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Somewhere along the way I lost my healthy lifestyle. My workout motivation fell into the black hole along with my desire to eat good and my waistline. I'm blaming stress as my #1 excuse. My daughter has me on a cleanse which so far is going good, although I admit to having more than 1 square of my allotted dark chocolate per day. Baby steps.
My doctor swears by Birkram yoga and insists it will change my life and health. Yoga in a room that is 105 degrees not only sounds like it's as hot as hell, but is probably is hell. Have any of you tried it? What are your feelings about it? Did you find a significant improvement in your well being?
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I'd really love to try it, but I'm so impatient, I'm not really the yoga type.
ReplyDeletei love that small wallpapered kitchen above, so cosy.
WOW. I have never heard of this, but I do swear by:
ReplyDeletedrinking water FIRST thing in the morning.
eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.
minimal if NONE, and I mean NO processed food.
eating foods DEEP IN COLOR.
getting plenty of rest.
LAUGHTER.
EXERCISE.
CREATIVITY.
SPIRITUALITY.
I have a new principal at school that has a great philosophy: Do less and do it well. She is willing to take on some of the load from us teachers and so, CONNECTING with people who are all about LESS STRESS is a great thing to.
You can do it Debby, and you can still have your chocolate and eat it to. I have cocoa powder in my nonfat Greek yogurt EVERY MORNING with unsweetened frozen cherries and raw oats, raw almonds and girl, it is SO GOOD, but healthy.
I wish you peace my dearest. Anita
This post made me smile. You are not alone! I do "regular" yoga in a standard room temperature room... maybe try that first if we're talking baby steps.
ReplyDeleteYou and I have fallen in the same black hole, I too blame it on stress and home building. I need to get back.....need to lose 15 lbs, tone up and mostly I know when you do exercise it can do wonders for your mental health too. You just feel better. I am starting slow, walks with Teddy, and trying to curb my natural desire to eat all the good stuff, chocoalte, cheese, sweets, normaly as the warmer months head our way I become more motivated..hello short sleeves, lol! Do share if you come up with anything wonderful. Being claustrophobic, Bikram is out but I know many who do swear by yoga.
ReplyDeleteOne of the girls I went to breakfast with this past Sat swears by B-yoga. She said her skin even feels different after doing it. I asked how bendy you have to be to do it, and she said not at all.
ReplyDeleteDon't be so hard on yourself; we have all fallen off the wagon at some point for whatever reason. :)
I havent tried Yoga, but I hear its pretty intense. I just picture myself being spread out on the floor like an open book unable to get back on my feet, lol.
ReplyDeleteA Lifestyle Blog where Fashion, Décor & Cooking “connect”
Good luck getting back to healthier ways, Debby. I am a big fan of cleanses. I actually do a daily cleanse each morning now. A green smoothie and hot water and lemon. Been doing it since the new year and I feel better than ever. Now I just have to get myself back to the gym :)
ReplyDeleteI'll try it if you do! LOL...I "do" yoga but not nearly enough and haven't tried that type out...going to look into it this week though! Thank you :D
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I want to live in the bedroom above...the only problem is that I might never come out of it...I love it!! I think you just have to find what works best for you and your schedule...I have friends who swear by the yoga...others the elliptical...me? if I eat healthy and walk my neighborhood, I do pretty good. But I admit I have been tempted to try yoga...I like zumba when it fits in my schedule, but I also like to dance and zumba kind of feeds that love. Hang in there, just take it one day at a time!!
ReplyDeleteStress does us all in....small steps. And Bikram is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteI take yoga and I hate exercise but I would never ever give it up for anything. Yoga is so much more than exercise, it is the physical equivelent of finding the balance that we are always seeking in our lives. I've learned so from yoga: that growth comes through moving outside your comfort zone, but not TOO much, that if you remain calm and balanced in the midst of the storm, the storm will calm down a lot sooner than if you join in the chaos and lose it. The side benefit is that you tone your body, build strength and reverse the aging process your body naturally goes through. I do NOT do it in intense heat, BUT I would think, although uncomfortable, it's probably very cathartic and freeing and gets rid a LOT of toxins, including emotion ones! Try it once and see what you think! Have a great day!
ReplyDeletexo
Sharon
Hum, I'll be honest, I exercise and I swim often, but I don't like to sweat, so I'm not even tempted in the least to try Bikram. I do like regular yoga though.
