Hiatus + Yoga Lovin’
Hey everyone! Happy Tuesday 😀 Hope you’re having a good morning.
Hiatus
Ya’ll know this already if you’re a twitter friend, and it’s a giant bummer, but I’m going to take two full weeks off from cardio and leg work. My knee is still yelling at me and after a pep talk with two trainers I love and respect, we decided that this is what I need to do.
The funny thing is, at Wizzle the other night, I saw another V-town trainer (we only have a handful of trainers here and all know each other) in front of me in line. In his cart, he had frosted mini wheats, Pringles, parm cheese in a container, SODA, and other processed and junky goodies. Unintentionally, in my mind I judged a little… I thought to myself “How can you eat that stuff and then try to teach your clients to eat well and live healthy lives?”
When in reality, I’m kind of doing the same thing.
If one of my clients came up to me and said their knee was bothering them after a half marathon, the first thing I would say is: two weeks of nothing. Take this time off to let your body heal, focus on your eats and come back in full swing.
Well, I haven’t done that that.
I took it “easy” the week after the half marathon, taught Zumba last week, did full cardio on top of weights, now my knee hates me slightly more than it did last week. I turned a one-week injury into a two-week injury, which will now become a month injury as I let myself heal.
The reality check was this morning, when Ron asked me if I wanted to turn this two-week injury into a *life* injury. You don’t mess around with your knees, and once you have knee probs, they can stick with you for the long haul. He said, and I quote, “Dude, your knee is sending a signal to your brain that something isn’t right. You can either keep pushing along and make it worse or rest for two weeks and be able to get back into your routine.”
He’s right. I knew this all along and it’s time for me to actually *do it*. I’m going to miss Zumba, I’m sad that I can’t run the 10k this weekend, and I feel kind of cranky and like a lard already. It’s time for me to stop thinking I’m a superhero and let my body do it’s thang. At least I got in some awesome power yoga classes this weekend 😉
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Yoga Lovin
As ya’ll know, I love me some yoga. It helps to quiet my frantic mind, gives me a killer workout and helps me tone muscles that I’ve never seen before. When I’m not injured, you can find me in crow pose…
Or dancer
And my downward facing fun children 😀
One of my favorite ways to get some yoga in my life since we don’t have a yoga studio here, is to do podcasts from YogaDownload.com. They’re perfect for traveling and I’ve done podcasts in Cali, Gatlinburg, Atlanta and Orlando to sneak in quick and effective workouts 🙂
I usually roll with the intense power yoga classes (Power Yoga #3 and #4 are my favorites), but will take this hiatus as a chance to try meditative and restorative classes.
I’ve always purchased the yoga podcasts from YogaDownload.com with my own money, and have written about them quite a few times. There are SO many types of podcasts to choose from, printable pose guides (so you can know in advance what the class will consist of) and they now have video podcasts as well.
Well the lovely (and generous) friends at YogaDownload.com have been so kind to offer:
–ALL Fitnessistas a 30% off discount on their purchases at YogaDownload.com for the rest of March– all you have to do is enter the coupon code “Fitnessista” at checkout. This code can be used as many times as you like! SAWEET!!!!
–One very lucky Fitnessista will get a year unlimited subscription to YogaDownload.com. As many yoga downloads as you like, for an entire year, for free. How amazing is that?!?
To enter for the year subscription, all you have to do is leave a comment with what your favorite yoga pose is. Winner will be chosen tonight at midnight via pilot random number generator.
Namaste,
Gina
OMG…free yoga for a year would make my life! my fave pose is trikonasana aka triangle pose. i don’t know what it is, but i just LOVE IT!
My fav yoga pose of all time is the warrior pose. I hope your knee heals in the 2 weeks.
Omg this is an awesome giveaway! I have only ever done 1-2 podcasts before. I LOVE crow. Tne anticipation before and the satisfaction of getting it is amazing. Love it!
What a great giveaway Gina! Please do rest your knee and you’ll be back doing better than ever!! Love your crow pose! I’m still working on being able to do it. My favorite yoga poses are inversion because they’re so relaxing, or Down Dog because of the good stretch in the calves it gives me – I can never get into a calf stretch deep enough except in downward facing dog.
