I don't understand my body

So after almost three (?) weeks sans running, I started my excursion today with a good deal of trepidation. Although I did yoga regularly this past week, I did not have any aerobic exercise since my time in Tucson. I expected to gasp for air, stumble along and maybe even succumb to (gasp!) walking.

Instead I flew. My body flew along, I felt so light, and even though the final hellish incline got my heart pitter-pattering hard, I managed it with only minimal effort. So the moral of the story is . . . I don't have one. I am left scratching my head and wondering: did my body need that long to recover? Or what? But it definitely makes me want to run again.

And on another note. I found an alternate yoga spot with wood flooring! See pictures below for my new asana spot.

A peak into the Yoga Room

Hi sisters! I wanted to share with you two the pictures of the yoga room in the San Francisco airport. I took them on my way back from my travels. No I didn't quite have the nerve to go in a do a downward facing dog. Next time, perhaps?

5,4,3,2,1...RUN! and be BIG.

Today I woke up still tired. Although I had finally had a good nights rest I still was feeling drained from work and the day before, although it was my day off, I was at home all day exhausted from a terrible cramping episode I had had that morning.

As I was at the shop preparing everything to open I felt my heart sink because I just felt tired and drained. This discouraged me because I had been very much hoping to go to the gym after work and then to Jazz 1 later that evening. I decided to let it go and not worry about it too much (oh because I never worry about anything anyhow ;)).

Well I am delighted to say that (Turkish delight delighted mmm!), after work I felt alright and made my way over to the gym. I had my heart set on running but knowing how my knee is I didn't pressure myself. I simply set the treadmill and gave myself a 10 min walking warm up. By 8 minutes I really wanted to run but I waited until 10. Then I worked my way into a slow jog and then run...

...I ended up running three miles! I even got a little sprinting in! It was fantastic!! My legs felt SO strong and light. I did start to get tired towards the end and made sure I slowed it down and wasn't over doing it on the incline (as I am inclined to do sometimes ;)

I finished off my run with ten more mins of walking to make sure I was well cooled down and of course stretched (oh and I did a little with the medicine ball-I thought of you Ann!)

After the gym I managed not to talk myself out of going to my second Jazz class ever. With the glorious ran pouring down all I really wanted to do was curl up and read a book but I went and I am very glad I did!

The teacher, Taylor, had us do a contemporary choreography and I got REALLY into it. We danced to Florence and the Machine "Hospital Beds." (which if you haven't heard pls youtube it!). Apparently she actually took it from an original that was hard rock). It felt rather relevant to my life right now seeing as I just started working in a hospital.

I loved the slow emotional movement. Its so freeing to FEEL the music and MOVE your body. This actually has probably been one of my favorite dance classes at Breakout yet simply because she made us do that awkward "walk across/dance across the floor in front of everyone" thing but she was very encouraging saying 'do you, be you' and not to worry/focus on what other people were doing. Slowly I warmed up. I can feel myself getting more relaxed with movement and its beautiful.

At one point she was going around talking about as a teacher she learns from her students during improv and one lady she mentioned she loved how 'big' she would get... stretching her arms out to the heavens etc and how important that is in dance. So different from how I think we have learned to be-that we need to take up less space. And that's how I'd like to end...just remember to be BIG. Reach your arms up to the heavens, move to music and take up space!

I love you ladies!

PS:I can't quite dance like that but it's inspiring isn't it?

What to do when you don't want to do anything

Last week I went into a mini-hibernation. After returning from my trip to find my car broke down, going through the magnificent effort to get it fixed and the stress of considering a new car, I was spent. Plus all the joys and business of the past four weeks of travel left me feeling full. I found myself not wanting to do anything. Instead I watched countless Voyager episodes until I could see the characters walking around in my mind. I refused to even meditate except maybe once last week.

All of a sudden I felt like quitting everything and going on strike. I listed all the activities that I should be doing: oils, yoga, running, NTC, reading, writing, meditating, finding a new room, looking for a car, and I had no desire to do any of them. Instead I puttered. I made soggy sweet potato fries, kale chips, drank buckets of strawberry water, and begrudgingly showered as needed.

School started on Monday and I am slowly easing myself into it. I am spending incredible amounts of times feeling cranky and petulant. It feels like such a relief! Today I did do yoga but under the stipulation that I would focus on finding the joy in every pose instead of perfection. I also painted my toe nails purple.

