Friday, July 31, 2015

In Heaven on Angel's Rest

It's been nearly two weeks since I've gotten out on the trails. More than that since I did a solo hike or trail run. There's an art of losing yourself in the woods that I've grown addicted to. Not actively getting lost, per se, but of losing some stress and maybe finding some clarity.

Anytime I'm stressed or overwhelmed, I try to get out in nature ASAP! Some intense physical exertion, like running/hiking quickly/skinning uphill, is what it takes sometimes to get the crazy thoughts to subside. It's difficult to think about anything other than putting one foot in front of the other when you're sucking wind like the oxygen is disappearing. Which it was in Breckenridge (elevation of town, yes, town, was 9600'!).

When I get to a place where I feel good physically (hit my stride) and don't have to focus on my feet, like running on the beach, I find myself working through some puzzling thoughts. My to-do list suddenly seems more manageable, blog posts are laid out and drafted eloquently, creative campaign ideas will strike me, etc. Hours after my run, though, I'll try to write out what had been written in my head, and suddenly it's not so eloquent. A lot of times now, I'll use breaks to write this stuff down in my phone notes because, like a dream, it's difficult to hold on to the details after I "wake up" from my endorphin high.

Today was a perfect example of this cycle. I was jonesing for some time in the woods! So I took a few hours this morning to drive out to the gorge to hit up Angel's Rest. It's one of the closest trails in the gorge, is less than 5 miles up and back, and is pretty steadily super steep all the way to the overlook at the top. So all in all, a great bang for your buck. I ran on the few flats and lesser inclines, and hiked at a fast clip the rest of the time uphill. Definitely sucking wind and sweating like an absolute pig the whole way, but made good time! Got to the top of 2.3 miles with a 1,450' elevation gain in about 50 minutes!

With trail running, you do need to keep your wits about you at least a little bit (which I learned the hard way after zoning out too much, tripping on a rock, and supermanning into some bushes last summer). But I got to zone out enough running downhill that I drafted out this post, mentally wrote out a to-do list for a couple of projects for work, and strategized my online dating profile (which my best friend is making me create this weekend).

Not only did I get an awesome sweat sesh in AND was productive (relatively speaking), but I also got to gape at some pretty amazing scenery this morning. Definitely not a bad way to kick off the weekend...

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

How do you inspire others?

This is such a great question. It's the prompt for today's #LJInspired challenge with Lorna Jane Active and Fit Approach. My initial answer is pretty simple. Part of my job as a yoga instructor is to inspire my students to push themselves, to provide challenges to keep their practices progressing, and to stay positive for them! It's an aspect of my job I love. Yes, I love arm balances and inversions (duh, big red truck). But beyond that, I love providing a positive, supportive, and "can do!" environment for students to feel as though they can try something new! I was always that athlete growing up, cheering my teammates on from the sidelines when I wasn't in the game or through drills in practice. It helps that I'm pretty loud, too. Literally, my high school boyfriend told me he could hear me cheering him on from the stands while on the field!

New variation of 8-limb pose

The other aspect of this is leading by example. That old adage about not just talking the talk but actually walking the walk is so true! That being said, I am human and am NOT perfect! I've had a student look through my cart at the grocery store to see what her yoga teacher was eating. (Luckily my chocolate stash was at the bottom of the cart!) Yes, I eat meat upon occasion. Yes, I drink wine and coffee and eat chocolate. Yes, I curse. Yes, I go out dancing. Yes, I love to go shopping. Yes, I am always linked to my phone. But I also work hard at my job and at staying active, I am nice and courteous, I get outside regularly, I constantly try new things. I strive for balance in my life, and I think people appreciate and respect that.

Wine+book+porch at the beach=perfection

My favorite #TransformationTuesday comparison

My wonderful experience from a month in Costa Rica

What we need to realize is that we affect the people around us in our lives. It's not just my position in the front of a yoga class instructing students through a sun salutation that affects them. Since my decision to postpone law school and become a yoga teacher, I have been getting emails from people in my past asking for yoga advice. Recently, these emails have shifted a bit into some life advice. They've ranged from positive body image tips for teenage sisters to "what do you do that you're so happy?!"

Here's the thing… I don't know what the f*** I'm doing! I'm not a therapist, nutritionist, life coach, motivational speaker, etc. I haven't chosen a profession where I'm telling people what they should or shouldn't be doing with their lives. I myself no longer have a grand life plan. But by making choices for myself, by experimenting and exploring, by doing what I need to do to put my wellbeing and happiness first for a while, I've apparently inspired some others to strive to do the same! I don't share my life on social media because it's the thing to do or to try and affect others. I do it because I love documenting and sharing my experiences, and if it helps motivate and inspire others, that's amazing! I try to be positive and authentic, and to stay as true to myself (as I'm discovering who that person really is!) as possible!

