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
I have the same issue with compartment syndrome in my left leg…it sucks and anytime I feel pain i’m supposed to stop b/c the pain leads to loss of feeling in my leg which could eventually lead to permanent damage to the nerves in my leg which = bad news bears 🙁
My favorite yoga pose is Plow…love it…I have back problems and it always feels so good on my lower back
it’s frustrating to be forced to take time off, but take solace in the fact that you are honoring your body! and don’t feel like a lard, we all need it sometimes.
my favorite pose is warrior – my legs are so tight – and when i’m in the practicing groove, it’s a headstand!
Shavasana- Relaxation after a practice…and, I know that I’ve done something good for myself!
OMG, what a cool giveaway! I’ve been reading about YogaDownload from lots of bloggies (your wonderful self included), and have been meaning to try out a session.
I’m a huge fan of balance poses, it’s the quickest way to quiet my mind and get some focus in my life. I’d have to go with tree pose as my favorite … it’s the first yoga pose I remember doing well — and thinking, “holy cow, I can actually DO this!” 🙂 I admire your crow!
I would say pigeon. It feels great on my tight hips. (Haha lets hope thats not taken out of context!)
What a great giveaway! I am trying to focus more on yoga but have a newborn so I don’t have time to get to classes right. This would be perfect! Hmmm, my favorite pose is basic – warrior 2. I’m simple:-)
Why do you think it is we have such a hard time resting when injured? We know what needs to be done to heal but it’s so hard. I mean, 2 weeks isn’t an eternity. It’s a short amount of time and really no big deal, yet it’s still hard. I’m one to push through the pain too and it’s just not good.
aaa injuries are so frustrating, but you’ll get through it! I love cow face pose, it stretches my deep glute muscles like none other 🙂
pigeon. Running makes my legs so tight and pigeon always stretches them out and make me feel so great.
Loving the Parsvottonasana pose for my tight hamstrings post-run!
I love downward facing dog! It’s always such a nice stretching pose after a day at the office.
I love yogadownload.com! I actually have 2 favorites yoga poses, pigeon and double pigeon. As a runner with tight hips, these two poses really helps me. I actually discovered double pigeon on yogadownload.com! I had practiced pigeon in some classes but never double pigeon. Glorious
I haven’t done much Yoga but when I have my favorite has been Warrior.. it feels so good!
Dancer’s pose forever! I feel so great.
It’s hard to pick just one! I love pigeon, wheel, dolphin, camel…I just love them all!
such a great little giveaway! thanks for offering it 🙂 my current fave pose would be frog…it hurts so good! TWSS
the pigeon for sure!!
pigeon is my fav!
Favorite pose is pigeon. It is just so …… aaaaaaah. And thanks for the tip the other day on how to do it right!
I love warrior. When I do it right, I can certainly feel more muscles.
Oh, I know how hard it is to have to take a break! It’ll be over before you know it, though. 😉
I have a love/hate relationship with camel pose during Bikram Yoga. I hate how dizzy it can sometimes make me, but I LOVE the way it clears my sinuses for the rest of the day! Ahhh!
I agree with so many others….pigeon! It’s the BEST!
Hi Gina!
Thanks for posting about taking a break when injured. I officaly started training for triathlon yesterday BUT was having some pain in my shoulder. I decided to take today off from weight lifting and swimming. I was feeling a little guilty since right now my arm feels okay but thanks to your post I know this is the right thing to do.
My favorite yoga pose is warrior 2. I don’t know why but I just feel beautiful and strong when I do it! I love yogadownload.com!
(not entering)
I just had to say… I am proud of you for taking the time off that your body needs. THAT is how to treat a body right. Fill those two weeks with things you never usually have time for… reorganizing closets, painting nails, spring cleaning, making clothing donation piles, etc. The two weeks will fly by I promise!
My favorite yoga pose is the downward dog.. I think it’s so relaxing 🙂 and a great stretch!!
Great Giveaway Gina! I love Dancer! 🙂
Downward facing dog is by far my favorite!! its just sooo refreshing!! Goodluck with your knee gina!
Good decision, Gina! I love birds of paradise! 🙂
I have to pick ONE favorite pose? Well, I love the challenge and focus and balance of crow. Plus it has a cool name (bakasana, baby!).
Other favs include triangle, dancer, and tree. 🙂
Here’s to a fast recovery!
That is amazing!!
I love pigeon. So intense, but so freeing.
Corpse pose…because at the end of a tough yoga sesh, all I want to do is reeeeeelax 🙂
hmm, i think my favorite pose would be king pigeon, although admittedly since my yoga practice hasn’t been given enough attention lately i can’t go into it anymore…so in that case wheel 😉
I am new at yoga but would love to learn more! What a wonderful giveaway! My favorite pose (so far) is pigeon, it feels so good! Take good care of your knee!
I love me some downward facing dog! 🙂
I totally know how you feel. I have back issues and whenever they flare up, I have to take time off. I cannot stand taking a break from exercise but I know, in the end, that it will make me stronger!
This is such a great giveaway. My favorite pose is definitely crow’s pose b/c it’s super challenging for me.
Your crow looks amazing! My fav pose is either tree or eagle, would love to get better with my balance anf flexibility. Thanks!
I’m glad to hear you are going to treat your body right and give it a rest! I hope to read that you are back in action soon! As for yoga, I have not had the pleasure of learning a favorite pose yet. Maybe using the podcasts will get me there!
I love dancer and pigeon….dancer makes me feel so strong, and pigeon stretches my sore hips! Yogadownload.com is the best…..I’ve tried classes, but it’s so much easier to download the sessions and do them at home! My favorite is the 30 minute hip opener 🙂
Pigeon feels great after a run and downward facing dog is just relaxing!
Thanks for this post Gina! I just ran a marathon this weekend and have been having knee trouble for awhile, but I still can’t imagine taking so much time off from cardio to let it heal. But it really is important and if I want to run another marathon, I have to let my knee get better!
My favorite pose is probably pigeon!
I so hope your knee feels better soon! I am trying to rest a slight hip injury myself, and know how hard it is to take time off. Hate it! But, you are right that it is better to let it be a short-term thing than a long-term thing.
My favorite yoga pose is forearm stand, or pincha mayurasana. I’m working on it now and get a little bit better every time. I’m not there yet, but I will be!
Triangle! Love how it stretches and tones your body…
Downward dog.
I’m still a beginner, and this pose just feels sooo good.
My favorite yoga pose is dancer!!! I think it looks so graceful 🙂
I am pretty new to yoga, I only have taken a few classes. I think that my favorite pose is downward dog, it always feels like such a great stretch too!
My favorite pose is child’s pose…I love the pull of all my muscles and the feeling of being completely relaxed at the same time.
Ooooh!
I’m fairly new to yoga, but I LOVE Tree pose. Makes me feel so strong, powerful and tall as I reach into the sky and squeeze the glutes. When I come out of it, I always feel pumped and ready to move on!
Though a good other pose that I *always* love – is a good cobbler pose held for a looongggg time. I come out of that one thinking I’ve got new muscles.
I just always find, in every video/class I’ve done, they never hold them for long enough for me!
I have never done yoga. Maybe it is time to start.
Hope your knee behaves itself and heals up soon! My favorite pose is Warrior 1, it makes me feel so strong and powerful, don’t know why, it’s not that difficult of a pose but I love it just the same!