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.