Tag: holiday

Thankful for yoga

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Today is Thanksgiving. Many of us take today to reflect on what we are thankful for. I try to reflect on what I am grateful for on a regular basis.

I also try to remember that today can be very hard for some for a variety of circumstances and reasons. If that is the case for you, I hope that you can find some peace.

I feel very lucky and grateful for the life I do have.

There are so many things I am thankful for.

Such as: my health; my husband; my family; my friends; my job (there was a chance I could have been laid off this year); my amazing co-workers/friends; the supportive people in my life; my amazing readers/friends/supporters of Go Fit Girl! …

The list goes on and on.

But what I really want to reflect on today is yoga, my practice, my teachers, my teacher training, the discovery I am continually making and my growth in my practice.

Yoga is such a big part of my life. It touches so many aspects of each day in my life.

Here are some things on my what I am grateful for when it comes to my yoga … Continue reading

Comment Contest Tuesday goes Thursday with love

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Since today is Valentine’s Day (and in honor of this month’s Monthly Challenge) I thought we would talk about love, self-love, loving ourselves.

What do you love about yourself? It could be something simple or complex. It could be many things.

It could be your laugh, or the way you find the good in people, or your punctuality, or your legs or how cute you look in a certain outfit. It could be how hard you worked to get your education, what you do for a living or how you do it.

I don’t laugh often, but when I do I think it is a great laugh. I love my philanthropy ideas and ways. I love that I love to travel and plan to see the world. And to be a little vain, I don’t mind my tiny waist and pear-shaped body. I am what you would call curvy (on the bottom at least).

Normally we have Comment Contest Tuesday. Let’s change it up a bit and have Comment Contest Thursday this time around.

Every person who comments will get their name thrown into a drawing for multiple chances to win some of the items I will be reviewing … Continue reading

Healthy routine pays off

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Yesterday I talked about weight-loss pills. If someone chooses to take a weight-loss pill they should combine with exercise and a balanced diet to make it work to it’s fullest potential. (And discuss with your doctor.)

As I said I personally would not take a weight-loss drug. But I am all for the regular exercise and balanced diet.

For about three weeks in December I went a little nuts with the food and treats and sweets and alcohol. The exercise was still pretty consistent until we hit San Diego and then I got super lazy.

In about three weeks I gained almost 5 pounds.

But I had told myself if I wanted to eat and drink whatever I wanted I could and I would get back to my healthy routine starting Monday, Dec. 31.

And that’s exactly what I did.

So for the past week I have been tracking my food (and exercise) via Weight Watchers online and am back to my regular exercise routine. And, friends, let me tell you: THIS WORKS! Balanced diet and regular exercise is the key to weight loss and/or maintaining weight and keeping that healthy lifestyle.

In one week I have lost … Continue reading

‘Tis the season to indulge

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And my crazy December really kicks in. The first week was relatively calm.

Today Curt and I are hosting a little gathering with a few friends called Cheesemas. We eat cheese and watch cheesy holiday movies. The first movie stars Rob Lowe called The Christmas Shoes. We ALWAYS watch it. The commentary is what makes our gathering a little raunchy. You have to have a wicked sense of humor to stomach most of it.

Anyway, there is a lot of cheese eating and drinking and a good time.

Then next week the challenges really kick into full swing with two work dinners, a work White Elephant lunch and a cocktail party over the weekend.

Monday night is our team holiday dinner. It will be at a nice restaurant with good food and wine. And that also means I will miss my regular gym class. I initially decided it would be OK for me to miss the gym as long as I make it to the gym 3-4 times this coming week I will meet the December Monthly Challenge.

But then I realized that there was no reason I couldn’t exercise at the gym on site. I haven’t decided if … Continue reading

Sweating with the yogis

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I realize my blogging has been minimal lately. I am either too lazy to blog or too busy. One extreme or the other. No fear–I will get back into my flow, soon, I hope.

Because tomorrow is a holiday, today it was a half day at work. So I worked from home.

Because of my early day I was able to attend Sean‘s 4:30 Vinyasa class. I rarely get to take his class because I just can’t be there on time.

His class is always challenging, always sweaty and always pushes me. But at the same time he encourages his class to listen to their body and take a break when needed.

Sean’s class today was probably the sweatiest I have ever gotten in a yoga class. And I have taken many sweaty yoga classes.

I was sweating so much that it was getting in my eyes and up my nose. I told Sean I had trouble breathing because the sweat was going right up my nose. His response, I take that as a compliment.

