Ohhhhmmmmm!

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I LOVE YOGA!!! It has become my new passion.  I love the stretching and strength aspects of it.  Admittedly I’m not that great yet but I love the way I feel after a class, DVD, podcast, etc.  It is such an uplifting thing to me.

I never really got into yoga when I first started working out.  I knew it was stretching but that wasn’t what I was looking for.  I wanted to burn calories and lots of them.  To me yoga was too slow and not worth it.  But when I had my back surgery last fall my Physical Therapist suggested that I try yoga to help stretch out my hips and back.  I need to keep them loose to prevent more pain and surgery.  I wasn’t too excited but I decided to try the yoga stretches he gave me.  To my surprise I felt AMAZING every time I did it.  I slept better, my hips were less sore and I had more movement.  As I continued in my recovery I was able to do more and more.

Now I love yoga and I especially love a challenge in yoga.  My core has to stay strong to support my back so I love poses like the plank and extended side angle and even the needle.  They all require me to engage my core (all of yoga does this but these moves especially).  I’m limited in some of the moved I can do because my back just doesn’t move in the lower vertebrae but I’m always able to modify and I’ve worked with some great instructors at my local yoga studio to help with even more modifications.  I look forward to yoga at least 3 times a week and preferably everyday.

Don’t think that if you can’t afford a membership to a yoga studio you can’t do yoga.  I can’t afford one either.  But my local studio has a community class that is available once a week for a small donation.  I go and take my cousins and pay $5.  The receptionist said that was very generous…so check out your local studios.  Also FitTV has Namaste yoga for half an hour at 8.30am, 12:30pm and 6:00pm and some extra times on weekends.  It’s not that long but you feel great afterward.  There are wonderful DVD’s…my favorite is The Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga for a great burn and flow.  And finally you can check the internet for youtube videos, podcasts, and blogs.  Don’t be intimidated…just give it a try and relax.

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Planning Ahead…part deux.

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Ahh stress relief!  And for me that is having everything planned out and not having to worry.  Now I know you can’t plan everything, but the more I have figured out ahead of time the easier it is for me to get through my crazy busy days.  And I love to exercise because it relieves stress but my day is so hectic that I don’t always know where I’ll find the time.  So here are some of my exercise planning ahead tips to make getting in that all important activity.

1.  Treat exercise just like any other appointment.  I make an appointment with myself on my calendar for exercise.  I try to look at least a week in advance and actually write it in.  That way if someone asks if I’m busy I can legitimately say I have an appointment.

2.  Do something you like.  I make time for stuff I like.  I know I’m more likely to go for a bike ride with Hunni or a run than to just go for a walk.  I HATE doing most DVD’s at home so I try to get in my exercise some other way.  If you don’t enjoy it, it will seem like a chore.  If you do you’ll want to do it all the time.

3.  Try to find time for morning exercise.  Ever since I started exercising in the morning I definitely have more energy throughout my day.  I know not everyone is a morning person and neither am I…but I love that feeling after I’ve worked hard and taken a shower.  I try to plan my morning the night before so that I don’t have any excuses.  A little breakfast bar by my bed for energy, work out clothes layed out, alarm set for enough time for a good workout and shower.  Even a bit of yoga in the morning helps to give me some energy if I can’t get in a full sweat session that morning.

4. Plan in some rest.  If I plan a rest day I look forward to it.  Some days will be just be too busy get in some exercise.  Some days I just need a break if I’ve put in some hard work at the gym or the office.  By planning in the rest I’m okay if I skip a day.  Rest is just as important as exercise so enjoy it.

I hope these tips have helped.  Remember I’m super-hyper-organized type so this helps me.  Whatever helps you to get in that extra activity…DO IT!

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