Several major roads will be closed in Decatur this Sunday morning, March 30 for the Georgia Marathon, including portions of N Decatur Road and Clairmont Rd (south of N Decatur Rd). I do not know exactly what time the roads will be closed but last year the closings prevented several people from making it to the studio in time for the 10 AM class. If you plan to come to the morning class this Sunday (and why wouldn’t you?) please leave early and considering finding an alternate route.

To see which roads will be affected you can download a map of the route.

I’m still trying to get details but there is a Marathon this Sunday, March 25 that will result in some major streets being closed that will affect some people’s ability to get to our studio. I’m looking at two choices: canceling the morning class or changing the morning class time to 11 am or 12 pm. Please keep an eye on this site for updates as I learn more.

We will be holding both of our regularly scheduled classes — 10 am and 4 pm — on Sunday, March 23.

The 6:30 am class died Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at precisely 6:30 am. At only 11 weeks old, it wasn’t a popular class but it was well loved by a few. It slipped away quietly from a lack of attention. Namaste and good bye.

When I was in the Bikram Yoga teacher training program Bikram talked a lot about celebrities and athletes who practiced at his studio, one of whom, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, brought his whole family to the studio. I’ve heard that Jabbar’s son went so far as to become a certified instructor and later won second place in the International Yoga Asana Championship (no link because I can’t find any). Abdul-Jabbar is inarguably one of the most well-known and respected athletes of all time. He’s in his fifties and retired as a professional athlete but he still practices yoga daily. And he blogs for the LA Times. And in a recent blog entry he has some inspiring words about yoga, including Bikram Yoga. I’ve pulled an excerpt below in which he offers some encouraging advice for those just getting started. The article is titled, “Fit after 50: Staying flexible with yoga,” but his suggestions are appropriate for any age.

1. Be consistent. Any new endeavor requires a period of commitment. At first, you may feel awkward or self-conscious, but promise yourself that you’ll stick with it for two months. At the same time, to receive the most benefits, you’ll need to practice yoga at least three times a week.

2. It’s not a competition. As a beginner, your body needs a period of adjustment as it adapts to new demands. Don’t push yourself beyond your limits just because you see others able to do what you can’t. We don’t throw the teen that just got his driver’s license into the Indy 500. Take your time.

3. Practice with a friend. It’s easier to keep motivated if you have someone you work out with. So, if you intend to take a yoga class at your fitness club, or practice at home with a DVD, see if you can get a friend to practice with you.

With all our talk of mindfulness I thought some of you would appreciate this video. I passed the test and and then laughed at myself for missing the obvious. It’s also a worthy public service announcement.

Remember to change your clocks this weekend. We lose an hour Saturday night but attending class on Sunday morning will help you reset your biological clock.

Are you one of the many people who asked for (and got) an early morning class? (No wise cracks from those of you who asked for 8:00 am, please.) The Monday and Wednesday 6:30 am started off winningly but attendance has been trickling off. If you want this class time to continue to be available you have to do more than just want it to be there when the mood hits you to get up early (which is apparently not very often). You have to be be willing to make a commitment to attend it. We aren’t going to be able to continue this class time unless attendance increases. We’ll try it for a little while longer but the long term will be determined by you.