The class was exceptional, even moving for me -- it might have been the heat caused by the late-day spring sun coming in through the windows or the tapas built up by a full classroom. I was obviously feeling the benefits of keeping up a steady practice, but a few things stuck out:

• In lunge, we bring both arms inside the forward leg and then transition by lowering elbows down on the ground. I was able to get down to the mat with my forearms, instead of modifying the pose by using blocks to support my elbows.
• My torso twists seemed to have extra rotation and I could breath freely in most poses like Utthita Parsvakonasana (Extended Side Angle Pose).
• I discovered how tight my shoulders and arms are and am trying to develop some routines to release them since that seems to be holding me back.

And my daughter go a new job at the Children's Inn at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda working as an assistant. It will give her a major salary increase and a much more exciting challenge for her immense skills.