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rulesofthebeneath · 5 years

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how bout a dance: part 5

<AN> Here’s some more!!! Every single day I get so happy that y’all are still liking this. Wow. Amazing. As always, endless credit to @euphonyinestetica for cleaning up the disaster that is my English :). Taggin: @ajaysbhandari, @pixelburied, @itsbrindleybinch, @witchiegirl, @lilmissperfectlyimperfect , @aidenzhous, @ravenclawpokegirl25, @catlady0911</AN>

The rest of the week came and went in the same way the first rehearsal did. Grace found herself blocking out scenes with Kevin, Rosa, Andrew (who played Ted, a character that definitely gave her the creeps) and Elijah (Buck). The blocking was productive, but there was still a lot of awkwardness between her and Ajay.

Every time he said anything, giving a direction or even advice, she wanted to crack a joke, or make a comment, or teasingly argue with him. Something she would’ve done years ago, in the productions they’d done together in high school. But she knew she couldn’t do that now, so she kept her mouth shut.

If she was completely honest with herself, Grace hated not having a rapport with Ajay. She just wanted to talk with him, to laugh with him, to be herself around him. She wanted to be his friend again so badly: an option they had definitely left open when they’d mutually broken up all those years ago. But everything just seemed awkward and stiff now. Grace convinced herself that it was just because they had to get to know each other again, but she still wasn’t sure.

The first day of rehearsal on Friday came and went much in the same way as usual: spotted with slightly awkward silences as she swallowed remark after remark, instead just nodding her head and doing what he asked. It was physically painful to not make snide comments but it wasn’t worth the possibility of him taking it the wrong way. She was currently hiding backstage, slightly irritated, waiting for the next time she was needed.

“Great,” she heard Ajay’s voice ring out from the house. “That’s where you’ll start ‘When I Drive.’ Then once that’s done… Grace?”

She poked her head out from behind the curtains. “What?”

“Do the loudest whistle you can from back there.”

Grace stuck a few fingers in her mouth and let out a loud, commanding whistle.

“Nice,” yelled Kevin, jogging over to high five her clean hand. Rosa applauded, and Elijah looked a little awestruck. Grace turned red.

“That works,” Ajay nodded. “Kevin, you’ll run over stage right to her when you say ‘She’s here.’ Then Buck and Blanche have their exchange— where you’re standing right now is fine for that. Then Clyde will bring Bonnie in, holding her hand—yes, just like that. Bonnie, you’ve heard Blanche’s ‘tart’ comment, so you’ll be defensive.”

Grace crossed her arms over her chest and leaned her weight onto one foot, cocking her hip.

“No, give me more than that. Are you reacting how Bonnie would react, or how Grace would react?”

And for some reason, that last comment pissed Grace off. Who was he to know how she’d react? She wasn’t the same person she was all those years ago. Her free hand curled uncontrollably into a fist, and she set her jaw.

“Great!” came Ajay’s voice from the house. Obviously he was too far away to have realized that that was real anger, but Rosa had seen the look in her eyes. Rosa furrowed her brows and bit at a corner of her lip.

As quickly as it had came, the anger left Grace and she relaxed. She shook her head at Rosa, who relaxed too but still looked worried. The overreaction was just another failure—a failure on Grace’s part to control herself. She put up an extra wall just to be safe.

The four made their way through the rest of the scene slowly. At some point, Ajay caught on to Grace’s extra defensiveness. He shot her several confused expressions over the course of the blocking, but didn’t say anything. Lysander and the ensemble were called in to start the tedious blocking process for “God’s Arms Are Always Open.” As the rehearsal dragged on, Grace found herself getting more and more tense, her arms and legs starting to ache from the stiffness.

Once the blocking was finally over, Ajay smiled at the cast. “Great job, guys. Take fifteen. Grace, Kevin, Rosa, Elijah, can I get you to help me with something?”

They all nodded and followed his lead as he set off backstage. Rosa fell back to walk beside Grace.

“You okay? What was that, earlier?”

Grace sighed. “I don’t know. I think I’m just tired.”

“Like, sleepy tired or tired of something?”

“Tired of this tension between me and Ajay. Also, tired of being on my feet. I didn’t have a fun shift this afternoon.”

“I get it. And as for the tension… I don’t know. Maybe it just takes time. But you’ve got me in your corner.”

“That I do,” Grace said, smiling at Rosa. “I’m lucky.”

Rosa wrapped an arm around Grace as they caught up with the group at the door to the props closet.

Ajay stood there unlocking it, then turned to face the group.

“I was hoping you guys could help me bring out boxes of props. The props master already went home for the day, and I can’t carry all this by myself.”

All four quickly agreed, and he let them all into the large room that they called a closet. Grace located a “Bonnie & Clyde” labeled box near the front and picked it up. She shifted it into one arm and reached to turn the door handle– but it didn’t budge. She tried it again, with more force. Still nothing. She looked back to see that everyone had dispersed through the closet. Ajay was the closest, so she walked over to him.

