My Valentine's Day Gift (to myself!)

Last year I leisurely read my favorite Jane Austen novel on Valentine's Day, but this year I took a different approach. I decided to go to my very first "real" yoga class (i.e. in a yoga studio, not a fitness class at the university, where most of the classes are taught by undergraduate students).

I chose this particular studio and teacher because last July she was a substitute teacher one day and I thought that was the most perfect class I'd ever had, the first time I was doing "real" yoga. This semester, I'm enjoying the instructors I have at the university (I take classes two days a week), the Yoga II one is really good (the others not so much), but I wish I could try to go to this studio to have a third class each week.

I really loved it, too bad it was a lunch-time class that only lasted one hour (I shouldn't even complain about that because at the university the classes only last 50 minutes because it's lunch time too).

I did go out to lunch and then frozen yogurt with my dear (and cute)* husband afterwards, but the yoga class was the highlight of my day! I wanted to watch this (which I got for Christmas), but I have to prepare to teach tomorrow! :(

*OK, I have to share this silly thing. K is still kind of puzzled as to why I think it's so cute, and even I can't explain it, but I just think it is. Here's what happened... he turned to me last Friday and said, "Hey, I listened to the song that won the Grammy, and it's nice!" And I -- really puzzled -- responded, "What do you mean, by 'won the Grammy'? The Grammy is on Sunday!" And now he was confused and said, "I don't know, then maybe it's the song that's going to win the Grammy." "Is it by Adele?" I asked, and then I got really excited because I like Adele and I immediately opened a couple of videos for him to watch online and he confirmed that it was "Rolling in the Deep" that he'd heard and liked. I just thought it was so cute of him to be so clueless both about the Grammy Awards and Adele! At least he has good taste, right? (look who he chose to marry! ;) -- silly joke, fit for VD, though!

Talk About Feeling Sore!

Last week I was really surprised that I wasn't sore after the two hour-long "body-sculpt" fitness classes that I took, but this week was "the fitness-classes' revenge!" ;)

Yoga 2 is probably the one to blame because today's 45 minutes of body sculpt probably only exacerbated the soreness of yesterday's 50 minutes of more advanced yoga. It was my very first Yoga 2 class and I loved it! Most importantly, I think I'm ready for it, but... I think I will feel sore for the first month at least!

I enjoyed learning new poses, such as the dolphin (which I may have done once or twice last summer):

(photo from The Yoga Journal)

the supported shoulder stand (my one year of gymnastics back in 1990 in college helped me with this one!):

(photo from The Yoga Journal as well)

and one I'd never heard off, that flows out of warrior 2 -- the bird-of-paradise (I love this flower, BTW!)

 (photo from that's fit's "Transform Yourself with Yoga" with Mandy Ingber)

This will be a great semester with yoga!!! Bring on the soreness!

The Second Day was Better

The classes I teach Th-Th are different from Mo-Wed so the second day was actually my second "first" day and it went well.

I still had trouble with the syllabi, but this time, instead of handing out a document with errors, I decided not to hand out the syllabus just yet since most students have been with me since last semester or previous ones  and they know how our class works (this is the fourth semester with me for four of my students).

I was glad to see that both of my classes today have windows too! I miss some students from last semester that didn't return, but we have good groups and three new students who are starting Portuguese in the 2nd semester and who will have some catching up to do.

Now, feMOMhist asked yesterday in a comment whether I'm planning to teach wearing yoga pants Mo/Wed and here's my plan: in the winter it's pretty easy to go straight from yoga to class, all I have to do is to wear tight cotton leggings under my regular work pants and a workout top under my blouse or sweater. I wear long underwear all winter long anyway, I'm always cold, so the leggings will replace those on Mo/Wed. Then all I have to do is to remove the top layer for yoga class and put it all back on quickly to go teach. The class is only 50 minutes long, so I don't get very sweaty, which is good.

