Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers and Lizzy McAlpine: The holy trinity of my yoga playlist (so far)

106 days since the Chicago Marathon and 97 days until the Flying Pig Half Marathon

Yoga as a way to live your life well

T. Krishnamacharya, an Indian yoga teacher, ayurvedic healer and scholar, wrote a manuscript of verses about the teachings of yoga and living a meaningful, spiritual life. This work is called the Yoganjalisaram. The verses are translated in The Heart of Yoga by T. K. V. Desikachar, and this one sums up everything I’ve been learning so far about yoga:

“Rid your body of its impurities,

let your speech be true and sweet,

feel friendship for the world, and

with humility seek wealth and knowledge.”

I got dinner with my sister, Mia, over the weekend and she asked me: “What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned so far in your yoga teacher training?”

I think she maybe expected me to talk about a specific posture or movement sequence. But the most surprising thing I’ve learned is that movement is a very small part of what yoga is about.

Most of the yoga teachings are about how to live your life well: be true to yourself, be kind to others and to the earth, live in moderation, find contentment in the here and now, eat healthy foods, participate in self-reflection, surrender to a higher power and choose what excites you and learn everything you can about it.

I’m grateful for these teachings finding their way to me at this time in my life, and season in the year, where I feel most reflective and open to starting anew. I’m grateful for the readings, my journal and the people in my life who are willing to dive into these topics of conversation with me.

This week, as I heard songs that moved me in melody or lyrics and aided in my self-reflection, I started a playlist. I’m hoping I can pull from this master list in the future when I’m creating yoga sequences for students. It’s just begun and I’ll continue adding for months to come, I’m sure. But I wanted to share it here, and if you feel inclined to add to it, please comment below.

Runner’s log

I practiced a lot of yoga this week and ran just once: 2 miles on Saturday. Temperatures in Cincinnati finally rose to above freezing this weekend, making 35 degrees feel like spring.

I’ve taken a significant break since running the Chicago Marathon. I’m not as fit as I was then. But I’m also re-discovering the joy and energy I can get from running.

On Saturday, when I saw the sun shining through my window, I felt pulled to lace up my running shoes and get outside. I didn’t run because of a training plan, or because I had to hit a certain goal for the week. I ran because I wanted to and stopped before I had a chance to get tired. I ran because it felt good: the Remi Wolf tunes playing through my headphones, the sun on my face and the middle-aged man who told me to keep it up when I passed him on the street.

This running break has been good for me. My body feels rested, and because of the yoga training, my legs feel stronger heading into another race season. After this week, I’ve got exactly three months until the Flying Pig Half Marathon. I’m excited to move on to this next challenge.

I’ve got the bug

Speaking of next challenges, I’ve got the bug. I’m itching to sign up for another marathon.

I’m looking for a race in the fall. I’m going to throw my hat in the ring for the New York City Marathon, but chances are low that I’ll get picked in the lottery. So I’ve been doing some research. I could run in Detroit, Dayton or Portland (Oregon or Maine). There’s Chicago, of course, and races in other parts of Illinois. I could even go abroad to race!

Marathoners, where have you run? Where was your favorite race? Non-marathoners who love to travel, where’s your favorite city? Drop suggestions below and help me pick my next marathon.

Sending love and light to you all in your week ahead.

xoxo,

mad mitch