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November 2009 
November 30 day yoga challenge and fund raiser!!!
Posted on Nov 1st, 2009
by 
synonym for light
synonym for light
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for October 31, 2009:
The question for yesterday was "What role do you like to play?" Right now I seem to want most to be a helper. I like to think of myself as a strong, flexbile, open hearted, generous, dynamic, fun human being. To that end I am challenging myself to attend 30 yoga classes in 30 days this month and I am challenging my friends, acquaintances, and family members to make a commitment to donating money, time or other resources to a cause that is near and dear to them.
Here's the plan....
I'll commit to doing the yoga. Each day, I'll post how much yoga I practiced. Some days I'll have to double up because other days I won't be able to attend yoga due to work and school constraints. I am also committing to donating $5 per yoga class that I complete to Cambodian Children's Fund. I already sponsor a child through the Cambodian Children's Fund, but I really want to do more to help and this is my way of doing so for the month of November. This video of yoga teacher Seane Corn talking about her trip to Cambodia, is part of the reason why I want to help. Also, last summer I wrote an essay about what I would change in the world. The words of the essay stated my heart's desire and my intention. Now I am taking action and putting my money where my mouth is. You can read about the Cambodian Children's Fund at their website... www.cambodianchildrensfund.com This cause is near and dear to my heart because they are doing so much -- providing clean water, food, education, health care, leadership training & arts and cuttural opportunities-- building community and providing nourishment to bodies and souls. <3
Anyone who wants to can make a commitment to do the same OR commit to donate another amount of money, a certain amount of time, or some other resource to the helping organization of their choice. I know that most of my family, friends and acquaintances have big hearts and great intentions. Some have deeper pockets than others. Some have more time than others. Some have other causes that are important to them. In this month of Thanksgiving, I'm putting out a call to other hearts, bodies and souls to join me in taking some concrete action to make the world a better place. What does that mean to you? Is it simply renewing a commitment you've already made? Maybe it's time for something new?
I make no claims to know what's right for another person. I just know how great it feels to be a part of a team and I know how great it feels to be able to help out, in large and small ways. This month I say thank you to all the wonder in the world and I bow in gratitude that I can be a small part of making some small corner of the world a better place to live and breathe.
"and the reason that I live and breathe is - oh - love" ~ee cummings
If you want to play with me this month -- just post a comment here and at the end of the month we'll tally up the number of classes and off we'll each go to follow through with the commitments we've made. I do not have any intention of collecting money and delivering it to any organization. I do not want to be a middleman. At the end of the month everyone will simply go to the organization they've selected and make their donation of whatever they have chosen to donate.
so... who's playing??
with love & gratitude
~dawn
Here's the plan....
I'll commit to doing the yoga. Each day, I'll post how much yoga I practiced. Some days I'll have to double up because other days I won't be able to attend yoga due to work and school constraints. I am also committing to donating $5 per yoga class that I complete to Cambodian Children's Fund. I already sponsor a child through the Cambodian Children's Fund, but I really want to do more to help and this is my way of doing so for the month of November. This video of yoga teacher Seane Corn talking about her trip to Cambodia, is part of the reason why I want to help. Also, last summer I wrote an essay about what I would change in the world. The words of the essay stated my heart's desire and my intention. Now I am taking action and putting my money where my mouth is. You can read about the Cambodian Children's Fund at their website... www.cambodianchildrensfund.com This cause is near and dear to my heart because they are doing so much -- providing clean water, food, education, health care, leadership training & arts and cuttural opportunities-- building community and providing nourishment to bodies and souls. <3
Anyone who wants to can make a commitment to do the same OR commit to donate another amount of money, a certain amount of time, or some other resource to the helping organization of their choice. I know that most of my family, friends and acquaintances have big hearts and great intentions. Some have deeper pockets than others. Some have more time than others. Some have other causes that are important to them. In this month of Thanksgiving, I'm putting out a call to other hearts, bodies and souls to join me in taking some concrete action to make the world a better place. What does that mean to you? Is it simply renewing a commitment you've already made? Maybe it's time for something new?
