Monthly Archives: September 2013

DAILY YOGA PRACTICE

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Good Morning and a Happy Friday to all. I love Friday’s, since moving to Los Angeles both my husband James and I do not work weekends. On Saturday’s we go on mini adventures. California is an amazing place to explore and discover. Today it is completely overcast, which feels totally like Autumn, without the cold temperatures you get back east.

Yesterday I took my second Iyengar Yoga class, which is slow and you hold the poses much longer than a Vinyasa class. It helps you work on your poses and correct alignment. It is not an easy class, and you must engage your mind body connection. Tonight I am taking a Vinyasa class. I am practicing yoga five times a week now, and I can already feel my practice opening up. It is a fantastic feeling to work hard and feel the results. Daily yoga is my new lifestyle.

I am off for now. I think I need a second cup of coffee before I get moving and begin my day. I wish everyone a beautiful day and weekend.

Namaste’
Love and Light
Rose

MY ROUTINE

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I woke up with my usual pleasant demeanor, a little sore from my yoga and work out with Mike. I thought I would share my weekly workout and yoga routine.

Yoga 5 days a week
Working out with my trainer and friend Mike, 1 day a week for now
Walking 5 days a week
I have been incorporating beginning jogging as much as I can
I keep it flexible and sometimes change it up a bit. 

I may add Ballet classes, and other things as I progress more. I take the Richard Simmons Slimmons classes on occasion. They are so motivating and fun.  I am trying to really work on my yoga practice so I will return to his classes sometime in the near future. I believe my yoga practice will really open up by doing it almost daily. I am now an official yogi.

My eating plan is pretty much just eating healthy with lots of vegetables, and I am keeping a food journal. I sometimes do not eat enough and I can use to eat a bit more protein. I am a work in progress. I am not making any food off limits but I do not indulge usually. The time will come when I will get cravings, and I will deal with it then. In the meantime I am just eating clean with an occasional piece of dark chocolate from See’s Candies. Coffee is my non negotiable. I love it, and not because I need the caffeine. I actually just love the taste. So every morning as I blog I brew.

This is what I am doing, and I work from ten to three Monday through Friday so I work out and take yoga in the early evenings and I blog first thing in the morning. I live for Saturday’s, that is our fun day. 

Namaste’
Love and Light to all
Rose

CHANGE ATTITUDE, CHANGE DIRECTION

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Good Morning and a Happy Wednesday to all. I am fighting a headache that started last night, I think it may be allergy related because I have a lot of pressure in my eyes. It made for challenging yoga practice but I made it through. I try not to ever take medications but I may break down today and take some ibuprofen. I also allowed myself to get dehydrated before class, a big no no.

The Helipad class on the top of the hotel was cancelled. I was so disappointed. I really was looking forward to that experience. It may be rescheduled one more time before the season ends, so I am not sure I will be able to make it this season. I decided to turn my attitude around and myself in the direction of Yogaworks in West Hollywood and take a Vinyasa class instead. One thing I am learning, you can find your peaceful place and zen wherever you are. It is a state of mind. If something does not work out, just turn it around and make 
something new work out instead. You have reign over your thoughts, and they are more powerful than you think.  My disappointment was there, but I decided to let it go and move forward in the direction of my usual yoga class. There was no way I would throw in the towel and head home with a bad attitude dragging behind me. Bad attitudes only weigh you down.

Today is my  weekly workout with my friend and trainer Mike. I hope this headache goes away so I can be at my best. I do not and will not slow down. I think practicing yoga three to five days a week will help me progress in my workouts with Mike, working out with Mike will help me in my yoga practice. I am only getting stronger.

Wishing everyone a beautiful day. To quote my adorable Mother, I am closing now. That is how she lets you know she is signing off the computer. Too cute for words.

Namaste’
Love and Light
Rose

TUESDAY WEIGHT UPDATE 9-17-2013

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Good Morning and Happy Tuesday. Tonight I am attending the yoga class on the Helipad at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City with the whole city as my backdrop. I am really excited to do yoga in the sky and I will try to get photos. Such an amazing opportunity to do yoga with such a spectacular view.


I weighed myself this morning and I am happy to say this week I lost three pounds. My weight is now 184 pounds. I am really excited to see such a drop in my weight. I know all successes are not determined by weight, but it is nice to see the scale go down. My total weight loss is now 13 pounds since I started this project and 23 pounds since the beginning of the year. I have made my first ten pound goal and I will assist my first charity in two weeks.

We are joining the Monday Night Mission on September 30th. I have told the management where I work and they are ordering food. How amazing is that. I plan on bringing supplies to make sandwiches as well.  I look forward to giving back to those who need it most. I know this will be an emotional experience, and I hope to try to go back and help at least once or twice a month after the first time.

