Exercising at home and changing the world!

I've been studying the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I love Stephen R. Covey and his ideas. This book is golden. The last habit, "Sharpen the Saw," is about keeping yourself "sharp" and taking time to care for yourself mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and-you guessed it-physically. Listen to this little gem I read yesterday:

Most of us think we don't have enough time to exercise. What a distorted paradigm! We don't have time not to. We're talking about three to six hours a week-or a minimum of thirty minutes a day, every other day. That hardly seems an inordinate amount of time considering the tremendous benefits in terms of the impact on the other 162-165 hours of the week.

Perfect! Right? And I actually think I felt gleeful as I read this, "And you don't need any special equipment to do it.... A good exercise program is one that you can do in your own home." !!!! I'm pretty sure if Mr. Covey says it then I'm on the right track here. Going to the gym or spa or enjoying a sport is nice and "an added opportunity," but "a good exercise program is one that you can do in your own home." Yes, I really did need to say it twice. :)

I have so much on my mind right now. There is so much we can do. Starting a regular exercise routine was eye opening and life changing for me, but it was one act that meant more than just exercise. It meant making better choices, learning new things, and realizing that we are not stuck where we are.

Yesterday I was listening to a talk whose subject was, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." The question was posed, "What changes would you like to see in the world and are you being that change?" I have felt I need to "be the change" often but I have never thought about exactly what that change is. I thought of this blog and wondered why I started it. I wanted to make some kind of change. I wanted to help others feel a change in themselves like the one I felt in myself. I reflected on that question yesterday and today and I suspect I'll still be thinking on it for a while, but here is my answer for now. The change I want to see in the world: I want people to stop making excuses. I want people to recognize their own divinity and ability to create and do and be more. I want there to be a lot less negativity in the world, in the form of self-talk as well as conversation to and about others. Am I being the change? I'm working on it and every time I do I become stronger and more capable of helping others and... changing the world.

What change do you wish to see in the world and what are you doing about it?

On THAT note. Let's get to it! The last couple of days for me have included  running (and walking a lot) with my dog, which is quite hilarious as he's not sure what to do when I'm "running." He's either behind me at a slow trot or running and literally dragging me along. I've also enjoyed tabata with my tabata app. Today I switched between jumping jacks and mountain climbers. And I've done some yoga. Here are some videos for you to try. In one of them she does some crazy inversions, just do what you can and enjoy! :)

Not really MIA and Yoga

I haven't been around here much lately and I'm sorry I haven't posted any ideas! I have been dealing on and off with some anemia and I had another little bout recently. I could tell it was happening because I could feel my muscles and body and stamina weaken. No fun when you enjoy pushing yourself! I decided with that and other things occupying my time (Christmas and all that entails..........) I would take a little break. I'm still in a routine. I do my "comfort" videos, the ones I know and love and feel nice and easy with. I've also had a chance to do a lot more yoga. Yay! I am finding joy in respecting my body and what it needs right now. I am listening and following inspiration. I might also be writing this for myself but it feels good to acknowledge that I can take care of my God given body and know what it needs. I don't have to listen to popular culture or the girl with the perfect figure. Yes, I can study and learn, but after that I can listen to me and feel happy with my choices.

Here's a great 30 day yoga camp for you to try. She is great but be warned that occasionally she puts in a "colorful" word :/.... just a heads up.

30 DAY YOGA CAMP

P.S. If you are a brand new yogi, you can watch her foundation videos first. A great place to start.
Foundations of Yoga - Yoga With Adriene

Confessions of a Yoga Lover

Today I heard my 5 year old daughter excitedly talking to a friend in the next room "That was a pose! Did you see that?!" Then she yelled in to me, "Mom! I held a pose for a long time! You can see it when you get in here!" And went back to teaching her (somewhat disinterested) friend how to do it. I went to find her, very curious to see what pose my sweet little yogi had just accomplished. I was surprised and quite impressed to see my baby teaching her friend how to do crow pose. That's right, crow pose. She might not have really been holding it, but she was pretty darn close.

