29...Spiritual Gangster, Chakras, and Me

What a day, what a day. After taking a break from yoga, I jumped back into the scene face first. Which may have not been such a good idea...I just got home from a candle lit HPF class and, for the first time, I actually felt a little nauseous in class. My legs felt like jelly, my lungs seemed hell bent on locking up, and I couldn't nail a single balance pose- not a great feeling. However, if this challenge has taught me anything, it's that these days happen. Maybe I didn't drink enough water today. Maybe I haven't been stretching enough after my runs. Maybe my brain went "namaste, bitches" and wasn't going to pull through for class. Whatever the reason was, I've accepted that not every workout I do will deserve a gold star. Making peace with the day-to-day hiccups- definitely part of my 2013 plan.

The universe provides us with what we need, and in my case, today was the perfect day for me to stumble upon a blog post from Corepower discussing the basics behind chakras. Chakras are wheels of energy that flow from the top of your head and down to the root of your spine. There are seven chakras and each one is associated with a physical part of our body and a color. Ideally, your chakras should stay balanced. However, nobody is perfect and occasionally a chakra will become too powerful, too weak, or entirely blocked. When that happens, you may feel strained in the area of your body where the chakra is, ill, and frazzled. I have been feeling really off lately, and it hadn't even occurred to me to question the state of my chakras. I realized that my fourth chakra may be blocked, and now that I know, I can begin making some adjustments in my life so I feel more normal again. I find the chakra theory really beautiful and it's been a great guide for me when I feel funky( in a bad way). Here's the blog post that I read today: Chakras 101

On a sillier note, I just heard about a great yoga brand called Spiritual Gangster. Even if the clothes were heinous I'd still love the name, but fortunately they are completely adorable and look pretty freaking comfortable from where I'm sitting. According to their website, they "represent a new generation of yogis who seek balance between the ancient practice of yoga and our modern world". So maybe I'm smitten because I'm clearly their target audience, but I think these guys are on to something. Check 'em out here: Spiritual Gangster.

Time for this little yogi to hit the hay. Namaste bitches( too much?!?)

Peace,love, sweat xoxo SR

27+28

Hi Everyone!

For some reason, it is just impossible for me to get a Monday post done on time these days. Yesterday was a little crazy. I was so exhausted from the weekend, so no surprise, that waking up at the crack of dawn was more than a little painful. I went on a little jog around Wrigley then called it a day. All day long, I was jammed with work and homework, but the day really turned around when I ended up at the Bulls game! J and I won tickets, the first raffle win where neither of us actually entered a raffle..., and despite our respective blah Mondays, had a really awesome time. The tickets were in the very last row of the nose bleeds and it was nice to just sip a brew and kick our feet up. I then proceeded to stay up into the wee hours working on homework, soooo how lovely it was when my alarm began to ring at 5AM. I actually woke up in a state of panic wondering who was calling so early- oh, just my life!

Originally, I had planned to go to a yoga sculpt class, shower at the studio, and head straight to work. This morning, that rigid plan just didn't sound so groovy. Instead, I sipped coffee and worked on homework for an hour then went on a jog around Wrigleyville.

I'm hoping that the rest of this week will be a no brainer. Tomorrow is an afternoon workout and then Thursday I don't have class until 10. Having two more relaxed days in the middle of the week has been crucial to my success. I also have a Yo La Tengo concert on Friday so there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

J mentioned that she needs new sneakers so I'm hoping that some running store action is in my future. I wrote my thesis on ultramarathon, marathon, and barefoot running culture so I have a special interest in running shoes :).

Peace,love,sweat xoxo SR

25+26

So Friday night, after a great workout, I accidentally pulled my shirt over my head too fast and felt a muscle near my chest yank in a scary way. I'm totally fine, but decided to slow down this weekend so that I don't injure myself. I was in good shape before this challenge, but probably not good enough to push my muscles every day without the help from massages and the occasionally gentle day ( or two). So, I'll keep this short and sweet. Saturday and Sunday, before hopping in the shower, I did a quick 15 minute ab routine. Extremely mild physical activity,but at least I tried :) . I'm ready to kick some ass this week and get back on track! I believe that payday is Friday, so I'm hoping a massage is in my near future...that could be a game changer!

