Kosama

Since my soccer-playing days, I have all but abandoned the notion of hard workouts. I love practicing yoga, walking, and biking during the nicer months, but I do not have the gym or running motivation that I would like, especially during the winter. My friend Jacy and I were sharing a lovely evening of margaritas and mexican food when she mentioned a LivingSocial deal - $40 for 4 weeks of unlimited fitness classes at Kosama with the promise of "total body transformation." So, far a non-gym-goer, this sounded like an opportunity to get my butt whipped into shape via the inspiration and motivation of having a trainer and fellow classmates! Plus, they do not offer any gimmicks - you get out what you put in, and I like that mentality. It doesn't hurt that they started shop literally right next door to my apartment! Haha - I took that as a sign from the universe - time to return to those good ol' soccer-playin' days.

Kosama is apparently the fastest-growing fitness center in the country. They began 2 years ago in an Iowa town near Ames, and its caught on like wildfire. The co-owner of Kosama Madison told me that 50 locations just opened up in Chicago!

I have to say, I am super impressed by what I have seen and learned so far. Yesterday we had a full body fitness assessment so that we are able to track our progress. The gym is open 6 days a week and offers the same class at various times each day - and the classes vary day to day between K-4, KStrong, Kickboxing, yoga, kettleballs, and plyometrics. I'm going to be honest - I really don't know what many of these things are, but I am excited to find out. Today was BRUTAL for someone who hasn't worked her body that hard for years!! It was an hour workout, K-4, which I've read may be one of the most challenging Kosama workouts. Halfway through I contemplated, briefly, leaving - I was so dead! But luckily, because it was a class environment versus me personally working out, I stayed. The power of persuasion! Also, having a friend present is the BEST form of inspiration for those first few weeks, I'm sure! It was a 6:15am class, which is also brutal, but now it's 8:00am and I have more energy than I've had in a while, to start my day. I'm excited to persist through these classes. The goal is to confuse your muscles to help build strength and tone. I've read many good things - and everyone was super friendly. The class this morning had less than 10 people, so it felt very personalized and was another reason I stayed....too awkward to leave! And thank the UNIVERSE for that!

I'm excited to finally do yoga outside of the confines of my home, and to see what Kosama-yoga is all about. I will keep this blog posted with progress, and also to hold myself and Jacy accountable.

It feels good to return to my body. I hope you love your body today!

repetitive flows for breathing

I LOVE this flow because of the repetition between movements and how this relates to the breath. This flow really helps me to personally breathe better and focus on breathing, which is at the core of yoga. Sometimes, as we all know, that is much easier said than done!  Sometimes I focus more on the movements and on sustaining more difficult poses than I do on breathing deeply and fully - which kind of applies to everyday life as well. Do you ever suddenly hone in on your breathing and realize that you ..... aren't really breathing?!  That's where meditation comes into play. Here's to the dawning of a new spring and a new commitment to meditating so as to always have easy, peaceful breathing and an easy, peaceful life.

so much youtube goodness!

Lately there has been a surge in flows offered on YouTube. I am so grateful! Thank you to all of you yoga instructors who offer their beautiful services virtually. A special shout out to my two favorite online instructors via yogayak and EckhartYoga - I just can't keep away from you two; your voices are so soothing, and you really offer special flows. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Happy Leap Day 2012, everyone! Enjoy your day and namaste :)!

quote of the day

“Every moment of your life is infinitely creative and the universe is endlessly bountiful. Just put forth a clear enough request, and everything your heart desires must come to you.”

– Shakti Gawain

breathe, child

Breathing in, I know I'm breathing in.
Breathing out, I know
As the in-breath grows deep,
The out-breath grows slow.
Breathing in makes me calm.
Breathing out makes me ease.
With the in-breath, I smile.
With the out-breath, I release.
Breathing in, there is only the present moment.
Breathing out, it is a wonderful moment.

-Thich Nhat Hanh

Practice Yoga Daily - a how-to synopsis

It takes approximately 3 months to ingrain a habit, good or bad. 3 months to become accustomed to a new fitness regime. 3 months to solidify a diet, a lifestyle. 3 months to stop cracking those gosh-dern knuckles.

