30 Days to Reconnect with YYoga

 I had this idea to take random quotations from each class I took and turn them into a dance. I would turn on Quick Time Player audio recording and press play on the YYoga video in a random spot. I saved all of the audio clips and turned them into one long recording in IMovie. Then, I use the words as stimuli for my movements. I think this would make a good activity for my students. They can collect random quotations from a show, teacher, parent or whatever they are interested in. 

Date	Class	Link	Quotation
Monday, March 1, 2021	Quick Flow for People on the Go (35 min) - with Mari Dickey	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/newreleases/videos/210224-flowexpress-mari	"Exalt right arm to sky, right side body long."
Tuesday, March 2, 2021	Hip Opening Power (45 min) - with Mikaela Millington	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/newreleases/videos/210225-power-mikaela	"If you feel like there is pent up energy, then you need to let it go, big sigh out of your mouth."
Wednesday, March 3, 2021	Flow Yoga: Sweet Hip Opening Flow (15 min) — with Mari Dickey	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/15-20-minutes/videos/flow-yoga-sweet-hip-opening-flow-15-min-with-mari-dickey	"Get nice and grounded through your back foot…"
Thursday, March 4, 2021	Intermediate Power (45 min) - with Jasmina Egeler	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/februaryreleases2021/videos/210206-power-jasmina-1	"Feet together, legs together, squeeze into your center."
Friday, March 5, 2021	Power Yoga for Positive Energy (20 min) — with Hillary Keegan	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/15-20-minutes/videos/200923-yyoga-poweryoga-energypositivity	"… place hands on shoulders… as we come into eagle, starting to come forward, hinge at the hips.. Whoa"
Saturday, March 6, 2021	Full Body Power (50 min) - with Jayme Burke Fixed my left hip!	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/newreleases/videos/210301-power-jaymeburke	"… let your right thigh kind of get heavy and earthy."
Sunday, March 7, 2021	Side Body Flow Yoga (45 min) — with Jayme Burke	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/newreleases/videos/side-body-flow-yoga-45-min-with-jayme-burke	"Fully inhale, halfway lift"
Monday, March 8, 2021	Hatha for Hips Yoga (30 min) - with Jayme Burke	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/februaryreleases2021/videos/210225-hatha-jayme	"…come into fingertips, turn your right…"
Tuesday, March 9, 2021	Hip Opening Hatha (30 min) - with Katherine Moore	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/februaryreleases2021/videos/210221-hatha-katherinemoore	"… and then bow in as you exhale."
Wednesday, March 10, 2021	Power Yoga (20 min) — with Crystal Rainbow Borrelli	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/videos/power-yoga-power-for-newbies-crystal	"… feet hip width and parallel.."
Thursday, March 11, 2021	Flow Yoga: Mid-Day Rejuvenating Class (20 min) — with Crystal Rainbow Borrelli	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/videos/flow-yoga-mid-day-rejuvenating-practice-20-min-with-crystal	"… a gentle squeeze, a little sway from side to side."
Friday, March 12, 2021	Fiery Flow for Balance (45 min) - with Mikaela Millington	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/newreleases/videos/210303-fieryflow-mikaelamillington	"… little lift of the chest, hold it here, shoulders away from the ears.."
Saturday, March 13, 2021	Front-Body Opening Power (50 min) - with Jasmina Egeler	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/februaryreleases2021/videos/210220-power-jasminaegeler	"… release your bind, back to dog pose…"
Sunday, March 14, 2021	Nourishing Flow (45 min) - with Mari Dickey (with Carrie!)	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/videos/210209-flow-maridickey	"… to high plank pose, from the top of your push-up.."