“Um, Ajay? I think the door locked behind us or something.”

He whipped around, almost dropping the plates he was holding. Grace put a hand on the stack to steady it.

“What?”

“Yeah. Come see if you can open it, though. It might just be stuck.”

He carefully set the plates down inside another labeled box and followed her up to the door where, sure enough, he couldn’t get the handle to move either. He sighed heavily, softly punching the door.

“God, this is just like that time we got locked in the auditorium in high school,” Grace said, not thinking. When she realized what she’d said, she took in a sharp breath and watched Ajay carefully for his reaction.

He just stared at the door handle, until:

“I don’t have any secret snack stash here, though,” he replied, trying not to smile. Grace tried her best to remain neutral but was the first to break, letting out a snort that made him start chuckling. The week’s (years?) worth of tension dissipated in a second as they giggled about the shared memory.

“Well at least you didn’t ban phones from this rehearsal,” Grace joked between laughs, causing them both to start laughing even harder.

“No, I learned my lesson. I’ll text Emily, she’ll have another key. We’ll just have to remember to prop it open.”

“Thank god we won’t be here all night,” Grace said, starting off another round of laughter.

At this point, Kevin, Rosa and Elijah had finished packing up their boxes and the sound of the laughing had attracted them to the front.

“What’s so funny?” Elijah asked, seeming genuinely curious as to why Grace and Ajay had broken the tension between them. Grace, tears of mirth in her eyes, stopped laughing long enough to say “We’re locked in!” before making eye contact with Ajay and laughing again.

“Is it time to play Never Have I Ever? I’ve heard it’s actually fun with more than two people,” Ajay said.

Grace snorted again and reached up to swat him lightly. Something, a little something that Grace couldn’t quite put her finger on, healed between them at that moment. She decided not to read too far into it.

Rosa met Kevin’s eyes and raised her eyebrows. Kevin just shrugged, not knowing what was going on either.

Luckily for Kevin, Rosa, and Elijah, Emily’s footsteps sounded outside the door and unlocked it. Ajay carefully drew a neutral mask over his face, but everyone could still see him biting back a smile.

Grace fell back into step with Rosa, and they walked in silence for a second.

“I think you might’ve just solved your tension problem,” Rosa said.

“Hmm, maybe. My freshman year of high school, we got trapped in the auditorium together overnight.”

Rosa hummed. “Well, whatever just happened there, it seems to have worked. I’ll bet y’all will work together a lot better now.”

“Hopefully.” Grace smiled. “I haven’t felt relaxed since we started rehearsals. Maybe that was all it took.”

“That would be great!”

“Definitely. Oh, completely changing topics, how would you feel about coming over tonight for dinner? It’s nothing special, we’ll probably just make ramen with egg and vegetables.”

“Oh…” Rosa tapped her fingers on the edge of her box. “Mayleen doesn’t mind?” she asked shyly, staring at the ground instead of looking Grace in the eye.

Grace lightly shoulder checked her. “She asked me to invite you.”

“Oh!” Rosa nearly fumbled her box. “Then… yes. Yes. I’d love to come over.”

Grace gave her a knowing smile, but didn’t press the issue. When they arrived backstage, they helped Ajay put the props on the table, already meticulously organized. When he saw her, he smiled warmly. She grinned back at him, a small glow making its home in her chest. Grace thought Rosa was probably right; the tension might finally be over.

Ajay sent her and Kevin down to the basement studio to learn the choreography for their big number at the end of Act 1, “This World Will Remember Us.”

As soon as they got offstage, Kevin shot her a weird look.

“I don’t think I’ve seen Ajay get along with anyone like that yet. What gives?”

Grace shook her head. “I don’t know. Ajay and I went to high school together, and my freshman year we got locked in the auditorium overnight. I think the coincidence got him out of his shell a little bit.”

“Oh, wow. Really? You guys went to the same high school?”

“Yeah! We grew up in the same small Oregon town. It’s crazy how small the theatre world is.”

“Really.” Kevin agreed. “Well, I’m glad you guys are getting along. It was crazy tense there for a second.”

Grace didn’t have time to respond before they were already in the studio, but she was a bit relieved. She didn’t want to have to explain the whole ‘exes’ thing again, and she especially didn’t want to explain the something that had healed between them just then. She barely understood it herself. But she was really, really glad that things with Ajay were back in a good place.

#hbad part 5 #how bout a dance #ajay x mc #high school story class act #high school story: class act #high school story: class act choices #ella i owe u my life #ajay bhandari #my fanfic #hbad

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so-shiny-so-chrome · 5 years

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Witness: B_Kilroy

ThCreator name (AO3): B_Kilroy

Creator name (Tumblr): brian-kilroy

Link to creator works: https://archiveofourown.org/users/B_Kilroy/pseuds/B_Kilroy/works?fandom_id=51060

Q: Why the Mad Max Fandom?

