running body pump and yoga

Tuesday, I read my bible study, James 3:1-18, on taming the tongue. Something, I and probably many other people need to work on.

Yesterday, my husband and I got into an argument. How ironic when I read the bible study the night before. I was a lot more careful about choosing my words but I have a lot of room to grow. I had a really bad headache and was probably a bit grumpier than normal. It started out as a small disagreement, I was unhappy about a few things and needed to tell him how I felt. Quickly, it escalated and turned into a BIG argument.

After the kids went to bed, I went for a run. I was planning on running anyways but now was more reason to go running. I was planning on a short run, 3 mile or so but ended up running close to 5 miles! So much healthier to handle my emotions through exercise than through eating. I was still angry when I got home and so I went to bed.

Anyone who knows me, I have a hard time letting things go once they bother me. I usually have to have the last word and or prove my point. It's probably not my best characteristic. Naturally, going to bed angry means I am going to wake up angry and not get "over it" until a solution is found and an apology is made. I got up this morning, angry made the kids breakfast (and the husband too although I didn't talk to him) and got Mariyn off to school and Amelia and I off to the gym.

I did bodypump today. Still angry I had a difficult time concentrating but an easy time lifting the weights. I ended up bumping up my squat weights by 10 lbs. Now I'm squatting with 50lbs. The most of anyone I've seen in the class, other than one amazingly strong instructor. I've been wanting to bump my squat weight up for a while so I thought this would be a good opportunity to do so. My body feels worn out, tired and sore. I didn't take my anger out on food today either.

Tonight, I went and did a yoga class. It was a much needed stress reliever and stretch. I could hear my hips and bones popping in the posses. Some of them hurt a little, others felt so good I could fall asleep. Even the ones that hurt were the feel good kind of hurt, the kind you feel when you know tension is leaving the body.

Something amazing happened in yoga. We were doing a pose in which we held our calf with both hands. For the first time, I can remember in my life my hands actually wrap around my entire calf! I was amazed I had to tell my friend. Even though you don't really socialize in yoga! Opps! ha ha

I really enjoyed yoga tonight. It was exactly what I needed. I train so much and so hard that my body can really take a beating. I know I need to incorporate more yoga/stretching in to my routine. It might not be the biggest calorie burner but flexibility and balance (key elements of yoga) are a big part of being fit and healthy.

Rich and I worked out our disagreement. All is good. We have an exciting opportunity we're investing in. I'm not allowed to speak of just yet but I think it's God's way of providing for us. It's stressful, especially because I am not good at keeping secrets and this opportunity has the potential of changing our lives. I'm excited, nervous and thankful all at the same time.

Yoga

I've always thought that certain things are just for skinny people. Yoga for instance, seems like the type of exercise only long, limber, thin people should do. You know the ideal ballerina type. Anyone else would just stand out like a beached whale or sore thumb. Especially a short curvy person like myself. A few of the regulars at the gym have been doing yoga for a while. They have it twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday nights, right after Zumba. I've kinda sized up the ladies that stick around a time or two. To my surprise they were not all ballerina's. Not all their movements even seemed graceful. After seeing this, I decided that someday I would give Yoga a shot. Hey, why not, I've embarrassed myself before and lived through humiliation. I'm sure Yoga can't be any worse. Plus, it's at 6:30 a time that I sometimes go to the gym with Rich. I figured he can work out and sometimes, I could get my yoga on.

This morning, I got up and put in my 2 hours at the gym body pump and cycle. I didn't lift as heavy of weights as I normally do because I'm not feeling 100% after the accident. I feel ok, slightly weak and a little stiff/sore. I don't want to stop going to the gym because I feel like exercise is helping work the stiffness out. Plus, I want to keep up on my routine, no excuses right?

Tonight I did it, I braved Yoga. It seemed to really help with the stiffness and pain I was feeling. My body feels so relaxed. But don't let me fool you, some of those movements were hard! Even the ones that looked fairly easy, caused strain. My body really needed a good stretch, so I figured tonight was as good as any. Rich worked out while I braved Yoga. It was amazing looking around thin women, big women, old and young all gracefully stretching. I was able to tell, who was probably a regular and even the big women could be as flexible as the thin women.... AMAZING I tell you. Let me tell you... Yoga is no joke! I felt like I targeted some hard to tone muscles and strengthened my core. I thought I was just going in for a little rest and stretch. The class was far better than I expected and was much needed!