<![CDATA[Jessica López-Barkl, <br />theater generalist - Blog]]>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 17:12:44 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[68 Day Until the Wedding Workout: Day 79...ooops...]]>Sun, 14 Aug 2016 14:40:47 GMThttps://www.jessicabarkltheaterartist.com/blog/68-day-until-the-wedding-workout-day-79ooops
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Last Entry (super late – Day 79, to be exact)
Well, I’m a Mrs.  I didn’t write like I said I would because weddings are busier than I realized.  Wednesday involved my best friend being with me for the first time since one of our dear friends died 3 years ago.  I felt as though I was thrust into a secret world I hadn’t been a part of for too long.  A world where we share triumphs and tragedy…a shared history that is ours and more than the word “special” can describe.  I needed her, and, I think, she needed me.  There’s no pill that can cure the need of a truly accepting friend. 
 
We sprinted towards togetherness with a visit to the nail salon (which I desperately needed – eczema really does a number on my cuticles and makes me look like a mechanic (probably my calling, but I received it too late).  We talked and talked and talked. 
 
Then my sister arrived, who I haven’t seen since her daughter was born 4 years ago, and another secret universe opened up, and I realized I needed her more than I realized, and, again, I think, she needed me…
 
We had a mad dash of shopping, and then we went to get my mother (who, again, I hadn’t seen in over 2 years).  Another special-secret-universe opened up and I walked through.  We had lunch, and then rushed away…not enough time to go down these rabbit holes and spend time in each secret universe…
 
Then we were running late (we thought) for helping set up for a bridal shower at my in-laws’ house (we weren’t; we were early…they were at the grocery store).   So.  Many.  Wonderful.  People.  Arrived.  My sister-in-laws (2 years since seeing – though I had seen Laura, the middle sister, a couple of days before…), my Aunt Ruth (almost 5 years since seeing), and then Mi-Sun arrived with my now-husband from Korea.  I hadn’t seen her since the year before, but…she is always sunshine in my world.  A secret world that we created to communicate and were able to find such uncanny commonality in.  This becomes the “why” as to why I didn’t write for so long…as my best friend puts it, “You’re a one-person friend,” and all those one-persons in my universe were arriving at a hurried pace; I couldn’t prepare for it.
 
We had a very sweet Bridal Shower, where I learned a lot about my now-husband that I didn’t know, especially, that he is more observant than I am…he notices things that are true about me; more true than I off-the-cuff create…
 
We then had a Bachelorette Party.  Not too many people came, but it was a blast, no matter what and my best friend and I did what we call a “Betsy-ballet” to this poor unsuspecting dude’s rendition of “My Way”.  The only exercise of the day…I might add…
 
Thursday involved an epic and transcending day at 10,000 Waves (an internationally known Japanese spa in Santa Fe – serendipitously on a road called “Artist”).  This began with the late arrival of our friend Emily, who was supposed to arrive during our Bachelorette Party, but the gods of travel hate my wedding, so…everyone was delayed…  Ladies of all shapes and sizes bonded in our private tub for an hour before I was whisked off to four hours of treatments paid for by my ever-loving best friend/maid-of-honor (and, by the way, she earned that title more than anyone I know – so much so that all my long-time close friends kept patting me on the back saying, “You did well…,” as though I had anything to do with the creation of this magical creature named “Betsy”).  There was no exercise in this day, at all, but a Thai massage always feels like a workout, and the Herbal Wrap is somewhat painful and life-affirming, so…it kind of feels like a workout. 
 
There was some pitter-pat-inducing annoyance at the end of the spa day, when the spa tried to charge us for the treatments that some of our absent friends didn’t fulfill.  Betsy was a boss when she told the spa that this was their problem and that they needed to keep better records.  They needed to charge them…  We realized that our pitter-pat came from a lack of sugar in our systems and promptly stopped at a gas station to pick up some really bad food, which was paradoxical on such a “healthy” day.  Oh well…antithesis makes good theater…and they pretty much rule my existence.
 
Later on Thursday we had our fittings with my mother and then we went out to eat and talked with my student, now friend, Derrick and his now-beau, Josh.  We also rehearsed the dance Emily created for my gift to Nick (performances of songs that he has given me over the years by all of my theater company).
 
