Five Friday Favorites 2/26/16

WEEKEND SHENANIGANS

I got back from vacation last week and hit the ground running! After work on Friday, I had dinner with a friend, met up with the group for drinks, and then saw Diane Coffee at Bunk Bar. Saturday night was spent with some good ole fashioned family fun at the bowling alley! I made the decision not to bowl so I wouldn't throw my rib out again, but it was awesome hanging with some of my favorites and watching Caitlin get bowling advice from a 6 year old! Caitlin and I then went to see the Cave Singers Sunday night at Doug Fir, a band we saw in Astoria almost a year ago. So so so amazing!

BACK TO YOGA AND HANDSTAND

I took my second yoga class since my rib on Saturday with Jessica at Flex & Flow. Man did it kick my butt! I still didn't do everything I normally would have (as in, I did take every vinyasa, but didn't add in any arm balances or inversions to them), but I did decide to play a bit with handstand afterward! I don't know if I should have or not, and I felt pretty weak up there, but it made my soul oh-so-happy! The rest of the week with yoga was great! I was able to walk again (hah) and have continued to return to my practice more and more each day!

JAMIE FINISHING THE ORCAS100

My badass bootcamp bitch / #yogawithfriends partner in crime Jamie ran AND FINISHED the Orcas 100 race this weekend! Basically she ran for 29+ hours, through intense muddy and mountainous terrain with 26,000' vert, for a grand total of 100.8 miles. Dayum is she inspiring!

SIP 'N' SWEAT

The event at Flex & Flow I've been working on for a few weeks happened last night, and it was so much fun! We figured what could possibly make sweating with an awesome group of people any better? WINE! So we coordinated with the wine bar next door to the studio to go over there with our group from bootcamp. Knowing that we're definitely not the only ones that love to get our Sip 'n' Sweat on, we turned it into a virtual date for the whole of the Sweat Pink community too! We laughed, we cried sweated, we toasted. All in all, a wonderful evening with a wonderful group of people!

RETURN TO RUNNING

We've had some amazing weather this week in Portland. It's got to get cold and rainy again, for sure, but for now I know I'm definitely enjoying the hint of springtime. It's been great to be able to get out running in it for the first time since my rib! I even went out running in a tank top the other day! Building pace and miles back up has been going well in the first few runs back, so hopefully I can keep trucking along and be ready to hit the trails when they dry up a bit and get back to attempting to keep up with Jamie soon.

Five Friday Favorites 2/19/16

Totally forgot to publish this on Friday. Woops! My first Friday Favorites will just have to be a #SundayFunday recap!

Who doesn't love talking about things they love?! This idea of summing up the week with 5 awesome things is just amazing! Here we go...

DADDY-DAUGHTER SKI DATES

For the last ten days I was in Park City, UT with my dad. He just retired two weeks ago and in celebration is going on two 3-week ski trips and then to the beach for three months with my mom! Yeah, he's pretty stoked on life right now. So it was back to Utah for the first time in probably 10 years. I grew up skiing at Snowbird, so this was familiar in so many ways, and yet awesome to be exploring a new ski town and mountain! We didn't have any powder dumps while we were there, but enjoyed the adventure of finding good snow, getting back into (ski) shape, getting new boots (waaaaay overdue! Mine were 12 years old and disintegrating!), and finding our groove in a new ski town. It's amazing how even though I'd never been there before, I fell right back into that lifestyle! It was a great "homecoming!"

IMPROMPTU AIRPORT RUN-INS

A great example of why social media rocks. I posted a picture from the Salt Lake City airport before boarding. Becky, my co-worker at Sweat Pink, saw it and commented that she too was at SLC. We were both preparing to board our separate flights, and thought we wouldn't have time to meet up. As I was standing in the boarding line, she was walking back to her gate and spotted me. Keep in mind, we've never met in person before. OMG the amazingness of this!

