Tag Archives: yoga

i have never said, “that yoga was really a bad idea.”

Posted on by
Reply

Hey y’all. I’ve been in a yoga rut, lately. I have been trying to refocus my diet on whole(r) foods, trying to exercise everyday, and trying to get fit, not only for the wedding, but also for life (although I’d be lying if I said the wedding didn’t have anything to do with it.) Normally, I try to run, but you guys: I kind of hate running. I think it’s because I am not good at running, and doing yoga to keep myself fit, and I just get sick of my circuit.

What makes matters challenging is that I have started working 7:30 to 4:15, and as someone who prefers to workout in the morning…well you can see the challenge. There is literally no yoga class early enough that I can find (they all start at 6) so I am left with afternoon practices.

I got an email recently from one of the yoga studios I frequent telling me I earned a free class, just for being born! I could use it any time in the month. So today, I went as a present to myself for a 4:30 class. And I remembered exactly why I love yoga. And, because it is towards the end of the month, the class was a restorative class, which you may or may not know is one of my favorite types of yoga. I spent an hour and twenty five minutes smiling, laughing at myself, and remembering how wonderful it feels to stretch and to be happy.

Here’s a fact: I’ve never gone to yoga, finished class, and said, “Well that was a bad idea.” So, then, why does it take me so long to get into the studio between classes? Certainly cost, among other things. But because I had a Groupon that had expired, I got a deal on a package, and I got to add my unused Groupon classes to that package, which means I have 16 shiny and new classes at my fingertips, waiting for me to laugh right through.

I am happy. Namaste.

29 days.

Posted on by
2

I had a long post in my mind for yesterday about all I have to do for my sister’s wedding, about how nervous I am, yadda yadda. About the need for a pedicure and my gross nail to fall off and a diet to start and a tan to even.

Alas, I fell ill, instead, and spent the afternoon on the couch wondering why summer colds exist at all.

Now, 29 days to go, I’m back at it. Things to do include get my dress back, make sure it fits, double check the list with my sister (all the lists, that is), write my speech, make sure the shoes I have will work, and generally prep myself for this day.

I am also starting a diet that will help me feel great for the big day. Things to cut? Unnecessary sugars, carbs, and most things I don’t “need.” Like the milk chocolate covered raisins at my desk, or the extra helping of pasta because it’s not enough to save for leftovers, or the handful of lentil curls because that apple wasn’t enough…

I think that a healthy diet and some delving into P90x with Jeff (we got a copy and have to start! We must) or at LEAST getting back to three times a week work outs with yoga, running, biking, and hiking, I should be in good “shape” by the time the wedding rolls around. Pun intended.

Now I’m off to make a massive to do list so by the time Nikki gets back from Montana I have something to show for myself…

Here’s to 29 days until these two tie the knot.

Downward facing dog.

Posted on by
2

We’re back at it, loves. Last night marked my reentry into the world of exercise and yoga. Yesterday morning, to prepare, I walked to the farmer’s market with Melissa, grabbed multi-colored vegetables (think green, red, yellow, purple…) and had two miles under my belt before brunch. Oh LA, I will make you a walking city, yet.

Jeff and I headed to brunch at 12:30 with Mary and George at a new place (for us) called Alcove. Which was a delightful, both for the company and the food.

After our brunch, instead of hiking (the original plan) we watched Gnomeo and Juliet. Which was hilarious enough to entertain us, and short enough not to waste the day away. After that, we started cleaning, and before we knew it it was…5:40?! What! But…we had (separate) plans in the Valley, at 6:00! It’s ok, I thought, we could make it. Out the door by 5:45, but it was.too.late. The Hollywood Bowl traffic had struck again, and I did a U-turn around 6:01 knowing I was not to make it to my yoga class.

Downtrodden and now sweaty, I made it home by 6:10 and rethought my options. I could sit down and watch hours of Lost. Or, I could find a Netflix Yoga class. I settled for the latter, and I am (glad?) I did. Although sore today I am SO GLAD I got back to my yoga practice. And, surprisingly, glad I did it alone, in my living room. My finger is not 100 percent yet, and it was nice to be able to pause to readjust or reorganize without feeling judged (which I realize is not the point of yoga to begin with.)

After yoga, I took a shower, made myself some leftovers for dinner, and settled down on the couch to sneak in a few episodes of Lost before Jeff got home. After that Jeff and I laughed and giggled until too late (does anyone out there have those nights with your significant other where it still feels like a sleepover party and you can’t get to bed because you’re laughing or chatting and can’t stop?)

Then it was into work early this morning, and another week at my new job. Where I am finally settling in. Feeling at home. Part of the team. Ready to go.

