Friends Chat Thread: Wardrobe, Fun, and Whatever

[eagle1002us]

The beginning of you not feeling well sounds like a terrible sinus infection. Hope you heal up soon.

The reason why it’s called hot yoga now is that since the lawsuits studio owners are no longer afraid to make minor changes to the series (including removing a lot of the rests and making it an hour), which technically makes it no longer Bikram. Also, most studio owners here in the US have completely distanced themselves from him....saying his name is like saying Voldemort. If you have not heard Howard Stern’s Bikram impression, oh wow, it’s a riot.

I’m not sure what you mean by a red herring, it’s pretty darn hot, whether internally or externally...both my classes this weekend, no way were they 105/40 (degree/humidity). Years ago my studios had digital thermometers and most of the time it was definitely over, could be 108/55, etc but I’ve seen it higher, one studio did not have great humidity and temps were usually closer to 115.

There are definitely differences among studio cultures based on location. A lot of us New York Type-A personalities are not just gonna feel better for showing up, which is probably not a good thing! Elsewhere (like Florida) they are indeed more relaxed about it. I demand of myself the best form I can do that day; I just have to remember that I have certain limits I must respect. As it happens I did it again - I went both days this weekend - and respecting those limits, I do feel great.

I think you should go back, but you have to respect your limits, too. Why should it be all or nothing? Be kinder to yourself. I don’t use it as an excuse to go crazy with other things, but certainly you can incorporate it into a fairly healthy life of enjoyable moderation, or something like that. [emoji5][emoji5][emoji5]

It sounds like this hot yoga is real good prep for climate change. People will know what to do when the temp shoots up well above 100 and there's no humidity.

Seriously, you are doing great, @BBC, by pacing yourself. And, you keep returning to that form of exercise/meditation, so it is really what you're (naturally and by temperament) suited for. You own it. Myself, I do well with a stationary bike and a tv. Then the hour pretty much flies by.

 

[eagle1002us]

Ah I see, that's kinda what I meant by red herring. I meant within the name. I need to check out the Stern clip.

And you're totally correct. I suppose every class is different, even the identity of the group. When I lived in central London and had a membership to a quite posh mixed gym yoga was as competitive as Death Match. When I lived in Covent Garden I belonged to a gym that was 99% men and me. More like a gay bar with weights. We had a very beautiful yoga teacher called Soraya (6', all legs exotic beauty) who basically just did magical things in front of class and never looked at anyone else. I didn't think she was a good teacher but hey, she was worshipped by her devotees. Here, in the provinces people think if they buy the right gear and the membership they're doing fabulously, it's a fight for the back row.

So far, I've stuck to my NY resolutions this year. Maybe I'll do a 1 May resolution and do some yoga everyday and join DH's gym for Sat class. I won't go back to martial arts though even though at the time it was good for me, I think my limits were broken there .

This has been a very helpful conversation BBC, thank you

The places you've lived in, @papertiger! Was Central London about Central St. Martin's? If I ever get reincarnated, I hope to have some experiences like what you've had.

 

[eagle1002us]

Luckily it was white wine so nothing was visibly stained, but the man rudely did not offer to pay for dry cleaning! I said as much to my friends once I had cleaned myself up. Instead, he turned around, seeing me dripping wet, and goes did I do that? Like yes, yes you did. ‍♀️

Totally disingenuous of him, don't you think? I imagine he's quite practiced at it.
Just in general, I don't notice that people apologize much anymore. If they do anything, they may act a little friendlier, like they know on some level they screwed up. But to say, "I'm sorry." That just doesn't happen often.

 

[calexandre]

And you're totally correct. I suppose every class is different, even the identity of the group. When I lived in central London and had a membership to a quite posh mixed gym yoga was as competitive as Death Match. When I lived in Covent Garden I belonged to a gym that was 99% men and me. More like a gay bar with weights. We had a very beautiful yoga teacher called Soraya (6', all legs exotic beauty) who basically just did magical things in front of class and never looked at anyone else. I didn't think she was a good teacher but hey, she was worshipped by her devotees. Here, in the provinces people think if they buy the right gear and the membership they're doing fabulously, it's a fight for the back row.

A friend of a close friend of mine wrote a really interesting book about Bikram yoga-- the practice itself, the habits of its practitioners, and the complications of Bikram's personality. The book is anthropological in spirit-- the author was a serious Bikram practitioner himself-- and over the course of writing the book, he became a competitive yogi. I had no idea there was such a thing, and find the whole idea of competitive yoga astounding. But, having been to a few classes like the one @papertiger describes, I suppose it does make sense!

For myself, I've always wanted to love yoga, and maybe once every couple of years I rally and go to a few classes, determined that THIS time it will be my new favorite habit. No matter the style, it never "takes." My mind and body just prefer Pilates! I admire you yogis, however, amateur and competitive alike.

