Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts

February 12, 2018

5 Last-Minute Valentine's Day Gifts in Baltimore

Disclosure: All thoughts and opinions are my own and are not affiliated with or sponsored by any of the aforementioned brands or businesses. I work for Charm City Run and CorePower Yoga, but the thoughts in this post do not reflect those of the companies. 


With February being a shorter month, I find that the days and weeks just fly by. That means that Valentine's Day is also in just two short days! If you have completely forgotten, do not fear! I am sharing a list of 5 easy, last-minute Valentine's Day gifts for the special people in your life from local businesses. Despite my dislike of the pressure of this one big day and the hiked-up prices of prix-fixe dinners for the holiday, I do really love having the holiday as a reminder to spend some time with your significant other or Valentine. I keep it pretty low key, with a Galentine's Day brunch the weekend before and a nice dinner with flowers from my boyfriend for the actual holiday. Pro tip-surprise your valentine with a gift or dinner the day before or after to avoid the rush and prix-fixe menus! In a busy world, sometimes we need a silly holiday to remind those special in our life how much we care about them. 

As you know, I love supporting small businesses, especially when there are so many amazing businesses right here in Baltimore. Here are 5 Last-Minute Valentine's Day gifts for your Valentine, Galentine, or anyone who could use a little love in their life. 

5 Last-Minute Valentine's Day Gifts in Baltimore

1. Chocolate-Covered Strawberries from Berries by Quicha

What says "I love you" more than chocolate-covered strawberries?! I planning on stopping by Berries by Quicha right here in Federal Hill in Baltimore to grab some of their amazing and unique chocolate-covered strawberries. They have flavors such as Reese, Bacon, and even a Ciroc-liquor infused chocolate-covered strawberry! Besides sounding tasty, their strawberries and special holiday packages look beautiful. 

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries from Berries by Quicha
{Source
According to their Facebook page, TODAY is the last day to pre-order for guaranteed selection for the holiday either via their website, store (920 Light St), or by calling at 410-440-3239. 

December 19, 2016

8 Last-Minute Gift Ideas for Fitness Fans

I seriously can't believe it's the week of Christmas. SERIOUSLY. Between moving, bouncing around between doctor's and physical therapy appointments, plus finals, this past month has moved crazy fast. Luckily I have done some online shopping plus braved the crowds at Target this weekend so I only have a couple gifts left to purchase.  

If you have been mostly shopping deals to buy presents for yourself and now need to finish all your shopping in T-7 days, here are some great last-minute gift ideas for you! 


holiday-shopping-myself


I shared lots of products that you can purchase on Amazon because I'm an Amazon Prime addict with that free 2-day shipping. You can't beat getting things in 2-days if you are short on time!  Check out some of my favorite items for runners, yogis, and any other fit fans in your life. 


8-last-minute-gift-ideas-fitness-fans

8 Last-Minute Gift Ideas for Fitness Fans

1.  Believe or Complete Training Journal and Believe Logbook

I have been using the Believe Training Journal for the past two years to record my weekly workouts, log my miles, and write down my goals and progress.  I love that it includes articles on different topics like goal-setting and nutrition. This year I was given the chance to review the Complete Training Journal and Believe Logbook

believe-training-journal-compete-logbook


The Complete Training Journal is a souped-up version of the Believe Training Journal and focuses more on competitions and tracking progress towards goals and races more in-depth. The Believe Logbook offers an open and customizable, minimalist workout logbook with an annual calendar. 

All three are also available on Amazon with Prime shipping: Believe, Compete, Believe Logbook

2. Namast'ay in Bed candle

The Brooklyn Artists and Fleas Market is open Saturdays and Sundays in Williamsburg, BK and carries this cheeky 100% natural soy wax candle from the 125 Collection. The candle is hand-poured in NY and features one of my favorite quotes-perfect for the yogi (or sleepyhead) in your life.  
namastay-in-bed-candle-brooklyn-flea

If you're not near Brooklyn, you can order the candle from the store's Etsy site

July 18, 2016

Why Runners Should Try Yoga {with CorePower Yoga}

Disclosure: This discussion is sponsored by CorePower yoga. I did not receive monetary compensation for this post.  As always all thoughts and opinions are my own. 