Here’s to another week. How was your weekend?

The only consistent thing in life is change

Posted on by
Reply

That’s what my yoga teacher said to me during my final shavasana.

Last night I headed to yoga, to a new studio that I bought a Groupon for. I wanted to go to this studio because it’s where one of my favorite yoga teachers, Trevor, teaches. I got a Groupon for $30 for 10 classes, which is basically a steal, and I’ve been putting off going since April.

I finally went last Monday (I promise I’ll get back to yesterday soon) when summer hours at my job started. I made the 4:30 class in the nick of time, fluster and hot. I walked in, and realized I was only one of five people in the class. The change in pace of a yoga class from 30 people to five is huge, and I was excited for such an opportunity. Usually the classes I go to are large, which definitely have a place in my practice, but with such a small class size the teacher can give personal attention which helps students grow in their practice, I think.

So anyways, I really liked the teacher I had last week, so I decided to go to the class again yesterday. I arrive at 4:32, rushing again, and as I put my stuff down and came around the curtain I realized I was the only student. So I used the bathroom, took my time to unwind my mat, and hoped someone else would show. Which they didn’t.

This ended up being my favorite class I’ve had yet in my practice. First, my teacher, Darby, asked me about how long I’ve been doing yoga. After talking about that for a few minutes, he asked me what I wanted to do. What I wanted to do? What?

I’d never been asked that question! So I thought about it for a minute. What do I have? Tight hips. Tight shoulders. What do I want to work on? Warrior two.

This is warrior two. I had a tendency to lean forward (Darby called this “surfer”) and I also have a tendency to not turn my back foot in a way that allows me to place my weight on the outside of my back foot. We did a lot of warrior two. I was sufficiently sore.

We also focused on pigeon, which is great for opening your hips! Basically you get yourself into the position above, then lift your heart out and forward, leaning over your front leg. We did this for so long I thought my hips would never be tight again, which resulted in a lot of sweating, but a lot of peace.

Another one we did for the hips was squat. This is great for those of us who work at a desk and have tight hips (coughnikkicough).

We ended the class with an inversion, which in my practice is shoulder stand. We did this for about two minutes (or so it seemed) until I was ready to get down into bridge.

After an hour and a half, during which I could not get away with cheating on a pose, I was sufficiently sweaty, literally dripping (which I am sure that you wanted to know.) My hips and shoulders are nice and loose today, and the class got me ready for an evening long with conversations to my bffs on another coast (cor and laur, try saying that ten times fast) who were lovely to hear from.

Today’s agenda includes yoga and a Chinese food dinner, followed by reminiscing about China with a few friends. This week is shaping up to be a stellar one.

 

Cat used my flower bed as a litter box. I’m gonna kill it, if I find it.

Posted on by
1

This is what my neighbor said to me as I walked by his apartment building this morning. (And contrary to what I’ve said in the past about meeting my older neighbors in the street, I was actually running early, if you can believe it.)

It was pretty hilarious, and I did all I could from laughing out loud.

I have found in the past few weeks that as I have started running outside, I have become more familiar with my neighborhood, and extended neighbors. Although I am still waiting on a route that doesn’t include a million lights (the much needed break while waiting for a light to change is doing nothing for my endurance) I am enjoying the path. I basically run to the gym, and back, which is about 1.6 miles, and is a hilarious thing, if you think about it. Running to the gym. But it’s been cool enough out to do so, so I am counting my blessings before I am punished by 90 degrees and have to hop on a treadmill.

The running, by the way, is going. I run a little further each time, and want to kill myself a little less. I have tried to mix up my iPod mix, but I need a little help (mixes? suggestions? anyone? hello?) and I also have tried to make sure I actually stretch before I leave so I don’t get halfway and have to embarrassingly have to stop and stretch in front of the police station that is about halfway. So, we’re working on it. Feet have been hurting less, although I tell you I don’t understand how one person can sweat that much. Also, Nikki, the headbands you gave me are magical, and I can’t believe I lived without them.

In other news, last night I had a salad for dinner that was giant, in the biggest Tupperware I own, because “losing weight for weddings” is officially on. No dressing, just veggies, nuts, and fruit. I am on this diet for the duration. Minus Thursday, when I plan on eating the rest of the cupcakes that Mary and Rebecca made, because I can because calories don’t count on the day of your birth.

Tonight we’re back to yoga, since Sunday yoga was canceled due to the gym reflooring it’s classroom. In the next few weeks, I’ll be venturing to a new yoga studio that I bought a GroupOn to, so we’ll see how that goes.

Crow, here I come. What are you up to?