It was decided by Emily and myself that we would attempt the jog we used to do the next morning before our friend Susan arrived, and we did…it was hard (it used to be 7.5 miles – we did 4), but invigorating…I then did my wedding circuit before we began all the preparations for the rehearsal at 3PM and then the rehearsal dinner. 
 
Susan arrived and our secret universe was interrupted by fittings and something I wasn’t to know about.  There was a “chamber of secrets” in the bridesmaid’s room at the back of our rental, and I wasn’t allowed in…
 
At noon, our other “special” friend and fellow bridesmaid, May, came over to have a dance tutorial with a very hung-over Nick and myself (Nick had his bachelor party on Thursday night). 
 
The rehearsal was fast and furious because I somehow forgot that I told our officiant, Tláloc (my brother from another mother), that it was at 3PM, when he was barely awake and we were trying to muster up our own secret universe on Tuesday night…he didn’t remember…so…we had to wait until he arrived.  Some interesting things occurred at the rehearsal, that I won’t discuss, but anyone who has been married probably knows about these lovely family dramas that just pop up, when you least expect them…all ended up being fine…but the pitter-pat of stress reared its ugly head, again…
 
Our flash-mob gift to Nick went off really well (albeit 4 members of the theater company did not show up, so…the gravity of the gift wasn’t complete, but…it was what it was…).  I was especially proud of my former students and the growth they have made over the past year.
 
After the rehearsal dinner we ditched the now-husband, and went to retrieve his childhood photos to create a collage of the two of us (another brilliant idea made by the magical creature called, “Betsy”).  We (also) picked up some things I forgot for the wedding (ring pillow, ribbon for the bouquets we were to make the next morning, and alcohol for all the wedding preparation).  We went back to the house where a party was already in session, and joined in.  Lots of lovely mingling and traveling down different portals to different “special” universes with all my accepting and transcendent friends.  I couldn’t sleep, so Betsy said, “Go to bed, or you’ll be ugly tomorrow.”  True statement.
 
I woke up very early everyday before the wedding; I don’t know if it is Gus, the dog, circadian rhythm, but…I just couldn’t sleep…
 
Betsy and I planned on going to the “Grower’s Market” first thing in the morning to snatch up all of the local/sustainable/organic flowers they had.  It was busy, already, at 8AM…so…I walked furiously around the park buying up all that I could.
 
We went for another 4 mile jog (albeit the magical Betsy joined us…poor thing had never jogged at 5000 feet up…so…it was a bit of a shock to the system…).  We then launched into all the champagne drinking and fruit eating we could muster.  However, those of us who have lived in New Mexico ate breakfast burritos every morning, so…not much fruit was consumed because we were full…
 
We made the bouquets from the local flowers and I knew they would be a perfect cross-color to the dresses in the bridal party.
 
There were some final fittings all morning at my mother’s hotel room, and then Susan and Christin had to be left behind because their dresses were not done…Our amazing friend Pocky had arrived that morning, and became our best helper with driving and retrieving of “day of” gifts.  She was a god-send.
 
The wedding prep was easy, except the room was very hot.  The set-up of the receiving table and the gifts for the guests (little tin pails with sugar skulls on them and an LED candle inside) took no time at all.
 
The monsoon season, as I had predicted, began with strong winds right at 4:30PM, and we had to re-do some of the tables, but…we were off to finish preparation. 
 
I did my own hair, but we had to retrieve my mother to do the little French braids I needed for the lining of the bump because my fingers were shaking too much. 
 
The “chamber of secrets” ended up being this amazing scrapbook that the magical Betsy created and implemented stories and pictures from the bridal party.  She also had Nick (the now-husband) write me a letter that I was to read before I did my makeup.  It was exactly what I needed to hear.  Nick said later that he was glad that
Betsy made him do that because it helped him write his vows: he had things he wanted to say to me (privately) and then things he wanted to say to our friends and family about me…separate, but both important.  I was a wreck, but I had such resolve after that…I have never felt that loved by so many people…I sort of walked in that universe the rest of the night…
 
I was so worried that I was going to step on my sari on the aisle that I forgot to smile, but…I only know that because I saw the photos, however, my brother Troy made me feel so special with the story of his son playing with the photo of our father (I created a seat for our Dad in the front row).  Luke, my 2-year-old ring-bearer nephew, saw the photo, and, though he never met our Dad, started calling him “Papa” and began running back and forth to the picture, as though he was playing with it.  He was there.  My brother teared up a bit, and I felt strong to have him by my side.  My brother and I also share a special universe that is haunted by many skeletons, but also a lot of courage to overcome those skeletons…I share this only with him, and I never have to discuss this with him because we both know that we don’t want to discuss it…
 
With Emily singing “Wild as the Wind” by Nina Simone, I walked behind our bridal party.  The quote “Don’t You Know That You’re Life Itself” is such an important lyric to me.  I heard it at a dangerous moment in my now-marriage, and it set me on a new path.  At the end of the aisle was my now-husband with a very surprised look on his face (he had no idea that I wouldn’t be wearing white) and my brother from another mother, Tláloc, looking very happy/nervous to be our officiant. 
 
