Hiatus + Yoga Lovin’

Hey everyone! Happy Tuesday ๐Ÿ˜€ Hope youโ€™re having a good morning.

buddha2

Hiatus

Yaโ€™ll know this already if youโ€™re a twitter friend, and itโ€™s a giant bummer, but Iโ€™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 littleโ€ฆ I thought to myself โ€œHow can you eat that stuff and then try to teach your clients to eat well and live healthy lives?โ€

When in reality, Iโ€™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 havenโ€™t done that that.

I took it โ€œeasyโ€ 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 donโ€™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, โ€œDude, your knee is sending a signal to your brain that something isnโ€™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.โ€

Heโ€™s right. I knew this all along and itโ€™s time for me to actually *do it*. Iโ€™m going to miss Zumba, Iโ€™m sad that I canโ€™t run the 10k this weekend, and I feel kind of cranky and like a lard already. Itโ€™s time for me to stop thinking Iโ€™m a superhero and let my body do itโ€™s thang. At least I got in some awesome power yoga classes this weekend ๐Ÿ˜‰

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Yoga Lovin

As yaโ€™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 Iโ€™ve never seen before. When Iโ€™m not injured, you can find me in crow poseโ€ฆ

crow

Or dancer

yogaaaaa

And my downward facing fun children ๐Ÿ˜€

yoga

One of my favorite ways to get some yoga in my life since we donโ€™t have a yoga studio here, is to do podcasts from YogaDownload.com. Theyโ€™re perfect for traveling and Iโ€™ve done podcasts in Cali, Gatlinburg, Atlanta and Orlando to sneak in quick and effective workouts ๐Ÿ™‚

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.

Iโ€™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 โ€œFitnessistaโ€ 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

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455 Comments

  1. kristi (sweetcheeks) on March 23, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    I love me some downward dog!



  2. SumiLove on March 23, 2010 at 5:09 pm

    Definitely butterfly. Love that stretch!



  3. Leighanne on March 23, 2010 at 5:10 pm

    So hard to choose… downward dog!!



  4. Lee on March 23, 2010 at 5:16 pm

    I love dancer pose because it makes me feel graceful (which I truly am not).



  5. AJ on March 23, 2010 at 5:23 pm

    Childs pose. ITs awesome after a tough workout to just stretch out your back and let your body chill and take in what its just done ๐Ÿ™‚



  6. Joie on March 23, 2010 at 5:28 pm

    I LOVE tree pose! It makes me feel super balanced and calm. I even do it in the kitchen when I cook dinner!



  7. yolande on March 23, 2010 at 5:32 pm

    Hi Gina!! …first off props to you for taking the 2 weeks of no cardio off, I had to do it myself as I injured my self the same weekend you did snowboarding, its no fun but as you know its worth it in the end! ๐Ÿ™‚ Like you, I get cranky if I dont get my sweat on for the day LOL

    I am new to the yoga world but am beginning to fall in LOVE with it, as I love the way it makes me feel afterwards, and stretches me in positions I didnt no I even went. I have been a cardio junkie for years now, but yoga is coming at me feel swing… so I have to say my fav position is down ward dog! id love to have the giveaway because it would allow me to open the doors of yoga a little bit more , and help me become a yoga pro like you haha ๐Ÿ™‚ cheers !



  8. Juli on March 23, 2010 at 5:38 pm

    This is rediculous- but I LOVE Savasana- it’s the only time in my life I am ever to have a still mind. I also love how all the poses build up to that. SWOON ๐Ÿ™‚

    PS where do you get your Mung Bean Pasta?



    • Fitnessista on March 23, 2010 at 5:52 pm

      i love savasana too ๐Ÿ™‚
      it’s from the health food store



  9. KB on March 23, 2010 at 5:38 pm

    My favourite is the tree pose. That is when I can hold it.
    I love your blog just started reading a few weeks ago. I’m learning a lot. Thank you.



    • Fitnessista on March 23, 2010 at 5:52 pm

      that’s awesome- welcome to the little bloggy <3



  10. Ange on March 23, 2010 at 5:44 pm

    My fave pose is birds of paradise…especially after an intense bind!



  11. Andrea (Fit Healthy Fun) on March 23, 2010 at 5:47 pm

    My favorite pose is full bow – because I’m good at it!



  12. Jessica on March 23, 2010 at 5:50 pm

    it’s so hard to pick but i think pigeon pose is my favorite!



  13. bonnie on March 23, 2010 at 5:51 pm

    Mine is the tree pose. Great giveaway!



  14. Katie on March 23, 2010 at 6:08 pm

    What a great giveaway! Thank you for the opportunity! I commute to NYC each day and it is so hard to get to a yoga class! This would really help and may just help me relax from the city craziness all day!



  15. Gina G on March 23, 2010 at 6:13 pm

    im very sorry to hear about your hiatus Gina, way to treat your body right though by letting it heal, it will definetly thank you!

    i know it is not a challenging pose, but i love child pose!
    thankyou!



  16. Christine on March 23, 2010 at 6:23 pm

    piegon is my favorite! I store so much tension in my hips, so it’s usually painful at first, but it really forces me to calm down and quiet my mind.

    On another note, I know that it’s not easy for you to take time off, but as someone who struggled with an injury for 2 years because I didn’t rest appropriately, REST you will be glad that you did!!

    Thanks again for your posts- I really enjoy them!



  17. Monika on March 23, 2010 at 6:24 pm

    Downward Dog because I need the strechhhhhhhhh!



  18. Valentina on March 23, 2010 at 6:26 pm

    I would have to say child’s pose for the sheer relaxation factor.



