Daily Southern Sunshine

We are moving to lorahogan.com/blog

2014-06-10T08:49:00.000-04:00

YES! We are moving!

Stay tuned for massive changes on this page as we migrate Daily Southern Sunshine to www.lorahogan.com/blog. The link will change, but everything else will be the same! (And all your old links will still be here.)

Again, bookmark www.lorahogan.com/blog so you don't miss a single post!!

Change is hard, but oh so exciting!!!!

Everything happens FOR you and not TO you

2014-06-09T07:25:00.000-04:00

Everything happens FOR you and not TO you. Rewrite the way you read your story and totally change your life.

I'm for serious.

And I will explain more.

Today I am a guest on Long Drive Journey y'all! Hop on over there and read all about how everything happens for you, not to you. Be prepared to change your mindset and to transform the way you view your life!!

Remember: check out the post here.

And be sure to follow Amy and her fantastic blog in the future!

Amy writes about the journey and her motto is to "enjoy the ride." She shares recipes, inspirational posts, healthy living, fitness tips, funnies and more!

Thank you Amy for having me on Long Drive Journey today!

#PassLove: Onzie Review

2014-06-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

This week, I had the great pleasure of learning about Onzie hot yoga apparel. Onzie is 100% made in America (in Los Angeles, to be precise). Created by a Bikram aficionado, Onzie is made with a blend of free flow spandex nylon (80%) and spandex (20%) to stretch, move, and breathe during hot hot temps.

Onzie motto:

Onzie sent me the following three pieces to try out and review. Please note that, while Onzie provided the clothes free of cost, the review and opinions are totally Lora.

Here's the bundle as it arrived in the mail:

I had ordered the following:

Criss-Cross Bra Top in Bengal ($42.00)

Front view on the model:

The back view:

Glossy Flow Tank Top in Black ($34.00)

Capri Pant in Bengal ($56.00)

It's important to note that Onzie has different sizing than you typically find. I ordered both the bra and capri pants in their "S/M" and the glossy flow tank top comes in one size fits most. Although the sizes go to L/L, I would say that like most fitness apparel, this may not provide the support or exact sizing you may like if you are naturally bigger, taller, or super breasty.

Now, for the goods:

I didn't need to go to a Bikram class to try these babies out! It's summertime in Florida and that means we have hot temperatures, afternoon thunderstorms, and not to mention that little thing called humidity.

You can see that the clothes are SUPER fun looking. I had a hoot looking at all the tigers on the Bengal tights during yoga class. The colors are so vivid and they just scream FUN!! (Or would it be ROAR fun with the tigers on there?) I was worried about the Criss-Cross Bra Top. Firstly, for those who like a little enhancement in the chest--there is no padding of any kind. For me, I was actually more worried about popping OUT of the bra during class. It fit great to walk around in, but I was afraid once I get all moving and upside down I could have an embarrassing accident. Guess what? I was worrying for no reason. (Like a lot of our worries. See yesterday's post on reducing worrying in your life for more details.) My breasts were totally safe!!! I would say that anyone larger than me MAY have a legit concern in that area. Also, I'm guessing if you have had children you may want some kind of under-wire or additional support. While the bra would not be good to run it; it will be excellent to YOGA in--which is what the clothes are designed for!!! Plus, the strap design is just super cute.

Everything felt great in the heat. Although I was sweating up a storm, the clothes did dry ridiculously fast, making me feel less like a sweaty pile of nastiness when it was time to drive home. These clothes were definitely made to be sweat in.

Here I am kinda sweaty, super crazy hair, happy in Onzie:

Now, how to get Onzie for YOU:

Onzie does not have a retail store,but some items may be purchased inside of studios. Check with your local yoga studio and see if they carry Onzie! Don't be shy about ordering online, however. (Pssst! Right now all items over $100 have free shipping in America!)

Worry Be-GONE: How to stop worrying so dang much!

2014-06-05T06:00:00.000-04:00

I used to be a worry wort. Like the kind who would wake up in the middle of the night or been unable to sleep due to worry. Not that long ago, actually.

But that is NO more!

I have said BE-GONE to worry.

I have let in happiness, calm, and joy.

What is worrying?

Gabrielle Bernstein says it best: "Worrying is like praying for what you don't want."

I don't know about you, but I SURE don't want to be spending all my time praying for everything I don't want to manifest in my life. And yes, sometimes legit worries crop up (like leaving the iron plugged in), but I am talking about the BIG worries.

It's easy to say, hey, I choose not to worry today. But then those nagging thoughts come back or you talk to someone and BAM! You are suddenly at worry command center.

Here are THREE TRICKS to help you let go of worry and live with happiness:

1) Ask yourself, is this something that I can easily and practically solve with minimal effort or thought?

If it's something like leaving the iron on, you can turn around, go home and fix it.There are short, simple action steps that get you that goal accomplished quickly. If you are worrying about, say, where your relationship is going, or if your child is feeling okay today, or whether or not your co-workers will like your presentation, that is UNNECESSARY worrying. You cannot quickly solve it. So notice that this worrying is there.

2) Forgive your past. Let go the future. Bring yourself back to the present moment. (Okay, so maybe this one is a three-part tip, but it all leads to FINDING CONTENTMENT IN THE NOW!)

First, if you are worrying about the past you must learn to forgive yourself. I recommended journaling, praying, or practicing a forgiveness meditation.

Both Kate Northrup and Mastin Kipp have some great forgiveness meditations online:
Here's Kate's financial forgiveness meditation (if you have had some money-related worrying)
Here's Mastin's more encompassing forgiveness meditation

Now that you've forgiven yourself for the past. You also need to let go the future. Surrender everything to the unknown. Let go the future, just as you let go the past. Let in possibility and abundance.

As Josh Pais likes to say, give a holler and shout out "I'm back!" Reclaim the present moment. When you are truly here, you can't be worrying about the past or the future. Really look at the person you're talking to. If you are alone, can you connect to what you see on the floor, the wall, in front of you. Stop and take a breath. Feel the sensations in your body. Breathe. Be here. Now.

If you really need to get connected to the now, I recommended going for a walk, practicing yoga, running, or doing some other form of light cardio.

3) Focus on what you want to happen

If worrying is praying for what you don't want, remember to pray for what you DO want. If you have trouble separating what you WANT from what you DON'T want, I have an exercise on this blog to help you. Check out "Believe in What You Want" and trying the writing exercise on the blog.

I have a list of daily affirmation that I repeat every morning first thing when I get up and every evening before I go to bed. It makes a world of difference.

Still stuck? Here are some book suggestions to get you along.

