November 2011
9 posts
October 2011
5 posts
Surf and Yoga retreat here I come! 12 days to go, and my training regimen is staying strong. This week in review: Tuesday Bootcamp followed by Abs class at NYHRC, Wednesday Vinyasa Power yoga at Exhale Spa, Thursday Pilates at NYHRC. Phew, I am so happy to be noticing more and more strength in my core and definition!! Right in time for Rincon, PR where I’ll be jetsetting off to in less than two weeks! I am feeling toned and satisfied with my training this past week and happier than ever that it is Friday at last, with plans to recover during the weekend and by no means does that mean sleep it all away, I made that mistake last Sunday after having a little too much fun the night before. This weekend is jammed packed and no excuses for this chica. Saturday and Sunday brunch and dinner dates booked with my girlfriends, a nutrition seminar featuring my yoga instructor and a master vegan chef, and perhaps I’ll fit in some yoga in the mix if I feel the need to feed the fire in my breath and relax any of the anxiety that lingers from the past week. I am happy that I’ve been getting better at not expressing my stress and anxiety when I feel it most, I’d be crazy to go against everything I’ve learned in my yoga practice, if I got angry at the situation, that would show weakness. I can withstand tension and breathe through it as I can withstand a tremendously difficult yoga pose. Just breathing through anxiety, I am learning to be at peace with whatever the outcome does or doesn’t have in store, and just simply try to enjoy the ride and show love and compassion, having patience along the way. Like a passing wave, this one single moment has already come and gone.
Before I blog, let me warn you. I’m 5 for 5 so far - some days with multiple workouts and this means some extra adrenaline is spiking this post. Sunday through Thursday I’ve trained and pushed myself, being fit, happy and healthy is the theme of my life and well, it should be. I have gratitude for flexibility, for movement, for power. Each and every morning I feel thankful knowing I am happy and healthy in my skin.
I’m also thankful for the feeling of sore muscles. In a nutshell, Sunday was spinning in the AM and yoga in the PM, Monday was evening power yoga, same for Tuesday, Wednesday was two back to back bootcamp & core/sculpt classes, and Thursday was abs session with trainer and then spinning class. You rest when you die, my trainer Celine says. She’s beautiful and ripped, and her bootcamp classes make you want to cry. She sometimes does one completely devoted to pushups. For one full hour. If anyone would like to join me sometime, I’ll get you a guest pass at NYHRC.
Well, I realized I have an entire dresser devoted solely yoga, running, training clothes. I find myself shopping for yoga pants and training hoodies (with thumb-holes, thank you Nike!) and post-workout cozy wraps at lululemon and nike more than I shop for dresses and going out clothes.. Guess it’s a sign of where my priorities fall. And I’m completely happy with it :)
A little randomness to this post- but I can’t forget to mention the cool yoga class I attended on Tuesday night. I finally went to one of the Tuesday evening community classes for neighborhood yogis at Rabbit Hole Studios, an art studio in a beautiful loft building in Dumbo. Practicing in a room surrounded by work in progress from local artists provided an inspiring backdrop. Definitely making this part of my routine. I feel stronger and more graceful with each practice, and I learn something each time, sweating through it and using core muscles I never knew I had!
Speaking of core, the two hours of bootcamp and core/sculpt with Celine, one of my trainers at NYHRC, was grueling - but oh so worth it. You know because it hurts to walk up stairs or just to walk down the hallway, and even to sit down the next day, but I love that feeling, and if you’re a workout maniac you know exactly what I mean. Her classes are TOUGH, and she doesn’t let you be a wimp, ever - she says the truth, “it’s getting to be that cold season where you just want to bundle up eat beef stew and make hot drinks and pour a ton of alcohol in to stay warm, but you don’t want to look like santa claus do you?” I like my comfort food and booze every now and then but heck no do I want a santa belly in the winter. Or, ever. So, in class one and two today, I pushed forth with all the power I had in me, lunged and squatted deeper, used heavier weights than I usually do, and smiled through it. You only live once. And you’ve only got one body. Make it count!
That is why tonight, I prioritized a fifth day in a row of working out - abs session with my trainer Rafael and then spinning for another hour.
I’m thankful I pushed myself this week because I’m rewarded by..
1) lots of sauna and steam room lounging post-workout
2) feeling completely sore but happy because being sore means your body is changing!
3) the staff at my gym is fantastic, I love the trainers, the manager Debbie is a sweetheart too. Going there is my 3rd home (2nd is boyfriend’s apartment)
4) being surrounded by warm and inspiring people at my yoga studios
5) knowing that I’m giving it my all, nothing less.
Been glued to my yoga mat, the gym, and in between, a bar stool or two. Here we go with a quickie recap:
Friday - Lunchtime yoga and TGIF! Lots of strength required for some of the more challenging twists and balances made for a fantastic mid-day escape from my desk. After the great workout I powered through the rest of Friday afternoon and finished the week ready to play, starting with a date at a wine bar near my apartment, very cozy and an absolutely blissful way to begin the weekend with the guy I love.
Saturday - off day! This the part where I was glued to a bar stool… one word…Mmmmmmimosas….
Sunday - Morning spin-a-thon to Kiss Breast Cancer Goodbye! The spin classes were taught by Jerome Isakov, a team USA runner, ironman, tri-athlete, coach, this guy is awesome and I used to be completely devoted to his spin classes at NYHRC - I have to get back into spinning, it’s such a rush of energy and an incredible workout.
Sunday evening, I went uptown for yoga. The stretch and core work was exactly what my body needed after the morning cardio.
Monday - Power yoga in the evening with Donnalynn. I challenged myself by taking the more difficult variation of every new pose. My body was a quite sore from yesterday, but I pushed through. The best feeling is finishing a Monday feeling completely limitless and completely zen with where you are.