Peace, love, sweat, xoxo SR

Day 24

Holler!

Just got home from a refreshing candlelit vinyasa flow and am pleased to announce that I sort of-kind of-ish got my tired bod into bird of paradise! I can't straighten my leg all the way once I'm wrapped and balancing, but THIS IS PROGRESS PEOPLE! It was a great class. Super crowded, but sometimes I actually like when there's a big crowd. You can really vibe on everyone's energy- it's easier to lose yourself in the flow.

Sorry for the short post, but it's Friday night and I'm ready to rock!

Peace,love,sweat xoxoSR

Day 23

Running on my lunch break has really become one of my favorite ways to sweat. Today, I had Digital Bootcamp. It's an all day class that focuses on the Adobe Creative Suite. Normally, I go to yoga sculpt in the morning, so that I can burn off my excess energy before sitting in front of a screen for seven hours. However, the temperature out here has abruptly dropped and getting up at 5AM was pretty low on my list of desires for the day. We take a full hour lunch at DBC, so I decided to take advantage of the daylight and go jog. I posted about this run a few days ago, but I've been going dreamy over my route to the lake. I basically swing past Trump Tower, hop on the riverfront path, and take it all the way to the docks. I snapped a quick shot today because it's too beautiful not to share. Looks chilly, but after twenty minutes of running, it's easy to ignore Chicago winter weather- wild, I know. Standing on this dock, I can see the city behind me, frozen Lake Michigan in front of me, and the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel to my left- it's just a really special spot! I can't wait to watch this view change with the seasons. I bet that it's going to be equally stunning in the Spring when the ice melts and the city perks up again.

Go on a snowy jog! It's so worth it!

Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR

Day 22

Howdy,
I'm a little late on my post, but better late than never! Today, my back was really hollerin' so I took it down a notch and went to a Corepower C1 class. Best decision I've made all week! The class was slow, not too hot, and really reiterated the fundamentals of yoga. The instructor was much more hands on then they usually are in the upper level classes, and I found her suggestions to be really helpful. I think I've been a little overly ambitious with my workouts, and since I'm not taking any rest days, it's probably safer for my body if I attend more low-key classes like C1.

On a more exciting note, I successfully went into crow pose for the first time since the summer! Even better, was that I felt much stronger in the pose than I ever have before. I see headstands in my near future...

However, until I get a massage it's probably not safe for me to go upside down. Since my backpacking and farming experiences this summer, the muscles in my back have been extremely tight. Sitting hunched over at a desk job all day doesn't help. Lately, I've felt like my lower back is stuck in concrete- no bueno. I've never had a sports massage before, but this seems like a good time to start. They're pricy, but I'm tired of being in pain and I'm eager to push my practice to the next level.

Peace,love,sweat xoxo SR

Day 21

What a 24 hours. Yesterday was a little intense. I spent all day in a coffee shop hitting the books and din't get home from class until 10PM. When I got back to my place, I had a few more hours of work to crank out. However, certain happenings at my apartment seemed to be in direct opposition of that plan. Luckily, ear plugs and the Sleep Rainmaker app were there to save the day! I was able to get more work done and sleep peacefully to the sounds of falling rain. Small favors- I really do love technology sometimes. Anyway, this morning when my alarm went off at 5, I felt surprisingly well rested. I decided to make my morning a little less hectic and shower at Corepower instead of rushing home after HPF. It has made such a difference in my morning! After yoga, I took a hot shower in a bathroom way cleaner than mine then leisurely got dressed. By the time I was all cleaned up, it was only 7:30! Normally, I'm not in the shower until then. Now I'm typing this post at the great, great restaurant Wishbone and slowly easing into my day. My muscles are stretched, my mind is calm, my belly is full, BRING IT ON TUESDAY!

Peace,love, sweat xoxo SR

20!