HEALING (MOSTLY)

I was pretty nervous about this ski trip, due to being injured only the week before. Luckily my amazing chiropractor got me mostly patched back together just in time! After weeks of self-care, aka laying prone in my pillow fort on the couch, I was stoked but nervous to get back on the hill! I eased into it, or as much as I'm capable of easing into things, and was surprised at how well I did! I even went to a yoga class while I was there (Christa at Tadasana Yoga Studio is awesome!)! I did attempt a handstand, though didn't push it. The wall was funky and the sky was blue, so I couldn't resist. But it didn't feel super awesome, so I haven't attempted again since. I'm pretty sore and ready to see my chiropractor for a session, but am so excited to be getting back to normal!

AUNTIE STATUS

While away on vacation, my good friend gave birth to her little baby girl, JG! I can't wait to get some baby snuggles in! I love being an auntie!

SKINNING

Not only did I get to ski a bunch with my dad last week, but I got to return to skinning frequently! It started as a substitute for running or the gym in the winter, but this activity quickly became one of my all-time favorite things! Dripping sweat, huffing and puffing, legs feeling like lead, sometimes having to get up in the pitch dark and cold, it's all worth it! It's truly moving meditation for me! 

Happy weekend, y'all! 

Progress toward more self care #prAnastyle #poseoftheday

Yesterday for prAna and Fit Approach's #poseoftheday challenge, we of course had to talk about #transformationtuesday. I love this theme. It's so easy to get frustrated about where you still want to go that it's nice to remember how far you've come.

There's always going to be postures I'm working on. That's nothing new. What is new-ish is the idea that the progress I'm working to focus on is self care and moderation. I'm always so focused on pushing my edge, until I can't. The fall and winter has been full of injury for me. There was the light ankle sprain in August, neck and shoulder spasms in September, the bad ankle sprain in November, and now I have a displaced rib. 

Last Monday I did three yoga classes and ran. Tuesday I taught 2 yoga classes, ran to bootcamp, and had my first bootcamp in two months (so many burpees...). I woke up Wednesday sore, but feeling good. I reached up to stretch and bam! Rib out and spams like whoa. I've found a chiropractor, whom I love, that has told me that even though the pain is manifesting in my rib, the root of the problem is in pelvic imbalance. Through an imbalance in my hips and my continued intense activity, the compensation has worked it's way up my spine and into my rib. And that last stretch was just the straw that broke the camels's back. So yes, I most likely overdid it last week, and for the weeks before that. But it wasn't just a simple stretch overhead that knocked a rib out. It was likely a culmination of stress, over activity, walking funkily while healing from my sprained ankle... It's never just one thing. 

Top Left: pre-bad ankle sprain; Top Right: pre-rib displacement
Bottom: yesterday... Sometimes progress doesn't always go forward.

It's easy for me to tell myself and sit here and write that I know I need more yin and moderation in my life. It's quite another to practice it. I have written that I need to work on moderation and balance, and practicing what I preach. The trick is now retraining my brain and habits. If I know I'm going to take two yoga classes later in the day, maybe I don't practice with my students in the morning. Maybe I don't take every vinyasa in every class. Maybe I don't add a handstand in to every vinyasa. Maybe I only do 1 handstand session every day instead of 5. Maybe I don't wait until I'm injured to get body work done. Maybe I don't run 5 days in a row when I'm trying to get back into running shape after an injury. 

All of these ideas are smart and logical, but it's so hard for me to put into practice. I love going full throttle and being active all day every day. It didn't seem crazy to me to go to three yoga classes and then run. And 5 days in a row of intense activity is the norm for me. I won't touch on what a friend and I talked about yesterday about our personal identities being tied up in our physical abilities... But I need to remind myself that I'm 26. Yes, I'm in the physical prime of my life, but I also want my body to last me for another 80 years or so. I want the marathon rather than the sprint for my physical health and abilities. Running and yoga (exercise in general) is my outlet for stress and emotion, and to not be able to turn to that sucks. To not be able to demo postures for my students sucks. To not feel good about my body because I've had to stay in my pillow fort on the couch sucks. Not to mention being in pain sucks! 

So here's yet another commitment to self care. To make the effort to check in with my body and take care of it rather than getting so caught up in the push. To keep in mind that I want to be running, skiing, handstanding forever!

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by prAna, and any opinions are my own. I truly appreciate all of the brands that support the Sweat Pink community.

Funky #ForearmFriday! #poseoftheday

Happy #ForearmFriday, sweaties! Today for #sweatpink's #poseoftheday, we're talking Funky Pincha (Option 1 is Tripod Headstand).

