Because Vegan.

Oy.  Sore.  I'm getting back into kettlebell training again and trying to see if it will mesh well with yoga.  So far so good!

This morning I saw something on my Instagram feed that pretty much sums up how I feel about eating animals.  For me at first, plant-based eating was about not wanting to get food poisoning from chicken ever again.  I evolved from pescatarian to vegetarian and just naturally on my own stopped craving eggs and dairy.   I kept reading about veganism and learning from vocal prominent vegans and there was no turning back. 

Anyway, this is what I saw this morning:

To those (men especially) who worry about losing muscle mass and becoming "wimpy,"  I've been seeing just the contrary as I explore more and more about veganism. My Instagram feed displays male calisthenics experts and bodybuilders of every race who are vegan and look absolutely amazing on the daily. 

Even John Robbins - the guy who came up with the above quote - looks fantastic in his mid 60's.   He turned away from his role as heir to the Baskin-Robbins ice cream empire to become an author and animal rights and nutrition activist :)

I like this path :)

Ok, I just had to get that out of my system - back to the grind! 

Strong Ankles and Good Beats :)

I just saw Straight Outta Compton :) It was grrrreat! (c) Tony the Tiger.  I just want to keep bobbing my head.  Acting was awesome and I loved learning about the story behind NWA. I didn't listen to NWA too much - I was still a kid and the lyrics were pretty hard.  After watching their story, now I know *why* the lyrics were so violent and angry. The timing is pretty perfect - these days, police-on-black-people violence in America is horrifying.

Although I didn't listen to NWA much, I did love Dre and Snoop and Pac when I was in high school/university, so there were mega flashbacks for me during the movie :) I'll have to add some of these beats to the wedding playlist! 

Speaking of which, I had bachelorette party número uno in Vegas. It was pretty much all I wanted and more :) A grand total of 16 Canadian females and good amounts of wild and crazy.  I still swear the hotels and clubs pump extra oxygen into the air. I was running on maybe four hours of sleep a night and still couldn't get sleepy.  Once I got into the shuttle to go back to the airport though, BAM!!! Asleep.

Annnd lucky me - I get to have a second one in town! A harem of amazing friends is organizing one for me because most of them couldn't make the Vegas one :)  Number two will be at the end of this month.  

Other than wedding stuff, I've been working a lot (definitely considering myself fortunate to be busy at work right now with the current low oil prices) and getting more and more into yoga. I even ended my gym membership! I went to my wedding dress fitting and the dress was actually too big - I was shocked.  When I bought it, it was borderline tight and I was sure I would have to get the dress loosened (especially after all the good food and booze in Vegas).  

And this past Friday I was able to reach around my back and grab my toes for Arda Baddha Paschimottanasana for the first time - left and right side! My face is still far from my shin and my bent knee is still far from the ground, but that reach around flexibility is definitely progress :)

I love that yoga is just you vs. yourself. You push yourself but on your own terms. On your own time. Got a mat? Got a little space? An hour to spare? You're good to go!  Plus the culture of compassion is vegan-friendly and Angel-friendly. 

Mind Farts

-I fell, no "slid" down a waterfall in the Okanagan for the first time in my life. Without panicking.  Was totally Zen. Thanks yoga.  My maids of honour were so confused at my peaceful and happy expression. Like I was on a waterslide and not a slippery mossy waterfall 

-I was working overtime this weekend and laughing to myself while streaming Trevor Noah.. His accents are fantastic and so are his wit and intelligence :) Good pick, Daily Show!

-I learned the hard way not to eat less than three hours before Ashtanga class. Those twists really *are* made for digestion and I ended up having to run away to the washroom for a bit - whoops

-My ankle survived a long weekend in heels in Vegas! This is such a good sign and I'm so relieved :) I kind of want to thank yoga for this too. But it could also be time and rest (I haven't salsa danced in almost a year)