Way of the Turtle - Panczo's 6th challenge

[Panczo]

Go to GOALS if you don’t have time for my imaginary creations! It’s gonna be a long one. I had some fun with it

 

Reflections

 

It’s my 6th challenge. I consider the 5^th being the first that I actually enjoyed and did awesome. Yeah, it took a while

By the way I realized that so far my challenges were chaotic, undirected and haven’t got any to do with achieving a level of fitness that my race describes: Half Dwarf Half TMNT.

 

It’s weird yet comforting thought that I needed an injury to get that. Better late than ever. Now I have the plan for my journey with no specific ending actually and I like it that way. I made first step on that way in 5^th challenge, it’s the Way of the Turtle

 

5th turtle begins…

 

 

During my 5^th challenge in my head poped-up a nickname for my alter-ego: Panczo, the 5^th turtle. As I assume I will wear black bandana and of course fight with an axe BUT before I deserve this attributes, I must go through YEARS of training with each of the TMNTurtles! It will be divided into 4 stages: meditation (healing and chilling), bw strength (yoga, holds, bw exercises), acrobatic skills (flare, handsprings, capoeira, etc.) and martial arts.

 

4 stages of training = 4 ninja turtles as teachers.

 

Furthermore there will be few other skills to obtain before becoming rightful 5^th turtle. And I can forget about dwarf part in my race too!

 

I might be broken, but I refuse to give up

So it’s time to write a fucking awesome story of a comic superhero. Prologue’s behind us. Time for 1^st chapter.

 

Ready, steady, (slowly) go!

 

The goals itself: (goals - simpler)

 

Stage 1: “Healing and Chilling†continues aka “Meditation and How to Dance and Swim Like a Turtleâ€

Teacher: (of course) Leonardo

1. go through MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) 8-week long program from John Kabat-Zinn’s book: Full Catastrophe Living. It means some kind of meditation 6 days/week. About 1-1.5 hour per day – hardcore style!
2. LIFE: Learn mathematics namely Saga Continues – at least 210mins per week (I had 180min last time)

Side quests:

1. every week make healthy meal in bulks for entire week. Veggie-rich salad, rice with meat and veggies, soups, etc. I did this last time too. Good for health – I think so J
2. do at least 15mins of activity 3 times per week. Ideas: DANCING, SWIMMING, biking, easy yoga, walking, etc

Succesful challenge = Level Up = 80% of goals 1 and 2

 

Final notes

 

I know it looks like overplanning again. Maybe it is. But there will be no better moment to try MBSR program and I can’t resign of learning math (it gives me hope for better job perspectives).

 

Plan for this challenge:

• meditation is TOP PRIORITY! Math comes second. After completing MBSR I will back down with meditation a bit but first the program!
• Do as much meditation as I can before work and math during work (good sides of working only with my father) so the afternoons can be free for other things in life (like planning the wedding , writing my epic quest, etc)
• If I can’t achieve goals 3 and 4 I can still success in this challenge. They are here more for reminders to take care of myself than to push me through.
• I will be attending dancing classes once per week with my girl    and I hope to do some swimming 1x/week  so activity should be doable

Ps.

After seeing an orthopedist I’m taking two medicines currently: for my elbow and knee. Doc said my knee wasn’t damaged, just the structure of the cartilage is not right. Elbow still has some minor inflammation. 40 days from now I’m going again for check up! Perfect match in time with nf challenges

 

Ok. End of talking.

time to plant seeds...

 

Go ninja go!

)

LEGEN… aahh the 90's … DARY!!!

[Panczo]

Goals in shortcut:

 

Main quest: Healing and Chilling

Motivation: need to chill and patiently wait until I am healthy again to train more hardcore (turtle style)

 

1. MAIN QUEST Meditate 6 days/week - according to MBSR program from book: "Full Catastrophe Living"

2. LIFE QUEST Learn math at least 210mins per week (I had 180 last time)

 

side quest:

3. healthy cooking in bulks at least 1x/week

4. aerobic activity at least 3x/week (dancing classess and swimming especially welcome - turtle style )

 

Success = 80% on goals 1 and 2

 

- Say hello Leo.

- Enough talking. Get to work lad.

[faraxk]

Cowabunga, dude!  That is such a great and imaginative way to tackle the new challenge.  You are going to be the meditation master by the time you're done.  Love it!  

[Thilde]

Oh. EM. GEE.  I think your challenge setup might be the most epic one I've seen yet, and I've been here more than a year.  I love how you've set it up to span multiple challenges, and honestly, I think your approach just makes so much farkin' sense.  Frankly, I'm kinda pissed I didn't think of this idea first.   

 

Your goals look good...seems like you've got a handle on how to accomplish them.  Good luck with it!!  Can't wait to hear how you do.

[Nazy_Ak]

Hi, I just wanted to say that, what a brilliant way to set it up!! Love the back story

I'll definitely be following to see where you go with it. Good luck!!

[Panczo]

Cowabunga, dude!  That is such a great and imaginative way to tackle the new challenge.  You are going to be the meditation master by the time you're done.  Love it!  

