I knew it was going to be a good class when I walked in and the yoga teacher complimented my tank top!  It was new and she said she had been eying it up too.  Clearly she has good taste.

(here I am looking way less chic on my way there…ps I love how it matches my yoga bag…obsessed)

At this studio, most of the instructors don’t put out a mat for themselves.  They walk around and guide the practice verbally.  Curli lays her mat out and occasionally does a pose or two on it and also moves around the class.  I snagged a good front from mirror spot right next to her mat.  This ended up being really valuable because I felt as if she was extra attentive to me and my practice.

I had an amazing class, and I was again surprised how much improvement I made in 3 weeks!  My upward facing dogs were flawless…very exciting.  I was nearly as good as this guy…a true upward facing dog.

Curli also gives food for thought at the end of class, which I love.  Day 23′s quote was:

“Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – Albus Dumbledore (from Harry Potter)

Loved it.

Day 24 was pretty much identical to day 23.  Curli was teaching the 4:15 pm class so I went to that one. It was the exact same class down to every last move only 75 minutes instead of 60.  She even used the same quote at the end…no judgement though.  Providing words of wisdom every class must be tough.  She complimented my personal practice on my way out which I really appreciated.  It made me feel like she has noticed my improvement over the past few weeks.

Both days I went down to the gym in the basement and beasted it out on the elliptical.  Right now it’s the only cardio I can do without aggravating my bum hip.  Day 23 I did 45 minutes on the elliptical and day 24 I did an hour.  I got a heart rate monitor (that arrived on day 23 and was a huge motivator to actually head down to the basement gym…love trying out new toys!).  I had been wanting to get one for awhile.  You wear a little belt around your chest/rib area where the bottom of your bra hits, and then the watch on your wrist reads the heart rate.  You program your weight into the device, and it estimates your calories burned based on your heart rate and weight.  I was shocked at the calorie count from the elliptical and yoga.  It was way way higher than I estimated, and I honestly don’t think it’s accurate.

My heart rate for the majority of the time on the elliptical was between 150 and 165.  45 minutes burned over 800 calories and 60 minutes burned over 1100.  Approximately 200-300 over the machines estimate which I did plug my weight into (but it didn’t take heart rate into consideration).  I wore it on day 24 to my yoga class, and it said that I burned upwards of 900.  During all activities my heart was beating quickly and I was getting my sweat on, but those numbers just seem way too high to be right.

Day 25 I took as a rest day.  I was going to go to a spinning class in the morning before a day of errands and getting ready for an event in the evening, but I overslept.  I actually have a busy few days ahead of me with no time for naps….so it was probably a good thing to get the extra few hours of sleep.

My own food for thought…

Anyone else have any thoughts or insight on heart rate monitor accuracy?  I would love some guidance and advice!

I did something to tweak my hip on Day 18.  I’m not sure what, but it just felt like I pulled something.  I am the oldest 24 year old in the world…no wonder I’m single.  Who wants to take on a 24 year old who already has a bum hip?

Day 19 – I took Friday off from yoga  because I was hoping that a day of rest would do the hip good.  I ended up meeting my mom for dinner and shopping for my graduation outfits then just chilled in all night.  Since I was bored and still in the groove I tried heading down to my basement gym to get in a little cardio.  Tried walking on the treadmill…that was a no go.  The elliptical felt fine though, so I did an hour on that while watching reruns of the old Bravo reality show “Workout” about gay/straight personal trainers in Beverly Hills circa 2006.  Nothing makes you want to stay on the elliptical more than looking at these people.

Day 20 - Hip still hurts.  Since the elliptical wasn’t a problem I went to yoga.  I figured that if I couldn’t do certain moves, I would just modify.  The worst that could happen was that I couldn’t do ANYTHING in which case I would just chill in child’s pose for 90 minutes.  Sounds lovely.  This ironically ended up being probably one of the best yoga practices of my life.  I did every upward facing dog perfectly, kept the pace, was in great form, and I wasn’t even next to a cute girl.  Go me.