Recommended Reading:
Napoleon Hill's Think & Grow Rich (Only .99 cents on Kindle!)
Gay Hendrick's The Big Leap

Are you a worrier? How do you bring yourself back to the present and let go the worries? Any tips and tricks to share?

Happy National Running Day

2014-06-04T07:30:00.000-04:00

Some people don't know that today is a holiday. But I've had it on my calendar for MONTHS.

Today is National Running Day y'all!!!

Today is the day when you can get all sorts of runner-friendly discounts. And it's a day to celebrate WHY you run.

Get this badge here: http://basno.com/store/8020

Why do you run? I run as an act of self-love. I feel happy when I run, good about myself, and genuinely HAPPY. I run to #passlove to me!!!

There are also some great discounts today, here are my favorites:

Lorna Jane Activewear
Save 20% on Lorna Jane running shorts!! Can I get a what what?!?!

Rock 'n Roll Races
If you want to do a Rock 'n Roll race, today is the best day to sign up! You can save upwards of $20 today when you register. Visit http://runrocknroll.competitor.com/ for more info.

Women's Running Series
Ditto for these races! Save up to $20 when you register! Visit http://womensrunning.competitor.com/womens-running-series for more info.

Women's Running Magazine
Subscription for a year for $10. Details here.

What am I missing? What other great sales and discounts are happening today? Will you sign up for a race for National Running Day? Let me know, below!

Keeping Endurance Runs Toxin-Free with Vega Sport

2014-06-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

I try to eat as clean as possible.

Yet, whenever I do a long endurance race, I find myself having to rely upon products that contain lots of ingredients I can't pronounce. And I feel like I don't have a choice. When you're on mile 10 running and suddenly feel drained, sometimes you need that pick me up. And you use whatever you can.

When I was invited to sample Vega Sport for free in return for an honest review, I jumped at the chance to try their endurance gels. I wanted to find a healthier energy gel alternative and I have loved past Vega products.

The Vega motto: #FuelYourBetter. Their products: Plant based. No corn-syrup or Maltodextrin.

Here's the ingredients in the raspberry endurance gel:

Okay, so I pretty much know what all of that is. I did need to google sorghum malt. (which is a gluten-free yeast nutrition substance, commonly found in gluten-free beers and syrups. Also, sorghum is a cereal crop and primarily grown in the United States.)

Now...my review! How did all that plant based energy work together to #fuelyourbetter on my run?

The Good:

Ingredients
Raspberry Flavor
It worked!!! I felt greater energy and speed. And no stomach cramping occurred. Always a win!

The Different:

Very different texture than most endurance gels, you will find that it is more grainy and heavier. Made it a bit harder to have while moving; I found I needed to slow down to consume it.

The Bad:

The pouch is a lot bigger than normal endurance gels I carry. It was hard to fit in my spibelt and made it hard to keep all the other stuff (including my inhaler, cell phone, etc.) that I like to have with me when I race or run long distances.
The pouch was also bigger so you have to CONSUME more to get the benefits. Just took more time than normal.

The Verdict:

Unless I really can't fit the gels in my belt, I would SO much rather sacrifice space and take a little longer to have an endurance gel that is not full of fake crap. I love my body and I want to #fuelyourbetter. I don't want to be adding toxins on my runs. I want to give my body some love, even during the hardest race!! I will definitely be using Vega Endurance Gels in the future. I love my body and my body is worthy of being fed the good stuff, not the cheap/fake stuff.

Vega really did FUEL MY BETTER and helped my runs be longer and faster without any tummy cramping! That's a miracle unto itself. Plus, my mouth didn't feel super sugary afterwards or gross from all the fake stuff often found in gels. I will definitely use Vega gels regularly on my long training runs.

Check out the website and wide range of products at fuelyourbetter.com.

What's your favorite gel for races and long training runs?

Love is total acceptance of what is

2014-05-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

Today, I read a quote that rocked my world.

"Love has no opposite. Love is total acceptance of what is." - Mastin Kipp

This really blew my mind.

I love unconditionally. But I have always said the opposite of love is fear.

Now Mastin says that there IS no opposite of love.

And boy did that ring true.

The opposite of love is denying what is really happening. It is fantasy. It is living in the future. Living the past. Living anywhere but here.

Be honest. Be open.

Embrace the now. Embrace the truth. Embrace the you, your family, your friends, your partner, the world.

Love IS what is.

Be that love.

Have a fantastic Friday y'all! Remember to #PassLove this weekend! <3 <3 <3

How to Handle Resistance (aka FEAR)

2014-05-29T06:00:00.000-04:00

I am a resister!

It's true, I have a resistance problem. When things make me uncomfortable (which usually means I am AFRAID of them or AFRAID of the uncertainty that they bring), I try to avoid them at all costs.

Things I love to avoid/Used to love to avoid:

Phone calls (I am scared of the phone)
Up Escalators/Heights
Vulnerability
Talking about money/bills/financial planning
Vacuuming & cleaning my home
Getting out of my comfort zone
Singing in public (despite being a good singer)
Inversions
Back-bends
Pauses/Silence
Going with the flow
Praying out loud
Expressing feelings of anger, love, disappointment, sorrow, contentment, my desires, asking for what I want
Taking a stand-->saying yes and saying no
Going after my dreams and believing in my self worth
And those are just a FEW
Getting up early to work-out/do yoga/go for run
Eating healthy

Sometimes, resistance is something that can be SOLVED easily without deep emotional examination. For example, someday I am going to hire a maid to clean my toilets. ;) Usually, however, resistance comes because things make us uncomfortable and are the VERY things we need to grow, thrive, and live our best version of our life.

Resistance is really us being uncomfortable. And that uncomfortable-ness usually is equal to FEAR. We FEAR growth, change, failure, success, and happiness.

I like to undermine my self-worth. Sometimes, I resist something or expressing something because I am afraid I am NOT WORTHY of having so much happiness, joy, love, etc. But I am!! I am afraid to express my needs, go after my dreams, take care of myself, dig deep, because I worry that I could actually succeed--and escaping my comfort zone for something awesome seems petrifying. But guess what? We are all worthy of love, joy, abundance, and awesomeness. We can push through resistance and find our limitlessness.

Also, I resist things that I worry could go badly. I could land on my head in an inversion, I could hurt my neck in a back-bend, if I express my feelings or desires someone could tell me "no." And so I resist change, resist expression, resist the truth out of a fear of the unknown. A fear of rejection. A fear of success. A fear of failure. But really, just a fear of UNCERTAINTY. If I AVOID things, I think I am safe. I am in control. I can't get HURT.

