Monthly Archives: August 2011

istj

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introverted sensing thinking judging

44% introvert | 1% sensing | 25% thinking | 44% judging

a personality test based on the briggs meyers & jung typology.

take it. share it.

i was compelled by a good girlfriend of mine to re-take this test… although i knew i had my results somewhere. she is very into this sort of stuff, but then again… so am i! :) dear friends since our high school days, our friendship has had its ups and downs through the years – as many friendships do. you’ll know you have a true friend when all the dust settles, the drama subsides and he/she is still standing right by you. i have a small circle of close friends, but i know i can count on every single one of them to be honest & true… even though sometimes they tell me things i don’t want to hear! for that i am lucky & blessed!

photo courtesy of typologycentral.com

the istj profile (by joe butt)

ISTJs are often called inspectors. They have a keen sense of right and wrong, especially in their area of interest and/or responsibility. They are noted for devotion to duty. Punctuality is a watchword of the ISTJ. The secretary, clerk, or business(wo)man by whom others set their clocks is likely to be an ISTJ.

As do other Introverted Thinkers, ISTJs often give the initial impression of being aloof and perhaps somewhat cold. Effusive expression of emotional warmth is not something that ISTJs do without considerable energy loss.

ISTJs are most at home with “just the facts, Ma’am.” They seem to perform at highest efficiency when employing a step-by-step approach. Once a new procedure has proven itself (i.e., has been shown “to work,”) the ISTJ can be depended upon to carry it through, even at the expense of their own health.

ISTJs are easily frustrated by the inconsistencies of others, especially when the second parties don’t keep their commitments. But they usually keep their feelings to themselves unless they are asked. And when asked, they don’t mince words. Truth wins out over tact. The grim determination of the ISTJ vindicates itself in officiation of sports events, judiciary functions, or an other situation which requires making tough calls and sticking to them.

photo courtesy of gryffilion.blogspot.com

it’s true – spare me the details. leave me out of the drama. tell me what’s relevant, and you will hold my attention. running around in circles trying to make your point will only make me irritable & frustrated. i am very blunt & to the point. you can count on me to call you out on shit. if you can’t handle it… i’m sorry that’s how i roll. take it or leave it.

believe it or not, i do have a soft side. when i lead a class through a practice, i tap into another side of my personality. even though i am deliberate & technical, there is a part of me that slips into a natural flow, and respects that each person is going through his/her own personal experience within the practice. there is a method to my madness that i’m still cultivating as a teacher. it’s hard to explain in words… it’s something that i feel. when i practice, i prefer to move through the asanas with my eyes closed. i found that for me, i become more in tune with myself, my body’s rhythm and how i move through space.

now the learner in me kicks in:

the istj tribe

portrait of an istj

the mind behind istj

istj: the examiner

istj careers

~

pretty similar to the test in the strengths 2.0 book from gallup press. i posted my 5 themes at the beginning of the month: restorative. responsibility. deliberative. strategic. learner.

if you like it, then you should put a towel on it

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the heat is on. you’re in the zone, moving through sun salutations with body & breath in sync. slowly, your attention starts to drift towards the drops of sweat cascading down to your mat from god knows where on your body. the focus is broken. you realize your palms are sweaty, and your feet are slowly starting to slip out from under you despite your efforts to fire up your core to hold downward-facing dog. you anticipate the moment you step your foot forward into warrior I – right into the accumulating puddle of sweat. dammit! your mat has turned into a bona fide slip ‘n slide. fantastic. so much for being in the moment.

hello slip ‘n slide! (photo courtesy of liveandloveoutloud.com)

my dear heat-loving yogis… it’s time to throw in the towel!

sweating bullets, puddles or small bodies of water within a 60-90 minute power or bikram class is all good in the long run, but no bueno for you or the unfortunate soul taking up mat space inches from the edge of your personal lake …you know who you are; no need to deny it because you can’t really hide the fact that you’re a sweat-machine. it’s all over your face, arms, legs, mat, and for some people – the floor… just puddling. slipping and sliding on your mat, although great to build inner thigh strength, can be straight up annoying and distracting.

