Nikki's 30-Day Yoga Challenge

Congratulations!

Dear Nikki,

Congratulations on completing your Yoga Challenge! Great job on raising $141 for the foster home! The D.C. yoga community has raised over $11,000 so far, and we are still going! Please keep asking friends and family to contribute to your Yoga Challenge project. Be sure to check back for updates from South Africa on the construction of the foster home as well.

Now that your 30 days of yoga are over, tell us what your Yoga Challenge experience was like! Were you able to do 30 days of yoga? What were your favorite studios?

We hope you had a great Yoga Challenge experience and will partner with Citizen Effect again in the future!

Namaste,
Annie and the rest of the Citizen Effect Team

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Day 14....along with a requirement to scale back....

Well this really wouldn't be a challenge were there not a few additional "challenges" involved...

The side effects of the April car accident continue to present additional challenges from a physical perspective. But, after much thought, I have decided I am not going to let this derail my 30-day challenge.

I will continue to practice each day...but will focus less on the physical challenge and more on the emotional/mental challenge. And if my body demands a break (pesky second vertebra can be demanding), I will take a day and extend my 30-day challenge into August.

I know you all understand how tough it is for me to limit myself physically...or to slow myself down. Of course I would not do so were it not necessary....and frankly, wise. I appreciate your continued support!

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A Heartfelt Electronic Thank You....

To all of you lvely people wh have donated....thank you so much! Your support and confidence means the world to me!

I ordered these fantastic recycled thank you cards. Becuase who doesn't love getting MAIL...and this is a YOGA CHALLENGE....recycled stuff just makes sense!

But apparently, someone in my "up and coming" neighborhood did not LIKE the idea...and STOLE the cards. STOLE the RECYLCED CARDS INTENDED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR DONATING TO A CHARITY!

Way to be classy Colo Heights.

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Technolgically challenged...but more flexible than before...

I am having a HORRID time with every technlogy I OWN lately. Professionally, personally....all just a mess! For example, the "o" key on my laptop = not working. Thus, I have to hit it no less than 5 times to make the letter "o" while blogging. It may at some point read "blgging" and yu will just have t understand that the letter is missing and my arms are t tired to smash the key repeatedly!

A core compnent of my technlogy challenges....I have been writing blog posts and smehw, deleting them. No, they are not in a mysterious saved flder...they are simply gone. So let's just admit it....I am writing them and then deleting them. Fantastic. Trust me, they were wildly pithy, articulate....and dwnright brilliant. I am s sad yu will never read them!

So here is the catch up...

Tday is Day 13 for me. I have not missed a day...although two days of practice were conducted in my living room to a 60 minute yoga DVD. But rest assured, I turned off my blackberry, mved furniture out of the way, rolled out my mat and set all snacks off to the side. I even did my OM chant at the end of my practice.

I may have even busted out a few mves in a friends living room after ccktails one evening. Trust me, dn't do this! I pulled smething in my back I am sure. Nt wise!

I have found my ritual of daily practice completely fulfilling. I am trying various kinds of yga...and even taking friends with me. It is a wonderfully centering experience. I feel more calm, mre fcused...and am amazing my bdy is capable of such strength and my mind of such calmness. You may recall, I am generally neurtic. Calm and I historically have not collaborated well.

I have dedicated this entire month of practice to the physical, mental and emotional health of my family. There just seems to be entirely too much the family is battling lately....and every day, I focus on channeling some of my energy, my happiness and my peaceful feelings to them.

Namaste my peple!

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Keep it up Nikki!

Only 7 days have passed since you started the 30 Day Yoga Challenge and you have already raised 25% of your target pledge goal, keep up all those sun salutations Nikki! We have really enjoyed reading about your jump back into practicing yoga and experiences you have had in learning how to chant for inner peace, looking forward to hearing more.

Namaste,

Annie and The Citizen Effect Team

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"How are you feeling?!?" "My Tush is sore by my spirits are VERY high!"

Doing yoga daily for someone who does NOT do yoga regularly can lead to an incredibly sore tush. I realized this yesterday as I settled into my down dog after 60 minutes of cycling...<number 1 note to self: may need to better space out cycling classes and yoga until the legs adjust>....

Friday, July 2nd I attended a multi level class at a local studio during lunch. It was a really wonderful class and I thoroughly enjoyed the teacher. I had to actively focus my mind on MY practice...despite all of the amazingly graceful inversions going on around me.

Saturday, July 3rd I attended a Hatha class (the class immediately following spin) with a new friend...who also happens to be new to yoga. She had a great time and informed me later that she needed my enthusiasm and good attitude to get here there....yoga is something she has wanted to start doing for her health and well being for a long time. This absolutely made my day!