Monday, March 15, 2021	Rejuvenating Power-Flow (45 min) - with Cathy High	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/newreleases/videos/210309-rejuvinatingpower-cathy-high	"…and letting the chest lift, you really want to go for a proud chest, a tall spine."
Tuesday, March 16, 2021	Wellbeing Hatha Yoga for Working from Home (20 mins) — with Rachel Scott	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/20-30-minutes/videos/wellbeing-hatha-yoga-for-working-from-home-20-mins-with-rachel-scott	".. Then roll the chest open…"
Wednesday, March 17, 2021	Ocean Flow (45 min) - with Mikaela Millington	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/week-2-march-30-day-challenge/videos/210202-flow-mikaela-1	"… to the right side, keep your left hand grounded…"
Thursday, March 18, 2021	Smooth & Steady Pilates Flow (45 min) - with Alison Lloyd-Nijjar	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/newreleases/videos/210219-pilates-alisonlloyd	"… curl forward through chest lift.."
Friday, March 19, 2021	Hatha Yoga (30 min) - with Jayme Burke	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/20-30-minutes/videos/210218-hatha-jaymeburke	".. Light up your glutes, as you lengthen your tailbone, hug your navel in…"
Saturday, March 20, 2021	Live Stream Dancerly Flow (60 min) - with Krystina Simes	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/week-3-march-30-day-challenge/videos/tue-12-01-12-00pm-pst-dancerly-flow-60-min-with-hillary-keegan	"… over toward the heal in a one legged squat…"
Sunday, March 21, 2021	Side Body Flow Yoga (45 min) — with Katherine Moore	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/week-3-march-30-day-challenge/videos/power-for-stiff-people-45-min-with-katherine-moore	"…bring your back knee down to the floor, bring both, both hands up to your right thigh."
Monday, March 22, 2021	Flow Yoga: Feel Good Flow (30 min) – with Sasha Smith	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/week-4-march-30-day-challenge/videos/flow-yoga-feel-good-flow-30-min-with-sasha-smith	"… lift the arms up, go from Sun B, exhale forward fold."
Tuesday, March 23, 2021	Apartment Hatha Yoga for Small Spaces (20 mins) — with Rachel Scott	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/20-30-minutes/videos/apartment-hatha-yoga-for-small-spaces-20-mins-with-rachel-scott	"… up the wall. Come into down dog so the ball of my foot is on my mat…"
Wednesday, March 24, 2021	Cardio Barre Intermediate (40 min) — with Mandi Von Alkier	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/week-4-march-30-day-challenge/videos/april-26-cardio-barre-intermediate-45-min-with-mandi-von-alkier	"… keep breathing for four, for three, if the knees are…"
Thursday, March 25, 2021	Flow Yoga: Daily Maintenance for Runners (10 min) — with Katherine Moore	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/videos/flow-yoga-daily-maintenance-for-runners-katherine	"… they tend to get tight, when we work out."
Friday, March 26, 2021	BEACH
Saturday, March 27, 2021	BEACH
Sunday, March 28, 2021	Live Replay: Power Hour (60 min) - with Mari Dickey w/Carrie	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/week-4-march-30-day-challenge/videos/fri-12-11-8-30am-pst-power-hour-60-min-with-mari-dickey	"… hand down to the floor, or if you have a block handy, to a block."
Monday, March 29, 2021	Flow Yoga: Sweet Hip Opening Flow (15 min) — with Mari Dickey	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/15-20-minutes/videos/flow-yoga-sweet-hip-opening-flow-15-min-with-mari-dickey	"… exhale forward fold.."
Tuesday, March 30, 2021	Flow Yoga: Improving Your Balance (10 min) — with Jayme Burke	https://yyoga.vhx.tv/10-15-minutes/videos/may-24-flow-yoga-improving-your-balance-with-jayme-burke	"… to your feet. Make sure that you have a drishti, a focal point to look at, one that is steady and at your own eye level…"