The wedding was magical with our rain-god, Tláloc, bringing on the rain, and making it stop during the service, and performing a service to Nick and I that only he could do.  Susan read my favorite quote from the beginning of the “Divine” chapter in Toni Morrison’s PARADISE.  The vows were a surprise and a wonder, I think, to both of us.  And…then…Tláloc pronounced us “husband and wife”.  We kissed and receded down the aisle to Guns ‘n Roses’ SWEET CHILD OF MINE.
 
So many magical friends were in the same room at the reception; and I couldn’t walk into the portals for too long…I hope they didn’t feel robbed, but…the reception was fun, the food was great, and the flower girl niece (Lucia) and the ring bearer nephew were the life of the dance floor.  Nick and I danced to “Tougher Than the Rest” by Bruce Springsteen, Troy and I danced to our Dad’s favorite song “Tequila Sunrise”, Nick danced with his mother to “Volver”, and I danced with his Dad to I-can’t-remember, but, apparently, it was a hit…Nick’s Dad can really cut a rug.
 
I can’t go into any more details because I was in a fog of bliss and happy-stress brought on by being in the presence of so many people who are not subject to the material universe.  But…the 68 Days Until the Wedding Workout, worked…I was happy with my mind/body/soul journey and I hope the ritual commenced this marriage on the right portal…

]]><![CDATA[68 Days Until the Wedding Workout: Days 62-67]]>Wed, 03 Aug 2016 04:19:34 GMThttps://www.jessicabarkltheaterartist.com/blog/68-days-until-the-wedding-workout-days-62-67Days 62-67; July 29-August 2
Well, I’ve been a bad girl about typing because July 28th and 29th were horrible…Nick and I spent 31 hours trying to get to Albuquerque.  There was exercise, but I think it was cancelled out by stress.  There was even a desperate moment on July 29th where I started saying ridiculous things out loud, reminiscent of the movie DROP DEAD GORGEOUS, where Kirsten Dunst’s character says that the competition is Nazi Germany.  I stated loudly after hearing that we were being bumped from our “guaranteed” flight, “AND YOU CALL THIS A BUSINESS!”.  It didn’t make any sense.  I threw our tickets at Nick and told him I had to go for a walk.  I went for a self-pitying walk that I’m not proud of.
 
July 30th didn’t really have much because Nick and I were so sleep deprived, but…I did do some sit-ups and walked around in malls chasing my niece Lucia. 
 
July 31st I woke up and did two hours of yoga and wedding circuit workouts.
 
August 1st I repeated what I did July 31st.
 
Today, I went to an intermediate yoga class at High Desert Yoga and I just finished my wedding circuit training. 
 
Apparently, the last day of this journey is tomorrow because I had anticipated that exercise would be lacking starting on Wednesday because there would be so much wedding stuff going on, but…I’m going to try and maintain something everyday until the wedding. 
 
The last entry for this will be tomorrow!
 
I am what I am, and I have to love the mind, body, and soul, that I have starting tomorrow.
 
I have my vows written, and I’m sitting with them to see if I’m happy with them = mind.
 
I have the body that, I hope, will look nice in my dress; I’ll find out tonight or tomorrow, when my mother arrives.
 
And…my soul is going to be so fulfilled by seeing all the people I have not seen in years, especially, my best friend, sister, mom, and May!

]]><![CDATA[68 Days Until the Wedding Workout: Days 56-61]]>Thu, 28 Jul 2016 11:43:22 GMThttps://www.jessicabarkltheaterartist.com/blog/68-days-until-the-wedding-workout-days-56-61Day 56-61; July 23-28
Well, I have jogged everyday since the COURAGE preview.  We (also) opened and closed COURAGE.  Obviously, during those days I had a lot of time walking around Apple Pond Farm. 
 
