Hi Everyone!
So much for blogging more regularly :).
Sunday night, I was lucky enough to attend one of my dear friend's yoga classes! I've known her since we were in junior high and she was the captain of my crew team in high school. The class, a vinyasa c2, was a lot of fun and afterwards we had a great catch up chat. Not only did she register for the half marathon with me and J, but she also told me about Corepower's "yoga for trade" program. If you help clean the studios for three hours a week, then you get an unlimited month of yoga! For 12 hours a month of work, I could save myself a ton of cash on classes and also spend more time at the studio- double goodness for me!
Yesterday, I went to a nice, slow C1 class. I was a little sore, probably the result of a stressful, "shoulders hunched over" day at work, so this class wasn't exactly the breeze that it should have been. It's not that I didn't feel strong; I just was in pain. My back was so tight I could barely lift my arms up in chair pose. Despite a practice fit for the tin (wo)man, I impulsively decided to give headstand a try after savasana. Good thing I did! UPDATE: I can now lift one leg straight in the air while in tripod..big step, folks, big step.
Today was a learning experience for me. I had physical therapy this morning, for the first time, which was a real eye opener. Though I ended up there because of my knee, we ended up focusing on the it-band and my very, very weak and tight hips. The exercises were all really painful, but I know they're good for me. For the rest of today, I've been hobbling around. I think my hips are sort of in shock. I told myself I needed to run today. It's my three mile day! However, after hearing the trainer express so much concern about my weak hips, I'm starting to wonder if exercising every day has had a negative effect on my body. With all of the intermediate/advanced yoga I do, no one should ask me if I ever do squats- I'm constantly squatting! It concerns me that my body is responding incorrectly to the exercising I've been doing. I'm in so much physical pain right now; sore hips, aching back, but I can't help but beat myself up about not wanting to go on a run. I took a step back this evening and assessed the situation. Why am I so hellbent that I run in this freezing weather when just sitting in a chair was making me cringe? The answer is a little embarrassing, but the truth is, is that I had two pieces of pizza today and it's driving me nuts that I haven't "sweat it out" yet. That's stupid. This challenge was never supposed to be about guilting myself or becoming obsessive. It's supposed to be positive! And I'm not sure if pounding pavement in weather that my muscles can't warm up in, is the best thing for me to do today. With the half coming up, I really need to be more careful. So, with all this in mind, I'm sad to say that I'm going to cool it on the 100 day challenge. I'm still going to workout everyday- but only if I feel like it's a positive thing. If I'm in pain all day, I know that what's best is a date with my foam roller, not my yoga mat and weights. I feel a little defeated, but this is just the next step of this chapter. Instead of ending at 100 days, I'm creating a highly active, yet highly realistic and safe, lifestyle for myself. My challenge has changed, but my focus is still the same: sweat often and be happy!
Peace,love,sweat xoxo SR
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
68-74
Howdy!
Haven't updated in awhile. Last week was my last week of the office/school schedule- at least until April 1st! The next two weeks will be a really nice break. No more 5AM wake ups! I'm ready to rack in some soothing evening workouts. Tomorrow is also exciting because I start my half marathon training; can't stop, won't stop!
Let's see, traveling back in time to Monday...Last week is a blur of Corepower vinyasa C2s and finally some runs! The weather is changing, slowly but surely, so my runs are less of a deathly ice skating adventure and more of your standard jog.
I'm going to keep this post short, I'd rather start next week off blogging more regularly. Along with training for the big 13.1, I'm also planning on finally bringing my beloved bike to the city. I've got a wonderful hybrid bike back at my parent's house in the suburbs and if this mild weather keeps up ( okay, it's still freezing, but no ice!) then I'd love to bike it back from the suburbs. That'd be a great cross training activity. It'd have to be about 20 miles, not too shabby.
Hope everyone felt the luck of the Irish this weekend!
Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR
Haven't updated in awhile. Last week was my last week of the office/school schedule- at least until April 1st! The next two weeks will be a really nice break. No more 5AM wake ups! I'm ready to rack in some soothing evening workouts. Tomorrow is also exciting because I start my half marathon training; can't stop, won't stop!
