Yoga with Adriene - Abs and Arms

This morning I did a yoga class with Adriene.  The focus of the session was abs and arms and it was suitably challenging.

I felt a satisfying burn in my abs within the first 10 minutes - and, to me, that's a successful class.

I felt a sense of accomplishment on completing this class.  I felt relaxed yet invigorated, ready to take on my day.  The day was quite busy and so I only managed to pen this post - 12 hours later.

xoxo

Foxy

Yoga with Adriene - Strengthen and Lengthen

It has been rather quiet on the blog for a while.  I have been to gym this week but haven't tracked the workouts.  I have been feeling a bit disenchanted with the gym lately and feel that my overall motivation has been waning.

I still make time for yoga though, and today's session was with Adriene.  The class was focused on strengthening and lengthening.  It was fabulous to feel a little burn in my muscles again.  The class was a lovely combination of burning, shaking muscles and intense focus as well as relaxing and stretching the muscles.

I am pleased to have made time to find space on my mat.

xoxo

Foxy

Total Body Yoga Workout With Tim Senesi

Today I did this yoga class with Tim Senesi.  It was an enjoyable class and has asanas of varying levels to cater for intermediate to advanced level yogis.

It is quite different to be guided in my practice by a male voice because I'm used to female voices leading my practice.

I'm always glad to have made the time to get onto my mat for a practice.

xoxo

Foxy

More Erin Motz on DoYouYoga

I was thrilled to find this class on the DoYouYoga website because I love Erin Motz's classes.

This was a once-off class and it made me feel so relaxed and energised.

A break in the routine gave me the shake-up I needed to set my goals for the week and cross items off the to-do list.

xoxo

Foxy

Erin Motz Bad Yogi 4-Week Challenge - Week 4 - Day 7

This session, the final one of this challenge, was specifically for the aches and pains collected in the body due to commuting to and from work.

This class had some good stretches for the back and hips.  It's important to stretch and relax the muscles that are tensed up due to being in a seated position for long periods of time.

I have finally completed this challenge, after a few lengthy gaps in my practice.  It took me longer than 4 weeks, but it's done.

Thanks again, Erin, you are a fabulous teacher.

I have learned to make peace with the fact that most things don't pan out as planned.  Instead of becoming frustrated, it's important to learn to adapt to the challenges and work through the various obstacles in your path.  This builds resilience and character.

xoxo

Foxy

Erin Motz Bad Yogi 4-Week Challenge - Week 4 - Day 6

Today's session was a prenatal class.  Even if you aren't pregnant, there are lovely stretches in this class which will help to open the hips, lessen back pain and relax your muscles.

Find space and mental quietness on your mat.  Breathe deeply and make time for yourself.

xoxo

Foxy

Erin Motz Bad Yogi 4-Week Challenge - Week 4 - Day 5

Today's session was "yoga for when you're about to freak out".  I can't say it better than this.

I have been feeling very anxious and tense lately, so this was a lovely session to get me back into regular yoga practice.

Remember Erin's words:  "go forward knowing that whatever it is that's ahead of you, you got this".

xoxo

Foxy

Erin Motz Bad Yogi 4-Week Challenge - Week 4 - Day 4

Today's session was a calming one as it focused on meditation.  This was a very welcome practice as I needed the quiet time.

I have incorporated alternate nostril breathing into my practice before, but this session reminded me of how beneficial it truly is.

The practice reminded me to get on my mat more frequently and find some space to be at peace with myself. 

xoxo

Foxy

Erin Motz Bad Yogi 4-Week Challenge - Week 4 - Day 3

Today's session focused on using yoga and breathing to alleviate the pain of a headache.

I didn't actually have a headache when I did this, so I can't attest to its effectiveness, but the process of learning to relieve a headache felt really good.

I need to remember to try this when I have a headache.

xoxo

Foxy

Erin Motz Bad Yogi 4-Week Challenge - Week 4 - Day 2

This session was a flow-based practice with the aim of finding crow pose at the end.  It was quite enjoyable and well worth doing, particularly as I'm so tight in my back, hamstrings and hips.

I have not been able to find crow pose properly and have been working on it for a very long time.  It's a lack of ab strength and tight hips that are mainly to blame.

This is definitely a pose that I need to be patient with and keep being patient with myself.

xoxo

Foxy

Erin Motz Bad Yogi 4-Week Challenge - Week 4 - Day 1

Today's session was a pose breakdown.  Pigeon, seated forward fold, and stepping forward from downward dog to warrior one were the poses focused on in this practice.

These are important stretching poses that I always enjoy because I know they work my hips and hamstrings.  Practising the movement of stepping forward from downward dog helps your flow feel more smooth and comfortable;  spending some time focusing on this has improved my practice.

xoxo

Foxy

Erin Motz Bad Yogi 4-Week Challenge - Week 3 - Day 7

All the practices this week focused on flexibility, and this session brought together the work done during the week.  I definitely felt this practice loosen me up and I feel stretched and lengthened.

