Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Tuesday's Double Header

My double header is running & bikram yoga. And I did just that yesterday. I do it sometimes but yesterday was special.

I'm hoping yesterday was my last time in the studio for at least a little while.

You see, tomorrow, I'm doing a fertility treatment. It's been a long road and I'm hoping this one will be the one that gets me pregnant. And I want to make sure I take care of myself and therefore will abstain from my beloved bikram yoga either until I have a baby or... just for 2 weeks while I wait for my tests.

I hope it will mean that I need to stay away from bikram yoga for a little while. I want to do whatever I need to to make sure I can keep a pregnancy.

But I LOVE bikram yoga. And it will be hard. And I won't know what to post about (I did get the pre-natal DVD version of bikram yoga to do at home).

So, slight hiatus for me. I'll give an update in a couple of weeks!

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Practicing in Chicago

I was excited to go to the 8am class this Saturday morning in Chicago's City Center! Visiting a new studio is always fun.

I've been here before on my last work trip 6 months ago. When I came last time I registered online for a 6am weekday class... and the teacher never showed. It was their first time ever doing that. They said they'd give me credit. I had forgotten about it.

Well, when I signed in today they said I didn't have to pay! Nice surprise!!

I didn't do a great job of getting the right nutrients ahead of time and should have brought a Gato.rade or coconut water or something in the room. I was starting to fade at some point too early on. I made it all the way to the floor though and only took breaks at the usual suspects like camel.

Great class and best of all - they serve popsicles after every class!  (I guess environmental-impact wise that isn't great though).

Yay for going to a different studio!

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

In Chicago & In a Slump

Why can't I get more motivated about yoga?

I had GREAT practices on Mon & Tues night. But somehow couldn't find anything meaningful to write about them.

Sunday I ran 10 miles to prepare for my 1/2 marathon in 2 weeks... maybe that's what's happening. I'm focused equally/a bit more on running right now.

Anyway, as it relates to yoga, for 2 Sundays in a row now I've ran 10 miles and gone to yoga on Monday nights thinking it was going to be hard. Surprisingly, though, those have been my best practices. Go figure! I thought I'd be tighter but I've been more flexible!!

I'm in Chicago for work for the rest of this week. Six months ago I was here and visited the studio on West Chicago Avenue and liked it. I'm hoping to do the same on this trip. Waking up at 6am is slightly better when you've got an hour of time change in your favor! ;)

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Monday Night Back Row... Not at All!

The cute teacher was teaching last night. I saw him on the schedule last week and have been looking forward to it since then. I blogged about him a couple of weeks ago here when I had him for the first time. Specifically, this is what I said about him:

Upon arriving at the studio, I learned that someone other than the instructor I thought was teaching was going to teach. I'd never had him before (it's still shocking to me that as much as I go, there are some teachers I still haven't had).



He was AWESOME. So energetic! And gave us good direction. And was funny. And... was cute. I could have fallen in love right then. But I'm married. And happily so. And it's a yoga fantasy anyway.

So, when my husband saw this posting, he said 'You can never go to class with that teacher again'. If you know my husband, he's so not the jealous type, so this was all fun and games.
 
Well, I told him I was having this teacher again and he said "please make it a back row Monday night!"
 
I was in... the front row. Yes, I know. BUT, I also realized that I couldn't see him as well in the front row... which is probably best because this is supposed to be about yoga and not a yoga man crush.
 
It's not just that I think he's cute but he really is so incredibly energetic and funny. And I think it's endearing that he's kinda jock-ish and doesn't fit the typical yoga mold.
 
It really is just a fantasy. I promise.
 
I had a great practice yesterday. Was afraid of what it'd be like. I ran 9 miles on Sunday to get ready for a 1/2 marathon in 3 weeks. But I was more flexible than I thought.
 
One of my other favorite teachers is tonight but much as I don't have a 'crush' on her, I still strive to get to her Tues night class. Except tonight I think I need a break.
 
I plan to run 6 miles again tomorrow and then get back in the room on Friday. Not as much this week but I have to make room for running if I'm going to feel good for this 1/2 marathon!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Feels Like Swimming

You know that feeling when you're swimming and you turn upside down or you breathe in wrong through your nose? Yeah, well, I've experienced that at yoga. With sweat rolling into my nose in my upside down poses.

All I can say is: gross.

It grosses me out. I'm not in a pool. I'm in a hot yoga room. But sweat should not drip into my nose!!!

It was hot yesterday. And it was even hotter in the room. Sweat dripping EVERYWHERE!

I had run 6 miles during my (long) 'lunchtime' yesterday and then went to yoga at 6pm. I was actually more stretched out than I thought I was going to be.

I love my 'double-header' days as I call them!

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Awesome Day = Awesome Practice

I had an AWESOME day yesterday!

I got up really early. Met one of my favorite colleagues for a 6:45 sunrise 5 mile morning run along our glorious monuments and blooming cherry blossoms. I love sunrise runs almost more than sunset runs. Not as many people out. Feel like you have the whole city to yourself, well, along with all the photographers wanting to get good shots of the cherry blossoms!

Then, I had my annual review, which went very well including a surprisingly much higher raise than I anticipated. In fact, my boss had to put in for an exception amount for me. I couldn't get over it and was so appreciative that he went to bat for me! Yay!!!!! (I am doing a pretty good job, I must say, and he said I earned it, which is true, but still, not many bosses would actually recognize that and make a case for you, so I was very happy!).

I called my day my double header because I planned on going to yoga after work.

I had a massive headache at about 4:00 and was worried I was going to bail out. But I didn't. I knew it would be good for me, much as I didn't feel like going.

Upon arriving at the studio, I learned that someone other than the instructor I thought was teaching was going to teach. I'd never had him before (it's still shocking to me that as much as I go, there are some teachers I still haven't had).

He was AWESOME. So energetic! And gave us good direction. And was funny. And... was cute. I could have fallen in love right then. But I'm married. And happily so. And it's a yoga fantasy anyway.

Ok, I digress. Back to my awesome day which = awesome practice. It was the best I've had in awhile. Even though I couldn't do standing head to knee pose very well because I was tight from running. I still went slightly further in some other poses, which felt great.

Yay! Hope that gives some inspiration out there!