thursday

meditated earlier, will try to do some yoga later.

wednesday.....

So I didn't go to be until 1;45 or so, making 6 am a difficult time to rise. so I slept till 8, got up, meditated and did yoga in my room. I'm happy. my neck and back hurt when I woke up. I really think there is a strong correlation between whether or not I do my poses and whether or not my neck/back hurt. no yoga for two days = physical pain. there's motivation for you. It's supposed to be really nice outside today. I have to work all day but I can open my window!
xo
jo

tuesday 25th

fell off the horse again, trying not to beat myself up about it, because that is not productive. Instead, I'm going to get up early, go to yoga and have a very productive day of costuming tomorrow. If you keep trying, you keep improving, if you stop trying you lose. The moral is, just keep trucking on. So I will try.

monday stairbeast

Hello, well technically it is 12 21 on Tuesday morning, but I am entering Monday's activities....after one too many chocolate eggs yesterday, I headed to the gym (grudgingly) and tried a new machine (only because all the elliptical machines were filled) and it was interesting....I guess tomorrow is another day and so with that I will have to go to bed!!! :)

getting back on the horse.

admittedly, I have fallen off of the yoga horse. My foot had a painful crack in the base (which is still there, and I don't quite know how to fix...) and then I got really busy with costume production for this student film. I did a bit of yoga on friday, but none yesterday. I have been keeping up with my meditation for the most part. same old monkey mind, but still keeping at it. I am going to a yoga class today. It is hard to keep working at developing a habit when life gets in the way. But the thing is, if you keep trying, you increase your chances of success, but if you give up, you have no chance. I think that this rule applies to everything. It applies to developing positive habits and replacing negative habits with positive ones. Positive emotions and thoughts as well as productiveness are habits too. Everything we do or want to do, seems to be based on whether or not we can develop and continue the desire and actions to achieve so. So I think the moral is: keep going. or constant vigilance. and if you fall, don't waste time or energy beating yourself up. gracefully forgive yourself by standing up and deciding to continue toward your goal. I am really tired right now and have A LOT of work to do in the next two weeks. So I'm just trying to keep going. I think I need to be drinking more water too.
yoga at five.
xo

Friday on the mat!

Let's see....I have been slacking on my posting and have to apologize.  I will not slack anymore. It really feels good to write in here.  I just got back from a class and it went pretty well.  I was not really in the mood to go this am and was stiff during the first half of class.  I went to my first hot yoga on Wednesday and it was really challenging but good too.  I didn't make it to a class yesterday - I thought it was at 10 for some reason so I missed it but all in all I think my body needed a rest too.  I am looking forward to getting back on track and going everyday consistently again.  "they" say it takes 30 days to form/change a habit and so I really want exercise and meditation to become a daily part of my life.  There is such a good energy after the class.

Well, that's all and be in touch!

Happy first day of Spring - Let's awaken together~~

day 8! cracked foot!

howdy,
I ran out of time to write yesterday! boo. it will not happen again. Went to an early morning class. It was great. one of my favourite teachers teaches it. His name is Amrit, and he's a bit of a bastard, but it's nice to have someone care enough to push you. Turns out he's also a pro rollerblade racer and is being sponsored to race in france for the next month. sweet. but also means no more amrit for the next month. My foot was hurting in class yesterday, especially on standing poses that kinda stretch the base of your foot. I don't know what to do. It hurts. now it's morn of day eight and I was supposed to meet kristi this morning, but I think I should rest it for a day. I'm going to do some foot friendly poses at home. I have a lot of work to do to, so maybe it's a good idea. I went to school after class and it was so nice and quiet there at 9 am during march break. I went into one of the classrooms and started meditating with the lights off, but 5 minutes in some dudes came in and turned on the lights... haha. I was sitting there in the dark with my eyes closed. They must have thought I was a bit odd, though they said nothing. I am going to try to meditate longer today to compensate.
I hope that kristi is having a good class. write again later

