Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fitness. Show all posts
Let me preface this post by saying that we are all on our unique and personal "fitness" journeys. I realize that "fitness" can be loosely used to define the condition of someone's physical health, but can be more broadly rejected for its way of standardizing what is determined as "healthy" or "toned" or "strong". For the purposes of this post, the word "fitness" to me is unique to my own experiences with feeling good in my body and the progress that I'm making every day to achieve it. Hence, my "imperfect" fitness journey felt suit to my current feelings about my physicality and overall wellbeing.
This has been one of the most physically, emotionally, and mentally taxing year for all of us. Days where I would digress into negativity and forget to treat myself well before serving others. I found that what I needed was a new grip on strengthening myself in more ways than one. I lost a part of me that I used to love, cherish, and commit too. But I also gained a part of me that allowed for rest, self-forgiveness, and a moment for me to realign with what truly mattered to me and my body in that given moment.
Exercise, for one thing, has been a way for me to cope, release these pent up emotions, and do something bigger and better for my body and mental health coming out of a time that was and still is bearing a weight on all that we do. So, my imperfect fitness journey—throughout this year and many years—has brought forth a few honest takeaways. Ones that I hope will inspire the inner warrior in all of us.
Above all else, commit to yourself
One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that you have to be your own cheerleader and advocate for the betterment of yourself. It starts with how you envision your best and most healthiest self. Yes, you could scroll on every single fitness guru and influencer's Instagram hoping to manifest whatever good juju they're running on OR you can focus on what will truly help you in reaching realistic and mindful goals you want to achieve. This starts with choices.
Tiny tiny choices that have big big big impact. Switching sugary cereal with protein packed breakfasts. Choosing water over soda. Getting to bed earlier than usual. Doing one more rep. Or deciding that today is the day you'll go back to the gym. It's all about perspective and active choices you are making in the present moment. But sometimes, these choices are indulging in delicious pasta, having an extra cocktail, sleeping in until noon (or five, you choose), and these choices shouldn't be something you base your "fitness" on but rather how good doing these things make you feel. Check in with yourself, set your limits, establish healthy boundaries and stick to it. Above all else, listen to yourself and do what works for YOU.
The environment that we're in has a remarkable effect on our current feelings about ourselves and what makes us feel good. We all know the saying that the people we surround ourselves with reflect on us and our own self perceptions. But this time, I mean it in a good way. For many, like myself, we've been home alone and remiss of social interactions—positive, motivating, and encouraging social interaction. With REAL people! Whether it be in your inner circle or at work, there are always opportunities to find those select few who will also be your cheerleaders when times are tough.
Your fitness journey does not have to be a lonely one. You can competitively connect with friends on your Apple watch, social distance run with your dad, or join a virtual fitness group that constantly meets. There are many people trying to also better themselves and feel good, so why should you be alone in the process? In my experience, group workouts and team exercise has been the most empowering when it comes to finding the power within myself to stay motivated, challenged, and to be honest, less bored because of it. I'm rooting for you and so many other people are, too.
Keep Showing Up
When waking up at 6 in the morning sounds like an utter nightmare, let alone having to run at 6 in the morning. If there's anything I know to be true, it's that no matter what I do and at what energy or motivation level, there is always something to gain from showing up. Knowing that I was able to make time to focus on one part of my body, one mental issue I was dealing with, or zoning out in my tired mind and putting in the work just because I was there and didn't want to waste my membership. It's time to accept that all of your days, workout days, are going to be different. Things are going to hurt, things are going to swell, things are going to ache, but things are also going to feel good as hell. You need to be one with the process and be able to forget achieving perfection and achieve for progress. Taking each new day as a reset button and doing the most you can!
There will always be fear when it means making yourself vulnerable, specifically pushing your body in ways you never have before. I understand it's different for everyone and is definitely something I constantly feel and face when I'm experiencing a new workout, trying a new yoga pose, or going past a limit I know I may or may not be capable of. What we've learned from this year is that we are afraid of everything that is uncertain to us—isn't that how fear works? To hell with fear!
