Sunday, November 11, 2012

Nov 10 ~ Accessing the Energy Within

Love waking up to dog messes all over the living room floor ~ NOT!! Before coffee, the messes needed to be cleaned ~ yuck.  I can only guess which dog made the messes but not for sure, of course.  I was frustrated ~ sometimes it doesn't pay to be the first one awake.  No use whining about it ~ it is not going to get cleaned up on its own ~ just get it cleaned up and move forward.


Accessing the Energy Within:
A quietly engaged mind is the root of a joyful and energized spirit. Life’s unpredictability can exhaust us or it can invigorate us, depending on how we react to the stimuli in our environments. When you respond to the unexpected with serene curiosity and interested enthusiasm rather than anxiety and worry, you’ll empower yourself to face challenges without becoming fatigued. Surprises and setbacks will become opportunities to utilize your innovative mind and your intellectual potential. As you employ the blessings the universe has given you to address your changing situation, a wellspring of energy will surge forth within you, giving you physical strength and fortifying your soul. Your energy will flourish today when you are fully engaged in making a positive impact on the problems plaguing your personal and professional projects.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Nov 5 ~ Balancing Give & Take

Daylight Savings started ~ I like the extra hour but it plays havoc on my routine.  The Broncos had an early game and they won.  We roasted a chicken with all the trimmings ~ just like Thanksgiving ~ one of Heather's favorite meals so she stopped by to visit (plus do laundry).  Although, this may end soon because she is moving to a new apartment with one of her friends (breaking up with Alex) and it happens to have a washer & dryer in the apartment.  She claims she will still visit but now I'll have to come up with reasons for her to like cooking some awesome dinner or something.

Why Balance Give & Take:
By balancing the flow of giving and receiving in our relationships with others, we align ourselves with the natural universal rhythm of abundance and generosity. Aligning with this natural balance automatically helps us create a greater sense of balance in our lives. Rather than feeling guilty about what we receive, or resentful about what we give to others, we are able to embrace both phases with gratitude and joy, and create an ease of flow that brings harmonious balance to our relationships and our lives. As you embrace the flow of giving and receiving in your relationships today, you can bring forth a welcome sense of harmony and peacefulness to enhance your interactions with others.


Saturday, November 3, 2012

Nov 3 ~ Hospitality for the Self

Yesterday I called in a "well" day ~ it was not planned because I got up at O'dark thirty to prepare for a day of work but at 6:30 when I am supposed to be heading out the door, I decided to call in. I am happy that I did ~ it was not going to be a busy day at work for me so I didn't feel guilty about not showing up for work.
My husband and I went to eat breakfast at one of our favorite places ~ went Lowe's for a bit then home and I started painting my room upstairs while hubby worked on a project of his own in the garage. We braked for lunch at one of our favorite Chinese buffet places ~ toodled around Target afterwards ~ still too early to start our Friday Night date night of pool shooting so we went home for a bit. I finished a little more painting of my room ~ need to get that futon bed out, tho ~ it will be our Saturday (today) project. Went to our usual hangout but all the pool tables were being used so we went to the Darkside ~ we enjoyed our evening even tho Geo won our pool game series and it was just us two playing pool ~ their pool tables are awesome!!




Today's Lesson: Treating myself with respect and nurturing attention can contribute to a rested mind and balanced body. While most of us would go to great lengths to be gracious to our loved ones, we often forget that we deserve the same level of care and attention. By choosing to treat myself as well as I would treat my friends, I invest in a healthier and happier self. Not only does this make me feel more balanced in my life but it also results in a rested mind and energetic body that can help me care for those I love.





Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Day 31 ~ Last Day but Not the End

Happy Halloween ~ it's the last day of this 31 days of yoga (plus blogging) challenge but it's not the end of the story ~ I will continue my daily yoga sessions and I enjoy blogging ~ it may not all be about my yoga practices but my journey in life.

Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Home Base = 31 Days of Yoga

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Day 30 ~ Headstand

Tuesday ~ woke up to the sound of my coffee maker hence I had forgotten to set my alarm... oops.
One of my goals is to accomplish the headstand ~ it did not happen at the end of this 31 day yoga series but maybe before the end of this year.  I am working on creating a yoga space in my home which has the perfect wall to practice.




Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Home Base: 31 Days of Yoga

Monday, October 29, 2012

Day 29 ~ Laughter

I read an article recently about Laughter Yoga ~ it sounds interesting.  Kataria, a physician from Mumbai, is the found of Laughter Yoga.  It's a place where people meet just to laugh ~ how fun would that be to laugh for no reason with the bonus of having health benefits ~ relieves stress, boosts immunity, fights depression, and maybe become more positive thinkers.



Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Home Base ~ 31 Days of Yoga

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Day 28 ~ Life Is Good

Today is Sunday ~ got up feeling a lot better about life in general.  Isn't this a beautiful reminder to enjoy life ~ sing a song ~ be happy...

Always have a song in your heart & you'll be on a good note.
The Next Level ~ Today's Daily Horoscope:
I may feel liberated today, which could inspire me to take action on my plans ~ yes, I do feel liberated today ~ it is a new day with new plans and ideas.
I am working through obstacles that hindered my progress in the past ~ my obstacle being me and my brain making lame excuses.
I just need to simply give some though to my existing plans, then ask myself if I have the confidence to stretch my limits and set slightly more challenging goals today ~ I believe creating new goals shows growth ~ I need to work through my obstacles and make the changes.

Home Base ~ 31 Days of Yoga


Saturday, October 27, 2012

Day 27 ~ Self-Confidence

I needed this yesterday ~ feeling sorry for myself sucks!  Energize yoga done


Smile and soon it will make you happy ~ is that how it goes?  Pretending to have self-confidence will help us to believe that we are strong and continuing to practice this, soon we will build self-confidence as part of our personality. 




Friday, October 26, 2012

Day 26 ~ Grief

Today is Friday ~ feeling sad, still ~ not feeling it ~ just want to mope around & cruise the internet ~ it is Friday, at least.  Energize yoga was about all I wanted to do.




Home Base ~ 31 Days of Yoga

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Day 25 ~ Be in Peace

This morning my heart is heavy ~ last night I heard one of my son's best friend died last night ~ he was hit while crossing the street.
I could not focus on my yoga practice this morning ~ I choose to do one from Shiva Rea's AM Energy.
Tonight we will be attending Derick's vigil ~ I'm sad for my son because he is not able to attend.


Home Base ~ 31 Days of Yoga

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Day 24 ~ Progress

Someone shared this on Facebook and I needed it today ~ it gets frustrating when I don't see the progress and I feel like throwing in the towel to quit:



Enjoy today ~ Namaste




Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Day 23 ~ Goals

Goals ~ to make them or not, that is the question.  I make goals ~ small goals like what I plan to accomplish each day ~ back on Oct 1st, it was my goal to commit  to 31 Days of Yoga and blogging about it ~ but long-term goals for the next 5, 10 or 20 years in the future is not something I can do ~ I live in the moment, day-by-day.

"Thank goodness, growth surprises us with outcomes never expected." ~ unknown

Interesting what my horoscope said today:  What visions do you have for your future? If you haven't given thought to where you want your life to be in the next five, ten or twenty years, today is a great day to put your mind to the task. It's more important than ever for you to understand what you want for yourself, and it won't take long for you to put together some fantasies about what you'd ideally like to have. And fantasies can be the blueprint for your reality if you're ready to put in the necessary efforts.

Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Home Base ~ 31 Days of Yoga

Monday, October 22, 2012

Day 22 ~ Presence

It was a rough night ~ couldn't sleep ~ tasted dinner all night long, yuck ~ woke up later than usual.
New Day ~ New Start:  I am going to start meditating and this first week is 5 min in the morning and 5 min in the evening ~ main focus is my breath ~ one breathe at a time.
The first half, I was restless, irritable, and bored ~ almost got up to call it quits but noticed I only had 2 1/2 minutes left so I told myself to just hang in there.
One thing I did notice, my drive to work was very mellow ~ usually I'm growling at the slow drivers, wanting them to get out of my way, etc.  I don't know if it was the meditation session that helped but I like to think so.
After work I completed Day 5 Supreme 90-day System: Shoulders/Arms then follow that with a nice yoga stretch for Day 22 ~ WooHoo ~ Success!

My fortune cookie yesterday "Your present plans are going to succeed if you stick to them."

Enjoy today ~ Namaste.

Home Base = 31 Days of Yoga

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Day 21 ~ Meditation

Today I did Tara Stiles' Yoga Transformation: Weight Loss & Balance after day 4 of Supreme 90 Day System ~ Tabata Inferno

"Meditation cultivates presence ~ the mechanics of awareness-bases mediation involve aiming the mind and sustaining your awareness on an object ~ right aim and right energy are essential principles in mediation that can be applied to almost anything ~ focus on the act of being present ~ aim our mind directly to the moment at hand, and apply just the right amount of energy to our breath ~ just one breath at a time." ~ Baron Baptiste


Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Home Base ~ 31 Days of Yoga

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Day 20 ~ Total Body Yoga

Another gorgeous day ~ I love it!  Today I slept in which felt good then I did Rodney Yee's Total Body Yoga.
Three days ago, I started the Supreme 90-Day System and today is already a scheduled rest day.  I will be active ~ spending as much time outdoors as I can, walking & just enjoying the beautiful day.

Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Home Base ~ 31 Days of Yoga

Friday, October 19, 2012

Day 19 ~ Free My Spirit

T.G.I.F. ~ finally!  Rough week but today it's Friday and I'm happy.  Yesterday, my husband surprised me with the Supreme 90-Day System ~ very similar to the P90X.  And I got started.
Day 1 was Chest / Back ~ this morning, Day 2 was Ultimate Ball ~ tomorrow is already a "Rest" day.  These workouts run about 30 to 40 mins which I love ~ short & sweet, I mean sweaty.
Today is Friday and I did Shiva Rea's Yoga Trance Dance ~a wonderful way to free my spirit and celebrate life.

Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Home Base ~ 31 Days of Yoga

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Day 18 ~ Ignite My Eternal Fire

I think I like taking a shower as soon as I get out of bed ~ it wakes me up, warms my body enough to enjoy an AM yoga practice, and gives my hair enough time to dry so I can curl it if I want before heading for work. Today I did Sara Ivanhoe's Power Beauty Sweat.

I am proud of my accomplishments ~ tackling this 31-day blog is a challenge but it's a challenge that I'm finding I enjoy (most days ~ sometimes it's hard to come up with something to talk about ~ I guess that's where the challenge comes in).

Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Home Base ~ 31 Days of Yoga

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Day 17 ~ Creative Energy

This morning I did not want to get out of bed ~ slept right to my alarm going off and wanted to continue sleeping.  But I slowly rolled out of bed anyway and decided to start my day with a shower.  Not really sure the reason expect maybe to help me wake up plus warm up my body enough to truly stretch during my yoga practice.  Today I did Shiva Rea's Shakti Flow ~ It's more of a dance with flowing movements.  It helps me to remember to have fun ~ Relax & let go ~ Enjoy life ~ "Awaken to the power of our creative energy."

Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Home Base = 31 Days of Yoga

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Day 16 ~ Jack Quinn's 5K

Today I did Sara Ivanhoe's Weight Loss Yoga ~ there are quite a few good twist poses in this practice.

I don't have much to say ~ finished a 5K with my Gal Pal today ~ another beautiful day in Colorado.  This route was challenging (lots of hills) and scenic this week ~ totally enjoyed the new route jogging through old Colorado City.

Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Home Base ~ 31 Days of Yoga


Monday, October 15, 2012

Day 15 ~ Baron Baptiste

Today I did Shiva Rea's Evolution Heart Flow ~ I enjoyed this practice.