Day 21 – Resting the hip day.  After walking around the city a lot on Saturday afternoon (running errands) and Saturday night (bar hopping) my hip was angered…I ended up walking around looking like Quasimodo from the Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Day 22 – Made an appointment with a chiropractor.  Never had been to one before, but here was my logic.  I go to a regular doctor, wait a long time in a waiting room, have them look at me for 5 seconds, and they probably say I just pulled something or need an x-ray.  I know I didn’t BREAK my hip.  It’s just a little mis-aligned.  So I would try this avenue and if I don’t get relief I’ll see a more Western medical doctor.  The chiropractor was really nice, gave me some minor adjustments, and sent me on my way.  He said that my right leg (the one connected to the hurting hip) was 1/2 inch shorter than the other, not because it was actually shorter, but because it was out of alignment.  He fixed me up and said he’d see me in 2 days.  I wanted to go to yoga and do cardio, but I didn’t want to undo anything he did…is that stupid?  I walked around the city a bit which he said was good to do after an adjustment and then just went home and accomplished some stuff.  Worked in the evening, then stayed up way too late watching Big Love reruns on HBO go.  Clearly I have amazing taste.

Day 23 – Still early yet, but I have high hopes for today!  My hip is still a bit uncomfortable but not in pain so I’m going to try some cardio and yoga (even though I’m an idiot for staying up past 3 am watching Big Love and then accidentally waking up at 7:30 am not being able to fall back asleep)  After all I did get some new sneakers for the first time in a year…need to take these puppies for a spin.  Maybe they will help my bum hip??

Like my awesome photography skills?  Yup I didn’t even get out of my bed to take that picture.  Can you tell?

I was having one of those weird slumbers where I was dreaming something that I thought was real.  I had a dream I had to donate an organ to a relative that wasn’t even immediate family (how generous of dream Shannon if I do say so myself) then had a dream where I thought a device (that doesn’t exist) that was put into my eye during my vision correction surgery came out.  Which prompted me to freak out and start trying to call dream doctors.  Weird.  Maybe it was the sushi…

Anyways I shook myself awake after realizing I was in crazy dream world to see that the clock said 11:40.  Crap!  I threw on my yoga pants, grabbed my mat, and filled up water on the way out.  I arrived right at 11:59 am which was a blessing because once class starts they lock the doors and no one can get into the studio.  Win!

Class was good.  Taught by Troy, who is tough.  He kept saying…this is power yoga, that is why I’m making it hard!  No crap Troy thanks for the reminders it doesn’t mean that Goddess pose hurts my thighs any less while I’m shaking, sweating, and trying to hold it.

After yoga I came home, went through some mail and bills, did a bit of filing, and got a bunch of little things off my to do list.  All and all a nice little day .  I could get used to this life of working out, yoga, and leisure.  Too bad it’s only for a few weeks!

My plans for the evening got cancelled which kind of bummed me out.  I headed to yoga to decompress a bit, and the class was really relaxing.  There were only 10 or so people there, and it seemed to go by quickly and effortlessly.  I really felt like I was getting into the groove of meditation during savasana.  I kept saying a mantra over and over again in my head, and I found it really peaceful.  I would tell you all my mantra, but a friend mentioned that I should keep it as my secret personal one….it definitely helped chill me out after getting agitated over my social agenda.

A little yoga/pharmacist humor there.  It was actually a  blessing my plans were cancelled because that freed me up to go out to dinner with my friend Sarah for her 25th birthday!  We went to a restaurant that we’ve both been dying to try, Fat Salmon.  If you are into sushi specialty rolls I highly recommend it!  It was one of those awesome turn of events that made your evening better than I had originally planned!

“If you are facing the right direction, all we have to do is keep on walking” – Proverb

Yeah I haven’t made it to yoga EVERY day during my 30 day challenge, but I am consistently getting there.  I’m hitting the gym, I’m trying to eat better, and overall trying to be a more improved version of myself.  I’m not perfect everyday, but I am trying.  So even if I slip I just need to keep walking in the right direction.  A balanced life is a long journey.  It was definitely food for thought.

The class was great.  Besides the increase male to female ration, another good thing is that the classes are SO much less crowded than early morning or evening classes.  More like 15-20 people ad opposed to 26 people.  More room to spread out, I usually can get a spot in front of the mirror even if I come 5 minutes before class starts, and overall more individualized attention.