photo courtesy of mysafetysign.com

i sweat like crazy… in my opinion, more so than the average female does and should. reaaally attractive – i know. so a mat towel is a must. when i first started taking bikram, i used just your regular run of the mill bath or beach towel. the bath towels are great when you’re first starting out, because let’s face it, you’re not really sure yet if you’re in it for the long haul or if this yoga practice is just a fling – much like the dating scene… is it love or lust?  holding out on the yoga towel says you’re still keeping it casual & not ready for commitment... when you’ve finally decided that you’re sticking with it.. all you single yogis, if you like it, then you shoulda put a towel on it!

obviously, i heart yoga, and i’m in it for the long haul, baby! any time, any place, any style – depending on my current state of mind and mood.

kb | y‘s yoga towel picks (great for BOTH power & bikram):

  • manduka™ hot yoga towel: this is my favorite towel so far & the first thing i grab out of the linen closet. it is soooo freakin soft! it’s like practicing on a cloud. its texture & thickness is more comparable to an ultra soft bath towel. i’ve been a yogitoes snob for 3 years and i finally broke down and picked up the manduka – mainly because it went on mark down at lululemon. glad i did, because i love it! it is slightly longer than the typical yoga mat length @ 72” x 26.5″. (typical mat length: 24″ x 68″).

“it’s so fluffy, i’m gonna die!” – agnes, despicable me (photo courtesy of kb | y)

  • yogitoes skidless mat towel: perfect length for a standard yoga mat. this towel is a lot thinner compared to the manduka hot yoga towel. but, think about it as the yoga chamois. :) the silicone “nubs” lay face down on to the mat so that the towel stays in place. i’ve seen some people practice with the silicone up.. so who’s to say what’s right or wrong? try both, see what works out best for you…
  • lululemon skidless towel: lululemon partnered with yogitoes and came out with their own line of mat towels – complete with silicone “nubs.” i’ve been calling them nubins, but i think that’s something completely different. whoops, lol. awesome colors to choose from! the only thing i noticed with the lululemon towels is that they’re slightly more slippery than the original yogitoes. the towel tends to bunch a little and the silicone isn’t as sticky to the mat.

show your yogitoes love – air it out! (photo courtesy of stuff2smileabout.blogspot.com)

kb | y‘s towel tips:

  • all of the mat towels work best when slightly damp or wet. aka, sweaty palms required! if you’re not quite there yet, throw a little water on it and let it work it’s magic!
  • the yogitoes mat towels work with most mats, except for the lululemon the mat. the super grippy PU (polyurethane) works so well that the silicone just won’t stick to the surface. most people don’t even need the towel. if you prefer a toweled surface, flip it over to the natural rubber bottom and you’re golden!
  • air out your mat towel on the drive home. it needs some lovin after it’s done its job! …and you’re also less likely to forget about it if you just stick it in a bag and find it days later smelling like mildew.
  • avoid fabric softeners when washing. you don’t need that extra slip when you’re on the mat

grab your towel, your mat & have some fun! :)

get back to health & beauty basics

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the year is starting to wind down – can you believe september is just around the corner? winter is creeping upon us and summer was a bit of a disappointment (it was way too mild for my taste). but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t let it all go!

photo courtesy of theclarisonicreviews.com

i was going through some old papers purging all of the things in my room that have accumulated over the years and no longer need… when i came across this photocopied article my mom gave me a while back. before throwing it out for good, i thought i’d share a couple of my favorite points:

