Archive for the ‘Misc’ Category
Posted by terrepruitt on July 12, 2013
Friday – Goodie Jar – Check In Day! Not that it is an indication of a “bad” week, but I am gonna say it has been a long week. Always strikes me as odd how time is constant, but sometimes time seems longer or shorter. This week is the same amount of days, hours, minutes, and seconds as last week, but I keep thinking things I did on Monday happened a few Mondays ago. I keep having to remind myself that it was just this past Monday that I ____________ (fill in the blank).
It has been a good week, maybe it has just been full of stuff? So how about you?
Are you filling that Goodie Jar full of Good things?
Posted in Good Things in the Goodie Jar | Tagged: Check in #23, good things, good things jar, Goodie Jar, long week | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 11, 2013
Many people hold their breath while working out. Or even just concentrating. I was recently learning something and concentrating really hard and my husband said, “Are you holding your breath?” I burst out laughing because I was in fact holding my breath. I didn’t even realize it until he asked. I thought it was funny that I was holding my breath and I thought it was extra funny because I remind people to breathe all the time. Exercising and concentrating are two things that make people hold their breath so if they are concentrating while exercising it makes sense that it happens. Also people tend to hold their breath when lifting something heavy. This type of maneuver or effect is called the valsalva maneuver or valsalva effect. While some people who do heavy lifting claim it is good to do the valsalva maneuver and that it helps with the lifting others say it is not good and it does not help. For me and my students breathing is ALWAYS in order. How you breathe depends on what you are doing. If you are lifting weights or doing exercises your breathing is different from when you are doing a cardio workout, such as Nia.
Breathing allows oxygen get to the muscles. The muscles need that. For me, I find that when I breathe I can move better. That was actually the point of my husband asking me if I were breathing. He could tell by the way I was moving that I was not breathing. He was across the room and he could tell. Even though the movement I was doing was very small by holding my breath my movements did not flow and were very sporadic.
One of my husband’s favorite sayings is “If you do not breathe correctly, you do not move correctly.” He got that from a campy film called Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins from 1985, but, I’ll be darned if it is not 100% accurate!
One way trainers and instructors ensure breathing is to have the client/student talk. When you are talking you are breathing. In Nia we sing, laugh, shout, and in general make all types of noises. In Nia we call it sounding. By engaging in sounding we are ensuring we are breathing. It is necessary for the body, but it is also fun for the spirit.
A sound made my a sharp exhalation helps both with stabilization of the core, but to me it seems to do a better job of engaging the core muscles than just holding my breath. This method could be utilized during lifting or an agility move. Sometimes when doing an exercise that is challenging it can help to pant with either your tongue out as an animal would or with semi-pursed lips. Also when a muscles seems fatigued it often helps to take that extra deep breath. No matter how you breathe remember it really is important to do so. And even though it might sound silly that we “forget” to breathe, it is a common occurrence. So practice remembering to breathe. Breathing is a good thing!
Do you ever find yourself holding your breath? When?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: breath, breathing, campy movie, cardio exercise, cardio workout, Core Muscles, heavy lifting, Nia, Nia instructor, Nia sounding, Nia student, Nia trainers, Remo Williams, stable core, valsalva effect, valsalva maneuver | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 5, 2013
This is the 22nd Goodie Jar check in. I forgot to post a check in post last week. So IF I had remembered this would actually be the 23rd check in since we started with a Good Things Jar, but since I forgot, this is 22!
How about a share?
This week it was really, really, really hot for our area. I do not like heat at all. I just melt. So while I in no way consider the heat a good thing, I do feel very blessed and consider the fact that we did not lose our electricity at all — a very good thing. Seems that in the last few heat waves we have had our power has been cut or we have had “brown outs”. So that fact that we have been able to have fans on through out the heat wave was fantastic! I put that in my jar.
I had an extra fabulous Nia Class on Tuesday. It is always nice when students contact you after class to comment on their experience.
I had a fun time at the annual 4th of July party. The hostess always does a great job with the food and this year was really good. It was a small crowd so it makes for a more intimate evening where you actually get to have longer conversations than when you are busy trying to jump from person to person to make sure you get in at least a quick visit.
Time off with hubby is always a nice thing to add to the jar.
And for last week at least one good thing I added was a wedding. Fun stuff! These are photos from the photo booth at the wedding.
So what are the good things you’ve added to your good things jar in the past two weeks?
