Rekindling My Inner Yogi

Lacey, here!

Over the past week, my morning routine has slipped into place (can I get an AMEN!) and I've really rekindled my love and joy for Ashtanga yoga.  I practiced this variety pretty heavily for about 5 years. It started through attending a class at a friend of the family's gym.  There was an incredible instructor there who really helped me get into my groove with yoga, and I adored it. Then college hit, and I had nowhere of real worth to go. The college yoga class was extremely basic and very...ugh. I don't know how else to explain it other then the few times I tried to go, I simply sighed with disappointment and said something along the lines of "ugh".  It just wasn't what I experienced for all those years back in that dim room.

But, during my yoga-ridden phase of life, I bought a really good book (sort of life an instruction manual), with the intentions of having it as a reference when I did yoga alone in my dorm room.  That was, until I moved into a forced triple and couldn't take more than 2.5 steps in my room, let alone set up a peaceful space for my meditation and movement.  The book "Ashtanga Yoga: The Practice Manual" by David Swenson has truly been a lifesaver in helping me remember my sequences and positions.

And yet, years later, here we are. I'm 25 and married, starting fresh in so many ways, and finding my passion for the Movement. So, last Monday, I did the first Surya Namaskara that I've done in years, and I took the deepest breath, and I found that relaxing peace I could never really find through anything else other than prayer. And I'm thankful. So very thankful.

I went through some of the sequences, struggling to "weave the tapestry of vinyasa". It wasn't the prettiest, I promise. But it felt really, really right. My body may not be not where it was when I was 16, but my mind remembered, and it's oh-so-excited to get back, physically & mentally, to where I was before.

My husband leaves for work around 5:30 or 6, so as soon as he walks out the door, I turn on the fireplace, move the coffee table, turn on the subtle music, and dim the light. This is my peace. It's my hour in that unforgettable dim room, the sweat dripping down my face, and the threads of breath and movement intertwining.

So, why do I do yoga as exercise? Well, that's a more technical post for another day, and I'll get to that. But for now, I'll just let my inner yogi makes it way out.

Step 2 To Getting On Track: Workout Routine

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Lacey, here! (Read Step 1 first.)

Just as you make a menu plan to stick to healthy eating, you want to make sure you have a routine or schedule to help with working out. But be sure not to get stuck into a boring routine. A) You'll lose motivation when you simply repeat the same exercises over and over and B) You're muscles will know and give up. Changing up exercises will keep your body guessing and allow for more meaningful exercise. So, make a new routine every month to keep you organize and focused.

For me, I go to the gym Monday through Friday  but also do some things at home. Here's what I cam up with for my current schedule.

Monday Through Friday:
A.M.: Ashtanga Yoga @ home. 30 minutes.
Afternoon: Gym
                  5 minute warm up
                  30 minutes cardiovascular exercise
                  20 minutes weight lifting
                  5 minute cool down
Evening: Once spring comes, walk with Hubby (nothing serious, just a nice stroll around the neighborhood). We have to wait until spring not because of the cold, but because I get home from work at 6:45 and it's too dark out.

Saturday
A.M.: P90X video (While I don't stick to the p90x schedule on a daily basis, these videos are INCREDIBLE for single-serve workouts, and I like doing them on the weekends since I don't go to the gym those days.)

Sunday
Light yoga or hour walk to the pier (consider this my rest day)

This routine may be way too much for some, and not enough for others. Find what works for you, but encourage yourself to get at least 30 minutes of exercise daily, even if it's a speed walk around the neighborhood. Something is better than nothing and I guarantee if you stick with a daily routine of at least 30 minutes, you'll be less likely to skip a day, then another, then another.

Happy Healthy Living!