What activity could have left me wearing Faith’s clothes and feeling this jazzed?
Beer tasting?
Wine tasting?
Bar hopping?
How about 108 sun salutations!
Tonight there was a charity event at Ashtanga Yoga Charlottesville that Faith and I could not pass up:
The class was nothing short of amazing. LOTS of people in a tiny room. Lots of sweat. Lots of movement. Lots of concentration. It was the best yoga experience I’ve had since moving to Cville, and the closest to my beloved hot vinyasa style that I love.
The class was led so we didn’t have to count (whew!), and we paused in down dog every 10 salutations for 5 breaths. It took us about an hour to complete all 108 and I think by 107 my body had had enough! It was HARD, but I didn’t get too tired until we hit the 90s. I’m thinking of challenging myself to do 26 salutations on a regular basis – I really loved the meditative, repetitive flow.
We walked with the husbands to the studio, and then they went on their merry way to a bar while we flowed. It worked quite well! The walk home was tough being so wet, but at least I warmed up wet-suit style inside of my coat after a few blocks. Then I had to change in Faith’s cute lounge clothes!
We headed back to F+T’s for dinner – per usual!
Tate made his now-famous Green Curry Lentil Soup. It was unbelievable! Green curry paste, kale, green pepper and carrots, 1 can of coconut milk – I don’t have the recipe, but I begged him to put it on Faith’s blog for posterity! This soup shall be made again.
Matt and I brought braided rolls by The Bread Basket, the same local baker who makes my fav English muffins. These were salty and tasted sprouted – they were great!
The ever-amazing hostess, Faith surprised us with a dessert platter of fruit, granola bar (a.k.a. “cookie,” she says 
) and dark chocolate!
With pero!!!
For a moment I thought I was drinking coffee…
Happy Weekend To You All!
{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }
Happy weekend to you too, Kath. That yoga class sounds mad challenging, I’m mad impressed with you as usual!
108 Sun salutations? You rock!
Yum! Great dinner to end your day!
Wow – love that pic of you guys around the table.
Wow! thaat sounds like an awwwesome yoga experience…
I tried Pero the other– I wouldn’t mistake it for coffee but I think it is what I think tea SHOULD be, if that makes sense.
Oh my goodness this sounds amazing! 108 salutations?!?!
108 sun salutations sounds challenging! Congrats! That mug is so pretty.
Thanks, My mom made it!
That looks like a great yoga experience! Awesome job!
Me and the girls went to a dance studio tonight to learn the burlesque moves
That is a lot of salutations. Sounds like a fun event.
That picture of the 4 of you at the table is neat! Have a great weekend too!
Is there a reason it was 108??
Faith wrote about the tradition in her post (because I dont know the answer!): http://gracefulfitness.wordpress.com/2010/12/18/108/
You look so happy in the first picture!
I think I need to give Pero a try. I wonder if I can find it here in NY.
The picture at the table looks like it was taken in the ’90s!
Perhaps hoodies were a characteristic of the 00s!?
Pero reminds me of a similar beverage called Postum, which was made from wheat bran, wheat, molasses, and maltodextrin from corn. It was made from 1895 through 2007 when it was discontinued. Ever heard of it?
I haven’t heard of it.
Wow. 108? That’s amazing. Congrats!
Looks like a fun night with friends.
I have wanted to do the 108 sun salutations thing, but I need to build up my yoga prowess a bit more before I tackle that… maybe in the spring!!
Holy moly! 108?! That’s amazing! Well done you, and how lovely that you enjoyed it so much
That soup looks fantastic! Never would have thought to mix two of my favorite foods – green curry and lentil soup.
HOlllllyyyy cow I love that mug!!! And your jazz hands
My mom made it!
What a great evening: yoga + friends + good food!! Have a great weekend!
108 = Impressive!
You always have the best looking bread.
108 is a lot of saluting! Those rolls look great- I need to find a local baker.
Wow 108 sun salutations?! That’s amazing! Kudos to you and Faith!
Yummy looking food! Hope the soup recipe is posted- it sounds great!
108 sun salutations?! You go girl
you look so comfy in Faiths sweats and your dinner looks like it tasted great-green curry paste sounds awesome!
Wow, it has never occurred to me to even try to do the yoga equivalent of a marathon. I’m intrigued…
That dessert platter is so my style. What a perfect way to end a lovely night!
Oh what a great time, that bread looks incredible!
What an awesome yoga workout! I love feeling challenged like that.
I have been teaching yoga for 10 years and practicing for about 12…and the first time someone told me that on solstices you do 108 sun salutations I thought they were….nuts!
I have come to LOVE solstice practices and doing 108! The group energy (if doing it in a group and not alone) is just wonderful. It’s such a unifying, wonderful experience. I always tell people, even if they can’t do 108, to just do 8. Or 26 or how many ever you can…yoga is about the journey, anyway
Gosh, I love that you brought this awareness to your readers! Thank you, Kath!
Love hot yoga!!!
LOVE the pic of you guys at the table, it looks so cool!
KAth – What kind of camera do you have? Im looking to get a nice one! Yours is really nice I can tell by the pics you take!
Canon Rebel XSI with a Canon 35mm f/2.0 lens
thanks so much Kath for giving me the info! : )
That’s a whole lotta sun salutations! But that sounds like an awesome experience!
Congrats on finishing the Ashtanga challenge!
Sounds like you had a fabulous yoga experience! Ashtanga is the yoga style I’ve settled on after quite a bit of searching. That repetitive, rhythmic flow is so exhilarating and meditative at the same time. Between sun salutations and the Primary series you really do get a full-body workout and stretch that’s perfect for a home practice.
Congrats on your 108 salutations!
That looks like such a comforting meal after such a great workout.
wow that sounds like such a rewarding and mindful yoga experience
Hi Kath! I wanted to tell you that I always look forward to reading your blog. I’m interested to try Pero too. I love yoga workshops and this particular one sounded so lovely. Thanks for sharing.
WOW 108!! that is a lot. It must have felt amazing
Heidi xo
I love a challenging yoga class. Doesn’t Kathryn Budig do workshops there a lot? I would love to have her show me scorpion. So far I haven’t been able to master that one! Great job on the 108 girl!