Follow the journey @lizwilsonyoga on Instagram!

Monday, July 27, 2015

#grokkermillion Mad Lib

Mad Lib

This week we're partnering up with Grokker, the best place to find streaming fitness and cooking videos, to help us get closer to our goal of #1MillionMinutes!

The Sweat Pink team has curated a selection of some of our favorite videos on Grokker (seriously, they have EVERYTHING you can imagine on there). Whether you're a beginning or a high-intensity expert, looking for something mellow or want to get your heart pounding, there's something for everyone. Check out some of our favorites and get exploring!

Grokker Mad Lib!

I'm so excited to rack up more minutes using video workouts from Grokker! There’s everything from ass-kicking HIIT [workout type] to restorative yoga [workout type] for everyone from beginners to advanced, and I'm especially pumped to try Abs and Butt Boot Camp [workout name]

because it will make me extra bootylicious (and strong ;) ) [adjective].

I plan to do my video workout in my room [place] before rocking Instagram's world [activity] and after teaching yoga [activity]. My favorite thing about video workouts is being able to switch it up all the time [noun], and they’re a super convenient way to get sweaty when I don't have time to go to the gym [verb].

My goal is to hit 1,000 [number] minutes this week!. I’ll do HIIT core [workout name] on one of my more intense workout days, and Inversions to Reduce Stress [workout name] on a rest or lower intensity day. I challenge Jamie [workout buddy name] to beat my # of minutes or to do Full-Body Toning [activity / video name] with me!

Disclosure: this post was sponsored by Grokker. All opinions are our own. We so appreciate you supporting the brands that support Fit Approach and the Sweat Pink community!

Sunday, July 26, 2015

My New Go-To At-Home Workout Inspiration: Grokker

I'm a busy gal. Between teaching yoga at three studios, working from home for Fit Approach, helping with social media for a yoga studio, exploring my new home town and the greater Pacific Northwest, making new friends and meeting up with them when possible… Fitness can be difficult to squeeze into my busy schedule. (I realize the irony of that last statement considering I'm a yoga instructor and all-around workout addict!)

My only experiences with fitness videos is a few Billy Blanks Tae Bo videos and trying the Carmen Electra strip tease video a few years ago with a girlfriend in the privacy of her living room. Absolutely hilarious, but definitely not the workout I was looking for. Well, that and watching the spoof of Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" to the 80's workout video. That doesn't really count, I know. But if you want to watch it (and you know you do), go here. I've been intrigued by the idea behind workout videos, especially the convenience of being able to do them when and where you want, but haven't ever found the right fit with anything.

Then I discovered Grokker. It's a wonderful source of fitness and cooking videos! These videos are perfect for when I have a limited time in a busy day to get a quick workout in at home, when I need inspiration for some new moves, and when I want to target a specific area or try something completely out of my comfort zone!

I love that Grokker's team of experts have amassed such a variety of workouts! Everything from HIIT core and abs to meditation can be easily accessed. You can create personal collections and organize them based on type of exercise. Check out my Core and Strength collection!

Working out and teaching so much is great, but it's also easy to get stale with my routines. Grokker is a great source of inspiration. So when I feel like I'm starting to get bored with my classes and gym circuits, I'll hit up Grokker, especially the Sweat Pink team's collection, to freshen things up! I absolutely can't wait to try more videos! No more excuses with this wealth of fresh fitness knowledge literally at my fingertips!

Now I just need to work up the courage to study up on some of the cooking videos and brave the kitchen! Scrambling eggs is gourmet cooking for me! This will be a great opportunity for me to branch out on my culinary skills.

Guess what? I have a present for y'all! Whether you're just as intrigued by all the fitness videos as I am, or you're a culinary genius looking to try some new recipes, you're in luck! LOVEGROKKER is a discount code for YOU for a one month free premium membership! I know! It's no where close to Christmas. Maybe it's Santa's mid-year incentive for you to keep being good…

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Grokker, but all opinions are my own.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Wild Friends Nut Butters Verdict? Yummy!!

My latest obsession: nut butter! I've gotten back to the classic apple with almond butter post-workout snack and look forward to the mornings I decide to have it on warm toast so it's all melty and drippy and yummy…

The new-kid-on-the-block nut butter brand is Wild Friends! They're non-GMO, Kosher, palm fruit oil and other emulsifiers free, dairy free, and largely organic (100% Organic Sunflower Butter). Oh, and delicious! I've never heard of some of the flavors they've concocted, plus they have the classic Peanut Butter and Almond Butter. My current favorite? Chocolate Sunflower Butter!

