Riding my mountain bike in 75 degree temperatures with blue sky and a little greenery was the perfect send off for 2011.  The weather calmed bikers, joggers and families strolling – everyone got along, yielded when appropriate and smiled.

The number of photos I take directly correlates with how jazzed I am about running and riding.  Yesterday I stopped to take one photo.  It was a good day to ride. Parts of the trail are so green right now.  Not a dull Texas fall green, but a vibrant green that puts a smile on my face.

I rode the less technical side of the trail.  Performed masterfully in front of walkers or riders who had stopped to rest, which is very important when strangers are watching.  I even heard a young woman say, “awesome” when I made it up a climb.  You make the climb based on momentum, not leg power, but to her I was skilled.  I’ll take the kudos anyway.

The fun ride of New Year’s Eve made up for the two technical rides from earlier in the week.  Lots of photos were taken, but most of them are ugly or don’t portray the difficulty of the trail.

The lines changed, so I made this climb. It's been a long time since I've made it. The lose rocks, which aren't visible in the photo, somtimes freak me out. If I didn't look at them I wouldn't have the problem!

Room to pick up some speed paired with smooth terrain equals an effortless shoot up the side.  Loose rocks on the other hand are hard to ride over, especially when you’ve been off your bike for a while.

I can come down this section, but going back up hasn't happened yet.

Trash found on the trail while gasping up a climb.

My legs are happy and tired today.  My bike is tired too.  Both shocks are leaking, and my rear shock just released all of its oil.  It needs a rest before we start riding more in the new year.

In 2012 I will ride more.  I hope to visit a trail out of state.  Most importantly, I want to have a lot of fun riding, pepper in more running, and take fewer photos along the way.

Via Pinterest

Yoga class was energizing yesterday morning.  During the first fifteen minutes I felt my body wake up during the breathing exercises.  It was a good thing too.  I have been waking up earlier and earlier over the past week in half hour increments.  Thursday it was 3:30, Friday it was 3:00, Yesterday I awoke at 2:30 and couldn’t go back to sleep.  You can get a lot done when you get up so early, but I’d rather have been sleeping.

I was a little dehydrated and sleepy, so I was grumpy at the start of the fundamentals class.  I am not a fan of  a lot of talking during workout classes.  Not instruction, I dig instruction in yoga, but repeated information when I’m not moving.  It’s okay when attending a workshop, but in an hour long class I want to get to moving.  I learned that this yoga class always starts with a question and answer session.  I was tired.  I wanted to move, not sit and talk.

While working on calming my mind and not wanting to look impatient,  a thought popped in my head that usually does when I am practicing yoga, don’t let this annoy you. It might be what you need.  That thought was right.  I decided to stop being frustrated and just listen to the teacher lest my aggravation register on my face – which is never my intention, but happens a lot anyway.

She talked to us about the importance of breathing.  She went into detail about pranayama, allowing the breath to control the body’s thoughts instead of thoughts controlling the breath.  DING, hello there.  This is what I am already working.

The mind body connection is something I experienced while overworking at a job.  Shallow breathing made me more stressed.  Poor posture put me in a horrible mood.  I noticed if I fixed both I felt a heck of a lot better.  Now checking my breath and posture is the first thing I do when I’m not feeling well.

Pranayama, nice to meet you by your name.  I’m not a newb when it comes to yoga, but I’m nowhere near being a yogi.  This was the first time I’d heard breathing explained in this way, or maybe this is the first time I have listened.  So happy to have gone to  yoga class.  Even happier to have told my mind to shut up.

Earlier in the week Fate decided to gift me with a Groupon for this very yoga studio.  After my free two weeks are up I start a 20 class pass for just $30.  Here’s to starting the year off with good posture and a positive outlook.