Thinking Before Leaping

Tonight I had a major craving for loaded potato skins, and I gave into it. We have the majority of our home packed up, including the kitchen, so cooking isn't really an option. So, we opted to go out to dinner in Arvada.


I thought to myself  - I hadn't eaten junk food like that in a while, why not ? -


Well, think again.
I ended up with immediate heartburn which I have never had in my life as well as a horrible stomachache ... Totally not worth it. Talk about uncomfortable and scary.


I am not a nutritionist. I am not an expert in food whatsoever.


But I know my body.


I learned tonight more than ever that what you put into your body, what you decide to fuel it with, is really what you will get out of it.


I have healthy eating habits. Every now and then I have something outside of the spectrum of "healthy".


After this so-called experiment, I am ready to continue eating well and avoid junk, especially if restaurant-made. Who knows what else was on those loaded potato skins ? What kind of fats and oils did I put into my body ?


All I can do is eat better now and later and allow this to be a lesson:
I shall cook my own food or choose healthy options if I absolutely need to eat out.


I hate posting negative stories, but while I had this sickly feeling - heartburn and a stomach ache, I thought I should share. I will leave you with this:


When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no "I'll start tomorrow."  Tomorrow is disease.  ~Terri Guillemets


My own prescription for health is less paperwork and more running barefoot through the grass.  ~Terri Guillemets

Hello!

Sorry, for the lack of posts but the Mays are keeping very busy!

We are preparing for our move to Florida (this Thursday AM) and we have been packing, partying, saying our goodbyes, and working out a bunch, too!! I have been hiking, hitting up Qi classes, lunching, and of course... the dreaded packing!!!

The positive thing about packing though is that it forces you to go through all of your things and shed what you no longer need. Literally, a weight off your shoulders. I got rid of a bunch of clothing and accessories. My friend's sister was able to take a lot of it for college! She took a lot of my clothes, a sandwich maker, and tomorrow she will be coming to pick up our basement couches, small TV, and TV Stand. Everything else is going to Salvation Army!

Our last few days in Denver have been going very well. I picked up two more yoga classes since my last post - Qi Edgewater Friday 4:30PM and Qi City Park Monday 9:30AM! So technically, my last class is now Monday!! I love it!!

I will be posting on our last few days in Denver through photos in the coming days!! So, be sure to look for that!

I need to get back to packing and a thunderstorm is rolling in, so I am psyched :)
Have a wonderful evening!!
R

Last Yoga Class in Colorado [Teaching]

My last class teaching at Qi Edgewater was a wonderful way to end my yoga instruction in Denver. 20 students and every one of them really put their all into PRACTICING PATIENCE with me this evening!!


Really though, "end" is not the correct word to use on this yoga path, because I have learned SO much over the past year in my yoga education at Qi. This knowledge is invaluable; I will continue to study and deepen my own practice in order to share my knowledge with my students in Florida!!

I hope to deepen my understanding of the body -
1. The opposing muscles working in each pose...
2. The relationship the body systems (digestive, nervous, etc.) have with asana...
3. The benefits of every asana I teach...
And so much more :)

I will never stop learning, for this is how I am growing and teaching others to grow!

There is always a chance I could sub a class in the next week or so before I go... So bittersweet!
Have a great evening everyone!

New Beginnings and a Dark Day for Colorado

Last day of work was yesterday... Today is a fresh start, new beginning, and I am not going to lie, I am kind of exhausted! :) My last day was great, a tiny bit hectic, but overall - wonderful. I am going to miss all of the wonderful people I was lucky enough to work with and get to know while working at DPA.


I went to Fort Collins after work with friends to tour a beautiful multi-family residential low rise and we followed it up with amazing sushi and interesting kahlua shots at the dive bar down the street... We were also lucky enough to hear Men in Black and I was totally taken back to my days in middle school!! So, of course dancing had to be done!!


Let's talk about today. Today has been "today."
I am not quite sure how to describe it.
I woke up at 7 ... Kind of freaked out thinking I would be late for work, then realized I didn't have a job to go to.
I checked my phone and I had a few texts all ready ... People saying are you OK ? Turn on the news! Something happened in Aurora ...


There was shooting in am Aurora movie theatre with many fatalities ... My first question was why? I am not sure if I will ever know OR for that matter understand.


I will not go into all of the details as this event is still ever changing ... Learn the latest here.


I just want the world if anything to be reminded that this is a tragedy. This shouldn't have happened, no one should act like this, no one on the planet deserves any of this.