We have learned so much this year about how to adapt to uncertainty. At times, getting too comfortable in our bubbles, but mainly because we had to! We are coming out of our cocoons, not really knowing which direction to go in, but yet we go anyway because anywhere is better than that depressing and claustrophobic cocoon of comfort. Take a leap of faith and have trust in yourself and the process. There may be dust in the wind for sure, but getting through it is how you grow into a beautifully independent and empowered butterfly that is you!
Breathe and Let Be
You are exactly where you were meant to be. Your time will come and it's okay to let yourself take a moment to pause. And do what you need to do in this exact moment. More stretching less pressing, smaller reps, a slower pace, one less mile, and all at one step at a time. You will have moments of doubt, regret, anger, jealousy, you pick your poison. Acknowledge it. Use it.
Breath has the power to transform your mindset, your strength, and motivation. Use your breath in harmony with and not against your progress to becoming a better you. Scream. Literally scream. You'll feel much better, I swear ;) You are going to have really rough sets, lousy reps, and just outright lazy days. Recognize how it makes you feel. Reflect and use this frustration or self-doubt to drive positive and more considerate thoughts. Breathe in the good and out the bad. Trust me, your body and mind will thank you.
There is only one way to go—forward. No matter how you get there. Working out and focusing on your personal fitness, however you define it, doesn't have to be justified by measure of appearances or fulfilling a standard of what you "think" being fit is. Ultimately, the goal of reaching your best fitness is treating your body in ways that, at the end of the day, make you feel bubbly inside, smile more, and feeds your soul!
My fitness journey doesn't speak to everybody's, but if I can lift just one person up to make the next best moves for themself, I hope we can all radiate a collective understanding and tolerance for accepting our truest selves. By becoming vulnerable to our strengths and weaknesses, finding encouraging support systems, and trusting the process of each of our unique and imperfect journeys.
Restful sleep. What a concept.
The boundaries between home life and work life couldn't be more blurred. It doesn't help that the sun goes down at 5 o'clock or that there's not much else to do when it's negative zero outside after a long day of Zoom meetings. I have always been good about my sleep, or else I'll have to suffer the next day and no one wants a grumpy Natalie. As a college student, I've also realized that I have way more energy and motivation to do things at night, but I fall the brunt of not giving myself the time to wind down, decompress, and fully relax.
With everything going on in the world, I have revalued my need for a restful sleep, coming to terms with those thought clouds, and maintaining a routine that actually works and allows me to wake up fully rested and ready to get on with whatever the day may bring. I would consider myself as someone who wants to make the most of my days. If I sleep in too long, I'll feel unproductive, guilty, and like I can't get into the rhythm of whatever I need to accomplish. However, I also know that I need to allow myself to rest when I really need it. Establishing these boundaries, especially for sleep, is something that a good friend taught me—I think we can all adapt healthier and more mindful ways to get some more hours to snooze.
Before Bed...
I've shared some of my past bedtime routines and they usually consist of doing the normal humanly tasks: brushing my teeth, getting on comfy clothes, putting on some yummy lotion, maybe making some tea, doing a face mask etc. I try to make sure I allow myself some time to just prep for a good night's sleep. Refilling my water, playing some lo-fi tunes, and grabbing as many extra blankets I have on hand is always a bedtime necessity. Sleep is such a normal thing, so why should it be so hard to do sometimes?
Well, as someone who has struggled with mental health blips and anxiety, I find that dealing with the never-ending cycle of flurrying thoughts in my mind can be put to rest if I focus on my breathing and remember that I have no time to waste on dwelling on what I can and can't control. The mediation app, Headspace, has really helped me focus on my breathing, putting the traffic of my thoughts in front of me, and watching them drive by until I am sound asleep. I've even fallen asleep during a guided meditation, so I can whole heartedly say that this app is worth it.
Sometimes when my bedtime routine needs some reinforcements, I like to read myself to sleep. So, instead of staring at Tik Tok before bed and having the blue light over stimulate my mind, I've been really into reading lately just to get my head ready for bed. I've also heard a lot about the Olly Sleep Gummies which are naturally-derived melatonin supplements and they have really made a difference in allowing me to get to sleep quicker and wake up refreshed, too.
