A New Year: New Resolutions

Being out in the Tetons has been a great experience so far: trying new things, being outdoors, living in a new place, teaching more! Every new opportunity and experience has been such a blessing, but lately, I have been feeling pretty nostalgic and thinking that there is something missing from my life and daily routine.

So for the start of a new year, I thought it was pretty appropriate to add some New Year's Resolutions into my year.  So, as of last Thursday, I enrolled in a few dance classes.  Dance was a huge part of my life, and well based on being in 'the middle of nowhere, Wyoming' the closest winterguard is well more than +10 hours away.  But taking a dance class just to get my body bending and moving in a familiar routine I think is something I need to put back into my life.  Dance and Guard were sanity escapes from the real world, life, work, whatever.  The Dancers' Workshop in Jackson is a really cool company.  They offer lots of classes from ballet, pointe, contemporary, Pilates, hip hop, and so much more.  Mary Beth, one of my fellow graduates, and I decided to take some dance classes together, so every Thursday, when we are not teaching, we are going to be taking a Dance Party workshop.  This is totally different from my normal classes and rehearsals.  It is a Power Hour of a core-body warm up, cardio, and learning a routine.  Not to mention the genre of dance is mostly hip hop, and that is a genre I am not at all used to.  So not only is this a great swing into a routine I am familiar with, but I decided to try to out a new type of dance. After my first class on Thursday night, I felt pretty rejuvenated: happy to be back in a studio and on the dance floor, but excited to try a new dance.

Joined Some Dance Classes at the Dancers' Workshop in Jackson.

Also, even though this is not something I was used to, I wanted to try a new hobby and get myself outside at least once a week outside of teaching.  Jess and Tootsie, two other graduates, told me about a January deal package over at the Targhee Ski Resort.  It was a 'Start Me Up' package: 3 lessons, free ski or snowboard gear rentals with those lessons, and day lift tickets when you take those lessons.  After your third lesson, the package turns into a Season's Pass over at Targhee.  I think it was totally worth the $267.  Over at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, if I got the student discount, I would've paid $500+ and would have needed to find a friend or two to teach me, and paid more money for equipment rentals.  Plus, I hear Targhee is a better mountain for beginners to learn on.

Joined the Crowd & Bought a Season Pass

So Tootsie and I snowboarded all weekend.  So much fun!  I really like it!  I hate to say it, but I think I might like it more than skiing.  Not sure yet. I plan on doing both while I have this pass.  The pass will last me until August I think.  So, not only will I get to use this pass to ski and snowboard, but I can use it for hiking and biking too when the snow melts.  But yes, snowboarding was absolutely so much fun! I think I found it easier to learn than skiing.  Not sure.  But it was a pretty awesome experience learning and then going down the slope with Tootise working on s-curves.  Also, I really like the vibe that Targhee also has over there: mellow and laid-back.  I do not feel pressured or forced either.

Grar-Planking with Tootsie!

So a mixture of getting back into a routine of an old passion and then taking on and trying a new hobby is a great start to a new year.  The Animal Medicine Cards have also been a great touch to my mornings.  Instead of seeing my daily horoscope, I have been pulling an Animal Medicine Card.  These cards are used to understand improve one's connection to the Great Mystery and to all life.  Basically, it is a reconnection to mind, body, and spirit of personal power, strength, and understanding.  By pulling a card, or multiple cards, you can see how you are connecting to a specific animal and how those qualities of that Animal Medicine are relating to you and your daily life.  I also think it helps me understand how my attitude is towards something or someone and how I can reflect on how to approach and conquer.

Animal Medicine Cards!

So far, I think reconnecting with something I miss and love with a new hobby I am enjoying with a spiritual connection and focus is a pretty good start to a new year and the blessings that will unfold with time.  I can assure you more resolutions will come up throughout the year, but three is a good start.

To a New Year of New A New Life,
TheChristyBel