amendment

okay okay...alcohol lifts my spirits too...but then it makes me fat and hungover. Then what kind of health and fitness professional would I be?

Euphonic Sessions

During my yoga classes last week and as I was running on the treadmill yesterday, I realized I had forgotten all about the endorphins and "happy" chemicals that comes with working out. It seems that I've been suppressing this feeling. I haven't been running as much because of my bum knee. But yesterday was the first day back and it felt gooooood.

You see, for the past two months, I've been on an emotional roller coaster. I'm sure adjusting to a new environment has a lot to do with it as well as missing my friends and my routine back in New York. So this transition has made it difficult for me to enjoy my new environment and take advantage of it. Yes I know "it's all a state of mind". "You're reality is what you make of it." But what if people need more than just "changing" the way they think. I do. I'm saying after yesterday's run, it reminded me of how much working out can lift my mood. Especially running. Having good music to run to was a big plus too!! I was running to the Euphonic Sessions (how clever I am with the title of this post) which seriously is great to run to. It was only a 30 minute run on the treadmill but it felt great! I think I was almost in euphoria. It was awesome!

There are a lot of reasons why I've been feeling low. I miss my time in L.A. and N.Y. I miss the new friends I met just before I left; the new friendships that came to an end too soon. My old friendships waiting for me back at home. I miss the weather in L.A; the wide open spaces...even in NY; the convenience; my car; my iPhone; my apartment; my bed. All this contributes to my roller coaster ride but I realize I can't get stuck in the past or else I'll miss the present. And for me to get out of the dips of the ride, I realize I need to go work out, run, or practice yoga.

So if anyone finds themselves in their own ebb of thoughts, go for a run! or take a yoga class. Ring out the negative thoughts from your muscles. And for those who need more convincing on why you should work out other than staying fit and looking good...it also makes you FEEL good mentally. Because we all know that when you run or work out, your brain produces these awesome chemicals (endorphins) and gives you a natural high. Well, if you didn't know, now you know. And knowing is half the battle!

This blog is dedicated to TM. Thanks for the music!

Back to Basics

I must admit I wasn't on point with my personal challenge last week. My brother was off from work for a week and a half so we were running a lot errands. I think I did 4-5 days of yoga though...2 of those days I went to 2 classes. I think that counts. The reason why I've been doing more yoga is because my hamstrings and glutes are just really tight. Too tight to make weight training or endurance training fun or effective. I had to take my workouts down a few notches so that I wouldn't injure myself. The yoga helped a lot. Not to mention going to a physio therapist for my injury. I needed that release in my hamstrings and abductors. I even took a body pump class (total body) and used very light weight which I usually don't do. It's been helping.

Just because I toned down my workouts doesn't mean that it's easy. With the yoga classes, I had to go back to Ashtanga 1, Hot Flow 1, and Basic Core. Since I have neglected my yoga practice for the better part of last year, due to doing more weight training, I'm just not at the same level as I was previously. It's quite humbling to have to step back in doing something I thought I was advanced at. I know that taking this step back will help me move forward faster instead of trying to push myself in something I know I can't do right now...it'll just get me frustrated and set me back more. The basic classes have been challenging for me as well. Not only was I not as flexible anymore but my muscle endurance was lacking.

So the moral of my story is that it's okay to go back to the beginning in order to move forward. I had to tell myself that when my muscles and tendons were screaming for mercy. It's like that television game show "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?". Some of those adult contestants are probably saying "dang! I need to read up on my 5th grade math/grammar." Okay, it's NOT exactly like that but you know what I mean.

After that week and a half of going back to basics, I must admit I feel much better and have advanced pretty fast. I think I'll stick to Ashtanga 1 for a few more weeks though. That sh*t is HARD! But I can start my endurance Kettlebell training soon.

Did you ever have to go back to basics? Share your story here! I'd like to know.