I have something to say.
I have decided to keep coffee in my life beyond this week. I vow to research and find a cafe in the area that I’m in. One that I deem “good” using the information I’ve learned during my time with Coda Coffee Company, of course. I’m doing this because…I want to, and that’s always a good enough reason, in my opinion. But let’s go over the change in reasoning:
Read more »Hey!
If you’re taking time to read this blog, I hope you’re having a fantastic day!
I totally enjoyed my week at Scott’s Bike Centre in Cleveland, TN!
Being in my hometown has been great since I worked with a local business and I could zip home from work for dinner with my family.
A couple nights ago, I went on the Thursday night road ride. The “road ride” takes place on the road as you might have guessed.
There are four different groups of riders, with the groups being divided by pace and number of miles they ride.
I’m not new to cycling, but I’ve always ridden on a paved path or on a street with no cars. The thought of riding my bicycle on a busy street was a bit unnerving, but I wasn’t about to chicken out.
Feeling great after riding 18 miles on Thursday night
For my first night of riding, I rode with the “D” group. This group rides 15-20 miles and at a comfortable pace. Don’t let “comfortable pace” mislead you though; I was still huffing and puffing at times and I even endured some hills!
My fellow “D-group” riders were so welcoming and helped me figure out the gears on my bike and get used to road riding. I felt so cool to finally be in a cycling group riding through a major intersection. I’ve always admired cyclists from afar and Thursday night, I was one of them.
Here are some highlights of my week with Scott’s Bike Centre:
So, what did I think of working at a bike shop?
I was surprised by how interesting it is to work at a bike shop! There is a lot of variety between helping customers pick out bikes and gear, building and repairing bicycles, and keeping up with the business aspect of it. I liked how I could wear casual clothes everyday and not worry about getting dirty!
Favorite Part of the week?
I definitely enjoyed both the mountain bike ride and the road ride. The group rides are seriously amazing and there is so much comraderie between all the cyclists. I loved meeting new people from my hometown and telling them about the One-Week Job Program.
Least Favorite Part of the week?
It was frustrating at times to watch the mechanics work on bikes and not be able to contribute. Since I was only there for a week, I could only learn so much about repairing bikes.
Good Experience?
This week was phenomenal and I learned a ton! I would definitely consider a job in the cycling industry!
To cap off the week…
I just returned from a 9-mile bike ride with my dad! I was dying to try my new pedals and shoes to see if I could feel the difference. I definitely felt more fast and it was nice to not have my feet flying all over the place. My dad was pedaling HARD and still had trouble keeping up. To clarify, “clipless pedals” are pedals that a rider “clips into.” I know the name doesn’t make sense, but trust me on this one. Scottie gave me an explanation earlier this week that got lost in the bicycle files in my mind!
Scottie building a bike
The most valuable things I will take away from this week are not material; what I will treasure the most are the friendships I built
Stan printed a custom Boise St. jersey for me
with David, Scottie, Stan, Mike, and the other people I met this week. Each person was so hospitable and taught me something I needed to learn.
It’s been nice to be home for a week, but now it’s time to venture out in a huge way. I’m flying out early Sunday morning to Spokane, Washington for my next job.
Until Next Time,
Kieley Best
Email me here: bestweekjob@gmail.com
OWJ + 1 OWJ Program Participant + Reframe Marketing + 4 days of planning + 5 Amazing Volunteers = Dozens more people that know about One Week Job!
Ian shooting and Sean looking on as I give a pre-event pep-talk
First off, I want to shout out a huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped make the first OWJ Street Team Event a SUCCESS!
For my week as an Event Planner, I decided to stage a pop-up event to help promote awareness of One Week Job. We staked out a spot in Robson Square in downtown Vancouver, and started spreading the news! We set up a table, handed out brochures, approached strangers, and did our best to get the word out there.
Good Things:
Ways to Improve:
Chatting with people at the booth
In the end, I learned the basics on how to pull an event together, and trust me - it’s TOUGH!
I seriously stressed out about this one…of course I wanted to make sure it promoted the OWJ name and didn’t sully it in any way. I’m also not that familiar with Vancouver, so it was tough figuring out where we should position ourselves, and where to get our supplies from. Obviously, my time frame wasn’t that flexible, as I had to get everything planned out in less than 4 days! I had Monday to Wednesday to get everything in place…NUTS!