Since I lifted my upper body the day before, I was a bit nervous about holding planks and down dogs for an hour.  Luckily it wasn’t bad at all and probably was good because I stretched myself out a bit.  After class I hit the gym downstairs again and got totally into a Sex and the City marathon on “E!” so I ended up walking 8 miles in 2 hours at 4 miles per hour at an incline of 3.0.  I had planned on lifting my lower body but I did a few lunges then decided 8 incline miles is lower body workout enough.  Woohoo dedication.  I like it.  (cut to me probably not being able to walk the on day 17).  So just to recap…the key to motivation for perfect form in yoga = guys next to you in class….the key to motivation to stay on the treadmills = Sex and the City marathons.

One thing I love/hate about having a spot in front of the mirror is that I have to stare at my uneven self tanner streaks for an hour.  I got a little carried away with the self tanner the night before and missed a few spots.  I’m not talking Oompa Loompa orange, but definitely “tinted” with a few missing patches.  Oh well, bad tint is always better than melanoma.  You can quote me on that.

Ok not nearly as bad as that picture.  I’m sure no one except for me would even notice, and I only noticed because I was starting at myself for an hour in the mirror holding odd positions.  Anyone have an extra strength loofah I can borrow?

My studio has an hour long yoga class on week days at noon.  I am so happy I have off for this next month or so because I LOVED my first noon class.  I was able to somewhat sleep in, get some things done, go to class, then get more done.  I didn’t feel pressed for time, and after yoga I went to the gym downstairs, did 30 minutes on the treadmill, then lifted upper body with free weights.

Back to the yoga though, I had a break through yesterday!!!  It was an epiphany unlike any other.

I realize now, that even though the classes at this studio are predominately female, the men all come to the noon classes (I assume on their lunch breaks?)  That or they’re unemployed…or work for home….either way, way more cute guys than normal!

The key to finding the discipline to hold poses for long periods of time and push yourself is to put your mat in between two cute guys.  No one wants to be the chubby girl who has to keep breaking for water, toweling off, or retreating into child’s pose.  I was a machine.

Note to future self, put mat in between men more often.  Sure they’re a little smelly, but your practice will dramatically improve.

Most days we do 80% of the same poses, but that day we went into birds of paradise.  I had attempted this move years ago, but not since I started the challenge.  I like attempting and almost succeeding at new moves.  Gives me a little baseline of where I can progress from.

I could get up to step 3.5.  I could lift my leg, but not balance for very long.  As for straightening it…HA.  I can barely straighten my legs normally.  But practice makes progress!

Day 5

Friday afternoon yoga with Steve.  It was supposed to be an hour class, but he forgot so I got a full 75 minutes.  After savasana he apologized for forgetting and told us he went to 75 because he usually doesn’t teach hour long classes.  Lucky for me I didn’t have any pressing plans, so I was just happy I got some extra yogi time.

Day 6

Saturday morning class with the owner Steve.  He asked about my progress and during the class he told me “it will get easier”.  Hmm I didn’t think it looked like I was struggling, but I guess he is the expert.

Day 7

Hungover.  Was a good lesson that I need to drink a bit less so I can enjoy my weekend days when I’m off instead of spending them in bed hydrating and watching Netflix.  (except the day after my birthday celebration next week of course…that is an exception)

Day 8

Worked a double.  Wanted to try to go to the noon yoga class during my lunch break but morning patients ran late and I had to skip.  Wasn’t ideal but at least I attempted to squeeze it in sometime during my 13 hour work day.

Day 9

Went to Troy’s class in the evening.  I heard he was intense, and what I heard was true.  He definitely challenged me.

Day 10

My 24th birthday.  Was going to go to the 4:30 class then shower and go to dinner.  But I ended up getting tickets to a concert of a band I really like so I moved up dinner and didn’t have time.  Well it’s my birthday and I’ll skip yoga if I want to!

Day 11

Back to yoga.  I had my LAST DAY EVER of pharmacy school and after my meeting with my preceptor (yes I brought my yoga mat to a meeting) I went to a class and it was amazing.  I felt on top of the world that I had finished pharmacy school and was a flowing machine.

Day 12

Went out that night and celebrated the end of pharmacy and my birthday with friends.  No yoga that day since I needed to spend all my time getting pretty.  It takes a village people.

Day 13

Hangover (don’t judge me).  My brother’s birthday dinner. No yoga.

Day 14

I had work all day then it was my Dad’s birthday so no time for night yoga.  A little upsetting, but it happens.

