Exercise Adventure: Ashtanga Yoga

I mentioned yesterday that I had returned to Yoga after a hiatus. It's funny... I love Yoga...but I am so inconsistent about it. And since I am inconsistent, I never really get "good" at it. Last Sunday was my first class in months, and it felt so good that I promised myself I would do better from now on.

When I woke up yesterday, I thought to myself, "How should I spend my last free Friday?" (After today, I will go back to working Monday-Friday instead of Monday-Thursday.) I scoped out the Yoga offerings at the gym we belong to, but there wasn't anything for today except beginner Yoga, and I didn't want that. Then I remembered Om Yoga in Fort Mill.

Last summer, I really wanted to try out Om Yoga, but I never got around to it. So today, when I saw there was a noon class (AND first visits are free), I decided to give it a go.

Only one problem: what the heck was Ashtanga Yoga?!

I've taken Power Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga... But never Ashtanga. I called the studio to see if they thought I would be able to take the class (being a little out of practice) and they said to come on and give it a try. It turns out that Ashtanga Yoga is like Power Yoga, but the series of poses and flow is always the same. Sometimes the instructor gives out a handout with the sequence on it to the group and you can choose to follow the instructor or go at your own pace.

I loved the way the girl at the front desk showed me around and kind of told me where I might want to set up. She also helped me to feel at ease about taking the class. The studio is really pretty and SO different from a typical aerobics room.

While I was waiting for the class to begin, I started a conversation with one of the other participants. She said, "Have you ever been here before?" When I told her I was new, she said, "And you started with THIS class?! This class is HARD!"

I thought to myself... "What have I gotten myself into???"

(What's with the footprints on my mat? I must have walked right over it in my dusty flip flops!)

 

Class began the way a typical yoga class might begin- with a purpose statement. I knew right away that I really liked the instructor. She was very real and calm and funny, too!

Then came something that was way different from other classes. We started chanting! We said a mantra together, and I literally have no idea what we said because I am pretty sure it was in Sanskrit. Seriously, I am not joking. At this point, I was still wondering if I should run for the hills.

But once we got going, it was awesome! It was hard, but I was so proud of myself for being able to keep up! I loved the hands-on personal attention the instructor gave everyone. If you weren't lined up quite right, she would come over and "fix you." I thought it would be weird for someone to come over and push or pull on my body during Yoga, but it really wasn't weird. I promise.

The first 30-40 minutes of class was intense- lots of sun salutations, quick flow. But then we moved to slower poses and finally down to the floor. At the end, I was dripping with sweat!

Then came the best part. Just before the Savasana, the teacher came around and dropped a lavendar-scented, cold wet towel onto our mats to put over our eyes. Umm...can I just tell you that it was absolute heaven? Those few minutes of Savasana were probably the most relaxed moments of my week.

I can't wait to go back and try out some more of their classes, and now I don't have to be scared of Ashtanga Yoga any more.

If you're local, you should definitely check them out!

Namaste, y'all.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Weekend in Photos

Hope your weekend was wonderful!  Mine definitely was!  Here’s a quick recap…

Dusted off the yoga mat… It has been 3 months since my last Yoga class—but it was so nice to return!

Tried a new breakfast: Cherry-Chocolate Waffle—and it was as good as it looks!

Tuna melt with tomatoes and olives…

I also:

• got my hair did (maybe a new picture tomorrow?)
• taught a Zumba class
• attended a dance-fitness workshop
• ran a few miles

It was a productive weekend! 

How are you all doing with the 60 for 31 Challenge?  I am happy to report that I am 4 days into March and I am 4-4 for completing 60 minutes of exercise each day!  I’m trying to decide on what to do tomorrow…  hmmm…

Super-Woman Wednesday

So in case you are wondering, why yes… I am Super-Woman!  Today was a bit of a super-sports day.  This morning, Ryan and I were chatting about what we’d like to do today.  (Gosh, I am gonna be sad when he goes back to work in a week in a half!)  We started with a little trip to a sporting goods store to check out some golf clubs.  The husband is really wanting a new set, but he’s not quite ready to buy.  That led to a conversation over lunch about how I have not played golf since before Sadie was born.  But the more we looked at clubs, I thought… I’d really like to play again!  So we decided to give it a go.  We ran home, grabbed my clubs, and headed to the driving range.

 

  

 

Surprisingly, I could still hit the ball!  I definitely need more practice, but today was a great start to getting back to playing.  AND… hubby and I have made a golf date for next week to play “for real!”  I’m so excited!  Maybe Gold might be my next topic for a “Sisterly Guide”. 

