on yer bike

since i was knocked off my bike while commuting to work (years and years ago now) i've been too chicken to ride around the streets
i want to get back into it
because it was great and i didn't have to worry about parking (fees & fines) or about drinking and driving (and a leisurely beer and bike ride home is lovely as the weather gets warmer and finer)

i don't live in the land of bike obsessives
(i keep my obsessions elsewhere)
but i "found" a couple of terrific bike blogs
one, bike snob nyc, included this ace tractor bike, so very cool

but my favourite is this cussin' all out naughty
but my favourite is this cussin' all out naughty big ring riding
photo, and the comment,
I BIG RING RODE PAST THIS SPOT THE OTHER DAY - THE ROAD BETWEEN THE SOULOR AND THE AUBISQUE, WHERE IN 1951 WIM VAN EST OVERSHOT THE BEND AND ENDED UP 70 METRES DOWN THE MOUNTAIN.
HIS TEAM-MATES PULLED HIM BACK UP BY KNOTTING ALL THEIR TUBS INTO A ROPE.
HE WAS UNHURT, AND WANTED TO CONTINUE, BUT WAS EVENTUALLY PERSUADED TO GO TO GET CHECKED OVER IN THE HOSPITAL. AND THE DUTCH TEAM WAS FORCED TO PULL OUT BECAUSE THEY HAD NO TYRES LEFT. THEM WERE THE DAYS.

and here, a bloke in brunswick has made a bamboo bike ... stylie...












finally,
here's an animation by isobel knowles, i fell off my bike ...
oh yeah been there (bloody poodles, don't get me started)

p is for pilates

Studio 165 (miller st, north fitzroy)

Sessions at Studio 165 are personally designed to:
BUILD ... core strength and muscle tone
INCREASE ... your flexibility and mobility
STIMULATE ... your internal organs
IMPROVE ... your circulation and posture
REHABILITATE ... effectively and safely
ENHANCE ... your general well-being
Studio 165 is passionate about making you aware and understanding your own body; working on its limitations, constantly improving strength alignment and posture. Our aim is for you to maintain your body at its full potential, confident in managing muscular and postural imbalances and injuries. We encourage you to take personal responsibility for regenerating your body and mind

ole joe pilates said,

"In ten sessions you will feel the difference, in twenty you will see the difference, and in thirty you will have a whole new body."

let the happiness in

I went to the kinesiologist last week (helen).
she diagnosed me as having a heavy heart, and gave me sweet chestnut, and gonged tuning forks and acupressured my various points
and she told me to colour myself green,
to radiate green from the centre of my being until it spread throughout my body and protected me from ... fill in the blanks
[anger] [fear] [expectation] ... my heavy things
i imagined a little girl monika colouring in the inside of my head
i found it hard to calm myself and fill myself with green,

ground myself in green
the calmest place i found was to think of a deep green forest clearing, with dappled light

helen said i have to learn how to be still inside
that i should meditate and do yoga
the other day at sheni's i picked up a meditation card,
there are drop-in meditation sessions in north fitzroy, mark st hall (1 mark st) and in northcote (northcote town hall), 7.30-9.00 thursdays
with sessions coming up, living without stress (2, 9, 16 sept) and then self-esteem (30 sept, 7, 14 oct)
Gokula Centre, on Smith St
Hatha Yoga
This class features flowing and strengthening stretches to get energy and circulation moving. It includes breathwork and meditation to quiet the mind and full body relaxation, leaving you with a sense of inner peace and calm.
Tuesday & Wednesday Evening – 6:30 – 8:00 pm
$10 per class. Mats and Blankets provided. No Booking Required.
Easy Yoga Class
For those new to practicing yoga asanas or those wanting to get some more beginner tips to enhance their practice. We will learn basic yoga asanas, breathing techniques and meditation.
Friday Evenings – Begins 3rd September
$10 per class. Mats and Blankets provided. No Booking Required.

green places ...

donna ray, groundwork

iittala vitriini in green

chakra action

time to stretch and breathe back into yoga

a couple of places
gokula house - corner of smith and mater streets up near alexandra pde
stretch & relax yoga sessions on tues & wed evenings, 6.30-8 pm, $10
gertrude st yoga studio, healing centre - gertrude st next door to deans art, casual $17, 10 classes $150, beginners classes $160 for 10 week course
city yoga/shadow yoga in melbourne, corner of queensberry and leicester streets, 10 classes $140 or casual $18 - pricey and last time I went here it was really crowded, so i think the only option is saturdays for the beginners classes, 10-11 am, maybe after the market - also just round the corner from 7 seeds cafeterium though yoga and coffee don't mix really
there's also merri yoga

anyway soon start stretching and breathing...