365 ONE: day 23…now onto February!
Posted: January 31, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 365, 365 Challenge, Acting, Air Chair, air chairs, Anastassiou, Audition, Cardio, Character, Groovejet, If This Ain't Love, Improvisation, Nap, Nausea, New York City, Pelvic Walk, pelvis, Project 365, Rehearsal, Sophie Ellis-Baxter, Spiller, Squats, Subway, Subway Doors, Zoe, Zoe Anastassiou Leave a commentDay 23: January 31st, 2012 = COMPLETE!!!!!
Cardio was = Pelvic Walking/Down Squats into Chair against Subway Doors between Stops (mouthfull!!)
Dance of the Day was = “Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)” by Sophie Ellis-Baxter/Spiller
Improvised Acting Video I uploaded to my other blog was = “Rehearsal Nap”
Anything to Note =
Super nauseous today! It was soooo hot in the office it was gross…there’s nothing worse than feeling hot when you feel sick. I would rather be cold. But it was just not cold out today in general so in the office the heat was blasting and it made me feel horrible! So, because of that, I felt way too woozy to sneak any 365 into the office – there was no way I felt up to it. So I had to smoosh them all in at breaks in rehearsal later on.
I was counting on accrediting my cardio today to rehearsal movement training but it turned out that I didn’t have to be super physical today (which fit nicely with how sick I felt) but then it meant that I had to still fulfill cardio and rehearsal ended after 10pm! Soooo not in the mood to do anything that late! So I ended up just walking further to a later subway stop to get on rather than the closest obvious station, and I got off the subway a few stops earlier and walked home from there. I also made it into a “Pelvic Walk”…meaning I would push forward with my pelvis and do like pelvis twisty concentrated walking. It was interesting as I could really feel it in my legs – was aiming to utilize some different muscles groups. But then, Miss Overachiever here, didn’t feel like that was enough so on the subway I did a few 90 degree angle chair sits against the subway doors between stops to work out my legs. People were definitely wondering why I was squatting into Air Chairs and not just sitting down!! HAHA!! Little do they know I am not allowed to sit down 🙂 Anyway, this just shows there is something wrong with me – doing more than I need to. When will I learn to be normal, relatively speaking???
I wasn’t happy with my video upload today – I turned it on to try to capture something along the lines of me trying to take a nap in rehearsal, but it just didn’t feel right – it actually felt contradictory as I was shhhing and getting mad but then I didn’t want to disturb the others doing work or line throughs so my attempts to shhhh them and get mad just felt false. This would be where I would need a louder internal moment on camera somehow – a good mic, a camera-man, a way to capture me and what I am going through but incorporate the bigger picture around me too to tell the story. The only thing that did work was just how loud the noises were – I had the ipod on the floor so the resonation of sound carried onto the recording. But….I need a whole camera crew!!!!!!!!!
End of January! WOO HOO!
365 ONE: day 22…and a new week begins…
Posted: January 31, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 365, 365 Challenge, Acting, Anastassiou, Audition, aussie song, Bathroom, Cardio, Character, Crazy, Dance, doing sit ups, heavy backpack, Improvisation, Land Down Under, Men at Work, New York City, NYC, Player's Club, Project 365, Push-up, Push-Ups, silent dance, Sit-up (exercise), Stall, The Player's Club, Three Sisters, Zoe, Zoe Anastassiou Leave a commentDay 22: January 30th, 2012 = COMPLETE!!!!!
Cardio was = Walking (with heavy backpack)
Dance of the Day was = “Land Down Under” by Men at Work
Improvised Acting Video I uploaded to my other blog was = “Silent Dance”
Anything to Note =
I had to cram in my criteria again today as had my staged reading performance of Three Sisters tonight at The Player’s Club with rehearsal there in the space all afternoon. So I did my planks, push-ups and sit-ups at the office. It’s so much nicer to do the planks on carpet – it doesn’t hurt your arms as much – and with the push-ups too I guess. There is that little room before you enter the actual bathroom at work with a large mirror and couch, and carpeted floor – I love doing my 365 there. I went back to do my sit-ups but there was a girl in there on the couch so had to do them on the floor in the disabled bathroom larger stall! It was gross! Doing my sit-ups on the tiles near the loo!!!!! This girl who also works in our suite tends to have moments in her day where she sits on the couch to rest, or sometimes cry (really sad) but she prevents me from using that space, so it makes it hard sometimes to coordinate! I always hope she is not there when I go to the bathroom so I can use the carpeted area!
