Yoga Retribution

So, if you read my blog regularly, or follow my tweets, or just happen to catch me on a Tuesday, you know that I've had a love-hate relationship with Yoga at the Y. 
I LOVE it.  Don't get me wrong.  Drew, the usual instructor is AWESOME and his noon class is always packed to the brim. 
However, the other instructor, who will remain nameless, just doesn't have that same je ne sais quoi...
The first time I took her class (a year ago!), she came to me after and said, I noticed you don't quite have the balance down yet.  Keep working on that!
Ouch.
Now I know what you're thinking, it was your first time at that class! You would only get better with time!
I know this, but I felt awesome after that class and I felt like I had really held up my end of the namaste bargain.  I really felt like the divine light within me was recognizing and affirming the divine light within her! But her divine light went ahead and blew my freshly lit light out with that little comment. 
Well, the same lady came in and taught class today in Drew's absense.  And I almost got up and left when I heard... (I wouldn't have been the only one! Two women said they were just going to go workout on a machine... Yikers.)
But I waited it out, and I gave her another chance, and afterwards she came up, and I was holding my breath, because I hadn't done that great with the balance poses, and my arms had gotten pretty tired during one of the extended planks and I dropped down to child's pose...
But she addressed another girl and myself and said, "You two girls are really getting good! I can tell you've been working hard at this. You've improved quite a bit!"
WHOA WHAT?! ME?! GOOD AT YOGA?! Dang right, lady!
The divine light within me is shining bright after that class.  Namaste. 

Pumpkin Pie Blizzards and Full Wheel

I have a few updates to some of my latest blogs. 

First of all, HUGE thanks to Elizabeth who brought me a perfectly portioned Pumpkin Pie Blizzard.  Along with some yummy meatloaf. 

Next item of business: My YMCA challenge card... 

I'm rocking it.  21 classes to go.  And my Wednesday spin instructor was impressed with my numbers.  However, he keeps telling me how many people he knows have started going to classes regularly and lost a TON OF WEIGHT!... Listen hippy, I need you to shut your mouth and teach spin class.  And furthermore, your spin class is nothing compared to Friday's spin class... the one where the instructor gave me 2 signatures.  That's right! He's my favorite. 

Ahem.... Sorry about that...  


I also have a word for my yoga instructor, the one that I desperately want to be accepted by for some reason... He remembers everyone's names, but mine.  He engages in conversation with everyone, but me.  He corrects people's form and encourages them when they finally get a pose right, except ME! 

I was the only one in full wheel (backbend) on Tuesday, and I get out of it and he says, "no one's going to even try?"  WHAT THE?! Even the old lady next to me stood up for me.  She told him I did it.  And then asked if I was a gymnast... Why yes little old lady who can put her leg behind her head, I am a gymnast.  a 5'9" gymnast with hips.

Anyway, I did it 4 more times and still got no love.  I also almost had handstand last week and got no love.  What's up with that Drew? 

Fall Into Fitness

This isn’t really a Friday Favs.  I kinda did a Friday favs thing yesterday… plus, this is my blog! So shut up! 

Anyway.  What I’m SO excited about today is completely endorphin fueled.  I was fully planning on going to a 10:00 am workout class at the Walnut Creek YMCA, but I couldn’t fall asleep last night after I got off work…  So I just ended up going to a spin class at noon.  

I admit, I pledged to walk 1K for the “Start Somewhere” walk… And I didn’t.  Instead, I took an intense spin class with 3 guys discussing Ironman Madison…  I will also admit that I keep calling it the “Start Something” walk and I envision people on the streets of downtown DSM getting into it over parking spaces and spilled mochas.  

So the Des Moines Y is having a fall challenge where you get a signature for every class you take in October and November, and if you take 30 classes in 60 days you get a T-shirt.  Well… I am SO freaking motivated by free stuff it’s not even funny.  

So I found out about this challenge on Tuesday during my Yoga class, so I immediately got a card and got my first signature.  Since then, I took a spin class on Wednesday, went to an intense Y-Pump class on Thursday that I usually go to, and then took a spin class today when I would have usually just gone for a walk or done my own ‘stationary bike with a mag’ thing.  

As I’m walking out I’m counting my 4 signatures over and over again and I keep getting 5…  Tuesday… Wednesday… Thursday… Friday… AND ONE MORE?! What the heck? So as I get to my car in the parking lot I finally look at the signatures.  The spin dude today signed it twice!  Just because it was my lucky day!  I know he did it on purpose because… well, I just know!  I was totally geeking out in my car.  Clearly, I’m still geeking out.  

Thanks for making my day spin dude. 

Let's Get Physical...

A recent report ranked Iowa as the 20th most obese state in the US.

I’ve always been a fan of physical fitness.  Especially competitive sports.  

We aren’t really sure where my love of all things sports came from.  My family loved to ride bikes, riding in RAGBRAI several times growing up, but other than a few beer-league softball teams, they weren’t really the “sit down and watch football” type. 

When I was old enough I started playing softball, volleyball and basketball competitively, playing on club and school teams of each sport.  

In college I worked at a gym and participated in as many intermural sports as I could, and after college continued to play sports and hit the gym for regular workouts.

This being said, I’ve never been a skinny-mini, opting rather for descriptive words that make me gag, like curvy and voluptuous.  (Seriously, did you hear me gag there?)

I’ve been on off and on “diets” where I write down everything that goes in my mouth, or swear off white bread and sugar…  But the one thing that always makes me feel like I’m “doing things right” is when I sweat.  

Recently I trained for RAGBRAI and loved the way it felt to go on a 2 hour bike ride before I even got my day started.  Now that the ride is over though, and the leaves are starting to drop, along with the temperatures, I find myself looking for another challenge.  Something that will make me feel like I’m contributing to the health of my state.

I haven’t pinpointed a specific training plan, or schedule.  But, this week, I’ve gone to the gym each day, (thanks for coining me a “gym rat” FourSquare! You made my day) and done something a little different each day.  And I must say, I’m hooked!  

Here’s my schedule:

Mondays: Ride the stationary for an hour and read magazines. (One of my favorite activities EVER) (I’m singlehandedly keeping print media afloat)

Tuesdays: Noon YOGA!  This is my absolute favorite workout.  Drew at the Downtown YMCA is the greatest yoga instructor I’ve ever had.  He makes it tough but attainable.  And everyone knows everyone… It’s like my Cheers.  

Tuesday Round Two: “2 workouts in one day? Are you crazy?!” You say?... Yes, I am.  But the second class was later in the evening, and I didn’t have any plans, so I went to Y Pump at the Downtown Y.  Butterfly presses, mountainclimbers…  No, it wasn’t put on by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources…  But I’ll tell you one thing… The blind, 200 pound, 60 year old lady in front of me was kicking my ass. 

Wednesdays: Attack with my dear friend Emily!  She teaches at a local gym and sneaks me in each Wednesday for her KILLER class.  5 minutes each of pushups and sit-ups interspersed between 40 minutes of cardio.  Kicking, punching, jumping, jacks, shuffles…  The list goes on…. For 50 minutes!  

Thursday: Y Fall Challenge.  A coworker who also goes to the Yoga class encouraged me to come to this class that basically consisted of massive amounts of pushups and squats with some jumping in-between.  

Thursday Round Two: Well… It was a 2 mile walk with my fitness friend Emily… And we got a beer half way through.  

Friday: I’m thinking another class or a round on the bike.  Maybe even a swim to soothe my aching muscles.  It’s still TBD, but I’ll find something, because I’ve renewed my desire for physical fitness and it feels GOOD!