lease expired, and it was not renewed. Again, no yoga. A breakup in Ginger's life. Chaos at work. And lots and lots of Pinot Grigio! So, for Miss G, 40 pounds later, the day has finally come!!!

Over the past year (more?) Darla has converted a darling cottage in the Heights into Darla's Yoga Garden, a place where she and her students can practice and share their love of yoga! It's been a long haul! Do you know the engineering it takes to heat a room to 110 degrees? There were kerfuffles with the city. A handicap ramp?! Really?! We have to have a handicap ramp at a private yoga studio? Bubbling floors. Yes, it takes special adhesive to glue the tile down in a 100 degree room! Shouldn't a flooring professional know these things?!

But, it's all done!!! Miss Ginger has been one of the lucky few who has had the opportunity to practice during the "soft opening" classes, given free by Darla as she ensures the workings and amenities of her yoga boutique are in place. It's a lovely facility, and Miss G is thrilled to have such a great place to work on her mind, her spirit, and her big fat body!!!

Through all this time, for Miss G, when there was no Darla, there was no yoga. Miss G wasn't interested in practicing with anyone else. Darla knows about Miss G's quirky back. Darla knows about Miss G's completely fallen arches, making her feet completely worthless at supporting the one-legged poses. And Darla watches Miss G for signs her blood pressure is rising, and encourages her to sit and calm herself when the need arises.

No, Miss G could never do yoga without Darla. It would just feel dirty! And that kinda defeats the purpose, right?

Miss Ginger Almost DIED Today!

Miss Ginger returned to the hot yoga room today, and at one point she thinks she saw God... and not in a good way!

Miss G's friend and neighbor Dee has been working like crazy over the last few months to convert her old cottage here in the neighborhood to a hot yoga studio. Anyone who has ever dealt with remodeling knows what a kerfuffle it can be, but imagine if your remodel includes a custom made furnace designed to heat a specially insulated space to 110 degrees!

And the most difficult part of all: she had to install a handicap ramp in order for it to meet building codes! How stupid is that! I have not seen a lot of wheelchair-bound people participating in hot yoga!

Anyway, Dee invited a few of us over today to practice with her in the new room- kind of a test run, if you will. Now, mind you, Miss G hasn't been in a yoga room in over 2 years, but she wasn't about to refuse the chance to be in on the "innaugural run" of the new system! Of course, yoga is all about "do what you can", and Miss G was hammering away at those poses at first! Been then, along about tulandasana, she just kind lost it! She promised herself she wouldn't leave the room, but after that point she pretty much just sat on her mat and whimpered until it was time for final breathing! But everyone has to start (or restart) somewhere, and she's proud of herself for a least getting back on the horse!

You may wonder why one would put themselves through 90 minutes of torture- and Miss Ginger wonders the same thing, usually about 45 minutes into the class. But then, after she gets home and takes a nice, soapy shower, she enjoys a miraculous, clean-from-the-insides feeling that can't be accomplished just by bathing! Hot yoga is not for everyone, but everyone should try it at least once!

Now, I know when I say hot yoga, many of you are thinking this:
or this:

I only wish!!














Unfortunately, it ends up looking more like this:

Or, for Miss Ginger, this!

Anyho, I'll post more about the place and it's special mission when it's up and running!