Everyday Systems

I just returned from Atlanta. My 4th foray into the deep South. I stuck to plan well. My first day there I had shrimp and grits for breakfast. I had never had grits before. I was not hungry for another 9 hours.

I walked a lot. the downtown area is beautiful. Not San Francisco, but beautiful.

I did some DDP yoga from his Yoga for Regular Guys book.

Over all, what a great thee days.

Had to look up grits - sounds like what we'd call polenta. Definitely stick to the ribs!

Glad you enjoyed it! I too live in Atlanta and also lived in SF years ago. It's not quite the walking city San Francisco is but it's much nicer than it was 20 years ago and there's quite a bit to do. I love visiting cities for 2-3 days and checking them out by walking.

Welcome home. I visited Atlanta in the summer one year. Wow. But you're probaby used to humidity. I imagine it was pleasant now.

Grits don't stick with me quite the same unless I make them like they do in the South. I imagine there was some delicious form of fat in them.

I live in Atlanta and you picked a nice time to visit. The summers are brutal- but at least the swimming pool is always cool.
Curious as to where you ate? Shrimp and Grits are really a low country thing- think Savannah, Charleston- but they are so good that the rest of the south has adopted them. Grits are ubiquitous here and are much like polenta except made from hominy rather than cornmeal. Yum. Like any grain, the best kind for blood sugar is the least processed. There are heritage grits that are stone ground and I'm sure made with milk and plenty of butter.
Don't know if you know, but DDP yoga is headquartered just north of Atlanta. next time you visit you can take a live class with the man himself.

What's so great about it?





maxbet

DDP (Diamond Dallas Page) was a pro wrestler who rehabbed himself from his many injuries in the ring by a mix of yoga and calisthenic exercises. He developed the DDP Yoga program with the help of a chiropractor/yoga teacher.

The program is aimed primarily at people who are overweight and who have not exercised in a long time.

It's very gradual--no throwing people into the deep end before they are ready--and DDP emphasizes the importance of dietary changes. Some things he recommends are faddish IMO, but he's quite correct that the weight won't come off without serious improvements to diet.

DDP is not "your mama's yoga teacher", which is a big draw to lots of people who are turned off by the spiritual emphasis in some types of yoga, have been intimidated when they have tried going to a "regular" yoga studio, or think that "regular" yoga won't give them a good workout. (That's ridiculous, of course--yoga practices like ashtanga yoga, power yoga, and Bikram yoga will kick anyone's butt.)

Yoga has been the mainstay of my exercise regimen for years. I got DDP Yoga DVDs because I was curious. I am not the target audience for this program, but I enjoy the workouts and still do them, but not exclusively. DDP's a big guy, very comfortable in front of the camera, and a major believer in tough love, discipline, and work ethic. Frankly, I really admire that.

I go to the Team DDP forum frequently and am very touched by the positive changes that this program has made in the lives of those who have embraced it and run with it.

I've never heard of DDP yoga but now I want to check it out. I love the physical aspect of yoga but I roll my eyes at the other stuff they throw in there.

My friends in Atlanta say there is a saying that it's actually better to live there than to visit, just the opposite of the saying "It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there." But I was glad to visit.

I just looked up DDP yoga on youtube and saw that one testimonial of the guy who had been told he would never walk without canes again who eight months later was jogging. I have friends here who have operated a yoga studio since 1985. They need to document some of their clients!

Now, why in heaven's name is this able-bodied woman not getting out there? Yet still she sits and types.

I posted this sometime last year, on NoS, but it's worth a second look if you haven't seen it. I might add Arthur is an American veteran with severe injuries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIXOo8D9Qsc&t=134s

Reinhard, I hope this isn't breaking any rules on here.

Arthur's story is amazing. Sometimes people think it's a hoax; it isn't. Arthur is legit and a real person He teaches special education outside of Baltimore, and also teaches DDP Yoga.

One story about him said this about what he eats:

"Boorman stressed there is no magic diet; he explained he ate fresh, healthy food in reasonable portions and avoided junk foods and preservatives while transforming his body."

He's kept the weight off for several years now.

Yeah, that's the one. I was tearing up, too.

Whosonfirst wrote:I posted this sometime last year, on NoS, but it's worth a second look if you haven't seen it. I might add Arthur is an American veteran with severe injuries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIXOo8D9Qsc&t=134s

Reinhard, I hope this isn't breaking any rules on here.

That's amazing.

I love Atlanta! This is a lovely time of year to visit, too. I miss authentic southern shrimp and grits like mad.