My bum is a bit sore ~ went on a 22-mile bike ride with my Gal Pal yesterday.  Such a gorgeous fall day in Colorado ~ well worth the sore behind.
Today is another beautiful day ~ I took the dog for about a 3-mile jog right after work.
I had planned to get an upper body workout but just finished eating so I'm sitting here letting my food settle, unwinding from workday while watching the Broncos play.
I find it interesting, sometimes, how close the daily horoscope is to how my day went or is going ~ Here's what it said for today:  This is a very good time for me to start any new project ~ my energy is solid and I can count on my brain power staying strong throughout the day.  There will be no drowsy afternoon vibe for me.  Anything involving physical movement is highly favored, so if I'm beginning a new workout, etc, I am sure to have a very successful experience.  The only tricky part will be knowing when to stop for the day.


"Remember to take your practice seriously, but take yourself lightly." ~ Baron Baptiste

"Don't look for perfect poses; that's craziness.  It robs you of any joy in the movement.  Healthy poses, yes.  Perfect poses, not important.  The ideal of a pose is something to work toward, not a measuring stick to beat yourself up with." ~ Baron Baptiste

"If your practice is about performance, you are guaranteeing weaknesses in your body, because your strong side will only get stronger and your weak side will only get weaker.  Your more flexible side will get longer, but your blocked side will get tighter.  Why?  Because if you are performing, your ego will never let you expose your weaknesses and blocks." ~ Baron Baptiste


Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Home Base ~ 31 Days of Yoga

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Day 14 ~ Intention

It was my intention to focus on my yoga practice ~ ignore the computer until I'm finished.
Today I did Power Yoga with Ashley Turner again, this time setting my intention before my practice and focusing on the poses as it stretched my body in a way that felt calming yet challenging.

Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Home Base: 31 Days of Yoga

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Day 13 ~ My Favorite Number

Yes ~ Another day to get a longer yoga session in ~ this morning, I pulled out my Power Yoga with Ashley Turner DVD ~ she is inspirational to me "... our inner power is knowing what we need and then giving it to ourselves; making choices based on our inner guidance.  Committing to a consistent yoga practice builds strength, confidence, and self-trust by learning to show up every day; taking care of yourself like no one else can."

Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Home Base: 31 Days of Yoga


Friday, October 12, 2012

Day 12 ~ T.G.I.F.

This morning my computer was on the fritz so it gave me no distractions ~ tried another Shiva Rea's AM Yoga.

My horoscope for today:
Today it's not about figuring out what other people can do to make you happy. It's not even about figuring out what you can do to make yourself happy. It's all about figuring out what you can do to make others happy! Be of service to someone who needs a hand. Send a sad friend into giggle fits, come to the aid of an overworked colleague, or just surrender a great parking space to a haggard-looking mom. Doing something nice for someone else will help you feel good about yourself in a whole new way.

We are celebrating our gal who is pulling a 4.0 GPA in high school ~ we are so proud of her.

Home Base: 31 Days of Yoga

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Day 10 & 11 ~ No Excuses

Ok, so I missed a day of blogging ~ now what?  I have no excuses ~ they aren't worth much and it doesn't make it better.  Just continue forward.
I am proud to say that I did not miss a day of doing my yoga practice ~ I just missed blogging about it.
Day 10 of 31 ~ Yesterday, I did Shiva Rea's Power Flow:  Flow of Empowerment Matrix
Day 11 of 31 ~ This morning, I did Jillian Michael's Yoga Meltdown, level 2 ~ she has a crow pose or some call it the  Crane Pose and the Wheel or Upward Bow Pose.  Both of these are challenging poses for me and it is my goal to achieve these.

Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Home Base: 31 Days of Yoga

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Day 9 ~ Let it Go

Back to work today.  I tried Jillian's Yoga Meltdown ~ level 1.  It is a faster-paced yoga with the focus on getting the heart rate up ~ true Jillian style.

