splish splash

...that blogs are not smellovision equipped just yet.  for my birthday, i picked out a new yoga mat to replace my current one that is older than many elementary school children.  said bluebell is beautiful and super thick, but unfortunately also comes with directions to "let it air out" before first use.  translation:  smells yuck.  i feel like i'm harry potter taking a bath with his egg before the big tournament.  and by tournament, i mean yoga class.

chill out

source

 

...that the past couple of days have actually been cool enough for sweaters of all kinds.  the husband and i christened our fireplace this weekend and it was glorious.  it's supposed to hit 90 again next week, but hopefully that will be summer's last hurrah.

week of 10/7: 

sunday:  sick

monday:  sick

tuesday:  taught yoga {and had the bananas scared out of me when an older woman complained of dizziness and was unable to get up from her mat after class}

wednesday:  rest

thursday:  taught yoga

friday:  rest

saturday:  rest

on the yoga front, once i start each class, i'm generally calm and the movements feel very fluid.  after thursday's class, i received two very sincere compliments from two different members.  still working on my anxiety before each class though.  it's like i need yoga before yoga. 

marilyn mantras

source

...for student teachers.  my yoga class this morning was extra massage-y thanks to an extra instructor observing and tweaking form.  a bonus neck rub and shoulder massage makes for a happy amy and underscores why studio yoga beats gym yoga any day of the week.

i was pinning quotes and ran across this one from the beautiful marilyn monroe.  she is, of course, awesome.  but she's also the subject of one of my very favorite shows from last season.  smash, pleeeeease come back soon.  i missed you this summer.

week of 9/23:
sunday:  lulu yoga
monday:  rest
tuesday:  taught yoga {still working on not panicking..and being louder, according to the woman in the back row.  to her i say, "move closer!"}
wednesday:  rest
thursday:  rest
friday:  rest
saturday:  a lot of walking around the la county fair.  i definitely regretted my thinking that we were too cool for the shuttle a few times.

return of the weekend

 

...for a no obligation weekend.  other than cleaning, i'm planning on blog reading, napping, trashy magazines and library books.  this week i finally began subbing again {and was reminded of why i hated it in the first place}.  at least it buys groceries.  and i did make some first graders laugh when we read our stories in a bear voice.  my growl is legendary.

week of 9/16:

sunday:  lulu yoga

monday:  rest

tuesday:  taught yoga {panic this week was a little less. baby steps}.

wednesday:  rest

thursday:  rest

friday:  rest

saturday:  active rest {cleaning}

 

thanks to last week's yoga bender, my left elbow has been bothering me for a few days.  i'm trying to take it easy.  i think some swimming might be just what i need.

workouts and reminders

 

...for the multitude of pin-able inspiration out there.  i decided i'm not loving the little cowgirly i've got representing my workout roundups {although really, she's lassoing in some great fitness.  i kill me.}  so this week, i'm thankful for these five reminders that are easier written than followed.  number two resonates the most for me currently, since i've now taught three yoga classes and have given myself serious anxiety before, during and after each one.  i didn't think teaching big people would be so different from teaching little people.  it's VERY different.  yowza.

week of 9/9:

sunday:  new york renagade hotel gym yoga {to the confusion of those two boys on the treadmills}

monday:  rest

tuesday:  morning yoga taken and evening yoga taught

wednesday:  rest

thursday:  yoga taught

friday:  yoga taken and then taken again {"research" for my own class, much to the surprise and dismay of my muscles}

saturday:  rest

 

so, clearly, i'm on a yoga bender right now.  these workout logs are for mostly my own records/amusement, after all.

yogaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

...that i made it through teaching my first yoga class relatively unscathed.  after getting my cert in june, it took me a little bit to apply and audition, but next week i officially start teaching two classes per week.  backing up to last night though, i was covering a class for someone else.  as i told the husband, "if it goes well, great.  and if it's a disaster, at least i never have to see those people again." 

