CentredLotus

Hey all! Thanks so much for the support and the encouragement! Seems I've been falling behind in a major way with posts, but luckily I'm tracking all my progress the old fashioned way with pen and paper too! So, will update this week's stats. Realizations: the variances of summer make this possibly the most challenging time to evoke new habits! That said, while the early mornings are proving to be the very most difficult, gluten-free and meditation and my weekly workouts are solidifying themselves. Right now, I kind of wish the world could just slow down a little so I could catch up to everything I feel I am missing! More posts soon.

Thanks for the encouragement AshPS! Good point.

I would totally recommend trying different styles -- but more importantly different teachers -- to see how you experience the results. I've found that the guide can make all the difference. Typical yoga that I've experienced moves through the poses with flow, but often teachers will title them by name (traditional and North American), discuss the muscles you should be activating and even touch on where to direct your energy flow. Beyond that, it's kind of like describing how to walk: you really just have to do it and the body learns the rest. Here is a general guide: http://yoga.about.com/od/typesofyoga/a/yogatypes.htm and a quiz that might help you: http://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/quizzes_and_tools/stylequiz

20 Minutes! That is an achievement. Good job!

You're killin' it even when resting, Tiger.

YOU ARE MY INSPIRATION! Hahaha... I like your style organizing to TV! Fun! Maybe this will give me the impetus I need.

So, had one of those days where I fell off the wagon. Damn you, Day 5! Went to a friends' funeral, no easy time, but somehow derailed the whole process. What techniques do you all use to pick up again without guilt?

So, turns out attending a funeral and a wake is a good way to break all your goals: ate gluten, caffeine, didn't workout, and also didn't manage to wake up early. Day 5, not such a success. But, this is the practice, right? Always easier to stick with something when the going is good. Tomorrow, I try again. One success: I did do 10 minutes of meditation!

Aw, thanks so much for being so sweet! It's been going ok and I am always much better off gluten -- digestion, energy, everything. But donuts, why must you taunt me??!!!! There was a BBQ lunch at work today, and one of the offerings was free Honey Cruellers. The only reason I said no was seriously this site. Thank you and I hate you and love you all in one. Also, asleep early enough that the 5:30am wake up worked! (point time!) Even meditated for 10 min by myself (woop!) AND went to yoga (yup, point) before work! Who has ever even heard of that!? Haha... Feeling good.

Thanks so much! Happy to share recipes, and I would love to hear what your favourites are.

Thanks for all the support! Day 3: the hiccups begin! Oh no! haha.. So, lesson learned: no more late nights. sub-goal: to be in bed by 10pm tonight! - My body overrode my mission and I slept through all of this mornings' alarms and was almost late to work! Oi. Great to fail though, just to be reminded the stark difference of how it feels vs. getting up early (no point there I am afraid.) - DID MY POWER WORKOUT! Yeah! Spin class for an hour, then guided deadlifts, curls, and a crapload of squats, abs and other things that an instructor can do to torture your body for an hour. It was AWESOME. Really, I should get two points for managing it with little sleep, but we'll keep it at one. - No gluten (yeah!) and no caffine (realization -- I already miss coffee, like, hardcore!! OH MY GOD WHY DID I PICK CAFFEINE!!!!!???) - Side quest: I unpacked my purse. Haha.. today, a little stretched. I'll do better tomorrow. Total points so far accumulated: 4+4+3 = 11

I heard those inflatable ones were a real kick! I'll have to check them out.

YES YES! I bet they are in your neck of the wood big time too. I'm looking forward to adventuring with you!

Yes, I can't wait to try that myself! Other than the obvious challenge of staying safe, it is such a blissful self-propelled (literally!) activity. Hope you find priority for yourself soon!

It's so interesting that even in a forum built to develop our own personal goals, the only way we can do that is by dividing ourselves into sections. It makes me at once more and less comfortable. I was thrilled to see this thread, but noted that also the women's only and men's only threads were interesting additions. Where is the queer thread, trans, etc. So, even though I identify as one of the allies, I'm glad someone remembered to include this -- thank you!!! Meanwhile, I think it is great to look at how a multitude of quests in the nerd realm include everyone without necessary separation.