In addition to all of this, 4 of these days contained the yoga wedding circuit training I created.  Yesterday, in lieu of this, I stilt walked for a couple of hours for a recruitment day at the college.  Closing night involved some dancing, as well. 
 
I’m feeling optimistic about the progress, but…I’m still not, necessarily, where I want to be.  I have some time in New Mexico to get there. 
 
I walked the puppies for a half house this morning, and that will probably be all the exercise I get other than walking around airports and train stations, but…I think that will be enough for today, albeit, I’ve had very little sleep because I’m very nervous about taking the puppies to the boarder.  I have never boarded my dogs.  I’m about to leave right now, but I wanted to get this post in because I have been too busy to do so…

]]><![CDATA[68 Days Until the Wedding Workout: Days 51-55]]>Fri, 22 Jul 2016 14:07:20 GMThttps://www.jessicabarkltheaterartist.com/blog/day-51-53-july-18-20-timer-on-i-have-been-jogging-and-doing-my-yoga-and-wedding-circuit-training-in-addition-to-rehearsing-at-apple-pond-farm-lots-of-workout-and-soul-mending-the-jogging-has-really-been-helping-my-stress-level-though-iDay 51-53, July 18-20
Timer on…


I have been jogging and doing my yoga and wedding circuit training, in addition to rehearsing at Apple Pond Farm.  Lots of workout and soul-mending.


The jogging has really been helping my stress-level, though, I came home just now and realized that I have upset Gus, who I used to jog with, and he looks sad that I don’t take him anymore.  It is not good for him; he’s too old, and it made me cry a little to realize that it hurt him…


I saw two of the most beautiful orange butterflies on my jog, this morning, which I thought was a good omen. 


Timer out…for today…lots to do with rehearsal, etc.


Day 54-55, July 21-22
Timer on…


In addition to Day 53’s jog, I decided to shake up the afterburn with just yoga that focuses on the same areas as the wedding circuit training…I liked that a lot better, so I did the same on the 21st: I jogged, and then I did my own yoga-version-of-the-wedding-workout…


COURAGE had its preview yesterday with about 30 people in attendance…it was lovely to have people walk into this secret room that we, as an ensemble, have been working on since last year…it was weird, as well…I found my typical shyness come up again…I might have to bring my clothes up to the tent, so I can get out of costume…I have a hard time dropping my character, when I’m still in costume…and, subsequently, I didn’t feel like talking to many people because I was in this weird purgatory of character/actor/person…


Today, I jogged and decided to write directly after because a song of Tom Waits came on as I was approaching home that just stopped me in my tracks.  I don’t know the title but the lyric was “A Dream took me away from home and a Dream can bring me home”, I think…


Anyway, it’s weird because about 4 years ago I had a dream, where my Dad visited me, and it was this weird bar where there were no aisles, just bench seating with long wooden tables, a sort of Octoberfest meets Irish Pub structure, or what I imagine some Great Halls looked like in smaller Lords’ homes in the Middle Ages.  Anyway, he saunters in with his usual bouncy gait, and I didn’t feel like I hadn’t seen him in a while…this was just a normal occurance.  However, as he approached me, my conscious mind and my sleeping mind started to meld in a dangerous limbo, where my conscious mind realized that I so wanted him back and my dreaming mind just wanted to have a nice conversation…


Then he climbed over the tables, grumpily, and looked at my feet and said, “Your shoes suck.”  And, he handed me these red sandals with a strap over the toe and a strap over the top part of the foot.  I had never seen any sandals like that.  And, in an instant, I woke up.  I was so mad…I started to cry.  Nick woke up and I told him the dream.  Later Nick found some shoes and bought them for my birthday.  I still have them, but they’re getting older and I slide through them dangerously. 


I don't get very many visitations from my Dad in my dreams, but the lyric this morning, out of nowhere, makes me hope I’ll get another soon…in preparation for the wedding and my mind/body/soul journey…


Timer out…
]]><![CDATA[68 Days Until the Wedding Workout: Day 50]]>Sun, 17 Jul 2016 22:01:21 GMThttps://www.jessicabarkltheaterartist.com/blog/68-days-until-the-wedding-workout-day-50Day 50, July 17
Timer on…
 
Well, I’m sitting here waiting for my mother’s Beef Stroganoff recipe to finish, along with the rice, and I thought, “Oh, I’d better write about my workout day…!”
 