I just want to add again though – it was gross doing sit-ups on the cold tiles, in a bathroom, literally right next to the toilet! AND…in a nice dress!!!
I danced to my Aussie song today in the bathroom at The Player’s Club – of course I chose this song to honor my Aussie cousin’s birthday, who is staying with me in NYC at the moment…or at least I will gladly say so….but not sure I put two and two together until after since I found the next song and pressed play!
I then decided to do my crazy upload in that bathroom too! I spent a lot of my 365 in bathrooms apparently today! HAHA! The bathroom downstairs at The Player’s Club though was sooo warm and the theatre was soooo cold, so I was happy to be down there – in front of full-size mirrors 🙂 I haven’t watched my video though – I can only imagine what came out….vaguely remember me doing a “silent dance” with a bathroom stall like I am crazy!! But too late so wanted to just get my blogs posted so I can go to bed!
Hmmmmmmmm….
365 ONE: day 21…THREE WEEKS WOW!
Posted: January 29, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 365, 365 Challenge, 5K, Acting, Akon, Anastassiou, Arts, Audition, Beautiful, Big Brother, California Girl, Cardio, Character, Crying and Dancing, Dance, Day 21, disaster scene, Emotional, Improvisation, light jogging, Performing Arts, Planet Fitness, Project 365, Real World, Reality Blog, Reality Show, Running, Three Weeks, tootsie rolls, Treadmill, Walking, Webseries, weird experience, Zoe, Zoe Anastassiou Leave a commentDay 21: January 29th, 2012 = COMPLETE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cardio was = 5K on Treadmill Running & Walking
Dance of the Day was = “Beautiful” by Akon
Improvised Acting Video I uploaded to my other blog was = “Reality Show”
Anything to Note =
I wanted to take it easy today but somehow I ran more than I wanted to. My last meeting was right near Planet Fitness so how could I not go!! Just for my free tootsie rolls haha! I decided to do a 5K but wanted to run and walk it slowly, and not what I ended up doing. The stupid treadmill had the 5K pre-programmed with levels so I chose Level One thinking it would be slow, but the speed was 6.0! I wanted to walk it and then do some light jogging but it kept re-setting my speed back to 6.0. It was super annoying especially as I was writing some texts and stuff and it would re-set from my walking to that higher speed and it would suddenly speed up! That could have been a serious disaster scene! I did want to run and walk equally but I ended up giving into the 6.0 and ran more….ugh. I know, I know….I am also crazy so whenever I say I will take it slowly I never do. I could have run the whole time, but I fought against it, so step by step I am getting better….right??
I was emotional today off and on. It was odd as I was dancing to my song of the day and crying at the same time. It got to me and it was strange to dance and cry at the same time, and fight through it all. A very weird experience.
I did lighten my mood after though with my video upload – it’s a character I love to do and would love to do more and more of her. I must pursue her. There was talk once to do a whole play around a more exaggerated version of her, but I put her in a reality show in this upload today and it fit very well! So, maybe a webseries or reality show upload is in the future perhaps 🙂
365 ONE: day 20…reached the twenties!
Posted: January 28, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 365, 365 Challenge, Acting, Aerobic, aerobic workout, Anastassiou, Apple iPod, Audition, bottom floor, Cardio, Character, Elevator, fitness criteria, Improvisation, Leg Warmers, loom, New York City, Numa Numa, Ozone, Project 365, Rehearsal, Squats, Zoe, Zoe Anastassiou Leave a commentDay 20: January 28th, 2012 = COMPLETE!!!!!
Cardio was = Loom Movement Training/Squats
Dance of the Day was = “Numa Numa” by Ozone
Improvised Acting Video I uploaded to my other blog was = “Elevator Shock”
Anything to Note =
I did a bunch of stretches and fitness criteria in rehearsal, whenever there’s a break, I would like drop to the ground and do twenty!! HAHA! Not quite, but I would definitely take advantage of the break to do something. I find that I have to spread it out a bit otherwise doing it all at once is a friggin’ nightmare!