There was a 6:45 pm class, but I was supposed to meet up with someone at 7.  Plus, I was going to be at rotations past 6, so my day was just getting a little hectic.  I decided to reschedule my plans, and go to yoga.  1) I really needed a night in and 2) I was able to honor my 30 day challenge commitment by not missing a day.  Win-Win!

The class was good, I didn’t feel quite as on my game as I had been the last 3 days.  The good thing was the I still showed up, put forth my best effort, and left the class a little sweatier, more limber, and mentally clearer than I arrived.

I picked up sushi on my way home, and then I ate my weight in raw fish specialty rolls while watching New Girl and The Mindy Project.  Classy.

It’s kind of refreshing, but a strange thing happened on Day 3 of the challenge.  The instructor was a cute little woman who was really nice and enthusiastic.  We did a series of warrior poses then went into an ab series.  This was a little strange because this is usually towards the end of the practice…but not always.  We then were told to go into savasana.  That is the pose always done at the end of class where you essentially just lie down and meditate.  We stayed there for about 3 minutes, all the time I was thoroughly confused.  It was a strange mix of…wow there is no way it’s been 75 minutes already…and maybe this is only an hour class…and what they heck is going on.  I felt like it couldn’t be more than 30-40 minutes into class, but who knows maybe time was just flying.  Maybe my yoga has improved so dramatically in just 3 days that I was in such a zen state I didn’t even notice the time flying?  Yeah…not likely, but always possible.

Then she told us to rise back up and we finished the class with a trillion warrior sequences and sun salutations.  Womp womp.  It was like a cruel joke.  I was all ready to cool down and relax, and I had to get back up and keep sweating!  It was warrior sequences for days…we didn’t even do any inversions.

The good thing was that I was pretty sore in the morning so I was concerned that I was not going to be able to 1) make it to the class or 2) actually do anything when I got there.  My soreness went away by the time I arrived at the yoga studio and the hot yoga was very relaxing.

I’ve developed a bit of a morning protocol for early workout classes.  Since I know it’s unrealistic for me to get up even a minute before I absolutely have to, I pick out my clothes and lay them out with shoes and a packed bag.  Water bottles are already filled and chilling in the refrigerator, and yoga mat is packed and by the door.  I’m like a fireman waiting for the alarms to sound.

I jump out of bed, brush my teeth, throw my hair into a pony without even brushing it, and head out the door in 6 minutes.  Talent.

The walk is really close which is a definite perk of the studio I picked.  I arrived right on time 6:30 am and it was fairly crowded (considering it was still dark out) but not as crowded as it was during class the previous evening.  Today there was a different instructor which from the looks of the schedule the instructors all take a different early morning class to teach.  This one did Tuesdays.

The class was good, I felt a little shaky from lack of strength in general.  I was able to hold my own and get through the 75 minutes of class pretty well.  Many of the moves were the same, but she did have a little variety from the moves we did during the previous class.  I really liked this because if I had to do 30 days of the exact same moves/class every day I know I would get bored quickly.  The movement was definitely a nice way to start the morning, and I felt energized and ready to take on the day after leaving class.

Favorite pose of the first two classes….inversions.  They come at the end of class, so 1) you know class is almost over 2) the standing portion is done with and 3) they feel so good to do.  I like to equate it like the communion portion of a Catholic mass.  You are basically home free at this point, but it isn’t polite to leave.  My personal favorite is the shoulder stand.  Love.

A quick shower, some breakfast, and some coffee later I was out the door heading to rotation.  I also was working a double that day, so on my way into my second shift at the retail pharmacy, I tweaked my back a bit and was all uncomfortable standing at the drop off counter all night.  I think the two classes in a row clearly worked out muscles I rarely used (especially back muscles) and I felt like someone needed to walk on my back all night to crack out my tweaks.  After work was over at 10, my long 16 hour day caught up with me and I was beat.  I thanked God for the seat warmers in my car because they were a make-shift heating pad for my sore back on the ride home.  (I also bought a heating pad at the pharmacy since I’m now an old lady….it’s only two days in…so that can’t be a great sign).

I had hopes to do the elliptical when I got home, but I was way too beat.  I did a few little things such as chores, assignments, etc then hit the hay…hard.  I was happy that Wednesday would be a short day for me and I also wouldn’t have to wake up early to go to a class before work.

Yogic thought of the day.