Let go of the negative talk ~ return to my breathe ~ focus on my pose ~ just let it go.




Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Home Base: 31 Days of Yoga

Monday, October 8, 2012

Day 8 ~ Don't Give Up

Today is Columbus Day and I had the day off from work ~ Another opportunity to do a longer yoga session.  My choice for today was Deepak & Tara Stiles' Weight Loss & Balance.  This routine reminds me of Core Power Yoga.  I hurt my toes a few weeks ago and it's amazing how important the toes are in keeping my balance.
An interesting article to help develop a yoga practice in the comforts of your home:  3 Essentials for a Home Yoga Practice

Enjoy today ~ Namaste
"It suddenly gets effortless.  When you don't think about the outcome, energy comes from the sky." ~ unknown

Home Base = 31 Days of Yoga

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Day 7 ~ Gratitude

Today is Sunday ~ I slept in and it felt good.  I am also very grateful to be alive and healthy and capable to practice my yoga and run (another passion I'm learning to enjoy).  Today I wanted to express my gratitude with Shiva Rea's Yoga Trance Dance DVD ~ it is a free-spirited yoga flow that gets my heart pumping with joy.



Enjoy today ~ Make a list of 3 things you love about your life and celebrate them.  Namaste.

Home Base: 31 Days of Yoga

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Day 6 ~ Inhale ... Exhale ... Breathe

Today is the start of my 3-day week-end ~ woohoo.  What's not to love about weekends, right?  One of my reasons I love the weekends is because I can do longer yoga sessions.  This morning I did Rodney Yee's Power Yoga ~ my most favorite DVD.  He guides me through a full hour of Vinyasa yoga which gets me both sweating and feeling energized.
And he emphasizes the importance of breathing ~ in through your nose; out through your nose  "...inhale as you lift your arms up ~ exhale as you lower your arms into Mountain Pose ~ Breathe..."






Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Home Base: 31 Days of Yoga

Friday, October 5, 2012

Day 5 ~ Downward-Facing Dog

This morning I woke up to my alarm (I usually wake up about a half an hour or so BEFORE the alarm) and got my coffee started before heading downstairs to practice my daily yoga ~ I'm on day 5 ~ WooHoo.  Today I chose Sara Ivanhoe's Weight Loss.  It is a little faster-paced to "achieve our fat-loss goals."
One of my favorite poses is the Downward-Facing Dog pose.   Down Dog Pose is a great full-body strengthener and it's a nice pause to get my breathing back under control.

T.G.I.F. ~ Enjoy today ~ Namaste.

Home Base: 31 Days of Yogs

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Day 4 ~ Energize

Day 4 ~ Energize

Today I was not in the mood for yoga so I pulled out my Sara Ivanhoe's Candlelight Yoga DVD ~ she helped take me through an energizing routine to "wake the body up."  This is my go to when I'm short on time (it's about 15 min long) and I'm not in the right frame of mind for yoga.  It keeps me on track with my goal of doing at least 15 min of yoga every day.










Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Day 3 ~ Core Power


Day 3
Today is focusing on my core power.  I pulled out and dusted off Baron Baptiste's Core Power Abs, Back & Bliss ~ a power Vinyasa yoga for beginners and all levels, Live!  I enjoy his soothing voice as he takes the class through this core power routine.  It was as if I was actually in his studio.  One of my favorite poses that really works the core is called Full Boat Pose.
Enjoy today ~ Namaste

Go Ahead Right Now:
Go ahead and live this day with everything you have. Go ahead and experience your life in the richest, most fulfilling ways possible.
Though you do not know what the future will bring, you can choose right now what you will bring to the future. Choose to bring strength, confidence, love, and a passion for living life at its best.
Go ahead and live as though all of life depends on you. Go ahead and give your best to this and every moment.
Let go of the doubts, step boldly beyond your fears, and do what you know is right. Instead of waiting for things to get better, move confidently ahead from where you are with what you have.
Don’t waste your energy worrying about what might or might not happen. Go ahead and do everything you can to bring about the best results.
Go ahead and immerse yourself fully in the richness that is life. This is your grand opportunity to live, so go ahead right now and truly make it great. ~ Ralph Marston



