Bikram Hot Yoga

This morning was my third class of Bikram Hot Yoga in Tenleytown.   

Hot Yoga is exactly what you think.  It’s hot.  And you do yoga.  I know what you, dear reader, are thinking, “Why the heck would you do that???”

Well, I got a Groupon.  And I’m a sucker for a good Groupon.

But what is Bikram Hot Yoga really like?  

• You go through a series of positions.  Each class goes through the same set of 26 positions.
• The room is PACKED.  They are probably 25 - 30 crazies in one sauna doing yoga.  Yes, people en masse go voluntarily.
• Many of them don’t wear a lot of clothes.  The men are shirtless and the women wear a sports bra and booty shorts.  I, of course, we wear a tshirt and shorts that go to my knee.  
• The instructor does not participate.  She only instructs.  It’s strange.  
• The class is 90 minutes.  That’s a LONG time to stretch in a sauna.
• You will sweat a lot.  Seriously, it’s more than you expect.  And it’s different than any other kind of sweating too.  The sweat pools on your skin and then it slowly drips down your skin.  There isn’t a lot of time to wipe the sweat off because you are trying not to fall from your twisted position.  It’s really gross and annoying.  Let’s just be honest, it’s a self-induced form of Chinese Water Torture.
• You can’t drink water for the first 25 minutes.  I think they do this to torture you more.  
• No one notices if you don’t do well...or, if you are like me, and have to kneel down and put your head between your knees to prevent passing out and making a fool of yourself.  I think everyone is trying to not pass out so they don’t notice if you don’t nail a position. 
• It’s ok if you fall over.  Yes, usually your reflexes are quick enough so you don’t smack your face on your yoga mat, but there are a lot of people who lose their balance and have to start all over.  
• The real benefit, as far as I can tell, is the next day.  You feel so good.  You stand taller, and you are impressed that you didn’t have to go to the ER.  

If you find a hot yoga studio near you, I highly recommend it.  Yes, its kind of expensive, but it’s amazing to know that you can survive, even if you have to stop and regain breath control.  

Have you ever done hot yoga??  Do you think I’m crazy?  

Establishing Roots vs. Nomadic Lifestyle

For the past 8 years, I’ve traveled all around.  I left Kansas City, MO and ended up in Washington DC.  In between, I’ve lived and explored Europe and I visited Asia....if you call that visiting.  I’ve moved about 7 times.  I have purposely avoided any type of substantial consistency.  

In my current situation, I live-in-sin with my boyfriend of 3 years, and we have been in our apartment for TWO YEARS!!!  <insert collective gasp here>

Our lease is coming to an end, and I am ready to get the heck out of here.  Don’t get me wrong, I really like where I live.  I have a pedestrian lifestyle and the luxury apartment complex isn’t too shabby either.  I have no reason to complain about my living situation.  It’s everything one could want in the DC area, including washer/dryer in-unit.....which is apparently UNHEARD of.  

So why do I want to move? 

Why can’t I get away from this nomadic existence I have created for myself?  

Well, I like moving.  I like starting over.  I like change.  I like finding a new neighborhood to explore.  It’s exhilarating.  

But, am I getting too old for this???  I’m almost the big 3-0, dear reader.  Shouldn’t I be acting more like a grown-up?

I have multiple friends who are married, have kids, and pay on a mortgage.  <again, gasp!>  I have some friends who are having kids on purpose!!!  

Am I suppose to want all of this too???   Should I be establishing roots somewhere?  Should discussion of the “M” word be in our conversations??   <insert screaming here>

Maybe I’m just too immature.  Maybe I’m not ready to “settle down” and be a real person, or maybe I’m not ready to be a grown-up.  

I don’t know what I’m suppose to do.  I don’t even know what society says I should do - yes, even society has conflicting ideas.  All I know is that I really enjoy change.  I like the unknown.  Being comfortable, while very nice, becomes boring.  I’m so afraid of becoming stagnant in my own life that I think I over-compensate by constantly engaging in some type of new activity.  