So how do we get to that 3 months without breaking, without going back to ways of old? I found a great and inspiring Wiki-how with steps to establishing and sticking to a yoga practice, a yoga lifestyle.

1.       Set aside the same time each day for your practice. Morning is often the best, most productive time for many people, as your body, mind, and spirit are well-rested and energetically rejuvenated. But perhaps another time is more ideal for you! I have a good friend who fits in a daily workout during her lunch hour.

2.       Be kind to yourself when you practice yoga. Be gentle on your body. Appreciate every step you’ve taken. Give yourself credit for practicing. Acknowledge those days when you need to practice very slowly and gently, and those days that you are filled with more energy.

3.       Be regular, not rigorous. Do not hold yourself to some insane standard day in, day out. Some days I practice yoga for less than 10 minutes. It’s about quality, not quantity, and about developing a commitment to the harmony of your mind, body, and spirit.

4.       Prepare well for each yoga session. If you’re often cold, have a blanket on standby. Do not eat some grandiose meal prior to practicing. Perhaps surround yourself with some stones, light a candle. Create an environment of comfort and peace.

5.       Study each posture. It will help you cultivate a deeper connection to the flow.

6.       Decide on your best starting position. This may evolve over time, and varies person to person. You want to choose a position that helps you retreat inwardly and focus.

7.       Rest between poses. Yoga is about soothing yourself, garnering a sense of peace, moving slowly, gently, and deliberately. Do not strain yourself, do not overdo it. Be gentle on yourself.

8.       Fit yoga into your daily life. When you need to take breaks from the office, simply google “office yoga” or “chair yoga” and you’ll find a surplus of easy, real-life poses. In the mornings if I do not have enough time for a full practice, I will lay on the ground against a wall with my feet toward the sky – a great energy boosting pose.

9.       Expect gradual improvement, not miracles. Again, my favorite phrase: be gentle on yourself! Be kind to yourself! Give yourself credit for every step you take, even the seemingly little ones. They are all important to your unique path. You are doing something wonderful for yourself! Pat yourself on the back. Love yourself.

10.   Balance your routine. As you increase your practice and become more comfortable with an array of poses, try catering to each part of your body and spirit – implementing a well-balanced practice of backbends, standing postures, sitting postures, and the like.

11.   Remember that time is always on your side with yoga. As you reach the 3-month mark, it will become easier. Do not stress if you miss a day here or there - or stretches of time – this is normal and natural and you need to respond to your own daily needs and feelings. The more you practice, the more ingrained your practice will become. What helps inspire me to practice on lazier days is a remembrance that yoga allows time to be less important, allows time to flow, allows you to flow with time, allows you to recall life’s true bounties.

be gentle on yourself

As the new job manifested (for which I am most grateful), I've had an on-and-off relationship with my daily yoga practice. I'd forgotten the importance of energy balance and attending to myself in this fashion every day - and I spilled all my energy into the new gig. Luckily, I've been reminded of the importance and of the significant difference in my life when incorporating this morning practice into my daily routine.

Energy balancing - something so foreign to so many of us, and something that requires loving attention. Beginning your day by attending to you - by sitting in silent meditation and quieting your mind - by loving and appreciating your body and nurturing you spirit - it is such a beautiful thing, and so helpful! I have noticed that by stopping a regular yoga practice prior to going to work, I experience much more anxiety and irritation for that day. I do things inattentively, I fall into old habits more easily, and I even observe more negative thoughts. And then, when I remember the intention for this commitment to myself, a beautiful peace overcomes me again. Rather than adopting an extremist attitude (which is easy to do in this go-go-go society), I've come to realize that the best way to slowly begin incorporating these energy balancing and self-loving practices into your life is to allow yourself missteps, and to allow yourself to practice yoga for 10 minutes one day, even if it is not your 45 minute ideal. Credit yourself for everything that you are doing, pat yourself on the back, realize that you are doing your best in every moment, be gentle on yourself. And then - you'll remember, again and again, the importance of loving yourself.