But the reality is, in resisting uncertainty--yes we may think we are protecting ourselves from hurt, but really we are hurting ourselves more than we could ever imagine. We are putting a stopper on our capacity for happiness.

The best things in life come from taking risks. From diving into uncertainty. From living in the unknown.

We need to grow, to be uncomfortable, to challenge ourselves, to go THROUGH resistance and discover what is on the other side.

The only way to learn to live with resistance and accept uncertainty is to decide that you will continue DESPITE the fear, the wish to resist, the horrible awkward and uncomfortable feelings. Because even though you feel uncomfortable, scared, anxious, you do the thing that makes you uncomfortable anyway.

And guess what? Once you do it? Once you embrace the resistance? Embrace uncertainty? Allow yourself to feel uncomfortable?

You find something totally new. That emotion passes. The resistance fades.

And you may just find something extraordinary.

So the next time you find yourself resisting. You find yourself holding back. You let FEAR of uncertainty stop you. Take a deep breath. And then go through the resistance. Dive INTO the resistance. Feel uncomfortable. Take a chance. Open your heart. Discover the life of your dreams....That you may never have been able to imagine before.

Uncertainty is life. Breathe it in.

Experience the magic that comes.

"Resistance is a sign that you are growing, or headed towards growth." - Mastin Kipp

"It's your right to act upon your thoughts, do what makes you happy and push through resistance. Fear can overcome you, indeed. But not today, not because they said you couldn't, not because you might fail - NO - but because your happiness demands it of you! This is your time to live, to create, to be something greater than your fear. This is your time to come alive, because you must!" - Mastin Kipp

"You will always have sensation [fear]. But the game is to stay with it – otherwise you will go in your head – and that will be bad news. And if you stay with the sensation and start to increase your tolerance for some vibration, nothing will stop you again." - Josh Pais

"The darkness has to rise to the surface in order to leave and make room for the light. Remember, though, there's no way through resistance other than taking action....Action mutes the resistance." - Kate Northrup

Help! I have an Upper-Limit Problem!

2014-05-28T06:33:00.000-04:00

Help!

I have an Upper Limit Problem.

What is an Upper Limit Problem, you may ask?

Gay Hendricks discusses this problem in his book: The Big Leap.

An Upper Limit Problem is basically a self-imposed ceiling on our happiness. When we get to a certain level of awesomeness we subconsciously sabotage our own joy. This Upper Limit prevents us from truly enjoying our full capacity for happiness, success, love, joy, and abundance.

Examples of an Upper-Limit Problem from my life:

Car Accidents
Getting sick on the day of that big job interview, presentation, yoga workshop
Letting fear get in the way of a really awesome relationship and creating insecurities where none exist, so that I can prevent myself from really just being happy and present and enjoying said relationships
As you get close to your race/improve your yoga practice/etc., getting yourself injured from an over-use or careless injury
Spilling a glass of water or coffee all over your computer because you are frantic about something you have to do or overly excited
Avoiding Issues (ie not returning phone calls, texts, not having important discussions, not showing up)
Losing things/Carelessness (ie losing gift cards, being careless with money, forgetting big events, etc.)
Deflection--ie saying "oh this dress is great, but I got it on sale." Or "oh this old thing? It's so old..can you tell that I spilled coffee on it once?" Deflecting praise, compliments, or success.

Basically, an UPPER LIMIT PROBLEM is when you let the RESISTANCE and FEAR get the best of you. You convince yourself that you aren't WORTHY of being so happy, awesome, in love, wealthy, whatever, and so you SELF-SABOTAGE your joy.

When we reach a level of success, growth, happiness in one area of our lives, we subconsciously butcher another part of our lives. We decide that we aren't worthy for so much success, love, wealth, whatever it may be, and so we try to force ourselves back down to where we were before.

I have an UPPER LIMIT problem and it is stopping NOW. You are all welcome to join me on this joy train.

You can break the Upper Limit cycle. You can expand your ceiling and limit for happiness. Because you deserve UNLIMITED joy, love, abundance, and just plain awesomeness. You are worthy!!

Learn to celebrate yourself. Learn to enjoy the success, the happiness, the love. Let go your insecurities and nagging fears. When fear or doubt creeps up or you find yourself feeling UNWORTHY of so much joy or feeling like you are more comfortable being a VICTIM than the HERO of your life story, step into the light. Raise your inner-sword of awesomeness and step into the greatness that you deserve.

We are worthy. So worthy. Success is scary. Love is scary. Finding new levels of contentment is petrifying. Because it means you have to let go of all your past notions of who you think you are. You have to decide that you deserve the good things. And you have to keep plugging along, keep loving you, and remind yourself that you are AWESOME and you deserve all the good things coming your way and more.

In periods of major growth and change and excitement, create a new affirmation for YOU. Remind yourself that you deserve all the good things coming your way--and then some. And keep repeating to yourself that you DESERVE greatness, happiness, success, love, etc. Gradually increase your limit and tell others that you appreciate them and their roles in the journey. Practice mindfulness, yoga, meditation. Take a step back and relax when things get frantic.

And just remind yourself that the SKY is the limit for your happiness. You are worthy of all the joy humanly possible!!

Stretch your upper limit comfort zone and embrace the unlimited capacity for true happiness that you deserve.

What do you think?

How to heal a broken heart

2014-05-27T06:00:00.000-04:00

So I don't normally write super personal blog posts, but sometimes the only option is to write what you know.

Broken hearts are hard. It doesn't matter the age, the context, whatever. They kinda universally suck.

But there are things we can do to help us mend our broken hearts. And it gets better, I promise.

Here are FIVE WAYS you can help heal your broken heart:

1) Stay present

As tempting as that pint of Ben and Jerry's is as a way to avoid your feelings, you have to stay present. Cry if you are going to cry. Let the tears flow. If you feel angry, feel angry instead of having a glass of wine or mixed drink. If you want to hole up in your apartment alone, call your friends and get out of the house or have them over. In order to eventually have your broken heart mend, you need to fully feel everything surrounding the broken heart. It will totally suck, but it will allow you to let go of everything so that you can continue to live a full happy life.

2) Get closure & forgive

Talk to the other person in a calm and thoughtful manner. Be honest. Bring closure and avoid ambiguity. Be totally and completely truthful. Most importantly COMMUNICATE. Then... Forgive the person. Forgive yourself. And let go.

You really need to forgive both YOURSELF and forgive the OTHER PERSON if you want your heart to heal. Here is a great post on the Daily Love by Mastin Kipp on Forgiveness. I suggest you check it out if you need more help in this area.