Oh man winning this would be heavenly, I would so be getting my ohm on. Favorite pose? Probably warrior two, I love that feeling where you can tell you are really working your legs.
I love warrior one! I feel like a Jedi and like I can kick ass!
First off kudos to you for taking the time off to let your knee heal. I always say “do you want to run/workout today or run/workout for the rest of your life.” You’ll be so happy you took the time off when you’re feeling better.
Secondly, thank you for the discount code and the super amazing giveaway! My favorite yoga pose is half moon.
Ooh, sign me up! My favorite pose is Parvritta Parsvakonasana: Revolved Extended Side Angle pose. It look me months to be able to keep my back heel fully ground while twisting and revolving my chest fully to the ceiling. I feel so graceful and calm in this pose! My other favorite pose is Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasa, again because it was a pose that took awhile to get fully. I can now put my face to my calves while fully balanced on my sitting bones and grasping my ankles. I feel so strong and beautiful in that pose. You have to simultaneously be relaxed and strong, or you’ll hurt your hamstring. I love it! (I’m an astangi, so I can always benefit from some diversity in my practice.)
Wow that would be a great prize!!
My favorite yoga pose would have to be the shoulder stand. It relaxes me everytime.
mchannell88@gmail.com
oh girlie! I so feel for you! When you love moving, its hard to sit still! But your body will definitely appreciate the hiatus. What a fun contest too! Favorite pose – Happy Baby!
Pigeon pose! Because it’s a ridiculously good hip opener.
My favorite yoga pose is child’s pose, without a doubt. After a series of powerful poses, there is something beautiful about letting the body relax and completely letting go.
What an awesome giveaway!! My fav yoga pose is warrior two. Just know that by taking this time off to heal you are taking care or your body, and it will thank you for it!
no matter how simple, my favorite will always be child…there is nothing more relaxing, nothing that completely frees my mind than when I am in child’s pose…
sorry that you’ll have to be hiatus with cardio for two weeks, but maybe is an opportunity to explore more yoga?
i love yogadownload.com, I’ve done a lot of them already but want to try new ones too! 🙂
favorite yoga pose? headstand!
I love, love, love dancer pose. It feels so good to stretch my core while also improving my balance.
I hope your knee feels better soon!
My fave pose is definitely pigeon pose. I have ridiculously tight hips, and when I started incorporating this and a few others into my post-run/training stretching I’ve eliminated several aches and pains.
Down dog or child’s pose – a tie. I love how down dog stretches my hamstrings, but child’s pose is such a great release.
Pigeon hurts so good I have IT band issues from running so this pose can bring tears but I feel so good afterwards!
What a loverly giveaway! My fave pose is crow. I’m no pro at crow, but I’m working on it 🙂
I’m glad you’re taking time off to let your body heal, even though it’s got to be tough to avoid cardio & legs.
AMAZING giveaway! My favorite yoga pose is cobra. It relieves all the tension in my back.
My favourite pose is definitely downward facing dog. I instantly feel my hamstrings loosening up!
I love the old standby downward facing dog… it completly stretches me out and makes me feel oh so strong!
my fave pose is Pigeon pose!
it might sound super lame, but any of the warrior poses are what i love to do…i just feel so powerful and strong!
i hope your hiatus helps…i’m going through knee issues right now as well, and only took a week off, but i’m pain free thus far!
Good for you for finally listening to your body. Don’t stress too much. I had to take a couple weeks off after surgery, I thought I was going to go crazy but I survived. Hang in there!
Nothing is more relaxing and stress relieving to me than Child’s Pose.
Actually, I don’t have a favorite pose. I’ve been wanting to get into yoga but haven’t been able to yet. This would be the perfect way to start!
I know how frustrating it is to take an exercise hiatus, but your body with THANK you in the end. And sounds like you got some really great advice from some really great people around you regarding your situation. Take this time to rediscover some other aspects of your life that you might not even know exist! 🙂
My favorite yoga pose (as of late) is Triangle!
What an awesome give away! I love me some shoulder stands- getting me feeties up in the air just does it for me!
teheheh my favorite is the monkey pose, because i like the split part and instead of having my hands up and back, i put them down like a monkey
my four year old digs this 😉
thank you Gina, hope your knee gives you a break soon!
