31 days

Well its certainly been easier than I had thought it might be.
Its been great to realign my body and rid it of most of its tightness. My arm is about 98% so I can embrace the next 30 with full use of my arm. May be a while before I attempt a flow but no matter.
Everything in my life is better and I am sure daily practice has played a part in this.
The next 30 days is a devoted plan called the 30 day Yoga journey. Just another way of approaching it.
I will lose 10 pounds in this time and return to weight lifting.
If you have lost any of your goals pick a new one and start fresh tomorrow.
February here we come!

The zoomiest class ever!

Well here I am Day 30!
Great class tonight but man it seemed quick. Its funny we talked about it later and even Clancy felt like it was. She said she even checked the clock. Bizarre how the energy in a class seems to transmit the same to everyone.
If you are not sponsoring any one else for the power of movement , I would be grateful for any support.
Lots of sun this weekend, venture out and get some vitamin D.

Letting it all go...

I attended the 4 pm class today. I had heard some nice things about Phil's classes and was interested .
The accolades are well deserved.  The man exudes calm energy.
Not something you find often, its a delicate mix and I am sure he has worked hard for it.
This is encouraging for me. My exuberance and energy are my best characteristics.
They also are the first thing to go when depression comes to stay.  I have often wondered what balance would mean for me. I want to feel calm and not behave in an erratic manner but I love my energy.
And yes all BP's love their manic stages but I am referring to my stable self energy.
I just know that I have to achieve calmness in my mind to control my brain when it short circuits. So I love seeing that you can have both.
The world lost a great woman today, Meip Gies. Its not necessary to mourn a woman who lives such a long and fruitful life. We should however give thanks that people like her walk amongst us and show us what humility and personal integrity truly are.
My haze is slowly lifiting and the world is tilting back to centre.
Have a great evening.

day 6 /365

9 pm class tonight.Great class as always not as crowded as they have been.
I did in fact make a few realizations tonight. One my hips are starting to open. This a a great thing given the discovery by the PT the other day, hurt like heck  as they stretch but I focus on my breathing and remind myself that this is the purpose and a day will come that they will not hurt to stretch.
The other was that I was having a bit of difficulty settling. I started the day at the Dentist and was there for over 2 hours. I realized as I left class that this was bound to have some affect to how one feels. Having large needles injected into your jaw, teeth drilled away and your mouth manipulated just may cause some over stimulation.
I am slowly learning to let these things go and accept that reality is what it is.
The final thing was that I am going to give up my struggle to attend the 6 am class. This was my goal but I will attempt it when the days are a bit longer. The same comes to what I am going to be doing for my workouts this month.
I cannot do much because of my arm and the PT feels it will be a good month before I can lift weights .
So I have made peace with that and will arrange my schedule for January based on these things.
One day at a time, doing the best I can.
Its all good.

5/365

Olympic torch arrives in Manitoba


Did the noon class today. Packed again. Great to see Yoga hit the resolutions list for many.
It was a great class but I really had difficulty staying present. It leave me wondering, if I am too stimulated at this time of day do I simply chose another or do I need to slow my mind down at this time if it will not of its own accord? Hmmm. Well I have 360 days to discover the answer so I will at some time let you know.
I was picked  to be one of 114 people from 6 continents doing a 50 day Philosophers Notes challenge.
Very cool and I am truly excited. I was picked out of over 2000 applicants so I really do feel fortunate and excited...oh did I say that already!

Day 1/365

 

Welcome to 2010.
The New Year here began with a balmy -33.
Some brave souls began the day with tradition.

Frigid runners round Assiniboine Park's formal gardens this morning in the 8th annual Polar Bare Run.... also called the Frozen Nipple Run. Participants circle the gardens once then head for their cars and warm clothes. This was the coldest run on record at -33 C.

So today was day 1 for me. I had decided that I had to continue with my plan even though the injury to my arm would make it a bit difficult.
I spoke with Clancy before class and she gave me some alternatives and lots of encouragement.
I was able to do much of the class and learned something in the  process.
When a position posed too much of a challenge I simply used the time to pay attention to how I should be executing it.
So stepping away and slowing down allows me to have better understanding of things I don't know well.
Day 1 and I have learned something already.