ReplyDeleteI've heard really good things about Birkram yoga. Shame I have always hated yoga!
ReplyDeleteI do yoga, but not hot yoga. I've found it really can be a great stress reliever. Also, I'm now a fan of bar method classes -they are hard but make you really focus on breathing and challenging yourself. You can do it! BTW - I really love that sweater in the first picture. :)
ReplyDeleteNever tried it and probably won't ever will, but like one of the commenters above, I drink a glass of water first thing every morning and right before bed. I try to laugh during the day too.
ReplyDeleteI practice yoga and swear by it. It is a true decompresser. Did try hot yoga, wasn't for me. Give it a shot, most places allow you to try one or two complimentary. The first step is recognizing that a change needs to be made, you are on your way.
ReplyDeleteSounds like we are both waking up to getting our bodies cleansed and healthy!! You go girl ... Have not tried then hot yoga .. it does sound like it would be challenging and dehydrating. On good days, I attend a restorative Yoga and it is a more slower version of normal yoga (which I use to enjoy so much) I would love to give Bar a try ... it takes ballet moves to help tone, sculpt and build endurance. http://www.barmethod.com/bar-method-exercises.html ... thank you for your wonderful comment and suggestions. wishing you a wonderful day! xo HHL
ReplyDeleteThe wallpaper on the third picture is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI personally just enjoy regular yoga and, even more, pilates. I've tried hot yoga twice and, while the workout was great, it's just not my style. But I am a firm believer in the power of fitness and extra water to make people feel great!
ReplyDeleteCourtney ~ http://sartorialsidelines.com
i never did hot yoga - but my girlfriends swear by it!
ReplyDeleteI love doing yoga (it's great for your mental as well as physical wellbeing, but have never tried doing it in extreme heat xoxo
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I love hot power or vinyasa yoga instead of bikram. You get an amazing strength workout, sweat out tons of toxins, but don't need to withstand the crazy, crazy heat that is bikram. I love the music in a power yoga class too. Tons of inspiration. My advice is to try a couple different types of yoga - power, vinyasa, ashtanga, hatha, iyengar and the list goes on...to see what fits you best! Most studios offer a new student free class or discount. Everyone is different and can only gain positive benefits from starting a practice of yoga/meditation. Jump right in and enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteDebby,
ReplyDeleteYou are talking to the right gal. I'm sitting her in my Lululemon yoga pants, just having finished practice. I. Love. Yoga. I think it is the "great cure". It changes you physically, sure, but it also changes you mentally and spiritually (no matter your beliefs). I am calmer with it. Wiser with it. And, definitely more flexible.
Try a few classes to see what works for you. I prefer a power yoga class over "hot" yoga. But, there is a type and a teacher for everyone. "When the student is ready, the teacher appears".
xoxo Elizabeth
If you're interested in doing a hot yoga I wouldn't start with bikram. Those rooms are at 108 degrees. If you start with regular hot yoga, depending on the class you go to, its 98 degrees or a few degrees different. The classes are different depending on skill where bikram has no variation. It is cleansing and is so methodical you can zone out. When you get to hot, you sit on your mat and breath until you can continue with the movements. Its an expensive workout routine, but worth it if you take advantage of it!
ReplyDeleteDo it! I loved Bikram Yoga. Great for just cleansing out your system. It's intense- the most intense kind there is- but it's worth it. Add it's a great weightloss exercise.
ReplyDeleteOk, Debby, you will have to go to the 105 degree room without me! No way for this girl, lol. I am not certain I could tolerate that heat, but would love to try "yoga for old ladies." Let us know how the yoga and the cleanse works out.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thursday.
Tereas
xoxo
I tried hot yoga and had to leave before the class was up. But I did start doing pilates and love it, after almost 9 months I can say my body has changed, it looks leaner and more than that I actually have a much better outlook on life and overall am happier.
ReplyDeleteHope you find the right thing.
I haven't tried Bikram yoga. I don't appreciate the stress it must put on the circulatory system to be a newbie worker-outer moreover in a roasting room. Seems a bit too dangerous to me.
