My first BODYPUMP class + SD acupuncture experience

Hi guys! How’s the day been? Hope you’ve had a wonderful morning so far!

My MIL is in town this week. We’ve absolutely loved getting to spend time with her and show her around San Diego. Livi has been her little tour guide, holding her hand and describing the sights. 

First stop: Tiki Port!

Acai w pb

We also went to Mission last night for some adventures, which was a blast as usual. It’s become one of our favorite places to walk around and enjoy the fresh ocean air. (“Fresh air” = a giant plate of ceviche with a margarita.)

At mission

Teaching has been going well this week, and included a first-time teaching experience: BODYPUMP. I taught it! I’m still alive haha. My director wanted me to practice a class before filming my video (to see how my hand held up), and needless to say, I was nervous. This weekend, I marked it a few times to drill the choreography into my brain -it’s a lot to learn- and thankfully, it went well. It definitely wasn’t perfect, but nowhere near as disastrous as my first Zumba teaching experience many years ago. (Confession: I didn’t even have my whole class finished for my first Zumba class. I figured I could “wing” a couple of songs. Don’t ever do that, especially your first time teaching and the nerves are in high gear. It was a hot mess.)

Even though I needed to modify a couple of things, I feel stronger and ready to film/submit. It was also a lot of fun to have Lindsey’s smiling face out there 🙂 (thanks for coming, Lindsey!)

Bp stuff

Another first time experience: getting acupuncture here in San Diego!

A difficult aspect of moving so often is finding new *everything* (dentist, OB/GYN, Pediatrician, eyebrow waxer, acupuncturist, etc) in our new spot. Thankfully, I received some amazing emails from reader friends with fantastic suggestions. I have a spreadsheet with recommendations and must-do suggestions for SD that we’re slowly cranking our way through! I was especially thankful to receive an email suggesting Old Town Acupuncture. I was pretty attached to my spot in Tucson -Tucson Community Acupuncture is AMAZING- and as someone who isn’t a fan of needles in general, I was nervous to see someone new. (A random tidbit: even after we were told Livi was a boy, very early in pregnancy, my acupuncturist thought we were having a girl the entire time. Turns out he was obviously correct in his prediction.)

Acupuncture

Thankfully, Jared was fantastic. I didn’t feel the needles at all, and he spent an hour talking to me, checking out my posture, alignment, pulse, etc. He immediately made some crazy accurate descriptions about me and my personality -it was very voodooawesome- and then I got the acupuncture treatment + some moxibustion. He also gave me some trauma pills to promote healing (the Pilot sarcastically asked me if I should put them next to the snake oil) and I’m excited to go back. It feels nice to have a spot again 🙂

Acupu

We’re off on the day’s adventures! See ya later today with a mind-blowing cookie recipe.

xoxo

Gina

My first acupuncture experience

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52 Comments

  1. Erica on August 26, 2014 at 8:06 am

    AH! Glad the class went well 🙂 I bet you’re a rocking pump instructor. I know I’m a little late to the game- but love the layout. Hope you’re doing well <3 <3

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 11:09 am

      i wish we could teach sometime together! hope you’re all doing well too <3 xoxo

      • Erica on August 26, 2014 at 1:47 pm

        That would be amazing! Maybe one day 🙂

  2. Kirtley Freckleton@ The Gist of Fit on August 26, 2014 at 8:14 am

    Heeeeey!
    Super cool you did acupuncture!

    My sis in law said that was the only thing that helped her migraines. That helped me get over the weird impression I had of it haha!
    Glad you liked it!

  3. Brynn on August 26, 2014 at 8:14 am

    Congrats on body pump! I agree, finding new doctors and specialists is so difficult and even worse if you had someone you really liked before. Glad your appointment went well!

  4. Linda @ Fit Fed and Happy on August 26, 2014 at 8:18 am

    What are the requirements to become a bodypump teacher? Do you have to memorize all the routines and choreography?

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 11:08 am

      it’s a multistep process. you have to do a weekend workshop, pass the workshop, learn an entire release and film yourself teaching a live class.

  5. kristin @ W [H] A T C H on August 26, 2014 at 8:50 am

    i had accupuncture in india once and i absolutely loved it — it made my migraine disappear on the spot. i am a total believer!

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 11:07 am

      me too- i can feel the effects instantly

  6. Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed on August 26, 2014 at 8:51 am

    This post is reminding me that I really need to find a new lady doctor! My OB-GYN is almost an hour away from my house but I only go there once a year so it’s not a biggie, but in the next few years I know I’ll be needing one way closer to my house and I’d rather find one now than wait till I’m pregnant!

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 11:07 am

      that’s the boat i’m in too. i want to find a good spot but am looking for a midwife group, similar to what we did in tucson

      • joelle (on a pink typewriter) on August 26, 2014 at 4:39 pm

        I go to a great one in La Jolla! Not a midwife group, but let me know if you want the name!

        • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 5:09 pm

          i would love the name! thank you 🙂

  7. Ashley @ A Lady Goes West on August 26, 2014 at 8:52 am

    That’s great you taught your first full BODYPUMP class. I hope you do well with your video shooting!

    I’ve never done acupuncture and always been curious. Did you first seek it out for a cure to something?

    I’m off to train clients during a 13-hour day, here we go!

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 11:06 am

      thank you! i’m glad i got the practice one out of the way. i need to work on the shoulder track haha
      i first started doing acupuncture when we were trying to get pregnant. my acupuncturist knew i was pregnant before i did! i’m been using it on and off ever since then for different things

  8. April on August 26, 2014 at 9:35 am

    Awesome on finding a new AP! I don’t know what i would do if i moved away from mine, i am attached:)

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 11:05 am

      that’s how i felt, too! very thankful i found an awesome one

  9. Amanda on August 26, 2014 at 9:46 am

    I’ve never done acupuncture, probably just because I don’t fully understand its use (or if people only go retroactively if something is bothering them).

    Good luck filming!

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 11:05 am

      it can go either way. if you’re generally healthy, my practitioner said it’s ok to go for “tune-ups” every now and again. if you’re working towards healing something specific, it’s better to go on a regular basis. for my nerve damage, i’ll be going every week for about 6 weeks. after that, i might go once a month or so
      thank you!

  10. Ash Bear on August 26, 2014 at 9:56 am

    Have you done a dedicated post about your acupuncture experience before? I’m interested in trying again over here but curious the benefits you see, how often you visit, etc.

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 11:04 am

      no, but i certainly could! i’m a huge fan

  11. Megan @ Piece of Kake on August 26, 2014 at 10:01 am

    Body Pump was the first workout class I ever took when I was in High School and joined a gym for the first time. I didn’t know much about working out and I loved it! I would go each week with all the mom’s and made lot’s of friends. NOw 10 years later I am still working out! 🙂

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 11:03 am

      that is so awesome!

  12. Britt@MyOwnBalance on August 26, 2014 at 10:05 am

    Yay! Congrats on Bodypump! I remember teaching some of my first classes way way back when and I would get so nervous. Glad it went well!

  13. Lindsay on August 26, 2014 at 10:14 am

    Wonderful to meet you! You were a natural. See you in cycling or a bodypump soon!

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 11:02 am

      thank you again for being there and for your awesome energy! 🙂 see you at the gym soon! xoxo

  14. Jacquelyn @justjacq on August 26, 2014 at 10:33 am

    I’d really love to try acupuncture. Living near Philly I’m sure there are a lot of great places, but I don’t know anyone who has gotten it done and it’s something I’m nervous about doing without a recommendation.

  15. Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious on August 26, 2014 at 10:45 am

    Congrats on the first class! What a coincidence you talked about acupuncture. I’ve been wanting to try it, but scared to death. What specifically has it helped you with?

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 11:01 am

      it’s helped me with so many things: general wellbeing, my cycles, anxiety, before i got pregnant, while i was pregnant, to kickstart the labor party, and now with my nerve damage in my thumb

  16. Emmy on August 26, 2014 at 10:51 am

    As someone studying Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, I think it’s great that you’re an advocate and have had positive experiences with it!

    Just gotta say though, your practitioner (who sounds awesome!) was able to make such accurate statements about your personality based on observation. It’s not voodoo, it takes years of training and practice to hone keen interpretive skills of the clinical markers we look for. Using such terms (as well as “snake oil”) just sets us back, and doesn’t help others view acu as legitimate complimentary healing modality.

