Howdy There!

How are you this evening? Did you have a nice Valentine's day? We had a pretty low-key and relaxing Valentine's day. We ate dinner, cuddled with Champ, and E ate tons of cake batter cookies! It was wonderful!

We are officially in the 7th week of 2012! Can you believe that? This is about the time that the gym crowd starts to thin out, the line at fast food restaurants start to pick up, and QVC goes back to selling makeup and sweaters instead of workout programs. How is your motivation holding up?

Just because it's February and maybe you haven't thought about your New Year's Resolutions since the second or third week of January, doesn't mean all is lost! Working out and eating healthy is a lifestyle and not something that only happens at the beginning of every year. We all get off track from time to time. That's just life. The successful people are the ones that know what it takes to get themselves back on track! :)

That's what I'm talking about. Let's be lifers!

If your motivation to exercise has been less than steller lately, give one of these tips a try!

1) Find a workout buddy and make a standing date with each other at least once a week. You probably hang out with your best friend at least once a week already right? So why not go for a walk instead of meeting for fro-yo. Ok who am I kidding, walk to fro-yo so you can have your yogurt and eat it too!

Tosca Reno (52) & Jamie Eason (35) are wonderful examples of strong women  who have made working out a lifestyle! (source)

2) Try a new group exercise class to spice things up. May I suggest Booty Barre, Zumba, Piloxing, or a Pilates reformer class? Let the instructor and other participants be your motivation to kick serious but!

3) Join a running group. I don't know about you, but running by myself in the cold winter months is not always my idea of a great time. Joining others on social runs, can make 5:30am much more appealing.

4) Try out some new recipes to spice up your healthy eating routine. I am definitely a creature of habit, and sometimes I need to be reminded to spice things up for my own sake. My new favorite recipe is Citrus Quinoa Veggie Salad.



5) Pick a  race to train for and mark it on your calendar. Write it in marker, and find a training plan that fits your timeline. When you have a big goal in mind, your workouts take on a new purpose.

6) Make an inspiration board, or move the one you already made to a new spot so you see it every day. Here is mine for this year!


7) Treat yourself to a new workout outfit. If you love your new top or pants you'll want to hit the gym just for an excuse to wear them! I just bought this little beauty, and the camo makes me feel like a beast (in the best possible way) every time I wear it. The back is by far the cutest part!

source

8) Promise yourself that after 2 weeks of working out consistently or eating clean you will treat yourself to a pedicure or spa service of your choice. That's motivation enough for me right there! :)

9) Give yourself a pep talk. You may not have checked off all of the boxes on your to-do list for 2012 just yet, but as long as you are trying your hardest that is all that matters!


Repeat after me: I am strong, smart, beautiful, and powerful and I can do anything I set my mind to!


You are amazing and can do amazing things! Now go face week 7 of 2012 with your head held high and your tennis shoes laced tight! February here you come! :)

What are you going to do this week to work towards your goals?

How do you stay motivated?

In health,

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Hi Everyone,

Apparently, grad school is getting the best of me this semester. Yet another day when I can't manage to post until 8 o'clock at night. Oh well, what can you do? How are you this evening? Did you have a nice hump day?

Today's Workouts: a quick 4 mile run this morning before work, teaching a strength training class, and then taking a friend's boot camp class

Sticking with yesterday's theme of the power of positive thinking, I had another negative thought moment today. While doing a football drill in the boot camp class I attended, I caught a glimpse of my back side in the mirror, and I thought to my self, "Geeeezeeee look at that jiggle." I have always known that baby's got back, but when you are surrounded on three sides by mirrors, the song starts to play a little louder in your head. Anybody else know what I mean? Anybody? So once I recognized the thought was not positive or productive, I started to think of all of the things my "strong" lower half does for me. I began to realize that although I am not 100% happy with my body (who is?), there are a lot of things I do love.

For example:

I love my lungs because they allow me to breath in the fresh Texas air.

I love my heart because it gives me the power to love others.

[source]

I love my hands because they grip the weights that make me strong and hold the hands of the ones I never want to let go.

I love my sore knees because they let me know when I need to rest.

I love my arms because they allow me to hug the ones I love.

[source]

I love my ears because they allow me to hear sweet sweet music that makes me smile.

I love my eyes because they allow me to watch the sunrise during a great morning run.

[source]

I love my flat feet because they let me stand on them all day without too much complaining.

Saving the best (or the one I need to work on loving the most) for last. I love my legs because they give me the ability to run, which keeps my mind, heart and body strong.

We all deserve to love ourselves just the way we are right now. Next time you have negative thoughts or are not so happy with the way a certain body part looks, think about all of the wonderful things it is doing for you in that very moment. How can you hate your stomach when your abs allow you to sit and stand up straight all day?

