Month: July 2016

Consistently Inconsistent

I’m not going to lie, I have been consistenly inconsistent with my yoga practice in the last 6 weeks. S. and I moved counties, and becoming a surfer and starting a running regiment again has depleted my body. Not to mention, still working full time.

This past weekend after a 4 mile run and a 2 hour surf session, I decided to push myself to a yoga class. As I walked into the studio, my shoulders ached, my hips hurt, and my wrist was bothering me. I can completely say that I had no expectation whatsoever in this class. I just wanted to complete it. I even told the couple next to me if I cried because I was in pain, I was okay.

The beginning of the class was the hardest. My body was screaming in stiffness, and I just had to remember to breathe through it. As we started the Vinyasa Flow, my body started to ease up a bit. Yet again, I seriously had no expectation in this class. I usually walk into class with a certain confidence and eagerness to practice, but today, I knew that this was a day to heal my body and restore it.

About 3/4 through the class, the instructor told us it was time to practice handstand. I shrugged it off because of my shoulder tightness but I was willing to try it. She placed us at the wall and I walked my legs up to create the 90 degree angle she was looking for. I lifted one leg, thinking to myself, my leg is never going to go straight. My hamstrings are way too tight and my shoulders can’t support me.

To my surprise, my leg was actually straight up. The instructor told me to use my core to get my other leg off the wall, but I just didn’t have enough strength. So close!

The lesson here was if you truly have no expectations, maybe you will surprise yourself. Readers, has anything like this ever happened to you?

~Namaste

Scrappy Yogi

Playtime on the Beach: Yoga Edition

Since being introduced to practicing yoga on the beach about a month ago, I have definitely fallen in love with going to the ocean everyday. Whether it is running by the beach, surfing, or practicing yoga, I make time out of my day to just go see what the ocean has to offer.

This morning was Sunday morning beach yoga. I got my “mat” all ready, which is just an area in the sand, and just watched the ocean. There was a lot of activity out in the Pacific Ocean. There were people kayaking , and fishing boats and the occasional Sea Otter.

When we started to practice yoga, the instructor stated that this was a different experience than in the studio, and it was essentially “playtime”. The class was definitely challenging, having to balance on one foot in the sand is different than in the studio, but overall rewarding.

The phrase of “playtime” stuck with me the whole day. Maybe that’s why I’m so drawn to the beach. It’s a place where I completely shut off my mind. I don’t have a cell phone, computer or tablet when I’m on the beach. It’s a place where I can fully recharge.

Readers, I would love to know your specific place where you recharge.

~Namaste

Scrappy Yogi

Liv Rio Sportswear and a Scrappy Offer Code

Readers, since you follow my blog, you know that I adore yoga clothes. The other week when I was blogging for The Morgan Hill Yoga Festival, I came upon a new yoga clothing line called Liv Rio Sportswear.

What initially drew me to the vendor was their 3D pants (see below).

www.Snap-Shoppe.com

When I started talking to the owners, they informed me that their pants are made with the highest quality Brazilian Lycra. Their pants won’t pill and are definitely not see through. So, I decided to try their signature 3D pant and their Super Dry Fit 3/4 pant.

The first pant I tried was the 3D pant and I immediately fell in love. I wore this pant to a mixed flow yoga class. The fabric held up great and they didn’t slip when I was practicing. The next day, I tried the Super Dry Fit 3/4 pant to a sweaty flow class. I usually wear capris or shorts to hot vinyasa flow classes, but I decided to give this pant a try. I was completely amazing it held up to it’s name! I was literally dripping with sweat the whole class and the pants dried.

Now, for the ultimate test, the washing test. I washed this yoga pants regularly and they held up great! The colors didn’t fade and the lyric stayed in tact. Readers, I love these pants so much that the Liv Rio Sportswear company is offering you 30% off of your first purchase. Just type in Code: Scrappy30. Let me know how you like them!

~Namaste

Scrappy Yogi

Yoga, Running, Crossfit, Tennis, Mountain Biking, Pilates, Personal Training, Surfing…and a Dream

Featured image is of Limited Edition Lokai Shark Week Bracelet

I am a complete goal oriented or competition oriented person, but I have always struggled with finding a workout or sport that I could stick with for a long time. Most of the time, I would move around sports or workouts regiments because I needed to make a life choice.

When I was little I was active in terms of mountain biking, roller blading, jump rope or Skip It, but I was never inclined to do a team sport. When I found tennis at around the age of 12, mainly because my grandmother played the sport, I was in love because it was finally something I could play on my own. I had dreams of being the best Tennis player, watched all the Tennis sporting events, but those dreams were short lived when I entered high school and found theater instead, and I had to make a choice between the two.

I watched an interesting documentary on Netflix called “Fittest on Earth”. It’s about the Reebok Crossfit Games and how hard these individuals work to get there. While I watched this documentary in utter amazement of what these individuals could do, I couldn’t help remember my journey through Crossfit. When I started working out, I remember that feeling of I wanted to be the best Crossfitter ever! I had that drive to win every workout as well. But this love for Crossfit was also short lived.  It literally lasted six months, and I was unhappy with my physique, so I went back to more cardio and yoga.

Just recently, I was practicing yoga and I couldn’t hold up my arms in Warrior II. Now, this is not normal for me whatsoever. My shoulders were achy, tired and my body was worn out. I had the same thoughts in my head like I did when I was younger: I’m going to have to make a choice between Yoga and Surfing. The yoga instructor saw how I was struggling with my shoulders, and she decided to put us in a Criss-Cross pose, which felt amazing for tight shoulders.

While I was lying there, I thought, I don’t have to choose between yoga and surfing. I just have to accept the fact that some yoga practices are going to be harder because of surfing and vice versa. I’m not practicing or training for a competition, I practice yoga and surf because it releases stress and brings balance to my life.

Readers, I would love to know what sports and workout regiments you have gone through in your life?

Namaste

~Scrappy Yogi

Ocean Waves and Yogi Surfing

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My first surfboard arrived yesterday. I was giddy with excitement and amazed with the beauty of the board. This is going to be the surfboard where I really learn the art of surfing. I had the same excitement when I bought my first yoga mat years ago. That mat will always hold a special place in my heard because it’s where I became a “yogi”.

This morning was my first adventure with my new surfboard. When my fiance and I ran into the water and I got onto the new board, I immediately tipped to the left. Then I started to panic and tipped to the right, placing my feet into the water, which is a big mistake. I was incredibly unbalanced and didn’t know what to do. I had a similar experience with my first ever yoga class. I was middle of class and I couldn’t get into Tree Pose without falling over. I would tip to the right or the left and completely fall. I took a minute to myself on my new surfboard, and thought,” What do I do in yoga when I’m unbalanced?  What do I do in Tree Pose to ground downward? I engage my core, look forward and breathe through it.”

I composed myself and started to breathe. It was then that I finally gained control of the board. It was the first time I was able to tell myself that I can do this. I started to paddle around the ocean and I even caught a wave, which was exhilarating and mind blowing at the same time. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the breath or my yoga training.

I wouldn’t label myself a “surfer” yet, but I definitely feel like a “yogi” surfing in the water.

Readers, I would love to know if you label yourself in yoga or any other sport? What constitutes a label for you?

~Namaste

Scrappy Yogi