Goal Setting

Goal setting is a lot like creating a budget: one of those  things you know you should do, because all well-organized, type A and successful people do, and yet you never seem to get around to it.  Mostly this is because my goals are “Get into the shower before your time slot is up”, which can be challenging when living with three other people.  Budgeting tends to be “don’t bounce a check.”

However, with 2010 being The Year of Awesome, I decided some goal setting would be in order.  This weekend I attended the Yoga Journal Conference in Boston and l0 and behold, the fabulous women of lululemon athletica were there doing goal coaching!  I had a lovely conversation with Michaelene who was very inspiring.

When I finally had some down time on Monday morning, I read over their helpful hints on writing goals and took some time to think about what my top three goals for 2010/2011 are.

Since sharing goals makes you more accountable for them, here are my top three goals for 2010/2011:

• By January 2011, I teach at least four year-round permanent yoga classes.
• December 2010 is the month I make my final credit card payment.
• In 2011, I travel outside the US twice.

So there you have it folks!  Three goals for 2010/2011.  And now that their public I better get working on them!

Power Yoga – 3/17/2010

Power Yoga
3/17/2010
HBS, Shad Hall
75 minutes
12 peeps
Music: Yoga Pop mix on my iPod

Power Yoga – 3/6/2010

Power Yoga
Prana Power Yoga, Cambridge MA
3/6/10
90 minutes (!!)
28 peeps
Music: Prana playlist by Ray Mucci

child’s pose with shoulder opener (via Claudia)
downward facing dog
down dog to plank
broken vinyasa
tadasana
intention setting
3 oms
4 Sun As
4 Sun Bs (humble warrior in final sun B)
three-legged dog
hip opener/flip dog
vastistasana

three-legged ab work
crescent lunge twist
warrior II
side angle lunge
half/full bind
warrior II

utkatasana twist right
padangustasana
utkataska twist left
padahastasana

warrior II
triangle
prasritta A/horse
gratitude pose
halfway lift with arms outstretched
revolved triangle

vinyasa to down dog
walk hands to back of mat
eagle
airplane
dancer

2 locust
1 bow
bridge
wheel
supta baddha konasana
ab work with block

vinyasa to down dog
half pigeon/reclined pigeon
inversion
spinal twist
savasana

WHEE!  Taught my first Prana class!  I was surprised by the number of people, but was glad we had the small studio.  It holds the energy well, even though with 28 it was crowded to the point of dodging flying legs and arms.

My greatest fear as a teacher was overcome, thanks to some great advice by Pat Donaher.  I was petrified of having to “om.”  Singing, especially in front of strangers (or anyone)!  Om-ing in front of 20+ strangers wearing tight clothes is the stuff of nightmares.  Then Pat gave me some great advice: “Start quiet and let the class take over.”  Sure enough that’s exactly what happened.  So thank you Pat and my students for sounding some truly excellent Oms!

I was also a litter nervous about not having enough material to fill 90 minutes.  HA – that’s a laugh.  I nearly ran OUT of time and there were so many things (crow, frog, more prasrittas) that I wanted to do.  Oh well – hopefully there will be more chances to teach 90 minute classes.

The Prana group was great and I feel so grateful to all who came for my first Prana class!  Love ya, Prana Peeps!

Vacation with love

Things are going to be a little quiet here on Perusals for the next few days as I’m on vacation!  Hooray!!

I flew out yesterday to Seattle to spend five amazing days with my best girl Tess, her sweetie Ryan and the beautiful city of Seattle.  We’ll head up to Orcas Island for the weekend, but beyond that trip, most of the time will be spent eating good food, going to yoga classes, and hanging out.

There’s a lot to be said for spending time with people you love — and it’s made infinitely better when those people love you.

Donation Button for Saluting the Spirit

Oooh – fancy web coding   Check out the “Sponsor Me” button in the right-side of the screen.  Now there’s a fast, easy way to support me in May 16th’s big event: Saluting the Spirit.