3) Stay fit and healthy

You may not feel like going for your run, going to the gym, or going to your normal yoga class...Do it anyway. You need to eat well and stay healthy. If you know you deal by overexercising, make sure you are honest with yourself and limit your fitness. If you tend to wallow and avoid things like fitness that make you feel more in tune with your emotions, breath, and body--you need those activities more at this point. So get out the door for a run, make yourself a healthy breakfast, and continue your normal fitness regime. Be good to your body and your body will help you heal.

4) Journal

Write, write, write! I recommend 3 pages first thing every morning. Totally free-write and just get your feelings, frustrations, etc. down on paper. Then put the journal away. Do NOT re-read what you write. Just put the pen to paper and express. I do it every morning and throughout the day as needed. If you have never journaled before, journaling after a broken heart is one of the BEST ways to help heal your heart. Give it a shot. You won't regret it.

5) Remember that everything happens FOR you and not TO you

Even though we can't see the big picture when we are down in the trenches, remember that everything is happening FOR you. These events may be uncomfortable or upsetting, but everything will help make you the person you are meant to be. Trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. As unpleasant as the situation may be, it is happening to make you the best you possible and happening FOR you and to help you on your path.

BONUS: Remember that the most important person to love is YOU!

You need to love yourself the most. No one can love you like YOU can. Use your broken heart as a chance to get back in touch with the person inside. To love you more. To recognize that you are awesome. And give yourself some TLC. Because you're awesome, amazing, and WORTH IT! Love you. Always. #PassLove to you!!!

What am I missing? If you are suffering from a break-up or broken-heart and find this post does not meet your needs or require more, please send me a personal email or comment below. I can always be reached at dailysouthernsunshine (at) gmail (dot) com. I am here to help you on your journey. Mending broken hearts takes time, but loving you, being present with your feelings, communicating, staying healthy, and adopting a positive attitude can transform the attitude you have towards your broken heart. Breathe and know that you are exactly where you are meant to be. Everything will be okay.

Lots of love to you all.

xo,
Lora

So You Want to Raise Money for Your Favorite Charity

2014-05-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

How to raise money to support your race, crowdfunding campaign, school drive, etc.

In my other career, I work in fundraising. I have held all sorts of positions raising from an Annual Fund caller during College to running entire campaigns and major gift fundraising. While all these principles are different, they have the same basic desire: to raise money for a cause.

I am always asked "how can I raise more money?" by friends, fellow bloggers, coffee shop patrons, you name it. Everybody is in the business of fundraising for something. It may be the kickstarter campaign you have launched for your new start-up business or it could be that you are fundraising for a specific charity race. Or maybe you just really want to help your daughter raise money to fund costumes for her school play. The reasons for fundraising are varied, but the skill-set remains the same....

Here are FIVE WAYS you can improve your fundraising:

1. Set Realistic Goals

In professional fundraising, numbers don't just come out of thin air (no matter how you may think your college just "made up" that lofty Annual Fund goal). Careful research, time, and planning go in to each and every goal. Before you decide to fundraise for a charity or set your kickstarter amount, take a moment and do some research.

Decide:

Who you know that you can comfortably ask and what their capacity would be to give
Who you know that MAY be willing to give a participatory gift
Ways you plan to realistically raise more money and reach outside your circle
How much do you expect to bring in per month (or other date) of your time table

Goal setting seems tedious, but is mandatory! If a number is assigned to you from a charity (such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society), make sure you have the people in your network to support you before saying YES! If you are setting your own goal, make sure you pick something that is a reach but reasonable and that you know you can succeed at.

* Note most people think $ will just come from thin air and that is just not the case. The majority of gifts will come from people that you ALREADY know and do not have to discover to sell the idea to. Make sure you have an accurate gauge of the people in your circles and WHOM you plan to ask for donations from before picking a number. If you are fundraising for equipment, a theater, or something else PHYSICAL--make sure you can back up all the numbers and explain how you reached that goal. Your donors want to know WHY you ask for the amount you do and WHERE the money is going to go.

2. Get your elevator pitch down.

You need to know ALL the ins and outs of your campaign. Why are you doing it? Where is the money going? How is this something that you are passionate about? What do you want from the other person? Make it clear. Know the ins and outs before you ever approach another person.

3. Don't waste money on events

Events don't raise money. Sorry, but it's true.

If you throw events, know that they will NOT rake in the dough. They tend to be expensive. You will be lucky to make ANY money.

If you throw events, use them to MEET new people or CULTIVATE new people who will maybe donate to you. (Ever heard the term "Friendraiser?") And, if you have extra money to spend, events can be a great way to say THANK YOU to donors who have already given.

BUT WAIT you say. I have a bar that says they will give me xyz percentage of sales if I host a fundraiser there? Well, that still won't raise you money. People will buy drinks thinking they are helping you. In reality, they would give you more money if you just directly asked them for it instead of forcing them to buy something.Also, maybe the bar would be willing to donate to you directly--or another company you haven't thought about. True giving is just that--giving. It is not a percentage of sales. It is the desire to truly help someone out and consciously giving money to feel good. You want your donors to FEEL GOOD helping you and consciously understand WHY they are helping you.

Also, your time is valuable. Use it where it counts--meeting people and asking them for money. Events require a lot of man hours that you could use somewhere else. Work smarter, not harder. :)

4. In-person asks are ALWAYS the best ways to raise money

Find who you want to ask. Arrange to meet them for coffee, lunch, drink, etc. ASK them for what you want them to donate. Be direct and specific. Be open to dialogue. But be sure to ASK for what you want and have clear follow-up steps.

If you cannot meet in person, can you SKYPE or use the phone to talk one-on-one about their gifts? People ALWAYS give more money in person and when you personally ask.

Just posting on facebook and twitter is NOT enough to reach most goals. You have to get out there and ask for what you want directly. It is scary, but the results prove that direct asks WORK.

5. Believe in yourself and refuse to give up!!

You will hear NO more than you will hear YES. You may get smaller donations from people that you thought would give big. It's okay. It happens.

Get used to the nos. Just remember to KEEP ON GOING.

Believe in yourself, know that you can do it, know that your cause is worth it, and never stop asking. The more you ask, eventually someone will say YES!

Questions? How can I help you more? What do you need to know? Ask me and I will do my best to help you out!!

#ShareSomethingInspiring Twitter Challenge

2014-05-22T07:06:00.000-04:00

You all know that I looooooooove Lorna Jane Activewear. The company's mission of "Move, Nourish, Believe" is something I support 100%. Plus, they have absolutely fabulous clothes and accessories for your active lifestyle. (Don't believe me? Check out some of the AMAZING "Uniquely Lorna Jane" designs on the site. Plus, they have FREE shipping in the US and an awesome and highly responsive customer service department.) Really, I can't praise them enough.

