Campaign

We Think Katherine Can

Support Katherine's Yoga Campaign while helping homeless youth

Katherine Johnson

Friend of ATC

Support Katherine's Campaign!

The total I've raised pays for:

1 housing assistance
and 1 night of outreach
and 2 birthday gifts

Donations

Name	Amount	Location	Date
Aspen Moulden, Friend	$45	San Carlos, CA	01/20/2010
Go Kath! Awesome, you can do it!
Janet Brown, Friend	$45	Mountain View, CA	01/21/2010
Go for it!
Paul A. Schwarzbart, Papa & Sharry	$50	San Rafael, CA	01/21/2010
That's our Kath!!!
Anne Johnson, Sister	$45	Jersey City, NC	01/24/2010
A Johnson and yoga?!? I've got to say, that takes some guts! You go, girl!
Susan McInerny, Friend	$45	Sunnyvale, CA	01/26/2010
Hey Kat! Ambitious as usual :) Kick some serious butt as I know you always do! Good luck and hope you reach your goal(s)!! -Susy
Amanda Navar, Friend	$45	Pasadena, CA	02/01/2010
Good luck Kitty Kat!
Katherine Johnson, Friend	$50	San Rafael, CA	02/01/2010
This is acutally from Mark & Shannon Bennett. Thanks for the support guys!! I'm 1/4 there!
Joan Johnson, Mom	$25	Larkspur, CA	02/07/2010
You go, girl!
Leila D. Palsak, Aunt	$100	Alameda, CA	03/06/2010
Nice Pic...'Auntly'
Katherine Evans, Friend	$50	Venice, CA	03/08/2010
I want a photo... Way to go Kat.
William Johnson, Dad and Sher'	$45	Ooltewah, TN	03/09/2010
Welcome to the wonderful world of Yoga! (Yes, Anne, there's another Yogi in the family!) Congratulations on your half-way point - you'll never regret it. (I can't move without it!)You go, girl! (And we look forward to Marc's documentation too!)

Goal

Hi friends,

My goal is to attend 16 Bikram Yoga sessions in 10 weeks. (!!!) Each class is ***an hour and a half*** in 110 degrees. Did I mention I'm completely unflexible? My first class was tough, it was sweaty and my goodness it was stinky!

I chose this goal because

I really believe that this will be good for me. It's a real stretch (no pun intended) for me. It is scary and it is physically grueling. But I read an article by a writer who turned her life around and really found her motivation and herself through Bikram Yoga. I need to get back into shape and I need to find my center. I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and take a break from stress. I need to get a look at the big picture of my life and take a leap into a new career! I think Bikram Yoga may help me get there.

I'm helping because

I decided to try and volunteer more and do more unselfish things in 2010. I want to try and make a difference. I saw this opportunity and thought, what a perfect start!

Will you support me? Your donation goes NOT TO ME, but to At The Crossroads. They are a wonderful non-profit started by a friend of a friend that reaches out to homeless youth and young adults in San Francisco at their point of need, and works with them to build healthy and fulfilling lives. It's a wonderful cause, so open your hearts.

About At The Crossroads

ATC walks the streets of San Francisco, reaching out to homeless youth and young adults on their turf. We work with young people who others have given up on, who would not get help without us. Since we started 13 years ago, we have worked with more than 5,000 youth, helping them build outstanding lives.

View other Campaigns

Updates

Posted by Katherine on 03/08/2010

Class # 8 HALFWAY THERE!

Today, I give a shout out to my fellow yoga peops in class. They sweat and strain and stretch and survive right along with me, but they do so without the incredible online support I have from all of you! I think of you all in every class and it helps me to attend class, stay strong and work hard. And it pays off. Thank you, thank you!

Halfway point check-in:

The bad:

Whenever I go, I think “It is much harder than I remember.” And admittedly, I do have moments – dripping in sweat and heart beating fast, where I wonder if I will continue with Bikram after my campaign.

The good:

And yet, here is the good. And boy, is it good. With just 2 classes per week, I’m noticing things hurt less. My shoulders are straighter and lying on the floor distributes the weight equally on them now and my hips don’t feel so out of whack as a result. Raising my arms above my head no longer gives me a pinching pain (thank you computer keyboard for that one, I'm sure). And standing around, if my back does start to hurt, I am equipped with stretches and ways to stand that either lessens or completely eradicates my pain. Yes! And I’m learning to breathe through stress during the day. I do, absolutely, feel more “centered”. I catch myself before reacting angrily to bad drivers or rude people. Better yet, I catch myself before judging ME (most the time). In yoga, we learn not to be hard on ourselves. It's a great feeling! I honestly think I can count more happy moments during my waking hours now. And, last but absolutely not least, I can’t describe the feeling of accomplishment and pure happiness when I walk out of Bikram class knowing I made it, I did my best and I thrived. Tonight the sky was lit up peach orange, with a huge, bright stripe across the clouds. Feeling happy and in peace, relaxed yet so strong, I thought, ya, I could continue classes forever, no problem!

1 comment

Posted by Katherine on 02/20/2010

Class #6: Another tough one. New guy teacher who really pushed us. But as usual, I felt really good after. Teacher said when he first started Bikram after a car accident, Dr's told him he'd always have pain and have trouble walking. He said he lost 27 pounds in 3 months (eating the same) and has no pain and walks normally now years later. A heavy girl toughed out the class - obviously new. She said, "It's weird, because it's so tough, but I know I'll be back tomorrow." I feel the same way about Bikram. It's a challenge every time, but I love it. During one really difficult pose late in the class today, just when I was dying and about to give up, the teacher said, "Don't give up. If you can't do this, how will you handle anything tough in life?" He's right. I think after class I feel so accomplished and tough - like I can take on anything. Feels great!

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