Fitness, Yoga

#SundayFlow

Happy Sunday, Heathens Hip Huggers!
So glad you stopped by to see me before service!

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Let’s!!
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Sunday vibes begin with #churchflow selfies on the way to worship!
I didn’t wash my hair after yesterday’s run so it looked like a bird’s nest.
I’m thinking something glad nothing flew into it!

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Turquoise on #fleek!! I am obsessed with this stone.

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I didn’t get up bright and early for cardio or stretching, so both must be done today.
First on the agenda was some yoga. My muscles have been mad sore with all this running.
I feel like it took twice as long to push past the muscle resistance as usual today.
I spent a lot of time on my back bending and breathing. Once I loosened up,
#Yogaflow began to feel refreshing, healing even.

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Eagle pose is my least favorite yoga pose. Nothing personal, but I just don’t see/feel
the benefits of this pose. There is such a huge risk in too much weight being put on the
supporting knee and you can’t see anything! I just don’t get it. But, all is coming so maybe
some perspective will along with that. Until then, this will be a random thing.

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I am a little more partial to backbends. I love anything backbend. This pose was a bit more
challenging coming down on the forearms, and rising up on my toes. Still needs some work,
but practicing backbends often is paying off. Wheel pose variation is workin’

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Another great favorite is the Compass pose. I remember posting it on Facebook
and my friends went crazy! Like Barbie doll legs. I tried to convince them
it wasn’t that intense, but does require a great deal of flexibility in the hammies and hips.

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Last pose to make the list is this yummy stretch! Upward Dog in my opinion does not
get the love it should, it is not just an easy pose. Those quads burn! I need to regularly
practice anything that stretches these genetically tight hip flexors. I love Upward D!

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I have been especially careful about stretching my wrists. I do a lot of inversions,
and recently started practicing peacock pose, an arm balance where to wrists are torqued
backwards and you’re balancing primarily using your abs on your elbows for support an d
digging into your solar plexus. It is brutal challenging, but I’ve made some progress. No, not
enough progress to show but sooner or later, I’ll have something to share! For now, just the stretch.

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Just wanted to check in and share my yoga on the Sunday afternoon. I’m off for a quick #Strollflow around
the neighborhood to soak in the last bit of sunshine today. Hope all you Hipsters have enjoyed your weekend
and are ready to conquer the Mondays!

Enjoy the rest o’ your Sunday!

Question: Is there a yoga pose you are not so crazy about? Please share!

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Running, Yoga

Labor Day Recline

Hello Hip Huggers! Happy Labor Day and the Unofficial End of Summer!

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My labor workout this morning consisted of an old faithful 5k run and stretch.

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Supta Virasana, or Reclined Hero Pose.

This asana is considered an intense stretch. I recline back from hero very sloooooow.

There are 3 reasons why I think this pose is ideal post run is:

First, it stretches my abs, quads, and hip flexors… all which are really tight after a hard run.

Also, reclined hero pose is a great stretch for the ankles, knees, and arches of the feet, if done gently and not forced.

Lastly, after all the work of our good ol’ spines holding us upright for that tough run,

this pose allows for lengthening of the vertebrae which get a compressed sometimes from poor form.

Just lying in this a minute or 2 helps me tremendously! I am careful to breath and let my body relax in it.

 But, if you become uncomfortable at anytime or this stretch is a bit too intense,

I’d suggest maybe using bolsters, blankets, or pillows underneath your head, shoulders and/or your knees for relief.

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Disclaimer: Though I am a yoga enthusiast, I am not a yoga teacher.
Please exercise caution when attempting any yoga pose, and always honor your body.
The views on this blog are mine alone, based on my own practice.
Please consult a certified yoga teacher for deeper guidance and help with any yoga practice you begin.

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Eat BBQ, Run Happy, Lift Heavy, Stretch Daily, Hip Huggers!!


Question: How long do you stretch after a workout?

Yoga

Favourites Fridays

Hello Hip Huggers!!

I know I usually post my favorite workout, recipe, or run of the week on Fridays, but

I had to take a step back from working out at my usual intensity and allow my quad to heal up a bit.

So, the timimg and circumstance is perfect for Favourites Friday to include a Yoga Pose! Or 5!!

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Or, at least I think I do.

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My favorite body part of all time to train and strengthen are my hamstrings.

I don’t know if that’s because deadlifts are my all time favorite exercise and that makes for stellar hams,

 or because running makes then awful tight and need extra attention.

Either way, I love working them, and strengthening them via running, lifting, and yoga 🙂

Big muscles need lots of oxygen,  so they are hard to train. But it must be done!

Don’t skimp on the Deadlifts, Squats, and Lunges, Hip Huggers! They’re your foundation!

Here are some of my Favorite Hamstring awakening Asanas.

 Sugar Cane Pose

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Crescent Moon Pose Variation

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Lizard Lunge

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Hand to Big Toe Pose

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Not all work and no play… when it’s time to give these hammies a rest…
we invert!

Hollow Back Handstand

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Yoga has absolutely seduced me and taken over Favorites Fridays!

Want even MORE yoga? I shared my nightly sweet dreams sequence here.

If you are having a hard tome getting rest,

these poses may just fix you up and get you into a slumber in no time!

Check it out, Hip Huggers!

Thanks for stopping by and have a Great Weekend!!

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Question: What’s you favorite body muscle to train?

