• Content count

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won


Everything posted by KateZena

  1. It could be they are protesting the stretch. This sounds really freaking odd, but I learned this at a seminar with a coach who trains rider to ride with no pain (and you use your hamstrings an awful lot!), try poking the hamstrings at your sitting bones with your index finger (or your first two fingers) a few times. It is going to hurt like the devil, but you may feel them relax a little. If that doesn't work, you may want to get it checked out.
  2. I think it's interesting in that you say you're not looking for articles on yoga and children. Some of the most helpful articles for me for helping me learn new tools to help with my autism has come from looking at articles for kids! They're often inventive, new and things not often thought of for adults. Aspergers (which HF Autism, what I have, is sometimes referred as even though there is some differences) is often misdiagnosed as ADD/ADHD. I go between looking at coping skills for HF autism, Aspergers and ADD. They all work for me. (Differences between Aspies and ADD: http://www.drhallowell.com/add-adhd/additional-addadhd-resources/what-is-the-difference-between-asperger’s-disorder-as-and-attention-deficit-disorder-add/) Having HF Autism, I will say yoga isn't the only thing I do. I do horseback riding once a week to help keep me occupied. If I get stressed out (which happens because I have an 18-month nephew), I have a few ways to cope. I have peppermint oil to remind me to chill out (it's the scent that reminds me of my grams), I have crochet to physically force me to busy my hands and focus attention elsewhere than my stressor and I have what I call my tinker toys (what therapists call "fidgets.") The fidgets help keep my hands busy when I'm feeling anxious. I'm not sure if you've ever tried any, but fidgeting also helps keep you on task (unless you're me and get so into the fidgeting that fidgeting becomes the task.) Here's a few of my favorite "fidgets" if you're interested: https://www.therapyshoppe.com/category/P2070-tactile-tangle-toys-relax-tangle-therapy-calming-fidget-toys This is the tangle therapy. I have the bigger one. (I had the smaller one. I HATED it.) Really good if you are waiting someplace and are super bored. https://www.therapyshoppe.com/category/P2188-panic-pete-stress-relief-ball-fidgets-sensory-toys-office My nephew loves this one. https://www.therapyshoppe.com/category/P1462-mondo-inside-out-ball-tactile-fidget-toy-therapy-sensory-ball My be-all-to-end-all favorite toy. It's so much fun. I really want the nut and bolt twisty one. My other favorite fidget isn't actually a human toy at all. It's a plastic dog toy that has plastic nubs all over it. I love the texture. It reminds me of the big giant ball that House had but it's texturized and I love that. I'm not sure if this is what you're exactly looking for, but while it does focus on children, it does talk about one person's journey. http://yoganonymous.com/the-yoga-of-attention-deficit-disorder
  3. @msinkblot I do therapeutic riding over hippotherapy. Therapeutic riding is basically horse lessons, only tailored for a person with needs (I have HF Autism, so mine is geared toward making me calmer, helping me think in stages and flexibility.) Hippotherapy is PT/OT/Speech therapy, whatever you need rolled in one on a horse which would have been great when I was little and had those things. Hippotherapy didn't exist when I was little; it started up when I was around four/five and wasn't covered by insurance. It's great for people who can't walk as horses are the closest thing to a human's stride. Our horses all have unique personalities, like all horses. Scooby is quite sweet to humans - especially older ones (he's not too fond of children) - but he will kick other horses if they come within his personal bubble. He's a good match for me as I'm a bit like that. I'm very smitten with horses and dogs, but I get a bit uppity when humans get in my personal bubble. We have a mare named Cupcake who just won't take crap from anyone; she likes to buck and needs an experienced rider. Apollo (his show name is Sir Clippity Clop) is this big draft horse who can be pushy. Red Rover is very ticklish. Chance loves everyone. Ernie is very tiny and cute. We have lots of horses (about 15) and I think I talk about them all of the time. HA HA! I'm still learning about the newest 5 to enter our little barn. Here's info on hippotherapy from Canada. You may be able to get more information from here as opposed to an American website: http://www.cantra.ca/en/our-services/hippotherapy
  4. @msinkblot I never thought about playing them out. I always thought that would be more anxiety inducing. I guess for some people it works!