Wowza, today marks Day 20 of my 100 day challenge. That came up awfully fast! Today, I celebrated the 1/5 mark by attending another Corepower C2 class. I was a little sore when I woke up today, and it's also about 6 degrees out, so some super hot vinyasa flow sounded perfect. The instructor was really blissed out and led us through a series emphasizing shoulder release. This icy weather definitely makes me scrunch up and hunch my shoulders over when I'm walking outside, so it felt good to release the tension in my shoulders and upper back. It was definitely a challenging workout, but today especially, I really appreciated that hour of solitude.
In the past 20 days, I have absolutely grown stronger. My yoga practice has significantly improved and I've been really pleased to see the differences in my running stride. However, I have realized that I haven't exactly been focusing on my diet. Overall, I'm a pretty healthy eater. I love vegetables and whole wheat. On a day to day basis, I don't think there's anything wrong with how I eat. However, when it comes to desserts and alcohol I haven't really been limiting myself at all. I know I'm not doing this challenge specifically to lose weight, but I think my workouts would improve even more if I could cut off the unnecessary items in my diet. I NEVER feel good after I indulge in fatty food, and I need to start remembering that more. The fact is, my metabolism is not as good as when I was 18 and I think it's best if I learn how to live in a healthy now- versus changing my bad habits when I'm fifty because a doctor says I have to. So starting on Day 21,  I will be pushing myself physically as well as mentally- time for my will power to work in double time!

Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR

Day 19

TODAY WAS SO COOL! Good thing I stretched out my hammies in C2 last night, because today I went snowboarding for the first time. A few visits to Utah have made me a pretty decent skier, however boarding was a whole new animal. My youngest sister was taking a lesson at Wilmot Mountain so I decided to tag along. Let's be real, the 11 year old and I were definitely at the same skill level. Though she may have been better...Two hours later I was sore, though happy to report that my ego is more bruised than my body! It looks like all that yoga and balance board-ing helped me cruise, however, I struggled to slow down and couldn't figure out how to stop. Every time I was in danger of hitting an innocent child on skies, I would just plop down on the ground. I guess there isn't really a right or wrong way to stop as long as no one gets hurt. Right, right?! I'm going to try to go back and practice a few times before the winter is over. It was a fierce workout and I've heard that it takes three or four times to really master the basics. It's a pricy workout, but definitely worth it. The adrenaline rush is just incredible.

Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR

Day 18

Today was really great. I went back to the basics and took a fantastic evening hot vinyasa flow class. Corepower gets a lot of flak for being really corporate and routine, however, no C2 class I've been to has ever been the same. Last night, we focused on stretching out our hamstrings- exactly the kind of practice I needed after all the jogging this week! The heat really loosened my muscles and I got pretty darn close to doing the full splits. I need to bring more Vinyasa into my schedule. I love all the different classes I've been taking, but the benefit of flow is really extraordinary.

Peace, love, sweat SR

Day 17

WEEE!
Just got back from an exhilarating jog. I took a very late lunch break today and really needed to get moving. It was a busy morning and I've got a family function tonight so getting exercise today was really important.
Instead of heading to M. Park like I normally do, I ran along the Chicago River and, wowza, today it was a stunner. The skies were blue, the sun was shining just the right amount ( living in WA, I forgot how much I like sunshine) and it kept me pleasantly warm in the typical Chicago chill. As I ran along the river, I started to forget that I was in a busy city. I also found a really adorable nook wine bar- definitely will be heading back there in the summer.

I didn't have any real destination in mind, just thirty minutes to cruise through, and lucky me, I ended up at a harbor next to Navy Pier. It was one of those moments where I was glad that I DIDN'T have a camera because it was so lovely and special that it was more fufilling to take it all in without worrying about replicating it to share with others. The water closest to the shore had frozen over and beyond the harbor Lake Michigan was wild with waves. The contrast between the sky and the green water, plus the iconic Navy Pier ferris wheel, was so striking that I stopped running and just gazed for awhile.

Now that I'm back at the computer, it feels like the past half hour was just a mini vacation- a few years ago I would have never said that about a run! Cool things are happening...

Happy Friday!
Peace,love,sweat xoxo SR

15 & 16 :)

Buenos Noche!

Decided to combine two days into one again- a little lame, but better than nothing!

