Whoa....Heat Wave!!

So I went and took my first REAL Bikram Yoga class. I've heard of several other people try it and fall in love with it. I've been doing a lot more running, cardio, and strength training and I've noticed that my muscles feel much tighter than they usually do.....and I also need to face the fact that I'm not 16 years old any more so it takes a lot more effort to get my body to bend the way it used to! I actually have to work to maintain my flexibility. What could be more helpful than yoga? Well.....Bikram Yoga.

It really is a full body workout. It's not just stretching....and the atmosphere you're in is much more harder. Not only are you twisting, turning, stretching, and balancing your body in 26 different poses ( that's for beginners!) but you're doing all of the above in a 105 degree heated room. It sounds absolutely crazy but it is wonderful. I was excited to try out the class but a little nervous because I had no idea what I was about to get into. After dropping my bag in the locker room and talking with the instructor a bit (who was oh so kind and even set up my mat, towel, and water for me....she had it waiting for me in the room) I walked into the yoga room and immediately started sweating. Sad thing is....I'm not kidding. We hadn't even started yet!

The lights were out and the room was quiet so I laid down and got "focused". Except I wasn't really focusing...I was just trying to get used to all the heat and talk myself into staying for the class because I was already hot!

An hour and half, and 10 tons of sweat later, the class was finished. I have never sweat so much in my life....I was sweating from places from my body that I didn't even know existed. After gathering up my things and making my trip to my car, I felt AWESOME!! I found myself feeling energetic, stretched, lengthened, and cleansed. I am so so SO looking forward to taking another class on Friday. It was definitely tough but I never stopped and I was proud that I just kept pushing myself.

If there is a Bikram Yoga place near you....you MUST try it. Enjoy the pics below....I thought I was pretty flexible until I saw this guy. Haha :)

NAMASTE

Looking forward to Spring!

We have a busy Spring ahead for us and it is time to get busy! Brian and I have come up with this crazy idea to run, not one.... not two..... but THREE half marathons. Like I said, this is a crazy idea. However, we are really looking forward to doing these and I think it's going to be a lot of fun. First up is a half marathon in our town, Lexington, Kentucky.

This half marathon is at the end of March is a month before our other half marathons. We thought this would be a great way to find out where we're at before these other two big races. March seems so far away but I know that it will be here before we know it!

Next up.....the Kentucky Derby Half Marathon/ Marathon. I'm really urging Brian to run the full marathon. He's already to the point where he can run 13.1 miles, comfortably, once a week. ( I'm a little jealous of this)!! More than anything, I'm so proud of him because he just does it....no complaining, just goes for it. I need to be more like that! I really think he could pull off running the entire length of a marathon.We'll see what he decides. As for me, I'll be sticking to the half.... I'm just hoping to make it through that.

And last, but not least, the Flying Pig Marathon, in Cincinnati, Ohio. This half marathon/marathon is the weekend after the KY Derby race. ( I told you.... this is a crazy idea)! Who knows if Brian will run the half or the full. I know I will be doing the half and hoping that my legs don't fall off!

We're really looking forward to training for these. It will keep us busy and hopefully we'll burn those extra holiday calories in the midst of all this running! We have a lot of friends who are also running these races so we know we will have a lot support and some motivational shoulders to lean on. It's going to be hard, stressful, probably painful....but in the end....it's going to feel great to cross that finish line!

By the way....I started my training today and I only made it 30 minutes.... I have a lot of work to do!!