My stomach was so bloated today so felt a little restricted in my 365 and also the movement I had to do today in rehearsal. UGH. I actually was let out of rehearsal a little early so decided to cram in my video straight away. I walked to the elevator and turned on my ipod and went with it. I decided to scream at the end, and it was so funny as when I got out at the bottom floor, there was a woman at the front and as the doors opened she had a look of concern on – like something had happened! Oooooops!! I ran out of there! It is really freeing though to turn on the camera and just go!
I find it funny that my dance of the day turns into some aerobic workout! I feel like I am in the 80’s – I need a dance of the day outfit. I need leg warmers 🙂
365 ONE: day 19 and body is tired!
Posted: January 28, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 365, 365 Challenge, Acting, Anastassiou, Audition, Boobs, Character, Disabled Toilet, Jogging, light jogging, Mika, New York City, NYC, Project 365, Push-up, Relax Take It Easy, renovation company, Sports bra, Stretching, Subway, subway platform, Wind, Zoe, Zoe Anastassiou Leave a commentDay 19: January 27th, 2012 = COMPLETE!!!!
Cardio was = Light Jogging
Dance of the Day was = “Relax Take It Easy” by Mika
Improvised Acting Video I uploaded to my other blog was = “Subway Rat”
Anything to Note =
I did some fitness items while waiting for the renovation company and contractors to come to a client’s apartment to take measurements this morning. I was hoping to get a bunch in but they arrived and cut it short – but it is nice to do these criteria in different places and in different ways. Although I am glad they rang the doorbell as they would have caught me in some odd shapes on the floor if they had just walked in!
I had a bad headache today, all day. It was just a dull pain and so it made me not want to do anything intense or that had any pressure – I was dreading the planks and push-ups as the pressure goes to my head. I took them slowly and broke them up through the whole day in order to avoid it at once, which was nice.
I did my video upload on the subway platform – tried to talk close to my ipod to be heard but also so that others around me didn’t think I was completely insane….although…I am! And NYC is full of crazies – which is why it’s a perfect place to run lines to memorize out loud to yourself as no one thinks anything of it!
Dancing in the disabled toilet again today! AHH! I knew this would probably happen often if I was to get some criteria done while at work. My body is so sore today from having days of residency training…I need a break. My back really hurts actually – I tend to always do something that feels like I’ve trapped something and it won’t release….so I have that now on the left side of my back and I need some recovery time but have rehearsal again tomorrow for a big chunk. Neverending 😦
I hadn’t done any cardio due to my back so decided to jog from the subway to my boss’s apartment, which isn’t far, but I figured it would count to get my heart pumping a bit. Annoyingly though I had to carry a bag in each hand. And had no sports bra on! DISASTER!! Boobs galore! And, then the wind decided to grow out of nowhere – was ridiculous how slow and how much harder it made the run. I must have looked hilarious running, boobs flailing, bags in hand, and super super slow against the wind!
365 ONE: day 18 done early…last day for me in Tivoli
Posted: January 26, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 365, 365 Challenge, Acting, Anastassiou, Annie Lennox, Audition, Breakfast, Cardio, Character, Dance, Improvisation, loom, loom ensemble, lunch break, lunchtime, NYC, playroom, Project 365, Rehearsal, Residency, residency training, Sweet Dreams, Tivoli, UK, Yoga, Zoe, Zoe Anastassiou Leave a commentDay 18: January 26th, 2012 = COMPLETE!!!!
Cardio was = Loom Residency Training
Dance of the Day was = “Sweet Dreams” by Annie Lennox
Improvised Acting Video I uploaded to my other blog was = “Breakfast Alone”
Anything to Note =
I had to get everything in early today as today is a full day of Loom Residency until 6pm and then I leave to drive back to NYC in time for my friend Clare’s arrival from the UK. So I managed to actually fit a bunch of it in during the slot where most of the others did some yoga before our official warm-up at the start of rehearsal. I actually had plans to get up a bit earlier and do everything but those plans failed when the alarm went off and I decided to not get up!! 🙂
So super tired!
I also did my dance while they were doing yoga – went down to the children’s playroom away so the music wouldnt disturb them, but dancing at 8.50am is hard!! It was freezing down there and hard to dance – just soooo not awake!!
Managed to get the rest of the 365 criteria in at lunchtime, so set – will have to be quick tomorrow too as long again…it feels like every day is long!!!
BOO! And then some more BOO! 😦
365 ONE: day 17….super exhausted….long LONG day
Posted: January 25, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 365, 365 Challenge, Acting, Anastassiou, Audition, Burning, Character, distant sound, fitness requirements, group workout, loom ensemble, Loom Ensembler, lunch break, Musical, New York City, Physique, Piano, playing piano, Project 365, push ups sit ups, Push-up, Residency, Shakira, Sit-up (exercise), Song, Stretching, Time for Africa, Waka Waka, Zoe, Zoe Anastassiou Leave a commentDay 17: January 25th, 2012 = COMPLETE!!!!!
Cardio was = Physique Training at Loom Residency
Dance of the Day was = “Waka Waka (Time for Africa)” by Shakira
Improvised Acting Video I uploaded to my other blog was = “Singing Woods”
Anything to Note =
What a long day today!! We started training at 8.30am and just finished now, almost 11pm!! Holy Moly!! The one great thing about this intense dance/singing/rehearsal residency is that it fits my 365 criteria in quite nicely, especially with the fitness requirements! This morning, Neva, a fellow Loom Ensembler, led us in an intense Physique workout before the group workout and, with both, I managed to get my cardio, push-ups, sit-ups and one plank in. It was super intense though…my legs were BURNING! So not sure I will be able to walk tomorrow!
Being out of my bubble in NYC I thought would be hard with my 365 Challenge, but actually what I have realized is that I am more aware of it and fitting it in where I can. So every break I try to get something in as rehearsals don’t end until way late that I just can’t leave it all to the last minute, otherwise it will become a chore – and that is ultimately what I am trying to avoid with this 365 Project. I don’t want to feel like it’s a chore to get it all done in the day, but that it becomes something I have added to my routine, that I ENJOY!
Today, during our “lunch break” I managed to get my dance and video upload in. I finished earlier and just wandered to the space, and Mike, another Loom Ensembler, was playing piano in the space until everyone came back to start again. And the distant sound of the piano inspired a video as I looked out at the woods outside – that became musical, and also sad. But it was set up with the sound I was hearing, however, I am not sure if the piano made it onto the upload. Then though I only had like 3 mins before rehearsal started again so found the shortest song quickly and danced away! Nothing like a little bit of Shakira to get you going 🙂 Apparently my dance song was audible from some of the cast – and I love that they just went, oh, she’s doing her dance of the day And thought nothing of it! HAHA!
365 ONE: day 16 in Tivoli NY
Posted: January 24, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 365, 365 Challenge, Acting, Amy Winehouse, Anastassiou, Art, Audition, Cardio, Character, Dance, Improv, Improvisation, loom ensemble, lunchtime, Movement, Performing Arts, Project 365, Rehab, sausages, Stretching, Tivoli, Upstate NY, Zoe, Zoe Anastassiou Leave a commentDay 16: January 24th, 2012 = COMPLETE!!!!
Cardio was = Loom Movement Residency
Dance of the Day was = “Rehab” by Amy Winehouse
Improvised Acting Video I uploaded to my other blog = “Hotel Sausage”
Anything to Note =
We drove up to Tivoli in upstate NY for a residency up here with Loom Ensemble, so after we arrived and were settling in our rooms, we had a quick break for “lunchtime” and so I was eating sausages and turned the ipod on to video and then the improv happened!! I also decided to sneak in my dance too so turned my music on shuffle and started to dance in front of the long mirror and the bathroom and danced!!
I have a limited time to upload this blog as now on “dinner break” so this will be short but I managed to get it all in. I do feel a little like my cardio wasnt as its full potential today but its a long day tomorrow so I need to rest for that.
So more tomorrow!!!! I guess whats important is I got it done haha!! And that I can accomplish this from out of town 🙂
365 ONE: day 15…and a new week begins!
Posted: January 24, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 365, 365 Challenge, Acting, Air Box, Anastassiou, Art, Audition, Backstage, biggie, Boxing, boxing dance, boxing gloves, Cardio, Character, Dance, Hotel Room Service, intermission, Jumping, loom ensemble, Money, New York City, Performing Arts, Pitbull, Project 365, Stretching, Zoe, Zoe Anastassiou Leave a commentDay 15: January 23rd, 2012 = COMPLETE!!!!!!