 

Triangle Pose

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Not Namaste…Its’s Okay.

Hello All! How’d your Tuesday Go?

My morning went NOTHING as I’d planned.

I wanted to get out before things heated up but

it was literally a case of one thing after another.

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Wasn’t until noon that I actually got outdoors!.

By then it was hot, humid, and I was over my run

before it ever began.

However, I managed to get a solid run in (can’t believe no walk breaks as hot as it was),

but it was very slow going. I was literally out there almost an hour

 from warm up to cool down. Not legit in this weather, but

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4 miles done!

As peeved as I was I had to wait and run when it was blistering hot,

the drag was likely because I just had not been running,

and certainly had not been running in the heat.

I’m just glad to be home and cooling off. I was beat.

Luckily for me, today’s challenges were leg stretches, so I killed 2 birds with one stone.

Day 17 Supta Samakonasana .. 

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 & Visvamitrasana

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First asana, pretty easy. Second asana hard.

I have a real tired right shoulder, so I wasn’t going to

put too much pressure on it. I also have really tight hamstrings and

I didn’t want to piss them off either.

All in all – I’m still a beginner, and I had a pretty

craptastic morning – So, today I cut myself a lot of slack.

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Interesting, todays devotional was all about laughter…glad I had that to dwell on all day.

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Going to recover and hope for bluer skies tomorrow, Hipsters 🙂

Question: How do you shake a bad day? Is a run/workout the elixir?

 

 

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Side Lines of Energy

Happy Monday! Did y’all catch the Finals last night?

 Being a Die Hard Mavs fan, it was REALLY hard to go for either team. But, I’m loyal to Texas now, so Spurs it was.

Plus, that whole “championship DNA” byte really started getting on my nerves. Glad they’re sidelined ’til next year!

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Hilarious.

And Congrats Spurs! Valid until Opening Tip October 2014

This morning, I woke up with a hankering to get outdoors! I started gearing up to drive to

 the city park and run a few miles before the kids got going.

Then I remembered my truck is getting a new compressor and I have no life car.

So, I treated myself to a Spark, and when for a short stroll instead…

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Back home and not much of an appetite. Boo. So, I drowned my sorrows in this

 half melted here Quest Bar I thought I’d eat in route but didn’t.

 

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Speaking of halfway, over the hump for June’s Yoga Challenges!!

But first, I got in about an hour of exclusive yoga stretches. Sure, the asanas are cool and

do wonders for the internal body but there is more to Yoga than just poses.

A CPT/ Yoga teacher I follow on Instagram know said (before I ever began yoga)

 “Muscles need to be intensely stretched daily”.

At the time I waved it off because it was not what I wanted to hear sounded like it involved yoga,

and I was just not feeling that.

However, it has less to do with yoga and more to do with flexibility, toning, and strengthening of the muscles.

 I’m sold now, as you can see, and have started incorporating more and more stretching before I move on

to the’ Flow of the Day’ and my daily summer challenges.

All the stretchy stuff is perfect timing because today’s challenge really stretched my limits legs…

 

~~Day 16 ~~

Started out with Baddha Konasana, or Cobbler’s Pose after my stretching to get my hammies ready.

They are massive and always tight.

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Challenge Poses today: Utthita Parsvakonasana  (Extended Side Angle)

& Dwi Pada Koundinyasana (Side Crow)

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Are those my LINES of Energy?

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I literally held that last asana for 4.3 seconds…or 2 breaths. Work to do, yet!

I was also in awe of a Yogi I follow on Instagram and her rendition

of Baddha Trikonasana (Triangle Pose) was so beautiful, I had to imitate.

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Now to catch up on some OITNB and H2O… as best I can

considering I ate all my cheddar popcorn here chatting it up with y’all Thursday

But, I’ll live… I guess… kind of.

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I’ll catch up with y’all Later 🙂

 

Question: Do your run/workout close to home or do you have a favorite spot a drive away?

 

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New-bie Continued…

Happy Throwback Thursday! What are y’all up to?

I finally got up and got some things done today.

It’s the kid’s first official week of summer vacation

so, I’m still paying myself back for all those 5am musters all year…

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Reveille.

Just glad to be up and at ’em! This time last week, I was curled up in my bed suffering from the worst stomach cramps ever

thanks to a good ol’ tainted box of green tea. And how did I KNOW it was the green tea?

After 3 day, and finally a little relief, I had a nice brewed cup…and got sick. ALL. OVER. AGAIN.

Truly the pits. But this week, I am feeling refreshed and full of energy again.

So, I cooked up a quick breakfast for this champ.

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Also enjoyed a great conversation with my neighbor who’s on vacation.

Just kidding, we mostly watched dumb videos on Facebook.  But all in all, good times.

And now I’m snacking on processed popcorn and H20 chatting it up with all of you cool Hipsters 🙂

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Getting on with the fitness and all why we are here I started my day off with my now daily 60-ish minutes of yoga practice…

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and…….

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Day 12: Anjaneyasana & Salamba Sirsasana, also known as
Crescent Moon & Supported Headstand.

I’m such a show-off student of the practice, and am excited about my growth! 🙂

 #ThrowBackThursday when I was running with hips…

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and foolishly still ran in cotton shirts, LOL! The Days…

I’m logging off now to get some stuff done…  holla Hipsters!!!

Question: What are you a ‘newbie” in?

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