Yesterday morning, I had planned on an hour of yoga. I got out of bed, filled up my water glass, and sipped for a minute. Then, I climbed back under my covers and reset my alarm for 45 minutes later. [I used the other 15 to fold and put away laundry. Does anyone else hate doing that?]
Why did I blow off the morning sweat? Well, I was sore. Sore enough that on Monday, my quads were still burning while I was sitting at my desk, writing away the afternoon at work. Sore enough that I took the subway on a trip I would normally walk on Monday evening. Sore enough that I seriously considered popping some Advil on Tuesday morning. Sore. Seriously.
I happily took a day of rest on Tuesday, ready to wake up yesterday morning energized and eager to get back on the mat. Standing at my kitchen counter, I felt several muscle groups in my body still screaming, and I quickly changed my mind. My date with my mat would have to wait another day.
I no longer panic about taking extra days of rest. I’ve said before that I try hard not to equate the food I eat with the exercise I do, and that means skipping or shortening a yoga session should not affect how I go about my day.
Truthfully, I don’t think I could have developed this outlook if I hadn’t had to stop traditional cardio. Because though I often wish I didn’t, I know the calorie content of nearly every food in existence, and I also know how many calories I used to burn per mile running, on the elliptical, or on a bike. I was really good at math in school, and numbers stick in my head.
Yoga has helped me see exercise as a piece of a lifestyle, rather than a constant balance of addition and subtraction. Not only do I not have one clue how many calories I burn in a class, but I also don’t believe it matters. Yoga keeps my body going strong both on and off the mat – it forms a major part of what makes my life active, and that is far more important than counting any number. I’m no marathon runner or triathlete, so an obsession with perfecting the fuel equation just doesn’t apply.
I could go on [and often do] about how zen yoga makes me feel. But after this unintentional rest day, I’m excited to share something a bit more tangible.
The mat pictured above, along with the handy sport towel and rosin bag [to prevent slipping], is courtesy of a small company named Aurorae. I love their story: the company was founded by a cancer survivor whose life became enriched by yoga. There is no pretentiousness, no intensity in his tale – only a love for yoga and its effect on his life. He isn’t a yoga instructor or motivational guru – his products are simply meant for the basic, “everyday student.” That would be me.
Anyone who practices any form of exercise will tell you how important good equipment is. Mats that slide across the floor or flake away with every strike of a foot take a lot of joy out of a good yoga practice. So when I was given the opportunity to try out one of Aurorae’s mats, I jumped at the chance to finally enjoy a real, high-quality, yoga-specific tool.
I used it during the three classes that had me crippled earlier this week. I loved its extra-long length and heavier weight, which kept it from sliding whatsoever on the floor. It has great cushioning, and I’m a fan of the soothing pale violet color [each color is associated with a different relaxing meaning, which makes me smile]. My only complaint was that my hands slid a bit when I got very sweaty, and the rosin bag didn’t help too much. However, I laid the towel across the top of the mat, and that worked perfectly.
The generous people at Aurorae would like to extend this same gift to one of my lovely readers. I’m psyched, as I strongly believe everyone, regardless of skill level, gender, strength, or flexibility, can use a little [or a lot] yoga in their life. So, for a chance to win a mat, sport towel, and rosin bag:
- Leave a comment telling me a healthy piece of your lifestyle.
- If you’re a blogger, link back to this post for another entry [and comment to tell me you did].
- If you’re on Twitter, tweet about this post for another entry [and comment to tell me you did].
So if you’re connected through every form of social media, you can get three entries. :)
You have until midnight next Friday, March 19th to enter. I’ll randomly pick a winner on Saturday morning. Good luck!
Related posts:
I LOVE yoga. I take a yoga class every Monday night at my school and it is the PERFECT way to end my day. I’ve been amazed at how much strength I’ve gained just from practicing yoga regularly. I didn’t even need to weight lift ;)
Nicole G
This giveaway could not come at a better time! I have a month of Bikram starting in April, and I could really use a new mat (mine is from Delia’s, circa 1999. No joke.).
My healthiest decision recently (though I hate to admit it) is that the half-marathon I’ve been training for for the past 3 months probably isn’t going to happen. I need to back off and give my body a break.
1. A healthy piece of my lifestyle was learning about nutrition, and not to fear food. as someone who ate entirely nothing but meat for an ENTIRE year, it was hard for me to come to terms with adding back fruit, veggies, starch, dairy and all the sorts. however, nothing but GOODNESS has resulted…go figure right?