Please keep your chin up today and make sure to pause and pray for the victims, their families, the one responsible, and their family as well.


If anything, remember this...
Live each day as if it were your last, love your loved ones like this is your only chance, and just live life FULLY.


Full of love, truth, responsibility, honesty, patience .... <3

Pure Barre - Review

Let me begin by saying, I have only taken one class at Pure Barre Highlands (Denver), so this experience I write about is based on that. :) Also, I typically teach and take classes all week at Qi in Denver, so I always compare my new experiences to the training center I call home! ;)

  

I signed up for the 12PM class to help separate my day full of deep cleaning my house! Upon signing up and paying for class online, I received an email telling me what to bring, what to wear, etc. Super helpful since I was a newbie!

      

The website mentioned I would need to purchase their socks which have grippies on the bottom. I ended up trying not to break the rules by bringing my own (I don't own grippies). We will get to that later!

   

I arrive to the studio 15 minutes before class time start as recommended in order to complete paperwork, purchase socks, and grab all of the props needed for class. I came to learn that they had just ran out of socks, and I didn't have a back up!! The girl at the front desk said I should be find for my first class, so I just went with it.

  

After filling out paperwork, I refilled my water bottle left my shoes on the floor in front of the cubbies and my bag in the cubbies at reception and then sauntered up to the Barre studio. The receptionist showed me exactly what I needed:

   

-1 set of weights ... 2 or 3lbs or both (At Qi, I use 5lb weights for Yoga Sculpt, so this seemed strange..but I grabbed the 3s.)

-1 stretchy band

-1 squeeze ball

  

Simple enough.

I found a spot in the studio; there were probably about 8 other students in the room. The teacher greeted me by name before the class began.

  

Dance beats blared from the stereo system and we got started. We began with a cardio warm-up consisting of knee lifts and a few other poses. Then we were told to "Tuck." As in tuck the hips. I believe I was doing this correctly since I used to dance, but I honestly am not so sure. We tucked throughout class, so I believed this probably should have been demonstrated and described a bit more than it was!!

   

Following the warm-up / tuck stuff, we worked our arms using the 3lb weights. I still think I could have gone up in weight, because nothing fatigued for me. Although going up in weight really wasn't an option unless I doubled the weights I was holding.

   

Later, we completed some plyo work at the bar which definitely fatigued my leg muscles and made me shake. Yes!!

   

We continued to use the barre and switched from the floor to the barre to work different muscle groups.

   

One part I remember well is we were given mats to use against the wall under the ballet barre. We basically rolled half of the mat at the wall and placed our backs close  to the wall. WE then practiced some tucking exercises and leg lifts with flex-pointe-tucks. I liked this part, but I also felt the "crouching" position was not very good for my posture or my spine (especially cervical). I just felt super out of alignment for too long... This position did help us engage our deep within our bellies and we did avoid using the lower back, but I still believe something wasn't correct about the body positioning.

   

We moved to our mats on the floor and completed some leg lift works, practicing moving away from midline with one leg up and moving the leg back into center. Later on, we completed abdominal work which was definitely a bit challenging. Lots of prayer twists on our back and pulsing back and forth, up and down.

   

We ended with cobra pose - 2 sets - and child's pose in order to open up the front sides of our bodies after all of the compression. Cobra pose breath was taught opposite from what I am used to ... exhales on the up and inhales on the release. Finally, we stretched together and class was over.

   

In general, I thought this was a great class... The music was awesome - sounded like a continuous dance party and this kept me going in times when my muscles were tiring. I am definitely feeling sore today in new places especially, which I cannot complain about!

   

I do believe the instructor could have had more energy. She walked around with a headset most of the time and did *some* of the workouts with us, but not all. She continually held her IPod and clicked it to lower the volume to indicate we were moving on to the next exercise. I thought this was strange, but I have a completely different background. I am open to trying a few more classes in order learn more about each instructor's personal teaching style.

   

I am pretty sore today, which is wonderful, and I also feel I have legitimately shocked my body throwing in a completely new routine into my typical routine.

   

I'd love to hear your feedback on your barre class experiences...

What did you love about class ?

Were the movements explained to you well ?

Would you go back and why?

Pure Barre

Holy Guacamole...


I am trying a Pure Barre class today.
I'll post more later to give everyone the update!


The goal is to check out many of the fitness studios in Denver before I move to the small town Gainesville in Florida next month... 


XO
Robyn