Let's see, traveling back in time to Monday...Last week is a blur of Corepower vinyasa C2s and finally some runs! The weather is changing, slowly but surely, so my runs are less of a deathly ice skating adventure and more of your standard jog.
I'm going to keep this post short, I'd rather start next week off blogging more regularly. Along with training for the big 13.1, I'm also planning on finally bringing my beloved bike to the city. I've got a wonderful hybrid bike back at my parent's house in the suburbs and if this mild weather keeps up ( okay, it's still freezing, but no ice!) then I'd love to bike it back from the suburbs. That'd be a great cross training activity. It'd have to be about 20 miles, not too shabby.
Hope everyone felt the luck of the Irish this weekend!
Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR
Monday, March 11, 2013
65&66&67
GOOD MORNING
Why am I up so early again?
Today was an epic fail. I was supposed to wake up at 5:30AM for yoga sculpt class, but ended up sleeping through not one, but two alarms. Through all of this, I was having an awful dream where I kept missing the Metra train over and over again because someone wouldn't stop stalling me...awful! So now I'm trying to do the office thing and balance the school thing but I feel like I'm on the verge of flipping tables. I JUST WANT TO DO SOME VINYASA FLOW PEOPLE!
Let's look back in time...
Friday, I went to another Friday night sculpt class- I am officially a certified nutjob. However, the instructor was different and that made all of the difference. It had been beer and donut day at work, so I was concerned that this body of mine would be too overloaded with crap to get my sweat on in sculpt. As I lay my mat down in class, I wondered if this would be the first class that I publicly puke in. I couldn't have been more wrong! The instructor's fun, bubbly energy carried me through a tough class. She made jokes, and definitely had a strong knowledge of anatomy so I had a great time and genuinely felt like I was taking good care of my body.
Saturday, let's be real, was a hungover flop. I did some abs but spent more time hunched over my drawing pad trying to make marker comps.
Sunday, I was just so sleepy! It was a really lovely day. My friend K and I cruised through Dose Market and ate yummy chocolates, Homer's Shamrock Shakes, and bought unbelievable lollypop art- that exists! I tried studying more afterwards, but ended up going coat rack shopping with my dad and passing out in bed with Charmed playing on Netflix. Charmed has always been a really exercise motivator for me. Who wouldn't want abs like 90's Alyssa Milano? Later in the evening, I made it to a CoreRestore class. I'm happy I'm going to the doctor this week, because CR was very painful and I can't tell if it was the good kind of pain or the bad kind. Guess we'll find out!
I hope this day turns around and I have a chance to truly sweat, but it's looking packed by the hour. I'll have to sneak some abs under my desk... thank goodness there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Can't wait to join the stay-at-homes in a 9AM Sculpt sooner than later :)
Peace,love, sweat xoxo SR
Why am I up so early again?
Today was an epic fail. I was supposed to wake up at 5:30AM for yoga sculpt class, but ended up sleeping through not one, but two alarms. Through all of this, I was having an awful dream where I kept missing the Metra train over and over again because someone wouldn't stop stalling me...awful! So now I'm trying to do the office thing and balance the school thing but I feel like I'm on the verge of flipping tables. I JUST WANT TO DO SOME VINYASA FLOW PEOPLE!
Let's look back in time...
Friday, I went to another Friday night sculpt class- I am officially a certified nutjob. However, the instructor was different and that made all of the difference. It had been beer and donut day at work, so I was concerned that this body of mine would be too overloaded with crap to get my sweat on in sculpt. As I lay my mat down in class, I wondered if this would be the first class that I publicly puke in. I couldn't have been more wrong! The instructor's fun, bubbly energy carried me through a tough class. She made jokes, and definitely had a strong knowledge of anatomy so I had a great time and genuinely felt like I was taking good care of my body.
Saturday, let's be real, was a hungover flop. I did some abs but spent more time hunched over my drawing pad trying to make marker comps.
Sunday, I was just so sleepy! It was a really lovely day. My friend K and I cruised through Dose Market and ate yummy chocolates, Homer's Shamrock Shakes, and bought unbelievable lollypop art- that exists! I tried studying more afterwards, but ended up going coat rack shopping with my dad and passing out in bed with Charmed playing on Netflix. Charmed has always been a really exercise motivator for me. Who wouldn't want abs like 90's Alyssa Milano? Later in the evening, I made it to a CoreRestore class. I'm happy I'm going to the doctor this week, because CR was very painful and I can't tell if it was the good kind of pain or the bad kind. Guess we'll find out!
I hope this day turns around and I have a chance to truly sweat, but it's looking packed by the hour. I'll have to sneak some abs under my desk... thank goodness there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Can't wait to join the stay-at-homes in a 9AM Sculpt sooner than later :)
Peace,love, sweat xoxo SR
Thursday, March 7, 2013
New toy :)
I JUST ORDERED A SWANKY NEW MAT! My one and only mat, though beloved, was the cheapest one I could find at Target and I think that I now need a stickier mat for a better practice. I will find another use for good ol green. Here's a link to my pretty new toy: http://www.manduka.com/us/shop/categories/products/mats/prolite-mat/
I have a Manduka mat bag already that I love and my dad recommended the brand so I just can't wait to get sweaty on a new space!
Namaste, bitches.
I have a Manduka mat bag already that I love and my dad recommended the brand so I just can't wait to get sweaty on a new space!
Namaste, bitches.
58-64
HI!
Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted in so long. This week has just whirled on by, tornado style.
Saturday, I went to a vinyasa class hoping to get my sweat on and get a little zen before hosting a good bye party for one of my best friends. However, the class wasn't quite what I expected. The instructor, though sweet, was very dull. It's unbelievable how much a teacher's vibe can affect the class. The soft spoken gal led us through a series that felt a little jerky and awkward. Despite the heat and poses, I didn't feel very stretched out. We jumped into balancing poses before Sun B which really made my hips and IT band roar. Now that I've upped my practice, I see how important a good flow is. Throwing poses around willy nilly doesn't have the same effect as a well planned, sensible series that loosens you up, fires up your abs, sends you to sweat land, then slowly eases you into a cool down. As I've grown older, my body has started revealing all kinds of nagging creaks that doesn't seem to go away as easily as they used to. There was a time when I could throw myself, without stretching, into a deep, opening pose or a long run, but those days are long gone. I've become that athlete who hobbles down stairs, does half pigeon in her cubicle, and massages her back pretty much all day everywhere. Growing old happened awfully fast- and I'm only 23!
Because I'm only 23, I made an appointment to finally have my ITBS checked out. It's come to the point where I'm hobbling around and can barely go down a set of stairs. With the half marathon coming up, I want to make sure that I'm not on the verge of a more serious injury. The pain is really debilitating and distracting. I've had knee pain since I started playing volleyball in junior high, but, probably because I was in such good shape, the pain was never terribly concerning to me back then or in high school. I guess pain was revered on the crew team so having an injury that didn't get in the way of the sport was taken as a sign of dedication- sickening I know. Anyway, hopefully the doc will confirm that it really is just ITBS and send me off with an rx for RICE. I use a foam roller and obviously am a yoga junky, but I'm hoping that the doctor can give me more stretches that could provide the relief I'm not getting from that, usually reliable, combo. #tighthipsflatfeetproblems