A: I was just instantly drawn to it after seeing Mad Max: Fury Road for the first time. The movie was incredible, from the imagery to the people, from the story we see to the story we have to piece together ourselves. I was no stranger to fanfiction since I had written and read it in the past, so when I thought "I need to get more of this," I knew where to go. Being more internet savvy than I was several years ago meant that I was able to find more places and people who engaged in the fandom, which in turn allowed me to become more engaged, and do more for this fandom than the ones I had been a part of before.

Q: What do you think are some defining aspects of your work? Do you have a style? Recurrent themes?Which of your works was the most fun to create? The most difficult? Which is your most popular? Most successful? Your favourite overall?

A: I think even though I didn't write much for it, "Through The Looking Glass" was the most fun to create, because the goal was to take the entirety of Mad Max and reframe it with Furiosa and Max being able to contact each other through their dreams. It's fun to take that and view events through a different lens, or use one character to advise the other and shove the story in different directions. After a while, these changes would have stacked up, but it would have amounted to a serious overhaul of character and plot through four movies.

The most difficult fic was "Ear to the Ground," namely because it was a gift so I couldn't bounce the idea back off of its source to talk about it. At a certain point I pretty much stalled, and that combined with the time constraints of the exchange were some serious stressors. I've stalled many times in many fics, but this was the most difficult one to conquer.

My most popular, successful, and favorite fic to work on is by and large "Runaway." I can't truly speak for why, but I believe its relative longevity and the AU concept of Fury Road essentially never happening was what earned some attention.

Q: How do you like your wasteland? Gritty? Hopeful? Campy? Soft? Why?

A: I like a good mix of gritty and hopeful, though it does depend on what sort of fic I'm writing. I think we've all seen enough to know that you can't have good without the bad, but we also know that sometimes it's very possible to basically go about your business as long as you're smart about it. Sometimes, the characters don't have that option. I enjoy having a diverse world so characters can have a multitude of experiences.

Q: Walk us through your creative process from idea to finished product. What's your prefered environment for creating? How do you get through rough patches?

A: My creative process really varies. Often, I just start writing. Only after I have some stuff written down do the gears really start turning about the future. As I work, sometimes I'll put down specific lines I want to use, or scenes I want to see, or a general rough outline. The best thing I've done in this regard is have an outline set for "Runaway" and use the first posting of "Royce" as a first draft. The best way to create is to have something set out in front of you, so you know where Point B is, and it's just a matter of getting there.

When I wrote in college, it was pretty much wherever I could snag a seat. A handful of my old fics started in the very back of a State Government lecture hall. As time went on, I wrote in the student center or in a dorm lobby or just somewhere I could sit down that felt vaguely productive. At home, it's in my dark room with some music on.

Rough patches often signal a break in writing. I'll typically go to another fic to work on, but recently having trouble means walking away completely. For me, the only way to get through rough patches means sitting down and writing. It can be a word, a sentence, or a paragraph, and any amount is fine. All that matters is that I get the gears going, because there's no progress if I don't think about it.

Q: What (if any) music do you listen to for help getting those creative juices flowing?

A: I'll listen to a general playlist I've wrangled together if I'm writing for Maxiosa, and that can sort of get me in the mood - namely, some DJ Shadow or some Radiohead, though a lot of artists are one-offs. For other fics, or moments where I need a specific tone, I can turn to more energetic music and scratch that itch.

Q: What is your biggest challenge as a creator?

A: Inspiration and drive is my biggest challenge. Nowadays, I don't really have inspiration unless it just somehow *comes* to me - which will often be around 1 AM which leaves a lot to be desired. A lot of writing also came out of emotional distress, which thankfully I don't really experience anymore, but that means finding some other sort of fuel to write from.

Q: How have you grown as a creator through your participation in the Mad Max Fandom? How has your work changed? Have you learned anything about yourself?

A: I've definitely grown in terms of how I write. I sort of cringe at how I first wrote a lot of my stuff, which resulted in some works being removed or re-worked. My writing has done a lot better in terms of - well, I don't cringe at it as much. I'm more confident in what I write and how. It's a more mature style that I can reflect on as an era of writing separate from what I wrote when I was younger. In short, it's better.

Have I learned anything about myself? Can't quite say.

Q: Which character do you relate to the most, and how does that affect your approach to that character? Is someone else your favourite to portray? How has your understanding of these characters grown through portraying them?

A: I'd say I relate to Max the most. I understand being alone and avoiding people. That's oversimplifying it, but I sympathize with him the most. This allows me to write him if not accurately, then it helps me write him well. Writing characters in general, while I'm not writing canon material, allows me to think of them as more than what they've done on the screen. It allows me to think of them as complex characters. I fill out the blanks left on the screen and it helps make them whole.