I am off for now. I wish everyone a beautiful Tuesday full of love and light.
Namaste’
Rose



YOGA ON A HELIPAD IN LOS ANGELES

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Rooftop yoga | Photo courtesy of InterContinental Los Angeles, Facebook

Good Morning and a Happy Monday to all. I was reviewing my weekly workout routine and I may have to modify it so on Thursday so I can attend this amazing yoga class on a helipad at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City with a spectacular view of Los Angeles. What an amazing moment this will be. The class is being taught this week by Michael Stebbins.

Add this to my fitness bucket list. What an experience to be able to do yoga with such a backdrop. Classes are Thursday night after 6 pm, perfect for me and only $16.00. Wow, look at that view. I am speechless. I may have to skip my Iyengar class Thursday and get my zen on a rooftop.
Coffee time.
Namaste’
Rose

SUNDAY MUSINGS AND YOGA

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Happy Sunday to all. Yesterday my husband and I were on our way to the beach, driving up Sunset Boulevard when we were struck by a motorcycle. We were ok, he was ok, and his two little dogs on the back of the bike were fine as well. We got all the information and took care of the insurance part, and we were on our way to our beach outing in Malibu.

As I sat on that beautiful beach, one thing that came to mind for me. We were so lucky to be there. That could have been ugly but it was just a little damage to a machine. No one was hurt, the two dogs were totally oblivious to what had happened.  I did not look at it as bad luck we were hit, I looked at it as good luck no one was hurt. If I am given lemons, I will choose to take those lemons and make cookies to share with those who need a little sweetness in their life. Lemons can be transformed from sour to sweet with a loving touch.

That brings me to the subject of being an optimist. I am a self confessed optimist and I try to look at things from a different vantage point always. Life is not a given, so I am trying to soak up everything I can from it. I am human and sometimes I have off days, but this is how I try to live each and every day. When days are dark, I write melancholic poems and get on with it. I muse off the melancholy and get back to living my authentic life.

I am using this way of  looking at life as I continue on this project. It is not easy to get back in shape and lose weight, or to get back in the shape I was in when I was a dancer. It is not impossible though, it is just going to take a lot of time and a lot of effort. I love volunteering so matching up one of my life goals with one of my passions makes it all the more worth at the end of the day. I feel very fulfilled and humbled at the same time. I am enjoying the process as much as the results, and  I try to remember my gratitude for all those who grace my path each and every day.

Happy Sunday to all. I am off to brunch, and a yoga class late in the afternoon. One of the teachers at Yogaworks told me if I practice 3-5 times a week I will see huge differences as soon as six weeks. My body will completely open up in the poses. I love going as much as possible. It truly connects my mind and body as one. I am officially a yogi.

Namaste’
Love and Light
Rose

BEACH DAY

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Today

I want to dive deep
Beneath salt waters,
Amongst sea creatures;
Wild waves enveloping rapid
Thoughts, cleansing my psyche
Awakened, renewed in blue
Coming up for air
Finding my calm self,
On the edge of a cliff
Lost in Mermaids Pose.
(C) Rose Bruno Bailey

Good morning and happy Saturday to all. I am up a little later than usual but early for a Saturday morning. We are headed to the beach today. We are packing a picnic and driving to one of Ventura’s lovely coast lines.

I am going to walk in the sand as my workout today, and do all the other exercises as well. I may even do some burpees. I have a wonderful book to take along as well. Nothing like spending a day at the beach. For now I am reveling in some silence as I drink my coffee. Sometimes you just have to tune out all of the outside noise.

My yoga class yesterday at Yogaworks with Tom was amazing, I wore the little brace I bought for my ankle and I felt great, and Tom said I looked great. My ankle did not give me too many issues, and I felt secure as I transitioned from pose to pose. I am loving practicing at Yogaworks, and I plan on it three to five days a week. The class was a yogablend class, very similar to what I have done before. It was set to music, and a bit challenging at times but I think I kept up quite well. The ladies at the front desk are so helpful, and I appreciate all of their advice and expertise. They said my practice will really deepen quickly if I come that often, and that motivated me even more. I am off for now, still a bit sleepy and incoherent. Here is a poem I wrote back in 2005 after a day of swimming. It is short and simple but I think it captures the essence of the power water has over me. 

Namaste’ 

LOVE OF WATER

I dive in a pool of crystal clear waters,

My worries float away.

I gaze at the sapphire sky, the sun

Blazes brightly aboveme.

Clouds drift aimlessly

Making a myriad of shapes and sizes.

My wistful spirit is baptized,

I am consumed by this show of

Sky high fireworks;

Warming my soul and body.

Trees pirouette in the wind, a minuet

For weary eyes, I am taken away.