This pose used to be incredibly awkward for me! I had a regular Tripod and Forearmstand practice, but every time I tried to kick up into this hybrid inversion, I was at a loss. I felt lopsided. I didn't know how I was supposed to hold it when my balance wasn't centered.

But that's the yoga. (Oh boy, that's a discussion for another time...)

I've established my affinity for trying postures that scare me on the beach. There's no fear of falling in the sand. So after not attempting this pose for a while, I tried it out on the beach a few years ago when it was a pose-of-the-day for another challenge. It was awkward, hard, and unnatural, but I got up there. And got some hang time!

The theme for the day back in October of 2013 was a pose that felt impossible. I'd been really focusing on my forearmstand (this was the same trip I tried handstand away from the wall out on the beach and again surprised myself!). I knew I could hold forearmstand AND tripod headstand, so this was in fact physically possible for me. I just had to try, and try, and try again. 

Holding it long enough for my mom to capture a shot was the motivation. I knew I could get there, so now I just needed to keep working and progressing. It's not a super regular part of my practice, so when again it was a pose-of-the-day a while later, I was reminded that I hadn't been including this in my flow (well, handstand really eclipsed so much of my practice....hello, #handstand365). Because I had been training so hard for handstand, I had the core strength to float right up into this funky pose. I was shocked! 

Yes, I know how it all interrelates, but it was still amazing to me. The awkward weight distribution between a hand and a forearm wasn't a factor. The focus of getting my hips up over my shoulders without losing the integrity of my spinal alignment within handstand completely translates across to all of our favorite inversions. 

Don't you just love that sensation of when you surprise yourself with what you can do?! When you drop the expectations and give something a go just for the hell of it?! That happened to me over the summer with another forearmstand variation: palms touching. This always seemed impossible too. And then I gave it another go. 

Have fun with funky forearmstand (or any variation or Tripod Headstand) today, sweaties! Show us your variations! #sweatpink #flexandflow #poseoftheday #stopdropandyoga #yogaeverydamnday @FitApproach @Lizwilsonyoga

Sweatin' into the holidays! #holidaysweat

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Sweat Pink, Run to the Finish, and prAna but all opinions are my own. I truly appreciate all of the brands who support the Sweat Pink community!

I'm so excited to be participating in the annual #holidaysweat challenge with the Sweat Pink crew and Run to the Finish! This is the first year in quite a few that I haven't gone into the holiday season in a ski town. This time of year is usually spent in anticipation not only of the holidays but also of ski season! I'm only 90 minutes from the mountain here in Portland, but I'm used to it being literally in my backyard. I'm very used to being extremely active through the holiday season, but it's usually in the snow. So this challenge is exactly what I need to keep me motivated to get out of my snuggly blanket and to go be active!

Thanksgiving 2014

Today prAna asks us what number of minutes we're shooting for this week! I'm aiming for 600 minutes of activity! Today I got in 90 minutes with yoga and a trail run. 

This week I'm also planning on hitting my favorite spin class, going on a runch date with a girlfriend, and all the yogas all over the place! 

DAILY PROMPTS!

Use these prompts to get you going each day! Share your reponse anywhere and everywhere: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, your blog... at home!

Monday, November 9: What's your minutes goal this week? How will you get there?! #pranastyle @prana #holidaysweat @runtothefinish @fitapproach #sweatpink

Tuesday, November 10: Show us your sweaty style! What's your favorite workout outfit or gear? #pranastyle @prana #holidaysweat @runtothefinish @fitapproach #sweatpink

Wednesday, November 11: Show us how you take your workout outside when it's cold (or even snowing!) #pranastyle @prana #holidaysweat @runtothefinish @fitapproach #sweatpink

Thursday, November 12: Squats? Pushups? Planks? What's your favorite strengthening move? #pranastyle @prana #holidaysweat @runtothefinish @fitapproach #sweatpink

Friday, November 13: FREE FRIDAY! Show us what you're up to today... sweating, eating, cooking, you name it! #pranastyle @prana #holidaysweat @runtothefinish @fitapproach #sweatpink

Join in on the fun with us! 

Take it or leave it; it's all an offering...