 

hey faraxk, glad to see you on board

 

Oh. EM. GEE.  I think your challenge setup might be the most epic one I've seen yet, and I've been here more than a year.  I love how you've set it up to span multiple challenges, and honestly, I think your approach just makes so much farkin' sense.  Frankly, I'm kinda pissed I didn't think of this idea first.  

 

Your goals look good...seems like you've got a handle on how to accomplish them.  Good luck with it!!  Can't wait to hear how you do.

 

hehe thanks Sambie. I did have quite fun with putting this all together and I am glad I finally wrote that down. My head was so full of all the planing and now it's time to patiently execute the plan. Which unfortunately is much harder part

 

and you can always steal all the ideas you see here to create your own epic setup I'll be more than happy

 

Hi, I just wanted to say that, what a brilliant way to set it up!! Love the back story

I'll definitely be following to see where you go with it. Good luck!!

 

thanks Kiara.If only the execution and patience were as good as setup itself it would awesome but so far so good... see ya around as well

[Chanda]

Great challenge setup!

 

Great goals too. While the body is healing work on the mind. Perfect!

 

Looking forward to seeing your TMNT skills develop!

[Panczo]

Great challenge setup!

 

Great goals too. While the body is healing work on the mind. Perfect!

 

Looking forward to seeing your TMNT skills develop!

 

thx - when body is healing working on the mind seems the only option I have - but it feels right to do it so I don't grumble (very often )

[Panczo]

I need some place to put details of my MBSR program I am following this chalenge. So here it is:

I won't be counting the informal techniques for the challenge. Just the formal stuff. But will try do my best doing it all.

 

• Week 1 and 2

- body scanning meditation - 6x/week - 45' each

- sitting and breathing meditation - 10' each day

- informal (not counting in the challenge): try to do one thing with full awareness every day - I choose driving/biking to work

• Week 3 and 4

- body scanning alternating every other day with yoga - 6x /week - 45' each

- sitting and breathing meditation - 15'-20' each day

- informal: week 3 - try be aware during one happy event each day. week 4 try be aware during one unhappy event each day.

• Week 5 and 6 

- sitting for 30-45' and (IF it feels good) alternating with 45' yoga.

- start meditating while walking 

• Week 7

- 45' daily whatever method I prefer: sitting/ body scanning/ yoga or mix - not necessarily in a row

- try to not use any tapes if it feels good

• Week 8

- I make the rules how long and what to do - week 8 last for the end of days

- back with the tapes

 

 

that's it....

oh and while I'm here I can post an update:

 

- so far so good. I did body scannings and sitting meditation. Scanning is tough cause I have problems with being awake all the 45mins sitting is awesome as I do it for many weeks now. But recently my back got stronger and I am able to sit without leaning my back against seat back - I call it side progress

- math is doing great - from what I've learned in prev challenge I have tendencies to put off learning till weekend and then do about 80% that has been left. This time I'm trying to start from monday = and I already did 90minutes (50+40)  

 

side quests:

- done lots of healthy food at monday 

- I biked 30mins (15+15) at monday so far - 1 activity done!

 

hope u guys all have a great start of the challenge....

slut

[faraxk]

Doing great as usual!  I like to meditate laying down too, but yeah, 45 minutes would probably make me very sleepy too.  Way to be rocking the challenge so far!

[Nazy_Ak]

 

oh and while I'm here I can post an update:

 

- so far so good. I did body scannings and sitting meditation. Scanning is tough cause I have problems with being awake all the 45mins sitting is awesome as I do it for many weeks now. But recently my back got stronger and I am able to sit without leaning my back against seat back - I call it side progress

- math is doing great - from what I've learned in prev challenge I have tendencies to put off learning till weekend and then do about 80% that has been left. This time I'm trying to start from monday = and I already did 90minutes (50+40)  

 

side quests:

- done lots of healthy food at monday 

- I biked 30mins (15+15) at monday so far - 1 activity done!

 

hope u guys all have a great start of the challenge....

slut

Sounds good Panczo! What do you mean by body scanning? I can relate to falling asleep after 45 min of meditating though, because I did just that yesterday, after 30min haha. Oops!

Btw I read your intro thread. It's hilarious! Love that weird sense of humour

How's the book coming along?

[Laureleye]

Popped over here to see what you're up to this challenge.  This looks like great stuff and what a fun setup. 

[Panczo]

Doing great as usual!  I like to meditate laying down too, but yeah, 45 minutes would probably make me very sleepy too.  Way to be rocking the challenge so far!

 

I'm trying different times of the day but so far I have these floating away issue all the time but I'm doing it any way

 

Sounds good Panczo! What do you mean by body scanning? I can relate to falling asleep after 45 min of meditating though, because I did just that yesterday, after 30min haha. Oops!

Btw I read your intro thread. It's hilarious! Love that weird sense of humour

How's the book coming along?

 

body scanning is a meditation where you lay down on your back (preferably) and you put your focus on different parts of your body just "feeling" the sensations that this part is giving you at the moment (with/without listening to a recording ) - more less. It's smth like that: http://www.doyogawithme.com/content/total-body-relaxation-ii

 

well I'm glad you liked it I like to let loose my weird humour once in a while. And about the book - well we are having a break currently, but not divorce yet. Actually I am planning to get back to it once I finish this MBSR program which last 8 weeks. It's about 73% done. I have 3 final chapters to re-write , than some editing and it's ready for Noble Prize

 

Popped over here to see what you're up to this challenge.  This looks like great stuff and what a fun setup. 