I make no claims to know what's right for another person. I just know how great it feels to be a part of a team and I know how great it feels to be able to help out, in large and small ways. This month I say thank you to all the wonder in the world and I bow in gratitude that I can be a small part of making some small corner of the world a better place to live and breathe.
"and the reason that I live and breathe is - oh - love" ~ee cummings
If you want to play with me this month -- just post a comment here and at the end of the month we'll tally up the number of classes and off we'll each go to follow through with the commitments we've made. I do not have any intention of collecting money and delivering it to any organization. I do not want to be a middleman. At the end of the month everyone will simply go to the organization they've selected and make their donation of whatever they have chosen to donate.
so... who's playing??
with love & gratitude
~dawn
Access: Public
Hurray!! My friend and yoga teacher Amanda is going to join me in the 30 day challenge. We'll be encouraging one another's strength, flexibility, open heartedness & breathing on the mat. Thanks Amanda!!
Ok, I'm in with you too. I go to Seniors Yoga classes. We sit on chairs or hold on to them. The teacher gave us a sheet with 9 Standing Chair Asanas.
I pledge to do them every day and put in $1 each day. If I fail to do them, I will put in $2 each day I miss. My $$$ will go to the local Salvation Army, a charity I have supported for probably 40 years. They take care of those guys lying on park benches, the ones who were someone's baby once. Anyone can become homeless . It happened to me. I'll let you know my amount at the end of the month. Yikes, it's Nov. 1 today. I better get cracking and do them now, before my family arrives for Sunday dinner.
((hugs))
oh mimi!! that's so wonderful. I've gotten a tear in my eye and a smile in my heart from reading what you've posted here. I'm so happy to have you for a teammate!!
xoxo
~d
i would like to support you by giving to one of my favourite charities:
Dans la Rue
(click link at the top right of the page for English)
Hey Nicole,
I checked out Dans la Rue and it sounds wonderful. I can see why it could be anyone's favourite.
Nicole – thank you!!! I looked at the website and I am crying in gratitude for people who help each other and in sadness for the kids who have been so alone.
I did one yoga class tonight after work. it was a scorcher of a class. I feel wobbly and completely alive now. I thought of you mimi and you Nicole and the kids and the guys on the benches who were once someone's baby and I thought of the kids in Cambodia and I stretched as deeply as I've ever stretched before. and with every inhale I drew strength to carry on and with every exhale I sent the strongest love straight from my heart, out into the world.
thanks for helping!!
xoxox
~dawn
Not new, but useful, so for the next thirty days I will purchase whenever in line , with the condition of your yoga updates, the beverage of the person behind me in line hot or cold. Hence forth known as the Dawn Dexter donate move. I'll be checking, on keeping the change moving.
=}
pay it forward! oh, i love you so very very much, my heart, my own.
dearest aurora, yes, i know, this is why i always return to this charity, my heart breaks when i drive in town and the squeegee kids come up and do my window or i see them hanging about listless on the streets. dans la rue is an amazing organisation and pops is simply the best. he just loves and gives and gives.
hugs and much love to you both
Just Me, yes!
here's today's update. i woke and meditated from 4:09 to 5:09 am. I got ready for work. Caught the bus to work. worked from 6:45 am to 5:15 pm. walked most of the way to school. realized I was going to be late if I tried to walk all of the way. caught the bus. participated in spanish class from 6 to 8:30 pm. am now typing this and eating a few bites of food. am very sleepy.
tomorrow I will do yoga from 7 to 8:30. then listen to Daoud Hari speak starting at 10am. I'll do a second yoga class in the afternoon or evening to make up for the one I couldn't do today.
I'm so happy to have the support of friends for this 30 in 30 endeavor because when I'm tired, it would be so, so easy to just give up. but don't worry – I won't give up. :-)
xoxo
~d
how is going with your yoga mimi?
I did two 90 minute yoga classes today to make up for not having done any yesterday.
3 down, 27 to go– :-)
and I hiked for 2 hours too. :-)
tomorrow starts with a 2 hour hike followed by yoga class then studying spanish and relaxing until time for spanish class tomorrow night.
