Recent Work
Washington Post
For a story about a woman who was to spread her mother's ashes over a certain rock.
Pencil Box
Invitation cover for event to be held at the docks at the Ritz-Carlton Miami
Indianapolis Power & Light
Series for a community outreach campaign
The Baltimore Sun
Every week for two years I created an illustration for the Baltimore Sun's Sunday Supplement.
ELSEWHERE:
The Blog
Mar
27
Two weeks ago I joined an actual yoga class (instead of just doing the videos). I found it on google and did a drive by to see if it looked decent or scary and was kind of weirded out by the fact that it was a residence. An average looking (though, with cool landscaping) house. So I called the number to see if I had accidently driven by the wrong address.
I got to talking to the owner for a while and she seemed nice enough and said she’d give me one free class just so I could test it out and I agreed. So the next Monday I went to class and discovered that I was one of five students in this particular beginner’s class.
I also discovered that I LOVED it. It gives me an excuse and a set time to leave my work behind and do something for myslf. I write it down in my iCal so I have an appointment scheduled and I stick to it.
Last night was my second class and we did some “face yoga” (my word for it, not the teacher’s). Laying in relaxation pose with your eyes closed, the teacher asked everyone to scrunch up there face as tightly as they could, pulling their face in toward their nose. And then relax your face completely. A few times of this, then the opposite: stretch your face out as far as it will go, opening your mouth and feeling like rubber. Then relax again.
And at first I felt completely ridiculous laying there making these stretchy faces. I was also sure that the other students were probably sitting up and staring at me, and I was the only one doing it… with my eyes closed I felt so self-conscious.
And then I let it go. Hey, if there were all staring at me and laughing, then whatever. I was happy to provide a laugh. (I don’t take serious pictures well anyway, so maybe it was just an extension of that). But after I let it all go, I really stretched my face and it felt so good! I giggled… and have been ever since. (I’ve also been thinking that Jim Carey must be a face yoga PRO.)
I met Colin for lunch today (another trick to force myself to take a break…) and told him about the face yoga, demonstrating in the restaurant. At this point, I didn’t care who was watching and wondering what I was doing. It just felt good. And it felt even better to make Colin laugh. hee.
Try it! It’s fun. :)
Okay–I just totally did this 5 times while reading your post–even before reading about the actual descrp. of face yoga. It’s amazing how immediately instructive photos can be when placed at the beginning of a blog post!
you are a total champion.
blessings to you!
love a squishy faced leonie :D
Oh, how wonderful! I feel the same way about my yoga class. I started about 5 months ago, and it is my hour and a half oasis once a week. Its so nice to spend set time each week with someone telling you to be still and aware of yourself–and do nothing else. Fabulous!
I do Yoga at home with videos. I’ve never been in an actual live class. Maybe, I’ll try it since you recommend it.
You might like the Yoga Forums.
I’ve said it before, but never typed it: I’m *extremely* impressed with you for going through with it and going to the sessions.
Welcome to the new addiction! I started a yoga class every Thurs. a year ago. It is in the living room of the nicest lady in the world. If I skip a week, I get tight, anxious, and grumpy. It helps soooo much with the stresses of computer sitting. Wait until you do the lion face pose…. that was embarrassing at first too. Mine is on my ical too…in purple so it stands out. :)
hooray! an “adult” reason to make faces… er, not like i actually needed one, but how NICE!
great photos…. :-)
Penny, Face yoga was made for you. If there were face yoga olympics, I know who’d get the gold medal!
Also, ditto what your smart husband said. I’m proud of you. xo
Fun! I did a mini session of face yoga just now reading your post. :)
hi i like it verry much ok from christina.
WOW! 3 minutes of just exercising my face (LOL!) makes it feel better than it has it months. Bless you for sharing, and making me laugh too.
Thought: Do we laugh less than we did when we were 20? 30? Laughter JUST may be the best medicine for all our body parts.