There was a lot of discussion with Sean and Ian, as they put in their 2 cents. They were my “clients” – so I had to please them as best I could!
Karen Milde from Reframe Marketing, pounding the pavement
Karen from Reframe Marketing was great – she contacted media outlets, emailed her business list, and was even there the day of to hand out fliers for me! I really appreciated her help – she kept reminding me to have fun and stay focused during the planning stage.
In the end, to be completely honest…I’m not sure that I’m cut out for Event Planning at this point in my life. I’ve been struggling a lot with my stress-level, not just with this event, but with my life in general. I found that planning this really freaked out both my physical and mental state; I had trouble sleeping, and I could actually feel my heart rate go up as I worried about how I would ever get everything done that I wanted to.
Of course my time limit didn’t help things, but if I was ever put in charge of someone’s wedding or a corporate event that actually HAD a budget and higher expectations, I’m not sure how I would cope! This was a steep learning curve, but I suppose eventually I would learn to be more comfortable in this kind of a role.
It was cool to feel as if I was in charge…Karen totally let me drive it, and Sean kept telling people that I was his boss 
I loved the first part of the day, when everyone had showed up on location, and we had a little pow-wow to start things off. To be in that circle of people, and know that everyone was there to help out and make the day a success, was extremely heart warming.
I know how lucky I am to have so many supportive people in my life – my family, my friends, and all the employers that have so kindly taken me on – it blows me away every time I think about it!
Have a great long weekend Canada!
- Amanda
Astronaut Interview…
Sean chatting with a supporter
Volunteers are Great! Helena, me, Adam, Ian
“Are you wearing shorts under your bike shorts, Kieley?”
“No sir, just underwear.”
“Next time, go commando! That’s how we do it around here to avoid lines that show through spandex.”
This was my introduction to the weekly mountain bike ride with Scott’s Bikes Centre on Tuesday night.
I arrived at the shop fully decked out with spandex cycling shorts, a new jersey, gloves, sunglasses, and my helmet.
It was hilarious to start the evening off with a command to “go commando!“
In case you missed my first blog, I’m in Cleveland, Tennessee for job #4 for the One-Week Job Project!
One of the keys to success for Scott’s Bike Shop to grow their business is to offer weekly mountain bike and road bike rides. Not only do the rides provide a social outlet for regular riders, but they’re also a great way for people who are new to cycling to give it a try. The group setting is great since the Scott’s crew makes sure nobody gets left behind.
So I’ve tossed around the terms “road bike” and “mountain bike,” so allow me to clarify the difference between the two:
A mountain bike is used for riding mountain terrain and has thick tires that withstand lots of action!
A road bike is a bike with “skinny tires” that’s used for riding on smooth surfaces and for racing.
Just like my job at the coffee roastery, the bike shop has its own community. The owners of Scott’s Bicycle Centre realize this and it drives them to provide awesome customer service. They are intentional about offering rides for all levels of riders.
Honestly, the best part of my week so far was riding up to the Brush Creek Trail with David Coulter, one of the owners of Scott’s. He was very candid about his business and gave me advice about starting my own small business in the future. One thing that people don’t realize is how much money it takes to run a bike shop. With a full spectrum of bikes, David and his brother have a lot of money invested in just bikes!
David asked me how I ended up in the One-Week Job Program and what my future plans are.
To explain how I got to have this fabulous experience:
After being in college for a year and switching my major 3 times, it was time for a break! I moved home from Chicago to Tennessee to work, regroup, and pursue my interests. This past spring, I worked full-time at Panera Bread and really enjoyed it, but wanted to pursue other jobs too!
When I saw the tweet (on Twitter, of course) about the Program I knew the program had my name all over it!
I applied, you voted, and I got in!
I don’t take this experience for granted since I’ve met so many people in just the past month who would do anything to try different jobs.
I’ve been carrying around a small Moleskine notebook to record all the people I meet, what I do each day, and other insights.
To be gut honest, my big goal is to open a coffee shop & roastery in the future. After talking to David, I realized that I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me if that’s what I pursue!
