1 September, Sunday
Activity: Sacrament of Reconciliation
Celebrant: Visiting Priest
Location: The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Comments: Gorgeous architecture! There's even a ministry to greet people at the entrance, and the lady told me where to get holy water, and where the washroom is. Another ministry to welcome new parishioners. You have to fill in a registration form if you want to join as a parishioner and I'm sold! The visiting priest was very dynamic and clear. Apparently he serves a Black community and he's used to 25 to 30 minute sermons so he consciously cut short his sermon for us. I liked that his message was very clear, about the prophetic voice, and to be like Jesus, and not be afraid to stand up for the poor, the marginalized etc. And to be the prophetic voice in our daily lives even if we're persecuted (or killed, the way the prophets are like). It is a calling and a cross that we must fulfill!
6 September, Friday
Activity: Mass
Celebrant: Fr. Josh
Location: Georgia Tech Catholic Center
Comments: Halfway through, the bread and wine offertory person sat next to me and his strong cologne got to me. Other than that, it was a nice weekday mass with prayers afterwards. Wrote a mass intention for John's dad and my mum, for their upcoming eye surgery.
Priest shared that it was Blessed Mother of Calcutta's feast day and his sermon touched on how God calls us not to be successful, but to be faithful.
7 September, Sunday
Activity: Mass
Celebrant: ~
Location: Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Comments: Rushed and made it to mass on time, by God's grace! We were early even. Reached 5 minutes before noon. The cantor sang beautifully, opera-style. Chills when she sang the psalm. The priest was a little monotone for me. His message was about loving your neighbor as yourself. Love.
After mass, headed to the basement to hear the Just Faith program presentation (http://justfaith.org/programs/). The program is appealing, about the Catholic Social Teaching of the Church. However, it is from 7:30 to 9pm at night, and it is simply not safe. There are homeless people and creepy people making small talk to us even in broad daylight. So to compromise safety for this is foolish. Sad, but at least there are other programs out there, like the weekly faith formation at 11:15am after 10am mass, which I'll probably go for instead :).
14 September, Sunday
Activity: Mass
Celebrant: Visiting Priest from St. Pius X Church
Location: Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Comments:
The Gospel for the day includes the famous verse in John 3:16: 'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.'
The young priest was very dynamic and charismatic. He started off his sermon with a prayer, and shared that his best friend is a pilot and had a host family whom he stayed with. When he visited his best friend, his host family, who are Presbyterians, asked him why Catholics do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus. He was stumped and prayed the prayer that he asked us to recite, so that he would have the Spirit fill his tongue with words of truth and enlightenment.
He went on to expound that the Cross is the pre-eminent sign of God's love for us. And that in Jesus life and ministry, the wood of the Cross was present in every stage of His life. When he born in a God-forsaken manger among the lowliest of the low, when he was persecuted on the Cross.
God could have easily bought our salvation any other way, but He chose to have his own beloved Son come and experience the turmoils of the World and suffer with us. When Jesus foretold his death, Peter told him that it wold not happen, and Jesus said, 'get behind me, Satan', for not accepting the Cross is in Jesus' words, Satanic. It's a strong reminder that as Christians, we cannot have resurrection and Life (eternal life), without first, accepting the Cross that we have to carry.
Lord, may I bear my Cross with more grace and fortitude.
Aside: He also recommended reading Fulton Sheen's book, The Life of Christ.
21 September, Sunday
Activity: Mass
Celebrant: Parish priest Rev. Msgr. Edward J. Thein
Location: Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Comments: He is someone the church has been praying for, for weeks, so it's good to finally see him in flesh, although he was limping and struggled to go up the pulpit. The main takeaway for me was, "time, talent and treasure" and this was a good plug for the Ministry Weekend. I signed up for St. Vincent De Paul, Habitat for Humanity and some pro-life organization. Only problem is the availability of a car to get around, so I'll commit when I'm more permanent in the US. I prayed to God cos I feel very lost in my research and its stumbling blocks, and how it will bear fruit in the future. Once again, I was reassured that I need only do small things with great love... :).
28 September, Sunday
Activity: Mass
Celebrant: Parish priest Rev. Msgr. Edward J. Thein
Location: Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Comments: The priest spoke about hypocrisy and how we as Catholics need to live out our lives in an authentic, spirit-filled fashion! Aside, I am seriously thinking of building an altar in our apartment :).
