TOLERANCE

THE PERSON WHO HAS
A TREMENDOUS RESERVE OF
PATIENCE AND TOLERANCE
HAS A CERTAIN DEGREE OF
TRANQUILITY ANDE CALMNESS
IN HIS OR HER LIFE.
SUCH A PERSON IS NOT ONLY
HAPPY AND MORE
EMOTIONALLY GROUNDED.
BUT ALSO SEEMS TO BE
PHYSICALLY HEALTHIER AND
TO EXPERIENCE LESS ILLNESS.
THE PERSON POSSESSES A
STRONG WILL,
HAS A GOOD APPETITE AND
CAN SLEEP WITH A
CLEAR CONSCIENCE.

-H.H. THE XIV TH DALAI LAMA



(Without having to explain, just a reminder that tolerance should be a part of wellness!!)

To live fitness as a a lifestyle, we must always be open to new ways of moving our body for our wellness. I recently decided to try a dance movement class with my boyfriend's mother Paule. I have no dance background, but was open to a group class that was outside of my comfort zone.

The instructor was fun and bubbly, and right away made me feel comfortable in a somewhat alien environment. We begun with slow hip figure eights, adding arm swings and head rolls. At first I was SUPER self-aware, wondering if I looked as inexperienced as I felt. I scanned to room to realize that this group of ladies, all decades ahead of me, and maybe not as fit and spry, were far more experienced in something I can only describe as a carefree confidence. As soon as I accepted that this was not about the exterior experience, but more for my internal mind and body, I was gyrating, throwing my arms, rolling on the floor, sweating like a very graceful pig and SMILING!!!

This class was at Yoga West in Grand Junction, a place unfortunately most of you New Yorkers will be unable to experience. But, I would HIGHLY recommend to us all to step outside of your comfort zone and humble yourself every now and then. You will leave the experience with a different, and often neglected form of strength. This one is hard for me to put to words, b\c I have not come across in and text or class what it is. But try it, and help me to describe!!

Here is a link to a video about Dance Mvmt Therapy which I found super intriguing....

While on vacation this week in Grand Junction, Colorado I have explored many outlets non-traditional to me for exercise. Yesterday Davram ,my boyfriend, took me on a scenic hike to the top of Liberty Cap which is on the Colorado National Monument.

I have never lived anywhere that was rural or mountainous enough to have access to mountain hiking. Growing up in NC, we went for backwoods hikes. Not comparable b/c they were of a fairly constant elevation (but still great exercise and lots of fun!!!) So here I am at the foot of the mountain, geared up in my hiking attire and boots, thinking "...I run the city back home in NY....super-fit personal trainer... just a walk up a big hill".

First 5 MINUTES IN!!!! I am panting, my heart is pounding, gasping for breath, black around the edges of my vision, yelling to Davram's back, phrases such as "Oh god!!....why so hard.... slow down and wait up!!" Yes Jasmine, welcome to high elevation. Grand Junction is 4597ft above sea level, whereas our lovely NYC is only high enough to not be underwater. Immediate effects of high elevation include hyperventilation, fluid loss, increase in heart rate, and slightly lowered stroke volume. Studies are divided on whether it increases athletic performance to train in higher elevations. Many athletes follow the practice of "Live-High, Train-Low" whereby the athlete spends many hours a day resting and sleeping at one (high) altitude, but performs a significant portion of their training, possibly all of it, at another (lower) altitude. Our own US Olympic training center is here in Colorado Springs.

My theory?? After making it to the top of that mountain, I understand firsthand the effects of elevation training. My body felt as though is was working as hard at a walking pace as it does during a run back home. But a question to all the mountain living folks - Have you ever tried to run and process oxygen from air filled with smog, car exhaust, secondhand smoke, too much old lady perfume, beggar BO and street meat stand smell?? Now that's tough conditioning!!!

Book recommendation:

”Food Rules“ by Michael Pollan



Looking a for a good read, and came across this book in my roomies collection. I read it in a sitting! Its 64 rules, some you never knew, some very obvious yet we try to forget and some that help to shape your thought process when it comes to what you eat. I want to invest in a copy just to loan out to the people I know!

As the weather warms, our winter hibernation begins to end and the bones start to thaw. Today I found myself making any excuse I could to keep the workout outside. What better outside workout than a run? I am always inpressed w how many people you see in the city running outside. Understandably bc running is efficient, you get a good workout quickly, its free and you can do it anywhere. My only worry is that we run outside the right way. Concrete is an unforgiving surface, of course I would always encourage run on a track when possible. I stared at a lot of feet today, always the observer. In my mind, shoes go without saying, but I'll say it anyway. The shoe that you wear can make or break the run. If you have never been to a specialty running store and been forced to run (VERY briefly) barefoot on the treadmill, you're running in the dark. Here in the city we have Jack Rabbit and the Running Company that are both great at analyzing a gait and recommending shoes.

The Running Company

I speak from experience, I did a lot of running in crappy Nikes that I got bc they looked cute. I ended the summer w a broken foot. Stress fracture from beating up my feet!!! Some people are ok w them, but I would say in general run in anything but Nikes. Aasics and Mizunos rock from personal experience.