Quote of the day: If there's no more light one day...

"If one day I'm very sad and don't see light at the end of the tunnel, like if I'm diagnosed with an incurable disease, or if my husband cheats on me or something of the sort, and if my family is not around anymore and I have nobody else but me, I will sell everything I own and move to the countryside somewhere in Asia...Ha, why am I even thinking about that in advance?!"

"You don't even look like you can be sad."

30 day hot yoga challenge: Day 27

I'm a little sad, because I highly doubt that I can complete the 30 day hot yoga challenge.

On Monday,  I went running for longer and more intense than usual. Also, I did not stretch. I felt okay afterwards, but I also felt something wrong in my right knee, which is not a big deal but I just felt like I should wait at least 2-3 days before I could run hardcore again.

However, I still kept on doing yoga everyday. On Wednesday, during my yoga class, I felt like something popped in my knee. I tried, but I couldn't really do the rest of the class. The next day, I couldn't sit down without holding on to something, it would hurt when I walk down the stairs and I felt like my knee would crack if I walked fast, and it did crack once in a while. No need to mention that I missed class on Thursday and Friday.

My knee is better today, but there is still some pain, so I don't want to risk. That means that even if tomorrow my knee is fine, and I go to class until Tuesday, which is when the challenge ends, I would have done 25 classes instead of 30...It sucks.

I did learn a lot during these almost 30 days though. I learned to listen to my body. Your body degrades if you stress it with intense activity everyday, especially with yoga because you're working every muscle in your body. If you don't give your muscles and tendons a chance to heal, and re-damage them the next day, and the next...you will never recover, and healing time is what makes you stronger.

I also learned quite a bit about food. I never truly felt fatigue in my life before this challenge. I have done intense workouts before, but I always had plenty of time to rest. During the challenge, I had no time to rest, so I did plenty of research on nutritional facts and learned about how easy, yummy and fun it is to eat clean. This will probably not change how I live, but it provides some options.

With the 30 day challenge, I guess I worked yoga into my life and I plan on continuing after the challenge, but probably for 3-4 times a week. I'm glad it's almost over because now I will have time to do other activities that I love. I joined some hiking clubs actually because during my travels, I discovered that I loved hiking, and I'd like to discover some nice places and mountains in Quebec!

I'm ending this post with, Namaste :)

"I adore you so much!"

"I think you adore to adore me more than you actually adore me."

"...Ha, what are you talking about?"

"You clearly know what I'm talking about."

"Well, what if that was actually the case?"

"...Nothing."

I, sometimes, really wonder if that matters, are these imperfections part of the beauty of life? But what if I can't convince myself to accept these incompleteness? What should I do? ...and this is the biggest question in my life right now. I'm not sad, but I'm not happy either. Over two years have gone by and I still haven't found an answer...

Where should I go?

Last year, I knew with certainty where I wanted to go; South-east Asia and the Silk Road. This year, however, I've been very indecisive. I won't be able to take 3 months off either...I'll probably get 3 weeks or so, which limits my choices even more.

The top countries that I want to visit are:
-India, because it seems like such a rich, diverse and crazy place...

-North Korea, and I don't care what people say, but there's a strange fascination that has drawn me to it...maybe because it's like a time capsule rarely seen by outsiders. It's delicate and pure but not quite...it's hard to describe actually...

-Kazakhstan, I don't know why but I've always wanted to party in Almaty...

-Nepal, because I want to go hiking!

-Egypt, because I've always been intrigued by mummies, and it's one of the oldest civilization in the world which is quite fascinating...

-The Asian side of Turkey, which I haven't been to yet...

And guess what, I'm not going to any of these places yet, because I don't want to go back to Asia so soon, and I want to see something totally different. I've actually been debating between South America and Africa for the last month...but I've come to a decision, I think. It's Africa. Why? Because it seems physically more challenging, it's more mysterious and I want some adventure! I want to explore, I want to suffer, I want to be awe-inspired. I'm a little scared, but so curious at the same time! I've dreamed of watching the sunrise in Africa!

Now, the question is where in Africa...hmmm.

PS.: My mom will kill me if she knows I'm going to Africa.

Quote of the day: Balls

"You really got balls, well, not literally. Although sometimes, you're ridiculously stupid and stubborn. For a girl, you got balls".

30 day hot yoga challenge: Day 21

I just did two hot yoga sessions in one day today, because I missed 4 classes (1 day because I had a shoot, 1 day because I had a rehearsal, 1 day because I had an appointment with the chiropractor and another because I really but really wanted to run). Okay, enough excuses. Now, I have to do 3 other doubles to catch up.

The challenge ends in a week and a half, and I kind of just want to let it be. I think the spirit of yoga is to do what you want to do when you feel like doing it, if not then don't. BUT! It's a challenge, and even though it's hard and my body is exhausted, I really want to complete this! I want to be able to tell people that I completed the challenge, not trying to be cute and go like, "Oh, I did the challenge, but I missed a couple of days here and there, hehe". That's not what I want.