2 September, Tuesday
Activity: Zumba
Instructor: De'Marco
Location: LA Fitness at Atlantic Station
Teacher-Student Ratio: 1:20
Comments: The original instructor from last week couldn't make it, so the instructor from the previous class took over. He was more of a hip hop instructor than a zumba instructor, so we ended up with a lot of moves that had a lot of swag. Good that I was wearing my funky top that said "leader of the pack", that put me in the right mood for the blasting hip hop music. Fancy being taught hip hop by an African American instructor with fellow African American classmates who ended up giving each other high-fives at the end of class. Even though it was just dancing, I was so beat by the end of it :). Made friends with an Indian lady, Pratibha. It was her first day there, and we ended up exchanging Facebook, numbers and we're going to motivate each other to go everyday...
3 September, Wednesday
Activity: Boot Camp Conditioning
Instructor: Tammie
Location: LA Fitness at Atlantic Station
Teacher-Student Ratio: 1:20
Comments: She was strict, and pow-wow. I struggled with some of the new moves but quickly corrected myself with her guidance. I perspired quite a bit, but to date, the bodyworks plus abs was the most killer. This was just the right amount of heavy perspiration! Addicted to sweat. Sounds like a nice slogan for a new brand of tees.
8 September, Monday
Activity: Yoga
Instructor: Laura
Location: LA Fitness at Atlantic Station
Teacher-Student Ratio: 1:10
Comments: Instructor was 60+ years in age, and it was very slow and therapeutic. Didn't drop any perspiration but I slept well after that due to all the stretching involved :). Paid for my membership today, and it's US39.99 every month, with US$10 each time I stop the plan (to return to Singapore).
10 September, Wednesday
Activity: 35 minutes of cycling with resistance, 30 minutes of abs and arm exercises with weights
Location: LA Fitness at Atlantic Station
Comments: The bodyworks plus abs class got cancelled at the last minute as they were cleaning the floor, and thank God that Pratibha was with me as we did our own exercises and I was really perspiring A LOT while cycling/ running with resistance! Last time I did that was with Michaela and this time around due to the external stimulation, cycling class was going on with music blasting, many people at different stations doing their thing, time passed by much faster than expected! I wouldn't have used the gym equipment on my own if not for the class let-down, so it turned all well in the end =).
Aside, Wednesday's Cycle class at 6:45pm by Maurice seems super popular and worth trying! Shall try cycling and swimming at some point.
11 September, Thursday
Activity: Zumba
Instructor: Amanda
Location: LA Fitness at Atlantic Station
Teacher-Student Ratio: 1:15
Comments: Was alright but not as intense as the substitute hip hop teacher previously, or Ebony (Tuesday's Zumba). Quite cheesy actually. Will probably not go for this class in future.
11 September, Thursday
Activity: Yoga (Vinyasa Flow)
Instructor: Erica
Location: LA Fitness at Atlantic Station
Teacher-Student Ratio: 1:13
Comments: Best yoga class of the three I've attended so far, as in the most intense. Was tired halfway through from my second consecutive class. However, still did not perspire a drop even though she said we would. Still can't beat Rashita's class, I guess that is more progressive whereas this is a general drop-in class.
12 September, Friday
Activity: Personal Training
Instructor: Jamal
Location: LA Fitness at Atlantic Station
Teacher-Student Ratio: 1:1!
Comments: Had a complimentary personal training session as part of my membership with Jamal. He says I've 28% body fat and that is fair. The ideal is 22% body fat, and 18% body fat is perfect. He asked me for my target areas, and I said arms and abs. So he taught me some weight exercises with dumbbells, first I've to go fast for 15 reps, and then go slow in the same exercise for 15 reps. For abs, we did mountain climbers and holding the legs in 90 degrees, followed by 45 degrees, followed by 20? degrees.
Source: Mountain Climber
After that, I ran for 30 minutes on a treadmill and burned 275 calories. Did all the exercises I could remember from full body toning, yoga and pilates classes, including my favorite inversion, the headstand. Did another 10 minutes on another cardio machine. Finished off with the bicep machines. And just like that, 3 hours passed by and I was done for the day!
14 September, Sunday
Activity: 15 minutes of weights and abs, 45 minute Level 2 Intermediate Flow by Yogifly, 1 hour of cardio on the treadmill
Workout Buddy: Pratibha
Location: LA Fitness at Atlantic Station
Comments: Started out with repeating the exercises that the personal trainer taught me, followed by some mountain climbers and ab workout. Decided to do the Yogifly app that Michaela introduced to me sometime back, apparently Diana had told her about it. Did the Level 2 intermediate and I finally perspired while doing yoga! So far the classes at LA Fitness seem targeted for the beginners. Even Vinyasa Flow has no kick. Three quarter way through the app and they asked us to do handstands, and that's when I know, I'm in for something good!