  19. Kady @ Livin, Lovin, Learnin on March 23, 2010 at 6:45 pm

    My fav pose is probably upward dog. I love the stretch in my abs and back!



  20. MagPieKnits on March 23, 2010 at 6:49 pm

    I love happy baby after lots of back work.



  21. Shari on March 23, 2010 at 6:58 pm

    I like warrior pose. Not challenging, but it makes me feel strong and powerful!



  22. Carly on March 23, 2010 at 7:03 pm

    I love Warrior pose because of the sense of power that comes with it, but Cobra always feels so great too!



  23. melissa on March 23, 2010 at 7:06 pm

    funny, i just started using yoga download on the 5th. i got the free 20 min. downloads. i couldnt exactly say which pose is my favorite. i cant match up the names with the poses yet. just starting to return to a healthy diet from 6 years of eating crap and a moderate workout chasing 3 kids. i hope i win!
    p.s. i love your balance, eating raw and not beating yourself up when you have a little yummy badness.



  24. Julia on March 23, 2010 at 7:11 pm

    favorite yoga pose depends on what body part needs the most TLC, but I would have to say either child’s pose or warrior three cause its challenging!



  25. Rachel on March 23, 2010 at 7:18 pm

    I love tree pose and wheel!



  26. julie on March 23, 2010 at 7:18 pm

    hmm fav yoga pose? ummm i think tree! i think full wheel because it reminds me of when i was in gymnastics way back in the day and could do backbends haha



  27. Cara on March 23, 2010 at 7:34 pm

    Childs pose!!! no matter what kind of a day I have had this one ALWAYS brings me back around.



  28. MarathonVal on March 23, 2010 at 7:39 pm

    I LOVE crane/crow since I finally was able to do it a few months ago for the first time. (Sometimes I hear it called crow, sometimes crane… not sure what the proper name is???)



  29. Sarah R on March 23, 2010 at 7:44 pm

    I’m kind of a yoga rookie, but I’d have to say downward dog–burns so good!



  30. Diane on March 23, 2010 at 7:44 pm

    I loveee child’s pose. I have slight scoliosis so it’s a great way to stretch out my back!



  31. caronae on March 23, 2010 at 7:45 pm

    I love me some pigeon! And half-moon ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for doing this giveaway Gina!



  32. Christy on March 23, 2010 at 7:46 pm

    pigeon pose!! im a runner and it feels so good to stretch those muscles and ligaments!



  33. Michelle on March 23, 2010 at 7:47 pm

    Its a toss up between pigeon and crow. But recently I just can’t get enough of treading the needle and opening up my shoulders!!



  34. Freja on March 23, 2010 at 7:49 pm

    my favorite pose is by far PIGEON!! i’m a runner and it helps SO much. awesome giveaway!



  35. amy on March 23, 2010 at 7:51 pm

    My fav pose is downward dog! I work my calves a lot and it always feels so good!



  36. Nelly on March 23, 2010 at 7:54 pm

    Triangle Pose!



  37. meg on March 23, 2010 at 8:06 pm

    I am just starting yoga, but I love half moon and upward dog.



  38. Krit on March 23, 2010 at 8:07 pm

    Umm sneaking in here to say I’ve never done yoga but I’ve been dying to try it!

    I’m sorry to hear about your hiatus but your post couldn’t come at a better time for me. I did the Disney 1/2 too and even though I finished it, I was in pain the entire time (hip). I’ve taken a little hiatus from running but I’ve still been doing other cardio daily, including spinning. I told myself today that I really need to concentrate on getting better so I can start running again. Thank you for what you wrote…..I needed to hear it too ๐Ÿ˜‰



  39. Lisa on March 23, 2010 at 8:17 pm

    I don’t really do yoga often enough to have a favorite pose :-\ But I’m hoping if I win that I’ll have one ๐Ÿ™‚



  40. Katherine on March 23, 2010 at 8:19 pm

    My favorite yoga pose is …sun salutation? cat and cow? I don’t know! It’s all Greek to me and I would love the yogadownload to be introduced to a new language!



  41. Lauren24 on March 23, 2010 at 8:19 pm

    My favorite pose is Child’s Pose because I always do it at the end of my workouts (cardio or yoga or pilates) and it gives me such a sense of accomplishment!



  42. Laura on March 23, 2010 at 8:24 pm

    Down dog is my favorite, b/c when I first did it, I couldn’t see how on earth it could be a “resting pose,” but now I totally do. I love it!



  43. Beth on March 23, 2010 at 8:35 pm

    I am a big fan of headstand, even though I’m still working on finding my balance.



  44. Renee on March 23, 2010 at 8:38 pm

    Savasna~



  45. Katie on March 23, 2010 at 8:42 pm

    I love full locust pose!



  46. Carly on March 23, 2010 at 8:57 pm

    Hmm… I have just started to get into yoga. I really enjoy child’s pose after a tough yoga pose. What a great giveaway!



  47. molly b on March 23, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    Favorite? This is tough… probably pigeon!



  48. Stephanie on March 23, 2010 at 9:03 pm

    I love yogadownload, what a fantastic giveaway! I love child’s pose at the end of a long day. Relaxing and rejuvenating all in one ๐Ÿ™‚



  49. Tasha on March 23, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    Wow fantastic!! My favorite pose is the pigeon. I’m not super advanced but DANG that pose feels SO good



  50. Steph on March 23, 2010 at 9:05 pm

    Tree pose!! I feel at peace when I do this pose ๐Ÿ™‚