Let’s Find A Cure! Rawrrr!

Most of you don’t know this, but my lovely boyfriend Mike was diagnosed several years ago with a Parkinsonism called Dopa Responsive Dystonia. It’s a movement disorder that involves involuntary muscle contractions, tremors, and other uncontrolled movements due to lack of dopamine in the brain. With proper medication, he can calm his symptoms and is more or less, a pretty normal guy. However, for the past year we have noticed a change in his symptoms which we, and doctor’s, fear to be Early Onset Parkinsons Disease. 

He’s still the normal, sarcastic, talented guy I’ve always adored, but as this disease continues in him, symptoms will worsen with time and that’s why we need to find a cure for this, right meow!

I love this boy. He’s truly my everything, and I refuse to sit back and watch this diagnosis get the best of us. I won’t let that happen. He’s too smart, too talented and too young to be going through this and to think that who he is right now could slip away over time, breaks my heart into a million pieces. I can’t, I won’t, I SHANT let that happen! (Yep. I totes said shant. And totes.) 

Mike and I are taking part in the 2013 Parkinson Alberta Step ‘N’ Stride Walk, this September in Edmonton. Please go to our comic regarding it, read the FAQ and if you can, help us by sponsoring our walk. If you can’t help us in that way, please leave a comment or re-blog this to your own page and keep us in your thoughts and/or prayers.

Mike and I are a strong couple. We’ve been through so much together and I couldn’t ask for a better relationship. Please, help us find a cure.

Stick Dinosaurs Step ‘N’ Stride Comic

xoxo

Becky

YTT – Day 4

I conquered my first week of yoga teacher training! Yay! It was a hard and full week, but I’m having a good time doing it 🙂 It’s a great group of people to learn with too, and our teachers are wonderful. I just hope the next little while goes by as fast as this week did!

We did alot of yoga today, which I’m now paying for! Ouchy! But like I always say, it’s a good burn 😉 We learned the power of our words and that breath is the key to any yoga class. We also broke down the sun salutations, and had to actually teach them ourselves to the class! Gasp! I know. I think we were all a little nervous and intimidated to do this, but it’s a very non judgmental group so we all did well considering it was our first time in front of the class, teaching. We had alot of fun with it and our teacher is very calming and easy going, so it was a good time. To some, it was more of a challenge because of their shyness or harshness on them selves and to others it came easy. I’m not shy, but I can be hard on myself. I tend to put alot of pressure on myself in times where I know I need to impress, so this overwhelmed me at first. But as we took lunch, and I reflected with a latte, I realized that there is just no room for pressure and fear in yoga.

It is just yoga, after all.

That’s basically what we did today. ‘Twas was a very physically and mentally intense day, I am so beyond sore I could barley lift my latte. Our teacher did say to just decompress this weekend though. Don’t think too much about everything and have a good time. So that’s what I intend to do 🙂

xoxo

Becky

YTT – Day 3

Today we learned more about Ayurveda, Doshas and healthy nutrition! I really enjoyed it all and found it very fascinating. Our class is privileged in the fact that we’re taking part in this teacher training in an organic/whole foods market, greenhouse, spa and yoga studio. (They have fantastic lattes too! For the days where your mind is overwhelmed with info and your body is aching from all of the asanas poses.) So we were able to take a tour and check out what foods, herbs and supplements are best. It was a great experience and will change the way I shop I think. Our teacher was a great one too. He knew all there was to know about the Ayurvedic lifestyle, as he lives it himself everyday.

We also watched the documentary “What the bleep do we know?”. (That’s legit what it’s called. Google it.) And that was one crazy yet interesting movie! It was all about quantum physics! We then had to ask ourselves, how does quantum physics relate to Ayurveda, if it all? I saw so many parallels between the two, it was amazing. It was so funny too, because on one of Mikes and I’s first dates, we sat at the park and he started telling me about the other worlds and possible parallel universes. So learning more about that today, brought me back to that day with him. Sitting at the park, talking about the worlds.

We also did two yoga sessions! I am so exhausted and sore, but it’s a good burn 😉 All in all, it was a very interesting day.

xoxo

Becky

(Ps. I just realized I’m starting to speak “yogi’ more and more! The word asana means pose.)

YTT – Day 2

Day 2 is done like dinnah! Today was pretty good, we have another teacher for today and tomorrow and I believe a few other times. Apparently, all the girls “fall in love” with him too. Haha. Not sure what that means, but he was a rather great instructor.

He taught us all about the Doshas and how to tell the differences between all three. Vatta, Pitta and Kapha are the types and they are each different in their own way. Like I said in my blog yesterday, I encourage you to Google “Dosha quiz” and take the test to see which one you are! And after today, I think I may start to lead a more Ayurveda type diet and lifestyle, as that’s what we learned about today and it all made alot of sense to me. It’s not for everyone, but it’s a plant based diet (check!) and alot of healing meditation and yoga (also check!), plus some other really interesting things that all kind of, spoke to me today, I guess you could say. It was a really eye opening experience. We also did a really yin yoga session (which was still painful for me, but I pushed through!) and some meditation.