yom shesh

today.... I watched more movies while sewing. I really need to start focusing so I think I will listen to music and podcasts :) from here on out. As I'm starting to feel the pressure build to get finished what I need to do, I'm starting to feel torn about going out to yoga classes because the travelling and the classes take a bite out of my day. But I got a yoga mat while I was out today so I can do some at home if I feel like I shouldn't go out some days in the next few weeks. Also took my guitar in to the guitar center to get fixed. The pick-up has been repeatedly falling out since I bought it about three years ago. Meditation was same old today. Monkey mind mania.just trying to keep at it. I do feel kinda mellower though. Early to tell though, I think. Yoga was okay, my body was kind of cranky today too... and my foot is cracked on the sole, like a split lip, so it kinda hurts to stretch it during standing poses. I'm trying to keep it lubricated with polysporin. It was a gentle class though, which I think suited me well tonight. I find a lot of pride in myself during classes that have alot of beginners in them. Like an I'm better at yoga than you, vibe. It's so stupid. There is no, I'm better at yoga, I know that. So I'm trying to release that thought. I wonder about what people think about during yoga classes. I suppose you're just supposed to focus on your breath. Is that right? Just think about alignment and breath? I guess so. I need to read more about it. K-dawg and I are supposed to go to a 7 am tomorrow! ouch.
goonight.

Fat Tuesday

Ha. No, it is not Mardi Gras....

Today was an alright day, just feeling a little sluggish and rotund...had a screening today at 24-seven to try to get some employment happening....

Intended to go to the 7 pm hot yoga, got there at 6;45 and it was already full so jumped into a spin class that had just started....So...you are wondering, what about the yoga...I know...I am going to do some moves now.  I was thinking about my breathing on the bike though and felt a good sense of calm after the class ended.  We stretched and I felt a lot better.  Yes. Exercise is good....that is today's motto.  And as far as Fat Tuesday goes - tonight I felt bigger and better than ever :)Filled up with good spirits and a renewed sense of trust that everything is exactly the way it's supposed to be right now at this very moment!

Luv ya,

K-dawg

monday, day 5?

so I went to a class today at 7 o'clock pm. I draped and watched movies all day. Movies help me not think, and therefore not stress, but they also slow down how much work I get done. I am ashamed to say that I bought the movie step up from itunes this evening. what can I say. Tatum Channing is sex personified and I want him to do bad things to me. I have not had a celebrity crush like this since I was like, twelve. But yoga and meditation.... I meditated today. I have a really hard time meditating. I don't know if I'm trying hard enough to quiet my mind. Or maybe it's just normal. I know it is very hard and I've read about what the buddhists call monkey mind. I think that is an appropriately descriptive title. but when do I get to the point where my head goes quiet? I'm going through this book called 8 minute meditation. you are supposed to meditate everyday for 8 minutes for 8 weeks and each week he presents a new method. I like the information in terms of learning about different techniques. but I don't think that 8 minutes is long enough to get anywhere. it's good structure to begin the habit of meditation, but I think I need more time to try. and I think twice a day is probably a good idea too. morning and night. my yoga class was good. there's this teacher that keeps making us do assisted handstands without the wall and everytime I do it I feel like I'm going to fall over backwards and take out the person who's assisting me. It freaks me out a bit. I want to practice on the wall. teachers here aren't all that into shoulder stands... the studio I went to in toronto finished nearly every class with them... I like shoulder stands. I should do them on my own I guess. Anyways. I'm getting my work done a little at a time, which is better than nada, but I think I need to pick up the pace a bit tomorrow.
p.s. I played open mic last night and then went to aligator lounge where my friend justin is hosting an open stage. he made me sing even though it freaked me out 'cause he put me on the spot and I didn't know what to sing. but I worked up the balls eventually and sang lets stay together. I didn't know when to come in, but once I did, it was okay. Those guys are such amazing musicians. wow. I wish music was second nature to me the way it is to them. I want to go every sunday. it's kind of startling sometimes what a calming effect music has on my mood sometimes. it's like prozac. I need to get new guitar strings tomorrow. shit and I need to get my guitar fixed.
bon soir
xo

Monday Meditation

Well, I just brought my sister's yoga mat inside and did a few poses.  There is something to be said for quiet mediation on  your own. I do find that I need the structure of a class to keep me moving forward.  I am really excited for tomorrow's class.  Tonight was very relaxed and I am meditating on all that is good and loving.