Thanks so much to the reference thinkmama! I'm going to check out your link as it sounds like a better version of what I am aiming for!

Hey! Excited to join District 12! (Thanks for helping me in TheHalfie!) In my desperate effort to find some balance, my goals this challenge are to wake up early (5:30am? Woo.. time for bed already!), workout/yoga 3x a week, group meditation 1x week, and maintain a gluten and caffeine-free diet! My night owl tendencies are proving a challenge. Will you help me?

Holy waves, just tried paddleboarding for the first time today, and this activity which I thought would be either super hard or maybe a little too boring is neither. I am smitten with the glory of this watersport, and did you know there is such a thing as paddleboard yoga??? Not sure if this is exclusive to the west coast, or if others have tried their hand at the craft of walking (or at least standing) on water, but I would love to hear some stories and experiences. So far, seems like the ideal and most symbolic way to find a little balance. Recipe for perfect paddle: - drag the paddle blade just toward the front side of the board before pushing back, and you stay straight every time! - sunrise, no wind, friends, or a dog to join you (yup, they can board too) - try a little downward dog on the board -- what a trip!

Hey Zima! Yup, meditating is part of my goals too! This is probably the best resource I can throw your way: The ZenWest Zen Centre: zenwest.ca. Depending on the type of meditation you are interested in, they have a great presence online, so there are a lot of podcasts, etc. about how to meditate, etc. Check it out if you are interested, and good luck! Commitment is honestly what I find to be the hardest part. The rest is just showing up!

Thanks Kikiiii! Day 2 -- nailed it! But starting to feel the effects of early mornings without the early nights (note time). Must prioritize earlier posts (not to mention dinners) or this is going to be a very dark-circle creating quest. July 30 rundown. WIN: work up at 6am-ish (Ok, I was out at 6:15, but I'm giving myself lenience for learning how to navigate nerd fitness last night. Tomorrow, no excuses. (point!) WIN: Went to group meditation tonight! (point!) WIN: No caffeine or gluten -- well, I may have snuck a decaf coffee, but I'm still taking (2 points) Side quest: Does filling the dishwasher count as cleaning up mess? BONUS WIN! Went Paddleboarding for the first time ever, and it was an AWESOME experience! Super stoked to literally have had a new way to integrate balance. Has anyone else tried it? Total: 4 points. See ya soon Day 3.

Well, I squeaked into day 1 just in time, and even managed to achieve today's goals! Thanks to my amazing friend (in real life) TheHalfie for telling me about Nerd Fitness long enough in advance that I had ample time to procrastinate about completing my post until the last moment! (This might be something for next challenge.) But I'm thrilled to be here and give six weeks a chance to retrain my habit patterns. With my new goals in place, I'm off on my mission to find balance. Here's the July 29 rundown. WIN: work up at 5:30am. (That'll be a point thanks.) WIN: yoga workout (yup, that's another point for day 1) WIN: No caffeine and NO gluten (boom -- 2 points) Side quest: totally unpacked my bags from a weekend away. Side quest score. 4 points, and priceless satisfaction. Ok Day 2, I'm ready for you.

And good luck to everyone this challenge!

Oh, pick me pick me!!!!!!!!! (<-- please note the gratuitous exclamation marks for effect). Seems like an matrix of motivated mavens. Ok, I don't really know why gratuitous alliteration had to enter the dialogue, but it's awesome to read all of your enthusiasm so far! Would love to be part of the squad.

I love your specific goals, you've got this!

Not sure where you buy your PB, but you might get further ahead with even just switching to organic! There is SO much sugar in peanut butter, that people think of it as a healthy snack but Adams, for example, is a pretty healthful brand with a lot less sugar. I love PB, so I can see why it would be a tuffy to give up -- still, vive le rebellion!