(c) Rose Bruno Bailey

YOGA AND A STARRY NIGHT

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Good Morning and Happy Friday. Yesterday I took my first Iyengar Yoga class at Yogaworks in West Hollywood.
 (Named after and developed by B. K. S. Iyengar, is a form of Hatha Yoga that has an emphasis on detail, precision and alignment in the performance of posture (asana) and breath control (pranayama). The development of strength, mobility and stability is gained through the asanas)

It was a wonderful class, and it really worked your body. It is much slower than Vinyasa but you really get deep in the poses, and learn what they do for your body. It is about connecting to your mind to your body, and getting in the pose first through your thought process. Mind and body together as one. The yoga teacher was amazing. I used to volunteer at City Yoga, where Yogaworks in West Hollywood is located, and coming to classes there in a way is like a homecoming. The  two spaces feel like sanctuary’s to me, so much so I can imagine the building was once a church or temple.
The trees are right outside the beautiful open windows, and the breeze came in like a gentle nudge to remember to breathe. I can tell I am going to love practicing yoga at Yogaworks in West Hollywood. The management and staff are very friendly and thoughtful and they answer all of your questions. Anna from City Yoga is working there, and it was lovely to see her smiling face.

Afterwards I asked if I can take some photos of the space in the future, and I was granted permission to do so. I will post those at a future date. 
After class I walked home and watched the sun set these unreal hues of pink and purple. On the way home I stopped in a used book store to purchase a beach read for our outing Saturday, and oh what a find I discovered. It is all about this man who loses everything, and he decided to bike his way cross country. He meets some interesting souls on his new journey. I thought it was the perfect beach read, since I am on a journey of sorts myself. It is called The Memory of Running, a novel written by author Ron McLarty. 

When I left the bookstore all of the stars had appeared like a kaleidoscope for weary eyes. I wanted to go lay in the grass somewhere, and stargaze with the cool September breeze upon my surrendering body. I love to just lay down and look up at the marvel of the vast night sky. We truly are just a spec in this spectacular universe. There is so much more out there, it really puts everything into a clear perspective.

Well enough of my musings for the day. Coffee, breakfast and work await. Tonight I am either working out at the gym or walking and taking another yoga class. Tonight’s class is set to music, that should be just delightful.
Wishing you a breathtaking Friday, full of all of those simple moments that make life grand.
Namaste’
Love and Light
Rose

THURSDAY UPDATE 9-12-2013

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Good Morning and Happy Thursday to all. I cannot wait for the weekend, we are planning a day trip and picnic at one of the beaches in Ventura.  I am going to work out in the sand, burpees and all and walk on the beach. I may jog too. For now a bit of coffee will get me going this morning,  I swear it is like the elixir of the gods, I love coffee.

Yesterday I worked out with Mike my trainer and friend. We did a lot of upper body work because my ankle has been tender. I am purchasing an ankle brace, but I think it will be OK. We boxed, and I swear it must be a very funny sight to see me pack a punch.  He really is getting a great reputation at work, so I can see him building a very successful personal training business/boot camp classes in the future. He wants to up my intensity and I agree it is time, so I need to start working harder with my running and cardio. Yesterday I had my back turned to one of my friends at work and she came up to me and said she hardly recognized me, and how much smaller I look. Those compliments keep me going because sometimes I do not see it myself. I am very thankful for all of his help and expertise as I progress on this path of fitness. 

Yoga tonight at Yogaworks. I am taking one of two classes. I think I am taking the Iyengar class. (Named after and developed by B. K. S. Iyengar, is a form of Hatha Yoga that has an emphasis on detail, precision and alignment in the performance of posture (asana) and breath control (pranayama). The development of strength, mobility and stability is gained through the asanas)
I really want to expand and grow in my practice so my plan is to go to yoga three to five days a week. I will eventually add the ballet classes, and I am so close to doing so. I am going to set a weekly schedule and post it in the future. 

I hit my first ten pound mark, so I am setting the date this week to join the Monday Night Mission to help feed the hungry at skid row. I will know that date in a few days. I am really looking forward to giving back, and I just want to do more and more. Mike is also joining me, and I will see if anyone from work or my friends wishes to help out as well. It is very rewarding to volunteer, and it puts everything in life in perspective. I call it stepping outside of yourself and your own world. 

I wish everyone a beautiful Thursday
Love and Light
Namaste’
Rose

IN REMEMBRANCE OF 9-11-2001

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Good Morning to all on this solemn day of remembrance. I have decided to take a break from blogging about my project out of honor and respect for those who we lost on 9-11-2001. 
To remember, to mourn, to never forget the victims of that terrible tragedy.  I am a poet without words today, speechless and silent. We are all connected at the core of our humanity, remembering our yesterdays yet wishing for a more peaceful tomorrow. 
Namaste’
Love and Light
Hope and Peace
Rose