Does anyone own these earrings, or have an opinion of Hermès silver? I think these would be a great alternative to my every day diamond studs. View attachment 4038398

Like @gracekelly, I have nothing but praise for H silver, and have a fair few pieces myself. These exact earrings have been on my list for ages, and I'm not sure why I haven't gotten them yet, because they're fab. Tiny but still able to make a statement (your diamond stud comparison is apt), and the best part IMO is that they curve ever so slightly, so that they sit beautifully and comfortably on the ear. It's a small touch, but the consideration that went into making them arc just so is one of the reasons I love the H silver so much.

 

[nicole0612]

My mind and body just prefer Pilates!

I agree! I have been practicing pilates for about 18 years, beginning with rehab from a running injury in college and I still love it and am so grateful for how it keeps me moving fluidly and without pain.

 

[papertiger]

The places you've lived in, @papertiger! Was Central London about Central St. Martin's? If I ever get reincarnated, I hope to have some experiences like what you've had.

I lived in Covent Garden opposite the Victoria Theatre and then moved further to the traditional 'watch quarter' (Hatton Garden still has many jewellers and repair workshops but on the other side of Farringdon Road there used to be hundreds of watch makers and repair shops, sadly, only very few exist anymore).

Central St. Martins is now at Kings Cross and looks like a warehouse! Not the same vibe at all. We're only talking about 10 years ago but the powers that be have been happily destroying London and most culture, making lots of money with their developer dinner party friends. A city's evolution is one thing, this was a planned wholesale destruction. Now the actual beautiful City of London at Bank is being sacrificed, they've built cartoon buildings on where garden squares once were.

If you come to London you must go to the Kensington Roof Gardens where Derry and Toms and Biba turned into a shopping paradise. They still do afternoon tea there but not enough people go because their PR is rubbish. That's a proper Modern building. See it quickly before they pull it down shocking state of repair (shoddy Virgin Gyms is downstairs).

 

[papertiger]

In a previous discussion on swimwear, @prepster and @Moirai mentioned wearing rash guards. Would you kindly share from where you bought them or any specific brands to look for? (I did look at Body Glove but nothing caught my attention.)

I'm in the market for a long sleeve rash guard as I'd like to try stand-up paddle boarding on an upcoming trip. I've been looking off and on for a rash guard for a while but never really committed to buying one but I think I really need one for this trip. (I've bought one from Gap but the sizing just didn't work for me and neither did the Peter Pilotto x Target collaboration. I'm in between sizes because of my wide shoulders) Any suggestions or recommendations are welcomed. I have looked at J Crew but it's online exclusive and it seems the only size available is XL right now which doesn't work for me. I should add that I prefer a plain one with no visible logos if possible.

I also just came across these from Athleta and would like to hear feedback on their items if anyone has any. TIA!
View attachment 4038626

Just a thought. Perhaps try one with a zipper. This could allow you to by the smaller size, stay fitted but allow for your shoulders too. Or, you could do what I do, raid the XXS in the men's dept (try Lllywhites)

 

[Meta]

Thank you @scarf1 for your suggestion on Tommy Bahama. Will check them out.

@papertiger Thanks for the useful tip too! I'm eyeing two different ones from Athleta at the moment and both do have zips!

 

[Moirai]

In a previous discussion on swimwear, @prepster and @Moirai mentioned wearing rash guards. Would you kindly share from where you bought them or any specific brands to look for? (I did look at Body Glove but nothing caught my attention.)

I'm in the market for a long sleeve rash guard as I'd like to try stand-up paddle boarding on an upcoming trip. I've been looking off and on for a rash guard for a while but never really committed to buying one but I think I really need one for this trip. (I've bought one from Gap but the sizing just didn't work for me and neither did the Peter Pilotto x Target collaboration. I'm in between sizes because of my wide shoulders) Any suggestions or recommendations are welcomed. I have looked at J Crew but it's online exclusive and it seems the only size available is XL right now which doesn't work for me. I should add that I prefer a plain one with no visible logos if possible.

I also just came across these from Athleta and would like to hear feedback on their items if anyone has any. TIA!
View attachment 4038626

Hi wen, you have a great memory . I do wear rash guards. The ones I own are from O'Neill purchased at Rei and Amaz called skins short sleeve rash tee. They fit like t-shirts rather than skin tight. I bought them several years ago so I'm not sure if that style is still available. I also own long sleeve ones from Athleta also purchased several years ago but rarely worn because I found them too thick. The one you posted looks light though. The brand that I really like for sun protection clothing is Coolibar. Their products are sold online via their website. I have purchased several items from them and find them comfortable and nice quality. My son's favorite rash guard is from them and some of my female cousins primarily use their rash guards for themselves and their family members. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[Meta]

Hi wen, you have a great memory . I do wear rash guards. The ones I own are from O'Neill purchased at Rei and Amaz called skins short sleeve rash tee. They fit like t-shirts rather than skin tight. I bought them several years ago so I'm not sure if that style is still available. I also own long sleeve ones from Athleta also purchased several years ago but rarely worn because I found them too thick. The one you posted looks light though. The brand that I really like for sun protection clothing is Coolibar. Their products are sold online via their website. I have purchased several items from them and find them comfortable and nice quality. My son's favorite rash guard is from them and some of my female cousins primarily use their rash guards for themselves and their family members. Good luck and have a great trip!