Yesterday, I took a brisk jog around my neighborhood and Wrigley Field. After a few days of downtown running, my loop felt really quiet and relaxing. I continue to be amazed by how much my running has improved- I'm definitely giving yoga snaps for that. My form is better, I stand up straighter, and I can feel my abs pumping energy into my body. I haven't been using a timer, but I'm almost positive that my splits have gotten significantly faster. Good news for that half marathon!

Today was actually really great. J and I woke up for a 6:30am sculpt class and for once I actually, sort of...slightly...reluctantly even...enjoyed it! Maybe it was because I had a friend with me, but I felt a lot stronger, both physically and mentally. Also, the instructor was really helpful. I hate teachers who bark at you and guilt you into pushing harder. I find positive energy and helpful tips, versus orders, to be way more motivating when I'm on my fifth set of pushups. Something I've loved about this challenge is seeing the proof that my hard work is paying off- just two weeks ago I could barely see straight after a sculpt class!

Overall, I'm feeling pretty good. Sure, it'd be nice to catch more sleep, but I don't think I'd be juggling my workload as well if I didn't have this one special hour to myself every day. It's only been 16 days, but I can assure you that, not once, have I regretted a workout!

Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR

Day 14

Hello hello,

Late on my post, but lately life has been a little out of control! Wouldn't mind if the time gods added on an extra hour or two in the day, just saying. Yesterday, I saved my run for the hour in between COB at work and class. I'm pretty glad that I did! The sun had just set as I jogged through Millennium Park and it was really stunning. I made my way over to The Bean and watched the reflection of the skyline change as dusk fell on the city- it made me feel like I was a page in Runner's World "Rave Run" section. City running is really different from what I'm used to. It almost reminds me of trail running because you have to be so aware of your surroundings- except instead of tripping over tree stumps, it's watching out for curbs and exhausted business people!

Anyway, expect another post tonight or tomorrow. I'm about to head out on a run through the neighborhood.

Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR

Day 13

Today, I definitely blurred the line between real exercise and simply moving my body parts up and down. No surprise here, but I woke up this morning totally exhausted. I think I need to accept that without light, it's almost impossible for me to drag my sorry butt out of bed. For some reason, I have an easier time waking up at 5AM for a yoga class, but struggle every time I want to wake up at 6:30 for a simple jog. Sigh, mysteries of life. Anyway, I kept pressing the snooze button until it was way too late for me to do much of anything. Unfortunately and fortunately at the same time, I have a freshmen mixer tonight after class and there's no way I'm getting in a decent workout at 11PM after a few brews. So, with all that in mind, I did a quick ten minute workout with pushups, plank, and biker abs. It wasn't much, but still better than nothing!

I definitely regret not getting my sweat on today. I am so much more on edge than usual. I've been struggling to focus on the most basic of tasks and my coworkers have been driving me absolutely nuts. Needless to say, there's a lot of teeth grinding going on today. No bueno! I can't afford to have too many slumpy days like this, so after a little internet research, I've come up with a list of ideas to turn to when I need to get out of bed in the early hours. SLEEP WHEN I'M DEAD.

* Some say to sleep in workout clothes. That sort of grosses me out, so I'll go with the next best thing: Laying my full outfit on the bed. I can get dressed without having to touch the floor!
* Have my keys already off the ring and in my running vest pocket
* Have my ipod charged and ready to rock
* Turn music on the second my alarm goes off. Seriously, just blindly swing my hand until I hit a play button

Wish me luck and send some early bird vibes my way!

peace,love,sweat xoxo SR

11 & 12

I decided to turn my weekend into a single post: two workouts, one post, mega fun?! On Saturday, I convinced my housemate J to check out a Real Ryder class with me. I spent all morning working on homework alone in Starbucks so it was really great having a friend to chat with before class, and later on, to high five after a series of "hilly" sprints. Once again, I loved the sassy Ryder attitude, but I think J thought it was a little cheesy. Perhaps my brief stint in a sorority has desensitized me to the more dopey aspects of life, but hey, I can't resist a few fist pumps mid-ride. 45 minutes later, J and I were shaking on our saddles, and overdosing on endorphins- twas awesome. Afterwards, we rode out our adrenaline high by visiting one of my favorite stores in Chicago- Alcala's Western Wear. J bought an awesome new pair of cowboys boots, while I, with great difficulty, restrained myself from buying a beautiful red fringe jacket. Though I left Alcala's empty handed, I now know what my first summer purchase will be- a fantastic cowboy hat. Fighting skin cancer while looking fabulous; I'm in. I'll be in Israel in June and can't wait to rock the Nashville look( along with my mad post-half marathon muscles). 