  5. @msinkblot You're right, it is so hard to be in a position where you have to gain weight in a society that's all about losing weight. You often find yourself explaining why you're trying to gain weight and it can feel like you're talking to a brick wall. Sometimes, when you lose even just a few pounds, people say, "You look fabulous," and it can create a system of bad thoughts (which began to happen to me and that's why I started therapy because I knew that was the beginning of an eating disorder) or you wonder what they have been taking because you don't feel you look good. I knew I wasn't in a good system of thought, so I got help. There's a difference between an eating disorder and disordered eating (which I'll leave a link to) and many people with ED have disordered eating. Oh, I love equine therapy! It's a lot of fun for me! I find it very peaceful, but very challenging at the same time. I did my last show to qualify for Illinois Special Olympics Friday and got second place in my class which is fine by me. I actually leveled up (as I call it) out of my NFP (sniff sniff) to Tribute Farms (which is next door!) and I'm being taught by a coach who can take me to more local competitions when he feels I can compete in them. When my coach isn't there and at a competition, I stay and work with someone from Horsefeathers Riding NFP, so it's the best of both worlds. I still ride the same horse - a quarter mix named Scooby Dooby Doo - in both barns so I'm really happy. I did Special Olympics last year so I won't be so nervous this year! It's a lot of fun. The NFP I go to works with people with disabilities, so you may not qualify if you're interested in the "therapy" part, but they (and most other NFPs) are always looking for volunteers! You still get a lot of the benefits while helping out. Many volunteers get the chance to be on the back of a horse, but it really depends on the place you go to. You will get to brush horses, feed them, muck the stalls, be a sidewalker (which is often what many volunteers say is the best perk; walking and guiding the horses and watching kids/adults do their therapy), pick up poop (I know, so much fun), tack up and tack down horses. I'm still learning many of the things dealing with horses, but when I'm done with my lesson, I always clip Scooby to his lead rope, put him away in his stall and tack him down (aka, take off his stuff), put his tack away and close his stall door. I also give him a treat after. I'm not allowed to tack him up as he is a bit temperamental despite my protests. ONE DAY! I'm very good with him. I know all of his crazy moods. I'd like to volunteer, but I'm still trying to get a little more comfortable with the layout and the horses before I fully commit. There are horses and ponies I'm very comfortable with (Red Rover, Chance, Captain America, Scooby) and some that give me the willies mostly because 1) I haven't ridden them (Vince, Ice, Cassie, Oreo, Wesley...) or 2) they are VERY tall (Apollo, Vince.) The more I learn their personalities, the less scared I am. Apollo, though, he just scares me and I've ridden him multiple times. He's stubborn out in the arena, pushy in his stall and he's plain HUGE compared to all 5'2.5" of me. Here's all about disordered eating and why it's different from eating disorders, dieting, and normal food behaviors: http://www.eatingdisorders.org.au/eating-disorders/disordered-eating-a-dieting If you're interesting in where I go to equine therapy or even why it's beneficial, here's my NFP's site (the video is AWESOME!): http://www.horsefeatherscenter.org/ This is my little NFP in the New York Times (I still smile the biggest smile ever when I see this): http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/07/05/with-hippotherapy-the-horse-provides-the-therapy/
  6. @Drew Earrings are a personal choice, much like getting tattoos (of which I have both.) Get your ear (or ears!) pierced because you want to get them pierced, not because your wife wants to see them pierced. The thing I find about getting a piercing/tattoo/anything on your body (or make you do anything, frankly) because somebody you love wants you to do it is that you start to regret it or hate it either right after the procedure or over time. When you hate/regret that thing, you start to antagonize the person that made you get it. That just creates a lot of bad. Get the piercing because you really want it, not because your wife is nagging for you to get it!
  7. Have you ever heard of horseback yoga @Anahata? It's doing yoga with and on horses. I've always wanted to try that out. They both have so much in common. Balance, mindfulness, stability, flexibility, strength, openness, posture, energy...all things yoga and riding on horseback have in common. I'm sure I could list more if I stayed a while and thought, but those are what come to mind first!
