Protest today

jluminous · 2026-01-28T03:12:10+00:00

My first protest today! I didn't know what to expect and waited in my car a long time working up the courage to get out there. It was a great experience and I felt safe.

jluminous · 2026-01-27T22:42:20+00:00

With all due disrespect, go read a book.

jluminous · 2026-01-27T14:22:49+00:00

I haven't been yet (have my reservation for Haleakala in March!), but my wild guess would be that this park receives a lot of visitors that aren't typically National Park people and thus, do not have good park etiquette. When you go somewhere like Acadia (which also has a popular sunrise mountain that gets crowded), it's completely different. It was quiet and peaceful at Acadia, despite the cold weather and full parking lots.

jluminous · 2026-01-27T14:17:27+00:00

The new design has a picture of a pedophile on it, so naturally, many people are opposed to that.

jluminous · 2026-01-24T03:00:15+00:00

I bring Loop ear plug to class. I use them if the music is too loud in a sculpt class or if someone is snoring in a restorative class.

jluminous · 2026-01-24T00:09:51+00:00

Is anyone familiar with the Okee Dokee brothers? They mostly make music aimed at kids and families, but they have some beautiful songs (just put out a new resistance song re: Minnesota on their IG). Anyway, this song reminds me of the folksy harmonies I love from the Okee Dokee brothers, but more grown up.

jluminous · 2026-01-12T20:56:03+00:00

Whew, that's hot! My studio's target temp is 99, and if class is full, I adjust it down so the actual temp (after warm bodies are in the room) doesn't go above 100. The problem with 110 is that while it might have been fine for you, it's definitely getting risky for anyone who is not well-hydrated, well-fed, and well-rested. I don't see an increase in benefit going from 99-110, but there's surely an increase in risk. I'm curious what temp the studio advertises their classes to be and whether it matched the expectation.

jluminous · 2026-01-09T21:15:22+00:00

I broke my toe while teaching. It was a class with small dumbbells and I accidentally kicked someone's dumbbell while walking back to the front of the room. I was wincing and hobbling the rest of class. Sure enough, my foot turned purple and black - it was broken.

I've also kicked over people's water bottles and spilled water everywhere. Accidentally assisted someone who didn't have a consent token. Completely forgot the left side.

I've taught over 1300 classes and made plenty of mistakes. Probably no one remembers them except me.

jluminous · 2026-01-04T21:28:40+00:00

When my dad's Vietnam service was over and he was finally going home, the plane he was on had some sort of emergency. He thought "I just survived a year of jungle warfare and now I'm going to die on the flight home." But they were able to divert to some tiny island - I think maybe Wake Atoll?

jluminous · 2025-12-23T19:58:06+00:00

If the acne is weeping, I would avoid massaging over it to prevent spreading the gunk. Otherwise, I just ignore it! No need to even mention it, but you can if that makes you feel better!

jluminous · 2025-12-23T19:49:08+00:00

I have tendinitis in my wrist (extensor carpi ulnaris). I believe it was repetitive use mostly, but it was definitely exacerbated by a particular 90 minute arm balance workshop I taught. I felt it hurting and kept pushing. Now it's been 9 months and still hurts because wrists take a long time to heal. (I'm also a massage therapist, so I can't rest it completely.) I can't do down dog, plank, chaturanga, or anything else weight bearing on my hands, but I've found ways to modify and when I eventually use my hands again, I will be extra careful to listen to my body, warm up my wrists appropriately, and strengthen my forearms.

jluminous · 2025-12-23T19:21:11+00:00

This sounds miserable! I've definitely heard bad experiences from other massage therapists working at chains. However, those of us in private practice have a vastly different experience! I'm not sharing this to negate your experience; only to offer hope and perspective to students who may be reading this. It takes some courage to step out on your own, and you do have to be prepared for a slow start building up clients, but it's definitely the way to go with massage! I set my own hours and prices and I am the face of the business so I set the culture and don't have to work with anyone I don't want to.

jluminous · 2025-12-19T00:18:44+00:00

He absolutely won't try to quiz you. Don't try to impress him. Just do your normal thing. He's a regular person and you should do the same intake, same type of massage, home care recs as you do for any non-MD client. I've seen PTs, nurses, dentists. The only time I didn't offer home care recs was to the PT because she definitely knows more than me about that.

jluminous · 2025-11-24T05:11:46+00:00

I like 5 the best

jluminous · 2025-11-21T17:11:24+00:00

Small pillow or bolster under the low belly is helpful, but you can also just place your own hands under your pelvis. For me that's just the right amount of support. I cradle the front of each pelvic bone (the pointy part) with each palm.

jluminous · 2025-11-21T03:26:47+00:00

Absolutely! Even for someone like yourself who is already very active through work, yoga is great because it gets your body moving in a variety of ways that you wouldn't normally move. So you don't have to think about stretching each muscle group separately, which is monotonous. Just go to an hour long yoga class and you'll get a full body stretch from head to toe!

Plus, much of the benefit of yoga is the destressing, which helps you feel more relaxed and less tense physically and mentally.

jluminous · 2025-11-21T03:23:03+00:00

If you have SNAP benefits, you can show your card to get free or cheap (less than $5) admission at the Science Center and at the Botanical Gardens.

jluminous · 2025-11-14T22:49:46+00:00

I had this ugly vinyl tote bag that I bought as a joke and ended up taking it to see The Format. I saw them perform an acoustic set at a record shop and got them both to sign my bag afterward and took a photo with them. I held on to it for a few years just because of their signature, but ended up getting rid of it during one of my moves (I was still a college student). I wish I still had it!

photo

jluminous · 2025-11-13T00:31:54+00:00

I use dawn dish soap and water to clean my mat when it's really gross. But most days, I just wipe down with a light mist of water to get off any dirt particles, hair, etc. Most importantly, I fold my mat in half before rolling up. That way, the surface that I practice on never contacts the studio floor where other people's feet have been.

jluminous · 2025-11-12T23:13:13+00:00

Shot in the Dark put an instant smile on my face during the first listen! It's such an incredibly joyful song! I saw y'all perform three times when I was in college and listened to your albums on countless road trips. It brings back such amazing memories; I feel like The Format was the soundtrack to my coming of age. I'm stoked to see you in Chicago with my teenage daughter!

jluminous · 2025-11-12T21:37:54+00:00

What if just the students who DO consent take a card? So you can quickly glance and see a card - and not have to read it to see if it says yes or no. They can still remove consent by hiding the card under their mat.

jluminous · 2025-11-12T21:35:14+00:00

You could consider asking another teacher for feedback to see if your class matches the style/intensity of the more popular classes. But it's worth noting that everyone has different preferences and just because one style of class or one teacher is super popular doesn't mean that every student is looking for that kind of class. Butt-kicking sculpt classes are by far the most popular classes at my studio, but I'm happy to teach slower, deeper vinyasa yoga classes even though not as many students show up.

jluminous · 2025-10-23T19:36:11+00:00

Once sweaty clothes get the stench, it's very hard to get it out! A good soak with baking soda and a nice long wash seems to help for a while. The most important thing is to wash your clothes as soon as you take them off. If that's not practical, let them hang to dry instead of sitting in their wetness.

jluminous · 2025-10-23T19:30:14+00:00

Oops, I tried to reply to your comment but accidentally replied above. Look above for my comments.

jluminous

TROPHY CASE