Here I am in head-to-toe Lorna Jane at Risquerobics dance class last week:

Really, Lorna Jane is just marvelous.

And GUESS WHAT? You have a shot at winning a $500 Lorna Jane Activewear gift card! For serious.

How?

It's a TWITTER CHALLENGE! #ShareSomethingInspiring. :) Y'all got that! #ShareSomethingInspiring.

Okay, here are the rules:

1) Contest runs from today (05/22/2014) through June 21 (Saturday 06/21/2014).

2) Follow @FitApproach and @LornaJaneActive on Twitter.

3) Tweet your response to the day's challenge using hashtags #sharesomethinginspiring, #lornajane and #sweatpink

What's the purpose of all of this? GET THIS, it is to "promote good vibes and positivity to those around us." How Lora and #PassLove is that? I am beyond excited.

This "with love" tag lives inside each piece of Lorna Jane apparel. How cool! How #sharesomethinginspiring! ;-)

Want to learn more? Check out the facebook event for this challenge.

Let's bring some good into the world and give you a shot at winning a FABULOUS prize. You don't want to miss this!

And remember, Lorna Jane girls "never never never give up." See? Even their yoga mat reminds you to stay positive and keep on moving forward:

So hop on twitter and start posting, sharing blogs and your fav photos. Let's #ShareSomethingInspiring and make this world a happier place. Starting. Right. NOW!

WOOHOO y'all! :)

Are you holding yourself back from happiness?

2014-05-21T06:00:00.000-04:00

Are you holding yourself back from living the life of your dreams?

We looooovvvveeee to self-sabotage.

When we start to excel, to have good things happen in our life, we subconsciously start to freak. FEAR kicks in.

And then everything goes to hell in a handbasket.

WHY? WHY? WHY? You may ask yourself.

When really you should be going IT'S OKAY, IT'S OKAY, IT'S ALL OKAY.

You are worthy of love, abundance, success, wealth, happiness, and joy.
You are worthy of living a completely fabulous, amazing, and SUPER life.
You can have your cake and eat it, too. ;-)

You deserve excellence.

Okay, so now that we've gotten that out of the way, you can embrace your greatness.

Seriously.
Embrace.
Your.
Greatness.

When you feel the nag coming up, or fear of what happens next, or just get to worrying, know that YOU DESERVE ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS COMING AT YOU.

You are worthy of success, wealth, healthy, happiness, love, and joy!

It is scary and vulnerable to go beyond your normal capacity for happiness.

So breathe into the moment. Feel the vulnerability. Know that it is OKAY to not know what will happen next. And totally enjoy and embrace all the good things coming at you.

You are worthy of success.

Repeat!

You are worthy of success.

Can you embrace it?

Podcast with Lifestyle Accountability Show on Yoga, Running, & Healthy Living

2014-05-20T06:00:00.000-04:00

Today, I direct you to the Lifestyle Accountability Show, where you can check out a 15 minute podcast with yours truly!!!

I discuss my love for bacon and avocados (tehehe), my health journey, my June car accident, and how you can BE LOVE, SHARE LOVE, and RECEIVE LOVE every day!!

And remember--once you commit to a positive change in your life you are ALREADY a winner!!

Please check it out, share it with your friends, comment on the page, and give me your feedback! :-)

Thank you so much Adam and Devon Bate for having me!! It was such a blast talking with y'all!

http://www.lifestyleaccountability.com/lora-daily-southern-sunshine-healthy-living/

#PassLove

Yoga For Runners at Fit2Run St. Pete Thursday Night!

2014-05-19T06:44:00.000-04:00

Thursday night will be a fun night in St. Petersburg, Florida!

I am teaching a special FREE hour yoga for runners class inside of the Fit2Run St. Pete store!!

Yes, totally free!! :)

Here are the details:

When: Thursday, May 22, 2014 from 6:30 pm -7:30 pm
Where: Fit2Run St. Petersburg, 256 2nd Street North, St. Petersburg FL 33701
Cost: FREE
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/299460946888020/

Bring a friend, your yoga mat, and a smile.

Be prepared for fun, stretching, strengthening, and yoga for YOUR body. :)

Here are some photos from our last night-time yoga class at Fit2Run:

See you Thursday!

Did I mention that this is a special FREE opportunity to yoga with me? What's not to love!?!

What are you thankful for? Take a gratitude time-out!

2014-05-16T06:44:00.000-04:00

Today is a simple post.

It's Friday.

It's almost Summer.

It's the time when students get crazy at school, flowers area blooming like crazy, and it is so easy to get caught up in the frenzy of life.

But.

SLOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWNNNN!

Slow down.

For a moment.

Pause.

Take a gratitude time-out.

What's that? Read on!

In last week's post on Making Yoga A Spiritual Experience I discussed how I use the time at the end of my practice to say a silent prayer of thanks and gratitude to God.

We focus on gratitude and thankfulness around the Holidays, but we need to appreciate what we have ALL YEAR LONG.

It's time for us all to take a GRATITUDE TIME-OUT.

Right now, wherever you are, take a moment. This moment is your gratitude time-out. It can be as short as 30 seconds and as long as 5 minutes. The process is easy!

Think about everything that you are grateful for. That you value. That you love. That you posses. For your family, friends, lover, career, body, wealth, health, EVERYTHING. Take a moment of thanks. Send that thanks to God or, if you're not comfortable with that, just send your gratitude out to the Universe. But really really FEEEEEEEEL grateful for all the good things in your life. (And the not so good things, because they help us be the best version of us we can be! Remember: everything happens for a reason!)

The trick? To then remember to take a gratitude time-out every day for the rest of your life.

I do mine multiple times a day! I take a moment upon waking up every morning to express gratitude for everything I have, I say thank you when I check my bank account every day for being able to have money and comfort, I take a moment of appreciation at the end of my yoga practice, and before going to bed. And whenever I feel I need to take a moment to be thankful for all the wonderful things in my life.

It only takes a couple of seconds a day to start to appreciate all you have. Give thanks. Right now!

BONUS: Having trouble figuring out what to be thankful for? Make a list of everything that you have that you use every day, people you love, things you like about yourself, etc. Free-write this list, do not put to much stress into it. Just write whatever comes to mind. Read over it and express gratitude for each item you list. Revisit this list every day for a week. At the end of the week, see if you can't express your thanks on your own. If you still struggle, write a new list and repeat the process the following week. :)

Do you remember to be grateful for what you have every day? Do you give thanks for it?