Cardio was = Air Boxing
Dance of the Day was = “Hotel Room Service” by Pitbull
Improvised Acting Video I uploaded to my other blog = “Loom Backstage”
Anything to Note =
So, almost all of my 365 criteria was accomplished backstage at my show tonight. We were last, and had a whole first act plus intermission, so I stayed upstairs to do all that I had to do. I got all the fitness done but then looked over and Andrew, one of my fellow ensemblers, was putting money into his trousers and jumping up and down….so I had to use this as my video upload for the day! We have $300 in $1 bills that we use in our show, and they were just lying in piles for us to take down as props and Andrew found them obviously irresistable 🙂
There was so much space so was able to do my dance too. Put on my ipod and had a whole area to myself, well actually, this space was “off-limits” as it went past the boundary of our “green room” but there was no one really around and I didn’t think a few minutes would hurt anyone or anything. It did feel sneaky though 🙂 It was great though as it was dark out and so I could dance with myself as I had a reflection of me in the windows but I only discovered that until almost the end of the song….that sounds like I am crazy, dancing with myself….but we all know I am crazy so no biggie!! HAHA!!
I ended up doing my cardio in the sneaky space too. I thought I would “air box” and jump up and down as if skipping, with constant bouncing while I boxed. I wish I had my boxing gloves with me but had no idea that would be my cardio today. I had to then run some lines while I was boxing and it was hard but it became a test of how quiet I could be with breath and movement to listen and respond to the lines run-through. Talking and being quiet while jumping up and down continuously is tough!
This describes my day, how I feel, and I also thought it was funny….
365 ONE: day 14 means TWO WEEKS DONE! BOOYAH!!
Posted: January 22, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 365, 365 Challenge, 50 Weeks, Acting, Anastassiou, Art, Audition, Character, day 14, February, first test, foam roller, Foam rolling, Focus, Improvisation, January, LaMama, loom, loom ensemble, Performing Arts, Project 365, Rise Up, rundown, Snow, Stretching, stretching exercises, Theatre, Two Weeks, Yves LaRock, Zoe, Zoe Anastassiou Leave a commentDay 14: January 22nd, 2012 = COMPLETE!!!!!!!
Cardio was = Walking
Dance of the Day was = “Rise Up” by Yves LaRock
Improvised Acting Video I uploaded to my other blog, I refer to as = “Snow Dare”
Anything to Note =
Well…..I made it through TWO WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!! I know it feels small compared to 50 more to go or however many days that is left, don’t want to think about that really, so I must focus on the positive!! I got through two whole weeks, 14 whole days…I think that’s pretty pat-on-the-back worthy 🙂 Only problem is I feel like I was way stronger at the start and was going way harder, or was hitting it harder, as they say?? I feel like I need to….
I am focused, and then I sometimes just veer off a little now and again. Bottom line is I am tired and my body is tired and I have a lot going on these past few days….I need a break and soon! I long for a day when I can sleep in, or have nothing in my planner. I just looked at the rest of January and there isn’t a single day I have completely free! CRAZY! I am not even going to look at February as that’s when my show is at LaMama so I can only imagine how busy I will be!
TRY TO FOCUS.
I will. I am.
I just feel a little rundown and worn out but I keep trying to push forward and use different muscles or twist different ways while dancing, (tonight there was a lot of jumping in my dance!), so I can work out everything and rest parts at the same time….that doesn’t even make sense! HAHA!! I must be tired!!
This next week ahead is tough. I will be leaving town for three days for a residency with Loom Ensemble, the theatre company I am currently in rehearsal with for our show next month. We are going into the woods for a sort of retreat, but an intense 10 hour day working retreat….my first test away on the 365 Challenge. I already planned for it though as I ordered myself a mini foam roller in order to comply with the stretching exercises as the foam roller is one of them – and the foam roller I have at home is huge! But, I had to get a mini one to travel with anyway as will be away a lot this year. Oh, please raise a glass with me to what lies ahead and let’s drink ourselves silly!