If any blog readers have business advice or general advice, what would you say to me? Please leave a comment since I’m very open to advice and would love to read the things you learned the hard way or principles that helped you to be successful in life & in business.
(If you prefer, you can email me here: bestweekjob@gmail.com)
This week has been a blast so far!
Not only did I get to work at Scott’s Bike Centre, but I also got to ride with the Scott’s weekly mountain bike ride group!
I could describe the 45-minute drive up the mountain, the killer views on the ride, and the rush of riding a bike in the mountains, but this video will do it justice, more than words can.
-Kieley B.
One week jobber Amanda Lowe is in Vancouver this week, working with Reframe Marketing. As part of her tasks, she figured it would be great to promote an event about One Week Job!
So here’s the deal:
We’re holding a “pop-up” event just outside the Vancouver Art Gallery in downtown Vancouver. We’ll have a booth to meet Sean Aiken, and a roaming guerrilla film crew (myself + Amanda) that will roam the streets and interview locals on topics like jobs and passion.
Full Details:
We will be starting in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery at 750 Hornby St, and moving around the core.
Hope to see you there!
- Ian
Since the days of my childhood, I’ve loved cruisin’ around on 2 wheels and seeing beautiful sights by bicycle. This week, I’m in my hometown, Cleveland, TN, working at Scott’s Bicycle Centre. This family business is the place to go to buy new and used bikes, get repairs, and meet for weekly rides.
How did I end up at a bicycle shop?
The rest of my jobs for the summer will be very travel intensive and will take me to new cities I’ve never visited! This week I wanted to be at home to experience life as a small business owner.
Scott’s is special place since it’s a family-run business that’s been open since 1978. To read the history of the shop, click here. I bought a great used bike from Scott’s before heading to Chicago for college a few years ago. The thing that sets Scott’s Bikes apart is their customer service. From the time I walked in the door as a customer, I felt like I had the staff’s undivided attention and they didn’t make me feel dumb for asking lots of questions. In the end, I walked out with a bike that fit my needs, was reasonably priced, and had a great overall experience in the shop.
On Day 1, I walked in Scott’s with absolutely no idea of what to expect. With very little mechanical experience, I was nervous about working with the mechanics who repair bicycles like pros. For me, fixing things takes concentrated thought, lots of explanations, and getting lots of questions answered. Scottie, the owner’s nephew, explained how they build bikes out of the cardboard boxes they arrive in from the factory.
What a bike looks like before it's built by the mechanics at Scott's
Did you know that bikes arrive to the bike shop in cardboard boxes?
It may seem trivial to think about, but there is a tremendous amount of work that goes into getting bikes out onto the shop floor.
To start off, Scottie built a mountain bike and explained the steps as he worked.
“Then, it was time for the moment of truth…”
Scottie went over to the shelf of bikes in boxes and pulled down a leisure bike for me to put together! I payed attention to his building lesson, but to do it myself was a challenge. I started by attached the seat post and the rest is a blur. Luckily, Scottie was more than gracious to guide me through the process as I worked on the bike myself! There is something so satisfying about greasy hands! The feeling of accomplishment that flooded me upon seeing the finished Trek Navigator 2.0 was a great feeling!
The rest of Days 1 and 2, I mainly watched Zack, Scottie, and Josh as they worked on both simple and complex repairs, part replacements, and bike adjustments.
Zack working on a bike
How did they learn to fix bicycles?
The cool thing about working in a bike shop is that you can learn as you go. From the time he was a teen until now, Scottie has worked with his uncles David and Doug Coulter, to learn the bike shop business. I love it that they didn’t have to go to “Bike University” to become bike mechanics. It’s a very hands-on job job that is “nitty-gritty” work, but the reward is so worth it: seeing the customer’s huge smile when they come to pick up their bike.
Sitting at the desk to greet customers and pretending that I'm a cycling guru
This week is super fun and totally out of my range of knowledge. It’s a bit uncomfortable since I’m not the most bike saavy, but that’s the point of my week with Scott’s Bicycle Centre: to learn and have fun!
I have more pictures and videos to post so keep following my blog!
Cheers,
Kieley B.
Follow me on Twitter here or bookmark my blog here.