On this blog I have mentioned multiple times how I'm always trying to stick to a regular yoga routine. I had done a really good job in the winter and early spring with attending a class at least once a week, whether that was a gentle vinyasa flow or a more intense Yoga Sculpt class at my local CorePower studio.  Of course, when the end of the semester got busy, it fell by the wayside. Now that marathon training season is underway, I'm making it a priority to incorporate yoga regularly into my weeks. Even if I don't make an actual class, I want to do some yoga poses on my own or squeeze in a 15-20 minute video. 

why-runners-should-try-yoga-corepower

I love yoga as a runner because it stretches my entire body out, especially my hips and back which get really tight. It is great to get everything loosened up, especially because after a  run I am usually spending the rest of the day sitting and standing at work or school.  


I also really enjoy yoga as a form of meditation and for the mental aspect. It's nice to be able to spend an hour focusing on an intention that you set.  It is a way to calm the mind or maybe work through an issue you were having.  Challenging yourself mentally or finding ways to calm down are important in running, especially in marathon training and long distance running which are very much mental challenges in addition to physical challenges.  

Sometimes I am having a tough day and really the only 5 minutes of true relaxation I get is the savasana.  

here-for-the-savasana-yoga


I was lucky enough to get some questions I had about yoga and running answered by Ciara, the studio manager of my local CorePower Yoga studio in Baltimore. You can check out and see if there is a CorePower Yoga studio near you.  I hope it opens your eyes to how beneficial yoga can be for your running! 

What are some of the benefits of yoga for runners? Yoga has many physical and mental benefits for runners. Physically, yoga releases tension in muscles and builds strength and flexibility. This can help reduce the risk of common running injuries, including: shin splints, tight hips, low back pain, etc. 

CorePower Yoga classes, specifically, are physically intense and focus on building core strength, which will help strengthen other areas of the body. Mentally, yoga can help runners reduce stress, increase focus on breath and introduce a full mind-body awareness. 

yoga-feetures-mat-runner
What is something I can do if I don't have a lot of time in my training plan? 

There are many things a runner can incorporate into their daily routine from yoga that take minimal time, yet are extremely beneficial. Something I highly recommend everyone add in to their routine is a full body stretch as soon as you wake up. Allowing your body a few moments to fully wake up and rejuvenate after being asleep goes a long way.  And, it feels really good! 

I also suggest everyone add a Sun Salutation to their morning routine. The focus of a Sun Salutation is to energize the front and back lines of the body. Additionally, it encourages your muscles to contract, including your core, in a controlled and fluid environment, which is a great warm-up for runners.

How can yoga strengthen me mentally?  One of the best things to hear from a student is that yoga has helped them off of their mat. We often start a yoga practice for the physical benefits and are truly surprised by the mental benefits its brings as well. The ability to find focus on your mat, while a million things are happening around you, is one of the most valuable mental benefits a runner can gain from practicing yoga. 

This mental strength translates to running by providing the ability to absolutely let go of all the outside thoughts happening while you run – like the doubt you feel as you approach mile five or the list of things you have to do for work – and just focus on your breath, moving and hearing the sound of that movement.  

I would also highly recommend meditation to runners. Start off small: devote five minutes of your day trying to find silence (inside and out) and then let it expand from there. Truly being present while you're on your mat is just like being present when you run, you can feel everything around you buzzing but you're in complete control of that energy?

yoga-just-breathe-mat
I love my Momentum wrap bracelet. 
What is one of your favorite yoga poses for runners? 
    Reclined Cow Face pose (or Supine Half pigeon if you have any knee pain!) is one of my favorite stretches for runners. Not only does it feel amazing but it improves range of motion in the hips and loosens tight glute muscles and hamstrings. Just be sure to keep your feet flexed in order to protect your knees and keep your tailbone down. This will ensure you get the full benefits of the pose!

