Just Relax, and Focus.

I’m trying, I swear.

On the advice of a reader and fellow blogger, I will be taking a look at some options for meditation. I think it’s something that will likely help me stay centered, relaxed and focused. Which I need.

If you’ve been around a while, you know that I’m a few things: Easily stressed, easily overwhelmed, Overly emotional/reactionary, and I don’t relax easily. That’s kind of a volatile combination. I’m aware of it, and it’s one of the reasons I took up yoga.

Meditation (Photo credit: Moyan_Brenn)

As a mostly sedentary life-form, I knew I needed to find some sort of activity that would at the very least get me to move more than my remote control thumb. I also recognized that I have some emotional instability that could use some attention. So I looked for something that would benefit body and mind in equal measure. Yoga is definitely an improvement.

Given my tendencies to let future concerns worry me and my reactionary nature, it can be hard to use some of the ‘Be present in the moment’ lessons from my yoga practice. I think that I am getting a lot of what I need physically from yoga at the moment, but maybe the mental and emotional side needs a little more attention than my classes are providing.

That’s why I am taking advice to heart and I will be looking for some meditation techniques. Some of the more common techniques haven’t worked for me as of yet, but I might be able to find an uncommon one that suits me better. I am after all an uncommon person.

Aside from that, I am looking forward to the rest of this week. I have a small surprise planned for tomorrow, and the weekend might actually be relaxing for me. Along with my recent haircut, that I have been exceptionally happy with, decent HandEgg (American Football) from my teams, and the start of Basketball season, Things might just be getting upbeat enough to take away from work-based frustrations.

We will just have to see

Looking Forward

I’m looking forward to being a corpse.

Yoga postures Shavasana (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Corpse pose that is. (HA!)

I know I’ve talked about yoga before, and I’m trying not to make this blog all about my adventures at yoga class, but I felt like today it was particularly apropos.

The last thing that we do in yoga class is called Shavasana. It translates roughly to “Corpse Pose.” We do it to be able to relax all the muscles we’ve been using, to practice our focusing, and practice breathing. It’s typically my favorite part.

Yes, go ahead and laugh about the irony of the lazy kid’s favorite part being the part where I lay there and do nothing for 10-15 minutes. <pause for laughter> Honestly, though, what I like about it is when I am really able to focus on letting things go, fully relax my body, focus on my breathing and really find a place of peace. It’s a very centering experience.

I know at least one of you is dismissing me as being a new age hippie weirdo. I promise it’s not like that. I find that when I’m able to do what I’m supposed to do; relax my body and mind, and focus on watching those anxious thoughts flit by instead of dwelling on them, I really leave class feeling refreshed, relaxed and energized.

I’ve mentioned that I get over-anxious about my schedule. I dwell on things I have no control over. Generally the cause of most of my anxiety is inside my own head. I’ve tried meditation before, and it typically results in me falling asleep. Working out does not remove my stress because I spend the whole time thinking in silence and sweating. Which makes me anxious and sweaty. So yoga is the first thing that has really given me something that allows me to let go.

I’m not always able to get myself focused on my breathing and get as deeply relaxed as I would like to, but I’ve been doing better. I’m really trying to make the effort to do this correctly. So for those of you keeping track, I have stuck with this for nearly a month(freaking unheard of), I’m putting effort into doing it properly(generally I just keep doing it however I usually do it), and I’m enjoying the time I spend doing these.

I’m telling you, if you have trouble finding something to help you shake off the troubles of the everyday grind, yoga or meditation might work out for you. Not trying to force anyone, but It has made a difference for me, and I’m not known for making big changes. I’m a Taurus after all.

Well, after all that, I’ve had a shitty couple days, so I’m really looking forward to spending 10 minutes or so acting like a corpse. If this turns into a zombie movie, I am going to be highly disappointed.

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Are you looking forward to anything relaxing? Got anything to help you decompress on the horizon?

 

I Think it’s Working, You Guys!