Today, I went to Hot Power Fusion, which is pretty typical for me. I love vinyasa flow, but HPF has definitely become my go to class. I've started practicing right under the heater to keep the class challenging. I used to think this class was sixty minutes of slow torture, but now I see it as my sanctuary. I've learned the routine of the class and instead of being bored with the same poses, I enjoy the familiarity and like pushing myself to go further and dig deeper. My balance has improved so much since I started and now that muscle memory has kicked in, I can really focus on my breathing. For so long, I thought that ujjayi breathing was something only "real" yogis did, in fact it actually drove me nuts, but now I've come to rely on it as a way to center myself and keep my heart rate down. I find myself using ujjayi breathing when I'm running and I think it's definitely helped me improve my times. Anyway, I've got to put the blog away and get back to my homework, but I'll be back tomorrow! Something tells me that there's another HPF class in my near future....

peace, love, sweat xoxoSR

DAY TEN

Made it to ten days of fitness! 90 more to go! To some that probably isn't that impressive, but I'm going to take a moment and give myself a pat on the back :). Another day, another dark and gloomy morning. I decided that I was better off sleeping in, and saved my run for my lunch break at work. So glad that I did; in fact, Friday lunch runs may just become my new "thing". I was feeling pretty pent up and frustrated in the office, and homesick for Washington State, so I took a speedy two mile run around Millennium Park and the Art Institute. Getting outside and seeing my beautiful city reminded me why I like living here and really got some of my jittery energy out. I think it would be great if my company sponsored running groups at lunch- I bet a lot of people would benefit from that.

Happy Friday!!
Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR

Day 9

Today, I was back to business as usual. Because of my wimpy workout last night, I decided this morning would be the perfect time for me to drag myself to my frenemy of an exercise class: Yoga Sculpt. WOOF! I love yoga and I actually do enjoy lifting weights from time to time, but something about that combination, with boot camp exercises included, just slays me. I've been three times and without fail, usually after some sick mountain climbing series, I find myself cursing the day I decided to care about how my jeans fit. Every minute is fairly torturous for me ( not only is my sweat "fat crying", but I am usually on the verge of sobbing for mercy), however the way I feel afterwards is UNREAL. I had 10 hours of class today and felt so focused and energetic the whole day- definitely giving props to Sculpt. I hope I don't scare anyone away from checking out this class, I clearly keep coming back to it. Also, to be fair, most participants this morning didn't seem as distraught over an intense pushup routine like I was...it wouldn't kill me to work on my core a little more! I guess that will be my focus for the next week- getting my abs jacked up!

Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR

OCHO

Sorry for the late post! This week has been a total whirlwind. I am so in love with school, but it definitely has been wiping me out! I'll keep this post short and sweet. When my alarm went off yesterday at 5am, I tried to get up, but after all of the orientation "getting-to-know-you" shenanigans, it just wasn't going to happen. With work and school, I can't really afford to get sick, so I decided to put it off till later in the day. I definitely felt a little guilty, but hey, girl needs to sleep! I admit, I sort of wussed out and did, like, ten minutes of abs before bed. Because of that, I laid down the law on Day 9...read on to hear more.