I’m disgustingly late with this post! I apologize! I meant to update last night, but I fell asleep instead…at 10pm. Scary. I AM IN DENVER, COLORADO! It is beautiful here.
Map time again:
And to keep that travel count going…
~1979 miles from Boston to Denver by airplane.
~5037 miles traveled overall.
~59 hours spent traveling overall.
The last time I was on an airplane was about a decade ago. My employer was so kind to buy me a plane ticket this week! Though I missed “Going Greyhound” (of course this is a joke), I was ready to try a new traveling method. I never mentioned the fact that my driver’s license and health insurance card were stolen last Monday. I’ve been dealing with the consequences of that for over a week now, and it has been very stressful. Losing these items is probably the worst thing that could happen to me, considering what I’m doing at the moment (especially during the one week I was flying and not Greyhound-ing!). Good thing that the “worst thing” isn’t so bad.
Read more »Oh. My. Goodness.
Talk about overwhelmed!! After my last week as a ‘yogi,’ getting back into an office environment was more stressful than I anticipated!!
But, to carry on with the yoga-mindset, here are some things I have to be grateful for:
1. I have a place to stay with my friend Krista and her boyfriend Kyle. They have VERY kindly taken me into their home, and Krista even walked me to work on my first day!
Walking across the bridge to work
2. I am reallly close to the Event Planning office! Like, a 20-30 minute walk. Across a bridge. Over the ocean. With a beach underneath, and the Rocky Mountains in the background. Can it really get any better?!
3. Karen, the event planner/marketer extraordinaire that took me in, is SO patient with me! She answers all my questions, constantly encourages me to think outside the box, and is the first person to remind me that it’s okay to make mistakes – but that the most important thing is to learn and have fun.
So, this week has seen me travel once again! I’m now on the west coast of Canada, in Vancouver. In total, I’ve traveled approximately 5,623km!
View Toronto to Vancouver in a larger map
But – I should start at the beginning of Week 5…
After my flight (short and sweet, just the way I like it), I was greeted by Krista and Kyle. *A quick note: I actually met Krista in the Australian Outback about a year and a half ago…we were both traveling and she happened to be sleeping on the top bunk of my hostel bed. After a 20 minute conversation, we were friends! We met up in a few other cities during our respective Aussie trips, and reunited in Toronto last fall. I love that about traveling – actually meeting and staying in touch with these people! In a way, I feel as if Krista is an older sister of sorts…and I always did want a sister…;)
Anyway! Krista, Kyle and I had a great supper on a rooftop patio, with the sun setting on a bright Vancouver day… *Another quick note: I absolutely LOVE Vancouver – the way the base of the mountains grow out of the Pacific Ocean, and then somehow manage to snuggle a city in between. The air is fresh, pine-scented, and moist. People seem healthier here than in other large cities…probably because the ocean wind helps wipe any grime away…(I’m sure that’s gotta be a scientific fact).
But, once again, I’m falling away from my actual job experience here so far!
Focus, Amanda – focus.
Helena and Karen in the office
On Monday I met Karen Milde, the Founder and Senior Marketing Consultant of Reframe Marketing. Reframe helps companies brand themselves successfully in order to reach their specific target group, and then advises them on how to market themselves more effectively. Reframe also provides search engine strategies, sales strategies, competitor research, marketing campaigns and business plans. A lot of ground to cover in just one week!!
When I came in, Karen gave me a lot of choice: I could learn how to write web copy, conduct research for Government grants, assist in internet marketing, and variety of other tasks…or – I could plan and execute an event – all in one week.
I’ve always been curious as to what it takes to be an event planner, so I automatically was drawn to that task – little did I know what kind of trouble lay before me…!
Planning an event takes TIME. This is something I obviously have very little of in regards to my One Week Job. Monday was spent brainstorming – What kind of event should I plan? What was the objective of this event? Who should we target? Where would these people be located?
To be honest – I was exhausted. I was so overwhelmed by choice! Starting from scratch is exhilarating, but also debilitating… I was also very well aware of the time-crunch, and that made me nervous.
I’m also realizing that I don’t work very well in an office environment – my muscles need to move, and I don’t enjoy the way my back gets all cramped up from sitting at a desk for hours at a time.