ReplyDeleteI swear by yoga though. I like you haven't been doing much in the way of keeping fit for a while. A serious back injury put me out of my sporting career 2 years ago, and I just sort of drifted. I was told that if I didn't start doing regular pilates I'd be in pain for life. It's been 1.5months since I started and I cannot sing its praises enough. Not only do I feel physically stronger and my back pain diminished, I've also noticed I'm more able to get up in the morning, and concentrate at work. If you get a chance, give it a go. The movements have different levels to them, starting off with a base level which is the easiest, and you basically work up the levels at YOUR OWN pace. Which I truly love, because I'm in competition with myself, and not the rest of the class. Hope you find what works for you Xx
Woah. Sorry. That should have read: "I swear by PILATES though".
ReplyDeleteLovely photos to inspire a healthy life! :) That first photo is so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteDebby, I used to instruct Bikram classes! Power yoga or Flow yoga is wonderful exercise and when done correctly, will give you a cardio workout in addition to improving strength and flexibility. The rooms are heated to help detox and allow for easier movement. The heat isn't for everyone - and it can dehydrate and irritate skin. Cleanses are great when done properly - careful with that.
ReplyDeletei am an exercise nazi...have tried everything! The one thing that has truly changed my mind and body is bikram yoga...it wasnt till about the 10th class that i truly connected with it...hated the first 5 but now am totally devoted. All that sweating and detoxing changes the way you eat too, i do 2 one hr classes a week plus 1 one/half hr class the longer one is a killer but you feel amazing and so does your skin...give it a go look forward to hearing your thoughts on it!xxx
ReplyDeleteI'm hopeless when it comes to anything healthy, but I am skinny as a rake, one of those annoying quick metabolisms, I am thinking it will change as I age, so I should start healthy habits now, but it never happens!! Good luck! Loving the kitchen image, it just feels happy and homely :) Hazel
ReplyDeletewww.hazellovesdesign.com
I love hot yoga! After only one session I was hooked. The movements are slow and accompanied with focused breathing. I noticed that I felt more relaxed and my blood pressure actually was lower.
ReplyDeleteTry it!
Your post sounds so energetic (not)! I was laughing as I read it because it sounded like me. I don't mind exercising but not sure of Bikram yoga. If you try it, I will try it!!!! Also, I eat way too much candy but what can I say, I love it! Here's to loving yourself and moving on!
ReplyDeleteI love yoga. It definitely does amazing things for your body but even more for your state of mind. I had heard great things about Bikram and I'm sure, like any exercise, if you stick with it, it can really change your body, but it wasn't for me. I've tried it a few times, and I probably won't go back again. I've found that the workouts I stick to are the ones that I enjoy doing. Definitely check it out though! I have lots of friends who love it. I'd love to read your review of it. xx ~L
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to get healthy, but yeah, it's all baby steps...
ReplyDeleteI've replaced my morning coffee with hot water & lemon and I've given up potato chips and soda (I never really drank that much soda so that one was easy).
I do thirty minutes of workout a day, (a mix of cardio and toning) because an hour is like, a lot.
And no, I haven't tried Birkram yoga, but my friend does it, and LOVES it.
I love the healthy lifestyle, we are indeed what we eat! But yoga in a sauna, I just can not take it!
ReplyDeleteHugs & kisses from South Florida,
http://acasadava.blogspot.com/
yah girl, i do yoga regularly, what people don't realize about yoga is that it tones every muscle in the body and ppl assume going to gym makes them more tone...also its relaxes the body and helps in calming me a lot as a person since I'm very high on energy all the time!! so yoga is the perfect solution for me. try it girl, trust me you will enjoy it once you get used to it.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE yoga! It has many wonderful benefits. But I think the trick is to find something that suits you, and that you will stick with, because the most important part of a healthy lifestyle is consistency. Best of luck finding your "thing!"
ReplyDeleteI LOVE yoga! It has many wonderful benefits. But I think the trick is to find something that suits you, and that you will stick with, because the most important part of a healthy lifestyle is consistency. Best of luck finding your "thing!"
ReplyDeleteI LOVE yoga! It has many wonderful benefits. But I think the trick is to find something that suits you, and that you will stick with, because the most important part of a healthy lifestyle is consistency. Best of luck finding your "thing!"
ReplyDeleteI have never tried yoga, but I think the best trick to be thin is to have mental health... then everything turns healthy again. I guess all this situation you have just been through and thinking about changing your life completely has moved your world and mind around. So, I would say, meditate daily, force your self to take some long walks (30 minutes daily) and think positive. I swear you will be feeling better little by little and hence will start getting healthier.
ReplyDelete