Tag Archives: motivation

MOTIVATION MIND MONOPOLY

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Humans, we are not perfect. We strive for perfection, and as soon as we start to feel like we have something wrapped up in a big red bow we get knocked down to our knees and are fed humble pie, or in my case we start craving the pie.

Motivation, it sometimes comes and goes. I have to admit I am at a bit of a standstill mentally regarding motivation as of the last week.  I have not cheated, but I think about it as the holiday season approaches.  I know I have come a long way but sometimes I feel like I have made zero progress. It is if I am walking a crooked line in a maze where I almost feel I am back at square one. That is what it feels when your motivation starts to falter, you feel like you have been walking in circles without a destination.

Logically I know that I have made progress but my mind is playing motivation monopoly with my thoughts. I need to take a hard look at the reality of the situation. Just today a homeless man I see all the time yelled out to me that the weight loss looks good on me. 

So, I need to pick myself up and dust off the mental debris that is weighing me down. I am determined but I am definitely not perfect. I have a long journey ahead of me, and I am not even half way there. Time to meditate, breathe and find my center.

Tomorrow I will work out and/or take a yoga class at Yogaworks. I need to push myself harder now, because now is when I need to regroup and rediscover my flagging motivation and why I began this project in the first place. To lose weight, get healthy, be fit and strong like I was when I danced, and to help others along the way. To enter my 47th year the best that I can be; in mind, body, and spirit.

Maybe I should not be so tough on myself. 
I guess I am just human.
But I will not give up, ever.
Poison inside of my skull,

Seeps into my busy mind;
The ache does not dull,
On my ideas it dines.
Eating all of my thoughts,
Gnawing away at my muse;
I lost, but still fought,

Give up, I shall refuse.….
Namaste’
Rose

GARLIC KNOTS A NO NO

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Good Morning, a quick post today. It is almost the weekend, and I cannot wait. Tonight is my weekly workout with Mike, and the weather is back to being warm which is great.

Yesterday my husband James was at the Dodgers game, so I brought home a healthy salad for myself since he was out. I ended up eating two of the garlic knots he had on hand. I was so guilty afterwards, almost too much and it made me realize I am not ready mentally for a cheat day. I need to keep my momentum going.

I went to the gap to buy work pants, and these pants I tried on were a little skinnier than I usually wear. There were three lovely ladies from Europe in the dressing room, and when I went to look for the salespersons opinion they made their own opinion known. They told me they looked great, and I should buy them. One thing about losing weight, when shopping you need an outside opinion because your brain is still fat bashing. It is hard to look objectively at yourself.

Off to drink my coffee. Wishing everyone love and light on this Warrior Wednesday. Sorry, I do a lot of yoga these days. 
Namaste’
Rose

WEEKDAY HURDLES

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Good Morning to all, and it is Wednesday which means the weekend is almost here. I love this silent time of the morning, when James is showering and the cats have settled down. It gives me time to get in my head. The marine layer is out, and I wish I did not work today so I can go somewhere and just write some new poems. Funny, I am very outgoing and a tend to be a talker, but there are times when I really enjoy silence, you have to really know me to know this. When I get quiet James always calls me cranky, but it is not crabbiness but a stillness that comes over me at times, the best moments to write poetry.

I worked out with Mike, my trainer and friend and it was great and challenging as usual. We actually got at the park when it was getting dark, but everything was illuminated from the park lights and people were gathering for their practice for whatever sports they play. Trees are everywhere, I have this little obsession with trees, so I love that.  I always notice everything around me, and I can feel the positive energy of the park even after dark.

As soon as I get the new shoes I need and my ankle is completely better we are going to resume jogging and up my intensity. We did more TRX, and today I am a bit sore but not nearly as sore as I was last week. We also did a lot of core work, and I laugh at myself because I actually do it in the grass without a mat and I am ok with it. Since moving to California I become more and more of an outdoor person, and it is amazing coming from an east coaster whose only outdoor time was a sidewalk cafe at brunch in Manhattan or Astoria, Queens.

I am very grateful to Mike for training me, and I am really beginning to get positive comments from people. I will have more information about him as he progresses in his fitness training goals. He said I am his protege’ and I am happy to be that. I have a long way to go to get to where I want to be but this is giving me the foundation to build upon. I want to be in the best shape of my life and I am thankful and I know Mike has the expertise to get me there. I cannot wait to buy my leotard and head to ballet class, but not until I feel ready. I am on my way.

Tonight is yoga with Nicole at Pink Iron. She is so fantastic, and I love her class. She also has a company Honu Yoga, which makes tee shirts for the stylish yogi. I have a few, so as soon as I get a chance I will post some updated photos of me in my bright colored Honu Yoga tanks. 

I am off for now, I have coffee to drink and then I have to get ready for work. I wish everyone a beautiful day full of lots of illumination and radiance.
Love and Light
Namaste’
Rose

NEVER STOP

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Rosie the Riveter


Good Morning and Happy Friday to all. I woke up looking for inspiration for my day and I found it the minute I signed on.  I just saw a story about Eleanor Otto on NBC, she was one of the original female workers during World War II during the “Rosie the Riveter” campaign. Eleanor is now 93 years old and still on the job in Long Beach California working for Boeing. She wakes up at 4 am daily, smiles, gets her coffee and is on her way. She loves working and said she will not be set out to pasture. 

Here is Eleanor’s story via NBC, this brought me to tears.  Today I am totally inspired and will not stop, and my family and friends call me Rosie.  Age is irrelevant and it will never slow me down. I want to visit the Rosie the Riveter Park in Long Beach soon. Inspiration granted because I was looking for it. “Ask and it is Given, Seek and You Shall Find”.

Yoga tonight after work. I love life.

Namaste’
Love and light
Rose

http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/53117754#53117754


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

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