I have recurring knee problems and yoga has been my savior the past year when i wasn’t allowed to run for 2 months after my knee injury in a marathon(!!!!)
Good for you! You’re obviously making the right choice here…it can be SO hard to take a break when you need one, but as you said, it can be a two week problem or a lfie problem. I really respect your decision!
Your dancer looks so professional!
Yes, please take it easy. My one-week knee injury gradually turned into a five-year one (and counting) because I kept pushing it. Please don’t be me. Still, once it’s starting to feel somewhat OK, it’s a good idea to do exercises to strengthen your quads, hamstrings, glutes, and hips. That’s the first thing you’d do in physical therapy and it can help a bad knee so much. Just don’t go overboard and mind your form so you don’t do more damage.
I love YogaDownload! How nice of them to do a discount. And what an amazing giveaway!!! wow!
My favorite pose is pigeon…oh my hips need it. It worked wonders with my IT band when I was training for my marathon.
I hope your knee heels quickly. I know how hard it is to take time off. 🙁
Sorry you have to take a few weeks off. I’d have a tough time doing it as well, I’d need to be told. But, they’re right, better than a lifetime injury.
Take care girl!
Hi Gina! I have been meaning to ask you about the yoga podcasts you do, and now I’m happy to know how to go about buying one, and even happier about the discount! haha. As for yoga poses, I love backbends, so my favorites would have to be Ustrasana (camel pose) and Urdhva Dhanurasana (wheel pose). After a long, sweaty workout, though, I love the serenity of Savasana.
Hi Gina! My favorite pose is probably reverse warrior. I feel all open and bendy when I do it. 🙂
I’m sorry your knee is still bothering you! I’m training for a half marathon and my right knee is acting up so I’m taking a little time off as well… I’m not happy about it, but I know it’s something I have to do in order to heal. Thanks for this post – it just reminded me that sometimes rest is the BEST thing to do!
i love opening up the hips with pigeon pose!
I love down dog pose. Helps my hamstrings relax and my shoulders get sexy. 🙂
Now this is an awesome giveaway/review:D My favorite pose is pigeon for sure. Hurts so good!!
So sorry about your injury, Gina. Glad you’re taking your own and the other trainers’ advice. Hopefully after two weeks you’re good as new!
Have a great one!
This is a fantastic give-away! Thanks for the consistent informative and helpful info! I have scoliosis so balancing is really difficult for me – so I really like the challenge and the feel of the Tree Pose!
Thanks for all the info! I hope your break from excercise heals your knee and flies by for you!
I don’t need the yoga subscription, but WOW your ‘crow’ is super impressive!
My favorite is super basic – but I love cobbler’s pose!
this would be awesome!!! i love half-pigeon, it makes my hips feel so good!
My favorite yoga pose is half-pigeon. Full pigeon doesn’t feel as nice for my hips, my half is absolute bliss. 🙂
My favorite is definitely pigeon pose. Feels so good after a run!
Pigeon pose all the way! This is an AMAZING giveaway, Gina!! I’ve only done their free 20 minute downloads and would love to get to do the longer sessions 🙂
GREAT GIVEAWAY!!! My favorite has to be warrior. <3
As a competitive swimmer who swam thru injuries and now has them for life, in fact my swimming career was cut short, I wish I had taken a break too. You can’t imagine what it is like to look back just knowing that you could have done something so simple and effective to ward off something that has impacted your life so deeply. Ok enough sads. Full Boat Pose! I could hang out all day in boat pose. My other yoga skills may be seriously lacking but I excel at boat pose for some reason.
I’m lame, but my favorite pose is downward facing dog. It stretches my legs out very well and everytime I am in yoga, this pose gets easier for me! I’m still new to yog and have only been doing it a few months – so I’m sure my mind might change one day about my favorite pose!
Bueno,Gina! Just wanted to say I love your blog and your bfast cookie. It’s been a while since I’ve had it but I think I’ll have it tomorrow morning…. whoa,your Crow and Dancer are amazing! I love Dancer too, but my fav is probably the Cobra. Soooo relaxing and the perfect thing after a rocking work out.
Any tips for a young yoga newbie? I don’t have any money of my own so I can’t really buy a yoga download. Are there any good sites that offer it for free?
most of the 20 minute sessions on yogadownload.com are FREE. check it out!