But – we decided on an project: The One Week Job Street Team.
Sean and Ian (the OWJ filmmaker) both live in Vancouver, so they have very kindly agreed to be great sports and help me out with this! I’m going to create a ‘pop-up event’ in downtown Vancouver, where Sean, Ian, and I will take to the streets to create some hype about the One Week Job program, book, and film! It’s definitely still in the planning stages right now – but Vancouverites: consider this your warning! Thursday, July 29, we’ll be shooting interviews downtown with anyone and everyone who has something to say about finding their passion. You could even WIN an autographed copy of the One-Week Job Project and/or a coffee-date/meeting with Sean!
Goodnight Vancouver…
It’s going to be a busy next couple days…so I guess I’d better grab some sleep!
Talk soon, and keep your fingers crossed for me…
-Amanda
Visit Reframe Marketing and Check out Karen’s BLOG!
Good Morning!
So, the photographer I shadowed for Week 1, wrote a photography blog about the time I spent with her! The photos she took of myself and her other assistant Zak are absolutely hilarious!
Read all about it here: http://www.henrietahaniskova.com/piece-of-work
…and the award for 'Awkward Photo of the Year' goes to….
Tomorrow, we’ll be halfway there. Officially. Everything has been crazy fast. I can’t think of one moment where the time seemed to drag on. Nope, not when I was staring at a computer for 8 hours a day. Nope, not even when I was stuck on a bus with a blown-out tire for four hours, fifteen minutes away from Job #2.
Well with the bus, the looming possibility of a riot of people who “just can’t take it anymore!” was secretly thrilling and hilarious to me. So maybe that situation isn’t the best example.
There are seconds where I wish I could fully comprehend the passage of time, but then those seconds fly away because I’m too busy living those seconds, filling those seconds with memories that matter. I suppose the only thing that I can do…that I can keep doing…is stop. And give thanks. In any way possible. I think I can slow the clock this way. Just a little bit. Sufficiently.
Read more »I apologize for getting behind on my blog this week. I didn’t mention it in my first blog, but I had 2 jobs this week! All week I’ve been staying in a huge house and not only house-sitting, but also taking care of 2 little dogs. To add to the madness, I fit in 3 days at the dentist’s office!
The infamous dental chair
One thing that has become really obvious is that a job that I can’t actually try is not near as much fun! With the coffee roasting job, I got to work with Charlie Mustard, roastmaster for Jittery Joe’s Coffee. Last week I didn’t have a set job, but I still felt like an active member of the Sierra Trading Post team.
Here’s the thing: I’ve always wondered about dentistry. Even though I couldn’t actually work on patients, I still got to watch the procedures. Also, I got to talk to the hygienists and dental assistants personally. I already highlighted the perks of careers in dentistry in my last blog. You can read it here.
So what did I think of job shadowing the dentist, the assistant, and hygienist?
Overall, I enjoyed interacting with the different patients. As the dental assistant put it, “we may be doing the same things day in and day out but we work on different teeth.” Most of the patients were nice and easy to deal with, but some of the kids can be challenging since they get scared. It’s funny having a conversation with a dental patient since it’s one-sided. The person can’t talk back with their mouth wide open!
Between the hygeniest (the person who mainly cleans teeth) and the assistant, (helps dentist do fillings, sealants, crowns, root canals, and more) I definitely would prefer to be a dental assistant. Why?
I thrive with a combination of people and variety! Both of the jobs allow lots of people interaction but cleaning teeth all day seems a bit too monotonous.
I really enjoyed hanging out with Cassie, one of Dr. Tedford’s dental assistants, to watch various procedures. I got to watch how X-Rays are taken, 
how molds are made for crowns (a common restoration option for cracked teeth), and even saw a man get tooth implants. According to Dr. Tedford, implants are the deluxe route to take when replacing missing teeth. They have a very high success rate and look and feel natural.
On the bright side, I liked the schedule for the dental jobs. I arrived at 9AM and left in the afternoon. Even though I don’t plan on pursuing this field long-term, I’m very grateful I finally learned more about it. It would be a major bummer to always wonder about if I would like being a hygienist or assistant.