The two founders of the company started creating nut butters in their kitchen while attending the University of Oregon. They ran out of peanut butter one night and didn't want to go to the store. Lucky for us, they discovered a knack for creating nut butter yumminess! Four years later, they're based in Portland, OR, and sell their nut butters in thousands of stores across the country.

They also have these perfect little packets that are perfect for on-the-go! We had them as samples in our Sweat Pink booth at BlogFest, and they were a huge hit! They didn't even last to the end of the second day! You can buy boxes of them online.

Slathered on warm toast or a banana, drizzled on ice cream, scooped straight out of the tub… However you want to eat your Wild Friends nut butter, I can tell you it's going to be delicious! Add it to your grocery list today!

Products were given to me, but all opinions are my own!

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

My Favorite Instagram Yogis

Ok, so I posted about why you should be posting yoga pictures on Instagram. This is a follow up with my favorite Instagram yogis! These beautiful people are so inspirational. They share their journey with yoga, the asana and more, with thousands, even millions of followers. They have fun with their practices, posing while traveling, hiking, SUP-ing, walking around the city... They get creative with colors, lighting, and lines in front of scenic vistas and graffitied walls. They share their lives, thoughts, emotions (good and bad) through their posts. It's a beautiful, beautiful thing.

Rachel Brathen (@yoga_girl)

I had the pleasure of assisting Rachel when she taught in Portland this spring. She's so sweet, so authentic, such a beautiful person. And living in Aruba means she gets some truly gorgeous #beachyoga pictures!

Laura Kasperzak (@laurasykora)

Laura's mini-me yoga pictures with her daughter are so cute! I also love her transformation shots and the few she does in heels!

Kathryn Budig (@kathrynbudig)

Kathryn is one of my all-time inspirations for yoga! She has such a strong, playful, fun practice! I love her incorporation of lifestyle into her yoga shots (hello food, fashion, pups, and handsome hubby).

(Robert Sturman @robertsturman is a photographer with tons of stunning shots like this!)

Tiffany Cruikshank (@tiffanycruikshank and @yoga_medicine)

Tiffany is another huge inspiration of mine. Her practice is so strong and mindful, and she's so incredible knowledgable of anatomy! I love her personal page, which includes adorable pictures of her pup Lulu and travel shots, and her professional page.

Kino MacGregor and Kerri Verna (@kinoyoga and @beachyogagirl)

These two powerhouse yoginis team up on some of my favorite pose-of-the-day challenges. Their practices are incredible! Seriously, Kino makes you question how a body can even be capable of some things. And their photo locations are gorgeous: Mysore, Vegas, Miami beaches...

Caitlin Turner (@gypsetgoddess)

I mean those legs!

Melissa Lee (@pocketdwarf)
This Canadian yogi posts some seriously gorgeous scenic shots! And with a baby bump too?!

Pat Bailey (@patbailey)

Pat posts up in some badass poses in front of amazing murals! Love street art yoga!

Rachel Anna (@rachelanna_yoga)
As one of the #inspiredyogis pose-of-the-day hosts, she posts gorgeous photos featuring some really unique postures. She's introduced me to a lot of new variations! And she's in the PNW!

Megan Lawing (@northcarolina_yogagirl)

Megan has a beautiful practice, AND is from NC!

Meghan Currie (@meghancurrieyoga)
Meghan's practice is so playful and unique. I love love love the videos she posts!

Liz Arch (@lizarch)

Liz's practice is seriously gorgeous! She also kickboxes, so the extension she can get through her legs is so elegant. And never have I seen such straight handstands!

Dylan Werner and Ashley Galvin (@dylanwerneryoga and @ashleygalvinyoga)
Such a fun yogi couple! Individually, their practices are inspiring. Together, their acro shots are awesome!

Dawn (@monkeymix)

Another host of #inspiredyogis, I love how playful and real Dawn is. Sometimes the poses the other hosts toss out there are darn hard, and she's upfront about how difficult it is, but always finds a variation and gorgeous shot! And again, she's so playful and fun with it all; it's so easy to love her!

@kathy0805

Kathy's dance background is definitely evident in her pictures and videos. She's so flexible and fluid in her movements. The poses she can flow between in her videos are so inspiring!

Patrick Beach and Carling Harps (@patrickbeach and @carlingnicole)

I was lucky enough to meet and hang out some with Patrick and Carling here in Portland before they became professional vagabonds to tour and teach across the world. Such a cool and chill couple, with super inspiring practices. Patrick's inversion practice is renown, and for good reason… I love being able to follow their travels!

Carmen Aguilar (@cyogalab)
Carmen has challenged me to try new variations of poses that I've never seen before or had the guts to try! She makes it look so easy when it's totally not, but includes instructions and variations with her photos.