Well, I did 2 days @ $1 each, but missed today- it is now 11:59 and I cannot do the 9 poses in 1 minute so that will be $2 for today. So far there is $4 in the fund.
You are doing great, and have great spirit and endurance. How old are you anyway? ;>)) Gosh! You have a lot of things on your schedule. Today, I made vegetable broth, bean salad, veggie lo mein, and pumpin muffins. I went to the health food store to buy spirulina. probiotics, lentils, sprouting seeds. And I took some stuff to the Salvation Army Thrift Store. And bought a lamp there for $8. I refilled the bird feeder, planted some spring bulbs.
PS – I gave up on trying to learn Spanish, but think it will be very important to know in the coming years.
((hugs)) and lots of love too.
good for you mimi!!
I am 38 years young. :-) and yes, I do have a lot of things on my schedule, that's why I absolutely need my yoga and meditation practice time. and hiking in the mountains feeds my soul.
Yesterday, I woke at 3:45 am, meditated for an hour. ate oatmeal and drank tea. got the dogs ready to go. drove 25 minutes to meet a friend for a sunrise hike up a steep mountiain. hiked up, took some photos, hiked down, drove home, dropped off the dogs, drank some coconut water and then….
went to my 1 Bikram yoga class of the day, the 4th class of the month of November. it was tough. all that physical activity caught up with me on my mat yesterday. I persevered through the class.
then home for a shower, out to lunch with my husband to our favorite Nepalese food restaurant. in the car I studied spanish and then studied some more when we got home, though I really, really needed a nap.
I drank some tea before leaving for spanish class. on the bus on the way to spanish class I got a call from my 6 year old niece. she is learning to read and i love when she shares her books with me, so she calls a few times a week to read to me. It's wonderful and really seemed to be the food I needed. I attended spanish class from 6 to 8:30 pm and then home on the bus. at home I tossed my yoga clothes in the washing machine and promptly fell asleep on the couch in my spanish text book.
I planned to go to a yoga class before work this morning, but I found I was too exhausted to move from the bed in time to go, so I simply sat on bed to meditate for an hour and then went back to sleep.
I have to leave for work in 1 hour. I'll be there from noon to 10pm. I'll study on the bus.
I have the next three days off from work and school. I'm looking forward to more hiking with the dogs, more yoga and the company of good friends. oh yes… and more studying.
I have my midterm Spanish exam on Monday.
what a life. I'm loving it! especially after the delicious sleeping in with my husband this morning.
:-)
and mimi –
“I went to the health food store to buy spirulina. probiotics, lentils, sprouting seeds. And I took some stuff to the Salvation Army Thrift Store. And bought a lamp there for $8. I refilled the bird feeder, planted some spring bulbs.”
that sounds like a wonderful day!! I love, love, love, love the health food store and the thrift store!! and I love birds and spring bulbs!!
:-)
~dawn
one more thing – here are some photographs from the hike – you'll see why it is worth the early morning waking…..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/synonymforlight/sets/72157622735025508/show/
What a beautiful place - breathtaking. You are so lucky to live surrounded by such beauty. I would love to hike and look at every rock and tree and bug along the way.
It's good you're learning Spanish now. Probably everyone in the USA will need to know some Spanish in the coming years. It is a very interesting development, and I am glad I lived long enough to see some melding of cultures. Did you see the PBS program about how Latin American music came to the USA. It was wonderful.
PS - I did my 9 poses today. Yay!
You have a very busy schedule. Yikes! I am so glad I am old and retired.