Photo by Stark Portraits

When I'm talking to people who are interested in trying yoga, I tell them to try multiple studios, teachers, and styles of yoga. That's one of the beautiful things about yoga these days, is that there's SO many different ways to do it! If you stick with it and shop around a bit, you'll find the style/studio/teacher that you vibe with. 

Vibing with yoga is a beautiful thing. We all have had that teacher that we just love, that we leave her (or his!) class with our mind blown. She inspires us, pushes us, nurtures us. We sweat, move, breathe, feel, relax, and all of the sudden we get that yoga craze. We find the studio that feels like home, where we have a community of teachers and practitioners that come together in a beautiful way. And maybe a juice bar if you're lucky. 

I'm going to let you in on a little secret: teaching yoga is like no other job out there. It's physical, the wellbeing of the practitioners and their experience is my focus, there's rigorous training and education that never ends, there's a lot of stigma with the field (both positive and negative), there's a historical spiritual and mental component... Teaching a class is both energizing and exhausting. I have to hold space for everyone in the class, which for my classes is a high energy, fun, upbeat space. While also leading them through a flow and making sure they are safe in their alignment. The style I teach is pretty common in the West, but is also definitely not the only type of yoga to be found by far. 

Most yoga teachers have completed numerous trainings and have at the very least basic anatomical knowledge. Many meditate and have a daily practice in or out of a studio. Many also constantly continue their education and seek inspiration, whether it's a new pose from Instagram, a clinic or training with a teacher, or reading the latest Mary Oliver poem. Even with all of this, yoga teachers do not know it all! We know there is infinite amount of knowledge out there which can never be acquired. That's part of the beauty of it all. 

Photo by Stark Portraits

A major part of our job is to share our experience with everything listed out above. We learn a new cue from another teacher, and try it out in our classes. We hear a new song on the radio and put it on our playlist. We use a mantra in our meditation and set that as the intention of our classes that week. We share our practice and inspirations with you, the students. When you walk through the door of the studio, unless you tell us otherwise, we have no idea what's going on in your life. When I talk about something before class, I don't know that you had a rough day, that you're going through a divorce, that all you want to do is flow. When I offer handstand in class, I have no idea that you're healing from a shoulder injury, that you're pregnant, that you've never tried handstand and are terrified. 

When I show up to teach yoga class, I'm offering...pretty much everything. Every time I offer a pose, transition, or intention, it's just that: an offering. I openly say, "take it or leave it" in my class (always with a smile!). To please do what's best for your body today on your mat. When I share an intention, it's something that resonated with me in my practice or in my life recently. I'm not calling anyone out, I'm not trying to shove an idea down your throat, I'm not trying to turn class into a sermon. All I'm doing is giving you the option to think about an idea that has resonated with me lately during your practice. 

And that's the kicker about being a yoga teacher. It's a part of me. When I'm teaching, I'm sharing a part of myself with my students. While setting an intention, I'm opening up to my classes by sharing personal stories and vulnerabilities. I am the teacher, and the teacher is me, a 26 year old, skiing/running/fitness junkie, handstand addict, overposter on Instagram, booty shaker, self-conscious, high energy ME! 

If you can't say anything nice...

When you go to classes, you generally don't know what you're going to get. Even if you've been to a studio and a teacher hundreds of times, something will be subtlety or obviously different. Or maybe you're trying to find the teacher/studio/style of yoga that you love. Or maybe there's a sub for your regular class. Or maybe you're dealing with an injury or some tightness in your body. Something, every time on your mat is going to be different. Try to think of it as an adventure! You can learn something from every experience, whether you found your new favorite teacher or not. You're not going to vibe with everyone everywhere. You might not like a teacher's sequencing or playlist, the mural on the wall, the heat in the room. That's ok. There's something you can learn or appreciate about the situation, and you say "thank you" and move on. You maybe give it another go or your don't come back. There's no need to complain or criticize if it wasn't your thing. That's the teacher's style, a part of her that she's opening up and sharing with her classes. It's a very vulnerable position to be in and it's a beautiful thing when you can tell she's being totally authentic and genuine. There are going to be plenty of people that resonate with that teacher, just as there's a teacher/style/studio out there that you resonate with! 