Posted in Good Things in the Goodie Jar | Tagged: 22nd Goodie Jar check in, annual 4th of July party, fun stuff, good things jar, Goodie Jar – Check In #22, heat wave, intimate evening, June wedding, Nia, Nia class, Nia Class on Tuesday, Nia students, photo booth | 11 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 4, 2013
While I realize not everyone celebrates Independence Day on Fourth of July, I figure I could wish EVERYONE a happy day!
I decided that since I spent the morning working on research* separate from my blog I would take today off from posting. I know that might seem silly because it is not as if I post every day, but I think today is a good day to just say, “Cheers!”
I hope that whatever you do today, you are safe, you are BEING safe, and you are enjoying life.
*Which will probably end up being a post or two, even though that is not how it has started out. 🙂
Happy Fourth of July!
Posted in Misc | Tagged: celebrate, enjoy life, Fourth of July, happy day, Independence Day | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on July 2, 2013
I am so grateful that all of the Nia classes I teach are in air conditioning because it is has been really hot the last few days and the weather predictions for the next few days are just as hot if not hotter. I know that a lot of areas get hotter than us, but we usually don’t have such hot weather. Since the San Francisco Bay Area doesn’t always get into the triple digits it is not uncommon for people to NOT have air conditioning. We don’t have air conditioning. Usually with the few days of heat that we do get it is ok. Our traditional — and wonderful, I might add — weather patterns consist of cooled off nights even when the days are blistering. But sometimes or when the days of heat drag onto six or seven days in a row, it just doesn’t seem to cool off and it makes sleeping difficult. I often see posts on Facebook and tweets on Twitter about how people can’t sleep because it is too hot. When it has been too hot for me to sleep it is usually immediately. As in when I go to bed it is too hot for me to fall asleep. I have a little method of cooling down that at least allows me to sleep. I wanted to share it in hopes that it might allow you, if you are too hot, a few hours of sleep.
Even if this is not new to you or sounds elementary, it might help someone. I know when I mentioned it to someone once they said, “Oh, I never thought of that.” So — hey, it might help.
So what you do before you go to bed is take a cold shower. As cold as you can stand. Now I don’t know what it is about showers, but the other day I got into take a shower and even though the weather was really hot I started taking a warm shower, then I realized that it was really hot and I should try a cool shower at least. So when I say take a cold shower, I really mean COLD. As in jump-in-the-pool-stop-your-breathe type of cold. Now if you are actually taking a shower than I supposed that would be long enough, but if you are just in there to cool down stay as long as you can to actually get cool maybe even chilled. Once you are done don’t dry off all the way. Yeah, that is the big part of this. First cool your body down. Drop your temperature as low as you can in cool/cold water then don’t dry off. Then set a fan up to blow on you while you are in bed. Then go to bed, wet hair, damp body, and all.
Part of the sleep process is lowering your body temperature so when it is hot outside and your body can’t cool down it makes it difficult to sleep. But if you HELP your body’s natural sleep process by cooling your body down you are a step closer to sleep. The fan is an added bonus to help keep you cool. Of course have the air blowing on you however you prefer. I don’t like it on my face and I don’t care for it on my back so often I just have it on my feet, either in a constant rush or the breezy kind.
So this is a simple procedure that might assist you in getting to sleep. For many people once they are asleep they can stay asleep, but if you wake up because it is too hot at least you got a few hours (hopefully) in. You could always repeat the process if you’d like. Usually it helps me get through the night.
What do you think?
Sweet dreams.
Posted in Misc | Tagged: air conditioning, Bay Area, Bay Area Nia, can't sleep, cool down for sleep, Facebook, Nia, Nia Classes, Nia Teacher, San Francisco Bay Area, sleep relief, too hot to sleep, tweets, Twitter | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on June 21, 2013
Goodie Jar check in day! How is it going for you?
I just got back from teaching a Nia class in Santa Cruz. The space that the class is held is so lovely. I wish I could teach there all the time. And as I was teaching I noticed a spot in the floor that was a little different from the rest and it called my attention to the wonderful floor.
It is a wonderful floor and I know this, but that particular spot made me aware AT THAT MOMENT that the floor is heaven. Not all dance floors are made the same and this one at the Tannery is FABULOUS. I was so happy I was available to teach at the last minute (sort of) for the regular teacher who found herself needing to rest.
Then on the way home I got an over due haircut. It might be a tad short. You know how it is difficult to tell sometimes what is up until you “do” your hair yourself. So we will see. But either way it will grow.
So that is my Goodie Jar – Check in #21 Friday, how about you? What are you doing today? Anything that you can add to your good thing jar?