{famous last words}

 

i wish i was joking, but here are a few things that went wrong last evening:

source

*i was so into the awesome songs playing on my radio that i completely missed my freeway exit.  i didn't realize i'd missed it until i was four exits further than i wanted to go.  i then got stuck at a train crossing while my gps was trying to guide me to the gym while i looked at the clock every 2.5 seconds hoping not to be late.  {thank goodness i wasn't}

 

*i finally arrived to said gym and find that the equipment {microphone pack and cover screen} promised to me by the woman who called me to sub was, in fact, not anywhere to be seen.  no biggie, i'll just use the same setup the instructor teaching before me used.  i'll discreetly let her know it's my first class, and she'll be more than happy to walk me through.  i'm sure you can see where this is going.

 

*zumba instructor satan jennifer was none too pleased when i interrupted her conversation to politely ask about the mic.  "oh, i don't really use the mic.  i'll put the cd in for you.  good luck."  before sprinting out the door, she proceeds to announce to everyone setting up for yoga that it is, in fact, my very first class.  cue scow-ly faced me.  she obvs. doesn't know that the first rule of subbing is never admit that you're new.

 

*i decide i'm over using a mic anyway and spend the next couple of minutes with my booty to the class trying to adjust volume, lights and whatnot.  we finally get going and start our deep breathing.  yoga is supposed to be relaxing, after all.

 

*for whatever reason, the stereo is set on stopping after each individual song instead of playing all the way through.  i don't realize this until after the second time i've left my pose to hit play again.  i suppose i could try and correct it, but at this point, hitting play every few minutes is really not that big a deal.  i can only hope that the members are so blissed out that they don't notice the extended pause bt songs.

 

*i catch a glance at myself in the mirror about 20 minutes into class and realize that i am nervously sweating.  not glowing, but ugly sweating.  eeeeewwww. 

 

*miraculously, the sequence i've planned plus a few filler moves take up the whole hour and i end the class with a relaxing shivasana.  i mention that i'm teaching a few regular classes and someone asks me what time my huntington beach class is.  god bless you, lady in the blue tshirt.  you made my night.

 

*the icing on the cupcake was when the cd got stuck in the stereo and i couldn't get it to eject after class.  luckily, i was alone by this point.  i finally shut the whole thing down and restarted to get it out.  but seriously, i would have been okay with the cd as collateral damage by that point.

 

that was a long ramble, but i'm hoping the moral of this story is that old show biz saying about a bad dress rehearsal means a great opening night.  because, yikes.  a girl's blood pressure can only remain elevated for so long.  i was so keyed up when i got home that i rolled around in bed until 2:30am.  i'm a treat today.  

yoga and peanuts

source

...for another addition of my weekly workouts roundup.  i'm posting a little bit early, because this weekend the husband and i are going to new york (!) for his friend's wedding.  he assures me that we will not be anywhere near time's square or the statue of liberty, which may make it harder to purchase my {i <3 ny} tshirt.  i'll console myself with a trip to niagra falls and overpriced airport snacks.  seriously, last time we flew, i think we paid $8 for a bag of peanuts.

week of 9/2:

sunday:  lulu yoga

monday:  power yoga

tuesday:  turbo kickbox

wednesday:  i taught my first ever yoga class {the breath work we did was more for me than them}

thursday:  rest

friday:  traveling/wandering the airport

saturday:  see friday

git along little... workouts.

source

...for the first installment of my weekly workouts roundup.  {side note- finding a non slutty cowgirl picture is a lot harder than you might think}  i'm a lot better about working out during the summer than during the school year, obvs.  right now i have some unplannedandhopefulthatitdoesnotstaythatwayformuchlongerorimighthaveabreakdown extra time off until subbing picks up again this fall, so to keep myself motivated, i think i'll post my workouts here.  better than on our fridge, although no place for gold stars.  hmmm. 

week of 8/26:
sunday: lulu yoga
monday: vinyasa yoga
tuesday: turbokickbox
wednesday: rest
thursday: rest
friday: vinyasa yoga
saturday: wandering the aisles of costco for bulk toiletries

yogi bear

...that when life gets stressful {like this week} and things {and people} seem out of my control, i can always count on sunday morning yoga to relax, destress and calm the eff down.   

byobc

source

...for makeup workouts.  yesterday when my tkb class was cancelled, i came home and did... nothing productive.  and after flaking on yoga this morning, i busted out this workout i had bookmarked (and newly pinned) from awhile ago.  minimal equipment, flexible (i subbed tricep skull crushers for the dips so i could use dumbbells) and ultimate reminder that no one looks cool doing a burpee.  no one.