It’s been an epic one.
 
I woke up this morning and walked the dogs, and then I went for my jog.  My hamstrings are still bugging me, but…I suffered through.  I then came home and had breakfast.  After breakfast I started the wedding circuit workout I’ve created, and added the wedding yoga poses to each section of the wedding circuit training.  I, then, did the Montana Sandoval arm workout, and then, finally, I stayed in 2nd position pliê for 7 minutes.  I counted yesterday, that I do 800 crunches/sit-ups in this circuit training, which is good because I need work there…lately…I like beer too much…and considering that beer is the only vice I have in the alcohol area that I’m allowed to have…I’m not quitting it to look perfect.  Acid reflux disorder has taken away everything else, so…I’m holding on to the beer…judge all you like…
 
After that, I went and danced for 2.5 hours on stilts.  That was fun.  I went to the Latino Heritage Festival in Monticello, NY, and they had a live band that played the Bachata, Merengue, Salsa, etc. 
 
Anyway, it was an epic day of workout.  I think I have a sunburn, which, I’m not happy about, for photos, etc., for the wedding, but…oh well…it was fun…
 
Timer out…

]]><![CDATA[68 Days Until the Wedding Workout: Day 49]]>Sat, 16 Jul 2016 15:58:13 GMThttps://www.jessicabarkltheaterartist.com/blog/68-days-until-the-wedding-workout-day-49 
Day 49, July 16
Timer on…
 
Well, today I woke up, and my right hamstring is still in pain, so…I decided not to risk jogging two days in a row, maybe, I will do every other day, until the pain subsides…
 
Instead, I googled yoga for weddings and yoga for brides…there were some blogs about it, and I did the poses.  It was (mostly) for relaxation, so…I’m assuming these flow series are for the day of.  I guess that’s something to consider: creating a yoga series for myself and the ladies for the day of.  Maybe I will take us over to my Dad’s favorite spot in Albuquerque, the duck pond at the Rio Grande Nature Center.  I think that would be nice.  I’ve been thinking of doing something there, anyway. 
 
So…I did the poses and the series in addition to the first line of the Catherine Fitzmaurice poses…I was in Svasana (corpse pose) after one of the series, and then I decided I could just do a little Catherine Fitzmaurice work. 
 
I (also) did the the wedding circuit training after I practiced yoga/Catherine Fitzmaurice work.  Lastly, I did this arm workout my friend/student Montana showed me, in addition to sitting in 2nd position ballet pose for 3 minutes. 
 
I will probably do another yoga series later today for the hamstrings; to continue the nursing of the right hamstring. 
 
Another thing that I haven’t been blogging about, but that I’ve been doing for the past two months is making recipes from my family’s cookbooks.  This is another thing I decided to do for the mind/body/soul search.  It has been interesting because I’ve discovered that many of the recipes have some ingredients of the recipes I have for New Mexican cuisine.  I realize that many of my Mom’s side of the family came to the Rocky Mountains and lived in the high desert regions, and the recipes use the same ingredients because the habitat types are similar.  Last night I made Corn-Stuffed Pepper Rings.  I adjusted the recipe to keep the green peppers in tact, but I’m sure it tasted the same; I just think the presentation is nicer that way. 
 
I’m not sure why I started this process, but…I’ve liked the exploration.  It makes me feel closer to what I’m made of.  I realize that I am true “western stock” because we were the ones who survived the journey across the plains, and that wasn’t easy.  What’s bred in the bone, comes out in the flesh.  And…what comes out in the flesh, I think, is hard work, discipline, and survival…this last is what, I think, is the most important lesson…to survive…and the question becomes, how does one survive anything?  Life?  Work?  Exercise?  Love?  Marriage?  I think one survives by continuing to learn, to grow, but…most importantly to stay healthy and as happy as one can be.  Food is important to this process…so…that might be the intuitive reason I started that…
 
Timer out…

]]><![CDATA[68 Days Until the Wedding Workout: Day 48]]>Sat, 16 Jul 2016 01:43:08 GMThttps://www.jessicabarkltheaterartist.com/blog/68-days-until-the-wedding-workout-day-48Day 48, July 15
Timer on…
 
Today began with walking the dogs, as usual…I wanted to jog, but…I still had that hamstring pain in my right leg…so…I didn’t…
 
I drove to NACL and we had our final training…which was bittersweet because it was the last day.  We had a lot of fun; I struggled with some pain during the contact improvisation elements, but we had a lovely ending with the song we’ve been singing at the end.  I (also) liked the moment in contact improvisation, when I worked with Yurika, a Japanese artist I’ve been working with this summer, and Brad mentioned that we should use one focal point and the other partner can use another to create a “strange offspring”.  They were very strange…our “offsprings”.
 