This is a great practice to start your day and put you in a reflective, quiet state of mind.

xoxo

Foxy

Workout Thurs 9 April 2015

Despite continued low levels of motivation, I dragged myself to the gym.

Programme for today was upper body and went as follows:

Workout time: 2:30 - 4:00 pm

1. Elliptical trainer - 10 mins - 0.90km

2. One-arm dumbbell row - 6 x 12 - 7 kg

3. Seated tricep press - 3 x 12 - 7 kg

4. Alternate hammer curl - 3 x 24 - 2 x 5 kg

5. Tricep dumbbell kickback - 6 x 12 - 3 kg

6. Dumbbell curl - 3 x 12 - 2 x 5 kg

7. Seated bent-over rear delt raise - 3 x 12 - 2 kg (one of my least favourite exercises)

8. Bench press - 3 x 12 - 10 kg

9. Seated cable row - 2 x 12 - 22.5 kg

Completing this session made me feel better than I have in a while, and, in a small way reminded me why I lift.

xoxo

Foxy

Erin Motz Bad Yogi 4-Week Challenge - Week 3 - Day 6

I felt epic during today's practice.  This session was about building flexibility and strength and incorporated some of the work we did yesterday.

I felt better in pyramid and in the forward fold than I have done previously.  I was able to push myself deeper into the posture and was able to cope better with the usually painful stretching sensation in my legs.

Push yourself, yogis.

xoxo

Foxy

Erin Motz Bad Yogi 4-Week Challenge - Week 3 - Day 5

Today's practice involved a pose check on Warrior I, Triangle and Pyramid.  I see that these poses are often done incorrectly both in my own practice, and when I sneak a peek at the mirror to take a look at the other people in the class.

I was able to make sure I really feel each pose in the right places and it gave me time to check that my alignment was correct.

Well worth doing this session.

xoxo

Foxy

Erin Motz Bad Yogi 4-Week Challenge - Week 3 - Day 4

Today's practice involved shoulder and upper body work.  Because I have been stiff and tight in my shoulders, neck and back, this was a much-needed practice.

While I was in meditation at the end of the practice, I felt that I could relax and let go of the anxiety that has seemed to take hold over the last few weeks.  The anxiety was probably mainly caused by work and the lack of regular exercise.  I have been worried about how challenging it would be to get back to the gym and to get back to yoga.  I have been worried about losing all the progress I have made in my bodybuilding journey over the last 6 months.

I need to push myself to get back into my routine and find my groove again.

xoxo

Foxy

Quick Update

Life has been a bit chaotic over the last few weeks, and thus my level of motivation to go to the gym and do yoga has been at a record low.  Combined with exhaustion, sleep deprivation, visits to the chiropractor and an oncoming flu, last week left me wanting to hibernate for a while.  I have been guzzling tea, hot water with a honey-cinnamon mix, and home-made butternut soup.  

I went to my usual yoga class on Sunday and really felt the effects of a lack of yoga and exercise.  I definitely needed that practice and I'm so pleased that I attended, despite the terrible cold and rainy weather.  I felt refreshed and relaxed afterwards.

This week, the focus is to return to the gym, get back into regular exercise and yoga practice because I hate the way I have been feeling lately.

I have bigger goals which I would like to work on, and need to go about finding help to do this.

xoxo

Foxy

Erin Motz Bad Yogi 4-Week Challenge - Week 3 - Day 3

The focus of today's practice is to open the hips.  I always find these sessions challenging, but I definitely needed the practice.  I felt all sorts of hip clicking and lower back clicking as I did this.

I am obviously still tired from the weekend's events, so I'm getting back into yoga slowly.  It's these sessions that I may find more difficult than usual that remind me to be patient with myself.

xoxo

Foxy

Erin Motz Bad Yogi 4-Week Challenge - Week 3 - Day 2

Hamstring flexibility takes consistent practice and work, and so today was part 2 of the hamstring practice that started yesterday.

You definitely need to warm up a bit before you start this session as it's quite intense but rather fun.  It's so easy to become impatient with yourself and your body's limitations, but listening to your body is definitely important to your practice as well as for body-mind connection.  It's important to know when you can push yourself to feel the stretch, to know when you have reached your limit and when to ease up.

Always be patient with your journey.

xoxo

Foxy

Erin Motz Bad Yogi 4-Week Challenge - Week 3 - Day 1

Today's session focused on hamstring flexibility and stretching.  Hamstring work, like shoulders and ab work, is difficult for me because I don't have the flexibility I dearly desire.  But because I know the hamstrings need work, I never pass up the opportunity for a stretching and lengthening practice.

This was a relaxing practice and perfect for the end of a long day.  This practice reminded me how important it is to bring awareness to the body and to the breath.  I went into meditation and surrendered my day to the universe.  I trust that my actions today were fuelled by good intentions, I believe that I brought love to my work, and I treated people with kindness and compassion.  That's all I ask from myself and I trust that this is the path on which I am meant to be walking.

xoxo

Foxy