Yoga Meltdown

Jillian Michaels is wicked! I have said it before and I will probably spend my whole life saying that her workout videos kick my butt every time! I love her 30 Day Shred but sometimes that is just not what I need at the end of a busy day. Enter Yoga Meltdown....

Here are some shots that I found on Amazon.

Locust pose, eventually Jillian wants you to fold in half...."not really", she says, but when she says something I think she kind of means it. [Source]

Side T-Planks, you start in Plank and move from side to side doing a T-Plank, and then you hold it. I remember doing a variation of these when I did Angela's Whittle My Middle II challenge. [Source]

So what did I think? I loved this yoga workout! I did the workout at 8pm on Sunday night, I had half an hour to kill before the Oscars started and this seemed more exciting than doing homework or eating when I wasn't hungry. I didn't really know what to expect because 30 Day Shred is intense, and so is Jillian Michaels. 

I was so happy with what was in the workout. There is a warm up of mountain pose and moving your arms, and some light chair poses while moving your arms. (I'm sorry if I don't remember everything, because I know I won't). Then you have about 25-30 minutes of kick butt yoga. It's like 30 Day Shred in that she has about 3 sets with different moves within that so you do one chuck of poses and then you move on. There are a few things she always comes back to: a speedy sun salutation (it increases in speed over the course of the workout) and mountain pose.

This video was great because sometimes I want to have my butt kicked and at the same time I wouldn't mind getting in some Downward Dog to stretch out my hamstrings. Of course I could just do another video and then do some Downward Dog after, but I liked how everything was mixed together!

Moving on to today...I'm looking forward to this evening!! Why?? Because I'm going to Lululemon at 5pm for their Run Lulu Run group! I love running alone, but sometimes I just want to run with others and have some fun while doing so! 

Other than that it is all school work and studying. The teachers said that after reading week they start to pile on the work. Well we will see how this week goes, I know I have to write up my informational interview for my writing class, there is always computer class (Work and Excel) chapter work, I have an office procedures test next week (oh and I still have one little internet search assignment to do, yes you read that right, heehee!), and I should probably get reading accounting, doing the exercises would probably help too. Ok so that looks like a lot but I have it covered!

Happy Running!

Greek Yogurt I Have Found You!

Let me tell you that Kingston is not a place where you can find Greek yogurt easily. I have found the Liberte brand that is decadent and wonderful for dessert. But I have been searching far and wide for one that was 0% or low in fat, I knew it existed. 

Turns out it was at my local natural foods store the whole time. I present to you the yummiest yogurt ever! It is so creamy!

Before I went to Yogalates on Thursday night I used this yummy yogurt and some Kashi Toasted Berry Crisp to fuel my Thursday night adventure.

Throw some strawberries and blueberries on top and what do you have? The most delicious quick dinner/snack before a run and 90 minute Yogalates session!

Yummy!! I used 3/4c of yogurt, 3/4c Kashi Toasted Berry Crisp and a few strawberries and blueberries. After eating, doing some accounting homework and reading some blogs I decided that I wanted to run down to Lululemon, the weather has been so beautiful lately, even though it was after 6pm and the sun had gone down it was still wonderful out! It was a quick 2 mile run that took me about 17 minutes and 30 seconds, while running I listened to David Usher's new CD Wake Up and Say Goodbye (by new I mean fall 2008).  

So what did I think of Yogalates? I was so pumped for my run that I was ready for a stretch and core work, and that is exactly what I got. It was great, we did yoga and then some pilates and then some yoga mixed with planks. It was a wonderful 90 minutes! I think the last 20 minutes (at least) was all gentle stretching, and I was so happy to just stretch and get out all the tension.

So what's on tap for this evening? I am actually singing in a choir concert. I was in this choir all through high school and then left it to go to university and finally joined again after being home for over two years after graduating from university. Of course now I am in the Women's Choir, and it is a lot of fun! The week leading up to a concert is full of extra practices so I am really looking forward to yoga at Lululemon tomorrow morning!

Before I head off for a night of singing I want to let you know that I am eating something else that is so very yummy!

These Gardein "Chicken" Filets are so good. I just made two of them, they are a nice small size, and have put them in a whole wheat wrap and I am in fake chicken heaven! I found these at Loblaws, there wasn't much looking involved so that was nice!

I am in food heaven right now! And I cannot wait to sing tonight, and run to and from yoga in the morning.

Happy Running!

My Perfect Morning

"I get up early to run and when I get home I do some yoga stretches for runners. Then I will sit down and read blogs and drink some Awake tea."

This is a quote from a Goal Worksheet that I filled out for a job application to Lululemon. This morning was one of those perfect mornings. What added to the perfect morning was that it is actually sunny out and it is starting to look a little bit like spring, well except for the fact that every lawn on the block doesn't have snow and my lawn still does. 