Thank you very much for your recommendation @Moirai! Off to check out Coolibar as well now.

 

[cafecreme15]

Totally disingenuous of him, don't you think? I imagine he's quite practiced at it.
Just in general, I don't notice that people apologize much anymore. If they do anything, they may act a little friendlier, like they know on some level they screwed up. But to say, "I'm sorry." That just doesn't happen often.

You’re so right! I think this man might have apologized but I can’t quite remember because my blood was too busy boiling.

A friend of a close friend of mine wrote a really interesting book about Bikram yoga-- the practice itself, the habits of its practitioners, and the complications of Bikram's personality. The book is anthropological in spirit-- the author was a serious Bikram practitioner himself-- and over the course of writing the book, he became a competitive yogi. I had no idea there was such a thing, and find the whole idea of competitive yoga astounding. But, having been to a few classes like the one @papertiger describes, I suppose it does make sense!

For myself, I've always wanted to love yoga, and maybe once every couple of years I rally and go to a few classes, determined that THIS time it will be my new favorite habit. No matter the style, it never "takes." My mind and body just prefer Pilates! I admire you yogis, however, amateur and competitive alike.



Like @gracekelly, I have nothing but praise for H silver, and have a fair few pieces myself. These exact earrings have been on my list for ages, and I'm not sure why I haven't gotten them yet, because they're fab. Tiny but still able to make a statement (your diamond stud comparison is apt), and the best part IMO is that they curve ever so slightly, so that they sit beautifully and comfortably on the ear. It's a small touch, but the consideration that went into making them arc just so is one of the reasons I love the H silver so much.

After this glowing review the earrings have catapulted to the top of my list! I love Hermès because of the low key and lovely craftsmanship, and it sounds like the earrings embody this!

I agree! I have been practicing pilates for about 18 years, beginning with rehab from a running injury in college and I still love it and am so grateful for how it keeps me moving fluidly and without pain.

I really do want to get into yoga or Pilates but for some reason I balk at having to pay (a lot) of money to go to classes when there is a free gym in my building. It’s a mental hurdle I need to get over.

 

[eagle1002us]

Thank you. It would probably be good for me because I need to work on my balance. I also have to work on my patience, and it seems it would help me to work on this as well.

I can test anybody's patience. Whenever you're ready, I'm ready.

 

[eagle1002us]

Ha ha, yes we must!

I will do yoga at least once a week and some kind of stretching/asana everyday.

Inspired by a friend who drives/takes a train for hours every week just to learn about jewellery historically, I would like to tentatively at least find a castanet class that doesn't involve such hours of travel and, hope of small hopes, somewhere that does Feldenkrais. Both activities I used to love, made me feel great and kept me obsessionally but happily practicing.

It is well worth it to learn about jewelry history. I tend to know about 20th c. styles and some about Victorian and other late 19th/early 20th C. styles but I have yet to learn about classical Roman and other ancient styles. And to learn about ethnic jewelry altho I already know Mexican and some Scandinavian. @ Papertiger, does your friend travel to a university or other venue to learn about this? There are societies of Jewelry Historians in NY and elsewhere.

 

[eagle1002us]

In our house, DH does all the phone work, because I get snitty very quickly when dealing with incompetence. It goes south oh so fast. You are absolved for losing it.

I often hand phone to DH b/c I start to get irritated very quickly. A professor once told me that I don't suffer fools gladly. Since it was my first semester at that school -- I hadn't been there very long -- I wondered how he knew.

Ebay used to arbitrarily impose these bans on selling certain things b/c of potential for counterfeiting. So, sellers could get banned just b/c ebay was on a tear and not b/c they'd ever had a problem -- their feedback was 100 percent. I vaguely remember getting super irritated about that on the phone. I am a little embarrassed in retrospect that I did. But like you, Cordy, when the conversation shows signs of going south, I gotta hand phone to DH.

 

[cafecreme15]

It is well worth it to learn about jewelry history. I tend to know about 20th c. styles and some about Victorian and other late 19th/early 20th C. styles but I have yet to learn about classical Roman and other ancient styles. And to learn about ethnic jewelry altho I already know Mexican and some Scandinavian. @ Papertiger, does your friend travel to a university or other venue to learn about this? There are societies of Jewelry Historians in NY and elsewhere.

There are classes about jewelry history in NY? Please tell me more!