It’s a great career since it’s flexible, requires minimal schooling, and pays well.
I will post tomorrow about my dog sitting gig and then I’m on to JOB #4!
This summer is flying by so crazy fast! I have an exciting job this coming week and can’t wait to blog about it!
Feel free to email me here: bestweekjob(at)gmail.com or follow me on twitter here.
Have a great week!
-Kieley B.
Hello!
This week has absolutely flown by! It’s been great working at the studio, helping out at the front desk, cleaning, and practicing yoga! I’ve met some really great people, and have learned so much – not only about the workings of a yoga studio/instructor, but about my own yoga practice as well.
Since I’ve gone through the emotional side of the practice, I thought that to end the week, I’d share some of the physical side of it.
Downward-Facing Dog
Downward-Facing Dog
Goals: Builds strength, flexibility and awareness; stretches the spine and hamstrings; rests the heart.
Posture: Keep your legs about hip-width apart and your arms shoulder-width apart. Your middle fingers should be parallel, pointing straight ahead and your inner elbows facing forward. Straighten your legs and push upward with your arms. The goal is to lengthen the spine while keeping your legs straight and your feet flat on the ground (although this takes a LOT of time to master). Keep your shoulders down, as they’ll most likely try to bunch at the neck. Weight should be evenly distributed between your hands and feet.
Warrior II
Warrior II
Goals: Strengthens legs and arms; improves balance and concentration.
Posture: Step your feet 4-5 feet apart. Turn your back foot about 45 degrees in. Turn your front foot 90 degrees out, so that it’s pointed directly in front of you. Bend the front knee until the thigh is parallel with the floor, but keep the knee either behind or directly over your ankle. Raise your arms over head. Then slowly lower them until your front arm is pointing straight ahead and your back arm is pointing straight back.
Upward-Facing Dog
Upward-Facing Dog
Goals: Strengthens the arms, wrists and abdomen. Increases the flexibility of the spine.
Posture: Lie prone on the floor. Stretch your legs back, with the tops of your feet on the floor. Bend your elbows and spread your palms on the floor beside your waist. On an inhalation, lift your torso up and your legs a few inches off the floor. Look straight ahead or tip the head back slightly, but take care not to compress the back of the neck and harden the throat.
A huge thanks to Lisa and Siobhan for allowing me to join the studio this week! Many thanks also to teachers Monique, Brooke, and Chris (who so kindly posed for these pictures!). You are all such an inspiration to me, and I hope to continue to grow in my own practice and become increasingly stronger.
Much Love,
Amanda
For the past four days (including today), I’ve eaten at least one Cliff Bar for breakfast, and a pizza slice for lunch. I usually take a box of pizza home for dinner, where I eat it happily while I do my thing(s) on my laptop.
Today, as I was walking home with two slices of cheese and one “slice of the day” aka a FRESH tomato, FRESH basil, and FRESH mozzarella pizza slice, I passed by a much older, African-American man whom one would assume to be homeless. Let’s call him “Cole.” I’ve been trained from a young age to ignore homeless people for reasons which I’m sure you can come up with yourself:
- Homeless people aren’t really homeless.
- Homeless people could get a job and a home if they just tried.
- Homeless people just use your money to buy alcohol. Brown bag, anyone?
- …Homeless people aren’t really homeless.
I don’t think of these statements as I’m passing by a homeless person; I just pass by without thinking. Yep, I’m guilty of this. It’s just easier. So today, I passed by. And as I continued walking past Cole, the sound…of the jingling…of the coins…in the cup…that Cole was holding…randomly caught my attention. I suddenly felt stupid. Not selfish, stupid. Of course!
Read more »Deep Breath.
I’ve been practicing hot yoga off and on (more off, than on, really) for the last 3 years. I can still remember the first time I came out of a class…I felt completely peaceful and at ease. I was relaxed and energized at the same time. My mind was clear, and my body was elated!
Due to daily commitments and pressures, yoga has come and gone in my life. But thankfully, the results are always the same – inner peace and outer strength.
Moksha Hot Yoga – front desk
As of today, I have completed 3 days straight of my yoga practice. To some, this probably doesn’t sound like much, but that’s the most consistency I’ve ever experience! I feel so safe in the studio…it probably sounds cheesy, but I know that I’m there for myself and the only person I have to please is me.
