Warm welcome to all of you beginning with me and with each other today. Beginnings are so full of possibility. We stand here together on the edge of so much potential transformation in these 21 days of yoga and writing.
To the over 300 members, I say a profound thank you to each of you for participating.
A few housekeeping things:
* Don’t forget to download your badge if you want to have it on your site. @mandalove made them super easy so don’t be tech shy.
* The easiest way to get my blog updates throughout the 21 days is to sign up in the email subscription list. That way, it’ll just be in your inbox and you won’t have to worry about missing an update.
* Everyone has lots of questions about the word count. Guess what? You get to make the rules with yourself. You get to set your intentions and stretch and grow. I’m going to provide this clear container– I’ll be writing 800 words a day pure and clear, but if you are someone who is not so clear, how about you do what you can? 800 words is 4-5 pages if that helps. The main point is to get writing writing writing and push yourself with loving-kindness to get that thing out that is nagging at you and to go beyond what you usually do. To carve the space for yourself that creative works requires. Maybe hubby or wifey can negotiate with you about household duties for this finite period of time……and let’s face it, we ALL need a wife.
So here’s my first post about my experience: (I started a day ahead of you all, so I would have this post to offer to you to motivate, inspire, and encourage.)
I’ll share with you my own basics of 21.5.800.
My writing: I’ll be getting up at 5.30 and making tea and then going to the desk to write (in my pajamas), for several hours. I’m going to start working on what I hope will end up being an essay about my sexuality and see where it takes me. I’ve never written or thought about writing about my own coming-out story. A friend of mine just finished a piece about her own coming-out called My Straight Mother and I found it really funny and compelling. Then I was talking with one of my BFF’s @JulieKlam the other day, who is always full of great lively ideas, and she suggested I work on my own coming-out story this summer. (Check out Julie’s second memoir http://amzn.to/b4a8BV I’ve read a galley copy and laughed out loud and was really moved).
Anyway, because sexuality is such a broad and nebulous topic, I’ve decided to start writing about the year 1973. It was a significant year for me, I was in third grade, and had my first female crush, who btw, was reading aloud to me James and the Giant Peach.
And there’s a little writing tip for you– Go super broad at first and just write to get things all lubed-up and flowy.
My yoga: To be honest, I am limping around the house after my yoga class which almost broke me in half. After I finish writing this post, I’m going to buy epsom salts and take a long soak because I am going back to the same class tomorrow.
Here’s the yoga studio I chose to practice at for the 21.5.800 challenge:
I chose this studio because it’s super low key and DEVOID of the yoga scene. I have been practicing yoga for many years and it has become a real scene and somewhat of a gymnastics competition. I had the most lovely and ass-whooping of a class today. I originally thought I was going to do a beginner series, but I decided at the last minute to push myself physically and do an advanced class (We’ll see how long THAT lasts). It’s a 90 minute class and I’m aiming to go 4 times a week to the noon class and do Savasana at home one day a week. Here’s a little twisted goodie for you; I’m riding my bike there. AND there is a huge hill both ways. It’s about 7 miles. My legs were shaking so bad after class today that I had to walk my bike for a little bit before I could ride.
During savasana, the teacher, a lovely understated woman who didn’t have to be a big rock star, played my favorite Buddhist offering chant that I used to play to my yoga students when I used to teach public yoga classes, so I took it as a wonderful sign from the cosmos that I was in the right place. It’s called Offering by Lama Gyurme and it’s on iTunes on his Rain of Blessing cd in case you want to hear it.
The woman next to me in the class could have used some deodorant, but other than that, I had a great challenging class and I hope I can get out of bed in the morning. Clearly my home practice has gotten a little stale.
I’m as scared as you are about this challenge, but with support in life, you can go really far, and thats what we have in over 300 people doing this challenge–support.
PLUS, we will be hearing from the sages of social media and art and our in-residence yoga teacher @zenpeacekeeper to spur us on, and I’ll fill in the gaps with my view and insights and debacles.
I hope everyone tweets their postings so that everyone can read them. Don’t forget to use the #215800 hashtag.
Oh, and I have looked at every one’s website who has signed up so far. You should do the same. There is MAD TALENT out there that can inspire you in your own creative life.