Workouts from January 4 - February 14, 2021

 For the last few months I have kept busy doing #MuscleBurnsFat/Advanced. I enjoyed Megan's workouts. They were quick and sweaty. I did not have the BOD ropes that she used. I just air skipped. That being said, I am looking forward to starting something new and am a little sick of fake skipping. I would do these workouts again. 

I also did some yogas, Studio North classes, and a Beverly ballet through Harbour Dance live stream.

Jedi Fight Club 30 Day Back Bend Challenge January 2021

I started this challenge last year and I did not finish. I do not have a bendy back. I want a bendy back. I was drawn into this challenge last year through one of my favourite yogis, Lisa. This year, when the challenge appeared again, I thought, I better do it this time. So, I started. the first week I did five wall walks each morning after my workout. (I was nice and warm.) Each week I added five more wall walks until I got up to twenty-five. 

I dreaded doing them every morning but I kept going. I promised myself that I would keep doing them after the challenge was over. I was going to do twenty every day. I did ten the first day. I missed a day and then got back at it, then I missed two days and got back at it. So, I didn't do twenty and I missed a couple of days, but I am going to keep making myself walk the wall. I know if I keep going a little bit each day, my back will get bendier. 

I want to thank-you the Jedi Fight Club for running this challenge. They had very informative videos and online sessions to make sure you had the correct technique. They offered prizes on completion as well. I even got a free month of online yoga. That is pretty sweet. I got a bendier back and free yoga. You can't really go wrong with this challenge. I will let you know when I make it to the ground. 

 

Workouts from Quarantine to Christmas

 

I just finished the 80 Day Obsession again. I am not as excited as I was the first time I completed it because I feel like I cheated myself by not following the nutrition. It is hard to follow the nutrition in a new country where I get free lunch at school and they have chicken flavoured Doritos. Also, another excuse, food is really expensive, so eating perfectly healthy with timed nutrition would have been a challenge that way too. One more thing, I didn't want to do all the grocery shopping. That is Jonny's job. So, I didn't do the nutrition. I had a good breakfast: oatmeal with a scoop of peanut butter and a banana chocolate Vega and Greens shake. That was a good start. School lunch, I tried to eat all the veggies but sometimes I am so hungry by the time I get to lunch, that I really want to eat it all. I need to have a mid morning healthy snack to prevent me from over eating at lunch. Dinner, I eat whatever Jonny makes me and that is usually pasta or a rice bowl. If I got home before dinner I would have Doritos and a pop. We would also go have Tacos and beer on the weekend. Ya, I didn't do the nutrition like the first time. I am bummed on that. What can I do? I am done now. The next program I start I will try to be better with my nutrition. I can already tell though, it won't be until I am back home in Vancouver that I really do it right. Excuses. 

I am stronger. I can feel my muscles. That is another difference here. I was doing it in the gym at school. I had all the selections of weights but they were in kilograms, so I am not sure if I was lifting the same or more than at home. WHOA.. I just looked it up: 

3kg = 6.61 lbs

5kg = 11 lbs

7kg = 15.43 lbs

9kg = 19.84 lbs

15kg = 33.09 lbs

I guess I am a little stronger. That is pretty awesome that I was able to increase my weights and not really realize it. 

Before I was started the 80OB I was alternating yoga, running, barre, and The Work. I liked mixing it up and having something different everyday. Likewise, I enjoyed being back with Autumn and completing her workouts. I forgot how much I liked her workouts and how I would leave feeling motivated and inspired. 
 

Fitness from Lockdown to Quarantine

Fitness got me through - it always gets me through. It is the thing that grounds me. I have to move, I have to progress, I have to challenge myself. Moving multiple times a day broke up the nothingness. I was disappointed sometimes... and discouraged... but.... as long as kept moving... I knew everything would be ok.

Steezy: House by JoJo Diggs

April 9 & 10, 2020

Class: Jojo Diggs | Fallen - Ike Release

Where: Steezy

Style: House

Level: Advanced

This class wasn't too difficult to learn. It is taught in four parts. I did part 1 & 2 the first day and parts 3 & 4 the second day. The sections are easy to remember because there are repeating patterns. However, it is quick. You really have to let yourself get into the jack and groove. You need to stay loose to stay in time. There is one tricky spot where I needed to practice the transition a few times to get through it. The spot I found tricky was after the single skates, back in, hop, turn - head head. This will make sense if you take the class too. Let me know if you find it tricky as well.

I have never taken a class by this teacher before. Jojo is a beautiful mover and she shares a lot of information about house dance and her choreography. Do listen to her. When I wanted to just repeat the choreo, I used the chapters in the top right corner to skip to running it with the music.