~Until we meet again,

K-dawg

Sunday sit-ups

Ok, well, today was a bit leisurely considering I was not able to behave normally inside the house.  My sister's house is for sale and so has been showing all weekend.  I took the opportunity to go see a movie and check out Target - where I purchased a new journal too :)

I took the dog on a walk this morning and just got back from a walk in the moonlight too :) I am planning to try to do poses now and follow up with sit-ups!  I am looking forward to getting back to the classes.  I won't be able to make tomorrow's classes either since my sister and her husband won't be back until late tomorrow night.  I am still deciding whether I will come back to the city Monday night or Tues.  Either way I have to go to a class!  I really want to get back!!  I think I'll do the poses, take a nice bath and then read in bed :)

Have a great night!

~K-dawg

day 4- no yoga :(

I know technically we were allowed to take off one day a week, but I wanted to go... and then I got all stressed out about designing cosutmes for this movie and I kind of went into a downward spiral of anxiety and then sadness, thinking about things that aren't even related, but everything seems related when I get like that. Anyways, I didn't end up doing any work anyways after getting myself into such a state. and I was thinking I wouldn't go play the open mic tonight, 'cause I should work. but I think breaking plans and islolating myself is partly responsible for making me feel shitty in the first place. So I'm going to go play. and then I'm going to wake up in the morning and work. and I'm not going to dwell on feeling shitty. There's a quote I like in eat, prey, love where gilbert quotes her guru saying: "you should never give yourself a chance to fall apart because, when you do, it becomes a tendency and it happens over and over". tomorrow will be better. everything passes and they are only thoughts and feelings, they are not me.

Day 3 jojo style

Today was saturday. I had a really fun night hanging out and acting like I was twelve with an old friend last night. I woke up and read for an hour or so. I love eat, prey, love, so far. It was so beautiful out I wished I could hang out outside all day, but I had to start working on costumes for this movie. I meditated for 15, my mind wanders a lot. I try to "allow, allow, allow". then I do 40 min or so of yoga with no mat on my kitchen floor. it got slippery when I started to sweat. I plan to buy a mat for when I want to practice at home. It was an extremely mellow session, but I feel good about doing some on my own. I'm going to forfeit my day off and try to get to a 5 o'clock tomorrow. It was such a beautiful day today. I was really in a great mood. But now I have so much work to do for this movie. soooo many costumes to make. I am making a game plan. hopefully I can get it all done and keep up with school as well. I am supposed to go out tonight but I'm reeeeeeally tired. I need to drink more water, I think I'm dehydrated. and I didn't take my vitamins today. and I ate too much pizza. tomorrow is another day.
signing off,
jojobeans

sans yoga saturday

Ok, so today was the official "no yoga day" - at least no poses yet - but there is still time.  I thought I would write before I forget :) I did take the dog for a walk so perhaps when we were walking down a hill that can be downward dog? I read about 5 chapters of A New Earth - by Tolle - and tried to meditate and be "in the now" while sitting outside in the sun.  It was overall a great day.  I am about to prepare a healthy meal and might go rent a DVD :) I find myself thinking about green beer, but will just live for the now and appreciate all that the day brings one thing at a time :)

Love ya long time,

K

Downward Kdawg's Day Duex Dissertation

Well, here's the scoop - Started out at 10 am for day two.  Woke up stiff and groggy.  Class was quite alright.  A different instructor so it was good to mix it up a bit.  We implemented blocks and blankets and music was also incorporated.  The instructor shared a bit more with the group and was pretty good.  At times I couldn't decide how I felt about her and then I thought - wait, focus on the class and your breathing!  After the class I was tired so really couldn't reflect very much - went home and fell asleep like a log for one brilliant hour - when I woke up I felt alive again and was able to process my thoughts about the morning's session.  It really did make me feel good and proud to have made the dedication.  Also, very happy to have Jo to share it with!! Until we meet again!! Tomorrow I may opt for a free day but alas, we shall see!!!