  • DON’T PICK your white or blackheads. wash them with warm water and clean your skin with cleanser and an exfoliating sponge - i use the clarisonic cleansing system. i got for my birthday this year and it is AMAZING! my skin is sensitive but oily and prone to breakouts. the clarisonic leaves my skin super smooth and soft! it’s a MUST HAVE!
  • WASH your face at night. yes, every night. use a cleanser that’s appropriate for your skin type. - great tip from my aesthetician: cleanse 2x at night – 1st to wash off all the makeup & 2nd to cleanse the face
  • STOP ignoring those cracked heels. scrub them very gently in the shower with a pumice stone and apply lotion twice daily. - i soak my tootsies in warm water then scrub them down with a lavender salt scrub that i picked up from whole foods. slather on some peppermint foot lotion (maybe sweet talk your honey into giving you a foot massage while you’re at it) & call it a night! a MUST DO for people who are on their feet all day. plus, your man (or prospective man) will love it, too!

photo courtesy of acupuncture.com.cy

  • THE CLAVICLE (aka collarbone) can get a lot of subtle sun damage. cover up with sunscreen of at least SPF 15 and moisturize. while you’re at it, reel in the cleavage. - eminence tropical vanilla sun cream SPF 32 is my go-to and smells delish. i love this line!

photo courtesy of eminenceorganics.com

  • SCRUB the navel. it’s where dirt collects and it’s not pretty. - pretty nasty, but true.
  • BEFORE LEAVING the house, check the rear view. any panty lines or tacky bulges? turn around and get back to the drawing board. solutions: boy shorts, thongs or microfiber smoothing underwear. - say no to VPL (visible pantylines)… why do you think there are so many different styles? please do yourself and everyone that walks behind you a simple favor… because i definitely don’t want to see them.

don't fall victim to the VPL! (photo courtesy of amateurian.blogspot.com)

  • SPEND SOME TIME seeking out a signature scent. people remember you by it – and it’s an easy way to make your mark. maybe mix two fragrances together and it will be totally, uniquely you. - my summer signature: giorgio armani acqua di gioia. “water of joy” with notes of mint, brown sugar, lemon, jasmine, peony, pink pepper, cedar wood, labdanum. wears nicely through the day & makes my bf swoon. it’s a winner!

my current scent: acqua di gioia (photo courtesy of fragrantica.com)

  • NO ONE should have to live with a mouth full of yellow teeth. but in-office bleaching sessions can cost hundreds of dollars. try whitening strips, gels or gum and don’t forget oral hygiene. floss daily, brush twice a day with fluoride and get a pro cleaning every six months (every three months if you smoke or are heavily into coffee, coke or tea). - i gave up coke for lent a couple of years ago and now i don’t really drink the stuff… it’s completely artificial. if you have to, keep it to a minimum. 1 cup of coffee or coke a day. my fave: small americano w/vanilla & a splash of cream… cheaper than lattes & less milk! …and always, drink lots of H2O!
  • EDIT YOUR CLOSET. leave one week max for this soul-cleansing undertaking. take everything out that you no longer need. toss if it’s stained, torn, fits badly or has never been worn. - i try to do this at least 2x year: winter & summer. if i hold on to something then find out the 2nd time around that i haven’t worn it yet… peace out! it helps to keep my closet in check
  • AS TEMPTING as low-rise jeans are, if you don’t have a flat belly, you could suffer from muffin-top syndrome. no one wants that.
  • BLOWDRYERS will eventually sap your locks of moisture. never blow dry hair when it’s soaking wet. wait until it’s about 80% dry. you get a better set and avoid heat damage. if you’re a flat- or curling iron junkie, deep condition once a week.
  • GO FOR QUALITY, not quantity. you don’t need 40 strappy sandals. invest in leather. man-made materials cause your feet to sweat and smell. same goes for an everyday handbag. stick with leather and a neutral color. - less is more. k-i-s-s.
  • WHENEVER POSSIBLE, use the stairs. park far away from your destination. drink water instead of soda. eat a sensible breakfast. get your heart rate up for at least 12 minutes at least three times a week. practice excess in moderation. - think about how much time & gas you’ll save just parking farther and walking versus circling the lot for a closer spot. ;)
  • AND TAKE those vitamins – daily.

my vitamin box (photo courtesy of kb | y)

excerpts taken from “resolve to be more stylish this year.” by Kathryn Wexler & Madeleine Marr. Knight Ridder Newspapers