Yoga Day Two

I came home late from work again tonight, so I oped for the On Demand yoga. This time I chose a "gentle yoga" class. Very simple poses and stretches. It was nice and relaxing, with a few challenging poses. Again, I enjoyed the experience, but it wasn't exceptional. 

Afterwards, I starting reading "Yoga Mind, Body & Spirit" by Donna Farhi - a wonderful book that a good friend gave me last week. I love the holistic approach, detailed description of the poses, and good writing.

"In such moments we experience a sense of translucence such that that which we see, feel, sense, hear, or touch no longer feels separate from us but is experiences as a part of our totality.... when we become the same midnight sky that fills us with awe, we remember, however briefly, our place in the scheme of things...These moments have always been there... These moments are simply awaiting our arrival"

Yoga Day 1

I recently discovered my cable company has On Demand fitness classes. So, today, I did a 30 minute beginner's yoga. The poses felt awkward - mostly it was my uncertainty that I was executing them properly. The class was fairly basic, so I didn't have too many strong opinions about my first day. I noticed that about 30 minutes after I finished, by body felt good - a bit more relaxed, or perhaps I was just more aware of my body.

Yoga in February!


My goal for February is to practice yoga every day this month. I've only tried yoga twice, both times at home, so I am truly a beginner.

I signed up at a yoga studio near my house, Purple Yoga, for unlimited classes for two weeks as a special introduction for new students.

Tonight, I'm doing a beginner's class from my OnDemand cable option, same tomorrow, then I start my first class on Friday.

Why yoga? I think I've always felt that I would benefit from slowing down, breathing, and being more aware of my body. I think it would center me and keep me more balanced. I'm hoping for that from yoga, and I'm open to anything else I can learn from the practice.
I'm excited to head into something so new and so unfamiliar....

"Just breathe"

January Sanctuary - Wrap Up

It was a whirlwind of a month. I am thrilled that I now have a home that better reflects me, and a home where I have tackled so many of those little projects that I had always meant to do. The intensity of the challenge was extremely motivating. The rapid succession of projects kept me focused. I will fully admit that this consumed my month, which I think I had expected, but I am looking forward to having more balance in future monthly goals. I didn't work out nearly as often and certainly wasn't eating as healthy as I usually do.

Some highlights:
~ Using a belt sander and a handsaw for the first time felt liberating and empowering.
~ I loved the learning. Most days, I spent a fair amount of time researching online and learning new things.
~ Preparation was key. Most days, I spent a signiciant part of my time planning for upcoming projects (learning, ordering supplies, researching, etc.)
~ It helped to have a vision of an ocean/beach inspired home to drive all the creative decisions.
~ I'm thankful that I documented everything, because each day passed by so quickly.
~ I loved calling my parents for advice on certain projects.
~ Most projects were easier than I imagined.

I love knowing that without this month-long intense challenge, my home wouldn't have changed at all. And, now, here I am one month later with change and progress, and new inspiration.

Be grateful for the home you have, knowing that at this moment, all you have is all you need.
      - Sarah Ban Breathnach

January Sanctuary - Day Twenty Six

Before:

After with my new sofa and loveseat!

So, I've averaged two projects a day, so technically, I'm done with doing a project every day for a month! I have a few things to wrap up, but I have a friend coming into town, so I'm setting this all aside for now. So exhilerating to finish so much within a month's time!!

January Sanctuary - Day Twenty Five

1. Picked up a new lampshade. White with a wave texture.

2. Created a custom matte using paint samples which will match the coffee tables. 

3. Picked up the house - so many project supplies that the house still feels upside down.

4. Anxiously counting down the hours until my sofas arrive tomorrow!

January Sanctuary - Day Twenty Four

Almost there! Today, I was able to give away my old sofa and loveseat, making room for the new sofas coming on Thursday. I'm so thankful to have new sofas coming, but it was hard to part with my old ones.... I'm not sure I understand the emotional ties I had to the furniture... but it feels cathartic to let go.

My home is a mess with all the project supplies, tools, and rearranging, so the rest of the night was spent putting things back in place.

The daily rigor of this month is producing great results, but I've had to sacrifice time usually spent working out and eating healthy. I'm looking forward to yoga next month, along with a return to healthy eating and running.

January Sanctuary - Day Twenty Three

Finally! Finished cleaning and organizing my walk-in closet. I've organized it before, but I finally let go of boxes worth of things that I really don't need. *sigh of relief*

Also, finally switched out some of my whale and joshua tree photos into a good frame. 

That's it folks...until tomorrow.

"In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves … self discipline with all of them came first."
        - Harry S Truman

January Sanctuary - Day Twenty Two

1. Yard Sale - A total financial bust, but a successful way to get rid of a ton of stuff. As I write this, there are still boxes of stuff on my front lawn - all marked free. Let's hope it's all gone by morning.
2. Painted another frame matte white.
3. Cleaned out another shelf of my closet.

As a side note, a significant amount of time each day is dedicating to planning, purchasing supplies, and preparing for the following day's (or week's) projects....I suppose that serves as a reminder that planning is just as important as the execution (if not more).

Approaching the home stretch...(pun not intended)

Nature knows no pause in progress and development, and attaches her curse on all inaction.
       - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

January Sanctuary - Day Twenty One

You can't tell from the lighting, but the "before" chair is beige (not white) and in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint.

After the first coat of paint (also painting the matte of a frame from yellow to white):

 

Took some monster waves from the book "The Wave" by Susan Casey and placed them in a frame that I had tucked away for ages without any photos in it.

Then spent the rest of my day just picking up the house, clearing out my closet, and preparing for the yard sale tomorrow morning. (Oh, and worked this morning, and went to dinner and the symphony tonight.... I think I need sleep, lots of sleep)


“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land, there is no other life but this.” 
       - Henry David Thoreau

January Sanctuary - Day Twenty

Do I have to show the before?? It's ridiculous! Crazy cables, random speakers, chaotic cords.

So, I ordered a black bookcase from World Market that arrived today. Assembly required, of course:

The after! My Bose has a home. My Harman Kardon has a home. My laptop has a home.
 

The cables are all organized, grouped, and secured using twist ties and electrical tape.

"In order to seek one's own direction, one must simplify the mechanics of ordinary, everyday life."
         -Plato

 I wonder what Plato organized? What belongings cluttered an ordinary life in 400 b.c.?

January Sanctuary - Day Nineteen

It took all my willpower to work on a project tonight, but once I started I was glad I did. I cleared out 2 more drawers in my closet and cleared a back corner. There is no way I'm going to post pictures since it's still a mess. Chaotic. But I'm letting go. A majority of the closet is ending up in the yard sale on Sunday. Do I really need a hole puncher in the shape of a leaf? Do I really need 20 pencils - when is the last time I even picked up a pencil? Letting go...


"The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the more free you are."
             - Mother Teresa


"Clutter is a physical manifestation of fear that cripples our ability to grow."
              - H.G. Chissell