What do you think??  Am I too old to have a nomadic lifestyle?  Should I “settle down” and start being establishing roots?  Or, should I keep going in this direction and see where I end up?

P.S.  If you have ideas on how to proactively make life choices, please include them in the below comment section.  

Electronic Entertainment vs. Simplicity

Can you imagine a day without electronics?  

No checking the weather.  

No news.  

No status updates.

No taking pictures.

You will have to wear a watch.

It is my goal to have an electronic free day.  When I bring it up to the boy, he gives me the look of death.  He cannot fathom going a day without electronics.  What if someone tries to call?  What if Barack gets assassinated?  What if a piece of junk mail goes into my inbox?  What if a sports team scores some type of goal?  How will we ever know if these things happen?

My apartment is 700 square feet.  It’s small.  Really small.  But, dear reader, my little box is surrounded by electronics:

iPod - we have two

iPad - we have two

iPhone - we have two (well....actually we have three....a backup iPhone 3S just in case something happens to our iPhone 4S)

Macbook - we have two

TV - we have two (although one is not hooked up)

Playstation

Camera - we have two

Sometimes, I feel like I can’t get away from technology.  It’s a little annoying.  It’s a little overwhelming to have so many choices.  

Sometimes I crave simplicity.

Can you imagine????  

Simplicity!   (AH!)

No waiving your arm in a figure 8 - LIKE AN IDIOT - looking for a signal.  (Don’t act like you haven’t done it!!!)

No flipping through channels looking for a mindless show to watch.

No swapping devices to charge all of these devices with the same charger.

No checking your phone every 30 seconds.

I imagine a quieter day.  I imagine a more creative day.  I imagine, either, a cleaner apartment or spending more time outside.  Or, I’d sleep more.  Yes, maybe I’d sleep more.

I don’t know if this will ever happen, but it’s something I think about all the time.  But, in reality, I’m not sure that I can get away from electronics.  It may be a completely impractical goal.  Regardless, one day, I’ll try.  And, I’ll be sure to encourage the boy to give up the electronic dependence, a causality of our society.  I just wonder how long I’ll continue to receive the look of death.

How would you spend an electronic free day?  

Would you be lost?  

Would you be willing to try?  

Is a day without electronics realistic?

FEEDBACK PLEASE!

P.S.  I lied to you, dear reader.  We also have an extra flip phone too....you know...just in case our iPhone 4S dies and our backup iPhone 3S dies.  

Comfort Zones vs. Uncomfortable Discoveries

If you’ve read any part of my blog, you know that I love finding new activities in which to partake.  I love doing something that is completely new, something I’ve ever done (i.e. knitting or Farsi classes).  I honestly enjoy getting out into the world and exploring places, ideas, and people that are different than anything I’ve ever know.  Sometimes I have good experiences, and sometimes I don’t, but regardless, everything is an experience to grow from.

Getting outside of one’s comfort zone is difficult.  VERY DIFFICULT!  No one likes to feel uncomfortable or like they don’t belong.  No one wants to walk down a street and feel unsafe.  People, in general, are content to stay in their little bubble.  We go to work, come home, eat dinner, and waste a couple hours before we head to bed.  (I’m sure this is somewhat different if you have children, but for the most part I bet it’s mostly the same.)  

This is what we call normal.  “Normal” is going to work and straight coming home.  “Normal” is taking little Timmy to soccer on Saturday mornings.  “Normal” is watching mindless TV to pass the time before it’s jam-jam time.  (Sadly, “normal” is talking about mindless television at work the next day.)  For the most part, this is my normal too.  This is how I grew up.  This is what, I think, most people want to achieve.  (If “normal” is an accomplishment.....but that is another blog post.)

