So this week has been pretty good so far I am excited to say. It has been low key and great for the soul. Two things that have aided in my food for the soul is soul food and yoga. Now those two things are pretty much the antithesis of each other, right? Yoga is meant to be pure and enriching while soul food enriches atherosclerosis. Not to worry though. They happened on different days.
Soul Food
After going on a small road trip around Austin for a mom and pop soul food restaurant (which was unsuccessful), my friends and I went to Hoover’s. Hoover’s serves what is recognized as southern comfort food. I had ribs with black-eyed peas, candied yams, and macaroni and cheese. Not to mention the complimentary jalapeño cornbread and freshly baked wheat roles. I was delighted! Another thing that was funny was that they served homemade lemonade by the quart. I repeat, BY THE QUART. The first refill is on the house as well. I do have to say, I was very satisfied and quite stuffed at the end.
Yoga
This happened last night…yoga that is. It was my first time doing hot yoga or sweaty yoga as this one was called. I had done yoga in my parents neighborhood where I grew up, but that couldn’t hold a flame to how this class was! It was the late night class at that started around 10:30 ending a little before midnight. I went with a couple of girlfriends. As we approached the studio (Black Swan Yoga on 5th street) we could see the previous class let out. All of the yoga goers came out sweaty, excited and energized along with a blast of hot air coming from the studio. As my friends and I approached the studio, you could feel the heat steadily increased as they raised they raised the temperature of the room. The room had two lamps on and candles lit around the perimeter of the room. As more people came in the sound of quite chatter filled the studio as everyone laid their mats down and prepared to sweat. When the class started, the lights were turned off and the room was illuminated only by candlelight. It was great! The pace was swift. You didn’t stay in one position for an unbearable amount of time. Meditation with the gong was my favorite part, however. It felt good to just sink into the mat after sweating buckets. Endorphins were definitely running high after all of that! This morning I felt it all in my shoulders however. I am sore in places I am not used to and I love it! It was a great experience that will happen again!