Life lesson for October 8th: There are no yoga lessons at my house except a few that my kids specifically ask for, but I do do a lot of yoga here as you might have surmised. Really, truly, kids learn from watching their parents. We lead. We are examples. Whether we like it or not!

Awww, Yoga

I took an ah-mazing ashtanga yoga class last week. Ashtanga yoga has an intense, flowing style in which the same asanas (poses) are always done in the same order. I wish I could find the words to explain how I felt when I left that hour and a half class. Other than the fact that I could barely stand (how many vinyasa flows can one person do??) I felt so good. Yes. Just really very good. Yoga has a way of making your body feel tall, long, strong, and capable. Learning to breath and focus on my practice and on what I need right at that moment is a skill I feel has effected my whole life. I have had a stressful few years, but I've made it through them and I am still making it through each day. Yoga calms me and it encourages me. I think back to the first time I tried yoga and laughed at what I was trying to do. At the time I was laughing because I thought there was no possible way I was ever going to accomplish these crazy things, but as my practice continued my view changed and I began to try. I decided I would just see what happened. I left that class last week having held a headstand, a backbend, and several balancing poses and binds! Yay! We can do so many things, but first we have to try and then we have to diligently keep trying until *suddenly* you realize you're doing it!! It is such a great feeling that everyone should experience. Okay, go try something new this week! And keep trying until you've got it.... even if it takes a year... or five years. :)

Here's a great beginning - feel fantastic - yoga video, if you want to give it a try.

My current goal: Grasshopper Pose

I'm getting there!

My new favorite you tube yogi

I've already posted some of SaraBeth's videos and I've found myself searching for her videos more often lately.  Great teacher. Great voice. Great method. This video is good for flexibility, strength, and balance....  All in 16 minutes!

 I also went for a good walk this morning with a good friend. Sometimes I forget how great getting outside when the weather is cooler and talking with friend can be for a workout. Seriously my Arizona friends, the weather actually is cooler in the mornings now. Get outside and watch the sunrise!

Namaste.

Laura :)

Had to share this

  I just did this easy yoga routine and loved it! Good for all levels. Beginners may need to slow it down a bit or pause it a few times as she moves kind of fast. :)

Let the fun begin!

School is starting soon! For a homeschooling mom like myself, that means.... "AAAAA!!!" Haha. Just kidding. But it does mean things are going to get even busier over here. As my kids are a top priority, my daily posts are going to have to drop to 'whenever I can' posts. Hopefully I've given you enough to work with and some ideas and you can put the label section in the side bar to good use.

Feel free to follow by email ------>>> so you can see new posts as they come. Per suggestions, I will try to find some more beginner ideas as well as some more nutrition ideas.

Here are some of my favorites that you could also try out!

Fitness Blenders 5 Day Workout for Busy People - I love these. They're each about 30 minutes and they're great for all levels. Daniel and Kelly are good at helping beginners modify. (Don't let the one funky move in the first one stop you from doing the rest.)

30 Days of Yoga with Adriene - Also fabulous. Good for all levels!

30 Day Yoga Challenge with Erin Motz - These are great too. I can't help that yoga's my favorite. I really think everyone should add it to your routine, whether running is your thing or walking or tennis or football or jazzersize. Yoga is for everyone!

You can also check out Blogilates - A blog about Pilates. My friend recently introduced me to it and I can't wait to check it out.

One more thing I want to encourage - Habit. Habit. Habit. I'm reading an excellent book, The Power of Full Engagement. In it the authors encourage developing positive rituals as a way to make positive changes. If adding exercise to your daily routine is something you are working towards, think of what rituals you will base your routine around. For Example: every day when you wake up; every Mon, Wed, Fri, & Sat; walking on Mon, Wed,  Fri & Strength on Tues/Thurs; right when the kids go to school; with kids; with husband; with friends. It might not even be very much to start. Whatever you decide, forget whether you want to do it! If you don't have a routine in place already, you probably won't want to do it. Make yourself do it when you say you will. (If you have little kids, then just do the best you can and don't stress when you have to cut your time in half because of a crying baby, the important thing is you started.) Eventually it will be a habit. You will feel funny without it, kind of like if you forget to brush your teeth. Also, don't compare yourself to anybody else!!!! You're not like anybody else. Just do what feels good to your body. Push yourself to work past your own comfort zone to build more capacity, but don't worry about anyone else. You've got this.

