| Blog Entry - Friday, January 16th, 2009 | Add / Read (1) |
So, I've been lurking and hiding for the last month or so - it was a month full of moves, illness, and other crap... I'm finally over most of it (one or two more moves in the next weeks) and starting the serious packing and final prepping for Lotusphere. (Take my advice - don't even ask about Wedding planning. The wedding is still on, I'm still happy about it, and it's in 2 months, but there's nothing planned, so I don't really want to discuss it.)
I've just posted about some of my Lotusphere activities at the WorkFlow Studios' site, but there are two special sessions that I want to highlight this year.
First, the brand-new Lotus Positions for Lotus Geeks yoga class that I'll be doing each morning out by the Dolphin pool. I wrote at length about this new class for the LotusUserGroup.org newsletter this week. Here are some highlights from the article - please join me each morning by the Dolphin pool at 7 am!
If you're anything like me, you usually run around Lotusphere tired and in pain most of the week, after overdoing it on the first day or two. You then stumble through the week and go home sick and ready to collapse. You may make resolutions before the show, saying you won't stay out too late, won't drink too much, and absolutely will NOT get sick this year. Ummhmm. I've been there.
This year, I have a new solution, and one that will let you take home new skills to put to use immediately (that's the holy grail of session promises, right?). For the first time, we're offering Lotus Positions for Lotus Geeks: geek-friendly yoga down by the Dolphin poolside, every morning from 7:00 am to 7:50 am.
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The idea may be a little bit outside of the norm, but let me make a few points. First, I know from reading your blogs and listening to your tweets that many of you are doing "get in shape" types of things, such as those of you who will be showing off your push-up prowess at the show. Yoga fits right in to this - an opportunity to connect with the community while keeping up your commitment to fitness - no easy task at a conference. Second, while you may think that you need special clothes, special equipment, or to already be fit or flexible, I'm here to tell you that it just isn't so. Come dressed however you like (although those in skirts and heels will have to do a modified version of some of the activities). It would make the most sense to come in something a little bit loose and comfortable, but jeans and a t-shirt will do fine. As for equipment - if you were to bring a towel or an extra t-shirt as props, it would make some things easy and fun, but the truth is that if we're going to do yoga that you can do wearing whatever you like, we're not going to be using a lot of props. That said, if you have a yoga mat (because you already do yoga) and would like to bring it, you may feel more at home. And for those of you worried that yoga requires you to be fit or flexible already...see the previous comments that you can do these poses wearing your normal clothes if you like. So, how contortionist do you really think we can get? That's not to say I couldn't do some headstands or splits or various other pretzel poses... but those aren't really what our geek bodies need to start out with.
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When I leave a yoga class, I feel tall, graceful, and happy. Since I'm neither of the first two, physically speaking, there must be something about the class itself that engenders this feeling. So I challenge all of you to take at least one morning off from the BoFs to join me at the Dolphin pool and learn a new skill that will make you feel great.
The other cool new events I get to be involved with are the Nerd Girls: Making Geek Chic roundtable and BoF sessions. Both Mary Beth Raven and Gab Davis have blogged about their involvement, and a group of us did a podcast with Chris Miller of IDoNotes fame. At this session, the panelists will tell their stories, answer some questions, and generally talk about why Nerd Girls are so valuable to the community and how Nerd Girls can get where they want to go in technology. I can't wait to learn from some of these incredibly successful technologists.
I'm off to finish prepping for my sessions, packing, steaming myself to get my head cleared, and other assorted activities. See you in Orlando!
Author: Libby Ingrassia
Posted at: 11:41:04 AM