This week was intense. Until yesterday, I didn't have time to do more than quick ab routine in my office or my apartment- technically workouts, but hardly sweat inducing. I have had time to eat a lot of ice cream though. I was feeling down about all of that, but I think that I can forgive myself for slipping this week. My dear, dear friend left on Tuesday for Senegal. He'll be spending the next two years there working for the Peace Corps. I think he's very brave and am so proud of him, but it's also very emotionally seeing a close friend leave the country for a few years. I also happened to have more homework than usual- funny how that happens? When I wasn't spending time with my pal, I had my nose to the books( or marker comps) and pretty much flailed my way to Wednesday. It would probably embarrass him if he read this, but it was actual the wise words of M, the Peace Corp friend, that gave me solace during this time of bad eating, wimpy exercise, stressful work, and piles of homework: Always look towards the horizon. In a goodbye email to his friends and family, M described the first time he went skydiving. He said the temptation to look down was great, however, when you look down not only is it completely terrifying, but you also miss the beauty surrounding you. Instead of looking down at all the stresses and disappointments, I need to look up at the horizon and see all of the great things going on right now. Yes, school is very hard, but I'm learning so much and have met really awesome people. Yes, work actually blows chunks 99% of the time, but some of my co-workers are really cool and I'm making money to pay for yoga classes! Yes, with friends moving away and other personal life nonsense, life can seem a little overwhelming, but for every nutty person who enters my life, there's also an amazing one who inspires me. Lastly, yes, working out for 100 days is tough when some of that exercise has to happen at 6AM, but HELLO working out feels GREAT! I'm sleep deprived, I'm overwhelmed, I'm probably drinking too much, but FUCK IT( yeah, I said it), when I look at the horizon, my life looks pretty freakin awesome :)
Back to business. Yesterday, my hips and IT Band were killing me so I opted to take a beginner's vinyasa class. So thankful I didn't push harder than that. Even in the basics class, my body was stiff as a board and highly resistant to any for of movement. I find that so interesting about exercise. One day, you're practically in headstand, the next going into Warrior I is more than a little uncomfortable. Running is the same, For every great five miler, there's a 3 mile jog that made 30 minutes feel like an hour.
Speaking of running, that's what I did today. After a wimpy snowpocalypse, the sidewalks downtown are finally safe for jogging, so I went out during my lunch break at school. I felt a little stiff, but the sunny weather and warmer temps ( 30 degrees woohoo!) motivated me to keep pushing. Once the ice is officially out of the picture, I'll be able to start training more seriously- that half marathon is right around the corner.
Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR
Wow, I can't believe I haven't posted in so long. This week has just whirled on by, tornado style.
Saturday, I went to a vinyasa class hoping to get my sweat on and get a little zen before hosting a good bye party for one of my best friends. However, the class wasn't quite what I expected. The instructor, though sweet, was very dull. It's unbelievable how much a teacher's vibe can affect the class. The soft spoken gal led us through a series that felt a little jerky and awkward. Despite the heat and poses, I didn't feel very stretched out. We jumped into balancing poses before Sun B which really made my hips and IT band roar. Now that I've upped my practice, I see how important a good flow is. Throwing poses around willy nilly doesn't have the same effect as a well planned, sensible series that loosens you up, fires up your abs, sends you to sweat land, then slowly eases you into a cool down. As I've grown older, my body has started revealing all kinds of nagging creaks that doesn't seem to go away as easily as they used to. There was a time when I could throw myself, without stretching, into a deep, opening pose or a long run, but those days are long gone. I've become that athlete who hobbles down stairs, does half pigeon in her cubicle, and massages her back pretty much all day everywhere. Growing old happened awfully fast- and I'm only 23!
