red velvet

As previous mentioned, this is not the greatest month to focus on getting fit. 

I’m on a flight to New York and I just consumed a giant red velvet cupcake, my absolute favorite sweet treat. This actually has nothing to do with the topic of this post, but it’s such a posh scenario, I was too tempted to share. The real deal involves my everlasting commitment to remaining totally inactive. 

I’ve done yoga twice this month! Twice a week used to be a mediocre excuse for preferred hours of practice. That said, it’s not like I’m sitting on the couch, munching on potato chips instead of doing sun salutations. I’m busy with school, graduating, my internship (which I walk to BTW), dinners, parties, drinks with friends, dates with my boyfriend, writing, and Farmer’s Market adventures. I’m busy with living. Is this a valid excuse? Maybe not for some. But it is for me, for now. 

It’s my last semester of college! Soon I’ll have a 9-5 (fingers crossed!), a scheduled pretty little life and appropriated allotted amounts of time to get fit. Maybe I’m delusional but it seems like it will be a whole lot easier to designate time and energy to namaste when my life isn’t so sporadic. But right now it’s chaotic and I’m reveling in it. I’m enjoying traveling to another continent for five days and New York for the weekend. I’m savoring my tiny pieces of heaven disguised as delectable red velvet cupcakes. I’m sake bombing and staying up late. In less than a month I’ll be graduating and experiencing a lifestyle change. Until then I’m doing all things lazy and crazy instead of downward dog.

Stay tuned.. -a. 

Attempt #2

It’s hard to Get Fit, and even harder to get back into the habit of actually tackling this months focus. It’s now two weeks into April and I can’t say I’ve done a whole lot to achieve my Get Fit goal. I was throw back into the craziness of life when I returned from overseas travel on Tuesday and have yet to roll out my yoga mat. I honestly thought I would do something in the U.K. but aside from London sightseeing, aka walking around the entire day, and getting down on the dance floor at the wedding I attended, I did squat.

Despite my lack of movement on foreign soil, and my abundant consumption of vino, I don’t feel bad. It was a stellar time and I’m glad not a second of it was wasted on the regular, non-vacay, task of exercising. However, now that I’m home, I have to face the reality that my priorities have slightly shifted. While last semester, I would wake up at the crack to do yoga before class, I now opt for an extra hour of shut eye. Currently, in my few spare hours, maintaining contact with girlfriends over coffee or cocktails is more important than pilaties. Walking my 40 minute route, even if it is raining, is a lost concept to me.

Consequently, I can barely touch my toes when I used to have the flexibility to rest my palms on the floor. So, yes, life has been insane with goodness as of recent and I don’t dare complain, but it’s time to get real and for real Get Fit in the last 2 weeks of April.

Stay tuned.. -a.

Girl look at that body... I (used to) work out

This months focus is to Get Fit. I obviously wasn't thinking about conflicting travel plans when I decided what each months focus would be. I am leaving for London in 2 days for a week and then traveling to New York for a weekend at the end of the month. It is going to be a challenge to Get Fit this month but I'm determined.

I consider myself a mediocre yogi. I'm not crazy flexible, I don't understand meditation, and I don't shop at Lululemon*. But I am pretty flexible, I understand the importance of breathing throughout my practice, and I can't deny living in yoga pants for the greater part of the past 5 years. I've been practicing since I was 18. I've attended weekly classes at my community college, taken advantages of monthly deals and Groupons, and have no shame in rolling out my yoga mat in the living room for a quick yoga sesh with Fitness TV on OnDemand.

Towards the end of November last year I tried bikram yoga. A local studio had a 30 Days for 30 Dollars deal going on. I think I made it to 5 classes before I came down with the flu. I believe bikram yoga gave me the flu. I may be biased when I say this yoga practice caused me illness, but sweaty people cramped into a tiny, hot ass, germ invested studio doesn't sound sanitary to me.

I spent the last week of November with shakes, sweats, aches, chills, fever, and up chuck. It was possibly the worst week of my life. (Background information: in my 22 years of this lifetime, I have never had the flu before this awful, dreadful week.) I have attended 3 yoga classes since this week from hell. That's right. You read right. I've spent a full 4.5 hours (each class was an hour and a half) getting fit in the past 4 months! This is not okay.

From January's focus, Know Thyself, I know that I don't mesh well with drastic changes. From February's focus, Deal w/Food Noise, I've learned that if I have a plan to "only eat this and none of this" I feel pressured and end up eating all of everything. Add in this months travels, and there is no way I can commit to a scheduled Get Fit agenda. Therefore, I have a tentative plan to do something physical for at least 45 minutes every other day. This might seem like small exercising goals to some, like my boyfriend who is training for an Iron Man (sexy man), but for me it seems perfect. I have no desire to run a marathon, loose weight, or look like a Victoria's Secret model. (Third one is a lie but I'm not tall enough anyway...) My focus to Get Fit is to stay healthy.

Yesterday, I did absolutely nothing. Today, I have already walked about 2 miles around San Jose, from school to Starbucks, back to school and then to my internship. I am planning on doing a short yoga sesh (maybe 20 minutes?) after dinner. Hopefully I can continue my Get Fit focus in another country.

What exercises can be done on a 11 hour flight...?

Stay tuned.. -a.

*But wouldn't a true yogi bypass the trendy, overpriced yoga wear and practice in chemical free, undyed clothing? Something to debate.