Van Mommy on the Run....in HEELS!: Namaste!

This year has been about finding balance in my life. Getting active has made such a positive impact on my life in so many ways. My health has improved, my energy levels are elevated allowing me to keep up with my kids, and I am just so much more happy!! All of this has helped me to keep a positive outlook on life. I also feel more confident and that has enabled me to be a risk-taker.

Today the hubby and I attended our first Yoga class. If you are familiar with the Lululemon Athletica Company, they have a free Yoga class every Sunday at 8:45. Each week a different Yogi leads you through 75 minutes of Yoga. Space is limited and many attend so come early to reserve a space. Yoga mats are available if you don't have one.

For info go here:
Lululemon Athletica Ala Moana's Face Book Page
Lululemon Atheltica Website

We've been training very hard for our Marathon in December. The last three Sundays my Long Slow Distance Runs have been 15 miles, 16 miles, and 17 miles so I decided today was a good day to give the old body a little break and try something different.

Like the crazies that we are we started our day meeting a friend of our's for an early morning run. We planned to do an easy 6 miles running the Front route of our Marathon. We've run the back end many times and are trying to run as much of the course as we can as often as we can so that we can be mentally tough for the race. I wasn't sure how my body would react to run + yoga so I wanted to keep the distance short and the pace easy. We ended up having to run around the 2nd floor of Ala Moana to make the 6 miles. We finished with enough time to be able to change into our Yoga clothes and eat some GU Chomps for energy.

Nice and Easy Pace

Running Outfit, Lululemon Chase me Tank and Speed Shorts

We got to Lulu early and stood in line with the other Yogis. A chatty woman behind us engaged us in conversation and probably made the hubby very nervous as she talked about all the "regulars" to Lulu's Sunday classes. Our other friend joined us and it was a bit of a relief to know someone else. When the doors opened the crowd rushed into the store, we grabbed some mats and headed to what we hoped would be a good spot (and it was).

Yoga Outfit: Run Chase me Tank and my beloved Ziggy Flare Wonder Under Crops!

As we sat on our mats waiting for instruction hubby admitted to being totally intimidated and I laughed. I was totally shocked that he wanted to come to Yoga in the first place. After all, he's a man's man, rather bulky, not flexible, and a football player!! I wasn't sure what he even knew Yoga to be. But I wasn't going to knock his open-mindedness so I didn't act shocked or say anything when he said he was going to come.

The instructor had a soothing voice with the neatest accent. I was calmed immediately and felt no apprehension what-so-ever. I think the confidence has come from my running. I had come such a long way in the last two years that the though of failing and making an ass out of myself at Yoga was not scary at all!!! And so I lept into the fire with vigor and did the poses to the best of my ability with my limited yoga knowledge. Much of the poses and movements were reminiscent from my many years in dance class and the stretching came back to me. We went through many Downward Dogs, planks, side planks, and warrior poses. My body was able to keep up with the poses and only faltered a little on the side planks but that didn't phase me since the gal to the right of me's arm was shaking violently as well.

After 75 minutes of Yoga I felt refreshed, re-charged, happy, and peaceful. Hubby, my friend and I walked across to Blue Hawaii Lifestyle and had an acai bowl.

Post Yoga: Cooling down with my Lululemon Long Sleeve Swiftly Tee

Blue Hawaii's Acai Bowls. Soo delish!!!

It was a fabulous morning and I am so glad that the events of this year has made me become someone who is not afraid to try new things. I think I am hooked and need to find ways to be able to make the time to incorporate more Yoga into my life. I cannot explain exactly what it was that made such an impact on me but it was something slightly different than the high I get from running. I will definitely need to explore it more.

After our busy morning we got the kids and took them to see the Blue Angels at the Air Show. Yoga definitely made it's mark. Here's my tree pose at the Air Field!!