    Do you practice yoga? Do you find yoga helps with other sports, routines, or overall fitness? 

    February 12, 2016

    5 Friday Favorites featuring Mizuno Running & Snacking

    Disclosure: I was sent a pair of Mizuno Running Wave Catalyst shoes as a part of a sponsored campaign through the Fitfluential Network. I was also given a complimentary code for 3 meals through Galley Foods. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

    Workouts have been not too great this week because of being so busy plus trying to avoid running outside in the below freezing windy temperatures we've been having this week. Apparently it's going to be in the single digits this weekend. Um, is it spring yet? I plan on knocking out a workout and then getting nice and cozy and warm and watching the Olympic Marathon Trials from LA on Saturday, rooting for my #TeamNuun lady Kara Goucher, Shalane, and Meb of course as well as some other awesome runners.  I have a lot of exciting things planned for the spring, but need to survive a lot of work this semester and this crazy winter weather. Here are some of my favorite things from the past week:  

    5 Friday Favorites

    1. Favorite Package: Mizuno Running Wave Catalyst

    5 Friday Favorites featuring Mizuno Running & Snacking

    Thanks to a campaign with Fitfluential I was sent the new Mizuno Wave Catalyst shoes. Besides loving the neon color, I was really excited to try a lightweight shoe from Mizuno since I've only tried their more supportive shoes. I'm a fan of more lightweight shoes and so far like it. The bottom is still a little stiffer than I normal like, but I appreciate the light weight feel and the thinner upper on the shoes.  I skipped a bitter cold run last night, but still took these babies to yoga class!

    2. Favorite Dinner: Lamb Bolognese Fettuccine from Galley Foods


    December 17, 2015

    CorePower Yoga is Coming to Baltimore

    I'm always saying I need to go to yoga more and never really make the time to fit it in. Apparently I can fit in some yoga to stretch  on the beach in the Bahamas a couple weeks ago (my prize for being Women's Health Top Action Hero of 2015!!!) .  Bridge pose is my favorite for stretching out my back. 

    Yep, I was the most basic girl doing yoga on the beach.  


    yoga-beach-bahamas-bridge-pose

    Unfortunately, most days I am not chilling at the beach (but a girl can dream!). I really want to try to go to more classes or even do some shorter at-home yoga videos a few times a week. I was really happy to be able to take a free yoga class at a new studio in town. 

    Recently I found out that CorePower Yoga is coming to Baltimore with a location in Federal Hill on Key Highway (across from the Royal Farms).  

    CorePower Yoga has a high-intensity style with a wide range of class styles. CorePower Yoga 1 is an unheated foundational vinyasa flow class while CorePower 1.5 is heated at 88-91 degrees and is slightly more challenging. Both heated at 95-98 degrees CorePower 2 is for more experienced yogis and it's taken up another notch in CorePower 3.  

    Also offered is a Hot Yoga class (at 102-104 degrees & humidity) and a Hot Power Fusion class (at 100-103 degrees & humidity) which combines power and hot yoga.  

    There is a heated YogaSculpt class which mixes free weights and strengthening moves with yoga. CoreCardio circuit is an unheated HIIT style class and CoreRestore is an unheated restorative yoga class. 

    Their prices are comparable to other yoga studios I've seen, but they are running a bunch of great grand-opening deals before the new year. Normal pricing is $20 for a single class, $175 for 10 classes as well as other class packages such as monthly unlimited packages. You can also use CorePower Yoga class packages at any of their over 130 locations. 

    corepower-yoga1


    They have been having free yoga classes partnered with various gyms and businesses for over the past month. I was lucky enough to be able to attend their Yoga on Tap free yoga class at World of Beer in McHenry Row last week. There was a small group including my friend who attended the class on the patio of World of Beer. 

    August 30, 2015

    Chicago Marathon 2015 Training Recap {Weeks 9 & 10}

    {Read about Weeks 1&23&45&6 ,7&8, of my training} Weeks 9 and 10 of training are here already. It freaks me out the race is only 6 weeks away now! Luckily I have another two solid weeks of training behind me. 