I noticed that meditation is really hard for me and it’s something I need to really focus on. I can’t sit still. Well, I can but my mind really can’t. It’s going a mile a minute with so many things, it’s hard for me to clear it and let go of it all. I’m much better at doing a really hard yoga session, than doing a really light yin one.

We also watched the nutrition documentary “Forks Over Knives”, which I strongly recommend you all go watch right now. NOW! Rawrrr. I keep telling people to lead a plant based lifestyle, but nobody listens to me. Well, ok. Some people do actually listen. But seriously, the effects that food has on our mind, body and souls is astonishing. And a plant based diet can help and even reverse dis-eases like cancer and heart dis-eases.

(Did you notice I wrote dis-ease, instead of disease? That’s pretty much what a disease is! It’s a dis-ease. As in, you have no ease. Get it? I thought that was pretty clever when he mentioned that today. Haha.)

So to sum up, the day went well. I’m sore and exhausted but I get a massage tonight from Mike so yay for that 😉

xoxo

Becky

YTT – Day 1

Day 1 of my yoga teacher training was an exhausting one! Wow! So much to learn and take in, but all in all it was a pretty great day. It was also the hottest day of the year so far here, so it was a double whammy! 35 Degrees here, and it felt like 43 degrees with humidity! Insane, I know. I even walked home in the blazing heat, because I’m weird like that. I don’t know if it was all the excitement of the day or what, but I didn’t even realize how warm it was out until (get this) I got home! It seems hotter in our place than outside. Blah. I’m down to my skivvies almost right now writing this. Haha.

Anyways, back to the yoga teacher training experience…

There are 10 of us in the class, so it’s very hands on and personal, which I like. My classmates seem like good people, and the teacher is awesome. She preggo’s too, but can still rock at all of the moves, which I very much admire in her.

We went through introductions, course overviews, and then got into a full 75 minute yoga practice. Which was nice, but very warm in this heat! I also just got a fancy new (and lovely) yoga mat to kick it all off with, but it was almost TOO new. It was very slippery. But, I managed.

The lovely yoga mat Mike got me. Yes, yes of course it’s pink.

After the yoga practice, we then dove into theory and history of yoga and the explanation of poses. We talked a little sanskrit, and did alot in our workbooks and text. We even have homework! Not too heavy though, just a little reading and we have to take a test and find out which “Dosha” we are. There are three types you can be. Vata, Pitta and Kapha. I happen to be Vata with a little Kapha. Mostly Vata though. Which pretty much means this: Vata Dosha. I encourage you to take the quiz also! Oh! We also did headstands and yea, I rocked it. I got very light headed after though, as I’m so thin, but I was proud I was able to do it 🙂

Me doing a headstand! It’s not perfect, but it’s a start.

We also did some meditations and at the end, the teacher even ended things off with a mini neck massage for each of us. I know, right?!

Right now, I’m feeling it though. My pains are painful and my exhaustion is exhausting. It was a good first day, just alot to take in. And it will only get harder!

I’m up for the challenge. I just hope my body is too! 🙂

xoxo

Becky

(Ps. I’m just going to blog my YTT experience on here, and perhaps make a separate blog another time. It’s just easier when I already have so many great followers on here that want to know about my journey.)

Yoga Teacher Training! Ahh!

Well, I’m finally doing it! The day is almost here. My yoga teacher training intensive begins tomorrow & I couldn’t be more excited/nervous! My body pains have been acting up the last few days, so I’m really hoping they calm down for tomorrow morning. It’s going to be an intense month, but I’m up for the challenge. I think I’m going to make a blog, specifically for my teacher training journey. I’ll post the link on here, for those who are interested.

So many thoughts are swirling around in my head.

What should I wear? What if I can’t keep up? How do I do a proper headstand without looking like a stupid face? Ahh! Hopefully, all of these questions will be answered soon.

Wish me luck!

xoxo

Becky

Check It Out, Yo!

HEY! YOU! Yea, you! Check out the Stick Dinosaurs site today. Pretty adorable, eh? 😉

stickdinosaurs.com

xoxo

Becky

Maple Roasted Veggie Recipe

In honor of Canada Day (which is today, to all of you non-Canadian type people), I wanted to share a lovely & yummy roasted veggie recipe infused with the wonderful (and very Canadian) flavor of maple! Enjoy and Happy Canada Day, eh! (We don’t for reals say that…)

xoxo

Becky

Maple Roasted Veggie Recipe 

Ingredients:

• 1 pound sweet potatoes, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
• 2-1/2 cups cauliflower florets (about 1 head)
• 9 ounces Brussels sprouts, halved (about 2 cups)
• 2 tablespoons vegan butter
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400°F. On a baking pan, evenly scatter sweet potatoes, cauliflower and brussels sprouts. In a small pan,  place butter, maple syrup, salt, and pepper; heat until butter melts. Pour over vegetables and stir. Cook in the oven until tender, about 40 minutes, stirring halfway through! Easy peasy!