40 Days

Doesn't seem like a long time does it?  Trust me, it's not.

Here's what I'm working on.

Recently I got a CD called Mantra:  A Practice for Power, Peace & Prosperity.  In it is a challenge to practice Mantra for 40 days.  Mantra is energy.  It is vibrational sound energy that can be used to stimulate growth, awakening, healing, abundance, peace, and transformation among many other blessings.

This 2 disc set talks about what the Mantra is and what it is not.  What I enjoyed most about it was that there is no Dogma, no preaching, no "rules".  There is a constant encouragement to find what works for you and an invitation to practice in a way that best meets your needs and helps you with whatever it is your working on in your current situation.  From there, Niurka and Larisa Stow guide you through several options on how to practice Mantra.

So, why 40 days?  Well, here you will find yourself listening to two women talk about a practice that is considered by most a Hindu or Buddhist practice and when it comes time for the 40 day challenge, they mention Jesus.  That's the level of tolerance and wisdom behind this CD.  It's all good.  They've taken "religion" out of the equation and instead aligned themselves with finding a way to connect with Source.  Source can be so many things for so many people.

Now, I accept the challenge and since there are no "rules" here's the plan.  I don't have any beads (yet) and the most sacred space I have that I can be in twice daily unfortunately is my car.  The real job has me in the car twice a day for at least 15 minutes both ways.  I have examined and isolated what I want to focus on in my Mantra.  In a nutshell, I want to clear a path for myself and get out of my own way while attracting more abundance, prosperity and freedom in my life.  This sounds like a job for Ganesha.  Which brings me, an Irish Catholic Registered Republican, to another miracle hidden within this CD on Mantra and a sidebar.

There is one true Source, one true God, but many paths to God.  God speaks to us in many ways.  Your challenge is to be open enough to listen and hear.  What if the Hindu gods/deities are really just reflections of our own conscientiousness?  Hmmm...  just be with that for a moment.  If you're a Christian or like me, a Catholic this is important to realize.  This isn't about worshiping an Elephant or a woman with four arms.  It is about getting in touch with ourselves and our own divinity  Remember, God mad man in His image.  Look how different and unique man is!  Yet, somehow genetically, we are all so similar.  We are all part of his divine creation and it is the uniqueness of all religions that affords each citizen of this planet the opportunity to experience the divine.

The plan will be to listen to and sing/chant along with the Ganesh Mantra from Larisa Stow's CD Reaching In.  I will do this once on the way to work and once on the way home from work.  On my days off I'll do it on my way to training (exercise) and after training.

40 days.  There we go again.  Jesus was in the desert for 40 days.  Noah had rain for 40 days.  Moses?  40 days on Mt. Sinai.  The whole tribe was in the desert for 40 years.  40 is a significant number.  It is where habits are formed and clearly 40 is associated with transformation, enlightenment and discovery.  So 40 days it is. 

And with that in mind and considering that this is a blog dedicated to Inner Strength through the development of the body I will also lay out for you my 40 day exercise plan as well.

Physically the last 5-6 months have been a strain on my body with Periodontal surgery in July my system has been rocked.  I've been up to a lot of Qi Gong Recharge and Super Joints.  Kettlebell training has been sporadic.  Last week I had a cold, this week I'm ready to return to regular activity.  That cold felt like my body releasing the last bit of negativity from the surgery and it's now time to once again play full out as Niurka puts it.

Workouts 1 & 3

SuperJoints to warm up
Goblet Squats 16kg bell and Pumps 3 sets of 5
Practice Movements 1-5 with Indian Clubs while alternating 1+1 TGU with 32 kg KB
12 minutes of Snatches with 24kg bell (workout 1 go for it, workout 3 medium intensity or plug in Tabata protocal)

Workout 2 (EDT)

SuperJoints to warm up

20 minutes of alternating: 
Clean and Squat 24kg 5+5
Pullups 5

15 minutes of:
Ring Push Ups 10
Chest Expander 10

Hanging Leg Raises 5 sets of 12

Workout 4 (EDT)

SuperJoints to warm up

20 minutes of alternating:
Clean and Press 32kg 3-5+3-5
Box Pistols 3-5+3-5

15 minutes of:
Bulldog Swings Man Maker style

Hanging Leg Raises 5 sets of 12

I'll train 4 to 5 days a week.  I'll monitor fatigue, eat right and often and practice my Mantra twice daily.  40 days.  This adventure will set forth Sunday 11/7/10.  Sunday really is the first day of the week as far as I'm concerned.  I don't know if I'll be able to check in with this blog everyday, but I'll make it a point to continue journaling the experience as I go through it.  You are all welcome to tag along!  In my last posting, I put forward this challenge.   If you'd like to read the last post for an idea as to how this all started, CLICK HERE.