Howdy folks!
I hope everyone is enjoying the last few hours of the weekend and relaxing before Monday morning hits. I’m going to start where I left off. As I suggested in my last post, yesterday was Yoga Day. I ended up celebrating by taking a Vinyasa Flow class at a studio I had never been to before, 4025 Yoga. I really liked the atmosphere at 4025. They seemed very unpretentious and welcoming of all levels and body types. And, the instructor was different than your typical yoga instructor- she played music by MC YOGI, danced and made jokes throughout the class. It really lightened the mood and made the class more lively. Of course, she was serious when need be- such as moments of relaxation.
We ended the class with hip openers and head stands. I used to do head stands all the time as a child for fun but have only done it a few times during yoga. It’s a very challenging pose, but for me, it isn’t nearly as hard as the Seated Wide Legged Straddle – Upavistha Konasana.
I definitely can’t stretch my legs out that wide and I could barely get my head 1 foot from the ground in front of me. I asked the instructor after class what I could do to get better at this pose. She said it’s the back of my thighs that will need to be loosened and that it will just take practicing. So this is one of my yoga goals of 2010. To become more flexible in the seated wide positions and to be able to do crow pose. If any of you yogis out there have any good advice, please help a sister out. I’m all ears.
Overall, I was very pleased with my first visit to 4025 Yoga and even though it’s a bit further than the yoga studio near my house I’d definitely be up for going back. Although, I am starting to like doing yoga at home with yogadownloads. And, I’ll let you all in on a little secret- I’m trying to convince Isaac to let me turn the second room into a yoga/workout room for us. Right now I can’t bare to be in there because it’s stuffed with clothes and smells like lizards, but hopefully soon I can amp up the ambiance and create a little workout haven. 
Okay, so besides yoging. I also had some pretty delicious eats this weekend.
For lunch: Spinach salad with tofurkey, grape tomatoes, zucchini, and wheatberries.
On the menu for dinner: Roasted root veggies (sweet potatoes, turnips, onions, parsnips, olive oil, thyme, sea salt, and ground pepper), black beans, and brown basmati rice. Simple, but delicious.
I crashed out at 9:30PM last night while watching a movie. It never fails- I always do this to Isaac, but this time we were only 15 minutes in before my eyes started closing. The funny thing is that I slept until 9:30AM. Woo-hoo for 12 hours of sleep!
This morning’s breakfast consisted of regular old stove top oats (which means a combo of oatmeal and oat bran cooked with water, 1/2 banana and cinnamon). I did, however, add a special ingredient- ricotta cheese!
It made the bowl velvety smooth, extra creamy and over the top filling – I actually didn’t end up eating lunch until 2:30.
On the menu for lunch: Spinach salad, with black beans, left over roasted veggies and maple balsamic sauce. Roasted veggies are seriously one of the best salad toppings. Love them to pieces (or chopped chunks rather).
I just got home from the movies with Isaac’s mom. She and I had a little date while he and his dad watched the football games. After having went to the theaters 2 times and having it be sold out, I finally got to see Up In the Air. Although the ending wasn’t quite what I wanted or expected, I thought it was a great movie!
Plus, watching George in HD for 109 minutes was a nice treat.
I don’t care the he’s more than 20 years older than me, he’s one of the best looking guys out there right now.
Off to relax and then get ready for bed. Be sure to check the blog tomorrow as I’ll have some exciting news!
- Brittany
I’ll leave you with a video from a Live MC Yogi show. It has a good beat and is quite fun. Give it a listen.
MC Yogi – Rock On Hanuman, Live @ Toby’s from MC Yogi on Vimeo.
Brittany Mullins, HHC
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Girl, you’re like the gift that just keeps on giving with these oatmeal ideas! Ricotta? Amaze!! Must try stat.
Question – as someone with little experience with yoga, what would you suggest I do to start getting into it? Join a class or start with a video?
Personally, I think an Intro to Yoga / A Beginners Class would be your best bet because the instructor will help make certain you are doing the poses correctly. That part is important because you wouldn’t want to injure yourself. After a couple classes doing the videos at home should be fine.
George Clooney has been my celeb crush for YEARS!
I’m doing the same with our second bedroom, since Chris hasn’t used it as his ”game room”. Have fun creating your own Yoga room, I’m still working on mine. YAY!
Do you think I could do the Easy Stretch they have listed on Monday nights at 6pm? I didn’t get to walk this weekend at all, did it for 2 days, and then couldn’t get back there. hope I can get there tomorrow night. see ya in the am.
i love all the root veggies…they are the best leftovers, bc, like you said they go with EVERY thing. yum!!
Sounds like such a fun – and relaxing – class! Sounds like you’ve found a real gem!
I just practiced an hour of yoga this morning (at home). It was really fantabulous, and I’m so glad I took the time for it.
*smiles*
Michele
I hope my yoga practice enables me to do head stands one day — I have never been able to do them! Love your roasted root veggies – haven’t thought to try them as a salad topper but thats a great idea for leftovers.
I agree, Clooney IS SO HOT. I don’t care how old he is, hahaha.
I loved Up in the Air, it wasn’t what I expected either, which just made me like it so much more.
Love headstand! I crave it and wheel now that I am doing both regularly.
Crow is hard for me and I am just getting to the point of being able to lift both feet off of the ground, it has taken me 2 years! I feel it is easier when my hands are stretched out a little farther in front and put a block in front for your head to rest on. That way, you get used to the sensation of having your body in that angle and eventually, you won’t need the block. I am sure you already know this part but start with just having one foot off the ground and eventually you will get both off.
George is pretty nice looking
In terms of your seated folds, you just have to become more flexible. I would recommend doing some basic flexibility stretches everyday (i.e, seated forward fold, try to get your forearms on the gorund, etc.) If you do these enough, the flexibility will come eventually! For crow, it helps me to really pretend like I’m flying off the ground, and you have to trust yourself. Your arms will support your weight!
LOVED Up in the Air–glad you did too:)
I take martial arts and the key is stretching every day. A good trick is to lay with your back parallel to the floor and your legs paralle to a wall and let your legs fall. It kills, but if you do it for a month straight, you’ll be doing a full split in no time.
Hi Brittany! I love your blog, this is my first time commenting but I was going through your archives and saw your post about crow pose. I was really struggling with crow but this video helped me immensely – I went from total fail to actually being able to do it after just a few tries with Sadie’s tips. Good luck!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVJIUwhDeu8
Hi Kristina,
Thank you so much for sharing that video. I watched it tonight and plan to try out Sadie’s tips tomorrow!!