Luv to ya dawgs,

K-diggs

Day 2, jo

Kristi and I did an anusara class at 10 am at crunch this morning. I also meditated before I went to the gym. THe new alarm that I bought beeps every 5 minutes which is not very conducive to meditating :( I think I will go back to my phone, I kinda like the vibration as an alarm better anyways, it's a gentler way to be told to stop. I have just started reading eat, prey, love by elizabeth gilbert and I am already enthralled after 35 pages. I really identify with this woman. I wish that I could just sit down and read it all day. But I have to make costumes for a student film and I only have the next week to work on it, uninterrupted by school work, so I should really be doing that. I also want to start busking in the subways. I met a girl last night who makes $50 an hour playing. I really need money and don't want to ask for more from my dad. So I was thinking this would be a great way to make some cash and improve my live performance. It would be cool to record some rough demos to maybe sell also. I have so many things that I want to do, that it is hard to focus on design. Because I'm not sure that it is what I really want to do anymore... I wonder and hope that I might be able to just do music when I am done school. I like working on the computer though, I think it might be cool to design a collection of textile patterns and try to sell/license them to fashion companies. The thought of working at an office is pretty unappealing, though. This blog is sort of becoming more of a journal it seems. Is all this too personal to make public? The yoga class this morning was good, but I also felt kind of cranky during it, like my body didn't want to be put in the positions it was being put in. My hips are also extremely tight, one more so than the other. I wonder how far I'll be able to come in getting them to loosen after a month straight of yoga. Mostly I wonder lately about self development, trying to be conscious of who I am, who I want to become and how to get there. I've felt really good the last few days, mood-wise. and I want to maintain this feeling, so I will try to be as productive as I can. For the next week I'm going to try to focus on eliminating indecision. I will give myself exactly one minute to make each decision that presents itself. this way I won't allow myself to dwell on thinking about things for too long. I think this will be really good for me I waste alot of time trying to figure out what I should do first on my life's ever-growing to do list.

Holy Eye-Opener

My Lord, what a mornin!  My body is literally jumping up and down inside me after DAY ONE YOGA CHALLENGE 2008!

I feel transformed already! Could it be true? Or is it simply the rush of a new plan and first day excitement?  I cannot tell you - however one thing I can say with certainty is that I don't want this feeling to go away!  I feel renewed with a sense of purpose and motivation!  I no longer feel the pull of my comfy bed and tv....NO!  I want to keep moving and doing and being and contributing to this Earth! We only live on this planet once, right? so why not give it our true and best shot!!! 

Well, that's all for now but I must say I am so ready to rock and roll!!! It's Yogi-time bebe!!! Peace, Love, and mastery!  Oh yee-yeah!

Much luv,

Downward Kdawg

Day ONE!

Joanna's Post: Okay. So Kristi and I are going to do 30 days of yoga. I have also started meditating everyday. I just bought a timer so that I don't have to use my phone anymore. I have been thinking lately that I have to stop looking for external guidance and validation in my life and start being my own guide. No one is going to make me happy. No one can tell me what the right thing to do is for me. I am the person that knows me best. Even if sometimes I don't feel like I know myself at all. I am still the most knowledgeable person about me. I have been wanting to make yoga a regular part of my daily life for a long time. But there are always excuses to be made. I am so sick of hearing myself whine. about how I'm confused or unhappy or not productive enough. or that I don't know what to do with my life. This life is my doing. If I don't decide what to do with it, no one will. Waiting around for a purpose is useless, I think we need to decide to do something for awhile, see if it makes us happy, and if it doesn't, try something else. And this is what I intend to do. I am almost done school, I need to start supporting myself, because being completely supported by my father makes me feel like a parasite. I think that I will start working as a designer and do music in my free time as much as possible with the intention of eventually making a switch. But i really feel that supporting myself financially will help me feel like I am capable of being responsible for myself and my well-being. What does this have to do with yoga? I want to start building positive habits. Yoga and meditation, everyday are where I'm going to start. I hope that the two will help me feel less overwhelmed and more calm and confident to make important choices and to become the person that I want to be. The joyful person I want to be. I am getting there, I can feel it. Kristi and I are each going to go to classes together every weekday morning and on our own on the weekends. Taking one weekend day off per week is optional. We will also each, seperately, write in this blog everyday to document our progress. How we feel, what issues arise in yoga, meditation and life. Thirty days from now is Friday, April 11th. At this point I think we should take stock of how far we've come and set new goals.