peace,love,sweat xoxo SR

Day Seven

I was about to start off this post with something whiny about how completely exhausted I was this morning, but then I realized that I've officially stuck with my goal for a week! Talk about turning my mood around. Yesterday, I worked 9-5 then headed to class. It was really great, really interesting and intense, but I am definitely nervous about juggling work with the course load. It looks like I'm the only person working full time and I really hope that I don't fall behind the other students because of that. I know that in the future, my schedule will be way to hectic for me to grab a beer after class ( without falling asleep in a basket of beer nuts) so last night I joined some of my classmates for a drink. It was the first time since Europe that I've had a chance to meet new people who are my age- 20-somethings?! What a novelty! Anyway, back to my original gripe, this morning when my alarm went off I was NOT feeling it. I almost said screw the run, but in the end realized how disappointed I'd be to ditch this goal already. Keeping a blog has really kept me going; especially when it's six in the morning! I may have wanted to snuggle up to my pillow instead of pulling on spandex, but once I got outside I was relieved that I didn't wuss out. If one hundred days of exercise was easy then everyone would do it! I've accepted that the next ninety-three days are not going to be a cakewalk, but, hey, at least I've got coffee!

Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR

Day Six

The day I have been excited for ( and maybe, sort of, kind of dreading) is finally here! I currently work full time in Account Services at a huge ad agency, and while I'm beyond grateful to have a well paying job, my aspirations lie on the creative side. Today after work, I'm starting classes at portfolio school and actually making headway on some of my professional goals. For so long, it felt like my creative side was only reserved for college courses. I continued to take internships that were great on my resume, but not necessarily reflective of my interests. I feel pretty emotional about the fact that life is now leading me down a creative path. Emotional and also vaguely nauseous. Of course, I have insecurities right now, but if I work hard and stay fresh this could be a great move for me. I quelled pre-class jitters this morning before work at a Hot Power Fusion class. Yes, waking up at 5AM was fairly torturous, but once I was in the studio I was so glad that I dragged my sorry butt out of bed. Setting an intention was especially powerful today and even though I've left the yoga studio, I will continue to reflect on it as the day goes on. The instructor leading us, spent time discussing the journey between the head and the heart and how we have to leave that path open. I thought that was very appropriate for me today and, as always, life proved that I will never regret attending a yoga class! Even if it's before 7 in the morning...

Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR

Day Five

Yo!
I am falling asleep at the keyboard, but wanted to sneak a quick post in before bed. I was feeling a little sore today after spinning and a late night, so I thought this evening would be the perfect time to try my first Core Restore class at Corepower. Core Restore is CP's version of yin yoga. Quick lesson: Yin is the opposite of yang. Now, I usually attend yang yoga classes. These are classes with a focus on power, strength, core work, balance, and stamina. Yang brings fluidity and heat to your practice. Yin, on the other hand, works to cool your body down and stretch out your ligaments, joints, and muscles through a series of gentle poses held for longer periods of time. I thought that after all of the power yoga I was doing, yin yoga would be a snap. It was incredibly relaxing, but definitely not always comfortable. Tonight, we focused on hip openers and I had to really work to hold my poses. This class pushed my muscles in a way that I wasn't used to. I had to take on a whole new mindset; instead of channeling strength, I pushed myself to let go of my body. It was a little unbelievable how difficult it was to let my limbs hang free and to not push myself further than necessary. I realized tonight how competitive I have become in my practice and will have to find more of a balance between my yin and yang. This was a good way to start my week. Tomorrow is my first day as a full time business woman and student- yikes! I am so excited to go back to school and start my journey towards a career that I really want, but naturally I am also nervous for the challenges that lie ahead; let alone the sleep that I'll be missing out on!

Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR

Day Four

I decided that one way to spice up my schedule would be to try something new every saturday ( or sunday depending on my friday night wink wink). I'm so happy I made this commitment, because without it I may have not made the trek out to Corepower's Uptown location for a Real Ryder class! Let's just say, it was love at first spin. I'd done my research, but nothing had really described what the experience of riding a Ryder was like. I've been to a few torturous spin classes in my day. I'm pretty sure  my life flashed before my eyes last time I hopped on a stationary bike. Needless to say, I was a little anxious about this class. However, these bikes rock and roll around and really do mimic a real bike riding experience; unlike stationary bikes. I was so busy swerving and pumping my legs at ever changing resistance levels, that it took a water break for me to realize how much I was sweating. Instead of just staring into a mirror focusing on the slow burn in my legs, I was constantly thinking about my whole body. Don't get me wrong, my ass was thoroughly shredded by the end, but a full body workout just made it way more fun. We were swooping left and right ( hello abs), sprinting our legs, and fist pumping to the beat of the music. I also really loved how yoga values were incorporated throughout the class. We set an intention during the warm up and the cool down drew from poses like Standing Savasana. By the final sprint, everyone was panting and red in the face, but the high energy made me feel like I was at the best party in Chicago- how many cardio classes make you say that?
If you want to learn more about the unique Real Ryder bikes, click HERE.