    Be sure to check out the hashtag #breathedeeplyandrunchi on Twitter and Instagram for more snippets of my training! 

    breathe-deeply-and-run-chicago-marathon-training
    #breathedeeplyandrunchi

    Chicago Marathon 2015 Training Recap

    Week 9

    Week 9 was a solid week of training despite the fact that I was trying not to push it hard due to my freak toe injury . I wore my more stable Mizuno Wave Enigma 5 shoes for running and took an extra rest day on Monday.  I got in my favorite run, Shack Track & Field, this week. I switched it up and got a root beer float after the run which hit the spot! 

    Thursday I went to a bootcamp class at Beachfit which was a nice change of pace. I also found a ride over to the workout so I went to my first ever Friday NP workout. I had been using Fridays as a cross-training day but decided to have some #hillsforbreakfast since my schedule for work/school has changed. I loved the workout and the different vibe of Fridays!

    november-project-baltimore-hills-week9
    NP #hillsforbreakfast at Patterson Park


    week-9-long-run-druid-hill-park-selfie
    Druid Hill Park as the sun came up was worth the early wake-up call. 

    I also did a group long run again with some NP people and got in a really solid 17 mile run at an average of 9:04 min/mi with some fabulous views. My fueling and water intake felt solid and there were no issues during the run besides a little humidity. I treated myself to this gluten-free caramel pastry & coffee which was as if a biscuit and a muffin had a baby-YUM. Of course I had some serious breakfast eating when I got home and showered as well. 


    fells-point-sweet-dukes-biscuit-muffin-1

    Week 10
    This week really rocked. The weather was a bit warmer and humid again so there were many sweaty runs. I got in a quick treadmill run and a speedwork treadmill intervals two nights after work. Tuesday I finally went to another yoga class at the Under Armour Headquarters gym. With views like this in the morning, it's hard not to be feeling zen, body & mind. 

    under-armour-waterfront-yoga1

    I also made it to November Project on Wednesday and again on Friday for hills! 
      
    week-10-long-run-shoe-shot1

    Saturday was a big long run of 18 miles, the longest of my training cycle so far.  I met up with a group of NP people at 5:30 AM with my new Energy Boosts and new Lululemon running skirt on and was ready to tackle some miles despite barely being awake!

    We ran a path that took us around parts of the Baltimore Half Marathon route, going north of the city. I stuck to my own pace so at some points I fell behind the group. I do really like meeting up with people and trying different running routes I normally wouldn't these past few weeks.   Despite just-before-5 AM wake-up call, I felt super great and accomplished after getting my miles in and made sure to stop at Starbucks on my way home for some water and a frappucino with a big smile on my face. That post-run high is amazing sometimes. 
    week-10-starbucks-post-run-selfie

    Remember you can always  use my code BREATHEBLOG to save 10% off sweet Bondiband headbands like the ones I always sport! 

    The bad: Incorporating more yoga in my life, for my physical and mental health.  I also need to make sure I'm getting in enough water because I've been starting to feel really dehydrated and thirsty again after a few good weeks of water intake.  

    The good:  I'm happy with where my mileage is at.  I know some people suggest running more but hanging out around 40 miles a week seems to be working for me right now.  I've been mixing up easy miles, workouts, and long runs without feeling run down.   

    Things to Focus on: Since I'm starting grad school, I need to make sure I keep a good balance of sleep, work, training, and run so I can keep my sanity and continue training strong. 

    This post was linked up with Weekend SnapshotsWeekly Wrap, and MIMM.  

    How was your week of workouts?  Do you switch up your longer run routes often?