Posted in Good Things in the Goodie Jar | Tagged: good things jar, Goodie Jar check in, Nia class, Nia Santa Cruz, Nia Teacher, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Tannery, Tannery | Leave a Comment »
Posted by terrepruitt on June 14, 2013
So this week has been an easy one to have good things to put in the jar. The biggest thing, of course, is the visit from my niece. She was here all week long and as she mentioned last night, it went pretty fast. I had been so nervous she would be bored, but she is pretty easy going and mellow so we managed fine.
She came with me to all my Nia classes and she even participated. We made candles at Glow in Willow Glen and spent one morning delivering lunch to my hubby. It was a nice week. Short.
Our weather in San Jose has been FANTASTIC — all week long. Nothing beats the weather in the San Francisco Bay Area, especially in the South Bay. It is awesome.
As I am typing I keep thinking of Good Things to put in my goodie jar. Ha! Maybe that is another way to help think of good things. Start writing about your week and see what comes up. I bet there will be at least ONE good thing!
So how many things were you able to put in your Good Things Jar this week?
Posted in Good Things in the Goodie Jar | Tagged: candle making, Glow, good things jar, Goodie Jar Check In #20, making candles in Willow Glen, Nia in the South Bay, Nia in Willow Glen, Nia San Jose, niece, San Francisco Bay Area Nia, San Jose Nia, South Bay Nia | 2 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on June 13, 2013
I have been teaching Nia in San Jose for four and a half years. I have been teaching Nia in the same studio in Willow Glen. I drive down Lincoln about twice a week. There are many stores and businesses on the street. There are also many pedestrians. For those of you that don’t know, Lincoln Avenue is very pretty. They have trees and bushes and flowers . . . very nice landscaping, however, the lovely foliage HIDES the pedestrians and those flashing lights (the ones that flash to call attention to pedestrians crossing the street). So you have to really pay attention. Sometimes people just dart out from the bushes. I am always concentrating on the pedestrians so I don’t notice all the stores that come and go. When I do walk down the street I am always amazed at a new shop that has popped up or one that has closed. One of the new ones is Glow. It is a build-a-candle candle shop. When I first saw it I was so excited. I kept squealing with each new thing I saw as I walked through. There are colors and fragrances and little trinkets you can add to the candle. I couldn’t wait to go!
This week I have my niece visiting and I thought it would be fun for us to go make a candle. It is something we can do and visit at the same time. Plus it is creative and then we will have a candle to show for it. First you choose your mold. What size and shape you want. Then you choose your colors, any pips, and if you want any trinkets. Then you choose the scent you want to have. Then you set about putting it all together.
The pips are plastic pieces that you stick to the side of the mold. They have all different kinds of pips: butterflies, birds, flowers, stars, guitars, martini glasses, crosses, letters, lipstick, dresses, shoes, you name it, they probably have it. After you stick the pips to the side, then you break up the sheets of wax. You get to choose from a variety of colors. Once the candle is poured and set, the pips show through on the sides of the candle.
When you are done filling the mold with the pieces the shop keep pours hot melted wax into the mold over the broken pieces. Then it sets. The store keep puts a wick in it and polishes it and you have a cool candle that you made.
There is “studio fee” of $9.95 and then the cost of the candle which is determined by the size and shape you choose. All pips are included as well as the poured wax and fragrance. The little charms and other things are priced per piece and the costs vary from less than a dollar all the way to at least $4.00. I believe there might be ones that cost more than $4.00 but that was the one I saw.
The day we went back to pick up our candle we were being helped by the assistant manager, Laura, and she was a wealth of information. She shared some tips and tricks that my niece and I wished we had been privy to the day before when we were making our candles. But now we know and we are anxious to go back again to make more candles.
The experience is not an inexpensive one, but as I said, it is an EXPERIENCE. It is an activity. It is a fun thing to do with people who you want to be with. Once you pay the studio fee you can buy as many candles as you want to make. So it could be a great way to kick out some gifts for Christmas. Pay the studio fee then make a few candles. Do it with friends and you have a great time. I think an activity that results in a wonderful smelling candle makes for a great day. My niece and I had a great time.
I thought it was great fun to build a candle. I also thought is was pretty exciting to wait for the candle to be ready for pick up the next day. I really love this activity and can’t wait to go back. The candles we made, while not perfect, look pretty nice, smell great, and burn well. This was definitely a fun time with wax.
Do you like candles? What color candle would you make?
.
