Tag Archives: yoga

The Year of Yes

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I’m just over halfway through an adventure. So that means I can tell you about it.

This year is the year of yes.

If you invite me, I say yes. I am trying new things. I am going new places. I am accepting there is a reason people approach me with ideas, offers, suggestions. I’m taking them.

Because of willing myself not to over think or immediately refuse anything, I’m having a great year.

I encourage you to try to change your perspective.

Never been to yoga and that one friend keeps inviting you? GO.

That email you saved with a tempting opportunity you’re nervous about? DO IT.

I was a worrier. Now I’m an engaged, happy friend that gets to continually reap the benefits of having a positive outlook. I’ve been to concerts, events, parties, and gyms and recreational activities – even a farm tour, things I would never have tried before. I feel more well rounded, less stressed. I have written more. I’ve gotten to work with some super cool people.

My friendships hold more value. I don’t deny things I like. I’ve read terrible books. I’ve eaten gross food. But at least now I’m educated as to why I like what I like.

It’s yes to breathing. Being calm. Considering pros and cons. Applying for jobs I’m not qualified for. Telling my family how much they mean to me. Painting. Traveling.

I look forward to the next four months as more time to grow and explore. And say yes.

On a hike by Old Faithful

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Yoga For Skiing

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I spent most of the summer (and every day during month of September) doing yoga. Nothing but yoga.

I have read over and over this works, yoga can be all you need. And I have seen people that do nothing but yoga. They have perfect, strong bodies.

I went to the gym and ran. I hated it.

I did huge weight lifting sessions. I hated it.

I walked through countless sets of lunges. I almost opened wine it sucked so bad.

So I went back to yoga.

The ski resorts are opening. I have skied three days. I already know I am at a whole new level of strength, comfort, and light-footed-ness. The yoga worked. It has transformed my body, to respond and react to the snow. It has changed my mind, the totally let go and trust that I can do whatever I try.

I’m not going to end up breaking any world records, but yoga helped. No question. It wasn’t the miserable workouts. No question.

The poses I have learned have so much to do with balance, like skiing. I feel like I’m skiing a new way, that yoga found for me. My core is stronger and my mind and body are centered.

I gained a little bit of grace, and it’s going a long way.

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Skiing today also reminded me of my happy place. I love being on my mat, but I ADORE being on the mountain. Nothing makes me happier. I’m calm. My mind is quiet. Everything is right with the world.

I came home and did some stretchy restorative yoga, and I’m hooked. I want to make everyone I know that is a skier a yoga junkie. And my yoga buddies skiers.

I feel better, stronger, and ready to take on the challenges of a new season, and hope it will be my best yet!

National Yoga Month Update

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As of today, I have done yoga 14 days straight.

Indoors, outdoors,  and even one time in a bar. Videos, classes, and instructions out of a book I taught myself. Morning yoga, late afternoon yoga, and one super late night I-almost-forgot yoga.

I figured at this halfway point it was time for some introspection. What did I learn? I love yoga. I can have an off day and it restores me. I can come to my mat stressed and the stress will leave me. I can even hate the video I start, end it, laugh, and find a new one. Yoga is my center, and my balanced poses and giving me a more balanced life.

I am eating less. Yoga curbs my appetite, for real. I am eating healthier. Yoga has made my subconscious grab an apple instead of crap food. I am drinking less, more than zero, but when you remember it was the first regular season weekend of the NFL, way less than I normally would have. 😉

On the other hand, I’m a little sore but don’t feel more flexible, thinner, or like I’ve made any leaps and bounds.

Emotionally,at first old me showed up and those thoughts got me down. I acknowledged them, but instead of falling into them I tried to see where they were coming from. It made me realize I was going about it wrong. I’m not doing this to lose 10 pounds. That will be bonus. If I haven’t leaped, I have learned, I have made progress. I’m on a journey.

During the “crazy late night yoga sesh”- I broke through and I have no idea how but managed to hold this for quite some time:

shared through trueyogainc.com

I set down smoothly and thought, yeah, the past 14 days have been worth it. It’s not just doing extra laundry and getting frustrated. It’s work inside and out, and it has been really rewarding.

National Yoga Month

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Continuing Yoga has been a struggle. I’m not a huge fan of the classes at my gym. The outdoor free and fun lululemon classes are over now that it’s turning to fall. After a month in San Diego, I had to charge back up and think about getting in shape for the start of ski season (it’s right around the corner!).

Then I discovered that September is National Yoga Month – and just in time – it was the first of the month!

I’m not good at sticking to things – I never even finished the 21 Day Challenge because some of the videos started repeating and that made me mad. I hurt my back.

But fortunately I found an amazing chiropractor in SLC and I’m all “back” (ha) to normal.

I found this silly show called “Yoga Zone” with free workouts on Hulu, and as of today I’m 5/5 with a yoga routine.

I hate to jinx myself but I’m hoping to keep it up. Wish me luck!

And feel free to recommend yoga sites, videos, ideas if you have any. I need all the help I can get! Anyone I know trying anything new for national yoga month?

21 Day Challenge

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I started the Yoga Journal 21 Day Challenge today!

http://21daychallenge.yogajournal.com/

It’s not too late, you could sign up too -and it looks like the website is going to have a week’s worth of info up. I’ve had a couple of the magazines and really enjoyed them. After skiing, it’s next to impossible for me to want to get up and go back out to the gym, so I haven’t kept up with my practice since skiing started. I’m hoping this cool resource and FREE videos that I can do at home will get me back on track!

If you talk to MK tell him I’d love a magazine subscription for my birthday…