    August 11, 2015

    Work it Out Wednesdays #4: Internal Dialog of a Beginner Yogi

    It's time for another Work It Out Wednesdays. On Wednesdays I share a new workout or special topic for you all to learn about featuring some of my fellow amazing 2015 Women's Health Action Heroes.  These fitness queens have so many fun workouts and great fitness & nutrition tips that I can't wait to share with all my blog readers.

    work-it-out-wednesdays-wh-action-hero


    Today I'm bringing you a hilarious post from the fabulous Lauren of Twenty Something Living. At first she was unsure if I'd like it and immediately read it, laughed out loud, and told her it was great. I used to do yoga weekly a few years ago so now when I sporadically go to a class it always takes me a little bit of flow to get into the groove. 

    yoga-pants-ee-card-funny

    I also feel these thoughts WAY more in a really hot bikram class.  I'm also really get nervous about possibly farting in a quiet room!  I hope you enjoy this light-hearted take on yoga. 




    Internal Dialog of a Beginner Yogi

    As a beginner yogi it often feels like I am trying to convince my body to become a hybrid pretzel, all in the name of flexibility. Walking to class I try to prepare myself with some deep breathing and minor stretching, getting in the groove for some serious body work, but knowing that just one class will have the stress running down my body in beads of sweat instead of holding my heart and mind captive. There are feel feelings better than the last few moments of a yoga class, and the feeling of the air on your face as you walk out of the studio into the evening air… but the internal dialog isn’t always so carefree:

    January 29, 2015

    The Still Point at Haven on the Lake Spa Afternoon

    When I received an email with an invitation to tour and experience the newly opened The Still Point at Haven on the Lake in Columbia, MD I was excited.  Relaxing at a spa sounded like the perfect way to chill last Sunday afternoon.  

    the-still-point-haven-on-the-lake

    Columbia is around a 30 minute drive outside of the city and Haven on the Lake is conveniently located near the mall and below a new Whole Foods. Yes, fresh food and drinks from Whole Foods are actually delivered to Haven on the Lake so you don't have to bring your own lunch! 

    Since it's nestled right in the middle of things, I was surprised at how relaxing and calm the environment was from the minute I walked in.  There was something about the huge space, open layout, and their signature scent in the air that made me right at ease.  

    When you walk in The Still Point is on the left and the on the right are the studios and pool and therapy areas.  

    haven-on-the-lake-lobby

    The Still Point offers a large selection of wellness services including acupuncture, massage, holistic skin care, body treatments, natural nail care, and nutrition coaching. The spa looked pristine and was well-staffed.   

    The first part of the afternoon was a tour of Haven on the Lake itself.  It has a huge pool area which includes a hot tub, relaxation pool, cold plunge pool, sauna, and steam bath.  All the areas looked stunning, and I was absolutely regretting not bringing my bathing suit to sneak in a dip! 

    Two of the most interesting things available are the tropical rain shower and the Crystal Salt Room.  Apparently the Crystal Salt Room is used as alternative medicine for common ailments and skin conditions and is surprisingly the most-booked area at Haven on the Lake! 

    haven-on-the-lake-spa-whirlpool1
    Yes, I;m talking gorgeous pools like this.  
    Haven on the Lake also offers meditation and relaxation lounges, childcare services and a plethora of Mind Body classes including barre, aqua pilates,and yoga. 

    I chose to try out the Yoga Wall class instead of the barre class. The studio literally is right on the lake and provides a beautiful, peaceful environment to practice in. .They even have an terrace for outside classes when the weather warms up.

    November 4, 2014

    FloYo at Beachfit Baltimore

    This past summer I tried FloYo which is a combination of SUP (stand up paddleboarding) and yoga/pilates for the first time in Annapolis with Jessie Benson, the founder and all-around awesome Baltimore fit lady, so I was excited to try a preview of her FloYoFit class at Beachfit Baltimore last week.  

    I have taken a couple of Surfset , spinning, PiYo classes and at Beachfit this past spring before I started marathon training and love the friendly new Harbor East boutique gym with it's small class sizes and motivating instructors.
      
    FloYo is a full body workout that incorporates yoga poses and a vinyasa flow which included warrior poses, sun salutations, and core work.  


    Floyo-Beachfit-Baltimore-fitness-class

    Since the weather is quickly getting colder in Maryland, Jessie decided to bring FloYo inside by using the surfset boards , which are small, portable surfboards on top of a bosu ball-like base. It definitely is a core workout no matter what you are doing because you need to try to keep the board stable plus keep yourself from shaking all over the place.  I definitely was feeling the burn in my abs for most of the class!