After golf, we were super-sweaty because it was really humid today, so we came home to rest before I went to teach Zumba.  I taught a very high-energy class and then decided to stick around for yoga.  Yoga is so hard, but I feel so good when I go.  I need to do it more regularly.

After all that, I was STARVING!!!  I decided to pick up Chinese takeout… Chicken with Mixed Vegetables.  I tried a new spot today and lookie—zucchini!  I have never gotten zucchini in my Chinese takeout!  Yum!

Okay… now it’s time to rest and enjoy some mindless, trashy television.  G’night!

A Weeknight Dinner...

Hi, all!  Today I have a special treat for you... my sister Meredith is going to write a guest post!  Meredith lives in Columbia, SC and writes a blog called The Family Jewell.  So after you read her post, be sure to head over and check out her blog!

I was so excited to be asked to “guest post” on my sister’s blog Confessions of a Former Couch Potato.  I’ve only been blogging since early November but she had faith in my ability to create something (hopefully) somewhat interesting, but if not, then fun.  Let me first preface this post by telling you I’m not a hot chef in the kitchen.  In fact (and to be honest) I think I cook about as much as my husband does, and well, he actually does cook a good bit, so that’s a good thing I hope.  Either way, I’m no Betty Crocker or Ina Garten, but I can hold my own on occasion and hope you’ll enjoy some photos and comments on tonight’s Weeknight Dinner.

Today was a normal day for me (although around the southeast this week it’s been a strange week full of snow, ice, cancelled school, and more cancelled school).  I went to work and then hit the gym for my usual Wednesday evening yoga class.  I have grown to love yoga the more and more that I go and believe it really does have some very positive benefits including strength and core building.  When I got home I knew I was going to have to make dinner because we didn’t need another night of being slack and unhealthy eating (the previous two nights were frozen lasagna and take out).  I read about the “Eat In Month” Challenge that The Chic Life puts on and was going to try my best to have us abide by that rule this month, however we haven’t quite succeeded, but are trying our best (on normal weeks) to eat in as much as possible…and with that, generally making healthy meals.

So on with the dinner…tonight I decided that since I hadn’t prepped ahead of time or marinated the chicken we bought the other day I would just use Publix brand Zesty Italian and bake the chicken in the oven…simple and pretty healthy. 

 

chicken marinating (and cooking) in Zesty Italian



I also had a bag of red potatoes so I decided to do a simple combo of chopped potatoes with EVOO, salt, pepper, garlic powder (a staple) and dried rosemary…delicious!

 

red potatoes with EVOO & seasonings

I knew we needed something green so I made green beans (something simple yet healthy) and as if that wasn’t enough, I decided to pull out our new “How to Cook Everything” cookbook that was a Christmas gift from friends and found one more side dish (Sautéed Apples).



I captured the butter for the sauteed apples before it melted (without the flash)

 

brown sugar and cinnamon for the sauteed apples



green beans & apples cooking side-by-side



possibly my favorite part of the meal (deliciously sweet)



Although I know you’re probably thinking by now this meal doesn’t seem very complicated or original, but it wasn’t meant to be.  It’s merely to show that by having a few basic items in your house during the week (fresh and/or frozen) you can still pull together a tasty and healthy meal…and best of all, have leftovers!!



no caption needed   :)



So after all the prep work was done and each item cooked to al dente, I was actually surprised with myself that all came out at the exact same time and piping hot.  I’m not sure these pictures really give it justice, but hearing my husband compliment me in saying “I’m really proud of you, this is a really good meal” was music to my ears…and voila!  Dinner is served…



dinner is served...



Mark Bittman's "How to Cook Everything"



And to end on a sweet note since I didn’t include dessert tonight, I thought I’d share a photo of my little kitchen helper…or little beggar, if you will.



Zoe

Happy Cooking!

xo, Meredith (The Family Jewell)

It's Official... Snow Day Tomorrow!

Well, this is a first... I have no school tomorrow due to inclement weather... but we have not had any inclement weather yet!  Only in the south, right?  They are saying we'll be getting a good amount of snow and maybe ice!  Eek!  I do not mind the snow, but hate the ice!  It will be nice to have an extra day at home... but hopefully it will not hang around too long.

I am thinking about making this bread tomorrow.  Looks so delicious and perfect for a winter day!  I'll have to burn some extra calories so I can enjoy some extra points tomorrow.

Today we celebrated Ryan and his sister's birthdays. 

Take a look at those kids.  Can you tell they are anxious for some of the cake???

I never used to be a huge birthday cake fan, but now I love it. 