Laura :)

Your yoga for today

And more poses every beginner should learn. These are two of my favorites. :)

Yoga for Advanced & Yoga for Beginners

Yoga for my very advanced friends...

So, the first half I spent trying the different poses, but by the end my kids and I were just laughing at the thought of even attempting what she was doing. Ha! We had a good time, but even though I laugh, I can say there are poses I laughed at when I first started practicing, that now I can do. In fact, I just achieved headstand!! The great thing about yoga (and any exercise), you just start where you are and push yourself a little more every time. You can do great things this way!  You've heard it said I'm sure, when it gets hard and you keep going, that's when you get stronger. True. True. And what I love the most is this is a great analogy for life! Everything I practice when I exercise I can take out and practice in life. Now go achieve something wonderful! ;)

But before you go, let me leave something for my beginning friends...

Breathing is key in yoga. This is best video I could find that explains it. (She starts actually teaching it around minute two.) She said something about it being called a Darth Vader breath which she doesn't like, but I do. It makes it easier to understand. Anyway, take from it what you will.

Here are some other basic poses, every beginner should understand.

I better stop there or I could go on forever. I'll post some more goodies another time. For now, you can work on these. :)

-Laura

I know, I'm on a yoga binge

I found another good one for you. I think beginners could follow along with this one. 

 Enjoy!

Time to get moving

Think of a favorite activity and invite some friends to go do it or if you need to be with your kids, invite them along. Today I played speed with a bunch of young'ns for an hour and felt like I had a good workout when I was done. You can also go for a walk as a family. If some want to go a little slower, wait at the corner for them and while you wait do some jumping jacks. Kids have an endless amount of energy. Any time I decide to jump into one of their games, its good exercise.

And Wednesday is yoga day. I tried a new yogi today. This one will be hard for beginners to follow, but is a good challenge for intermediate or more advanced.

Happy Birthday!

I should've done THIS video today! Maybe I still will...

There's an app for that

I found this app on my i phone today.... 

FitStar Yoga. 

It appears that with the free app you can get a few free lessons a week. Not sure yet if I love it enough to purchase the premium package (that would give you unlimited lessons and additional features), but it might be something worth checking out. And

Tara Stiles 

is another one of my favorite Yogis. (She is the star of this yoga app.) 

I just found some of her classes you can purchase to download, too. Hmmm. I've only tried her you tube videos, but I would imagine these classes might be worth having. I'll let you know if I try any.

There's also a 

FitStar Personal Trainer 

app which I haven't tried yet, but probably will. 

And might I just add there are a TON of fitness apps you can explore if you prefer that route. Fitness Blender (whose videos I use a lot) has one you can search, plus there are all kinds of running apps that will tell you how far you've gone and fitness timers. You probably already knew this, but I just wanted to throw it out there in case you didn't. ;)

Wednesday is Yoga Day

Yoga makes me feel fabulous every time I do it. Here's today's dose of greatness. Adriene is one of my favorite YouTube yogis. <3

If you haven't tried a lot of yoga but would like to you can find a ton of beginner videos on YouTube. I'll also post some of my favorites soon.

Today's Workout and Fitness Blender

Yay! It worked. I have been trying to figure out how to upload these darn you tube videos and it hasn't worked. Thanks to a new computer we can make this happen. Anyway, this was my workout the other day. These guys are my favorite youtube friends, at least for HIIT (high intensity interval training). It's a 20 minute video, although you have to add time to warm up and cool down. They're great at modifying for beginners. 

I also added a little yoga for the day. 

(My favorite form of exercise, everyone should have yoga in their life.)

Have fun!