    September 25, 2014

    Body Love Tour Baltimore

    It's only fitting that right before I sat down to start writing this post (part event recap/part thinking out loud) I saw the TUT daily inspiration that perfectly says everything I wanted this post to be about: 



    You're beautiful enough, Lauren.

    You're special enough.

    You're sexy, playful, and fun enough.

    You've worked enough.

    You've cried enough.

    You've been grateful, generous, and kind enough.

    Okay, then?
        The Universe

    Last week I had the pleasure of attending a Body Love Tour event. I was surprised to find out the tour was making a stop in Baltimore for a night of yoga, inspiration, music and community with Promoting Natural Health and Lindsey Smith

    I was really excited because a couple of my favorite bloggers Heather Waxman and Kasey of Powercakes were going to be there. (YAY!!!) I especially love following Kasey's blog and her whole journey and philosophy about healthy living is so inspiring to me.

    The night of the event I showed up to a beautiful building albeit in a sketchier part of Baltimore for a smaller and more intimate evening than I had expected. I wasn't sure what to expect but right when I walked in I was greeted with hugs from both Heather and Kasey which had me blogger-starstruck. 

    Body-Love-Tour-Baltimore



    May 20, 2014

    Paddling in the Uncomfortable Zone (and my cute new sunglasses!)

    Something I realize more and more in life is that the situations that make us uncomfortable turn out to be really great experiences and a chance to grow.

    On Sunday I had to chance the take a free Floyo class as part of CapitalSUP's grand opening weekend in Annapolis.  Floyo is a mix of yoga and pilates, all while on a stand up paddleboard. I'm not very experienced with water sports and have never been stand up paddleboarding ever.  
    I somehow managed to convince my boyfriend to come,with who's trying to get fit and is supporting my summer goal of doing more outdoor activities. I was really excited because it sounded so fun, but as soon as we got on the dock I was extremely nervous, anxious, and a little scared. It was a small class of around 7 people. Jessie, the founder of Floyo who I know from November Project and her yoga and spin classes, was teaching and did her best to make me feel at ease. I haven't done yoga regularly in a while so trying to do it on a paddleboard on the water made it more difficult. Clearly

    Sitting on the dock of the bay...
    I paddled on my knees out to the spot where we were going to have class because my legs were so shaky that I didn't want to try to stand up and fall in immediately.  In the beginning of class Scott fell off his board into the water, and after that he felt like he wanted to leave. He finished the class like a champ, even though he's far harder on himself.  

    During the warrior poses I was still feeling shaky and had those negative voices in my head. All I thought of was how embarrassed I would be if I fell in. 
    I'm in the blue on the right doing a modified warrior pose!
    (photo courtesy of Jessie and Floyo's facebook page!)
    Eventually I got into the yoga flow and realized, so what? I had said it was my first time being on a paddleboard and if I fell it's nothing to be upset about.  I'm trying something new and uncomfortable.  

    October 3, 2013

    Marathon Training Week 15- Hello, taper time!

    I can't believe another week is almost over. The time is flying, for real. I'm working on getting better organized, and I have gotten some things I needed too out of the way (checked off taking my test and paying some bills!).  Last week, week 15 of my training, started the official taper for my marathon. I can't believe it's taper time already and that race day is so soon.  I pretty much freak out a few times a day about it now. 

    marathon-training-taper

    The Road to 26.2 -Marathon Training Week 15
    Runs:
    Short runs: My training group went back to some light speedwork with mile repeats at MRP (marathon race pace) this week. It's crazy how after running lots of slower, longer miles my supposed race pace feels fast. I definitely need to up the stretching and foamrolling now.  I haven't been running as often because I'm really anxious about getting hurt. I did some crossfit and strength training (light on the legs) and am trying not to worry. My training group coach says that running less during taper isn't going to make you slower or lose fitness-all the work is pretty much done by now.  