He did mention to us at the end of class that he wished he could give us the 10-15 minute savasana we earned … Continue reading

Hurrying to relax at yoga class

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I literally ran to the yoga studio tonight to make it on time to Baxter’s Hatha class.

Traffic from South City to Emeryville was pretty tame, especially since there is a 49ers game tonight. But from Emeryville a drive in the evenings that normally takes me 15-20 minutes took 40 minutes tonight.

I quickly changed into my yoga clothes once I got home and headed out to Namaste. I ran part of the way and when I arrived I was pretty much out of breath and quite warm.

But I made it on time. And I have to say I am glad I did. I always enjoy Baxter’s classes. I was hoping for more of a Christmas-themed class. There were some Grinch and Christmas Rack references. Eh, good enough.

That class is never too intense. But tonight was even more mellow and we did a lot of work with the bolster. Oh yea, so nice! I love working with the bolster.

It was so worth running and hurrying to class to relax …

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Sore, tired body

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This will be a short post as I am tired and well, just bleh.

Tuesday night Jenn and I did some weight work on our back and shoulders (among other stuff).

Yesterday I worked from home so I attended the Power Vinyasa yoga class at the studio in my neighborhood. Naushon really had us focus on doing upward dog properly, by pushing our chest forward and our shoulders down.

Between the work on shoulders/back Tuesday night and the yoga class yesterday and the crappy sleep I have gotten the past FOUR nights I woke up today with super sore shoulders and upper back.

I know being sore like this is a good thing as I am working my muscles and getting stronger. But it still is not that comfortable.

(Tonight at the gym I did intervals for spin and a little ab work. I did some stretching of my back and shoulders as well.)

After I got home I took a nice hot shower. Then I slathered my refreshing gel on my shoulders and upper back. I am feeling a little better. I am relaxing while blogging, watching TV, drinking wine and having a dinner of leftovers.

(This is … Continue reading

And the latest Go Fit Girl! winner is …

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… Penny.

Thanks to Penny, Alicia and Lauren for participating in last week’s Comment Contest Tuesday on a Wednesday.

I mentioned in that post that we were only going to have green beans as our healthy option for Thanksgiving dinner. We also ended up having salad. Wooo! What a way to balance that meal, eh?

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and weekend.

As the Christmas season gears up remember to take a step back, take a breath and try not to stress yourself out. Decide if it is worth it or not. It likely is … not.

Good luck.

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Holiday weekend full of emotions and some yoga

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I started my Thanksgiving holiday weekend with a Wednesday night Hatha yoga class with Baxter. I love his energy and humor. And he gave the class a Thanksgiving theme, which made it even more fun.

Thanksgiving morning Namaste Grand Lake hosted a 2-hour Day of Thanks workshop. Seventy-five people signed up. The workshop was $25 and all the proceeds went to the Alameda County Food Bank. It was a great way to start the day and weekend.

After class there were free chair massages offered with donated tips going to the food bank as well.

Friday morning my plan was to take Joey to his 8 a.m. fluids appointment and then take the 10 a.m. yoga class. At the vet’s office they got very concerned with Joey’s continued weight loss. They gave him an appetite supplement and special food. I was told if he didn’t eat by the end of the day I needed to check in with Dr. Miller. I came home very upset and just wanting to keep the furbaby safe, warm and comfy. I decided to skip the 10 a.m. class.

Dr. Miller and I chatted mid-afternoon. There was no improvement in Joey’s eating. So Dr. … Continue reading

How to survive Black Friday: Just don’t do it

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I have to say each year I get more disgusted by the idea of Black Friday, the commercials, the greed associated with Christmas.

 

Years ago with both sides of our families we decided to stop giving each other Christmas presents. No one needs anything. And really, a new candle or CD or shirt or whatever–we can all get those ourselves. So instead we give money to charity.

The stress of having to buy the perfect gift is eliminated; battling those crazy crowds … gone; spending money on something someone may or may not like … goodbye; never getting an acknowledgement or thank you for a gift you purchased … buh-bye; worrying about your Christmas shopping budget … adios.

The joy, pride and sense of being a good human being you get from giving to someone who really needs something: food, clothes, a new backpack, toys (when they aren’t normally under the tree), school supplies, healthcare, a home, education, pajamas, books, etc.) is the most amazing feeling and makes you feel like a better person. To me, that is the true meaning of Christmas.

More and more I reflect on the fact that there are so many people in this country and … Continue reading