So, Bon Voyage! As Pema Chodron says, “Start Where You Are.” Can’t wait to hear about your adventures.
{ 31 comments }
Every time you, ‘best yoga teacher ever’, refer to me as a yoga teacher, I giggle nervously. X
.-= Marianne´s last blog ..Yoga and writing: 21.5.800 =-.
I’m not sure how well daily blogging about 21.5.800 will suit my blog, so I offer a couple of insights here, if that’s ok.
First off, I notice how many extra rules my mind imposes- like it’s not difficult enough! Is 25 minutes of postures enough? Writing for my client can’t count, surely! Emails, Twitter? Nah! It must be quiet connection-filled writing. Obviously!
Sigh.
(Especially when I read that Bindu is doing several hours of writing! Gak! Not enough!)
Secondly, I have somehow conspired to make yesterday the trigger for a possible life-changing decision.
Not *quite* the plan, but hey ho, 21.5.800 might just keep me sane!
Feeling the differences in my body- Not being very disciplined with postures qas a major reason for signing up.
Happy to be here at a beginning…
.-= Andrew Lightheart´s last blog ..Recognising emotions as emotions =-.
@Andrew, haha, I do that too. >_< I "only" did my usual yoga routine this morning, it doesn't count!
Or maybe it does. In that case, I'm starting off right: wrote two blog posts and did yoga this morning. Hurray, I get a sticker now.
Observations: 800 words is more than I thought. I am still scared about going to an actual yoga class (I'm a home practice person) but I might stretch that far some time soon. I'm way excited about this challenge.
Ah yes, comforting to hear that you too are scared Bindu
Reading this has helped to stimulate some mojo!
I was thinking of writing up my treasure hunt (business plany thing) as I work through Danielle LaPorte’s Fire Starter Sessions and consistently journalling any epiphanies that take place in these 21 days.
And blogging of course. I haven’t got 1 solid project in mind, like a book, although I’d love to write one some day.
Ok, I’m going to get down to work…
.-= Nats´s last blog ..Creativity + Community = Divine buZZy feelings! =-.
thank you, just thank you
.-= Julianne Fuchs-Musgrave´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at =-.
yes! i am so ready for this.
thank you.
.-= ABCcreativity´s last blog ..{creating dreams come true} beneath the surface dreams are growing. trust this. =-.
Not sure how I screwed up the registering part–but thoroughly enjoyed writing my 800+ words this morning: http://www.indiainktattoo.com/?p=526. Very energizing to be doing this with so many beautiful creatives.
.-= Julianne Fuchs-Musgrave´s last undefined ..Response cached until Wed 9 @ 12:18 GMT (Refreshes in 22.50 Hours) =-.
This comes at a perfect time for me.
Also, that yoga studio is gooooorgeous!
.-= Juliana´s last blog ..Sometimes, you need to do something drastic. =-.
.-= Galia´s last blog ..Tribute to fallen friends =-.
So I just finished my David Swenson Short Forms Yoga DVD and now enjoying my morning Blueberry Banana Smoothie
Not sure if I can do this DVD for the entire project, so hopefully I can get some time to visit some local yoga studios.
And now I should be all set to write 800 words! Oh I wish it was just as easy to do as to write/say it out loud. I’m definitely interested to see how I do with the writing component of this project. I have a tendency to let resistance get the best of me, but I’m gonna stay optimistic for today and see what I can do!
@Nats: How are you liking Fire Starter Sessions? I totally forgot about her worksheets! I can definitely put in some writing with that
hehe
.-= Bianca Filoteo´s last blog ..21 Days of Yoga & Writing =-.
I am excited to start! One of the biggest challenges of this challenge is inviting the idea of community into my writing/practice/teaching. I am much more comfortable on my own, but it’s time to step out of that comfort zone. I’m hoping to build a small network of writers/thinkers/movers. Thanks for the inspiration!
Ok, it’s 11.35 pm on Day One.
Bugger it.
I’m including my comments above in my word count.
805 words!
Yay me!
.-= Andrew Lightheart @alightheart´s last blog ..Recognising emotions as emotions =-.