Because I'm only 23, I made an appointment to finally have my ITBS checked out. It's come to the point where I'm hobbling around and can barely go down a set of stairs. With the half marathon coming up, I want to make sure that I'm not on the verge of a more serious injury. The pain is really debilitating and distracting. I've had knee pain since I started playing volleyball in junior high, but, probably because I was in such good shape, the pain was never terribly concerning to me back then or in high school. I guess pain was revered on the crew team so having an injury that didn't get in the way of the sport was taken as a sign of dedication- sickening I know. Anyway, hopefully the doc will confirm that it really is just ITBS and send me off with an rx for RICE. I use a foam roller and obviously am a yoga junky, but I'm hoping that the doctor can give me more stretches that could provide the relief I'm not getting from that, usually reliable, combo. #tighthipsflatfeetproblems
This week was intense. Until yesterday, I didn't have time to do more than quick ab routine in my office or my apartment- technically workouts, but hardly sweat inducing. I have had time to eat a lot of ice cream though. I was feeling down about all of that, but I think that I can forgive myself for slipping this week. My dear, dear friend left on Tuesday for Senegal. He'll be spending the next two years there working for the Peace Corps. I think he's very brave and am so proud of him, but it's also very emotionally seeing a close friend leave the country for a few years. I also happened to have more homework than usual- funny how that happens? When I wasn't spending time with my pal, I had my nose to the books( or marker comps) and pretty much flailed my way to Wednesday. It would probably embarrass him if he read this, but it was actual the wise words of M, the Peace Corp friend, that gave me solace during this time of bad eating, wimpy exercise, stressful work, and piles of homework: Always look towards the horizon. In a goodbye email to his friends and family, M described the first time he went skydiving. He said the temptation to look down was great, however, when you look down not only is it completely terrifying, but you also miss the beauty surrounding you. Instead of looking down at all the stresses and disappointments, I need to look up at the horizon and see all of the great things going on right now. Yes, school is very hard, but I'm learning so much and have met really awesome people. Yes, work actually blows chunks 99% of the time, but some of my co-workers are really cool and I'm making money to pay for yoga classes! Yes, with friends moving away and other personal life nonsense, life can seem a little overwhelming, but for every nutty person who enters my life, there's also an amazing one who inspires me. Lastly, yes, working out for 100 days is tough when some of that exercise has to happen at 6AM, but HELLO working out feels GREAT! I'm sleep deprived, I'm overwhelmed, I'm probably drinking too much, but FUCK IT( yeah, I said it), when I look at the horizon, my life looks pretty freakin awesome :)
Back to business. Yesterday, my hips and IT Band were killing me so I opted to take a beginner's vinyasa class. So thankful I didn't push harder than that. Even in the basics class, my body was stiff as a board and highly resistant to any for of movement. I find that so interesting about exercise. One day, you're practically in headstand, the next going into Warrior I is more than a little uncomfortable. Running is the same, For every great five miler, there's a 3 mile jog that made 30 minutes feel like an hour.
Speaking of running, that's what I did today. After a wimpy snowpocalypse, the sidewalks downtown are finally safe for jogging, so I went out during my lunch break at school. I felt a little stiff, but the sunny weather and warmer temps ( 30 degrees woohoo!) motivated me to keep pushing. Once the ice is officially out of the picture, I'll be able to start training more seriously- that half marathon is right around the corner.
Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR
Friday, March 1, 2013
54-57!
WHAT A WEEK!!
I've got the working girl blues, that's for sure. In this dreary weather, spending all day hunched over a computer has made me feel pretty low. Everyone around me seems affected by the wet winter environment and have gotten a bit too comfortable making snide comments. I've sometimes felt this way with friends and now I definitely feel it with my coworkers- we aren't family, I definitely don't love you unconditionally, so how about you reread your email before junking up my inbox with nastiness. I'm unfamiliar with the business world, but has it always been socially acceptable for coworkers to leave their manners in the lobby at 9AM and, hopefully, pick them up again at 5? It's funny, in college, if someone acted the way I see some people in the office setting act, they'd be labeled "psycho bitch". In the "adult" world those types are now referred to as "anxious". Ahhh, the mysteries of life. At least I have my workouts to give me a little bit of positivity every day!
Tuesday I took it easy. My IT band has really been hollering lately, so I took a mile walk in the evening. The icy sidewalk certainly kept me on my toes and, probably, gave my abs and butt some kind of workout.
Wednesday, I went running before work in River North. I got into the office early, and correctly guessing that I was in for a stressful afternoon, I burned off some steam by quickly dashing to Millennium Park. Not that winter running is always pleasant, but I feel a real sense of accomplishment afterwards. It's one thing to go jogging on a beautiful Spring day, but it's a whole other animal when you drag your booty out in twenty degree weather to slip and slide down the streets. Winter running makes me feel like a BAMF- sometimes you need that :).
