Zendurance and the Art of Bedrest- WHAT?

Happy Holidays everyone!

 I just realized how long it has been since I last posted. Sorry..... time has
gotten away from me. 

First, a piece of good news to share is that I am now certified as a
USACycling Coach. http://www.usacycling.org/ I am very excited
about this. It was a little bit more challenging than I expected. After studying
and taking the exam, I passed the background check and my check cleared... so it
is official! I am here to help you with your Yoga, Cycling, and Athletic
Endeavors.  I will be teaching and training athletes again in 2010!  

As I write this blog I am 36 weeks pregnant and on bedrest. I am on bedrest
because at roughly 30 weeks I began having contractions and early labor. I was
hospitalized twice and given some crazy medication to stop my contractions. I
use the word crazy because the medicine was successful in stopping my
contractions, but it makes my heart race. I got jittery as all can be. It felt
like I had about 600 cups of coffee. I have been on bedrest since the beginning
of December. It has NOT been fun times, and at the same time I am amazed at how
quickly the time flew by. 

A few tips for you.... if anyone you ever know gets put on bedrest DON'T
say:

• "this too shall pass" you may get killed for a comment like this; 
• say "wow, I wish someone would put me to bed and let me rest and watch TV"
  again, you may be killed, bedrest is torture;

DO:

• understand that it is very scary to be on bedrest. The health of mom
  and survival of her baby depends on her being still;
• ask if you can help in anyway. Not being able to make the quick run to
  the grocery store or Target can be challenging;
• offer to visit. Visits are great. Company is wonderful. I am grateful
  for my family and friends. I don't know how I would have survived without their
  love, company, and help.

You may be wondering (and I was too) what the heck this has to do with Zen
and the Art of Endurance Sports. It is about not wanting to be where you are in
life. Reality.  It is about wishing you had another experience besides the
reality that is sitting at your feet (feet that I can no longer see when I look
down.) It is about making peace with life. And most importantly it is about
being grateful for life on life's terms.
  
I looked outside yesterday and imagined how incredible it would be to go on a
muddy trail run or mountain bike ride. I also read all my Facebook friends' post
about the latest yoga class... sigh... I miss everyone. But, that is not where I
am right now. I have been charged with bringing this wiggly little girl into the
world. That is my job now. It means that biking, running, yoga, swimming,
climbing, and the like are temporarily put on pause. The bedrest and days alone
mean that I have to be OK with me- body, mind, and spirit. You want to get in
touch with type A control issues... try bedrest! Most importantly, I have never
been so grateful. Whenever, I feel sorry for myself, I immediately do a mental
checklist of what I am grateful for. I have so many things on this list that it
feels infinite.

I expect this baby to arrive any day now. This blog and my life will easily
turn into the busy zendurance life that I am so familiar with. I will race,
train, and teach again very soon. In the meantime, I wait for this baby's
arrival. I will sit and be as still as I can. And when I'm not, I know the
family and friends that visit my home will immediately tell me to SIT DOWN and
STOP. 

Happy New Year! Be grateful, be still, and enjoy life. This is it, right here
and right now. Make the most of it. Be kind and make it worth it! 
Namaste!

Meghan