Yesterday I met with Lisa Whitford, co-owner, studio director, and teacher of Moksha Yoga Calgary. When I originally talked to her about spending time with the studio as part of my OWJ program, she was immediately interested. Lisa has been teaching for about 8 years, and originally got into yoga because of some discomfort she was experiencing with her back. Talking with Lisa is calming in and of itself. She has a lot of insight into the whole crazy-yoga-trend, and hasn’t let herself forget why she came to practice in the first place.
Spacious Changeroom
Personally – I’m kind of enjoying using the term ‘practice.’ To me it means that yoga is always a work-in-progress – you’re not some ‘professional’ yogi who never makes a mistake, you’re growing and trying new things in order to get better at it. I’ve never used the term before, but I love the way it applies.
One of the first points Lisa made about yoga, is that it’s not just about the physical state of the postures. She explained that there’s a certain grace needed to physically transition through the postures, and that one of our goals should be to transfer that grace off of our yoga mat, and into our daily lives.
This makes so much sense. It takes concentration and guts to get into (and then hold?!) some of the positions yoga teaches. If you can perform these postures without giving up, without complaining, and with a sense of determination – all the while being realistic and honest with yourself and your limitations – you have practiced with grace.
“It’s not true until it’s true for you.” – Lisa Whitford, Moksha Yoga Calgary
When Lisa made this point, she was talking about yoga and the different variations and definitions it has grown into: Moksha, Bikram, Ashtanga, Hatha, Anusara, etc., are all different forms of yoga practice. But no matter what you call it, or what postures you assume, the purpose of these variations remains the same: to unite the body and the mind.
The term ‘yoga’ roughly translates as ‘yoke’ or ‘union.’ The Yoga Journal notes that the purpose of yoga is to,
“…strengthen the body, to bring flexibility not only to the spine, but to the mind, and to calm the nervous system and quiet the mind enough to connect the practitioner more deeply to his or her spiritual center.”
Lisa’s original statement, however, really applies to the One Week Job Program: “It’s not true until it’s true for you.” Have you been forcing yourself into a career that you’re not totally sure of? Do you feel pressure to please others in regards to your job description, as opposed to yourself? Have you been selling yourself short? What it really comes down to, is that if you don’t believe in what you’re doing, why are you doing it?!
I’ve personally struggled with my own lack of direction, and in the end, you need to do what makes you happy. It seems like an obvious point to make, but from my conversations with others – it’s not always the case.
What’s your yoga? What unites your body with your mind? Is it running? Making music? Writing? Driving a combine?! Whatever it is, embrace it!
I am absolutely embracing this week of yoga – and am really thinking that if I had the opportunity to do it full time, it would be an amazing experience. I owe it to my body, and my mind could definitely use some conditioning as well… Maybe there should be a OWJ devoted especially to learning about yourself through yoga…thoughts?!
Thanks for sharing this experience with me…
Namaste – the light in me, honours the light in you!
- Amanda
I have a confession to make.
I didn’t choose my job this week. That was part of the deal as a participant in this Program, but I just got lazy and decided to choose only seven jobs and make someone else choose the eighth.
Just kidding! Well, not about the not choosing. About the laziness. This week, I’m working at one of The Upper Crust Pizzeria locations in Boston, Massachusetts. More traveling, heyyyy:
The trip on Saturday was my shortest at only four hours, ~217 miles. That means I’ve traveled ~3,058 miles by bus. So amazing.
I suppose I should explain why I didn’t choose my job for this week. A friend of mine, Marsha, is in Boston for a summer internship. After Boston, she’ll be off to Europe for the fall semester. Yes, that would be nine whole months of separation! We couldn’t have that. We decided that if I got the One-Week job opportunity, I would make a serious effort to come to Boston for one of my weeks.
There was a moment where I had this crazy idea that it would be DOUBLY growing if I were to trust my job to another person. It would’ve been even more crazy to put my future into the hands of someone I had never met before, but I wasn’t about that much risk at the time. I wanted to not only be surprised, but I also wanted to show my love for a dear friend by trusting her enough with something like this.
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