  8. Chicken is a huge love of mine. I love it mixed with lemon. I'm still finding new iterations for it (I just pinned a new one to try out.) Here's an all-time favorite of mine that I tweaked to Katie perfection: Chicken Breasts with Herbs 3 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (Note: I'm known to add more. I love oregano.) 1 tablespoon (about 3 cloves) finely chopped garlic (Note: that's for the garlic wimps. I use about 4-6. We love garlic!) 1 tablespoon finely shredded lemon peel 2 tablespoons butter 4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves (I actually use a package of chicken breast tenderloins. I CHEAT! You may have to double recipe if you get tenderloins) 1/4 cup chicken broth (if you like it extra chicken-y. I use less.) salt, pepper 1. In a small bowl, stir parsley, oregano, garlic, lemon peel. Set aside. Season chicken with salt and pepper. 2. In a 10-inch skillet (I use a sautee pan), cook chicken in butter over medium high heat for 6 minutes (less for tenderloins), turn once, until browned. Transfer to plate. 3. Remove skillet from heat and add half of herb concoction and add broth. Return to heat and bring to boil, stirring to scrape up brown bits. 4. Return chicken to skillet; reduce heat. Simmer, covered for 8 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink (tenderloins will cook much faster.) (Optional: cut the peeled lemon in half and use the juice from it and pour it over the chicken here. Extra kick of lemon.) 3. Serve hot with pan sauce and remaining herbs. Makes 4 servings. This is great for hot, muggy, summer days and you don't want to use the oven. I like making spaghetti (in a pan) with this and buying some nice bread. You could also do salad and rice. Lots of options. It's chicken!
  9. I think that's an interesting question. For me, the answer is more complicated than a yes or a no; it goes back to what you set as your intention when you practice yoga. If your intention is to lose weight and become overall a healthier person, then the answer is yes, you should have a particular diet - one that focuses on having a healthy, balanced diet. If your intention is something like mine which is "I will accept and love myself for who I am, for all my flaws and all of my strengths, for that is what makes me human," then you don't necessarily need to follow a specific diet. My finicky diet isn't due to yoga but to my illnesses and I wish more people knew that. "Yes, I'm into yoga. My super organic and hormone-free diet isn't!" I should get that on a shirt.
  10. This is an interesting video. I wish it came with subtitles as I really dislike sound (computer sound always hurts my ears for some reason.) I'm often amazed how when you become more aware of your problems in yoga, you become more aware of your issues in other sports, especially equestrian sports. How your sit on your horse will directly affect how you ride. If you round your back out and stick your pelvis to the back, you become heavier on the horse and you move against the horse's movements because you're closed in. Sit up straight and tuck your hips in, you become centered on the horse and now you can move <i>with</i> the horse. Open hips and body are good for horses as they are for yoga! Hip openers, not my favorite, but they are necessary.
  11. Your drawings are beautiful. You have a very introspective and meditative way of drawing.
  12. With male bras, do you think they open and close in the front or the back? I will not Google this. I will not Google this. I will not....RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO GOOGLE! MUSN'T GOOGLE! DIREWOLF, REEEEEEEEEEEEEEESIST!
  13. O.O I think you just solved my plank problem. Thank you!
  14. @scottcraft LOL. Don't they make male bras these days? I could swear I read an article not long ago about a company that made "lingerie" for men because apparently guys want that. I was laughing all the way through it. Like, do you guys really want to wear demi-cup bras under your shirts? Really? Do you have any idea how many times I wish I could just toss off my bra and shirt in public when it's hot and have that not be cited as "public indecency?"
  15. ^It is a bit like that with anything that deals with health and fitness, isn't it? I know there are some people who would find my barn a little too relaxed but that's how I learn best; in a relaxed, no pressure environment with very supportive teachers. Some people - whether disabled or not - need pressure, structure and need coaches that will be on them all the time. Everyone is very different with their needs and wants. Some like slow, some like fast, some like intense, some like restorative.
  16. I am not that advanced; I struggle with my planks. Don't even get me started about side planks. We'll just say you don't want to be on either side of me; I'm a klutz. Yes, I ride horses; it doesn't mean I have perfect balance on two legs. I'm the klutziest equestrian on two legs! I found this one on Google, but you should google some more: http://subtleyoga.com/detoxifying-with-mayurasana/ Honestly, Youtube is also a great source for modifications for yoga poses too. Various variations may be easier than others while you build up. I find certain variations of the Pigeon to be extremely easy and comfortable, others are just uncomfortable and then there are some that are downright unbearable because I don't have the strength and/or flexibility. It could be you don't have the strength in your wrists yet for your wrists to fully support you, so your wrists collapsed so you need a modification or a variation that doesn't put all of the primary support on your wrists. Perhaps keeping your head down or maybe using a big yoga ball while you get your wrists to strengthen or gain more flexibility. It depends what it is. I am quite the master of finding my own mods to fit me because I'm tight where it really counts (legs, sigh), weak where it counts (wrists and my shoulders) or out of proportion sometimes. Mods, I do them. LOL. Legs on walls, arms on walls, using balls/books/chairs/desks...I do them all.