3 Ways to Beat the Heat for Summer Running

2014-05-14T17:00:00.000-04:00

SUMMER IS (ALMOST) HERE!!!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Drip ALERT!

Sweat ALERT!

Heat ALERT!

What's a runner to do?!?

I got ya! How to practice safe sweaty summer running!
GET EXCITED! WHOOO!

Summer running, had me a blast
Summer running, happened so fast
Days grow longer; sun feels so hot
Pavement smokin'; sweat on my fa-a-ace
Summer days, melting away
To, uh oh, those rainy nights!

I don't know about where you live, but here in Florida, it's getting HOT HOT HOT!

That can make running outdoors a bit more tricksy.

There are so many tips from Northerners on dealing with winter running, but what about summer? Egads, what about HUMIDITY!?!?

You can handle it! Especially if you practice these THREE simple tips for making your sweaty run safer and happier!

Brian of Digital Running and Running Betty glisten at a summer Ragnar Relay

Here's how YOU can best prepare yourself to beat the heat and run with fun for the summer:

1. GET UP EARLY (or, Southerners, be prepared to potentially run in a downpour)

The day only gets hotter as the hours pass on. Coolest time to run is in the morning--and that may mean you need to set your alarm extra early. Good news? The sun rises earlier, so you will not have to run in the dark!

Note: In addition to the hot hot hot of afternoon, Southerners experience sudden torrential downpours. You do NOT want to get caught in an afternoon thunderstorm while running--especially during hurricane season. Run early so you don't have to take your chances with the weather! (Or risk missing out on your run entirely!)

2. WEAR A SPI-BELT, FIT BELT OR OTHER METHOD OF HOLDING YOUR STUFF

Confession: I once had my keys fly out of my built-in key pocket because my pants were so sweaty...thankfully it flew out and, most wonderful wonder of wonders... I FOUND IT ON THE GROUND. That could have been a miserable afternoon. As it was, there were still some panicky moments of retracing my run. (And I did NOT want to run it a second time!) Things get slippery when wet and, even the best running shorts, may not be able to keep pace with your speed and sweat.

When you run in heat, I recommend you keep the following in your belt: your cell phone (in a plastic baggy), your keys, some money (in case you need water or a cab), and potentially gels, etc. depending on how far you go. (You may also want a band-aid or anti-chaffing stick.) No one said fanny-packs are sexy, but fanny-packs to prevent you from getting injured, dehydrated, or having your keys go flying due to sweat--all great stuff. You never know what could happen in the heat and it is best to BE PREPARED. I have had to use everything on a summer run--including calling a friend to come get me because I got trapped in a downpour! Don't let getting stuck in a downpour happen to you. (Or any other potential summer hazards!) Carry everything you need in your super awesome glorified fanny pack. ;)

Annie keeps energized with a gel, smile, and open arms in the heat!

3. HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE

I know where ALLLLL the water fountains are on my route. I have money in my spi-belt if I need to buy water. And I am drinking up a storm BEFORE and AFTER my run. Don't let dehydration get the best of you. Drink up buttercup! (Bonus points if you also eat foods rich in water--fruits and veggies!) Depending on the race or your sweat-factor, you may also need to take a salt supplement. Evaluate your hydration levels and make the best decision for you and your body.

Reminder: if you feel thirsty, you need water. If you stop sweating, you need water. If you are getting headaches, tingly, dizzy, or show ANY other weird symptoms--stop, drop and drink some water.

BONUS:

CHECK YOUR EGO! You may feel more tired than normal. You may get annoyed that you go slower (because DUH if it is 90 degrees out your body feels it.) Let go of what you know your body does in March and embrace where you are on your run RIGHT NOW! Every summer run will feel different and you need to be open to that experience. Love the pace you're at, love the sweat...and make your summer running a part of summer loving! Loving who, you ask? Why LOVING YOU!!! :D <3

What are your top tips to keep the miles going in the summer?

#PassLove: Celebrating My Teacher Ashley Halley

2014-05-13T06:00:00.000-04:00

Our teachers help make us who we are.

Today, I celebrate one of my favorite yoga teachers: Ashley Halley.

Ashley teaches yoga at Yogani Studios in Tampa, as well as offers TRX training at her home and Powerhouse Gym in Tampa.

Ashley is awesome.

Practicing with side plank with Ashley!

Ashley mixes body awareness, challenging poses, and alignment with motivation, love, laughter, and fun. Yoga doesn't always have to be serious--Ashley lets us know it's okay to have FUN while we MOVE. (And yes--if she asks a question in class, she seriously wants you to answer!)

I especially love Wednesdays with Ashely. Ashley calls the class her "home" group--and it does feel like home. The class has a steady group of regular yogis and the energy we feel in the room is amazing.

Last week, we practiced in a circle and embraced fluid flow of yoga. You know I love alignment (and Ashley does too!) but there was an amazing flow in our class. My breath connected to my body. I didn't toss alignment out the window--I just learned how to let go of my brain and listen to my body.

Ashley is good at reminding us to listen to our body. Our bodies are smart. They know what feels good and what doesn't. We just like to get our brains and our egos in the way. We know what our body needs and doesn't need, so long as we can tune in to our true selves. In the safety of the circle, Ashely allowed the Wednesday night group to tune in to US in complete and utter safety. Everyone was in the class together; no one was judging or looking around. We all were having our personal practice on the mat but, our heartbeats, our breath, our bravery united us together. It was breathtaking. Moreover, the fluidity allowed me to more deeply access poses and even find better alignment in "hard" poses for me!!! Thank you Ashley and thank you Wednesday night class for allowing me to feel comfortable being vulnerable, listen to my body, and move!

Ashley recently posted the following on her blog:

"Live out loud.
Don’t hold back.
Forget about living in the confines of others lines.
Color yourself outside the lines
Blast through conformity.
Live boldly and joyfully.
Spread it like a wild fire.
Free others with your freedom.
Love self like no other.
Pollinate life around you with your spirit.
Dance like the butterflies.
Never hold back for someone else’s comfort.

And above all else LOVE all as if there is no tomorrow."

Her spirit is infectious. She lives life fully and carries out this poem and its message in all of her classes. We are all "free to be" our most authentic selves. We just have to be brave enough to try!

Thank you Ashley, for always inspiring me to be the best me I can be--on and off the yoga mat!! Your courage and strength are infectious!! I am so grateful to have you as a teacher!!!

Even if you don't live in Tampa Bay, I recommend you check out Ashley's website and follow her on social media for some great tips and inspiration:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AshleyHalleyMOVE
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ashleyhalleyoga
Blog: http://ashleyhalley.blogspot.com/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/ashleybhalley/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ashleyhalley1
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ashleybhalley/videos
Website: http://ashleyhalley.com/

#PassLove: Gemma Fountain & Risquerobics in St. Pete

2014-05-12T07:20:00.001-04:00

Insecurity.

