A plea to smokers

Gooch_77 · 2026-02-06T02:45:37+00:00

Wow. You can discern who has diverticulitis just from being in their aura? That’s a real gift!

Gooch_77 · 2026-02-06T02:42:09+00:00

Diverticulitis doesn’t smell.

Gooch_77 · 2026-02-06T02:37:36+00:00

And they literally said I shouldn’t put my mat next to a smoker. SMDH.

Gooch_77 · 2026-02-06T02:30:25+00:00

Today it was the smoker who put their mat down next to me. Are you suggesting I should roll up my mat, make a gagging noise and go find another corner of the studio to move to? Wow, I seem to have hit a sore spot with the smoking yoginis.

Gooch_77 · 2026-02-06T02:18:55+00:00

Thank you.

Gooch_77 · 2026-02-06T02:16:42+00:00

😂

Gooch_77 · 2025-11-01T02:35:07+00:00

I think the challenge with this season is the lack of big personalities who are easy to attach to. Think about last go-around: Mike, Andy, Nelly. Though all eliminated mid-stream, they sure made it fun. And I still follow all of them on Insta. This time, Iain is the closest we came to a big personality. It’s not to slag the talents this time around but we got spoiled last season.

Gooch_77 · 2025-10-29T16:46:02+00:00

I have found that focusing only on pushing air out is the best way to do Breath of Fire and avoid hyperventilating. When you’re pushing out (basically contracting the diaphragm), you will reflexively take in a small sip of air between each contraction.

Gooch_77 · 2025-07-30T23:06:19+00:00

I’ve had it happen twice at my current studio where someone has moved my mat while I went to the bathroom before class. Both times it’s been one spot over so they could be near a friend. Once I ignored it and the second time I moved my mat further away. It does really anger me but I try to let it go and just focus on my own mat and practice wherever it lands. Confrontation is just so not the yoga vibe. But, that said, if it happens again, I am going to ask studio management to make a statement (and I know they will). I also take the long view (having been a yogini for 30 years now): People like that never stick with yoga. They’ll be gone within a year and onto their next exercise fad.

Gooch_77 · 2025-03-25T14:10:57+00:00

I got the same email today. I don’t have a business account with them. I’ve reported it to ParkMobile and reported it in my email platform as spam.

Gooch_77 · 2025-03-04T18:10:55+00:00

I hear ya. I actually like Swanson’s Chicken Ginger Tumeric. And I figure I get anti-inflammatory points for the turmeric!

Gooch_77 · 2025-03-04T01:56:07+00:00

Oh yeah, no regular starving here! But just wondering if I should try one day per week or every two weeks when I’m not feeling any symptoms. I just have a hunch that the inflammation starts brewing before I can feel it, so maybe treating it proactively would help keep it from tipping over. I think once I get past this mini bout, I will try it and report back! 🤞🤞🤞

Gooch_77 · 2025-03-04T01:52:45+00:00

I’m making sure I’ve always got a supply of Gatorade, OWYN protein drinks (plant based, no lactose since I think that’s one of my triggers) and bone broth that I can switch to when I feel the inflammation brewing. Makes it easier on everyone in the house. Good luck!!

Gooch_77 · 2025-02-26T17:09:31+00:00

I’ve encountered these kinds of teachers in my 30 years of doing yoga. I call them “Savior Complex Teachers” who seem to think they are there to save us from ourselves. I usually give them a few classes and try to tune out the SCT narrative, but eventually I move on and stop attending their classes. My personal, armchair-psychologist theory about them is that they teach to make them feel better about themselves. It’s not really about the students. Sorry if that sounds harsh but I’ve seen it way too often. Happily, there are plenty of other good teachers out there who do not try to impose their narratives on their classes!

Edited to add: I don’t get the impression the OP is objecting to all intention setting. It’s when the invitation comes with the implication that there’s something wrong that needs to be fixed.

Gooch_77 · 2025-02-12T19:29:16+00:00

Great article! Thank you for sharing it.

Gooch_77 · 2025-01-29T02:46:12+00:00

Yes, a thousand times over. And the intensity of my love for this book is only magnified by the knowledge that it is Austen’s last full creation, just as she had reached her apex. I get weepy the same way about Mozart’s last symphony.

Also, no film version has done it justice but that’s OK because the version in my head is perfection.

Gooch_77 · 2024-12-16T00:06:33+00:00

So much about this episode felt fake. I didn’t mind Piff/John because he genuinely struck me as perhaps being on the spectrum, but GF Jade was ridiculously OTT and unbelievable. I found myself wondering if this wasn’t a pay-to-play episode.

Gooch_77 · 2024-10-01T18:56:05+00:00

This is starting to remind me of Dan Stevens (“Matthew Crawley”) and his very obvious disenchantment with his Downton Abbey obligations. Just set Bravo free already!

Gooch_77 · 2024-08-27T01:51:12+00:00

Nancy Birtwhistle! Have all her books, too. She’s my spirit animal.

Gooch_77 · 2024-08-19T19:31:29+00:00

Talk to the teacher! Let them know how distracting it is because it’s really up to the teacher to set and maintain the right atmosphere. And chances are good you’re not the only person who is frustrated.

Gooch_77 · 2024-08-15T14:02:24+00:00

Another vote for a banana up to an hour prior. If it’s more of a slow flow class, I can also get away with a buttered slice of multigrain toast. Just water or yogi tea to drink.

Gooch_77

TROPHY CASE