I recommend this class to anyone who is interested in a challenging and fun footwork class. This class is also for people who like to explore the music in different ways accenting different parts of the music with different moves. Even though this class is fast, you could use the slow down buttons in Steezy to make it more accessible.

Steezy has a 7 day free trial and it also has some free intro classes. If you get the free trial make sure to use it everyday - get the most out of it. There are so many different classes you can try and the platform lets you slow it down, view from the front or from the back. It is really awesome.

Check it out.

Harbour Dance YouTube Channel: Chris Bonus

April 8, 2020

Class: Chris Bonus, Justin Beiber: Intentions

Where: Harbour Dance Centre YouTube Channel

Style: Hip Hop

Level: 2/3 (Intermediate/Advanced)

I really enjoyed this class. The video is only seventeen minutes long. It is taught in three sections. I paused at the end of each second, went back and reviewed, then ran it over and over, until it was solid in my brain. There is no cheating your brain when you are dancing alone on your patio. There is no one in class to peek at. YOU have to remember the moves and put them in your brain. So pause. Go back. Make up names for the moves in your head or say right and left, clap clap, play the guitar. Make it make sense to you.

Chris Bonus is an awesome teacher. He once collaborated on a dance team piece for Frank Hurt. I bet you didn't know that. Yes, back in the Simonne, Andrew, Dream Dance days - we had Chris and I can't remember the name of the other teacher - but I can see his face in my mind - really nice human - they taught a piece for our senior team. That was a great year. Good memories.

I recommend this class to anyone who has been taking hip hop for a while. This one is great to make your brain work. I was sweating and smiling at the end of it... and I don't even particularly like JB - but I got into this song. If you are newer to hip hop, you could still try it, just learn one chunk at a time and repeat it over and over. Cool Beans? Chris also says, "cool beans," in the video. Let me know if you try this class and what you think.

Lock Down Workouts

I have been taking a LOT of classes over the last month. I have continued with my Pure Barre classes. My studio has been teaching on FB Live. I like to say hi to my barre friends and keep connected with that community. They do the class live twice a day with two different teachers. Doing a live class makes me feel more connected. It is something I hold onto from the past, from the normal days.

I have also been doing YYOGA at home with my friend Carrie over Face time at the same time. She is my best friend and having something that we do everyday together is a time to look forward to. After yoga, we play Mario Kart on the app with Biggy in multiplayer mode. Carrie always gets first but has had to let Biggy win a few times. When he wins he does happy dances and trash talks everyone else, but when he lose he gets mad at ME and doesn't want to play anymore. I guess that sums up seven years old.

It was on my to-do list to take a Kirsten Wicklund yoga class at YYoga in Kits for... two years. I saw that she was teaching online. Her first class was on IG live. Now she is using Zoom. I have taken two classes so far, but I think I will continue with her class once a week on Thursdays at 9am. I donate $10 to her GoFundMe every time I take class. It is pretty awesome to have such an amazing Ballet BC dancer leading you through a yoga class in your own home. Sweet.

Another favourite human of mine is Mari Dickey. I haven't taken her yoga class online yet - but it is in my to do list. It is time. I need some Mari yoga. Every time I take one of her classes, I always leave having learned something new about my practice.

I have been going through the Sugar Foot Therapy classes on their website. I got a year subscription when I did the teacher training in February and now I have the time to really get into it. I plan on making some warm-up videos for my students using these exercises designed by a physiotherapist and a dancer. These are the exercises you should be doing before you start dancing to make you stronger and help you prevent being injured.

I have taken a ballet class on my patio taught by my friend Stephanie in the Dominican Republic. She is teaching through an Facebook Group Live. I plan on taking more of her classes as it warms up and I can use my patio railing as a barre.

I have just started to take more dance classes online. As I do, I write a little bit about each. Maybe you will find one that you want to try.