((hugs))
hi mimi,
I agree with you. it's a breathtaking place and a breath-giving one too. wide open spaces help me feel like I can really breathe. :-)
I haven't seen that particular program, but at least around abouts where I live, the spaniards came to explore around the same time as the english and french and portugese, so it seems odd to talk about how latin music came to america – unless were talking about colonial times. wasn't christopher columbus funded by spain? I'm just learning another of the languages of the colonizers. :-) I'll be learning chinese next?? I have a love of languages and communication that extends to music, so I'll definitely try to see the program you mention sometime.
my schedule does feel busy sometimes. sometimes overly so, but yoga really does help me manage it. and meditation. and today I have done pretty much nothing. I slept late, finished reading “the omnivore's dilemna” by michael pollan. ate some berries and yogurt. drank some yerba mate and read some of yoga journal. I'm now getting ready to do some yoga & then catch the bus to spanish class. I'll do some studying on the bus.
it's the 11th of november. I've done 7 yoga classes so far this month. I'm a bit behind, but I'm confident I'll catch up. starting right now……
it'll be 8 classes by the end of today. :-)
and my friend, Dyani, is also going to donate a dollar per class to her favorite charity! we're gaining momentum.
xoxo
~d
Hey Dawn,
I am still plugging away at my 9 assanas, plus I have added a few more that i learned in the yoga class on Monday. I hauled out my “The Sivananda Companion to Yoga” and it really is wonderful. It tells youstep-by-step, thought having done yoga for more than 10 years, it is good to be reminded.
I did not know there was a name for certain practices - KRIYAS - internal cleansing. Well, lots of us know about Neti, especially after Oprah Winfrey had a segment on her show and demonstrated why and how to use it. But that swallowing the 15 feet of gauze each morning - I think I will skip that one,.
I know for sure that I will have over $31 in the pot to donate to the Salvation Army.
When I was in Costa Rica for 3 week learning Spanish at a school, it was interesting to hear the Costa Ricans respond to the word “Americans” - usually in referring to people who lived in the United States of America. The Costa Ricans would say, “We are Americans too. Central Americans. I liked their broad take on it - my being a North American, from the Frozen North ;>) Canada.
The Latin American music had to gain acceptance in the USA, much like “black music” had to. I remember as teenager in the 50's listening late at night to “The Hound” who would play black music. It was like a secret, almost forbidden at the time. I felt soooo hip and cool at 15.
One of the things that helped was ballroom dancing - doing the Latin rhythms - It was big thing went Tito Puento came to town (Toronto in the 60's and thousand would show up to see him and dance their brains out)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6fhsmVyNaw
this is early Tito,
Hey dawn
Well let's see where I am at. I ride my bike everyday carrying it up the stairs to and then ride to my Tai Chi class two times a week.
I do regular exercises, weights and sit ups with a throw in set Chi , I am not into vegs all the time every time, try to eat as best the table before comes to serve.
I too seek out that place around here where I can find a wooded spot, no pics sorry, oh the Sally Ann, well they and I are old old friends in many ways. I have slept in their beds and furished many an apartment from other peoples memories, which is just the same as buying from a top end retailer just a different assortment of complied and applied memories.
I have only been in one coffee shop line up and purchased for those behind me. I was thinking of it in the grocery store the other day, but the size of the piles in the cart behind me, you'll forgive on that I hope.
I did find a wallet the other day and by the contents, couldn't help but take a little peak, must have been some students. It had old bus transferes, a student card, among phone numbers and forty dollars.
Saw that it was anonymous returned, money and all they may have been broke but would not see anyone busted as well., Watched a movie someone suggested to me and tonight I have a Dignity for All conference to ride to and will participate in about creating and maintaining proper care for the homeless. Should be interesting.
Take Care
J.M.
Just popping in to say I am still at it ;>) Today at 3 we have our weekly yoga class here in our building. The instructor is really wonderful. Our oldest participant is 91 years old. I figure I will have $35-$40 for the Salvation Army by the end of November. You have your beautiful surroundings to inspire you - and me! - Luckily, we are having a beautiful November. It is going to be 60 on Wednesday and some dandelions are in bloom, and a few gone to seed
The beat goes on, and so do I.
(((hugs))
ok my dears. I'm still at it too.
the first week of November I did 6 yoga classes.
the second week, I only made it to 3 yoga classes.
this, the third week, I've done 4 classes so far.
grand total so far on this 18th day of November—- 13. 13 classes in 18 days. not stellar, not perfect, but not bad either.
I have to go to bed right this minute if I am to get up early and make it to 7 am yoga tomorrow morning. sweet dreams.
xo
~d