If catching some Z's is hard for you, I get it. This past year has altered all of our normal routines, so I would highly recommend creating boundaries for yourself before bedtime. Allot a couple of hours to decompress, do some self care, and remember that sleep is a necessary thing for us to live and function at our fullest potential. I know a lot of people who LOVE sleep, and I have to give it to them, a warm and cozy bed can cure anything. What's your bedtime routine like and how has it changed?
It's that time of year again; everyone's already getting back to school, going back to work, or even going back to the gym! I love buying new workout gear if you guys haven't already noticed. Athleisure and active wear is like my favorite trend right now and honestly, it's so much more comfortable, too.
This was kind of a collective haul because I needed new compression shorts a while ago but, I thought I would share my finds anyway.
This Purple Ombre Tank was actually a Nike Outlet find. Normally at an Outlet or Factory store, there are discounted items for pretty nice deals. I looked online for this and they didn't have it on the website, however, I did find it for way cheap on Poshmark if you guys want to check it out.
The fabric reminds me of a terry cloth or a "towel-like" fabric. I don't mind it at all and it is very soft and nice to work out in. I did notice that it kind of absorbs sweat like a towel but, it's livable because you sweat anyway when you work out. Plus, it's really cute!
I don't know about you guys but, I love working out in compression shorts. I ditch the yoga pants during the summer and swap them out with these bad boys!
If you like wearing compression anything, these would be great for training in the heat. Whether you are outside on 90 degree heat or in a studio at 90 degree heat, these keep me cool while also giving me a full range of motion and comfort. They have longer types of compression shorts if you aren't about that "short life", they have a nice selection of lengths, sizes and colors, too.
For the big shebang, I needed a new pair of sneakers. "Needed" can be used lightly but, c'mon--these are pretty amazing shoes just looking at them. They're the Nike Free Rn's and I have laid my eyes on them ever since I walked into the Nike store when summer started.
I think a quality type shoe like these are worth every penny. I have worn these almost everyday and I know I will a lot when I run and I'm not wearing flip flops everyday anymore.
I have a pretty wide foot so I was unsure about what size to get in the first place but, when I tried them on in the store, my exact shoe size (8.5 US), fit perfectly. It was a little concerning that it fit so well because it wasn't a wide shoe in the first place. Good for Nike! Usually I have a really difficult time finding the perfect size depending on the shoe; these fit great and feel great when I walk and run in them. Obviously, these are training shoes and are not made for long distance running.
I would recommend these as street shoes to moderate length running. I wouldn't say that I am a distance runner at all so, I can't compare Nike's running shoes to more appropriate or practical ones.
I have always liked Nike's clothes. I love to wear them to workout in and to just lounge in really! They're super comfy and reliable for pretty much any type of occasion. What are some Nike products you love?
Xoxo, Nat
I feel like active-wear nowadays has stepped up to a whole new level. There are now more stores than ever dedicated to just simply all things active wear: Lululemon, Lucy, Athleta, Fabletics, and you know stores that have been around forever like Nike and Adidas. I'll walk into some of these stores and find like the cutest workout clothes and cringe at the price tag. However, I am all about buying workout clothes and shoes that are earth-friendly. Especially when they're made from old yoga mats!
I found these Sanuk Yoga Slinged Up Flip Flops at my local Nordstrom and fell completely in love with them. During the summer, all I wear are flip flops and sandals. I'll go through so many pairs and get them gross and beat up. I think that sandals are a great investment because you can pretty much wear them with anything and anywhere!
Sometimes flip flops, like the really cheap ones, can hurt your feet after a while or break and that's why these are the best and most comfortable/durable ones I have owned. They are incredibly cushiony and the awesome yoga sling strap makes a really cute and unique touch. It comes with a little card that shows different ways to tie the straps and I think that's a really nice detail.
I have worn these to yoga and they're so easy to just untie and slip off and get right back on after practice. My mom was worried that the straps wouldn't really hold my feet in but, I have had no trouble walking in them (or running in them if you're curious). There's no imprint of your feet like some flip flops leave and I haven't received any blisters or cuts from the straps, either. They have a pretty nice tread on the bottoms so you won't like slip everywhere, too!