Just a note that I feel compelled to leave….I’m not tweeting about my blog posts because my mother follows me around online and I am trying very hard to carve out a boundaried space. So I’ll be participating in full and tweeting *about* it but not specifically tweeting my links. Trackbacks here. Love to all~
.-= Tia´s last blog ..Savasana and the funny universal timing of answered prayers. =-.
That is a gorgeous yoga studio!
I’ll be practicing at home, as I have been doing off and on for about 10 years.
However, I’m leaning more and more towards Savasana as my body is demanding me to be very gentle with it right now.
As for writing, I started this morning at work doing a strem of consciousness which was very enlightening.
I’m looking forward to this challenge.
Jen
.-= Jen the Writer´s last blog ..Challenge =-.
I second the feeling of relief to hear that it’s going to be a challenge for you as well, Bindu!
I’m glad to say that I’ve got my 800 words done for today. I may do more yet, as I’m feeling ‘more’, but I could also stand to learn the art of pacing myself. We’ll see. I’m going to accept whatever I accomplish either way.
For the overly-tenacious and much-pressured, the ability to rest is a discipline of its own! So I will be proud to count the Savasana I’ll be doing later as fulfilling my Yoga portion.
Thanks again for letting us share this journey with you!
.-= Jeannie´s last blog ..Weekly Roundup: 6.7.2010 =-.
I started yesterday and wrote a close to 800 word post (wrote about 900 then culled to 747 so I did write 800
) on social media and being intentional. Something I’ve been wanting to say for a long, long time.
Didn’t do the corpse pose although I’m going to count my time on the massage table as part of it – I was totally, completely exhausted and prone.
June 7th – June 27th is my 21.5.800 period. Tia @TiaSparkles
.-= Tia Singh´s last blog ..An Intentional Social Media Experiment =-.
Bindu – loving you.
Your book sounds juicy delicious – your first crush reading James and the Giant Peach to you in 1973, I’m hooked!
This post has fired me up. Thank you.
And whoa! Having clicked a few websites above I feel you have brought together a remarkable collection of wonderment for us all to browse and enjoy! Amazing. You’re a legend.
.-= Flora´s last blog ..Serendipity and commitment =-.
Wow. that studio is amazing. one could practice anything in there. loving the challenge today. needed the quiet moments and reflection. thanks for starting this!
I can reiterate what many have said…I really needed this! A yoga+writing challenge is just what my body and mind have been craving to de-frazzle my life and myself right now. It is funny, I am at a pinacle point of stress but I decided that this one more thing on the to-do’s might just be the healing component to diminish the intensity of the rest of the list. Yoga & writing are two things that have fed me and nourished me when nothing else could and this challenge came just at the right moment when I am in need of some nourishment!
My blog post and virtual/public commitment to the challenge in today’s blog post at: http://www.myembodiment.com
.-= Teresa Bennett Pasquale, LCSW, RYT´s last blog ..Yoga+Writing+21 days=Yoga-tastic Challenge! Anyone else in? =-.
This probably couldn´t have come at a better time – a leap of faith when physically there´s not much leaping I can do right now.
I won´t be posting any of my writing as I don´t blog right now and I´ve decided on a current personal theme, kind of working through things by writing. But I started a twitter account ( is it called that?) and will be twittering about my progress while getting to know the ropes around there.
Thank you for your generosity and energy, it´s absolutely infectious.
This is absolutely the most wonderful idea/challenge ever. It combines two of my passions–both of which I am prone to neglect when things get hectic. But now I have a real reason to stick w/ it! Can’t wait to read about everyone’ s progress.
Also, just thought I’d mention YogaToday.com which offers one free hour-long yoga session/week & options to buy individual videos or sign up for unlimited monthly access. It’s really the best yoga online or on video that I’ve ever seen/practiced. If you decide to sign up, please mention my Ambassador ID “ericaleexo.” Good luck everyone!
xo erica lee
.-= EricaLee´s last blog ..Inspired: 5 Albums I’m Into Right Now =-.
I’ve signed up – found my way here from a post by Susannah Conway (currently in her Unravelling course). So here I am. I am neither a yoga practitioner (I’ve taken some classes but I’m a true beginner) nor a writer, although it has always been one of those back-burner aspirations. So I’m joining in, but promising to be gentle with myself. Most of my writing will be personal and probably won’t appear on my blog. Then again, I may surprise myself. Who knows? And I’ll be getting Marianne’s video and trying to alternate that with Savasana. Hope you all don’t mind that a total novice has joined your party!