Namaste my OMies! Much love! 

Loving #mythirdlove!

For years I've avoided the constraints of "real" clothes on a regular basis. Why stuff yourself into tight jeans, cram your feet into arch-killing heels, and prop your boobies up in a bra who's underwire pokes your side all day? Hence my love affair with tight black pants and all things spandex. Good thing I'm a yoga instructor, a fitness junkie, and that leggings and boots are still in style, otherwise I'd be in trouble or just perpetually and tragically out of fashion.

CAUTION: the next statement is shocking!

I've recently been actually wearing jeans and real bras! Due in large part to my latest love: ThirdLove. Not only are the bras and undies super cute and comfortable (don't worry, I'll talk more about that in a minute), but this is a sign of a new wave of technology when it comes to the horrors of bra shopping. No more getting felt up by saleswomen with measuring tapes under florescent lighting. shudder... ThirdLove makes it easy to get your bra measurements and get straight to the fun part: shopping! After downloading the app on your iPhone, you take a picture of your ta-tas in a regular, non-push-up bra, in or out of a tank top. Your phone then magically spits out your sizing. Well, it's magic to a technological luddite like myself. Read more about how it actually works here.

Now we get to the fun part: the goodies and the girlies! I was a skeptic. I've always reluctantly put on a real bra since discovering certain sports bras that aren't super constricting and give me descent cleavage. I had a few real bras that were way too old, but I kept them in the event of emergencies, aka special occasions, hot dates, etc. But they were never my go-to. After unpacking my beautifully wrapped goodies from ThirdLove, I immediately tried my bras on. I was shocked! 

The 24/7 T-shirt Bra (I received it in nude) has become my go-to bra! It is ridiculously comfortable, fits me like a glove, supports my ladies without forming a uniboob or flattening them into a pancake, and is super cute! The nude makes it super versatile (attention ladies, don't wear a white bra under a white shirt, seriously!) and the material along the straps is puckered. Such a cute detail! 

I also received the Lace Push-Up Bra in classic black. What girl doesn't need a black lace push-up bra?! What I love about this one, other than it too being comfortable as well, is that it gives me a little oomph without being like haaaayyyy, if you know what I mean. I'm pretty curvy, so it can get a little cray with too much push-up. This bra is the perfect amount for me! 

Since moving to Portland, I've found myself wanting to make more of an effort with my style. In a ski town, people look at you funnily if you're in jeans, boots, and a decent shirt. Hello fleece, flannel, and leggings at all times! But since moving to the city (leave off, I know it's small but Portland is a city to me!), I've actually been wearing "real" clothes a lot more. I love how you can spruce up leggings and sports bras with the right tunic, boots, jewelry, jackets, and scarves. But with my ThirdLove, I've been kicking it up even more. I've found myself reaching for one of these two bras in my underwear drawer to even go to a coffee shop to work for a few hours. It's amazing what it can do for your mentality! I feel more put together, sexier, girlier. 

It's the last week of October. Um, when did that happen?! But October, other than being the month of amazing fall foliage, is also Breast Cancer Awareness month. Sweat Pink has joined ThirdLove's #WeWearPink initiative. They've created a HOT pink version of the 24/7 T-shirt Bra, and are donating 20% of the sales of this bra to Breast Cancer Research from now until November 15th! Get your's today here! You can also get $10 off an order of $50 with this code: TLVIPLW10. 

You can also join in on the #WeWearPink challenge! Follow these simple steps:

1. Follow @thirdlove on Instagram (which you should do regardless because their page is so pretty!)

2. Regram this image:

3. Instagram a selfie with something pink!

4. Tag @thirdlove #sweatpink and #WeWearPink.

To find out more about the challenge, click here. See you on Instagram!

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by ThirdLove, but all opinions are my own. As a Sweat Pink ambassador and a ThirdLove ambassador, I was sent product to try and review. I truly appreciate all of the brands that support the Sweat Pink community!

Parental visit for #BOSUStrong #moveitmonday!