 

Hey Laureleye, thx and nice to see you around  

[Thilde]

I love Do Yoga With Me!  Such a great website.  Yesterday I did their Yoga for Digestion class, and it was so good.  I have fallen asleep during body scans too; I just let it happen if it happens, as I figure it probably means my body needs the rest.    Glad to hear your challenge is off to a solid start!  Keep up the great work!

[Panczo]

thx Sambie - yep, the page is awesome and it has so many lessons to choose from ...

 

anyways just wanna say that I am little sick since SUnday morning and so my challenge may or may not sufer from it. So far I've been doing great but this week gonna be a toughie as I have friends meeting today (I can't miss no-girls night ) and going to a wedding sat-sun. But I already did healthy cooking at Monday and some math. Also the meditation is 100% so far although I still can't concantrate much while doing Body Scanning - I barely ever last till the end before I fall asleep - I think (just like Sambie) that I may not be rested enough. Will try to sleep more next few days - see if that helps

 

see ya guys

slut

[Laureleye]

Yeah, I don't suppose you can meditate while having a few beers...but have fun.

[Panczo]

Yeah, I don't suppose you can meditate while having a few beers...but have fun.

 

well the meeting was nice for de-stressing and talking about nothing in particular I needed that

 

challenge wise - my updating sucks but just wanna say I'm doing great with my challenge - will report fully at the end of the week. Unfortunately my sickness is still with me, so I will have to go to see doctor at monday if nothing changes

[faraxk]

Sorry you're a little sick!  Sounds like things are pretty busy for you too, but way to rock all your goals.

 

I might need you to give me some pointers on meditation, because I am just failing at it this week.  You are like the meditation master!  

[Thilde]

Aw man, feel better soon.  Glad to hear you're sticking with the meditation.  Here's to week three!    

[Panczo]

Sorry you're a little sick!  Sounds like things are pretty busy for you too, but way to rock all your goals.

 

I might need you to give me some pointers on meditation, because I am just failing at it this week.  You are like the meditation master!  

 

I wouldn't call myself a master - just a guy who does something he enjoys but to not let your expectations down, my pointers would be to not waiting with meditation to "before bed time". If I leave it till that time, I might just the same not even trying there are oh so many things to do during the day, that if I don't have " an appointment with my meditation" then I would simply not find time for it. And so I am making this time day before by choosing when I will do it -  and mornings right after brushings my teeth are the best!!! Second place is right after coming back from work - before all the house-life gets me. Third time is my last back up, and it is right after dinner but it's not as effective as those two. What these three have in common is solid trigger point for meditation.

 

ok - now I realized I don't even now if that is your problem or not, hehehe

 

2nd thing is finding YOUR way on HOW to meditate. My knowledge here isn't wide but I guess there are lots of ways to meditate: with or without recordings, with or without music, with some special theme like graduation, love, compasion etc, with certain direction or problem to mediate about, etc...

 

I guess the only way to find your way is try different things like for example I am doing the simplest version: focus on breathing while sitting but am also trying scanning and yoga as mediation with recordings. 

 

again the same realisation

but maybe it will help, if not let us know what is your trouble with persistent mediation?

 

Aw man, feel better soon.  Glad to hear you're sticking with the meditation.  Here's to week three!  

 

week 3 here we come....

I've got some medical perscription for my sick throat and runny nose and so now I have like 6 different meds with my orthopedist ones :/

I hope it will end before week is over 

[Panczo]

quick update:

 

week 1 & 2:

1. meditation 13x/week: 100%

2  math 210mins- 100%

3. healthy cooking x1 - 100%

4. activity for 15mins x3  - 100%

 

[Laureleye]

I hope you're feeling better and can keep all the pills straight. 

[faraxk]

You slick guy, you.    Hope your throat is feeling better.  Can't wait to see you top this week.

 

Thanks for all the advice on meditating too.  I guess my issue is that I just feel like I need to be DOING something.  I'm rallying for the week and will try doing some meditative yoga or listening to some singing bowls.  New week, better effort.  Well, or continuous effort in your case.  

[Panczo]

You slick guy, you.    Hope your throat is feeling better.  Can't wait to see you top this week.

 

Thanks for all the advice on meditating too.  I guess my issue is that I just feel like I need to be DOING something.  I'm rallying for the week and will try doing some meditative yoga or listening to some singing bowls.  New week, better effort.  Well, or continuous effort in your case.  

 Thx

well, I wish you finding your way of doing it

 

I hope you're feeling better and can keep all the pills straight. 

 

thx, am doing my best

 

I'm feeling much better now, but am still on meds ;/ so still no swimming or biking :/

[Nazy_Ak]

Hey, hope you're feeling a little better Panczo, I was ill last week and it sucks!!! 

 

Keep going Ninja Turtle, you're doing great.. Cowabunga!!