Recovery week

Our poor blog has been feeling a little neglected! And Tian is not ok with that! He is giving me the stinky face! I do believe it might be about my turn anyhow to post!

The title of my post is "Recovery Week" simply because I need one!! Well that and in some ways I see this week as a recovery week. While Ann was here we did Yoga, Dance, and the gym! (While that was all fun I am enjoying having a little more personal space and time, despite working more). Having someone to go workout with really does add to the chances that I'll go! Also, bringing Ann to Breakout and Chuze was loads of fun because she brought a fresh perspective to the places and got me to try things I hadn't!

I'd like to highlight some of my favorite parts of Ann's visit in regards to being active!

Pop Choreo is one. I really loved the class we went to (and really wish the gal teaching wasn't a sub because I loved her). Its wonderful to be able to dance even when you really don't have the technique or background.

Chuze circuit- There is this curves-like circuit at Chuze that I have been "meaning to try" since I joined but being a creature of habit I had not stepped foot into that area. Well with Ann here I did it twice! I rather like it and it was fun too because I had someone with me to talk to and stay motivated with! I might even go today and do the circuit :)

YOGA- this has to be in caps. I <3 yoga. I really cannot express enough how much I love yoga oasis and what a centralizing hub (does that make sense?) it has been for me. When I really can no longer find any sort of comfort in Christianity and its beliefs I have found myself turning to yoga as something of a 'religious' experience.

Mind Lab - this i just starting going to, and although it isn't technically "exercise" meditation is definitely a mental exercise. I started doing mind lab around a month ago and all the times I had gone it was a sub, but very timely the one time Ann was here and went it was the actual teacher (see below a picture of the uni-browed man). I am glad too, because he was by far much better than the subs!

I could say so much more but as the line goes "More isn't always better. Sometimes it's just more."

Grimm, Running and Women

Last night I watched the plot of the new show Grimm after my hair stylist recommended it (Okay so having a hairstylist doesn't make me snobby. A decent haircut is key as a professional woman. New designer clothes not so much.). The show opens with a young thin woman running peacefully through the forest. Suddenly she is brutally murdered by an unseen force. The shot switches to male detectives "checking out" a high power lawyer woman's ass only to see her face transform to a monster face. Later one of the detectives discovers on a midnight walk with his dying aunt that he is a Grimm. Being a Grimm gives him the power to see people as the monsters they really are. Unexpectedly one of the monsters attacks them, and his aunt whips out a knife only to be thrown to the ground. The detective then kills the intruder with his gun.

The jump sceens were enough to make me turn off the show. But what really irritated me was the portrayal of women as weak and as objects. That and how it made me feel.

Today I woke up early and greeted the day with a 3 mile run. The sun shone bright. A clear crisp morning is rare here in Oregon. I smiled as my feet pumped off the pavement, but then my smile faded and I thought of the runner in the TV show. I felt vulnerable. I turned a corner and spotted a man in a wheelchair waiting for the bus. I hoped he wouldn't grope me. Another corner and three more men. I felt watched as I ran by with my full breastfeeding bosom and generous tushy. Ugh ugh ugh.

Yes, I am usually aware of how men may perceive me, but this morning the awareness was palpable. The show had reminded me of it and on top of that had made me feel vulnerable.

No, I will not being watching Grimm but will instead turn to shows like Parks and Recreation that leave me feeling capable and able to start the day with a run. The episode of Leslie Knopp's election night inspired me. While waiting to hear the results, she boxes with her best friend. Hmm maybe I should take up boxing . . .

The glorious council grounds

This is a picture post of some of the highlights of our wonderful and refreshing run at council grounds.

The beginning of our outing included our wonderful active abuelita.

Amazing strong sports bra runners! Check out those strong ladies!

Tian was so exhausted from the run that he passed out :P

sorry i don't know how to un-sideways Tian...

This was one of the best runs I've had in quite a long while and I am so glad I was able to share it with my lovely sisters and my little nephew Tian.

Generations of movement

Perhaps we inherited our love of motion?

While in Merrill, Hope and I got a chance to go to curves with grandma. Sadly it was only for fifteen minutes as the lady needed to close early to go to the bank.  With Merrill, being the small town that is it, such early closing was perfectly normal. So G-ma, Hope and I managed to get around about a 1/3 of the circuit. I did high knee runs on the wood squares to get my heart rate up and then did some arm machines and squats.

Here is a picture of grandma starting the circuit:

And some post workout pictures: