Single Girl Snippet: Personal Training

My gym pass included a free personal training session.

Excerpt from conversation between me (M) and my personal trainer (P):

P: So what exactly do you want?
M: You mean like goals for this program?
P: Yes.
M: Well, better overall fitness. And, I'd like to lose ten pounds.
P: What?! You don't have ten pounds to lose. You have the body of a marathoner.
M: Uh, thanks, that's nice of you to say.

About five minutes later...

P: So, would you want to run a marathon?
M: Maybe. It's something I've considered. I've done half-marathons before, but not a whole one. A lot of my friends are marathoners, so sometimes I think it would be fun to join them.
P: Totally. You know, if you lost ten pounds and trained hard, you could do a marathon.

At-Home Workouts

After realizing I was spending as much time commuting to/from the gym as I was exercising, I decided to cancel my gym membership. The plan is to workout mostly from home, and then hopefully convert the time savings into more sleep and meditation time.

The components of my at-home fitness routine will include:

1. Bodyweight workouts
I found some interesting workout plans online. One is a "Boot Camp" style workout that looks interesting (link here)

Click here for link to boot camp workout.

2. Yoga
Yoga practice at home was previously discussed here. My favourite style is Sivananda. A typical Sivananda class lasts 90-120 minutes. Each class will include breathing exercises (pranayama), sun salutations, and a specific sequence of 12 postures (asanas). I'm hoping to get through the sequence a couple times/week on my own at home.

Sivananda Sequence

 3. Running
I'm trying to run 4 days/week. Two of these days, I join the free practice sessions at the Running Room. If I manage to stick with it, I'll sign up for a half marathon clinic that runs through the winter.

Ok, so there we go. I put it out there, so now I am accountable. I hope I stick with it and discover more sleep, a better body, and my inner zen.

Wish me luck!

Running

Exercise is a key component of self-care. This is the story of how I became a runner.

Growing up, I was not exactly the most athletic kid. Throwing, catching, hitting a ball – not my thing. I didn’t fare much better in gymnastics; I still can’t do a cartwheel. I failed the last level of swimming lessons I was registered in… twice. My parents were very supportive of me trying various sports, but alas, no hidden talent emerged. I hated gym class because it showcased my lack of coordination and speed. The last time I played volleyball, which was in 9^th grade, I distinctly remember a player of the opposite team yelling at me to “just get the ball OVER the net!!!”

I joined a gym toward the end of high school. This worked out well because you don’t need lightning-fast reflexes to lift weights. I eventually tried an aerobics class, which, remarkably, was not a total disaster. And then, one summer in college, I decided that someday I would run a half marathon. The idea of becoming a runner felt like the craziest concept I could dream up. Becoming an astrophysicist seemed much more plausible (and, to be frank, probably was). Initially, I persisted more out of sheer stubbornness than any real enjoyment. I liked the idea of being a runner. And, many of my friends at school ran. I didn’t want to be left out when we all discussed routes and times over lunch at the cafeteria.

Gradually, running went from being a painful chore to something more like a moving meditation. I finally understood what people meant by the “runner’s high,” or feeling like they could “run forever.” Slowly, I built my mileage up to distances that had previously seemed utterly insane. The first time I ran ten kilometres, I was by myself at the univeristy track in the evening. I remember digging deep to continue putting one foot in front of the other, telling myself I could complete just one more loop. Finishing ten kilometres felt like conquering the world. I was walking on clouds for weeks. Now, ten kilometres is a casual Sunday run. In recent years, I have completed three half-marathons and a number of 10K and 5K races. Most races, I tend to finish somewhere in the middle of the pack.

The biggest gift running has given me, beyond a more robust cardiovascular system, is the realization that so much of what we accomplish and how we see ourselves is a choice. There are so many things that make me think, “Oh, I couldn’t possibly…” or “That is SO not me…” Spontaneous dancing in public, putting together a well-accessorized outfit, and public speaking all quickly come to mind. Over the course of the upcoming year, I plan to challenge these and many other assumptions I have about myself. Running topped the list for a long time,. Now, it brings such richness to my life. Who knows what else there is out there for me if I just stay open to trying new things.

Yoga on the Cheap



David Swenson - my yoga hero.

Yoga and I have enjoyed an on again, off again relationship for the last 15 years. Getting divorced seemed like as good a season as any to get reacquainted with this old friend. The biggest barrier to attending classes regularly, for me, is cost. The yoga studio down the street, for example, charges $17 for a 90-minute drop-in session. You can get a bit of a discount with bulk passes, but it's still upwards of $12/class unless you sign up for a monthly unlimited membership. I had thought of splurging and doing just that, but when I crunched the numbers, I realized that the $90/mt price tag is just too steep for my budget.

So, I went on a quest to find yoga on the cheap. These are my finds:

1. Special new student offers

Many yoga studios will offer a significant discount on your first class. Others offer an inexpensive rate for your first week or month. The studio down the street for me has a $20 for 1 week unlimited yoga package. I recently took advantage of this offer, and managed to fit in 5 hatha yoga classes, 1 yoga nidra class, and 1 meditation class.

2. Passport to Prana

Passport to Prana (~$30, depending on your city) allows you to access one trial yoga class at numerous studios across the city. It's a great way to try out many new studios without needing to make a big financial commitment. The passport expires one year after purchase.

3. Check out your local gym

Many mainstream gyms (e.g. GoodLife, YMCA) offer yoga classes as part of their regular membership package. Often, the monthly gym fees are about half of what you would pay for membership at a yoga studio.



4. Community centres

Yoga is quite popular right now, and the demand means more and more community centres are offering affordable classes for the general public.

5. Yoga DVD’s

Yoga DVD’s can be a nice way to fit in an at-home workout at a convenient time. For a little variety, check out your local library's collection. My favourite yoga DVD is David Swenson’s Ashtanga Primary Series (completing the entire series is on my bucket list).

A word of caution: The primary concern with yoga videos is that the absence of a teacher can lead to potentially injurious posturing. If you are a beginner, it is worth signing up for an introductory class to learn the basics.

6. MyYogaOnline.com

Two-week free trial advertised here. Members can stream unlimited classes while in the comfort of their living room. What I love about this idea is that it fits in very nicely with my chaotic work schedule. I haven't tried it yet, but a close friend subscribed a while back and just adores the program.

7. Richard Hittleman's Yoga: 28 DayExercise Plan

I bought my copy about fifteen years ago when I was a high school student who couldn’t touch her toes. For $11 and a time investment of less than 30 mins/day, it’s not a bad deal.
(And, yes, now I can touch my toes. In fact, I have become flexible to the point that people make comments while I stretch at the gym. Thank you, Mr. Hittleman.)