getting into gear

So its January 18th today and I am getting more and more motivated for the year ahead. I went to a yoga class on Saturday and last night.  And it feels soooo good to be getting back into that saddle again.  I had to write a letter to Jim Tarran who does the Yoga Teacher training here in Brighton.  It was really hard, as not really knowing what sort of thing that they are looking for (should I let rip and get all passionate and gushing about Yoga? Or are they really looking for a kind of Yoga CV and a list of things I have done.  I think what I wrote was OK.  Whatever I am glad I did it and handed it to him.  At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if I don't get in this year.  I am just glad to be getting back into my practice.  I figured that if I am not yet ready, then at least this will start the conversation as to what I need to do, or what sort of approach they are looking for so that I can get in.  And its not the only Yoga Teacher Training I can do.  the ball is rolling.  I am very excited.  I mean if it is a lot of study, at least its in something I am happy to practice and happy to study.  I fear that I am let down by my own lack of self discipline.  I mean how many years have I written on my to do lists 'DO YOGA EVERYDAY' and um.  How many days have I actually done it.  In a way, applying to do teacher training is a way of making myself step up my game. We will see.

Aside from the Yoga, or maybe because of it, I also want to start eating better and cleaner.  Christmas is not a time to be thinking of Green Smoothies or Vegan diets.  But today I AM thinking of those sort of things.  I have been reading Crazy Sexy Diet.... well I have been looking at the Blog anyways... and I am inspired.  What I liked about it, apart from the inspiring GO FOR IT warm hearted wake up call of it, was that it suggests a 60/40 or an 80/20 regime.  Where by its not the end of the world if you have a cake or a steak.  Just to try and improve your stats as to the proportion of raw, green, veggie stuff you eat.  There is a 21 day detox / kickstarter, where you pick something to improve and - for 21 days you keep to that improvement.  Like for example you can start with 'no fizzy drinks'.  Or in my case... I am going for the no coffee.  oUCH for 21 days.  I love my coffee, but it gets to be a habit I start to rely on.  I am going to cut down on the tea I drink.  But I am not going to go hardcore and have no caffeine at all.  I know it gives me headaches, so am being gentle with that.  I also want to drink a green smoothie everyday and cut down on dairy.  So to that end, its no milk in my porridge and as many herbal type teas as possible.  I am going to have the odd cup of builders with milk though.  And I bought some rather yummy looking Almond and Hazelnut milk to put in my smoothies. 

With my smoothies, its just a load of soft fruit with some spinach whizzed into  it.  Sometimes I use apple juice, and today I made it with this almond and hazelnut milk.  I am going to start growing my own alfalfa sprouts, which are really easy to do and hugely cheaper than buying them already sprouted. 

And this with as much Yoga as I can manage to fit in.  I like doing 2 classes a week.  But its GOT to be at least one.  And I really do want to start doing something on my own.

SO here we go with another one of these challenges..... its 21 days.  Are you into trying it? 
(am going to come back and put the links in to this, sorry they aren't there already!)