I read online that the sponge like soles are not good near water. I would be careful at the pool or the beach, even in the rain. Rarely have I worn these on rainy days but, I have worn them to the pool and just took them off when I knew I was going to swim. I think they would just suck in a ton of water and probably mold and smell. I am also not sure about how much arch support they offer. They're super soft and comfy but, wouldn't be that great if you have severe foot issues.
Besides those couple things, these are really great sandals. They'll last you a really long time if the right care is given and are amazingly comfy. It literally feels like I'm on my yoga mat all day! I take yoga with me everywhere I go with these shoes. I hope you guys enjoyed this mini review! I am always scouting out for great sandals, and these are really great and cute for summer.
Do you have a favorite pair of sandals that you can't seem to stop wearing?
Xoxo, Nat
Hey friends! Happy International Yoga Day! I just looked at my Facebook notifications and completely forgot that today is the day to celebrate and do a ton of yoga! This post is inspired by not only International Yoga Day, but also this company called Cotopaxi. Cotopaxi is a foundation driven to help people "do good". Their mission is to sell fitness wear, hiking gear, or as they call it, "good gear", like their famous hiking backpacks, in order to give back to communities in poverty and also help fund or grant organizations that also give back and create jobs and opportunities in third world countries. As a benefit organization, they strive to promote wellness and livelihood wherever and however they can by donating a percentage of their profits and contacting passionate influencers like me!
My personal mission is to give you guys some helpful health hacks that can benefit your guys' wellness and increase the interest in self improvement and hopefully your overall being! I know that trying to eat and act "healthy" can make people think of going on diets and strange fitness regimes—all that phony stuff that you should not pay attention to. I want people to know that making small, smart choices will overtime help them achieve their personal goals without making the wrong, unhealthy choices like over exercising and "dieting". I am no expert but, I do believe that there are many different ways (depending on who you are) that can impact your future well being. I hope my advice can help at least one person looking for some help or a reminder (because I know I don't always follow this advice myself). Here are things that I think some people need to hear:
1. Embrace Who You Are & Stop Comparing Yourself
A lot of people (including myself) tend to sometimes compare our features to these "praised", media celebrities on magazines, television, ads, and the internet. It can be hard to ignore them because of the technology based society we live in, so I understand how it feels when you see tons of posters and billboards that try to shape our standards of beauty. I think everybody has insecurities that are fueled by these photo shopped and overly-contoured men and women we see all over. I wanted to stress this issue because I believe that the first step to self improvement is self love.
Accepting who you are can be hard. We always think of someone better than us, someone who has more than us, someone who is something that we tell ourselves we have to be. And we shouldn't. That person probably thinks or envies another person the same way! We all have flaws so why not embrace the differences we all have and love who you are? It takes strength to see what other people see in you. Many people strive to be something they're not so, seeing the best in yourself can better your own self improvement and help you understand how amazing you actually are!
2. Surround Yourself With Positive People
Friends change and sometimes it's for the better to move on from people that don't make your life a positive one. I never want someone who is going to bring in bad energy to my life; it could be someone you can't seem to ever trust or someone who talks about you behind your back. I think that life is not about having those kind of people around at all. If someone is making you unhappy—what's the point of having them around? Be with people who make you laugh, happy, and let you be your awesome self!
I feel good around people who let me be weird and "derpy", as my sister and friends would say. I can't hide underneath a shell my whole life and not let my humorous self go sometimes! That's just who I am. If someone can't accept who you are for some crazy reason, then they shouldn't have the privilege to be your friend, in my opinion. Living a healthy life also means living with people who make you feel happy and comfortable.
3. Find a Workout or Activity That You Love Doing
Not everybody is a pro, self proclaimed, athlete. You don't have to do like a P90X workout just because the internet told you to do so. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to workouts and physical activity. You don't want to push it too hard when it comes to exerting all of your energy on something that might not even benefit the parts you need improving on. We all have our own body types and I think it's important to find a physical activity that gets your body moving and (hopefully) outdoors.
Whether it is riding a bike, running, hiking, dancing, playing sports, swimming, or even doing yoga, these are all great ways to burn the "cals" and get your heart rate up (without being really boring). After my home league soccer and softball days, I wanted to continue exercising and being active. I found that yoga was my favorite way to do this because I hate running and I really wanted to do an exercise that wouldn't just help me physically but, mentally too! I found an activity that I can do anywhere, anytime. I have been doing yoga for over a year and have seen tremendous improvement on my body and have done things that I never thought I could have done if I didn't just try it. Find something that you're passionate about and stick with it! The results will be amazing if you do the things you love doing.