Pratibha arrived and we decided to run for an hour, and I covered 5km and burned 500 calories :). Longest cardio so far, which would put me in good stead for my 5km run as part of the Wanderlust festival in two weeks!
15 September, Monday
Activity: Boot Camp Conditioning
Instructor Tyrell
Location: LA Fitness at Atlantic Station
Comments: Best class I've attended in awhile. Did a lot of weights, and was perspiring heavily forming a puddle 30 minutes into it! Was 5 minutes late as I went to the washroom and was quite disoriented initially trying to find a spot, but I got one right at the back, next to the mirror, where I could check myself out, from time to time :P.
16 September, Tuesday
Activity: Cardio Jam and Zumba
Instructor: De'Marco and Ebony
Location: LA Fitness at Atlantic Station
Comments: De'Marco was really good! We even took a picture with him at the end. I liked that Ebony asked us to use 2.5 kg weights at some point to dance. I think I'm addicted to weights as it's the only way to build muscles!
18 September, Thursday
Activity: Zumba, Yoga, Weights and Cardio
Instructor: Amanda (?), Laura (?)
Location: LA Fitness at Atlantic Station
Comments: The Zumba teacher's instructions for her routines were not too good such that people started walking out in the midst of class :P. I stayed till the end, it's my policy even if not enforced, out of respect for the instructor.
Yoga was much better. Hers was more strenuous and there were three Bikram Yoga poses that I struggled with (Eagle Pose, Toe Stand Pose and Balancing Stick Pose). Nice to struggle cos normally I can do everything in my Atlanta classes... which is not challenging enough.
Did weights and repetitions similar to what I was taught at my complimentary personal training session. Cardio wise only did 20 minutes, as it was nearing the 3 hour mark of my exercise. I love exercising, but it feels too indulgent and not efficient enough. If only I had the same motivation for other aspects of my life :).
Next goals: splits and handstands... my splits actually got better just because I exercised a lot, and it so happened that the exercises I did stretched my hamstrings. Sweet!
Source:
Balancing Stick Pose
Source:
Eagle Pose
Source: Toe Stand Pose
22 September, Monday
cBoot camp was good, perspired a lot and kept clock watching. I know it's a darn good workout when I can't wait for it to end! Did a lot of weights, and challenged myself with 5kg weights when I do 1kg weights in Singapore!
Yoga was better than expected and my legs actually shivered in side plank pose! Maybe it's because I haven't worked out in 4 days or maybe from the intense hour I had earlier. I liked that she made us do dolphin plank and then lift each leg up, as preparation for headstand. I should practice my headstands, on the bed, without the wall!
Source: side plank pose
23 September, Tuesday
Activity: Zumba
Instructor: Ebony
Location: LA Fitness at Atlantic Station
Comments: Perspired, but sad that she repeated her exact same routine last week. My body will get used to it at this rate. The only good thing was that her first routine was to Pompeii's Bastille!
24 September, Wednesday
Activity: Bodyworks Plus Abs
Instructor: Katilia (or "Queen")
Location: LA Fitness at Atlantic Station
Comments: OMG worst/best class ever! There was perspiration in my own eyes, and salt on my tongue. I didn't even have time to drink water. So much squats and lunges, my thighs are going to hurt real bad tomorrow. Even the arms, I couldn't do 5kg with her routine! Couldn't follow her push ups also. Nice of her to come by and correct me, for instance, I should keep my back straight in my lunges, and my mountain kicks should be more powerful, as in the knees should kick up more. Now her 'single.. single.. double..' is playing in my ears!
25 September, Thursday
Activity: Yoga (Vinyasa Flow)
Instructor: Erica
Location: LA Fitness at Atlantic Station
Teacher-Student Ratio: ~
Comments: Can't remember as this is a backdated entry!
29 September, Monday
Activity: Yoga
Instructor: Laura
Location: LA Fitness at Atlantic Station
Teacher-Student Ratio: ~
Comments: Was having sinusitus so I was dripping from my nose and felt nauseous and weak, but could still follow the class as the speed was slow. Felt better after yoga :).