-1

Yes 365 begins tomorrow
My arm is far from healed but the thought of not following through or delaying this simply is not something I am willing to consider.
Life will throw many things into my path on a daily basis.
I need to start showing up in my life and it begins now.
So this is a conscious decision not me being hard on myself. I will give myself permission to only do as much as is reasonable given my physical impairment but I shall go  and do as much as possible.
365 days of Yoga, will it change me? Has it started already.
Happy New Year all, 2010 will be an awesome year of completion.
cindi

Gonna Happen

Well my arm while still very sore and immobilized is better. So I am on for the 365 day challenge. might be a slow start and downward facing dog out of the question for a bit but hey. I got 365 days to fit it in.

Well I did say it would be a 365 day challenge!

The hope 4 2day is that its simply a bad sprain.
I fell on snowy stairs leading to the riverwalk....sigh. I actually thought I had broken it when I fell. Hurt like the dickens. I can move my fingers so I hope thats a positive sign.
Given its the Holiday no value in going to emerg so I am applying RICE and will get an xray to be sure no fractures.
What is most interesting is how my thinking changes when faced with the possibility of can't over want.
Now I have to find a way to do it.
I guess 1 handed yoga is not out of the question.
Send me lots of Chi for quick healing.
cindi
Note: My John Lennon quote for today was

Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.

Now that is pretty funny.

............................

Ahhh yes I remember

I did the 4 o'clock class today. I am allowing  myself no excuses on this. There are numerous classes in a day so truly no excuse.
The class was packed and the instructor traumatized by her Christmas shopping experience at Polo Park.
Funny how we transfer our emotions on to others. She kept going on about letting outside experiences go,
great advise I hope she follows it. It did become pretty funny actually.
Its interesting for me to see just how much less irritated I get by such things. That was one of the most difficult things about BiPolar brain. A year ago I would have had to leave the class over something that simple. I am now capable of seeing it for what it is and having a bit of a laugh.
On the  walk back I could just feel the looseness in my mind and body and I was reminded what it is about Yoga that is so great.
I was still feeling a lot of resistance to starting up again never mind doing a 365 day challenge.
Its good I can do this and the benefits will be outstanding.
As I moved through the poses I considered where I would be in a month,2 or a year.
Fairly exciting actually. To consider how much I will progress in 365 days. I will actually know which move follows another.
Seriously I am the most incompetent yogai I am very sure everyone else knows what the heck they mean when they refer to the moves by name. Tuesday mornings is silent. I should have someone video tape me!
Yoga Bloopers.
Ah well no where to go but up.
Cindi

The beginning or shall we say beginnings?

365 days of Yoga??? Have I lost it once and for all?
Possibly but here is the back story.
First let me introduce myself. A middle aged woman going on 20 learning to cope with long term affects of being BiPolar and the subsequent depression that accompanies it. If you are interested in the BP side of things you will find more here.
Where 365 days of Yoga comes in is my previous inability to commit long term.
I have avoided commitment like the plague. The reason, now clear due to my managing my BP is the belief that I would fail. And I would because the Depression would be so deep I struggled to get out of bed for weeks at a time so signing up for 365 days of anything was pointless.
So can I do it?  Yes, no issue.
I truly do have a handle on the BP and the only thing that stands between me and commitment is old fear. The past.
Challenging myself to 365 days of Yoga is a statement. A statement that in fact I can.
And I shall.
Over 2 years ago I said I can to being drug free. 5 months ago I said I can to managing my BP, and today I say I can to moving forward, being in the present and finally, finally finding a life of value and fulfillment for myself.
So come along. It shall be interesting.I can hardly wait to hear my own excuses as to why not, none of which I plan to accept.
What will I find in 365 days of Yoga. Certainly a fitter body, more toned  and flexible. But for me its the what else  that drives me to do this. The first 365 day commitment in a lifetime.
I expect the woman in the mirror today will be hard to recognise.
Day 1 is Jan 1 2010.