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 11:00 am

      apologies for that. as you can tell, i’m a huge fan and advocate of acupuncture! it’s helped me in many ways. my new practitioner is amazing, and even he joked around calling it “voodoo” while he was assessing me. i didn’t mean it seriously. the pilot always jokes around with me about the unique things i do for my health, but he supports it and me 🙂

  17. Alex @ True Femme on August 26, 2014 at 11:06 am

    I’ve moved a few times myself and I agree that it’s always really hard to find new doctors/specialists/studios/etc. I’m glad you found a nice acupuncturist and had a good experience! I actually just started acupuncture up again last week for my anxiety and I’m so looking forward to my appointment tomorrow! I’ve never tried Bodypump and I’m a little frightened to! (I feel like I say that a lot here!) I want to branch out more with fitness but I find it really hard to!

  18. Erin @ Her Heartland Soul on August 26, 2014 at 11:19 am

    I really want to try acupuncture but am a little nervous! Have you noticed if it’s helped you in any specific way? Like is it just a mental relaxation or body as well? I’m so curious! haha

  19. RachelG on August 26, 2014 at 11:36 am

    Congrats on the class and *swooning* for Tiki Port. 🙂 I have never had accupuncture even though I have had an Accupressure massage that included my shoulders, back, and primarily my feet. It is insane what pressing on one spot of your foot will do to a completely other body part!

  20. Domi @ Eat, Pray, Lift on August 26, 2014 at 3:08 pm

    Congrats on BodyPump! Must be so exciting 🙂

    Your acupuncture stories always sound so relaxing and omm-y. The only experience I have “with” acupuncture is back right after I graduated from high school…walked into the kitchen one evening and found my mom and dad sitting at the table – Mom’s got her head on the table with pins sticking out of her earlobe and Dad’s squinting at instructions on the DIY acupuncture kit he bought to try to help her with her migraines. Weirdest sight ever! And kinda traumatizing haha…

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 6:28 pm

      hahaha!! no way!!! i don’t think i would trust anyone to do DIY acupuncture on me hahaha

  21. Lauren @ The Bikini Experiment on August 26, 2014 at 3:13 pm

    That’s great that the class went well! Love the pilot’s comment about the snake oil. Too funny. 🙂

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 5:11 pm

      he cracks me up 🙂

  22. Kelsey on August 26, 2014 at 3:17 pm

    I am DYING of anticipation for a mind-blowing cookie recipe. Yes, please.

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 5:11 pm

      on the wayyyyyy 🙂

  23. Jessica on August 26, 2014 at 3:22 pm

    Awesome! You have been very helpful to me, the newcomer to Tucson, to find all of the awesome things! I love the chiro and I have been going to Session yoga – LOVE IT. Soooo who did your eyebrows here????

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 4:36 pm

      Kylin at spirit salon! She is INCREDIBLE 🙂 happy you’ve liked the other suggestions too! Xo

  24. Emily @ Glitz Glam Gluten-Free on August 26, 2014 at 3:22 pm

    Ohh this is making me want to find a new acupuncturist! I went a year ago for a little while but ended up feeling worse afterwards and didn’t love the experience. But I know how awesome acupuncture can be so I think I need to give it another shot!

  25. Jamie on August 26, 2014 at 3:45 pm

    I am scared to take Bodypump! Go girl! I am thinking about getting certified in PiYo… I’ve never done group instruction before! EEK!

  26. Alexis on August 26, 2014 at 3:47 pm

    Do you use tricare standard, and if so, does it cover acupuncture?? I’ve been wanting to try it out but I just assumed tricare doesn’t cover it (since they didn’t chiropractic). Would be awesome to hear they do!

  27. Blake on August 26, 2014 at 4:34 pm

    I must try Tiki Port!! That breakfast looks amazballs!!

    Congrats on Bodypump too!

  28. joelle (on a pink typewriter) on August 26, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    When do you teach next? I want to come to one of your pump classes!

    P.s. let me know if you need a good hair stylist recommendation- i LOVE the girl I go to here (and I think that’s one of the hardest to find!).

    • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 5:09 pm

      i teach almost every day (not fri or sun as of now). text me and let me know when you want to come!!

      • Fitnessista on August 26, 2014 at 5:09 pm

        and yes please on the hair rec 🙂

  29. Giselle on August 26, 2014 at 5:06 pm

    Love acupuncture but haven’t been in so long! I recently started seeing a naturopath for my fertility issues but if I don’t get any answers from him I’m going straight to acupuncture! I used to take Bodypump all the time but they don’t offer it at my gym now. It was always a fun class 🙂

  30. Tara | Treble in the Kitchen on August 27, 2014 at 9:49 am

    I remember filming and getting ready for my Bodypump certification video…nerves are definitely high!! Good luck with the filming 🙂 You will totally rock it!

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