Posted in Misc | Tagged: candle shop, candles, do-it-yourself candles, fun activity, fun thing to do in San Jose, fun with wax, Glow, Lincoln Avenue Business, Nia Classes, Nia San Jose, Nia Teacher, pips, San Jose Nia, teaching Nia, Willow Glen Business, Willow Glen Workout | 7 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on June 7, 2013
Goodie Jar – Check In #19 Hellooooo . . . . anybody there?
I’m still working on my jar. I think I might not need to empty it to make it last the year. I have so many different sized papers I bet the whole will fit. It is a big pitcher! Even if I have a lot of good things.
I hope that even if you aren’t commenting, that you are still thinking of good things that are happening in your life and making a note somewhere!
Cheers!
Posted in Good Things in the Goodie Jar | Tagged: good things, good things jar, Goodie Jar | 4 Comments »
Posted by terrepruitt on June 6, 2013
A few months ago I was finding myself with a sense of anxiety. I was feeling STRESSED. I was just really out of sorts. I was worrying about things some of which I could do nothing about. I was just feeling frantic. Finally one day I said, “What is up with this anxiety? Why am I on edge?!” I was just tired of that on-the-edge feeling. I stopped and examined what I was allowing to cause me anxiety. I decided to take a few steps to relieve that anxiety, but I also realized that I was not trusting. I felt that I had the faith, but I was not allowing myself to TRUST in order to let my faith that things would be ok, actually carry me through. Now, I know they might sound the same, or you might think it was faith I was lacking and we could argue the semantics and the difference, but in my opinion it was trust that I needed to have. So I started looking for “Trust” symbols. I was hoping to find a piece of jewelery I could wear or a temporary tattoo. I found this beautiful bracelet that I found myself wanting, but while I was lacking in trust I was not lacking in intelligence. Spending $150.00, when having enough money was one of the things I was worried about, would not be smart. I kept the webpage as a tab on my iPad, and would look at it. I felt that was a good enough reminder. Then a friend of mine posted a link to Jennifer Pastiloff’s website on Facebook that led me to Conscious, Ink.
Conscious, Ink is temporary tattoos of sayings or things you might want to remind yourself of or manifest. And they have “Trust”. A beautiful slightly green Trust. Trust on top of each other and inverted so you can read it from either side/angle. And one long T R U S T. They also have packages where you can buy 30 days worth of one tattoo. So you can just keep the tattoo ongoing for 30 days. I bought all the different versions of “Trust”. I bought 1 of the long one, 2 of the double one, and a month’s worth of the “fancy” greenish one.
So far I am wearing them on my forearm so that I can actually SEE them and be reminded. I mean that was really the whole point for me. But you, of course can do whatever you want.
They have packs of series of tattoos, for example a “Healing Series” which contains different color tattoos stating:
EVERY CELL IN MY BODY IS IN PERFECT ORDER
I ENJOY OPTIMAL HEALTH & VIBRANT ENERGY
MY BODY HEALS IN EASE AND GRACE
SOURCE Nourishes & Loves ME I AM Light
I TRUST Myself I AM Peace & Joy
I LIVE In Joy & Unity I AM Alive
The “Be Present Series” contains “Just Breathe”, “Be Present”, “Let Go” and three more tattoos all in fancy script.
They have a large assortment of different types of tattoos all made to help “solidify intentions and affirmations” and help you manifest your own destiny. For me personally it is perfect. I need a reminder. Things around here are cause for questions and since there are no clear answers the only thing I can do is TRUST. I think with tattoos reminding us of things; Appreciation, Believe, Forgive, Gratitude, Listen, Be Bold, Acknowledge, Expect Miracles, Let GO Let God, I am the source of my abundance, Do it now, Follow Your Bliss, quotes from Rumi, and many more — we can actually make things happen and manifest them. Conscious, Ink even has a few pregnancy tattoos.
I also have to say that I am a sucker for free gifts. I love when businesses include free things with an order. Silly as it may sound it always makes me feel special . . . even though I know I am not the only one that they do that for! And my free gift was a “Gratitude” tattoo. A free gift and THAT particular tattoo made me very happy. There was even a little hand written note from the owner. AWESOME! I think all of that is a great job of manifesting a returning customer!
Tattoo anyone? What would you like to manifest?
Posted in Misc | Tagged: "Conscious, Be Present, gratitude, healing, Ink", joy and unity, Just Breath, manifest, sense of anxiety, stress, tattoos, temporary tattoos, vibrant energy, worry | 4 Comments »
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