Then I made it to yoga.  That is the best class to take on a Sunday.  Our YMCA has a Yoga class from 4-5:15 on Sundays and when I can make it, I am always so glad!  LOVED the instructor tonight.  She has recently started teaching yoga and I have had her for other classes, but not yoga.  I thought she was great!  I think sometimes yoga can be intimidating.  Even when a class says "mixed levels," sometimes the instructors cater more to the advanced crowd.  Not the case today!  Plus, she had awesome music!

Then I came home and made some whole wheat spaghetti. 

Now, it's time to settle in and wait for the snow!

Well... guess who's home in the middle of the day?

This is a strange week.  It's so weird to have the day off for election day... you never get a day off right in the middle of the week!

Did you vote???  I hope so!

I am noticing a trend in my voting patterns... it seems that the majority of the people I vote for usually do not win.  It makes election night kinda depressing.  But I'm not going to dwell too much on that.  The people have spoken, right?

So, what did you do for Election Day?  I had high hopes.  A whole day off.  My to-do list read: "Clean house.  Cook creative dinner."  (I didn't have an ACTUAL to-do list.  But that was what was in my head.)  However, none of that happened... instead, we had... STOMACH VIRUS!  Ok, I didn't have it, but my poor little Sadie had it.  Not the throw-ups... the OTHER kind.  Poor thing.  She had a rough little day.

Today she seems to be feeling better and we have gone a whole hour without changing a diaper, so already that is a great improvement over yesterday.  I think that we went through 15 Pull-Ups yesterday.  Our usual number is somewhere around 2.  Sometimes 1.  And we've graduated to bananas and bread!  Mmmmmmm...

So, I realize that was a little TMI, but you know I am going to be real with you. 

In between all of that, I taught Zumba at Fascinating Rhythm.  It was a great, high-energy class.  I used one new song that I am loving: "Bimbola." 

I was considering going to a new yoga class at the Y last night, but skipped it because of the virus situation.  It was called "Candlelight Slow-Flow Yoga."  That sounds interesting!  Maybe I'll give it a try next week.  I googled it, just to see if I could find any info on it.  Take a look at this picture.  It looks so calming and relaxing. 

So that's why I am home in the middle of the day today...  I hate to miss work, but of course, my little munchkin is more important than work...

And on the positive side... I got to enjoy a leisurely breakfast (as opposed to eating in the car) with freshly-ground coffee... in my SANTA mug!  Now that it's November, it's getting really close to Holiday time.

Maybe I'll get some cleaning done today.  We'll see!

From Birthday Cake to Buffalo Chicken Wraps

Today we celebrated my sister-in-law's husband's birthday.  Does that make him my brother-in-law-in-law?  I am not sure... Anyway, I love birthdays, but it uaually means that I am going to blow my POINTS budget.  Plus, we had lunch at my in-laws' house, which is also brings a strong likeliness of eating the not-so-healthy snacks.  Today, we had pizza from Donato's, which is a chain restaurant here in Rock Hill.  I have to say-- YUM.  Their pizza is very good.  I tried barbecued chicken pizza, which sounded strange to me, but was actually delicious.  I think I am going to try to make my own "healthy-fied" version soon.  Of course, there was cake, and it was wonderful.  I never used to like cake, but have become a cake-fan over the past few years.  Sadie definitely enjoyed her cake... most of it ended up on her hands and face!

Made it to Yoga today-- yay!  It's something I am trying to make a regular part of my week.  It's a great Sunday-afternoon activity.  It makes me feel more ready to face the week.

So then, I got to come home and make these amazing Buffalo Chicken Wraps.  I have to thank Hungry Girl for these.  They were in her book 200 Under 200, which has (you guessed it) 200 recipes that are 200 calories or less. This book is AMAZING.  The foods satisfy your cravings for unhealthy foods and are usually really easy to prepare. 

These wraps are spicy (hence, the "buffalo" in the name), but the lettuce and ranch dressing help to cool them down and keep them light.  These make a great lunch or dinner meal-- or even a snack!

Buffalo Chicken Wraps:

Close-Up View

Plate View

Ingredients:

Chopped cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2-3 oz. per person)
shredded or chopped lettuce
chopped tomatoes
2 Tbsp light ranch or bleu cheese dressing
1-2 tsp Frank’s Cayenne Pepper Sauce
1-2 tsp light Parmesan Cheese topping
tortillas (1 per person)— I used one that has 120 calories and 11 grams of fiber


Directions:
Mix chopped chicken with hot sauce and parmesan cheese. Microwave until warm. Then, lay tortilla flat. Spread ranch or bleu cheese in a line down the middle of the tortilla. Over dressing, pile lettuce and tomatoes, and finally the chicken. Eat “taco-style.”


Variations: You can swap the dressing for light sour cream. You can also add cheese or avocado if you like.