Home Base = 31 Days of Yoga


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Day 1 ~ Getting Started


Today I woke up earlier than normal ~ I laid there contemplating my morning then finally rolled out of bed and started my coffee machine.  I went downstairs to practice my day one of yoga.
I chose to do Shiva Rea's Power Flow Yoga combination which consisted of Twisting Kriya (7 min), Agni Namaskar (17 min), and Shavasana (5 min).  Agni Namaskar is a series of yoga push-ups of up to twelve.  This morning, I had to modify and completed 5 for each round.  My goal, of course, is to do 12 regular yoga push-ups for each round.
"Yoga is a constant dance between strength and flexibility." ~ Shiva Rea
I enjoy the way she flows her words into a sort of poetic trance.
This is my horoscope for today:
Are you getting a bit bored with your regular way of doing things? If so, then your timing is perfect -- this day will bring you just enough tumult to keep things interesting, and keep you on your toes! But if you're happy as a clam with the status quo, then have no fear. You'll be able to negotiate the tiny hiccups that you encounter throughout the day. Regardless, you should consider this an experimental time in your life. Exploring new ways of thinking will be very illuminating.



Home Base = 31 Days of Yoga

Day 2 ~ Commitment

This morning, I did Sara Ivanhoe's Power Beauty Sweat.  It is a total body yoga session with great stretches for the upper body.
Commitment ~ did I bite off too much to chew?  I'm having serious 2nd thoughts about this 31-day blog challenge.  I am staying committed to my 31 days of yoga because it's important to me.  I like how it makes me feel before, during and after.
This 31 days of blogging is freaking me out ~ I know it's a learning process but is it something I am willing to share with others.  All my fumbles & stumbles?




Home Base = 31 Days of Yoga


Sunday, September 30, 2012

31 Days of Yoga

31 Days of Yoga ~ They say it takes 21 days to form a habit so the ten extra days will be sure it sticks. Yoga means union ~ connecting the body with the mind, and it just feels good.  Pretty simple.  My goal is to make it a necessary habit, like brushing the teeth.
"Yoga is the best way to begin a day.  It's getting in touch with my body and soul, finding inspiration and finding peace."




I came across Nesting Place and she has offered a 31-day challenge.  It looks intriguing ~ something I've wanted to try but didn't know where to start.  She has provided the tools and I thank you.  I plan to stumble and make a few mistakes along this adventure.

Great Tips from The Pioneer Woman:  Ten Important Things I've Learned About Blogging


Day 1 ~ Getting Started
Day 2 ~ Commitment
Day 3 ~ Core Power
Day 4 ~ Energize
Day 5 T.G.I.F. ~ Down Dog Pose
Day 6 Week-end ~ Inhale ... Exhale ... Breathe
Day 7 Week-end ~ Gratitude
Day 8 Day Off ~ Don't Give Up
Day 9 ~ Let It Go
Day 10 & 11 ~ No Excuses
Day 12 ~ T.G.I.F.
Day 13 Week-end ~ My Favorite Number
Day 14 Week-end ~ Intention
Day 15 ~ Baron Baptiste
Day 16 ~ Jack Quinn's 5K
Day 17 ~ Creative Energy
Day 18 ~ Ignite My Eternal Fire
Day 19 T.G.I.F. ~ Free My Spirit
Day 20 Week-end ~ Total Body Yoga
Day 21 Week-end ~ Meditation
Day 22 ~ Presence
Day 23 ~ Goals
Day 24 ~ Progress
Day 25 ~ Be in Peace
Day 26 T.G.I.F. ~ Grief
Day 27 Week-end ~ Self-Confidence
Day 28 Week-end ~ Life is Good
Day 29 ~ Laughter
Day 30 ~ Headstand
Day 31 ~ Last Day but Not the End