Q: Do you ever self-insert, even accidentally?

A: Definitely. "Royce" is by-and-large a self-insert, and I think it pretty much says so on the can. It became a great way to explore what I would do in such a world, but I feel like doing self-inserts in the right way can be an excellent method to explore parts of the story that we don't usually see.

Q: How does your work for the fandom change how you look at the source material?

A: It allows me to form a more complete image of the before, during, and after. It may not be canonical, but I can appreciate the movie as more than just a slice of the world. I think about everything happening behind the scenes - what's happening at the Citadel, in the War Party, in the wreckage following the battle of the Fury Road. Instead of asking questions about what happened and what will happen, I form answers.

Q: Do you prefer to create in one defined chronology or do your works stand alone? Why or why not?

A: I enjoy the concept of trying to fit all my fics into one world, because 1) it breeds continuity, 2) it breeds opportunities for the future, and 3) it's just fun. Not only do you have the source material, but using what you create helps you get more familiar and comfortable with the characters. Writing for standalone fics means you have to resort to a different mindset for these characters, though some may enjoy that, so more power to them.

Q: To break or not to break canon? Why?

A: Both is fun. I have canon-compliant and canon-divergent fics and they both have their benefits and drawbacks in terms of familiarity and "give" in terms of what you want to do.

Q: If you work with OCs walk us through your process for creating them. Who are some of your favourites?

A: If they are proper OCs with no real inspiration, I start with basically envisioning them in my mind. What are their names and what do they look like? What is their purpose? What is their past, and do you want that to factor into what they do in the present and future? It doesn't have to be a whole lot if they're minor characters, but the more you do means you have more to play with. You can add complexity to a character or just use them as a means to an end.

My favorite OC has to be Royce just because of how I know Royce ends up, and how he's used as a storytelling tool.

Q: Who are some works by other creators inside and outside of the fandom that have influenced your work?

A: Owlship has had a direct influence on my work - I've snagged quite a few prompts from her and I've been inspired at least directly by "the centre cannot hold;". While I can't say I really look up to anyone else as an influence, I definitely give props to Weirdness_Unlimited for taking off running with "To Love Reptiles" and their OC work, and giving me inspiration to keep going with mine. I quite literally went through every single fic that looked good to me when I first found MMFR so I can't really point anything out that has influenced me except for the creativity of the community as a whole.

Q: Tell us about a current WIP or planned project.

A: Runaway is the big WIP I'm staring down right now. I've been bogged down in terms of having a hard time writing thought and reflection instead of action. I've probably said it a hundred times, but I do have an outline set up for the fic which would go pretty far if written for completely. Anyone reading it can expect something interesting in the next few chapters. I do have another WIP or two in my pocket that I'll abstain from talking about, but they'll be little one shots. One's a bit of pre-canon, another's post-canon which is the one I'm favoring. There's still gears turning, no matter how small, and I hope to get stuff going again soon.

@b-kilroy thank you for your time.

#mad max fandom #mad max fanfic #Mad Max Fandom Creator Spotlight #fury road fic #mad max creator spotlight #B-kilroy #brian_kilroy #fanfic author spotlight

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ledenews · 4 years

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Derrel Isler - Living the Dream

A career in sales is not for everyone. Those that are successful exhibit a number of similar traits that make them effective in their chosen profession: work ethic, people skills, knowledge of product, an ability to read the room and put people at ease, to name a few. If that’s the case, Wheeling native and Longwood, Fla., resident Derrel Isler was, to borrow a cliche, born for this position. In fairness, Isler was born for a number of different career options. He’s a rare combination of a person whose high level of intelligence is matched by both his work ethic and ease with dealing with all types of people. Affectionately referred to as "Big D" by friends and colleagues alike, Isler grew up on Bow Street in Wheeling along with his parents and brother. He finished in the Top 15 of his class at Wheeling Park High, was a Summa Cum Laude Honors College graduate in electrical engineering from WVU, and the owner of an MBA from Charleston Southern University. He’s also a U.S. Navy Veteran.

The Move Around

He’s lived in South Carolina, Virginia, North Carolina and now Florida since leaving the Ohio Valley, working his way up the ladder wherever he went. But when Big D took a position with Dell in 2007, then his stock, and financial portfolio, really started to expand, as did his family. He married, had three loving children, and did his best to find that work-life balance between Sales Engineer and father and husband. Isler battled through the hardships of divorce, but he and his ex-wife found common ground in co-parenting their three children, and both are stronger for it. When he’s not in Dad mode, Big D enjoys the fruits of his labor. He’s a man who enjoys the finer things in life, but doesn’t flaunt it and hasn’t allowed his success to go to his head. He’s still the same smiling, easy-going guy he’s always been. Such a personality warrants a large friend list, and Isler keeps in touch with them all. He has an active presence on social media, whether it's Facebook, Twitter, or the (Insta)Gram. He engages his friends in thought-provoking questions, humorous queries, and it’s not uncommon to see him posting a photo, feet propped up on a lounger near his home’s in-ground pool, cigar in hand, just enjoying the day. He’s the perfect example of a home-grown success story that’s never forgotten his roots and doesn’t hesitate to return home to catch up with family and friends.

