I've been getting pretty bored at the gym the last few months. It's not as great as back home. The 24 hour fitness is smaller, but they have daycare and that's why I choose to go there. Recently I discovered something amazing.. Yoga. Before I started going on a regular basis I thought Yoga was pretty lame. I really didn't understand how it was a workout at all.. it just looks like a bunch of stretching and meditating. I'd rather do something that made me drip sweat and feel dehydrated after 45 minutes. Well, I was wrong. It is a work out, and it is a good work out. The first two times I tried it, I ended up sore for a week! My whole upper back muscles, thighs and abs were so sore! After only a month and a half of going on a regular basis I've noticed I'm already way more flexible, and my posture is a lot better. Surprisingly, I sleep better at night time, and my all over health has improved, even my digestion.
So this is my my routine, I work out for 45-minutes to an hour then I do a 1 hour yoga class twice a week. Then I still go for a run as often as I can (if it's not raining, or I don't already have a workout planned for the day) . I've been doing this routine for the last 2 months and I really am enjoying it.
My tips about yoga
1. Buy your own freakin' mat. I bought a bright pink one. The ones the gym usually has sucks. They're thick and foam, they slip and are hard to balance on
2. If your working out before yoga, bring a pair of flip flops. Because it's gross putting back on your sweaty socks and Nikes after yoga..
3. wear form fitting clothing, and no hoochie-mama shorts. With all the weird upside down things they have you doing, you don't want to topple over because you're trying to adjust your shirt so you don't flash anyone. Don't be giving anyone a free show now.
4. if you think you're far enough away from the person next to you. Give it another inch anyways. Recently I totally slapped someone in the face with my stinky un-manicured foot, and it did not go down well.
I'm still learning more about yoga, I don't know how to pronounce most of the things we do, and I can't do everything just yet.. but I'm getting there.