.-= Cheri A.´s last blog ..Creativity Boot Camp – Two =-.
My first 800 words didn’t turn out at all as I had expected or planned and I am wholeheartedly, souledly and bodily devoted to these 21 Days, now more than ever.
I am actually planning to write 800 words as a free write, immediately after doing the Savasana pose as you suggest. This is what I did today, I may mix it up with some walking or perhaps mixing in the 5 Tibetans practice and I may move my Savasana outdoors, but for now… I will simply stay heart-and-soul-and-spirit-and-pencil-and-body devoted to these 21 – 5 – 800, together.
THANK YOU.
.-= Julie Jordan Scott´s last blog ..Now, I am – Evidence of Me Being Me on June 8, 2010 (#215800) =-.
So, day 1′s post ended up taking up my whole word quote–unexpectedly! Tomorrow I hope to work on my book a little more and do some much needed restorative yoga–my body is screaming for it. I am very excited to take on this challenge and do some summer cleaning body, mind, and spirit!
.
Thank you for creating this momentum in my soul
The first day was great. I ended up writing around 950 words although I had been worried if I could reach 800! Mmmmm… Savasana was good. It’s been ages since I did yoga. When I lay down, I felt my whole body was as stiff as that of Bernie in the movie Weekend at Bernie’s
The funny thing is that I fell asleep during savasana. I know it’s totally normal. But I was still surprised. I realized how much I’ve neglected my body, and how bad I’ve been to myself. When I woke up after one hour, I felt absolutely refreshed and rested.
.-= C. A. Kobu´s last blog ..Savasana: How to lie like a dead man =-.
Thank you for creating the structure, for setting the stage, for giving us the push, for writing the rules – I am nervous but excited, and glad to be part of this enthusiastic bunch of writing yogis!
Looking forward to coming out the other side, 3 weeks older, and many years wiser!?
Hi Everyone,
Loving the feel good factor here, hope to get to know quite a few people. As far as I can see I am only following two people from the list, anyone wishing to get extra RT’s follow me @maria_muir and I will follow back, let me know who you are by mentioning the project, I will also stumble as many pages as possible.
Wishing everyone the best of luck.
.-= Maria´s last blog ..Product Review: The Traffic Explosion =-.
JUST found this and woot! When to yoga yesterday AND wrote. So am on track, and will join you as we all get flexible with our joints and our words.
Peace, Linda
.-= Linda´s last blog ..TWENTY STORIES by Kristin Fouquet >> Debut Author Review =-.
Also reassured that you are scared by the challenge too.
I’ve never done yoga, though wanted to for a while. So got a beginners dvd to get going. I’ll look for a class, but didn’t want to be held back from joining in by not having found a class.
Actually , the yoga part of the challenge was easier than the writing part for day 1.
I’m going to use the challenge time to pull together the text for a book I’m working on , which is more photographic, but also requires a certain amount of text. I am part way there, but hope that with this I can speed things up a bit.
Am going to work my way round everyone as you suggest – I’d already made a start. Some familiar names and some new ones too – so very much looking forward to that.
Best wishes,
Rhiannon
Day two writing completed, and my run. Yoga later today.
My goal is yoga everyday (give or take) for the 21 days. As for writing, so far I’ve done stream of consciousness, straight to my blog. However, hearing people (including you, Bindu) talk about working on one all the way through, my thoughts are circling toward this possibility. I’ll decide by tomorrow!
For now, enjoy my post from today: http://lasaraallen.com/articles/creative-writing/21-5-800/25800-day-2-this-is-how-the-world-ends/
Peace,
-Lasara
.-= Lasara´s last blog ..21*5*800, Day 2: This is how the world ends… =-.
Did some writing on the 8th, no word count. Another 800+ blog post on the 9th just before midnight woohoo! I seem to be most creative around 10pm. And I met another Tia here
@TiaSparkles
.-= Tia Singh´s last blog ..Lessons from the Blackhawks Stanley Cup Win =-.