Those who grew up with Isler would agree he's the same guy today that he was when graduated from Wheeling Park High School back in the late 1990s.

After graduating from WVU with honors to enlisting in the U.S. Navy, was that part of the plan, or did you consider going into the service first and then college?

I finished my second year at WVU, and I never thought of going into the service. But I kept receiving emails from recruiters promising all these great things if I joined. I knew I had options after college, so why did I need to consider the military? Finally, I saw a flyer in the dining hall that made me say, ‘Okay, let me see what the catch is.’ The catch was I HAD to finish one of my majors in two years (I wanted electrical and computer engineering, which would have taken me another three years). If I passed all of the interviews, the fitness test, and the background check, I would be made active duty immediately. I did all that and became an E-7, or Chief, in the Navy at 20 with zero experience. I was originally supposed to be a submariner, but during my senior year I asked to switch to become an instructor at the Nuclear Power School in Charleston, S.C. After I was graduated from college, I received my commission and went off to Officer Indoctrination School in Rhode Island; I then moved to Charleston. Joining the Navy is one of the best decisions I ever made because I learned so much from that experience.

You've experienced success at every level and in multiple sectors, and overcome life throwing you a few curve balls. Where did that sense of drive and work ethic come from, and do you credit that and anything else for helping you push through the tough times?

Where did I learn to hustle hard? My father. He still is a hard working-man to this day. Seeing him work so hard and grind for our family is where I get my work ethic from.

You were always willing to put in the work to climb the ladder. How did that attitude or focus change or shift any, upon the birth of your daughters and finally your son?

I strive for balance and to ensure my family is taken care of. When I don’t have my kids, I make up for it by traveling to visit customers, staying in the office a few extra hours, and I'm always willing to jump on extra tasks that need done. What drives me is my desire to give my kids a better life than I had. I had a great childhood and my parents busted their tails to provide for me and my brother. I want to do the same for my kids.

Divorce is never easy, but you're balancing a successful career and still spending a good bit of time with your children. How difficult is it to make that work, and what allows you to do so?

Well, I say it first starts with the woman I co-parent with, my baby momma. In all seriousness, I could not have the focus I need to at work if she didn’t consistently hold it down when she has the kids. When I have the kids (40-60 arrangement), I go into Dad mode. I do not have any family around, so I am on point for school drop-off, pick-up, homework, after school activities, you name it. It is a lot to juggle at times, but I have coworkers and an employer that values work-life balance. But how did I/do I get through hard times? Many bottles of scotch, good music, and amazing friends! I had the luck and pleasure of meeting a friend in Orlando that is also from the Ohio Valley. We immediately connected by reminiscing about DiCarlo's Pizza, Coleman’s Fish Market, and all of the things that make “home” amazing. She’s been a big part of helping me cope with some of my harder times down here. I owe a lot to her.

When he does have free time, Isler enjoys hitting the town with good friends and enjoying the fruits of his labor. He works hard and plays hard.

Finally, your job could provide even greater financial reward if you were able to significantly increase your travel availability, spend more time on the road. Do you ever regret having to dial it back, or have you struck the perfect balance? Also, how cooperative was the company in allowing you to do so, given your success rate?

As far as climbing the ladder goes, I had the desire to get into management. That was pre-divorce. After the divorce, I put that on hold in order to focus on raising my kids and maintaining my sanity. I still don’t think that management is for me, but I can see myself taking on more global responsibility in my current role. Once I am an empty-nester, my passport is going to get a lot of use! I love what I do, so I really didn’t “sacrifice” much there. I am lucky enough to wake up every day eager to go to work and help my customers. Read the full article

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fitnesshealthyoga-blog · 5 years

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New Post has been published on https://fitnesshealthyoga.com/guided-meditation-challenge-how-to-start-a-consistent-practice/

Guided Meditation Challenge: How to Start a Consistent Practice

This is how one YJ editor learned how to meditate and reduce stress in a month.

Meditation has been on my back-burner health to-do list. For months, it’s been right there with removing sugar from my diet, taking a shot of apple cider vinegar every day, and oil pulling each morning. All health goals with good intentions—and ones I haven’t been able to commit to.

Which is why I jumped at the chance to try Yoga Journal’s meditation challenge. I’ve read about the numerous benefits of meditation, from enhanced concentration to stress release. I thought the accountability of this challenge would once and for all catalyze a consistent practice.