Tell me what part of your body you love and why!


In health and love,

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Happy Monday!

How was your weekend friends? Mine was absolutely inspiring. I found out late on Friday that I would have the opportunity to attend a YogaFit Level 3 certification this weekend.



The Level 3 training focuses on introspection and understanding your personality as an instructor. It also dives deeper into the power of meditation, breathing, emotional intelligence and positive thought. I know this weekend helped me grown as a yoga instructor and as a student.

Speaking of yoga, I have raved about how much I love Tara Stiles new book Slim, Calm, Sexy Yoga, and I recently came across an article discussing all of the controversy it has caused in the yoga world. Check it out here. This is what one of her critics had to say:

"Don't even try to sell me on the 'yoga for the masses' excuse; it's pathetic, and, frankly, she should be ashamed for allowing herself to be talked into shilling for this trash. That is, if any convincing was really necessary--somehow I doubt it. But if asked about it, I am sure we would hear the typical higher-lighter-brighter-peace-love-dove-I'm-just-bringing-yoga-to-the-people" talk."

I was frankly pretty shocked when I read this. I know Tara's style of yoga is very "westernized" (whatever that means), but the above seems a little harsh. I love yoga and have seen the benefits first hand not only in myself but in my friends, colleagues and students as well. I believe yoga can and should be for everyone, and just like we all have different preferences when it comes to the clothes we wear and the food we eat, we can all have different preferences when it comes to the yoga we practice. Some people like the chanting, incense and Sanskrit terms that make up what we consider "traditional" yoga, and some people just don't. Just because you do yoga to music with words, don't really like to chant, and call things by their English translation, doesn't make it any less yoga.

To me yoga is about connecting with your body, letting go of stress, building strength, increasing your energy, and improving your overall health. Whether you practice yoga in your living room with a Jillian Michael's DVD or in a temple in India with a 80 year old yoga guru, if it works for you I'm all about it. Yoga is a very individual and personal thing, and no one has the right to tell someone elsenthat their yoga is wrong or not "real" yoga.

Ok.... I'm going to hop on down off of my soap box now. Sorry for the little rant, but that really sparked something inside of me, especially after such an amazing and touching yoga filled weekend. What do you think about the article?

Anyways, after I got home from day two of the certification, I was pooped and starving so I whipped up a veggie pizza. It hit the spot quite nicely, and I was left with plenty for lunch for the next couple of days! :)


I hope you all have a wonderful day, and if you feel stress or worry start to creep into your mind, just remember to breathe!

Q's and A's:
Do you think there is one type of yoga that is "real" yoga?
Have you read Tara Stile's new book? What did you think?
How was your weekend?


In health,

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Happy Hump Day!

I taught my first aerobics class in 2 1/2 weeks today. I can't even explain how much I missed teaching. It is an amazing feeling to be able to share your passion for fitness with others, and to lead them in a workout they hopefully leave feeling restored and empowered. I feel extremely blessed to have the opportunity to teach yoga. Sometimes, I feel like I get more out of it than my students. 


Reasons I love teaching yoga:

• When I teach yoga, I am so focused on helping my students leave their problems at the door and enjoy their practice, that I don't have time to worry about my own problems. I am a certified worry wart, and being able to forget my worries for an hour is such a gift.
• I love the way my body feels after teaching a yoga class. My hamstrings feel looser, my arms feel stronger, and I can actually feel the stress leaving my neck and shoulders.
• The music. I love making yoga playlists, and trying to pick songs I think will inspire my students.
• Most of all, I love the look of peace on my students faces during savasana. Hopefully, the class has given them a break from their hectic schedules and a chance to reflect on all of the positive in their lives.

Speaking of reflecting on the positive........One of my favorite blogs Faith, Fitness, Fun is doing a series in September called, “30 days of Reflection for Self-Love.” Each day, Tina will post a brief message to reflect on during the day. I will share her posts here so we can all participate. The series will begin on September 1st, and will continue for 30 days. The purpose of this series is, “To help us all learn to love ourselves more and to uplift one another in the process. To begin to realize our true beauty and value. To battle the inner dialogue that strives to bring us down.” I hope that by sharing Tina’s post with you, we can all learn to give ourselves a little more Self-Love.



I hope you will join me on this journey of self reflection. All it takes is 5 minutes each day to reflect on the topic. We could probably all stand to give ourselves a little bit more Self-Love.


Food For Thought:
Do you currently do yoga regularly?
If so, what is your favorite thing about yoga?
If not, what is keeping you from trying it out?


Yours truly,

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