Thought for the Day - When Bad Things Happen

Why is it that when a tragedy occurs, like in Haiti, some people take on the tragedy like they have experienced it themselves, from the comfort of their own homes? It really is bad over there but the best thing we can do is donate what we can (eg. money, time, services) and not turn it into a personal "woe is me" situation. I've read a few blogs this past week that have really annoyed me in this respect. I consider my own situation crazy fortunate so the best thing I can do is help people when I can and then make decisions about my own life that does not squander the hand that I've been dealt. We can still be compassionate and help people while not being a martyr about it. I find it incredibly poor form otherwise, even a little arrogant.

I choose to actively support:

• OXFAM Australia
• Doctors Without Borders, Australia

The Haze

Alright, it's time to come to. It's time to get out of this haze that I've been living the past year and focus again. I always try to do too much and then life gets hard, I get sick and then I miss out on doing important things like simply hanging with my loved ones. I haven't really felt passionate about much lately and that kind of scares me. I got lost to the routine. To lose passion is to lose love is to lose life. I don't want to lose the passion to live. And no this is not a suicidal note and no I don't need a watchman. I've just been in a haze and now I'm finally ready to help myself out of it.

So how do I do this? By simplifying. Culling all the things that cause me to lose focus on what's really important. When I have so many things on my mind, it's hard to concentrate on any one thing and then another day gets lost to the "should, woulda, coulda" land. College starts again next week and February is going to be Jivamukti yoga month for me because the founders of Jivamukti Yoga are coming to Sydney! Just writing "Jivamukti yoga month" ignites a spark. Maybe it's not all lost in the haze after all. I just need to sit down and spend a little more time planning so I can focus. One thing at a time, or multiple if they lend themselves to synergy.

Hello yoga, welcome back...

Photo: Quill who likes to join me in downward dog and savasana

It's been a month since I really practiced asana yoga. Dear gods, will I remember how to do it? Will I even be able to hold a pose? What about the extra weight I've put on? I've felt a little lost without my asana practice and haven't felt so distanced from my practice like this before. I even feel a little anxious about it. I know my thinking hasn't been very balanced. I'm still recovering from a cold but I'll try go to my second class for the year tomorrow. I've actually been feeling unwell since Christmas. My first attempt to go back to class was last Sunday. I stayed in savasana for the whole class but that was probably one of the most soothing savasanas I ever had. We'll see. I guess I'll begin by unrolling the mat and saying hello again.

Born to Run

What a way to start the year by reading

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. Finally a book about running that didn't bore me to tears and took me on a wild journey. Thank you Jo for recommending this book to me. I am no "writer" and really wish I could write a review to do this book justice. All I can say is this:

F*cking brilliant, what a ride! I am no ultra-runner but I know that feeling I get myself when I run, like pure ecstasy ... magic. McDougall captures the spirit and releases it with such gusto that it gets you tingling from the core. Addictive. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. Inspirational.

There is so much more I would love to write about this book and share (my copy is scattered with scribbles and dog-eared pages now on points I want to remember) but I am still processing it. Just read it! I promise it will inspire you, runner or not.

McDougall does not alienate readers either like some running books do. He makes you believe that anyone can be an ultra-runner but only if they put in the training hours of course.

McDougall also mentions one of my favourite bloggers in the book - Catra aka Dirt Diva - as the kaleidoscopically-tattooed Goth chick who ran 211 miles (340kms!) and ran back, just for fun. Inspired.

Moving in January

Photo: keep on jumping by gosia janik

I've had a two week break from hooping, running, yoga and anything at all really related to moving . . . and slept in most days. Plus I ate. And ate. And ate. I think I really needed to do this but realised just how much I missed yoga, the asana practice. I also missed running. The food part was not enjoyable at all so looking forward to being healthy again. I hope getting back into an exercise routine isn't going to be a struggle. I'll soon find out. The food thing really was diabolical.

Fri 1 - 20 min hooping

Sat 2 - 60 min walk

Sun 3 - 20 min hooping

Mon 4 - 5 km run + (100x) situps/pushups/squats/lunges + 20 min hooping

Tue 5 - 45 mins yoga shakti DVD

Wed 6 - 5 km run + (100x) situps/pushups/squats/lunges

Thu 7 - rest day, feeling nauseous

Fri 8 - rest day, feeling unwell

Sat 9 - 5 km run but hard, sick

Sun 10 - sick day

Mon 11 - sick day

Tue 12 - sick day

Wed 13 - sick day

Thu 14 - sick day

Fri 15 - sick day

Sat 16 - 30 min walk but still sick, tried to go run but so not happening

Sun 17 - 75 min jivamukti/samadhi yoga + 90 min walk

Mon 18 - rest day

Tue 19 - 90 min dancing warrior yoga

Wed 20 - 10 km run (W1)

Thu 21 - 90 min dancing warrior yoga

Fri 22 - rest day

Sat 23 - 30 min walk (sydney heatwave, already 30°C at 5am)

Sun 24 - rest day

Mon 25 - Start 5 Day Vegan Detox rest day

Tue 26 - Australia Day 60 min walk

Wed 27 - 30 min run/walk

Thu 28 - 90 min dancing warrior yoga

Fri 29 - rest day

Sat 30 - 60 min walk

Sun 31 - 75 min jivamukti/samadhi yoga + 20 min hooping