Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Guess who's back?
But guess when we teach it??????? 5:45 am! Yikes! But it really is the only time we have to exercise and I am usuallly up anyways with one of my babies.
Neither place has anyway to clean the yoga mats, so I bring free Jo-Sha Wipes and everyone can clean their yoga mats with a wipe of their choice. So feel free to join us Mon, Wed, Fri, at 5:45 for cardio and yoga! You'll get a great workout AND you'll even get a free wipe to clean you mat with!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Start reading labels

P.S. Oreo cookies are evidently like the worst things ever. Guess I oughta cut back on those cherry Oreo shakes from Iceberg!
Monday, June 23, 2008
My Nephew Stretches??
_large.jpg)
If you count your pose in seconds you will most likely hold your breath and the stretch will be less effective because those stretching muscles need oxygen. As you breath through each stretch or pose, the length of you breaths will increase, the deeper your stretch will go, and the more flexible you will become. AND the more relaxed and satisfied you will fee!! It will feel a lot different than just mindlessly counting through the pose. The breath connects your mind to what the body is doing and is yoga at its core.
Good question Taylor. Now if I could just get you and the rest of your cousins into an actual studio!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
A Cow Isn't Skinny if it's Fat

So I bought a pack of mint and a pack of vanilla/chocolate and of course I had to eat one in the car on the way home. I was done with my treat for the day and it was good and satisfying. Fast forward to later that night...I was really stressed and sat down to watch a reality cooking show, so of course I needed to eat something. Remembering my "healthy" snacks in the freezer I decided I could afford to eat one more. 1,2,3,4 Skinny Cows later I literally had to force myself to turn off the TV and stop eating!! I was totally sick to my stomach and when Joe asked me why I didn't feel good, I did what any self respecting woman would do, and rather than reveal the details of my secret indiscretion to my husband, I said, "Must have been something I ate." Of course the next morning I totally had a binge hang-over and was a beast to my kids.
That's the problem with a) foods that are low-fat/calorie because we think we can eat more of them, and b) with self control....it is a lot harder to have it after 8 pm and in front of the TV.
The late night binge: while a way of life in college, not so cool anymore. Too much cow, and not enough skinny.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Being a Mom and Being Fit: Can the two be one?

Wednesday, May 28, 2008
The Joy of Being Unique
......but really I just photo-shopped a picture of me doing extended Adho Mukha Svanasana, or Downward Dog, on a yoga mat and looked like this!
Because of my muscle type and bottom heavy body make up, I am better at things like yoga, aerobics, weight lifting, walking....squatting.:) Whereas people like my husband, or maybe even you, are better at quick sports like tennis, basketball, track/running, or jumping over couches in a single bound (that's what Joe does). My point is, find the joy in your type of exercise. Find the method of exercising that makes you feel confident and yet can still challenge you. Then when you have found what you like and what really works for you, you can then keep your weight and muscles from plateauing by adding in a kickbox class, or try lifting weights, or try yoga, or racketball, or Dance Dance Revolution...try something new, knowing already what you are good at and what works best for you and your body.
The tricky part then, is to quit comparing and judging your body type or weight loss progression against someone elses. The path to being fit is just that...a path...it IS the journey. We will never reach "the goal" and then coast through the rest of life un-haunted by Ben and Jerry cravings. That is actually why we call yoga a practice...not a routine, not a work-out...but a yoga practice. Yoga, and truly exercise in any form, is a path of changes as our bodies go in and out of the different seasons of our lives. At times we will be able to run 6 miles, at other times, pushing a stroller to the park is breath taking (that was me three days ago). But if we always make an effort to do some kind of exercise...exercise that brings us joy...hopefully we will see over time a consistent improvement and growth in our health and in our body image. Be patient with your body, stay on the path, and find the joy in what makes you unique.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Fantastic Fiber

So..Fiber! I had to start monitoring my fiber intake a few years ago when my health issues began and I have learned a lot about how fiber affects our bodies and as a result have become a total Fiber Fan! Sheri asked if fiber really soaks up fat. The answer is yes. When fiber is in our intestines it absorbs and attracts fats and also flushes out toxins before they can be absorbed by our bodies. Before you get all stoked about going on a fat-fiber diet, just know that although fiber does get rid of fat and toxins it's really not enough to result in significant weight loss...it's more like weight maintainence. Which is still great, right? It is best to eat "real" fiber with your meals, ie whole grains, beans, vegetables, etc. But if that isn't always readily available, Benefiber powder is an excellent alternative. It honestly dissolves completely in water and a few spoonfuls can be added to anything you eat.
If you start adding a lot of fiber to your diet expect two things:
1) Expect to have increased...how can I say this...flatulence! This actually will only last a short while because it is not necessarily to fiber giving you gas, but the fiber pushing old toxins through your colon resulting in, well, you get the picture. Stick with the fiber and the gas will decrease eventually (unless you are one of my brothers and then it NEVER seems to go away!)
2) The other thing to expect is a vitamin shortage in your body. Unfortunately fiber can also flush away good stuff too, like viatmins and minerals. So if you add fiber you'll want to increase your vitamins by taking an over the counter vitamin supplement or drinking one of the popular vitamin drinks like Noni, Xango, Bazi, Seven, etc.
In conclusion, it is my opinion that adding fiber to our diets is one small and easy thing we can do to improve our overall health.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
The Backbend

Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The Fight for Fit
Today I was listening to Bob Marley and the phrase Get up. Stand Up. caught my attention. I know the Rastafarian was singing about racism and standing up for rights, but when I heard that I thought it was motivating me to get healthy.
I have been feeling particularly out of shape lately and it seems I am fighting against age, gravity, sugar addiction, commercialism, poor self-esteem, and shear laziness to get healthy. But I know it is a fight worth fighting. Not only so I'll feel better, but so I'll be healthier and ultimately happier. So thanks for the encouragement Bob. Get up. Stand up. Don't give up the fight.
...and "Happy Yoga" is worth getting up for as well. It's on the Oxygen Channel every morning.