The yoga equivalent of running the Boston Marathon, Saluting the Spirit is a three hour yoga class team-taught by nine amazing instructors.  The money raised goes to support Pathways to Wellness and yogaHOPE.

All donations are welcome, from $1 to $1,000,000!

Vinyasa II/III – 2/10/09

dolphin pose

Vinyasa II/III
2/10/09
MAC, Harvard University
75 minutes
32 peeps (!!!)
Music: Portishead “Wandering Star”, Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack “O Saya” and closed with Rusted Root “Send me on my Way”  [kick ass selection if I do say so myself!]

Child’s pose with side stretch
downward facing dog
down dog to plank
rag doll
tadasana
intention setting
3 Sun As
3 Sun Bs
three-legged dog
hip open/flip dog
vastistasana
::repeat on left::

Hour of Power – 1/29/10

Hour of Power
1/29/10
Shad Hall, Harvard Business School
50 minutes
25 peeps (we ran out of mats!)
Music: Guster, Happier and Ingrid Michaelson, Be OK

Yoga 4Trauma: Project Haiti Update

So much is going on!

For the full rundown, check out Elephant Journal’s latest post as well as the Yoga 4 Trauma: Project Haiti blog.

Here’s a quick summary:

• The goal of Yoga 4 Trauma: Project Haiti is to establish a program of therapeutic, trauma-sensitive yoga that is sustainable by the local community going into the future.
• Partners in Health and Mercy Corps are on board and are working with Maggie of Sprout Yoga and Sue of Yoga Hope in conjunction with the Trauma Center and JRI Health.
• Project Haiti is starting to get national attention.  Sue Jones of Yoga Hope will be interviewed by Deepak Chopra on his Sirius radio show in the near future.
• the Kripalu Center is offering space for the first training session, planned for this fall.

Project Haiti is still in need of your support.  Mats, blocks, straps and other yoga equipment is needed.  You can also contact your local yoga studio and ask them to host a donation class to raise money for Yoga 4 Trauma: Project Haiti.

This is shaping up to be a watershed moment for the recognition and adoption of yoga as a serious part of recovery for primary and secondary trauma victims.

Be a part of where it all starts.

Real Men Do Yoga

Vinyasa Flow
60 minutes
10 peeps (5 guys!)
Music: Prana After Dark 7, mix by Ray Mucci

child’s pose
down dog
down dog to high plank x3
broken vinyasa
rag doll
tadasana
3 sun As
3 sun Bs
- sun B 2 and three flow from warrior I into humble warrior
open to warrior II
reverse warrior
runners lunge
drop knee with hip opener
3-legged dog
hip opener/flip dog
crescent lunge twist
warrior II
side angle
half bind
triangle
prasritta A/B
pivot to front and into eagle
airplane
tadasana
repeat from sun B through airplane on left
dolphin plank
forearm side plank with threading on right
2 locust
1 bow
forearm side plank with threading on left
2 bridges
1 wheel/bridge
supta baddha konasana
happy baby
half pigeon
spinal twist
savasana

So, so so proud of my yoga students today! They have grown so much over the semester.  I’m especially proud and excited about the men who come to class.  It can be doubly tough for a guy to come to a yoga class, put himself in a situation that he’s unsure of and uncomfortable with … it’s a big risk.  But these men come with no previous yoga experience and take the risk — and do great!  It’s so hard to take those personal risks but these guys do it.  So proud and them and so grateful to have them in my class!

Back from the Great White North

No, not quite Canada … about 60 minutes from the border by car, though. The holiday break in Rangeley was fantastic, and I didn’t crumble into a tiny, broken pool of humanity at the lack of internet connection. In fact, I’m quite proud of how I did!

What did I do instead?

I went skiing:

Snowshoeing:

Skating:

Watched the deer out the windows:

Celebrated the holiday with silly headgear:

Watched sunsets set the sky on fire:

And contemplated the brevity of life:

Nope. Didn’t miss the internet at all. Which must be the reason I’ve been online since I got home and my eyes feel like their going to fall out of my head. Must be.