Days 283-287: Colorado Love

Day 283:  As the days of my challenge tick by I am realizing that working out is now embedded in my everyday regimen, blogging on the other hand is the first thing to take the back burner when life gets busy.  I promise to you that I am sweating, life’s busyness has just taken the forefront.

Thursday morning I met a friend in Wash Park for a three-mile run and followed it up with a yoga sculpt class at Core Power (you’ll really start to see a trend here).

Day 284:  Friday morning I woke up in Denver to complete sadness.  My fiance came home from working a night shift at Buckley Air Force Base and told me to turn on the devastating news in Aurora.  Like most tragic events, it took me some time to comprehend the magnitude of what had happened just a few miles from home.  My heart was shattered for our state that has already endured so much pain in the past.

Working out was the furthest thing from my mind.  So much so, that I decided that a picnic in the  (empty) park, followed by an hour-long walk with Mike would have to suffice.  We talked and talked trying to work through the overwhelming day.  Sometimes I think that’s all we can to do find some ease.

Day 285:  Core Power Yoga Sculpt.

Day 286:  Ride to and from work and Core Power Yoga Sculpt.

Day 287:  This morning I went on a three-mile run and then to Bonza Bodies tonight for a bootcamp style class.  As I was in class tonight, I kept catching myself doing the wrong exercises, lifting the opposite leg as my classmates or zoning out to the point of not knowing what exercise my body had just completed.  It was a huge realization to myself that I am still processing some things and feeling a little stressed in life.  Running felt like a gift to my mind and although my body loved the hard class, my mind was left feeling more confused.

Tomorrow I will shoot for a yoga flow that can hopefully give my mind a little bit of a rest.

Days 250-252: Vipr’s

Day 250:  lululemon athletica in Cherry Creek celebrated their new store opening this Sunday by closing down the streets and hosting an inspiring yoga class led by Billy Potocnik with DJ Roger Martin-Pressman (both awesome instructors from Pura Vida).   I settled myself in next to a woman who practiced with Billy on a regular basis and prepped for a nice easy Sunday flow.  I was so so very wrong.

Nice?  Yes.  Easy?  Far from it.  I am estimating that there were over 100 chaturangas in the 75 minute class, along with crow, side-crow, birds of paradise and something called a “crocodile,” which scared me too much to try on a cement street with new veneers.   Although it was incredibly challenging, I realized it was the most fun class I have ever had outside.  I was able to tune out the sounds of the streets, the comments of my neighbors and the dirt all over my mat in order to get deeper into my practice.

It reminded me a lot of when I wait for things to be perfect before I make a move.  The noises, wind, smells of nearby restaurants and my filthy mat were far from perfect, but it did not keep me from practicing my heart out.  It made me realize that things do not have to be perfect in order for the experience to be great- it’s the experience itself that holds perfection.

Day 251:  Yesterday my friend Sarah and I started the day out with a five-mile walk in Washington Park after a stop at Washington Perk.  I am starting to sound like a broken record.

Onto something new…

After months of relentless coaxing my friend/newest enemy/Bonza Bodies owner, Jamie Atlas, finally convinced me to take one of his classes.  He started off the class by asking me when I was getting married and followed that by a “good, we still have time” comment that made me want to throw my newest workout instrument, the vipr, his way.  Noooo, well kind of.

The class is like a bootcamp on steroids with a little bit of Australian humor sprinkled on top.  We did an hour of circuit work using trx-like bands, viprs (video demo here)  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWuD7D1IdUw, railyards, planks with sliding weights, squats, sandbells, running, more planks and lots of other things that I have partially blocked out of my memory.  I was sweating more than I sweat in a hot yoga class and woke up numerous times last night after rolling onto sore body parts.  In short?  The class was fantastic and I am hooked and hoping that the intensity of the class preps me even more for our wedding in two months- to the day.  #backfatisnotafriend

Day 252:  With an incredibly sore body, I decided on another long walk.  I walked for an hour this morning before it got too hot out and plan on pulling out the TRX a little later in between clients for a quick pick-me-up.

*A note for Ohio readers:  On Thursday I will be back in Columbus for five days and am looking for workout partners.  If anyone is interested, please shoot me an email! 

Day 184: Ozzie Style

Day 184:   I am so stoked about the class that I took this morning that I had to  write about it ASAP.  We had Bonza Bodies owner, Jamie Atlas, come into our lululemon athletica store in Cherry Creek to teach a bootcamp class with some serious Australian flair.  I have done a lot of bootcamps, but this one really took the fun cake.  Not only was it hard, it was educational, hilarious and high energy.  Jamie’s (large) presence made me want to exert more effort and watching 20 of my co-workers enjoying their sweat sessions made it even more memorable.

Sneaky Jamie walked around and secretly* videotaped us going through circuits.  Here is the video for your viewing pleasure:

*I say secretly because I did not notice him run by.  I would have at least tried not to look so exhausted doing the side step lunges if I knew the paparazzi was coming!*

Days 181-183: Whoaaa, I’m Halfway There…

Day 181:  Colorado Rockies Opening Day!!   Mike and I walked about five miles on Monday to pick up a friend (to walk further with us), then walked to meet other buddies, next to the stadium and lastly, a half-mile until we found our final cab that took us home for the night.  My feet were covered in filthy happiness.

Day 182:  Half-way through and guess what?  I forgot 😦   I did not forget to workout, but I forgot to make it a special workout to signify how far I have come. Mike and I spent the majority of our day house hunting and our minds were full of house owning dreams, confusing floor plans, mortgage fears, remodeling ideas and lots of other confusing things to first time home buyers.  Exhausted from our day, we decided to walk together for an hour hand-in-hand  while discussing our best options.  On second thought, I’m not sure if I would redo this workout in any other way.

Day 183:  This morning I went to a crossfit bootcamp at Washington Park at 6 a.m.  For those of you who have been following me for awhile, you know that those early morning classes do not happen often.   One of my friends talked me into making the commitment and I could not let her down.  We warmed up with what alone would have been the hardest workout I have had in months: Indian Runs.   After that there were lots of burpees (youtube it, I can’t even begin to explain that one), air squats, kettle-bell swings and sprinting.  It was brutal and awesome rolled into one.  Here is the link if you’re interested in checking out this early a.m. butt-kicking with Crossfit Stapleton:  http://crossfitstapleton.com/stapleton-bootcamps/

Lastly, I wanted to share with you something that has the potential to change a lot of lives.  My fiance and I watched “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead,” a documentary on the benefits of juicing and eating a healthy diet.

Click here to watch the free movie on hulu

Click here to find some recipes and tips

Afterwards we both looked at each other and said, “we have to do this.”   Many hours of research later we decided to get the Vitamix 500 and start our 10 day juicing challenge tomorrow.  It’s going to be tough in so many ways and we are fully prepared for what is going to happen to our detoxifying bodies.  Actually, scratch that, I am not prepared.  However, I am dedicated and excited to see how this challenge changes my relationship with food.  Don’t you worry, I’ll be sharing our experience along the way.

If you see me around and I look quite angry, please forgive me.  I will be blaming my tude’ on the all liquid diet.  Here we go!