Sunday, July 4th....TBD. But it appears, at this time, I am attending a class in a DC studio later this morning!

Happy and safe 4th of July! Being thankful for our freedom....what a lovely holiday!

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Newbies, Yoga and Cocktails

I am absolutely ecstatic to say that I have had a ton of friends offer to do yoga with me....

"I mean, I'll totally do it! I mean, I've never done it before...do I need like a mat or something?!? But, I mean, I'm doing it with you!"

Seriously, this means the world to me. I have friends who have NEVER done yoga before....yet are completely willing to go to a studio, a park, a MALL...wherever....and do yoga with me in support.

Well that is just freaking awesome. And I will take every single last one of you up on it. And then, we will get a celebratory cocktail!

Standing invitation from me....for the next 29 days, you have a yoga partner each and every day. Hell, I'll do it twice....it's for ORPHANS PEOPLE!

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July 2 - Day 2 -- Chant Along...even if you don't know the words!

Dedication Day Two -- To my dear friend, who is BRAVER THAN SHE KNOWS! This mantra was for you my dear! And like a stalker, you always have me! ;)

I work hard on my breath...but a chanter my friends, I am not!

Today I took in a lunch time yoga class....Kundalini Yoga. I have done Kundalini before...but it has been years....and believe me, the lack of mental recognition was very clear.

"Chant along! Even if you don't know the words...just chant! Focus on feeling the mantra and CHANT!"

Oh dear god...what does she mean???

I have spent significant time trying to find a decent definition of Kundalini Yoga to share with you all. Unfortunately, they all involve a Wikipedia of information...and frankly, I can't even read THAT much about Kundalini and I am DOING it. So...here is an abbreviated version that GROSSLY underestimates the true nature of the practice...so just forgive me now!

The practice of kundalini yoga incorporates postures, dynamic breathing techniques, chanting and meditating on mantras. Students concentrate on awakening the energy at the base of the spine and drawing it upward through each of the seven chakras.

This probably is not providing you a TON of clarity..so let me just say, the poses are very deliberate, the breath EXTREMELY focused....and the chanting and singing...OFF THE CHARTS. I never EVER have been able to remember lyrics of any sort...throw in a series of phrases or mantras....and I am literally just sitting with my eyes closed attempting to mumble in tune. But the cool thing is that no one knows and no one cares.

I found myself completely immersed in the practice. I even chanted, sang, did one nostril breathing...etc. You get the point.

And I finally understand...the trick to my mind not wandering....give me a mantra to chant and you have my FULL attention.

Cheers to a lovely Day Two! :)

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July 1 - Day 1 -- Downward Dog in Spandex on Film

Day one of the thirty day challenge....lovely outdoor yoga, cameras and spandex!

I love doing yoga outside. I love doing yoga outside even more when it is a balmy 80 degrees and low humidity...and I am with my friends....approximately 59 new friends and awesome Rachel.

The group kicked off the yoga challenge at Meridian Hill Park at 730. Seriously friends...there is something about your yoga mat on GRASS versus hardwood. I absolutely adore practicing outside.

The class was challenging yet relaxing....taught by the very hysterical Michael Hall. I loved every second of it.

Albeit, I have never EVER had flashbulbs going off from behind me as I settled into a down dog...in spandex. I may rethink the spandex. For the time being, I will just hope that these pictures never surface on the Interwebs....

I dedicated this practice to the 30-day challenge overall (not my shallow desire to keep my spandexed ars off of the Internet). From this point forward, I will make a specific dedication for each class....

Cheers to lovely Day One! :)

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Accident Prone: Runner in Rehab...Yogi in Training

Runner in Rehab...

As with most things I attempt, I AM VERY EXCITED AND ENTHUSIASTIC to be a part of the 30-day yoga challenge! As a recovering runner (a "runner in rehab" if you will), I am moving away from races for a cause in an effort to preserve my body....it does not like running as much as my mind. I have fought this reality for years and frankly, after being told my numerous doctors that I needed to stop, I am stopping.

Stubborn button = OFF.

Yogi in Training...

I have done yoga on and off for about 10 years....but I have never really dedicated significant time to contemplating the importance of the practice. The impact on the body and mind...and the amazing healing ability that it holds.

The 30-day yoga challenge affords me the opportunity to challenge myself physically and mentally while doing something good for others. And, as cliche as that sounds, I always appreciate physical and mental challenges more when there is a bigger cause in mind.

And kids?!? Seriously??? One of the causes that matters to me the most.

So welcome...and thanks for reading! And if it is any incentive, I am wildly clumsy and accident prone...this could be REALLY interesting......

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