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In fact, when I started this challenge in early January, it seemed like one of the simpler ‘challenges’ I’d do: Sit down, listen to a guided meditation, and boom, 15 to 20 minutes later I’m done.

As all of you regular meditators out there know, I was misguided in my thoughts of how easy it would be!

See also This Guided Meditation Will Inspire You to Live From Your Heart

So, if you are trying the guided meditation challenge yourself, here are some guidelines that most helped me:

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1. Timing is Everything

The biggest obstacle for me initially was finding a consistent time of day to meditate. I drive 45 min each way to get to work, which means I wake up at 6 a.m. each morning, leave for work at 8 a.m., arrive home around 7 p.m., and eat dinner around 7:30 p.m.. I try to force myself to be in bed by 8:30 p.m. so I can read or journal before turning the lights out.

When does this leave me time to meditate, you wonder? Here’s what I tried:

My guided meditations in the evening

I’m a natural night owl, which is why I initially thought meditating in the evening would be best. I could wind down after work and meditate before eating dinner. Yet by 7:30 p.m. most nights, I was starving, and decided to put off my guided meditations until 8 p.m. Not a good call: After a long day (and long commute), the last thing I wanted to do was another to-do, so I quickly abandoned my nighttime meditation plan.

Then, I tried a few guided meditations at the office

I’ve read a few articles about how some people find time to meditate at work. Work is typically the most stressful part most people’s days—so it makes sense to me that interrupting stress with meditation would be effective. One day during my first week of the meditation challenge, I escaped to a small conference room around lunchtime to meditate. (Granted, I work for Yoga Journal, so didn’t worry about skeptical stares peering in on me through the windows—a luxury I know not everyone has!) After my first lunchtime guided meditation at the office, I decided to stick to it for a week. Overall, it was nice in theory—but if I’m honest, I also felt guilty being away from my inbox and colleagues for those 10 minutes, so I can’t say it was my most relaxing meditation sessions.

Morning meditation sessions turned out to be best

When I started this challenge, I avoided incorporating mediation into my morning at all costs. After working out in the a.m., I have just 35 minutes to get out the door. Needless to say, it’s a rushed get-ready routine. Then, I had an ah-ha moment: I realized because my mornings are so hectic, mornings may be exactly the time to insert my guided meditation practice. After evaluating my a.m. routine even more, I was able to pinpoint moments I was being mindless. Whether it’s catching up on SNL video clips, scrolling through Pinterest (yes, I still enjoy a good Pinterest sesh), or reading one of the many articles my mother sends to our family group chat, I realized I could find at least 10 minutes to sit comfortably and listen to a guided meditation. So, for the remainder of January, I settled down to meditate after my workout and shower.

As a beginner meditator, I found it extremely helpful to meditate after a good workout. My body was just tired enough that my mind found it easier to relax and focus on the present. Finding the right time for me made the experience so much more enjoyable. Keep in mind, it might not be easy to just incorporate into your regular daily routine. (Warning: Mindless social media scrolling may need to be cut!) But one of the biggest lessons I learned is that the routine of meditating is crucial if you want to stay consistent.

See also This Quick Meditation Will Bring Financial Abundance Into Your Life

Guided Meditation tools will help you stay focused and practice daily.

My Favorite Guided Meditation Tools

One of the best parts of Yoga Journal’s meditation challenge was being able to explore the different tools and applications that guide us through meditation. I know our culture is currently digitally obsessed—but what a great use of technology! The applications help us detach from the craziness of being glued to our screens and inspire us to just sit and breathe. A little ironic? Sure. But also very convenient!

Here are the guided meditation apps I tried, and what I thought of each:

YogCar

Initially, I thought this application would be best to use since I spend so much of my weekday in the car. I’m already sitting down, so why not utilize this time in the car to be more mindful? The app walks you through different simple stretches with relaxing music. I found this helped me be a little more present on my drive—but it didn’t necessarily qualify as meditation to me. The audio reminded me numerous times to keep focused on the road and not become too relaxed, which I greatly appreciated. But it didn’t meet my goals to become more aware of my thoughts and more comfortable sitting with my breath.

Headspace and Calm

Next, I tried two different meditation apps: Headspace and Calm. I found both of these helpful in my journey to learn exactly what meditation is. Headspace provided a 10-Day Basics course and allowed me to choose from 3-, 5-, or 10-minute sessions. I appreciated this since, as a beginner, 3-5 minutes was plenty for me. This course also has little animations, which helped me visualize different elements of meditation better.

After the 10 days, I felt accomplished and ready to move on Calm’s “7 Days of Calm.” I’m glad I used this app second, since the Calm meditations are around 10 minutes, and that would’ve felt too hard for me at the start of my journey. While 7 Days of Calm was similar to Headspace’s Basics course, it had the added bonus of giving me a concrete intention of what to focus on each session, which I often carried with me throughout my day.