I've been eating better and making better choices since I started practising yoga; I used to be the most ignorant person about food. Actually, I was sick for a month because of the sudden diet change. I used to love fatty food, I eat pizza in the morning, and eat cream cheese with a spoon, ha. Now, I usually have oatmeal in the morning, which I didn't even know existed before. As stupid as I may sound, I never had oatmeal in my life! I've been snacking on birds' food as my mom would call it (grains and nuts), instead of chocolate et chips. I still get my dose of cheese and fatty food on a weekly basis so I don't go crazy.

My skin looks better, and I lost a couple more pounds. I'm now at 122 lbs, which is 18 lbs in total since the beginning of my weight loss journey. I thought I would stop at 125 lbs, but I think I look fine now as well. And honestly, I don't care about that number on the scale anymore; I'll just maintain this lifestyle and let my body settle where it wants to.

This is the first time I lose weight at a steady and healthy pace. Some people have been telling me to stop going further, and I'm like...dude, don't you worry, I'm not anorexic. If I really were starving myself, I wouldn't be able to do hot yoga every day.

People don't need to be actually fat to start exercising and taking care of themselves.

PS.: One of my yoga teacher is so hot. There's a little something about boys who do yoga...It's so sexy.

Boat People Museum Fundraising Gala

Here's an article I wrote, that's supposed to go in the Vietnamese journal, for the event that took place last Sunday. I'm quite upset about the incidents surrounding this, and I will not mention anybody, but someone posted this on their website without my consent or even giving me credit which I find highly disrespectful. Someone I know, yes. I really would cry if I wrote for a living and someone did this to me. I don't know why they did this, and I don't care either, because I'm no longer part of any of it.

I want to share this article on my blog nonetheless, just because well, I wrote this and I don't care where it ends up, but my readers know me.

Oh, and before anybody asks, I'm not Vietnamese, but I enjoy reaching out to others and creating something beyond who I am through words, and to serve a larger meaning than immediate narcissism.

Enjoy!

On May 12th, 2013, 2TwentyGirls and hundreds of people gathered at the Boat People Museum Fundraising Gala in Montreal, to remember the millions of Vietnamese who fled the country to escape political oppression, and their story of deprivation and hope, fear and resilience. Some made it to a safe land, but more than a third were buried at sea.

With the support of KA Magazine, 2TwentyGirls presented an abstract yet memorable NEVIK fashion show that recounts the story of the Boat People. One after the other, the models walked onto the stage to the rhythm of Ashley King's music, recreating images of the Boat People walking in circles and singing sad songs. Subsequently, the models gracefully fell into the powerful water and hungry natural forces. The bodies laid beyond reach and evoked images of separation, death and the sea claiming many lives, waves after waves.

Fortunately, as the sky comes to its darkest, the sun also starts to rise. The model in an elegant bright yellow gown by NEVIK, representing hope and the sun, guided their way out of the darkness of the sea. She also symbolizes all the reasons for which we must be courageous and look forward.

War has no beginning and no end. Today, it's no longer a battle against communist persecution, but a battle within. It's a conflict between traumatic memories of a distant past and a haunted present that The Boat People are facing. Now, it's our turn to fight. We are the voice of the Boat People, as well as the voice of the many Vietnamese Canadians, who attempt to understand their parent's past.

The past of our parents are difficult for us to perceive sometimes, but as time goes by, their past deeds seem so much more grand and fantastic than before. It's amazing to think that children of the Boat People went on to become professionals, with amazing smiles, passion, talents and admirable dreams. On this incredible journey, 2TwentyGirls helped to raise over $115,000 for the Vietnamese Boat People Museum, honoring our parents and many others on the same boat.

Be with us.

Be the change you want to see in the world.

...and let's end this post with a picture taken by Vien Minh Van, the photographer backstage. I look like a bird :)

Quote of the day: Call me anytime

"I'll call you later."

"You can call me at anytime, sweetheart."

"Right...last time I called you at 11:45 and you yelled at me..."

30 day hot yoga challenge: Day 6

This is day 6 of the 30-day hot yoga challenge and you know what? I'm addicted to hot yoga already!

Sweating makes me feel awesome as weird as it sounds; it makes me feel calm mentally. After every class, I see new opportunities to improve and to open up my mind. It changes the way I think about exercising. I still like to run, but what goes through my mind is very different when I run, I tend to see running as a test and I think I need both in my life.

I used to be as weak as a jellyfish and as inflexible as a plank of wood, especially after my injury. Now, I already see improvements since day 1. I can't wait to hear what the chiropractor says next time I go for an adjustment.

The type of yoga that I've been doing is heated vinyasa, which allows for a lot of variety and fast-paced movements in a room of 39 degrees and high humidity. I think this type of yoga is a better fit for type-A people as opposed to the slow and hold your pose for 10 minutes type of yoga...because I'd fall asleep. 

The teachers also make a difference, I can feel a connection with them and it makes me want to come to their classes. They are so loveable and reflect a positive energy, which is so refreshing to someone like me who works in such a competitive environment where people wear a smile on the exterior. 

PS.: This is weird, but there doesn't seem to be much difference between when I was 142 lbs and now...Hmmm. I should've taken a picture from behind, because according to people I know, I lost at least 5 pounds from behind, ha.