Move of the Day

For the month of February, I played a game where I kept track of my most memorable move from my yoga day. Sometimes that meant the move that was the most awkward, challenging, painful, beneficial, or fun. Here is my list:

Yoga Quotes

For the month of January, I recorded my favourite yoga quote from every yoga class I did. Here they are:

Yoga into 2020 with YYoga at Home

I nerded(wait... that is past tense...). I am nerding out in the YYoga at Home Facebook group. In an attempt (that is working) to not waste a year membership to this online service, I decided to keep myself engaged by giving myself challenges. The first month I joined, I decided to make super fast videos of myself practicing each day until 2020. Along the way, I met a couple of new friends who joined me. We supported each other and shared the classes that we liked.

Here are some clips from my #yogainto2020 #yogaeveryday challenge.

I got to do yoga by the Christmas tree. Christian sometimes popped his little face in the camera or joined me on his mat. Sometimes he joined me on my mat and weaved himself or toys in and around me. Sometimes, I practiced at work in my office.

 

I downloaded the video for this one. I need to do this class again. 

 

This is the final video. I was sooooo done making videos at this point. Jonny was also happy to have me stop making videos. He would walk in the room - see the camera and walk back out. I get it, we live in a small space and if I am always making videos and he doesn't want to be in them.. then his space is smaller. They are fast forwarded though - so easy to just step over the camera... all good! The videos were fun but time consuming.  

1.5 Hours

This morning I got to take the 90 minute class at Hot Yoga 101. Wancy was our leader. I have never had her before. She is an awesome teacher. She walked around and gave many corrections. There was not cheating in this class. There were 31 students... 32 with me... in the class. It was HOT. I was happy to see a lot of familiar faces from my past. I like going back through my memories of the yogis that I recognized. There was the lady who rides her bike and talked to me about warts once, Lori's mom look-a-like who is a fierce yogi - her hair is a pony tail now. There is the bendy girl who always dyes her hair blonde and complains if it is not hot enough - who I said good morning to - but she didn't respond - nothing has changed there. I had an awesome old guy beside me. He killed it. I also got a smile from my new favourite yogi with the shoulder injury - she was way across the room - but smiled before we started. I am trying to spread the love - but this is a tough crowd. I will keep being me and trying to smile, say good morning, and be a positive connection in this morning community. That reminds me, I saw one of my Pure Barre friends in the park this weekend. She has one of those huge dogs - the kind that ... Emma's friend has - the one she used to meet in Mexico - the dog's name was Archie. (Emma's friend's one...) Ummmm.... then I got in the car all sweaty to drive to work... (showered but still sweating...) and I sat in traffic. It took me 90 minutes to get to work. Sad. Time to find a new place to work. I would love to work at the Arts Umbrella - I could just walk to Granville Island... or the Dance Centre... I could walk across the park... or??? Change is coming - enjoy today - I can move, I am healthy, I have an awesome mini-family.

Peace and Love!

I am NOT LOYAL

I am back at my original Bikram studio. Well, almost, the original studio was by Yuk Yuk's on Cambie and this studio is in City Square mall. I have been to it before but it was called Bikram Yoga Vancouver. Anyways, I felt disloyal leaving Bikram for a studio closer to my home. (Westcoast Hot Yoga in Yaletown) When that studio started changing all its classes to one hours, I got frustrated and went back to Bikram. When I went back to work after having Christian, I didn't have as much time. I had to get my workouts in the morning I had to leave Bikram 15 minutes early to get to work. I hated interrupting the class by leaving. Another new studio opened up by me (One Hour Hot) and I went there for a few years. They only had one hours. Ironic. I came back from Florida and that studio closed (with my membership...). I decided to try Bikram Yoga Delta, on the way to school. I just had to get up really early to get there for 6am. I also got some class passes for YYoga. There are two of them within walking distance of my home. They just don't have 6ams I can attend. I do love the space, variety, and walkability.

When I first left Bikram, I felt bad. I have come back and see and recognize some of the same students. I see how they have improved over the years. I feel like I am at home. At the same time, I am ok being not loyal. I have learned a lot from visiting other studios and teachers. I shouldn't feel bad for trying to make my practice and my journey fit into my work life and budget. We are all here for the same reason - to practice together and share our energy.