    Long Run- Saturday was a fairly flat 15 miles.  I was taking it easy, pace-wise, because there is no need to push it now. I was especially wary because of a few minor injuries in my training group. The fifteen miles felt long, maybe because I couldn't get into the running zone. The weather was cooler and overall it was a nice run.  I didn't feel super sore or tight the next day either. 

    What was awesome last week:   I have been doing pretty good about eating more protein to stay full and to make sure that my snacks and running nutrition is purposeful as fuel.  I need to fuel my body to run miles and also need to make sure I'm eating big meals and snacks with whole foods as the taper continues.  

    What I need to work on this week: Staying calm! I'm freaking out that as of today I'm be running a marathon in 9 days. NINE DAYS! I need to stay as stress-free as possible and block out all the thoughts rushing through my brain saying "you can't do it", "you're not ready", and "you're not going to finish". My coach says this anxiety is expected and to take a deep breathe and think about how excited race day will be and find things to occupy my time and mind.  

    As I try to get out of the funk I mentioned I was in and get more centered, I attended an event called "Om Out and Play" through the local Lululemon store and a local yoga studio.  It was a beautiful outdoor yoga class run by the yoga studio I used to go regularly a couple years of ago which focuses on power yoga and vinyasa flow styled yoga. It was wonderful to focus on being mindful and channelling the positive energy of all the yogis. Being outside along the water at the Baltimore Museum of Industry and feeling the cool breeze on my face as I moved through the poses was an amazing feeling.   They also had a live band playing  music during the practice, which was a nice touch. 


    baltimore-yoga

    I thought the flow was a little fast if you were a yoga newbie, but overall it was a great yoga class. Afterwards they had gelato (I had a dairy-free dark chocolate flavor!), smoothies, coconut water, and even some beer from local vendors around the city. The event was definitely a reminder that I need more yoga in my life.  

    Have any advice on tapering for a big race? Ever practiced yoga outside?


    January 30, 2013

    Note to self: Relax!

    Since this blog is not just about health, fitness, my random musings, but also learning how to reduce stress and anxiety.

    This past week I decided to finally take a formal yoga class. I've been on a yoga hiatus for 6 months? maybe longer. With moving from the studio I usually went to, along with a tighter budget not being able to afford a yoga studio and gym membership, I stopped practicing.  Then, perhaps as a sign, I received an email with a coupon for a free class at my old yoga studio since it was my anniversary from first going there.  I went to a power vinyasa class which focuses on vigorous flows of movements in a hot room.  

    It always is hard coming back after a hiatus because it takes me longer to get into my happy space when I'm anxious about how much yoga strength I've lost and poses that are more challenging than they used to be.  Still could get into a crows pose and full wheel so booyah :) Those last minutes of savasana are worth the whole class. I'm so zoned out in the pose and finally have quieted my mind just laying there.  

    By the end of class I was more relaxed and at peace than I'd been in a while.  So much so that I was startled when the instructor came to press my shoulders down.  I'm glad I attended the class and will try to make a yoga once a week now, especially as I up my running miles in the next few months :)

    Something else relaxing is a bit more indulgent and less healthy, but totally necessary after a day like today. Stayed late at work, didn't really get to eat lunch, and had to walk home in the pouring rain to boot.  So I pulled out a Justin's Nut Butter Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup pack I impulsively picked up at Target last week. Yes it's candy, but at least it's organic and GMO free.

    It's ingredients, from the website are below:
    Ingredients: Organic Dark Chocolate (Organic Evaporated Cane Sugar, Organic Chocolate Liquor*, Organic Cocoa Butter*, Organic Soy Lecithin, Organic Vanilla), Organic Peanut Butter (Organic Dry Roasted Peanuts, Organic Palm Fruit Oil), Organic Evaporated Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Butter, Organic Vanilla Flavor, Sea Salt. 

    Not bad for a treat in my book. And it really hit the spot. Chocolate keeps me sane, especially after a pretty clean eats day and nice run this morning.  I'm trying to be less hard on myself and practice some deep breathing.  Remember breathe deeply, smile, everything is okay :)