After NACL, I went and hung out with my friends for a little while; they fed me lunch, which was great.
 
I went home and cleaned a bit and prepared dinner for Nick.  When I was baking dinner, I took the dogs for a walk and went for a jog.  It wasn’t easy, but I worked through the pain.  I (then) did the wedding circuit training and the yoga series I discovered yesterday for hamstrings.  The hamstring is not 100%, but it definitely feels a little better.  Yeah for yoga…
 
During training today we do this part where we notice everything, and Brad asked us to try to focus on what we didn’t accomplish through the past four weeks of training, but I didn’t really have a goal for the training, nor do I think I didn’t accomplish something, but…I did focus on what I’ve been trying to focus on in my 68 Day journey, which is to have fun and to get my mind/body/soul ready…
 
The little gift that I noticed today was all the light trying to enter the theater space…I felt this was a fun metaphor for the end of the training: that even in darkness light tries to sneak in…  Exercising is good in its results and I have been enjoying jogging as the wedding looms closer and closer and my anxiety gets larger and larger, but…there’s a darkness to working out…an unknown…and it isn’t always fun…but light is always trying to sneak in…songs that suddenly show up when you think about stopping that encourages you to continue…lyrics that show up in a song that you need to hear for your mind/soul journey…a deer next to a creek looking at you and not running away…having a moment with you…these little moments of light in a moment that could pull you into the darkness…those moments that you need…
 
Timer out…

]]><![CDATA[68 Days Until the Wedding Workout: Days 45-47]]>Thu, 14 Jul 2016 14:55:05 GMThttps://www.jessicabarkltheaterartist.com/blog/68-days-until-the-wedding-workout-days-45-47Days 45-47; July 12-14
Timer on…
 
So…Tuesday I did not jog; I went to training and then I came home intending to jog, but…I was tired, so…I didn’t.  I decided that training and going out to the farm for rehearsal was enough…I was sticky, sweaty, tired…so…yup…it was enough…
 
Yesterday, I got up and walked the dogs and then jogged.  I, then, went to training, where we did the enneagram, for the last time.  The nine-sided geometric shape that has two colors and different patterns; it’s hard to explain, but…it was fun…while it lasted.  We, then, went to the farm to rehearse the show, and then I went home, sweaty/sticky…  However, I decided to go ahead and do the wedding circuit training. 
 
This morning I woke up and my right hamstring was really hurt.  I wanted to jog, but…I wasn’t sure that it was going to go away.  I walked the dogs, and the pain didn’t go, so I went home and looked up yoga poses to release my hamstring.  I did that until I had to leave for training.  At training I told Brad that my hamstring was injured because I’m pretty sure it is because I’ve never had this pain before…and it is only one-sided…hopefully, it will go away, soon…I was very careful on it during training, and I’m a limping a little.  I realized during our “comet” portion of the training (where we focus on our center and other peoples’ centers and work off that energy for flow in the space…again…how can one write about actor movement training…) that it was just below my glutes, and the comet training was no fun because of the pain. 
 
We will be going to the farm, soon, to work on getting rid of the poop, mowing the grass, and, generally, preparing the site-specific performance space for our performances next week.  We will then have a run-thru tonight at the farm…weather permitting.  We’ve been battling thunderstorms for the past couple of days.  We, actually, had to take the circus tent down because the rain turned it into a dead birthday muffin…(Tannis’ words…I didn’t see it).
 