Week 4 BLOG & CHALLENGE PROMPTS (10/5-10/9):

This week is the very last week of the #bosustrong challenge that has inspired me to challenge my balance like whoa. Before starting the challenge, my goal was to balance on my hands on the BOSU and now that we’re in the final week I plan to try kicking up into handstand. I couldn’t always make it to the gym (and the pool!) (to the gym/for a trail run/in the pool), but I still squatted and lunged and pushed-up on the BOSU (workout) at home!

This week we’re focusing on the things that make us BOSU Strong. Here are the 10 things that make me #BOSUStrong:

• I am a fitness junkie.
• I will always crave high energy activities. And handstands (obvi).
• I never get tired of trying new things.
• I do wear spandex, alllll the time! (Never know when you'll be able to sneak in a run, or bust a handstand!)
• I love to get REALLY sweaty!
• I am inspired to still get a kickass workout in at home even if I don't have time for the gym, bootcamp, or a class.
• I love to encourage others to give something new a try without expectations- they might surprise themselves!
• I have 6 yoga mats.
• I am proud of learning to back off sometimes, which I'm not good at. Gotta listen to your body.
• I hope to keep increasing my running distances, and run more with Jamie.

Bonus: Tell us the ten best BOSU workouts you did, learned or saw during the challenge:

So I want to know - are you #BOSUStrong? Copy and paste the above, fill it in and make it your own and then tag me in it and share with your friends! Let’s all be #BOSUSTRONG.

The daily prompts are below. You can also follow along HERE.

Week 4, SHOW US YOUR #BOSUSTRONG! (10/5-10/9):

(Make sure you tag @Bosu_Fitness on Instagram & @BosuFitness on Twitter):

• Monday, 10/05: It’s #moveitmonday. Show us how you’re moving it this Monday. #BOSUstrong #FitFamily #SweatPink @Bosu_Fitness @FitApproach #ad

• Bonus: Y’all know we love to #jumpjoymonday! Show us your BEST jump shot and tag @BOSU_Fitness @FitApproach #BOSUStrong #FitFamily #SweatPink #ad
  
  
  For #moveitmonday, I'm taking my parents (who are visiting from North Carolina) out to the Columbia River Gorge on a hike! I can't wait to show them the beauty of my new home! We're stopping to see Multnomah Falls, hiking at Rowena Crest, and then stopping for lunch in Hood River. I can't wait!
  
  
  
  
  

  

  My parents are going to love this place!

• Tuesday, 10/06: It’s #tempotuesday! Show us what makes you #BosuStrong! @BOSU_Fitness @FitApproach #BOSUStrong #FitFamily #SweatPink #ad

• Bonus: It’s #triceptuesday and we want to see what makes you #BosuStrong. #BOSUstrong #FitFamily #SweatPink @Bosu_Fitness @FitApproach #ad

• Wednesday, 10/07: Planks, planks and more planks! Plank it out and show us how you’re #BosuStrong @BOSU_Fitness @FitApproach #BOSUStrong #FitFamily #SweatPink #ad

• Bonus: #workitwednesday, show us how you’re workin’ it this Wednesday and tag #BOSUstrong #FitFamily #SweatPink @Bosu_Fitness @FitApproach #ad
• Thursday, 10/08: It’s #totalbodythursday. Show us your favorite total body move - the one that truly makes you feel #BOSUstrong #FitFamily #SweatPink @Bosu_Fitness @FitApproach #ad
• Bonus: Give us a #tbt of your favorite moment of this challenge #BOSUstrong #FitFamily #SweatPink @Bosu_Fitness @FitApproach #ad
• Friday, 10/09: #FreeFriday. Show us your #BOSUstrong! #FitFamily #SweatPink @Bosu_Fitness @FitApproach #ad
• Bonus: Happy #forearmfriday. Let’s all celebrate the final day of the challenge with dolphin pose! #BOSUstrong #FitFamily #SweatPink @Bosu_Fitness @FitApproach #ad

Notes: You do not need to own or have access to a BOSU to participate. By participating you will have a chance to win a BOSU and other fun prizes. And please, if you are using a BOSU throughout this challenge, never stand on your BOSU with the dome facing down (images or moves down on the BOSU incorrectly will not count during this challenge).

Disclaimer: this post was sponsored by BOSU but all opinions expressed are my own. I truly appreciate all of the brands that support the Fit Approach (Sweat Pink) community.