I came home to Awake tea, an Adore Glo Bar (these bars from Glo Bakery, made by Angela, are SO yummy!), and lots of blog reading. 

Do you see the jar filled with Awake tea in the background, I am just a little bit obsessed.

Here's how Angela describes the Adore Bar "Do you dream of mouth-watering S'mores roasted over the campfire? Well, now you can enjoy one in a delicious Glo Bar- and it's vegan to boot! Roasted vegan marshmallows, handmade chunky vegan graham crackers, dark chocolate, and cacao nibs come together to create a Glo Bar filled with love and adoration." [Source] These bars are just yummy! 

On another note, look what I bought the other day....

I haven't had the opportunity to try it yet, but I am very excited! I love Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred so I knew when I saw this video that it was something I would love! Instead of doing this video this evening I am going to the local Lululemon store to do a 90 minute Yogalates class. I am very excited!! Every time I hear "Yogalates" I think of The OC episode when Seth, Sandy and Ryan keep saying the word (yes I watched the show in high school). The video kind of exaggerates it, but I still find it really funny!! I will report back on how the class went!

Happy Running!

Music vs. Podcasts

What do you listen to when you run? I normally listen to music, the kind of music all depends of what kind of run it is, either way it keeps me motivated to continue moving forward. On the other hand, sometimes I love listening to podcasts, hearing what other people have to say about running, nutrition and life in general is always interesting to me.

Here are some of the podcasts I listen to:

- Dirt Dawg's Rambling Diatribe - he loves running, he does marathons and ultras and I love the episodes when he runs with his wife, "Dirty Girl".

- Phedippidations - I have been listening to Steve Runner since 2006, I always save his podcasts for long runs. I can remember running along a long stretch of nothing listening to Steve talk about George Sheehan with such passion and respect, it is something I will always remember.

- Run Vegan Run - I just started listening to Megan a few weeks ago and I love her approach to being a vegan and all the information she gives. 

- Running to Disney - Gordon is hilarious! I am guaranteed a good laugh when I listen to him. The first podcast of his I listened to was "Tips for First Time Marathoners" and it was great to hear all the best friends you need to make: sleep, core training, stretching/yoga...and so on!

I was listening to a podcast this morning and I felt as thought I needed a kick in the butt, I felt like I was lagging during my run. While podcasts are great for long distance running I find that for a shorter run I need some music to kick it into high gear!

Here are some of the songs that helped kick it into high gear this morning:

Some of those tunes have been rotated on and off my playlists forever, Machine Head by Bush has been a favourite of mine...since the mid 1990s. 

So now I am back listening to music consistently, but every now and then I love to hear what the above podcasters are talking about, by doing so I feel like I have someone running with me. It's a nice feeling sometimes.

Question:

What are some of your favourite podcasts? What songs have proven time and time again to get you motivated to run, or pick you up during a slump while running.

Around the Blog World:

Zesty Cook is doing a makeover give away for one lucky blogger to get a blog makeover.  There are so many things you can do to enter this contest: post on your blog, post on twitter, make a comment in the comments section, and posting on Facebook. I love all the chances you get to enter!

Happy Running!

I'm Supposed To Be Reading?

....Right?

It is reading week! I forgot what it was like to have a break in the middle of the school semester for no reason, well other than to read and catch up on work. There are some school things that I need to do this week, but they won't take long. I have a meeting/interview this afternoon with an office administrator and two classmates. Other than that I want to get ahead in a few classes, the computer classes, so I can use that time during the weeks to come for accounting. Other than that I will be watching Gossip Girl season 2, relaxing, reading for pleasure, and catching up with friends over coffee.

I also plan on using this week to stretch out my tight muscles with some yoga. As I was reading blogs this morning and I got really excited when Tina over at Carrots 'n' Cake announced a Yoga Challenge that has you setting your own rules for how much yoga you do. I love this because some weeks I could do yoga five days a week, on the other hand, there are some weeks where twice a week for 20 minutes is all I need or want to do.

Here is what Tina has to say...

"This year, if you would like to participate, I encourage you to set your own goal(s) for the Yoga Challenge. So, if you already regularly practice yoga, you might want to challenge yourself to practice everyday for the month of March. However, if you’ve never done yoga or don’t practice frequently, maybe you will challenge yourself to fitting in one session per week. It’s totally up to you!"

I love Tara Stiles' video Run Yoga Run it isn't even 5 minutes long so it is something that you can do quickly in the morning after a run before work/school. 

Speaking of running and yoga I think I will head down to Lululemon this afternoon, I saw some of the new product that they got over the weekend and there is some great new running stuff. I am in love with the Empower Crop, at the same time I am starting to look at shorts now that the weather is starting to finally be less snow filled.

For now I am going to enjoy my tea and some yoga poses to loosen my tight, yet happy, muscles after my hour run this morning. I have missed running outside and I am so happy to be back out there again! 

Happy Running and Yoga-ing!