I am trying to stay positive and forward thinking about the wedding and my process towards mind/body/soul, but…the play is superseding that journey this week, and probably next week.  I am talking to the lady about the venue today, which should be interesting…
 
Timer out…

]]><![CDATA[68 Days Until the Wedding Workout: Days 38-44]]>Mon, 11 Jul 2016 16:01:29 GMThttps://www.jessicabarkltheaterartist.com/blog/68-days-until-the-wedding-workout-days-38-44Day 38-44: July 5-11
 
Okay, I was really bad, again…but, in my defense this was my last week of teaching at the prison, and I had an enormous amount of grading.  The epic/famous John Wilson take-home Theater History Exam needed to be graded in less than 48 hours, therefore, my life was crazy.  In addition to all that, I had rehearsal/training/wedding duties…  A whirlwind of a week…
 
On July 5th, I didn’t do anything (except) walk the dogs because I thought I was going to have training in the evening, but it turned out to be a rehearsal where I helped direct a bit…which was nice…but…I was just eaten by the mosquitos, and did not working out.  I did some crunches, etc., when I got home, but, for the most part, I did nothing.
 
On July 6th, I had training and rehearsal.  I (also) did the wedding circuit training.  I then taught at the prison and received the Take Home Exams.  I went home and started grading them right away.  This (also) marked one month away from the wedding…which was exciting and raised a lot of anxiety surrounding whether or not Nick and I have done everything, and whether or not I’m happy with my mind/body/soul process…the verdict is still out…
 
On July 7th, I continued to grade all day.  I did the circuit training and some yoga, when I needed a break from sitting, and then in the evening, we had rehearsal at Apple Pond Farm, which was its own workout.
 
On July 8th, I decided to go to training, even though I wasn’t completely finished with grading.  I needed to get away from them, though, so I went, and training was great.  I made a new discovery about my arms and the freedom of movement, which was nice.  We (also) did ball work during the training, and I love ball work, so…it was a nice release.  I went back, right away, to grade, and completed them just before having to go to the prison. 
 
On July 9th, I decided to jog in the morning and do a wedding circuit.  This is good, I realize because jogging used to be my anxiety reliever, and I cut it out when I began to have major back problems, but…boy oh boy do I feel better after jogging.   I got drenched, however, because a major storm system moved in while I was jogging…this was somewhat cathartic and embarrassing…
 
Yesterday, I thought that I would jog, but the weather wasn’t really cooperating, and my shoes were still really wet from the day before…humidity does not dry anything around here…so…I just did the wedding circuit and some yoga, along with walking the dogs…
 
This morning I jogged, and had an interview.  Nick and I are (also) going to our first dance lesson to prepare for the wedding, so…that should be fun/adventurous…
 
Timer out…

]]><![CDATA[68 Days Until the Wedding Workout: Day 37]]>Tue, 05 Jul 2016 12:25:21 GMThttps://www.jessicabarkltheaterartist.com/blog/68-days-until-the-wedding-workout-day-37Day 37
Yesterday was July 4th, and I did a July 4th themed yoga series.  I looked up on google “yoga for the 4th of July” and many yoga blogs popped up.  I combined a whole bunch of them to make a series that lasted about an hour.
 
It started with the sun salutes and asked for the practitioner to have 4 ujjayi breaths for each post that follows the sun salute.  Next was downward dog, then mountain, then standing hip opener, then forward fold, then standing twist, then dancer, then child’s pose, back to downward dog, then warrior I with eagle arms, tree with a slight back bend, wide-legged pose with cow face arms, Janu Sirsasna (which the blogger called flag pose), Firefly pose (which, I, incidentally, am unable to do – it’s very hard, so…instead I did all the prep poses for it: lizard pose, hero’s pose, shoulder opening pose, and crow pose), fire log pose, eagle pose, wide-legged forward bend, hero’s pose, supported back bend pose, and finally rest pose. 
 
It was a nice series.  I haven’t done a series with ujjayi breath throughout since I took anusara yoga in grad school.  It was a change from my usual practice of doing kapalabhati breaths throughout.  It’s a slower reflection. 
 
After the yoga series I did the bridal circuit, which I haven’t done in its entirety for about five days.  I have been focusing on abs and thighs for the past five days, so…I’ve only been doing those.  I suppose they are my “problem area”, but they are (also) my strongest area.  They just don’t look like the western standard of beauty.  So…I’m not sure I really care because I do, in fact, have a very strong core, and whether or not it is “perfect” cannot be something I spend time worrying about.  I’m not worried, but I do want to feel that my core represents who I am as a person, as this point, who is looking to be ready mind/body/soul for the wedding in 32 days. 
 
I then hung out with some of my favorite friends in Sullivan County and my fiancé for the 4th celebration.  We had beer and food and talk…it was nice…
 
I felt like an old person for going to bed at 10PM, but I’m up early today, to grade, so…it’s not a complete loss…

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