We all feel it at some time or another. And often, that feeling of insecurity manifests itself as self-consciousness and fear. We will avoid stepping out of our comfort zone because it is easier to stay where it is "safe" and known.

Often, for women, these feelings of self-consciousness get rooted in the body. We need to love our bodies. All of our body.

And part of that self-esteem process begins with knowing that you are flirty, fun, and just plain awesome!

Several years ago I met Gemma through zumba and group fitness. Gemma's energy was infectious, her choreography better than any other zumba teacher I had met, and, more importantly, Gemma had a way of reminding you that you are just plain awesome.

Meet Gemma:

After years away, Gemma is back in Tampa Bay.

And offering her one of a kind Risquerobics.

What is Risquerobics you may ask? Literally, it is a sexy chair fitness class.

In reality, Risquerobics is so much more.

Gemma describes it as "Risquerobics isn't about doing the most advanced moves, it's about doing the moves YOU feel most confident doing and that YOU look sexiest doing."

Risquerobics is about loving you, feeling confident, and having a blast while doing it.

For Tampa Bay folks, Gemma hosts a Risquerobics TEASER class this Friday, May 16 from 6:30-7:30 pm at the Bay Medical Fitness Center on Central Avenue in St. Pete. For details and to sign-up (the class is only $10 through tomorrow--May 13!!) visit the Risquerobics website at http://risquerobics.com.

What's the deal with a teaser class? The Risquerobics course is a four-week (called FOURPLAY) class devoted to learning the choreography for one song. The full FOURPLAY class is SO MUCH FUN. I have done it twice! Gemma describes it best, "The FOURPLAY course is a BLAST. I teach a sexy dance routine to a fun and sassy song. We have so much fun. We laugh as much as we dance. I teach a variety of 'options' to the moves so that each participant can pick which one they prefer to do. Everyone in the room does their own version of the dance so they feel the most confident. At the end, you'll have one super sexy dance to perform for your audience (wink! wink!)

Friday's TEASER class gives you a hint of what the larger experience is--over the course of an hour. It's an hour you won't regret!!!!

Gemma describes the TEASER class as "an introductory class to introduce the moves, tricks and philosophy of Risquerobics but we don't just dance, we also have a chat. I discuss posture, confidence, self-esteem, mental attitude and more. The TEASER class can be a life changing event. It's not surprising for people to be moved to tears in a TEASER class as they let walls fall down inside them. I pretty much cry in every TEASER class :)"

But they are good tears, I promise you!

Risquerobics is not for you if:

you are a man (it's ladies only!)
if you are afraid to conquer your fear
you don't like having fun
if you don't want to be a more awesome lady

Even if you have never shimmied in your life, it's time to learn to shake and dance and find some confidence with Gemma. Gemma has taught Risquerobics to people as old as 79 and even people with injuries (one participant wore two leg braces!). Risquerobics is for everyone--there are modifications to fit YOU if YOU are ready to sign up.

I highly recommend Gemma's TEASER class. I will be there Friday night with bells on!

If you are ready to have fun, be sassy, and embrace your awesomeness this class is for you! (And if you can't attend, check out the Risquerobics website for future offerings!) If you live out of town, check Gemma's website for future offerings and information on hosting a class of your own.

See you Friday! As Gemma says, "This class isn't about showing off, it's about showing up and doing YOU!" I love to be ME! What better than practicing being me in a fun, safe environment with a spunky awesome teacher like Gemma?

My heels are ready.... are yours?

Making Yoga A Spiritual Experience

2014-05-09T09:33:00.003-04:00

Happy Friday y'all!

I just love Fridays in spring, don't you? Gorgeous sunshine, weekend ahead, and always a feeling that good stuff is here and, as always, more good stuff is coming.

And good stuff IS here.

Today I am featured on Passion for Life, Love, and Health! WOOHOO!

Do you wonder how I make group yoga classes a spiritual experience? I carry my spirituality into the yoga classes that I take and you can, too! It's easy! Plus, no one even has to know what you are doing! (Because, admit it, we all get self-conscious about spirituality.) Although I am a Christian, these tips work for ALL faiths.

Read my FIVE tips on making yoga a personal spiritual experience.

Check the blog post out here! Be sure to leave a comment and share the post with your friends!

Reminder, these tips can apply to persons of ALL faiths...so don't be afraid to check them out if you are not Christian! I think we all can benefit from making our yoga a spiritual experience. Read the post and join in the discussion!

Have an awesome day! #PassLove

#PassLove: Embrace Your Fear and Chase Your Dreams

2014-05-08T06:00:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, Mastin Kipp sent out an email about his Daily Love course and pursuing your dreams.

It hit at just the right time.

Mastin wrote "It’s time to have the courage to act, even though you are afraid, to know that your dreams won’t kill you and to embrace the awesome uncertainty of taking risks."

Going after your dreams is scary and the moments right before a massive change are the moments of our greatest fear.

But guess what?

We can conquer our fear.

How?

By embracing our fear.

Change is uncomfortable, icky, awkward, confusing, and can be downright petrifying.

But usually the uncomfortableness and scariness is a sign you are heading in the right direction.

So today I ask you--what makes you scared? What are you most fearful of?

Can you do me a favor, and begin to chase after that dream? You can make your dream a reality by being brave, embracing the fear, and diving into uncertainty.

I am doing that...RIGHT NOW.

Will you join me?

"You will always be scared right before major shifts in your life. But, that is just the way it is for all of us. You will see that after you take the leap, all will fall into place. Think about how many times this has already happened in the past – it will continue."- Mastin Kipp

PSSST Mastin's Daily Love course is really awesome and, if you want more gems like this, I recommend checking it out. You can enroll here.

Want to start yoga? Not sure where to start? Lora's Beginner's Yoga Guide

2014-05-07T08:21:00.001-04:00

Want to start yoga? Not sure where to help?

I can help you!

Today, I am a guest blogger over on Fit Not Fad!

Hope on over to Fit Not Fad and learn THREE TIPS to help beginner's take up yoga!

Read it for yourself, share it with your roommate who just refuses to try yoga, or email it to your co-worker who you KNOW would feel so much happier with some yoga.

Let Paige and I know your comments, questions, and feedback!

Remember, hop on over to Fit Not Fad for my Beginner's Yoga Guide! :)

Thank you Paige for having me!!

#PassLove: Give Back for Give Day Tampa Bay

2014-05-06T06:07:00.000-04:00

Give Day Tampa Bay.