Thursday was exciting- I went to a different Corepower location! It's kind of fun visiting the different locations. Yes,yes it's all corporate and whatnot, but it sure is nice belonging to a yoga studio with so many locations- much easier to fit in a practice with my crazy schedule. I went to an intermediate vinyasa flow class and something remarkable happened. During our independent flow, I noticed that the man next to me kept correcting himself to flow at the same time as me. That's what you do when you think the person next to you knows what they're doing...I finally look like I know what I'm doing!!!! I've only been practicing yoga since I was 17, about time I started sort of, kind of, rocking it ( humble brag alert!).
Today was just a joy. After a frustrating day at work, I made the trek down to the Lincoln Square CP location for a RealRyder class. I made it just in time to change into my spandex and, even luckier, my favorite spin instructor was teaching the class! She's got a really great vibe. Her name's Julie and I remember that because, and this is rare for Corepower, she took the time to learn all of our names. Even though it's just a 45 minute spin class with hardly any regulars, I thought that making it personal was a really nice gesture. Unlike the torturous, solemn Friday sculpt class, this was a big, sweaty party. Sure, my thighs were shaking like jello, but I was having a blast! That's a great workout- one that pushes you so much it feels like you could start your own bottled sweat company, but also keeps you laughing. Makeup could never fake the glow that comes out of exercise like that!
On to the weekend, hope you all have a great one.
Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR
I've got the working girl blues, that's for sure. In this dreary weather, spending all day hunched over a computer has made me feel pretty low. Everyone around me seems affected by the wet winter environment and have gotten a bit too comfortable making snide comments. I've sometimes felt this way with friends and now I definitely feel it with my coworkers- we aren't family, I definitely don't love you unconditionally, so how about you reread your email before junking up my inbox with nastiness. I'm unfamiliar with the business world, but has it always been socially acceptable for coworkers to leave their manners in the lobby at 9AM and, hopefully, pick them up again at 5? It's funny, in college, if someone acted the way I see some people in the office setting act, they'd be labeled "psycho bitch". In the "adult" world those types are now referred to as "anxious". Ahhh, the mysteries of life. At least I have my workouts to give me a little bit of positivity every day!
Tuesday I took it easy. My IT band has really been hollering lately, so I took a mile walk in the evening. The icy sidewalk certainly kept me on my toes and, probably, gave my abs and butt some kind of workout.
Wednesday, I went running before work in River North. I got into the office early, and correctly guessing that I was in for a stressful afternoon, I burned off some steam by quickly dashing to Millennium Park. Not that winter running is always pleasant, but I feel a real sense of accomplishment afterwards. It's one thing to go jogging on a beautiful Spring day, but it's a whole other animal when you drag your booty out in twenty degree weather to slip and slide down the streets. Winter running makes me feel like a BAMF- sometimes you need that :).
Thursday was exciting- I went to a different Corepower location! It's kind of fun visiting the different locations. Yes,yes it's all corporate and whatnot, but it sure is nice belonging to a yoga studio with so many locations- much easier to fit in a practice with my crazy schedule. I went to an intermediate vinyasa flow class and something remarkable happened. During our independent flow, I noticed that the man next to me kept correcting himself to flow at the same time as me. That's what you do when you think the person next to you knows what they're doing...I finally look like I know what I'm doing!!!! I've only been practicing yoga since I was 17, about time I started sort of, kind of, rocking it ( humble brag alert!).
Today was just a joy. After a frustrating day at work, I made the trek down to the Lincoln Square CP location for a RealRyder class. I made it just in time to change into my spandex and, even luckier, my favorite spin instructor was teaching the class! She's got a really great vibe. Her name's Julie and I remember that because, and this is rare for Corepower, she took the time to learn all of our names. Even though it's just a 45 minute spin class with hardly any regulars, I thought that making it personal was a really nice gesture. Unlike the torturous, solemn Friday sculpt class, this was a big, sweaty party. Sure, my thighs were shaking like jello, but I was having a blast! That's a great workout- one that pushes you so much it feels like you could start your own bottled sweat company, but also keeps you laughing. Makeup could never fake the glow that comes out of exercise like that!
On to the weekend, hope you all have a great one.
Peace, love, sweat xoxo SR
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)