Friday May 16 is Bike to Work Day!

OK, so many of you know (or now know!) that part of the secret to my sanity is that I traded in a 1hr 15 minute commute to Everett in for a 0.03 commute to my downstairs. Yes, I work from home. My main studio is Dream Yoga and Dance, and trot out to the studio or work from my basement lounge about 3-4 days a week.

But because this is the 21st century, yoga instructors and dance instructors often have to commute to where the students are, and in my case, I have between 5 - 8 people who take a noon-time yoga class at T-mobile in the fitness center.

So here's my chance, and here's yours. Friday May 16 is "Bike to Work Day", part of a bike to work month initiated by many companies and our Mayor Nickels to encourage people to commute on bicycles to work. Though we will withhold judgement about whether we think Mayor Nickels needs to get on that bicycle a little more himself (!!!), the idea is great. There will be over 35 stations set up with snacks, resting spots, and I believe the Seattle police will be assisting the expected 20,000 riders that will turn out at the Town Center around 7:30 am.

I will be biking early with my man to T-mobile, and though I don't get a "Bike to Work" t-shirt (I'm not an official employee), I feel like I'm leading by example. Over the past two months, I've been in rehab physical therapy two times a week for a hyper mobile hip joint and associated gluteal muscle, but I got the official Okey Dokey from my PT to go ahead and do this, being sure to ice it and take it easy over the weekend.

Our ride begins in West Seattle, goes under the bridge and into Downtown and the International District. We come up to the entrance for bikes going across the I-90, and then we'll bike across the I-90 into Factoria. I'll have some time to hang out, and then teach my yoga class a few hours later.

After that, I'll bike ride up a hill into the Eastgate area to take a bellydance session with renowned bellydance and bollywood dancer and director, Nalini. After that session, I'll bike ride back down the hill to T-mobile, hang out for a bit, pick up the man from work, and we'll either bike back or ride the bus part ways, depending on how the hip is chattering.

I can't think of a better way to spend what is supposed to be a stellar day of Spring (minus sucking up the fumes of all the drivers who should be riding their bikes). Come join us, and take a little time to figure out your bike riding commute to work. The Seattle times has a big article that may be of help: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/flatpages/local/commuterbikeroutestotry.html

Commute, and feel good about reducing CO2 emissions while burning off some calories!

Next up: a report from the Eating Disorders symposium being held in Seattle May 14 - 16, and how we can keep our young people from developing this deadly mental and physical illness.