When it warms up it'll be a bit trickier. I have a couple of shorter dresses that I wear over leggings and which won't require changing clothes if I wear the workout top underneath, but I will need to change if I want to wear other dresses or other kinds of pants (e.g. capri). I don't really wear skirts & blouses much, so that helps. That's my plan, what do you think?

OK, I have to go update the faulty syllabus now and do a zillion other things. It's hard to work in the afternoon since I have to coax two boys to do homework and practice piano while I try to cook something for dinner, which reminds me I haven't posted about food and cooking for a while, right? I have to post a "to-do" list for the blog as a reminder.

"Body Sculpt" is fun!

This week I went to two "body sculpt" classes and I really enjoyed them. Of course I selected the lightest weights and the least resistant stretch bands to be on the safe side, but I'm really surprised that I haven't felt any pain after both classes (I often feel quite sore after yoga and even more after "yogalates"). Maybe I should use heavier weights next time? I don't have to feel pain after every fitness class, right? Or maybe I'm just not that out of shape. ;)

So... as far as "new year's resolutions" go, I'm doing really well on # 1 -- including spending more time with my husband, but, sadly, that will change when we start teaching next week. :(

A Gift to Myself

Yesterday (or today, since it's after midnight on Friday and I just want to be accurate, for once in my blogging life ;) I had tons of things to do in town, including picking up an online order returning some stuff at a couple of stores and going to the university to take care of some stuff that I had neglected during Mon-Th (I don't teach or go to town or to campus on Fridays), but... I had told myself that I needed a reward this week: a yoga class.

You see, I have been unable to take the (free) yoga classes offered at the university this semester because I teach during the two classes I might be able to attend (I already changed one of my classes for later time slot next semester so I can go to yoga, woo-hoo!). My current schedule allowed for one "Yogalates" (yoga+pilates, pretty fun, in fact) class on Wednesday mornings, but I only went in the beginning of the semester, because later I was so swamped with trying to read the books and get ready to teach that I spent that time working instead. :(

I tried to get into the Friday noon class a few times, but I always remembered too late and it was already full (we have to register 24h in advance or less), but yesterday afternoon I finally remembered and registered! This morning, when I was running late, frantically looking for a lost netflix DVD (from last month) that I still haven't found :( I briefly considered cancelling the class, but changed my mind and decided to give it a try.

I rushed to town, stood impatiently in line at JCP to pick up my MIL's present, then wasted my time trying to return something at Costco (apples, K had already bought apples when I came home with more -- but the lady said they were going to destroy them, so I didn't return them in the end. I'm happy with my decision because they are very yummy honey crisps). I literally ran into my office where I had to email my students, print out stuff (printer out of paper! had to print it in the secretary's office since I didn't have time to go get paper, etc) and head out the door to walk 5-10 minutes to the class location.

Phew! I made it! And it was a lovely, lovely... too short 50 minute class that I really needed. I was so glad that I decided to try and go!

I'm considering another "gift" to myself next year in the shape of a once a week paid "real" yoga class to complement the free ones I get to take on campus, I think I deserve to take care of myself, right?

Not a Yoga/Fitness Class Virgin Anymore

I had never, ever been to a fitness class in my life until today at noon.* And it was a yoga class too...

And now I have to tell you that I have to thank Nintendo
(aside: oh, what a horrible tragedy this earthquake in Japan! My BIL just shared this most horrific video on facebook. I hope it doesn't become a nuclear accident too.)

continuing...
I am very thankful to Nintendo for enabling me to do great in my very first yoga class (of course it helps that the class we pretty easy, what they call "Yoga Fit" at our university) because I've done several yoga poses in the Wii Fit before. We got the Wii Fit (Plus) back in October and though I think I've used it exactly 5 times since then, it did help a lot! And I totally love it, but a real, live class is even better, obviously.

So, after years of reading about my virtual friend "Sarah"'s yoga classes and, more recently, Anjali's I've finally experienced one! I'll be back on Thursday! I'm so excited!

Namaste!

P.S. This is my second post tonight, that was the first.

* This is actually not what I was referring to in last night's post. Oh boy, I'm full of "references" today, right? Sorry about that! ;)