4. Moderate Your Indulgences
I don't believe in diets. Going on a diet is a straight road to Hell if you ask me. You are physically and mentally constrained from pretty much everything. "Oh, I'm going on a no carb diet", said everyone who didn't know what else to do to be healthier. I believe that in order to control your body weight, you have to have a balance (considering the food you eat and the exercise you do).
Eating like 20 salads a week is probably not going to do much at all. If you really want to come out of a bad eating habit, you need to realize the food that you already put into your body rather than the food you are going to put into your body. Once you understand what you normally eat, then you can manage what you need to take out and what you need more of. If you end up having like a couple glasses of beer a week and you eat a ton of processed foods, you'll need to make a few changes. Making healthier choices each day by substituting a Poptart for like an apple is a great way to start changing your diet! My Dad has always told me to eat sweets and fast food in moderation, which is going to make more of a difference than drastically changing your whole eating system.
Here are some great substitutes and tips to think about when eating or making food:
- Drink water instead of soda or juice
- Trade out white bread for whole grains
- Instead of candy, try fruit
- Lean meats like chicken and turkey have less fat compared to beef and pork
- Eat snacks in between meals so you aren't going back for more when you have meals
- Eat a healthy breakfast so you have the energy you need during the day
- Alcohol like beer has a ton of unnecessary carbs and calories that your body doesn't need
- Treat yourself once and a while so you don't go crazy!
I feel like the major struggle that comes with being more fit is continuously keeping up with these healthy choices that you are making. We all get caught up with life and we become a little too busy than we hoped sometimes. Life's distractions shouldn't be the reason you have to go get Burger King for lunch but, I understand completely. Its happened to me. It happens to everyone!
Self improvement takes time and you need to build the strength to keep up with it and I think that's the hardest thing you could ever do. Staying motivated to exercise or eat healthier is hard. Accepting that feat and being patient and persistent with it will show miraculous results in the end. Take it day by day and keep up the good work! You won't have rock hard abs overnight.
If you thought this was going to be some sort of, "Ways to lose weight", type post then you are completely in the wrong place because 1) You should have read the title and 2) You are perfectly beautiful just the way you are. Making these choices and using these tips I made should only make you all more confident in yourselves about who you want to initially become. If some of this advice helped or sparked some sort of revelation, please let me know! I am more than happy to hear your guys' thoughts on creating better ways to stay healthy and to be happy with who you are. If you have any tips for me, please share! I could be missing a ton of other important things, too. In the meantime, "do good", and inspire others like Cotopaxi inspired me! Oh , and happy International Yoga Day everyone!
If you thought this was going to be some sort of, "Ways to lose weight", type post then you are completely in the wrong place because 1) You should have read the title and 2) You are perfectly beautiful just the way you are. Making these choices and using these tips I made should only make you all more confident in yourselves about who you want to initially become. If some of this advice helped or sparked some sort of revelation, please let me know! I am more than happy to hear your guys' thoughts on creating better ways to stay healthy and to be happy with who you are. If you have any tips for me, please share! I could be missing a ton of other important things, too. In the meantime, "do good", and inspire others like Cotopaxi inspired me! Oh , and happy International Yoga Day everyone!
Xoxo, Nat
Hey guys! I have come a long way from the first day I started doing yoga and I still have a lot to learn yet (so bear with me!). However, I have also learned so much already and I would like to share a very easy or, at least "try-able", Sun Salutation that I created that anyone can do; inside and outside! I also added a couple of my favorite poses! All of my friends ask about how I do yoga, so I wanted to show you all what I normally go through during a practice. I will take you guys through step by step and teach you the proper way to do each pose. I hope you guys enjoy!
If you are new to yoga and you're asking me, "Natalie, why are we saluting the sun?", well I'll tell yuh! A Sun Salutation is a flow sequence of postures or asanas, in Sanskrit, that are done to improve your flexibility, strength, and overall mentality. For many cultures, light has been a very vital symbol that represents self-illumination and energy. Many years ago when yoga was created in India, the sun was one of the most influential parts behind it. Hindus would honor the "eye of the world" by doing these postures. It connects you with the earth and your conscious self. There are many different variations of the Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation), so here is mine:
01. Child's Pose (Bālāsana)
Normally, we start out yoga with Child's Pose. It gets you grounded and ready to start your Pranayama breathing that you do with every posture. Our instructor will tell us to spread your knees out wide and stretch for the top of our mats to keep this pose as active as possible. Sink down to your depth and you will really feel this in you hips because it is a great hip opening posture.
***Remember: You always inhale as you go up and exhale as you go down in postures***
02. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)
Mountain Pose is one of those poses that you always come back to throughout practice. You want to inhale and reach tall and lift your chest up as you gaze forward.
03. Forward Fold (Uttanasana)
Next is Forward Fold. This one, you exhale as you pass through heart center and reach for your mat. A little bend in your knees helps to stretch out your leg muscles.
04. Halfway Lift (Ardha Uttanasana)
After Forward Fold, inhale to Halfway Lift. Place your hands on your shins and pull your shoulders back in line, while making sure you keep a flat back. If someone were to put a cup on your back, it shouldn't fall off!
05. Plank (Phalakasana)
Okay, the hard stuff. Not many people love this part. This is just your average plank. You need to make sure you do it right, though! You are in a push up position really but, you need to make sure that your shoulders are stacked over your wrists, your gaze is straight down at your mat, you engage your core by sucking in your abs, and make sure your booty is not coming over your head.
06. Plank to Mid-Plank (Chaturunga Dandasana)
I wanna say that I have done about a hundred Chaturungas in my time and to be honest, they aren't my favorite. You put a lot of pressure on your elbows, but doing this protects your muscles and your arms. So make sure to exhale and pin your elbows into your side body and lower down halfway (hence, Mid-Plank). Also, keep your knees lifted at all times and your toes are tucked under.
07. Upward Dog (Urdhvamukhasvanasana)
Ahhh, the "back-cracking" posture. Inhale from Mid-Plank and rise to Upward Facing Dog. Still, keep your arms stacked over your wrist, keep your knees lifted, and your gaze up. Hopefully, you'll get a nice craaaaack as you do this in your back and it feels really good.
08. Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
Now, you exhale and plant all fours down onto the mat. This is a great releaser pose to take a couple breaths. Fold over and make sure to look between your legs. Try to reach your head to your stomach to activate your core. You can "walk your dog" and bend each leg to get some blood flowing and stretch them each out. I like to do this when it's my first Downward Dog of the practice.
Inhale your right or left leg high and get ready to go down into Front Lunge! It's important to raise your leg up high and flex your toes so you can really bend into the lunge.
10. Lunge (Banarasana)
Exhale and sweep your right or left leg through to your hands. Keep your knee stacked over your ankle and make sure the leg that is not bent is straight and lifted, as well.
Using your balance after you just lunged, inhale and lift up. Keep your back leg straight and your foot lifted. Align your front leg so that it is stacked and is not internally rotating, or in other words, make sure your front knee is straight with your foot. Bring your arms up high just like you did in Mountain Pose and lift your chest.
I think everybody knows Warrior pose. A lot of people think of this pose when they think of yoga and I don't know why!
You want to exhale, and whichever side you are on, pivot your front foot parallel to the front of your mat and drop your back foot. With a generous bend in your front leg, it is vital in this posture to not lean forward as you bend. I got into the habit of reaching forward and that's not the right way! Instead, stack (so many stacks!) your torso over your hips and reach your arms out wide as you gaze over your middle finger.
All you have to do is repeat on each side and you've just passed your first yoga practice with me. This is my Sun Salutation! I hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed making it!
13. Salutation Seal (Anjali Mudra)
Always end with a Namaste and put your hands together to seal your practice and acknowledge the presence and strength you have gained. Namaste pretty much means, "I bow to you", and that's why you do it! Whether you improved on a posture or just tried a new one, accepting your practice and bowing to your teacher shows the most honor and respect!
My Favorite Poses
This is one of my favorite poses because you feel so free doing it. A cool breeze and the sun on my face never felt so good! Inhale and spread your legs out wide and point your toes to the corner of your mat. Be free!
This mouthful-of-a-pose is really great to stretch out your legs! You go right into this after Star by inhaling and putting your arms out wide and "pigeon-toe" your feet inwards (which I forgot to do LOL).
Then, you want to exhale and slowly lower down to your mat vertebrae by vertebrae, while also puffing up your chest as you do this. You can reach for whatever is accessible to you; whether that be your knees, shins, ankles, or your mat! If you want more of a stretch, move your legs closer together.
You will be here for a while during a yoga practice so, you can stretch out your arms one by one or put your arms behind your back and connect your hands to open up your chest, too! To get out of this pose, do exactly what you did as you went into it; put your arms out wide and slowly rise back up.
16. Headstand (Sirsasana)
This is probably one of my greatest achievments in yoga. I never EVER thought that I could ever do an inversion (going upside down) in all of my yogi history. This takes a very long time to do but, you will get there eventually like I did!
Start off by planting both hands on your mat and spread your elbows out wide like you're doing a wide push up. Place your head a little bit above them. It is important with this posture to always look forward to protect your neck and to concentrate, as well. Next, you play with bringing your knees into your body by using your ab strength. It helps to flex your abs and engage your core as you do this pose.
Once you have successfully balanced both your legs into your body, begin to lift your legs up into the air. Try to make them straight but, then again, you're doing a freaking headstand anyway. Have someone snap a pic, too! If you fall, always tuck and roll!
I love doing this pose so much. It literally feels like you're flying! You need a lot of arm strength and core strength but, hey—that's yoga.
Start by planting your hands like you were doing with the headstand. You want to spread your knees and hips wide like a frog!
Using your very strong muscles, plant your knees onto your elbows like a shelf. Lean forward, while looking forward, and lift off your toes one by one until you start to balance. It helps to use a block underneath your head if you are afraid of falling. I've done it way too many times so don't be afraid to reach your depth!
18. Crescent Moon (Chandrasana)
Crescent pose is really nice to do at the beginning of your practice. It helps to stretch out your side body and your shoulders. To do this, start in Mountain Pose and interlock your fingers except your pointers (Prayer Grip). Extend up really high and bend right or left as far as you can! I can't go very far but, I have seen people transform into an actual crescent. Remember to look up the way your bending, too.
19. Standing Bow Pulling Pose (Dandayamana Dhanurasana)
I wanted to give a little shout out to my photographer for this post; my best friend, Ellaby, who also is a beauty blogger and lover of yoga! Go checkout her blog here.
To do Bow, lift up your left or right arm, sort of like a half Mountain Pose in a way. Catch your left or right ankle on the outside of your foot. Slowly lean forward, while kicking into your Bow and reaching forward as you do so. Look forward and Ta-da!
20. Namaste
Yoga has taught me so many great things over the past couple of years and I cannot explain how happy I am to be able to share my passion with all of you! I hope you guys can at least try my Sun Salutation and become self-proclaimed Yogis like me! This is my variation and obviously I have a lot more to learn. Yoga has so many benefits and I think everyone should be doing it. It makes you mentally and physically stronger and better. If you guys would like to check out some yoga related things, here are some links:
You can get a free week trial, students and teachers get a member discount, and it's just a great community of yogis to practice with!
I love Adriene's channel so much! I don't find myself doing yoga videos a lot because I am a part of Corepower already, however, I do love to watch her videos when I want to learn new postures and flows!
What I Am Wearing:
Lululemon Racer-back in Static Blossom
This Memorial Day weekend is going to be quite the adventure; I am headed off to San Francisco! I will be taking many pictures and will be doing a follow up journal-type-post sometime next week or two once I download everything. I am so excited to visit California because it's my first time! Anything i should do while I'm there?
Namaste, Nat
Happy Tuesday everyone! How's your week so far? I have a huge test coming up (the ACT ugh) and that means stress stress stress! You all know how much I have been loving yoga and I have been doing it for almost two years now and I am loving it. It's been keeping me from stressing too much about school. I am a passionate yogi who wants to share her tips, thoughts, and experience with all of you! I will also go through some other tips on staying active and being mindful of your body.