  17. Hm, that's tricky as I do yoga at home. I'm sure @YogaByCandace would have a lot to say about this, but from my experiences in dealing with a variety of activities and sports, we often asked friends and family who we knew did that activity/sport where they went. That provided a good base line for us. When I became interested in horseback riding and we found out I was too old for the summer camp at CEL (a NFP for developmental disorders), I looked around for equine lessons for people with developmental disorders in my area. Not only was the first search result the place I wanted to go, but it turned out that's where all the kids from CEL go to for summer camp. If you know any NFPs, especially for things like developmental disorders, and they have a yoga program (most do!), ask if they go somewhere and where they go. Most NFPs will give you that info from a phone call or even just online. The most important thing I can personally stress is don't force yoga on him! I remember having so many things pushed on me and I grew to hate them and some were meant to be calming. You may even want to try some of Candace's fabulous YT videos before committing to trying out actual classes. She has a variety of types of yoga (vinyasa, yin, hatha, and some others) so your son can try them out for free!
  18. How are your wrists feeling @Phamine?
  19. @LarryD517 What shoulder exercises do you do? I'm curious as my shoulders haven't been the same since I had that bout of tendinitis and bursitis (I tell you what; steroid shots hurt!)
  20. Pst, neither can I. I used to be able to until I got lupus and tendonitis/bursitis. I have no problems doing this pose if - instead of pressing my palms together - I press the back of my hands together! Does that count @LarryD517? Or does it really need to be my palms? HA HA HA.
  21. You ain't old, @scottcraft. Ha! I'll call you old when you're 80.
  22. Oh, you can't be that old, @scottcraft. You certainly don't look that old. I think I'm getting tired of being in the 20s honestly. Too many growing pains and then I look at my teenage 2nd cousins and they keep spouting slang where I have to keep thinking, "What on earth are you saying? I just learned what "on fleek" meant last week. What is all of that drivel you're speaking mean?" LOL. Maybe I won't get carded as much either when I buy gin for my gramps' annual Christmas gift. <-Still gets mistaken for a 16 year old.
  23. @scottcraft Oh thank goodness I'm not the only one! "Who are these people?" I was asking myself. Am I really that old? 27 isn't that old, is it? Or have I started listening to the old people's radio stations?
  24. I've done a lot of different sports and other forms of exercise: some I've loved (ballet) , some I was pressured into (karate) and some I thought I was going to like but I ended up hating (ice skating)! Currently, aside from yoga, I do English equitation (aka I ride horses on an English saddle) once a week, walk when it's nice out and do a little bit of really, really light weightlifting (I use 2 pounders!) Sometimes a HIIT routine feels like something worth doing. I'm really "let's do this today," sort of person. Everyone has their likes and dislikes. Some only like to do one thing and one thing only and that's okay! Some of us need variety or we get bored. I'm the variety is the spice of life person given I just can't do one yoga routine; I need at least 10.
  25. If you think about it, women do have somewhat better flexibility in our shoulders because we are always putting on those things called bras, taking them off, and for some reason fashion companies think we should have zippers running up our backs; we tend to have very mobile shoulders for those reasons as everything straps or zips up the back, even our jewelry. If we can't reach a spot, we've learned to easily adapt by using paper clips and rubber bands, but many women are very mobile in throughout the shoulders and elbows because you just have to be. Men have a disadvantage; all of your clothing is buttoned, zipped or clasped up the in the front. You don't have to work your shoulders like women. You have to be mindful in working them through exercise. This was something I did when I was little and in occupational/developmental therapy, but if you guys want to work on your shoulder flexibility try putting on your button downs backwards. (I.e. Put them up so the buttons are on your back and button them up that way.) It's exercise in patience, flexibility, strength and provides a little insight into the world of women! I hate button down dresses! (Hate them! These are usually the most pretty dresses but they are so fussy.)