2. linking http://malpaz.wordpress.com/
I do yoga every night, but don’t have a mat :-(
A healthy piece of my lifestyle is eating as many fruits and veggies as I can. I love that sore feeling! YOu can feel the changes going on in your body.
Yoga is actually a healthy part of my lifestyle, as it’s a form of exercise that I actually do more for the mental than physical benefits. By that I mean I can integrate my yoga breathing and mindset to everyday (stressful) situations and handle things a bit better!
heated vinyasa yoga! i always feel refreshed, energized and happy after every class i attend.
I’m training for a half marathon and trying to incorporate more yoga. I think it will help prevent the injuries that constantly plague me.
One healthy aspect of my lifestyle includes a strong focus on walking and produce. Though I incorporate plenty of exercise at the gym, I really think that all my city walking adds up the most in keeping me fit. Not too mention, it’s the best way to absorb this stimulating city and its million different sights. As for produce, I do my best to ensure that every meal has at least one serving of fruits or veggies.
Tweeted about the giveaway!
I do yoga, which has almost cured my back problems and the majority of my diet is pure, whole, raw fruits and vegetables.
Making sure I get enough sleep, it effects everything about my day.
i would love to win this because i am incorporating exercise again and i really want to make it healthy- i think yoga could do that fo rme. Right now, I choose to eat lots of fruits and veggies which is a part of my healthy lifestyle :) I also am following my meal plan!
A healthy piece of my lifestyle is bringing the awareness that little by little I can make changes that will lead me to live much healthier since there is always room of improvement as every day is a different new day :)
I try to incorporate yoga and running in my life, but my work schedule was getting in the way of that. So my current new healthy piece of life is my new elliptical. I treated myself to it because I knew the cost was seriously outweighed by the benefit of having cardio staring at me every day! :)
One part of my healthy lifestyle involves exercising at least five days a week. Right now I’m following a plan to run a 5k in a few months, which has been a goal of mine for a while. Fun giveaway!
healthy piece of my lifestyle? the three mojitos i had last night. kidding! uhhh… my ability to drink three mojitos every once in awhile (or more often than that sometimes) and not give a damn about the caloric content of said beverages. rock!
What an amazing company!
I feel the exact same way about yoga and it’s something that has not only completely changed my body, but has helped heal me emotionally as well. I do it several times a week, in the studio and at home.
I also started training last week for a 10k to finally work some cardio into my routines. I’ve never been able to run and thought I hated it but I’m trying to stick with it this time! Of course for me that’s meant eating about twice as much, but I’m doing all that I can so that something I enjoy does my body good rather than become a detriment to my health.
I love your blog! Thanks for the giveaway!
Cool giveaway!!! One healthy choice i’ve started this month is that I’ve begun to incorporate chia seeds into my breakfasts!!!
Don’t miss out on my giveaway too. :) And guess what i’m giving away…chia seeds!!
A healthy part of my lifestyle is trying to walk as much as possible. I drive to work but once I get home (and sometimes for entire weekends), I park and try to walk everywhere — grocery store, yoga, library and walking to walk.
I always get off a bus stop earlier from my destination just to walk a little bit more than yesterday :)
=D I live pretty near school, so I take a 30min walk there and back again at every possible opportunity! ;) Not to mention, cost-saving too!
Only downside? I just graduated… XD
Louisa
I’m not sure this is considered a “healthy aspect of my lifestyle” but no matter WHAT I always make sure I get enough sleep. College students always claim they pull all nighters and have no time to sleep- but not this girl!! Even during exam week I make sure I’m in bed by midnight the latest! That way I’m ready to rock and role the next day!!
A healthy part of my lifestyle right now is making sure I drink enough water. I’m a runner, and now that it’s warming up I really can’t keep up my nothing-but-coffee routine!
My healthiest decision as of late was reaching out to my mother for help in my recovery. Things have slipped, and I want to do my yoga teacher training this summer, after I (finally) graduate college. She encouraged me to do a month of inpatient before switching to outpatient while training, which she is going to help me pay for. She’s teaching me that the training is my gift to myself of a new life.
I try to eat mostly whole foods and do yoga almost every day to keep both my body and mind nourished and healthy.
i linked back here http://sweettreatsandveganeats.blogspot.com/2010/03/say-cheeze.html
I try to spend at least 30 minutes everyday outside (unless it’s pouring rain). It calms my mind.
A healthy part of my lifestyle: Following Mr. Franklin’s advice:
“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man [woman] healthy, wealthy, and wise”.
Well, maybe not so much wealthy ;)
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