I haven't been the one to worry about their health all that much and as I am growing older, I am seeing the effects of not treating your body as you should (not hydrating enough, eating too much crap, watching too much Netflix...you know). My sister recently gave me her Fitbit Flex to wear since she doesn't really use it that often anyway. This isn't just a pedometer. While I can keep track of my ten thousand steps each day (which is recommended), the Fitbit does a ton of other stuff. Fitbit has tons of other options like ones with heart monitors and clocks, too. I also have different colored bands that you can get to match any outfit! This one specifically counts your steps, distance, calories burned, exercise, water intake, and your sleep! This band has helped me with a lot lately and I feel like it has made a change in my overall diet. I am always striving to be active and walking all the time now. I also love to track how much water I drink each day. That was my New Year's resolution anyway.
I have noticed that after these few months wearing the Fitbit, I am more focused and energized. Sure it's not like an AMAZING necessity; I think it's just a great way for people who don't feel that motivated to take action about their everyday routine or diet in order to better themselves. I love wearing this to yoga to count my active minutes and exercise, too!
I have been getting into the habit of writing down my thoughts and intentions that I take with me to my yoga practice. My instructor always sets some sort of positive intention for us to remember during our practice. I love how yoga becomes not only a physical activity, but a mental one too. Staying grounded on your mat, and sticking to that thought. Whether it's to just be present, or something as personal as working hard for yourself and only yourself.
My instructor also says a beautiful quote at the beginning and end of every practice and I love to write these down. Even if I just jot it down on my phone right after, I can always come back to it and remind myself why I love doing yoga. I think that it's important to stop and think of the moment. What you want to accomplish then and there. You don't worry about yesterday or tomorrow.
I think one of my main goals this year was to just drink water and hydrate. I put so much crap into my body and I feel so bad after. It's not like I hate water, I think I just forget to drink it! I have noticed my skin clearing up a lot more and getting softer than it has every been. I love using this water bottle by Lifefactory everyday at school and also at yoga. It's great to travel and bring with pretty much anywhere! It's spill proof and doesn't break because of the silicon cover (trust me, I have dropped it a few times already). It's also BPA free so no bacteria or mold will form.
I also think that it's important to have a variety of different exercises so you're body doesn't keep repeating the same movements. It creates no change or makes any other improvements in your body when all you do is like cardio for an hour and that's it. Your body craves different things, it needs different things! My yoga studio offers many different classes. My favorite is Sculpt! We work on all parts of our bodies to the extreme. We do cardio, ab and core work, and muscles in our arms and legs. I have been loving to lift if you can believe it. I feel like I get a great workout after I work my biceps, triceps, shoulders, and my back really hard during Sculpt.
My studio also has detoxifying and balance improving classes like the Hot Power Fusion (HPF) class. I love this when I need to really stretch out and release all of the gross toxins in my body. It's not as hard-core as Sculpt, but it is set at a very high temperature and humidity.
I have been loving this Yoga Girl Head Wrap by Lucy. The pattern is so cute and it really helps keep my hair out of my face during my Vinyasa flows!
Do people name their yoga mats? Is that a weird question? I think that anyone's yoga mat is sacred to them! It's like my baby I love it so much and we've been through so much together (Natalie, calm down). I got this a couple months ago after I won a yoga challenge at my studio and received a gift certificate for any merchandise they sold. Of course I would get a new mat! I have heard so many amazing things about Lululemon's 5mm Reversible Mat. It has changed my yoga practice for sure! I don't slip or anything! I really recommend investing in this mat if you are a yogi like me. Some might say that it's a lot to spend on a mat, and that's true. However, I use this almost every day and it has really improved and helped my yoga practice.
I also like to carry my mat with the Gaiam Yoga Sling. I know some people use bags and sleeves and stuff, but I don't think they're practical because they're so much to carry and hassle with. You have your water bottle, towel, mat, and like all your other belongings already. This strap is just the right thing you need!
I hope you guys enjoyed this post and it brings some new exercise and fitness inspiration whether you are a yogi or not. I think it's vital to include some form of physical and mental exercise in your life! How do you guys get moving and active? Any other activities I should try?
Namaste, Nat
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