Happy spinning!
Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR

Day Three

Brrrr! Just came home after a quick 2 mile run in 30 degree weather- Chicago is so lovely this time of year ;). It was another one of those days were I almost thought I wasn't going to make it. By the time 5pm rolls around, it's already dark and the TV starts looking pretty seductive. Luckily, I had predicted this might happen, so I downloaded a new album just for listening to on my run tonight- can't beat self bribery sometimes! On a more embarrassing note, that album was the Nashville soundtrack. I was a super pretentious college deejay so part of me is ashamed, but that show is just so addictive...And it's perfect for a workout! "Love Like Mine" is the ultimate sprinting (country) song. I stayed warm tonight with a pretty extreme outfit. Two long sleeves, a great Lululemon vest with a perfect mini pocket for keys, ear warmers, a hat, gloves, and my favorite running pants...drum roll please...the EPIC runder unders from Lululemon. Yeah, the price tag will make your head spin, but they fit like a warm, cozy second skin. I'll blame this comparison on oxygen deprivation, but tonight they fit so naturally and smoothly that I felt like an Avatar...think about that one.  Normally, I'm fidgety in spandex and am always yanking my waistband down and up, but these fall perfectly on my hips and don't move no matter how fast I'm running. Magic pants:runder under pant.

Happy Friday!

Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR

Too much coffee this morning?

Life update! Looks like this blog will be rolling on way past the 100 day mark. This morning, I impulsively signed up for the North Shore half marathon! Two years ago, I trained my butt off for this race, only to chicken out once I returned to Chicago. Despite my serious training schedule, I had never registered because deep down I think I was scared to make it to the starting line. Part of my 2013 resolution was to buck up and believe in my ATHLETIC PROWESS ( nerd, much?). So 13.1 miles, come hell or high water or ...more realistically...uncomfortable levels of humidity, I'll be at that starting line in June! If you're in the area and interested in racing check it out: North Shore Half. If you're not ready to tackle that big guy, Ram Racing hosts really great races of all distances throughout the year. My personal favorite is the Terrapin 5k- an unbelievably groovy Grateful Dead themed race!

Peace, love, sweat SR

Day Two

I'm back in business! Instead of being disheartened by Day One's fitness failure, I grabbed the bull by the horns and decided to scoot my boot my favorite CorePower class, Hot Power Fusion. Yesterday, I felt totally drained. I did bring my balance board to work, which I really recommend if you work a desk job like I do, but lack of natural light and long hours hunched at the computer really sapped my spirit. However, knowing how lame it would be to give up after one day, motivated me to trot over to a 9pm class. I'm so glad that I did. I did make a rookie mistake ( huge dinners pre-hot yoga= BAD BAD BAD) , but even so, the class totally rocked! It was a candle lit practice, which is my favorite kind. I love doing yoga in the dark, it makes it so much easier to focus on the movements instead of more trivial matters....I don't really need to examine my potential camel toe in the mirror every time I'm in Mountain, right? Unlike the day before, I washed those balancing poses out and hung them up to dry! My stomach definitely felt a little rumbly, but I was so zenned out I didn't really care. I used to really fear hot yoga, but now, to my great surprise, I've become totally addicted. In high school and college, I practiced power yoga on and off, but stayed far away from anything involving heaters. I lived in the northern suburbs of Chicago and really loved two studios in particular: Niyama in Wilmette and Reach in Glencoe. If you are not digging the heat and live in the area, I cannot recommend Yoga for Athletes at Niyama enough. It's on Saturday mornings at 7 and is taught by the most fantastic instructor, Liza. For early bird risers, the 6am vinyasa flow classes at Reach are also stellar. Both studios are clean, serene, and unpretentious. They also kick your butt and gut to the moon and back- which is part of the fun righhhhht?!

Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR

Day One

So it began...
I wish that I had a more epic first workout, but sadly that was not in the cards. It was my first sweat sesh in four days and OUCH is all I have to say. I'm going to chalk this flop up to heavy NYE drinking and a long day at the office ( note to self: bring balance board to work everyday or your body gets mad). I have a date tonight so instead of trekking over to my beloved Core Power studio, I decided to, for the sake of time, create my own yoga sanctuary in the living room. I turned off all the ceiling lights except for the holiday ones and lit a candle. I was ready to bust a move so I picked the highly excellent, and deeply painful ( IN A GOOD WAY) YouTube yoga class 45 Minute Butt Kickin' Power Yoga Flow. Though my brain said "yes!" my quads said "no!". Within ten minutes, I was shaking up a storm and could barely hold my Warrior 3. Knowing that I nailed all my balancing poses just last week is what kept me from throwing a little yogi tantrum. Sometimes, you just have to listen to your body and go with the flow. I turned off the video 20 minutes in and flipped on some First Aid Kit. I let my instincts take the rein and led myself through a soothing Vinyasa flow series. It wasn't the workout I expected to do today, but I felt looser and at peace when I finally rolled up my mat. Before hitting the showers, I used my foam roller for a few ab workouts that I read about in Runner's World. For a fun way to spice up your floor routine, check this out: Foam Roller Exercises- Runner's World. Today, I focused on accepting my body's limitations without feeling guilty. Though I wish I had been able to power it out, I know that letting myself rest will probably bring a better workout for tomorrow.

Peace, love, sweat! xoxo SR

100 Steps to...

Happy New Year Everyone!

Welcome to my fitness blog, 100 Steps. I decided that I wanted to begin 2013 with a goal that made me focus on, well, me. I am a recent graduate from the wildly wonderful University of Puget Sound and have recently left the Pacific Northwest to settle down in Chicago, my hometown. 2012 brought a lot of change into my life, some good, some bad, but mostly just INTENSE. I wrote a thesis about ultramarathon running, graduated college, spent the summer backpacking and WWOOFing through Europe, moved into a groovy pad in Lakeview, and took on a full time office job; whew. Sometimes, I felt like Gumby girl being pulled in a million different directions and it was STRESSFUL. 2013 is bringing in an exciting wave of crazy and this time I'm prepared. Starting January 7, I will officially be a full time employee during the day and a student at night- wish me luck! With a schedule like that, it's going to be way too easy to stop taking care of myself and to start losing my marbles. Life can sometimes feel like it's moving at warp speed and that makes me feel out of control. I've found, as so many others have, that fitness shuts up my negative side and helps me to deal with the everyday trials of life. I currently attend 4 yoga classes a work and try to jog once or twice a week too. However, too often, when I'm tiiiiired or it's colddd out, I'll let my workout fall to the wayside and my mood definitely pays for it later. I hope that by keeping a blog I'll be able to hold myself accountable during the next 100 days. Yes, I'm finally getting to the point. My goal is to exercise for 100 days ( January 2- April 11). If you were wondering where I got the idea...http://365daysofsweat.wordpress.com/ . Because my days will be busier than ever, I think it's important to make special time for myself every day; even if that special time is at 5:00AM. Of course, I'm not going to hate the physical changes that my body may go through ( bye bye beer belly?!), but this goal focuses much more on my mental, emotional, and spirtual state and isn't really about weight loss. However, just for fun, here's a before pic:

Hmmm...now that I've posted that, maybe I don't want my friends, let alone strangers, reading this...JUST KIDDING! Got to get motivated somehow! This wacky dream of mine won't be easy, especially with the dark,cold Windy City winter rolling in, but I know how good I'm going to feel on April 11. 

So thanks for stopping by and maybe I'll run into you at Corepower sometime :)

Peace, Love, Sweat xoxo SR