It is good to be back and I feel like I will always come back to this studio. This is my home base.

Pure Barre Yaletown

Pure Barre is like Yoga. Let me explain myself, because it is probably only like yoga to me. Back in the day, before I did my first Bikram yoga class in 2005, I thought that yoga was for hippies. What I am saying is, I am a hippie and I am proud. No really, I am saying that I had a preconceived notion of what yoga was and who it was for. It wasn't until I had a boyfriend who was a Bikram yogi that I had the motivation to try a class. He went to a class by himself, came back, and told me about it. I got stuck on the idea of him being surrounded by hot, half naked, sweaty chicks, and decided that this was something he needed to be escorted to. Eventually, the boy was gone but hot yoga was still mine. I love hot yoga.

Yoga is like Pure Barre in the way that I had a preconceived notion about who practices Pure Barre and what it is. I feel bad that I thought that all yogis were hippies, just like I feel bad that I thought that Pure Barre students were all people who wanted to be ballet dancers but never really went for it. Oh that sounds so bad. Anyone can dance, just like those who never really went for it are still dancers. I am embarrassed by my thoughts because that is not what I promote. I don't think that I am better than anyone else, in fact it is the opposite. As for the workout, I thought it would be more like ballet, but it is ALL workout.

I am a real dancer. If I want a ballet workout I will just to go Harbour and take class. These were some of the thoughts in my head. My mind started to change when Jonathon sent me a link to an article about the creators of barre workouts. I don't have the article anymore. The important part is that it was originally created by an injured dancer as part of her recovery. Again, it is a partner that is motivating me to try this type of workout. Jonathon always informs me when another studio appears near our home. He then tells me that one day I will teach that. We will have our studio and I will get to teach all the classes I like. (And have choreographic workshops... super excited about the future. The present is not bad either.)

Here is my experience. I started off with a one week pass. $20 for one week. That is good. I went everyday. I had a couple of weeks off and got school started and then I had a $79 month pass. Somehow, I was able to attend 38 classes over the last few months. At first, I was put off by the students in the class. No one smiled. I smiled. I tried. I sweat. I said good morning to everyone, even if they didn't acknowledge me. I gave them the benefit of the doubt - it is 6am... maybe you don't have your hearing aides in? Eventually, people greeted me back and there was more of a happy feeling in my heart. Now that I am not there, I miss them.

All of the teachers are lovely. I did mostly 6am's, so I am seeing these instructors first thing in the morning. I know not all of them are morning people and that some of them probably wished they were still in bed. Regardless of the time, they were all very awesome. I did have a favourite, I won't name names, but once there were only two of us at the 6am class and she taught super fast so the student that always leaves early to get to work, could get both sides done. Then, she gave me a really good stretch. Who doesn't love that?

The studio is great. It has everything you need and it is right across the street from me. I love getting up and walking to my workout. I like to see my city in the morning, as opposed to just driving straight to work and working out there.

I guess the thing I am missing here is, did it work? I am not much for weighing and measuring, but I feel stronger and leaner. There are old muscles that I haven't worked or stretched in a while. However, there isn't that much cardio. I think Pure Barre is a good addition to your workout repertoire. I did enjoy going everyday, to learn how it works, I would suggest that for anyone just starting. As you learn the exercises and technique, I think you should also branch out and get a hot yoga, a run, or spin class in there. OH... and go and visit Harbour and dance, dance, dance!

Tues. Aug. 6, 2019: GMB Day 2: Skill Combination

I had a few days off when Biggy and I went and met G and J up at the shabin. I noticed there that my back had stopped hurting. Was it the awesome stretches from the active recovery day? I am not sure but I am going to keep going with this program. It is the thing for me for sure.

 

Maybe I like the way this program is laid out because it falls in line with the way that I teach my dance classes. I introduce movements, teach some combos, and allow time for exploration and play. 

I really enjoy the prepare section - my old back really needs that stretching in the morning. I felt great and ready to play because of the proper preparation.