See also How to Work With Your Thoughts to Manifest a Bright Future

What’s the secret to meditation? Ritual

The Ultimate Secret to Sticking to Meditation: Ritual

When I roll out my mat for a yoga class, the rubber of my mat alone grounds me. I associate my mat and nestling my forehead into Child’s Pose with feelings of relaxation and rejuvenation. I knew I had to create the same safe, sanctuary-like space for my meditation practice in order for it to stick, so for each guided meditation session during my last week of the challenge, I set up my space very intentionally: I propped my mediation cushion next to my mala beads and used my alarm clock light along with my bedside lamp to create a soft glow in my room; I turned on my essential oil diffuser and inserted whichever scents called to me; I changed into super-soft, comfy clothes; then, I began my practice.

What I learned is that creating this mini ritual helped me relax a bit before my guided meditation even began and set my mind and body up for the practice.

Overall, I found this meditation challenge, well, challenging. Yet it had profound effects—including the boost in concentration and stress release I’d read about at the start.

As a beginner, I’m grateful for the technology that allows me to access meditation so easily and regularly. I ended up buying a subscription to the Calm meditation app and am excited to continue my meditation journey and practice.

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#Benefits of Meditation #meditation #yoga asanas #yoga basics #Yoga Exercises

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barre2barresg · 7 years

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Barre 2 Barre SG Interview Series: Ahilya (Part III)

Now you see her, now you don't! Many of you barrerinas have asked about the "new" instructor on the schedule, Ahilya.

Ironically, Ahilya was actually the first Barre 2 Barre (Singapore) instructor but left to Israel for four months to further her dance practice.

Needless to say, this barrerina has the poise, grace, and strength that all of us would only love to have! Read on for part 3 of our interview 3 series where we interview the resident barre-Dancer, Ahilya.

What does wellness and being healthy mean to you?

While wellness and being healthy means exercising regularly and mindfully as well as choosing to nourish my body as nutritiously as possible, a huge aspect of health and wellness to me is also mental. It includes having positive thoughts, being open minded and adventurous, being supportive of loved ones and strangers alike, doing things that make me happy and taking care of myself, and constantly remaining curious and developing myself as a person.

When it comes to exercise, a significant part of growth and moving forwards physically is mental. Our minds love to give up on us at the earliest signs of fatigue, but it is hugely rewarding when you allow your mind to drive you and challenge yourself to push past previous limits. In barre and dance, we always talk about awareness, having a mind-body connection, and moving with purpose and intention. To me, barre, dance, or other exercise is a microcosm of an individual’s place in life and their relationship with the world; if you can work thoughtfully and not give up here, you can apply these thoughts to daily life and always strive to be a more productive and motivated person. Acting deliberately, and choosing to do what serves me and others is what being healthy means to me.

Share with us a funny story related to barre.

It is always a fun time when we have photo shoots for Barre2Barre marketing or social media, because the barre teachers and staff get to put on some music, beautify ourselves, and have a lot of laughs while trying out intricate poses and shots.

One of the funniest days was when Jessica and I decided to attempt a very complicated position, somehow thinking it would be a breeze to achieve. It involved Jess lying on her back and propping each of my legs up with each of hers, while I would be in some sort of split position with my right leg coiled around hers, my body turned to one side, and my arms floating in the air. Executing this was a hysterical failure, and it ended up with me clinging on to our social media intern for dear life as I tried to get into position. All of us couldn’t stop laughing and we abandoned this shot. We’ll work towards it.

How did you get into BarreAmped and what are your future plans for barre?

I first started barre right after completing college in LA because it sounded like a fun and complementary workout to my dance practice. I tried it and was immediately hooked. I was amazed by how challenging it was for the whole body, how much coordination it required, and how strong and feminine it made me feel.

Barre became an important part of my morning routine at a time when I was freshly graduated and lacking structure in my schedule - it was both mentally and emotionally grounding which encouraged me to achieve things the rest of the day (I was a freelance dancer at the time).

I missed barre after moving to Singapore, and was really excited when a common friend introduced me to Jessica and Mylene before they opened Barre 2 Barre. I had already been thinking of getting certified to teach barre and was happy to be the first teacher hired by Barre 2 Barre when the studio opened last year.

Recently, I got certified to teach the higher levels of BarreAmped, which I’m enjoying doing these days. In the future, perhaps I would like to become a teacher trainer myself or open my own barre studio wherever I move next!

What is your favorite way (aside from barre) to keep fit and find some downtime?

Outside of barre, I am a contemporary dancer, dancing with T.H.E Second Company in Singapore. I also work on my own choreography projects and travel frequently to Israel to train and work on projects there. I also run regularly and love trying new exercise classes that challenge my body in unfamiliar ways.