I like normal.  Normal feels stable to me - I know exactly what to expect.  And, as the avid planner I am, I would know exactly what dinner will taste like.  Yes, this is nice....to a point.  

But for me, I get so bored.  I honestly enjoy uncovering a new culture or treasure.  I think that getting outside of my 700 sq. ft apartment is the best thing I can do.  Not only do I learn about a world I probably would have never known existed, but I learn something about myself.  

What do YOU think?  Is finding a normal comfort zone better than endlessly exploring something else?  Can there be a happy balance?  What is “normal” to you?  Is “normal” an accomplishment?

The Best Burger in DC

Last night I ate the best burger in DC.  

BGR The Burger Joint

http://bgrtheburgerjoint.com/

I researched them online and glanced over the menu before my friend and I went in.  

Then, I walked into the restaurant.  The place is small and if you didn’t know what you were looking for, you would walk right by it.  

I walked in and the atmosphere totally took me by surprise.  The music was awesome and the decor was even better.  They have a sweet pop machine, that pours dozens of varieties of pop with just the push of a button.  I have never seen anything like it.  But, really, who needs a pop when you taste their double chocolate milkshake.  Seriously, it was DELICIOUS!

My friend was definitely in awe of this place.  The only thing he could say was, “The staff was passionate and musical.”  (Yes, that was the best quote I could get from him.  Pathetic, right!)

Passionate does not begin to describe the staff.  John was the first person I noticed at BGR.  He was so happy to see my friend and me, and he was way more excited when we told him we were first time customers.  

I didn’t order off the menu.  Instead I told John a few of the ingredients I wanted and he created an awesome burger for me.  All I wanted was pepper-jack cheese, avocado and onion.  (Hey, I’m not kissing anyone tonight, so stop judging me!)  When my food was cooked to order and perfectly ready, it looked amazing.  It was dripping was guacamole - what’s NOT to love about guacamole!  

Everything about my trip to BGR The Burger Joint was perfect.  Dupont Circle is a big place, but I’m so glad I didn’t walk past this little place.

Thanks, John!

Christian Grey, meet Mr. Darcy

From: Me

Subject: You suck, Christian Grey!!!

Date: Tonight

To: Christian Grey

I read Fifty Shades of Grey, where E. L. James created a terrible hero.  

Yes, I’m talking about you, Mr. Grey.  

You are not the literary hero I was expecting.  You may be wealthy and handsome, but you are a jerk.  You are selfish and cocky.  You think that money can be thrown at any situation to take control.  Sure, it worked with your 10+ submissives and Anastasia Steele, but it will not work with me.  

I will not fall for your over-reaching gestures.  You are a stalker.  You are creepy.  You might think that you are smooth and coy by secretly upgrading airline tickets, but in reality, your gestures make you a fraud.

Might I suggest, Sir, that you put down Thomas Hardy, and pick up Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.  

You could take some hints from Mr. Darcy.  He, too, sucks at capturing the essence of literary hero.  Mr. Darcy is everything you are not: spineless, quiet, and thoughtful.  (By “thoughtful” I do NOT mean “nice” and “considerate.”  I mean that he thinks through his decisions.)  Yet, the two of you share many qualities: attractive, prideful, wealthy, judgmental, and conceited.  You both have a strange idea of courtship.

If only Fitzwilliam Darcy and you could meet.  You both could take lessons from each other.  The two of you could, hopefully, merge into a true literary hero that a girl could love.  The reasons I cannot stand Mr. Darcy are juxtaposed in you, Sir.  Although, I’m sure the two of you would get along well.  You both have an overly polite demeanor, which I’m sure you would both appreciate.  

The male literary hero is a tricky business, Sir.  It takes an amazing character to be a hero, and you are NOT a hero of contemporary literature.  You, Christian Grey are not my idea of a dream guy, just like Mr. Darcy fails to deliver in Romantic expectation.  

Amber

CEO, Amber’s Enterprises Holdings, Inc.