Fit Chick in the City » Yoga

A Good Class

Jess — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:58:31 +0000

This past Sunday, I took a yoga class at a yoga studio for the first time in months. I usually practice yoga at home for free. For a few weeks now I’d been craving a guided yoga flow with a community of people breathing and moving together so I indulged in a $25 class. Let’s just say that I wish I could have a refund.

The studio felt like a commercial gym not a yoga studio. I had been to this “yoga gym” a few times before but wanted to give it another chance. Boy, did I regret it. Instead of complaining about the class even more, I decided to give you guys my list of 10 things you should expect from your group class instructor.

I’ll admit that I set the bar pretty high and expect a lot out of my classes. Its especially true because part of my normal job is hiring and evaluating instructors.

10 Things you should expect from your group class instructors:

1. Class should start and end on time.

2. Instructor should ask the class if anyone has any injuries or if its their first time in the class and introduce themselves.

3. Play appropriate music at appropriate levels.

4. Offer variations of moves, asanas, etc.

5. Never make a participant feel bad about not doing something or put pressure on them to do something that is outside their limits.

6. Explain each move with verbal cues that will improve the participant’s form or help them to utilize the correct muscle groups.

7. Don’t assume everyone knows what your talking about when you say “salabhasana” or “burpee.”

8. Don’t give participants false information. I once had a yoga instructor tell me that I couldn’t stretch my hamstring if my knee was bent.

9. Thank the class for coming.

10. The class should not be the instructors workout!!!

What specific things turn you off from returning to a group class?

And it was Goode!

Jess — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:38:53 +0000

Today might have been the best day in Napa yet. But first lets talk about VWCC. It’s continued to rain the past two mornings, so I’ve continued to workout indoors in the scary gym. Setting this challenge has been a huge motivator. I’ve been much less tempted to ditch the workout then I would other wise. Yesterday, I did 30 minutes on the elliptical and a 20 minute Power Yoga podcast from the highly popular yogadownload.com If you haven’t done one of these, you should. They offer 20 minute classes for free and longer versions of each class area available for a small fee.

Today, my workout was a failure. We didn’t head to the gym this morning, and I waited until we got back from Healdsburg to workout. I went to the gym and started to do hills on the treadmill but I stopped because I was getting a burning sensation in my arch. I moved on to my mini workout which was a success. Which means, I won’t complete my workout challenge. I still have time to make up for the total amount of time, but won’t reach the goal for 5 individual cardio sessions. Which is a teeny bit of a problem considering lunch currently includes wine.

The highlight of the day was getting to taste wine at Murphy Goode with the one and only Hardy! After sending him a tweet he was kind enough to meet us at the tasting room. What a great guy! I am so impressed with these wines. Yesterday we tasted wines at Caymus and Quintessa (another biodynamic farm) whose wines were amazing, but out of our price range. I seriously couldn’t believe that a wine as affordable as Murphy Goode could taste as good as those unaffordable ones.

We took home a bottle of Snake Eye Zinfandel and Merlot. We loved their wine so much we even signed up for their wine club. Social media works! If it hadn’t been for their contest and Hardy we probably wouldn’t have even stopped by for a tasting. If your heading to the area anytime soon stop by to meet Hardy and try these wines. It’s easy to see why they choose him to represent their wines.

Do you have a favorite affordable wine that’s your “go to” wine? I think mine is now going to be Murphy Goode!

Downward Facing Dog

Jess — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:19:06 +0000

Last night I was a text book case of how to be prepared for a morning workout. I laid out my bike clothes, pumped up my tires, set the timer on the coffee maker for 5:00 am. and went to bed early. Yet, despite all my tactics, I missed my bike ride.

Apparently, setting my alarm clock for the correct time was the biggest obstacle to today’s workout. Since my friends were already riding, I decided I would just get in a good core/strength training workout at the gym. I never seem to get in enough core and strength training, so it was meant to be.

Do you have a pet? The only thing I have is pet envy. I wish we had a doggie, but our teeny apartment just isn’t big enough. I just heard a clip from tonight’s 11 pm newscast about yoga for dogs. Would you consider taking your dog to a yoga class? If I had a dog I know I’d give it a try.

After this mornings post, I’ve gotten a few questions about how to become a group ex instructor. I’ll be writing about that soon, if you have any specific questions you want answered about teaching classes, let me know.

Have a great workout and don’t forget to double check that alarm clock!

Heart Flow

Jess — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:57:24 +0000

We’re heavy hearted and will never forget. Its a gray, cool, wet day here in NYC. It feels like the heavens are crying with our city.

I started my day with a morning yogadownload flow. I can’t think of a better way to start a day like today. Moving slowly instead of quickly. Moving with thoughts of others who are hurting today. Flowing with thoughts of gratitude and acceptance of the great life I’ve been given. Taking today to stop my mind of negative thoughts about where I want to be or where I think I should be in my life and replacing them with thoughts of loving where I am right now.

Namaste

Almost Nude Yoga and HLS

Jess — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:08:02 +0000

My morning started bright and early with a one-mile walk to catch the Bolt Bus to Boston. Since I won’t be working out today and I’ll be sitting on a bus for 4 hours, I’m happy to report that it is also a one-mile walk to the hotel from the bus depot. Thanks to directions from Hopstop, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I’ll be able to make it there without getting lost.

My biggest challenge with working out while traveling, is finding room in my bag for exercise gear. Its not that I try to take equipment with me, its just that when I’m packing light, a pair of sneakers takes up entirely too much room. Forget about it in the winter. I end up having to upgrade to the next sized bag due to all my running gear for varying different weather conditions.

Since this is just a weekend trip, I just decided to strategically plan my workouts for the week around all the traveling. May not seem important, but I really have a hard time working in long runs when I’m away from home. I love running in different places, but I’m directionally challenged. Which presents a problem. I mean who carries a map when they run?

Shhh…don’t tell anyone, but today I’ll be doing this yoga download in my hotel room despite the fact that I don’ have the necessary workout clothes. It requires nothing other than my computer, which makes it the most travel friendly workout ever! No sneakers required. No special “what if it rains” gear. No map or real planning necessary. I didn’t even pack workout clothes. No worries, I won’t be posting any photos. But perhaps I should have packed a sports bra.

What are your working gear packing secrets when traveling light?