Besides that, I find it both therapeutic and stimulating spending time outdoors (I especially love going to the beach and hiking when I’m in slightly cooler climates!), watching movies, cooking, painting, singing, reading, and working on any kind of creative aesthetic project, whether it’s photography-related, interior designing my room at home, and so on…

List your 3 dinner party dream guests, what would you talk about and what dish would you prepare for them?

J.K. Rowling – I grew up reading and loving the Harry Potter series; I was six when the first book came out and my mom starting reading it to me. She continued to read the entire series to me and my little brother aloud (even as we entered middle and high school!) because we enjoyed experiencing the whole story together.

Rowling, to me, is just a brilliant and incredibly articulate, sensitive, funny, and imaginative author. Plus, she’s a role model because of how she overcame monumental adversity in her life, as well as her outspoken nature and views on politics, feminism, and social issues. She has the most powerful yet elegant way of making a point.

I would prepare a sophisticated North Indian Mughalai meal for Rowling, because of its distinctive, refined aromas and because it is the cuisine my family is most associated with. It would feature raan (slow cooked lamb pot roast), peas simmered in a turmeric milk sauce, and fragrant rice flavored with saffron. Mango and vanilla ice cream for dessert. I would thank her for creating the world of Harry Potter, and we would discuss some insider wizarding intelligence, stories from her life, and current affairs.

The Obamas (Can I have Michelle too please?) – I think Obama was a fantastic president of the United States. I find both him and his wife gracious, graceful, intelligent, empathetic, and charismatic individuals.

I would cook them a Mediterranean-themed meal, including some savory pan-fried halloumi with sweet roasted figs, lots of bright and fresh salads with ingredients like mint, cucumber, and parsley, a hearty, lemony hummus, and a delicious shakshuka with sides of warm pita and tahini. Something involving pomegranate and mint for dessert. I would want to hear Obama’s most impactful stories from his time as president, and discuss ways people can do more for the environment and social causes.

Woody Allen – It is my dream to somehow be in a Woody Allen film one day. Allen is definitely my favorite director. I just love how signature his aesthetic is, starting from the moment his opening credits roll and cast members’ names are listed alphabetically, in the same font every time, like in a play program. I love the existential questions he grapples with, his offbeat sense of humor, and his stylistic choices – everything from characters’ wardrobes, to the picturesque locales his stories are set in, to the romantic soundtracks he implements (notably all the beautiful jazz).

Since he’s neurotic and could possibly be made anxious by peculiar foreign foods, and since a lot of his films are set in Europe, I would make him a French Provençal meal I once made my family in the south of France with ingredients from our garden. It would constitute pan-fried chicken marinated in an olive oil, lavender, and rosemary mixture, haricots verts and finely-sliced mushrooms cooked with butter, white wine, and caramelized shallots, a country salad, hot fresh bread, and red wine. Maybe some decadent chocolate cupcakes for dessert with buttercream icing that I learned how to swirl on in roses. I’m sure we would have some philosophical conversations and discuss ideas for his upcoming films.

List your 3 favorite travel destinations, and list 3 more that you want to travel to and why.

Tel Aviv, Israel – Tel Aviv is one of my favorite cities in the world. I visit primarily because it is a mecca for contemporary dance and home to many fantastic dance companies including Batsheva Dance Company, whose director developed a hugely popular and revolutionary movement practice called gaga. Taking gaga classes in Tel Aviv while getting to savor divine, fresh market fruits, veggies, and cheeses, swim in the turquoise Mediterranean Sea, and roam many beautiful artsy streets and neighborhoods are a few reasons I love Tel Aviv.

Los Angeles, USA – I lived there for five years so it has a special place in my heart. I love exploring all the distinct neighborhoods – enjoying a beach vibe in Venice or Santa Monica, driving along the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu, having city experiences in Beverly Hills or West Hollywood, doing artsy things downtown, hiking in the Hollywood hills, or feasting on the best Korean barbeque in Korea-town.

Barcelona, Spain – I took a solo trip to Barcelona for the first time this year, and fell in love with the breath-taking and conceptual Gaudi architecture, delicious tapas restaurants and four-euro sangria, museums, and wide, beautifully manicured streets.

Iceland – I keep seeing pictures of mesmerizing and ethereal looking hot springs, ice caves, and geysers in Iceland! I would love to swim and hike there and soak in all the natural beauty.

Morocco – I would love to have some desert adventures in Morocco, stroll through bustling bazaars, and visit beautiful mosques.

Brazil – Brazil is such a huge, vibrant country, and I’ve always wanted to visit to enjoy the beaches, visit the Corcovado Christ statue, and perhaps learn how to samba. I also love and sing Bossa Nova, so listening to live music there would be a treat.

#barre2barresg #barrelife

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