When I started this blog, I just thought it would be a fun thing to do. I managed to write a post a day for a month. Eventually I put it off.

Two tall metal file cabinets for work or home use (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When I started writing here again, I promised that I wouldn’t let that happen again. I told myself ‘Not this time. No quitting this time. It’s important. This is for you. You can do it.’ So far I have.

I think it’s helping. I think the writing, fiction and nonfiction, the sharing and the regimen is working. Everything is getting a little easier. I mean everything. I’m making a difference in my own life! That’s a weird sentence.

Really, I’m happy with the way that things are progressing. I feel more relaxed than I have in a long time. I feel more connected than I have in a long time. I sometimes need a little help processing things, and I think having this little corner of the Interwebs as my own person file cabinet is really making a difference.

I’ve stayed on top of writing every weekday(excluding a few holidays) just like I wanted. I’ve written more fiction than ever before. I’ve WANTED to write and draw and create. I’ve connected with super cool people. Then I found some more! I’m noticing more things in the world. I even got my shit together and went to yoga class. The threats probably helped.(check out the comments)

My point is, I suppose, that I’m not just throwing word-shit against the wall and seeing what sticks anymore. I’m here, and I’m doing this, and I’m seeing some sort of result. Different kinds of results, but still.

So thanks for stopping by to listen to me ramble and rant. Thanks for the encouragement and the recommendations. Thanks for the tolerance and patience.

Most of all, thanks for listening.

Yoga 2: Judgement Day

I already posted twice today, so I’ll keep this shorter.

“TUESDAY” production sign (Photo credit: Vaguely Artistic)

I went back to Yoga today. This is like a heart-stopping thing for me. I am notorious for not following through on things. So actually sticking with it and going back was big.

Also, I’m still a little sore from Tuesday. I know what you’re thinking: How can he be sore from a Gentle Yoga class that only lasted an hour? Couple of reasons. Reason the first, because if given the option, I don’t fricking move. Sedentary. The other reason is because though it may not appear to be, Yoga can be hard. You use a lot of stabilizing muscles that don’t get attention otherwise and that can make you a little sore.

I’m going back on Tuesday.

Also, I found an app for my phone called ‘Lose it!” It’s free and lets me keep track of my calorie intake for the day. If you’re like me and when you don’t keep track of your calories it looks like you’re eating for a football team, this will help.

Alright I’m out. Gonna go ice my hip joints.

Yoga day

I won’t be going into exceptional detail about the specifics of my trip to Yoga today, I will reference it in the abstract. Also, I would like to use this sentence to say: Alright Becky, I went. I will guest post. Your move. Also how do you guest post? because I’m confused as shit about that.

Yoga Class at a Gym (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

I’ve been meaning to go to some form of moving meditation for a while now. I’ve waffled and put it off. I looked at different places different classes and whined about the cost. I looked at Yoga, Meditation, Tai Chi and something else. Today, I said ‘screw it'(with some tough love from The Wife) and I went. it was… Pleasant. I plan on returning. I also suspect that I will be sore tomorrow. In addition to that, I believe that some of the things I did tonight probably made me look ridiculous. I did not care.

In other news, I am working on a joint creative project with a previously mentioned friend o’ mine. When there’s stuff to see, I’ll let you know. Speaking of, if you like his stuff, there’s a place where you can buy prints and framed prints. Buy them. You’ll kick yourself when he’s famous one day and you’ll have to pay 10 times that for a sketch on a napkin. Don’t come crying to me, asking if I can get you some sort of close friend discount. I won’t do it. I might even tell him to charge you extra.

Last but not least, it’s getting busy around here. I will do my absolute best to make sure I continue to post every weekday(holidays excluded), but I definitely won’t hit the weekends, I have no idea what time of the day I’ll end up posting, and I might miss a day. I don’t plan on letting that happen though.

Well there’s my ‘State of the Blog Address’ as it were.

Any big changes going on with any of you?