Gee, Think.

Last night we went to our fourth weekly ashtanga class. This time it was with a different yoga studio. We both enjoyed the differences between this teacher and our usual teacher at the yoga and healing center in scoth plains.

As usual, the class was demanding. I’ve developed a little more control in some of the poses, but I am still learning the basics.  The major improvment I saw in my practice was in my state of mind after class was over. Usually I have been worked so hard that I can hardly think. Usually my reptillian brain takes over and my thoughts simplify to water, water, water, and a small bit of food, followed by a deep sleep.
Last night’s class left me with enough energy to carry on a conversation in a pleasent mood. There was a moment about 15 minutes after class that I felt my energy slipping away, but I pulled it back and enjoyed the rest of the evening.
I think that either I am adapting to the practice and thus better able to act normally afterward, or last night was just a good night.

Kitty and I went to the Ashtanga class for the first time last week. It
was the most amazing workout I’ve ever had. It made me realize how
inflexible I’ve become. It was challenging yet relaxing. The first
class was so advanced that I know I have plenty of room to challenge
myself. Ross, the instructor, is also really good. This guy seems to
really know his stuff. He’s got all the indian names for the yogic
poses. He also seems to know little tricks that turn what could be
basic movements into challenging ones. This keeps students of al levels
continually reaching.
During practice we are stretching constantly. We’re strectching for
about 90 mins straight, but at the sam time really working our muscles.
Some of these poses are specifically designed to rely on muscles which
we do not typically put to use in our daily lives. I have learned,
however, that having these obscure muscles gain strength is excellent
for posture. I’m sure there are other health benefits as well. I think
having balanced muscles helps with your stride, breathing, and avoiding
chronic pain that could develop from slouching, etc.

Tonight is ashtonga yoga! Oh yea! Kitty and I have been looking
forward to this for a couple weeks. Actually we were hoping for Bikram
yoga, but it turns out that Ashtonga is what we’ll be doing tonight.
I have never been to a Bikram yoga class, but Kitty has and she tells me
that it’s an amazing experience. Bikram’s main feature is that you are
in an extremely hot room when you do it. Apparently this feels quite
purifying.
Ashtonga is also called power yoga. It is faster, and I think geared
more toward building strength and “power.” I’ve been to one ashtonga
class before it is was a really challenging workout. It’s quite
different from most western exercises in that there’s no running
involved. You don’t move from place to place, but you do a lot of
moving between different positions on the mat. The challenge is in
holding the positions, each of which is designed to work a seperate set
of muscles.
Tonight should be a good night!

Microbiology certainly isn’t my field. I did like chemistry in high school, and I do like science in general. I also enjoy philosophy, especially with a few friends. What if questions are some of my favorites. Tonite I was talking with an accomplished scholar of microbiology about vaccinations, antibiotics, disease & prevention.

I was in a bit of a philosophical mood tonite. It was a night of science philosophy and thought experiments. I thought of a new term, macrobiology. I would bet that this has been thought of before, but it is a new thought for me. The concept is like macroeconomics is to microeconomics.

It started with some kind of simple question whose answer led to another question. An hour or so went by and these were some of the mysteries I was wondering about:
What is the biology of an entire population? What do we find if we look at the patterns in the antibodies and bacteria found in individuals in a community and compare them?
How do these bacteria spread between individuals?
Is it possible for bacteria cohabiting an organism to interact and mutate into something new?
Instead of asking how antibiotics will affect the inner ecosystem of an individual, ask how antibiotics administered over 10, 15, or 20 years could affect our biology. Could this bread new diseases? What happens if a large percentage of a population becomes treated with antibiotics in terms of the kinds and frequency of bacteria. Could an untreated minority be subjected to super germs breed through natural selection in the individuals who were treated with antibiotics?
Could living longer create the conditions for new diseases or bacteria to develop, mutate, or evolve?
I got some answers to these questions, but some still linger in my mind. I really wonder how these organisms interact between individuals, and how the condition of a person’s immune system can affect their community members. Is it possible that while antibiotics are good for the individual in the immediate moment they could produce undesirable effects in the long term? Could a person heavily treated with antibiotics serve as a treat to society? Hmmm. I definitely have a lot to learn about this subject.

Kitty and I just got back from our first training session under our new sensei, REX KWON DO! I WISH! Napolean Dynamite anyone?

More seriously, we just got back from BODY COMBAT at Gold’s Gym. This was an hour of solid heart pounding, sweat inducing, punch throwing, jump kicing action. yeah. That’s right folks. It was hardcore!
Apparently this is where all the cage fighters are training these days. I’m in it for the glory, Kitty’s in it for blood. Together we have no worthy opponents.

Take for example Tutsusimi Nogapity. He thought he was tough. Turns out that he’s not as tough in the octogon as he is on the playground. I made short work of him with two uppercuts, a left jab, and a round house kick. He swore that we would meet again, and that our second meeting would end differently. We shall see Tutsusuimi!!

Next Kitty fought the hook-kick brothers. That’s Joe on the left, and Homer on the right. They didn’t know what they were about to face. They tasted the bitter taste of bitter defeat! It was a bitter battle that couldn’t have been any better for Kitty. She was gracious however, and did not break bones. Not even one.

Recently my whole perspective on life has changed. I’m now thinking about the future. Just a few short months ago, maybe 4 months back, Iwas primarily focusing on the hour to hour issues ahead of me. After moving in with my long time girlfriend I’ve begun to see things a bitdifferently.

I hope to have a long life ahead of me. This means making all kinds of changes to my habits to become more healthy in body, mind, andspirit. I feel like I’m making steady head way. I’m exercising more,eating better, and devoting time to my personal life as well as focusing on a new job. It’s all good, and I’m in it for the long haul. That means staying healthy.

This new future perspective also means paying attention to how I handle my finances. I’ve been doing a lot of reading lately about financial planning and investing. I’ve read “Smart Couples Finish Rich” by David Bach, and the New York Times Best Seller “Rich Dad Poor Dad”. Both had amazing and mind blowing perspective on money and how to get it to work for you. I’ve certainly learned a lot in the next few weeks, and I think it will have a big impact on my future.

I used to think that money was the root of all evil. Talking about money would make me uneasy. I think that’s because I really lacked any kind of training on how to deal with money. Now, after expanding my perspective a bit I can see what a difference a little planning can make. I used to think that it would be immoral to spend time thinking about money, and how to save it. Now I see it as a personal responsibility, and a necessity. There’s so much more to money than bean counting, and I intend to learn a lot about it over the next coming months.