Today is a day to celebrating giving back.

And giving locally to causes we care about.

As Jocelyn Carpenter said to me in a blog post from April 6, "Often what stops people from giving is the idea that what they have to give won’t make a difference. We can’t all be Bill Gates, but we can all do something." We can all do something.

Today is about doing that something.

Today is a day to #PassLove, give and support causes we care about.

Every amount makes a difference.

And when you add all our amounts together?

It can be a big difference.

I just donated to the Exalted Warrior Foundation and my friend Nick's #yogabeard campaign.

If you are looking for a cause to support today, I highly recommend the Exalted Warrior Foundation. Based in Tampa Bay, the Exalted Warrior Foundation provides free adaptive yoga classes to veterans around the United States, including Walter Reed Army Medical Center in DC, Tampa's James A Haley Veteran's Hospital, in Brooklyn, St. Petersburg, Florida, Virginia Beach, and at Annie's own yoga studio--Yogani--in Tampa, Florida

Nick's #yogabeard campaign is a fundraising initiative for the Exalted Warrior Foundation. The Exalted Warrior Foundation and yoga changed Nick's life. I would paraphrase, but recommend reading the previous blog article to see Nick's full story. Nicholas Caris aims to show his gratitude to the Exalted Warrior Foundation's yoga classes while simultaneously raising awareness and vital funds for this cause. This campaign will continue from now through the end of December. Nick hopes to raise $100,000 for the Exalted Warrior Foundation and it would be amazing if we could give him a boost for Give Day Tampa Bay.

Nick in Warrior 2

To give to Exalted Warrior Foundation, you can visit the main website, visit my link as a part of Nick's campaign (pretty please!! I have a ways to go to get to my $1000 goal!), or give via the Give Day Tampa Bay website.

If you have questions or would like to learn more about the Exalted Warrior Foundation and the #yogabeard, please visit the following links:

My Donation Page for the Year of the Beard: https://secure.qgiv.com/hobnob/account/57056
The Exalted Warrior Foundation: http://www.exaltedwarrior.com/
General Fundraising Page for #YogaBeard: https://secure.qgiv.com/hobnob/event/30344
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YogaBeard/
Twitter: @n_caris (Nicholas Caris's twitter page); @ExaltedWarriorF (Exalted Warrior Foundation)
#YogaBeard

Let's #PassLove and pass along whatever we can today. Join the movement. Because your gift DOES make a difference.

#PassLove: MyYogaWorks

2014-05-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

A little over five years ago, I completed my 200 hour yoga certification through Yoga Works.

What a life changing experience!

Here is a photo from our last day of YTT, hard to believe it's been over five years!

When a friend asked me on where she could find yoga videos that would cover TWO topics, including Pre-Wedding and Yoga for Runners, I wasn't sure where to direct her. I assumed I would have to write up a list by going through my favorite yoga for runner videos by Sage Rountree, while trying to find stress-release yoga AND yoga for pre-wedding toning. Although I love online yoga videos, I wasn't relishing the thought of having to look through so many different options and watch video after video to get a good list for my friend. I was prepared to do it.

And then. I remembered Yoga Works. They've expanded. It's not just in studios any more. Yoga Works has gone online!

Disclosure: I received a free six month trial of MyYogaWorks in return for my honest opinion in this blog.

Yoga Works has now expanded online to offer what is called MyYogaWorks--which is an online collection of yoga classes to do on the road, at home, or in the great outdoors.

Coincidentally, My Yoga Works has "journey series" including one for brides, detox, and one for runners. Sweet! I found what she needed ALL in one place...

Moreover, I knew I could recommend the website. I took over a handful of courses right off the bat to be sure, even though I was familiar with many of the West Coast Yoga Works teachers from my own Yoga Works Teacher training. (Names travel through the yoga grapevine!)

MyYogaWorks provides alignment based yoga, quality teachers, and easy to access classes. Highly recommend! I feel confident that students will be taught poses in a clear and safe manner. When you practice at home without a teacher, safety is key for me.

These classes are safe, clearly sequenced, and have clear instruction on the postures. You won't be confused as to what you should be doing and, as a result, you will be able to quickly feel the benefit of the classes!

BONUS: YogaWorks has a 28 day spring yoga challenge. You don't have to start with the group, you can hop on at any time and start the challenge on your own. It's designed to build your home practice and is filled with short classes that are powerfully sequenced. I highly recommend checking it out. There's no excuse, the first week is FREE!

Want to sign up? On the fence? How about I make it easy for you. I have a coupon code for your first month for only $5! That's way cheaper than the cost of the average drop-in yoga class. Activate the code "Blogger14" to receive your first month for only $5. Sign up here!

Let me know what you think? Want class suggestions? Ask away and I will send you my favorites! :)

How to take care of your active life when you have a cold

2014-05-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

It happens. Spring allergies attack. Or, even worse, you get a spring or summer cold.

What to do?

It's beautiful out. You want to be outside.

You live an active life. Regular physical activity. Healthy eating. Social activities, too.

But you get sick. You can't do any of your normal things. Oh no!

What to do?

Here's three things to remember when you have a cold:

1. EAT HEALTHY

When we are sick it can be soooo tempting to have a brownie for dinner, macaroni and cheese for lunch, and forget to eat breakfast. BUT the most important thing to do when you are ill is to continue to eat healthy. I had a cold and no appetite but, at suggestions from fellow 21 day reset members, found that eggs and smoothies went down well. Healthy and filling. And much better than canned chicken noodle soup for my health. I also forced myself to drink extra water and naturally decaffeinated tea.

2. STAY HOME

It is so tempting to still go into work, to head to the gym, to take your favorite yoga class. But don't. PLEASE STAY HOME. Keep your germs at home. Your body is sick. Let it rest. This does NOT mean that you cannot have some movement in your day. Go for a slow walk, do some restorative yoga at your house, and let your body heal.

Here I am in Legs Up the Wall, a great restorative yoga pose to do when you are feeling ill

3. GET ENOUGH SLEEP

You would think this one would go without saying when you are sick, but somehow many of us miss the all important rest. We "doze" watching television, we try to keep up with our normal routines, and we have fitful sleep due to coughing, stuffy noses, etc. Really make sure that you rest. Eat dinner earlier and go to bed earlier. Your body needs extra healing to get better. Give it the sleep it so wants; you will wake up happier when you do!

What did I miss? What do you struggle to remember to do when you are battling a cold? Do you go to the office when you are sick, even though you need to rest? Do you still hit up your spin class or cough through yoga class? Do you have a suggestion on how to get over a cold faster! Tell me in the comments below!