Painting and balancing

For yesterdayโ€™s recovery day, I took a complimentary yoga class at lululemon with my friend Ashley. When we go, we never really check who is teaching or what weโ€™re doing, because itโ€™s guaranteed to be good. I walked into class just before it started, and Ashley looked over at me and said, โ€œWeโ€™re doing acro yoga today.โ€ 

Acroyoga2

(Talking and flying at the same time = insane talent)

Itโ€™s something Iโ€™ve never tried, and I wasnโ€™t sure if itโ€™d be my cup of namaste. (Sometimes the Pilot will hoist me up into the air with his legs and โ€œflyโ€ me, but thatโ€™s the closest Iโ€™ve ever been.) Buuuuut, it was so much fun! The instructors (Chip and Laura) were amazing, and it wasnโ€™t nearly as hard as I thought it would be. We did a slow, juicy flow -lots of twisting and holding the poses, which is exactly what I needed- and then went into balancing with a partner and spotter. The trick with acro yoga is stacking the joints, so that you donโ€™t have to depend on muscular strength to hold the other person up- itโ€™s more about alignment and balance transfer. 

Acroyoga

 (Check out our plank!)

Itโ€™s fun to step out of the box sometimes, like with two art projects Iโ€™ve done lately.

Creativejuice2

I always find painting to be therapeutic, but itโ€™s not something I prioritize in my life. Iโ€™ve had a blast painting our piano an olive color

Piano  1 of 1 3

(still have to add one more coat + the shiny wax or acrylic top coat. I canโ€™t decide which one to do)

and a girlsโ€™ night at Creative Juice. 

Creativejuice1

We had a squadron wivesโ€™ fundraiser, and it was my first time at Creative Juice. You pay a flat fee, get a free drink (wine, beerโ€“ they have a huge selection!), grab your palette of paint, and an instructor teaches you how to complete the painting of the night. It changes each day, and Iโ€™m determined to go back for the funky Dia de los Muertos skeleton. It would be such a fun date night!

My work of art:

Creativejuice

It was cool because everyone had a similar painting, but they were all so unique. I rolled with purple mountains instead of blue.. livinโ€™ on the edge like that.

We joked that our paintings were good โ€œlaundry room artโ€ or โ€œcloset art,โ€ but it was a great time for a wonderful cause. 

When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone and tried something new? Any fun DIY projects happening lately?

Hope youโ€™re having a happy Monday!

xoxo

Gina

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30 Comments

  1. Michelle @ A Healthy Mrs on October 28, 2013 at 7:02 pm

    Love this! Acro Yoga looks like fun โ€” a great way to step out of the typical styles ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Julie on October 28, 2013 at 7:07 pm

    Wow, I wish we had those. Actually, Iโ€™m going to seek some out now!

  3. Kelly @ Femme Fitale on October 28, 2013 at 7:21 pm

    Iโ€™m super jealous of your girlsโ€™ night out. That looks like such a blast. When I was living in Calgary, I did a few fun nights like that (e.g.: pottery painting), but canโ€™t find anything similar here in Brisbane. As much as I love eating food and consuming wine, itโ€™s nice to find other activities that you wouldnโ€™t normally do with your girlfriends. Fun!
    In all my Lulu shopping years, I have never attended an in-store class. I need to add it to the to-do list. The never-ending to do list. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  4. The Delicate Place (@misathemeb) on October 28, 2013 at 7:27 pm

    *ALWAYS* making something over here haha. when i leave the lab for the day, all i want to do is be creative! itโ€™s prob why i dress so quirky too. most recent project was diy shrub, nate built a credenza that turned out beautifully and i painted our bookcase canary yellow! i finally have my dining area mostly decorated (we renoโ€™ed the WHOLE house 2 months ago by ourselves!? crazyyyyyyy) http://thedelicateplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/photo-5-1024ร—768.jpg

    and i did lots of painting/wallpaper choosing and made the inside of our decorative fireplace a โ€˜chalkboardโ€™ with special paint ๐Ÿ™‚ http://thedelicateplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/photo-5.jpg i need to take photos with our stuff actually moved into that room haha. itโ€™s really colorfulโ€ฆlike our rug is tangerine orange and our couch is that same blue-green on the toile paper.

    i like to go big or go home (that was a terrible pun).

  5. Allison on October 28, 2013 at 7:56 pm

    Holy smokes I thought my stepping out of my gym comfort zone & doing some yoga was a big step but this is a whole other level of awesome! Maybeee someday down the longgg road my yoga journey will take me here!

    Oh how I love those painting studios popping up everywhere! My sister & I have done two together & itโ€™s such a fun way to spend quality time & have lots of fun! Your painting is great!

  6. Jackie on October 28, 2013 at 8:38 pm

    Love the painting!

  7. Kristin on October 28, 2013 at 9:02 pm

    I love the new piano color!! Also your painting looks pretty good too!

  8. Jess on October 28, 2013 at 9:04 pm

    Love this! Iโ€™m going to a BYOB painting class with some lady-friends in a few weeks and canโ€™t wait! I had a blast at a similar pottery painting class a few weeks ago. It was a really fun way to catch up and chat over a glass of wine while doing something relaxing and fun.

  9. Tasha - The Clean Eating Mama on October 28, 2013 at 10:45 pm

    I have always loved painting! Sometimes I still pull out my brushes and get to work for a few days. I love painting with my son, too!

    Your yoga plank looks great!!! Acro yoga looks so amazing!

    XxOo Tasha

  10. Kellie @ keeprunninkellie on October 28, 2013 at 11:38 pm

    The last time I did something outside of my comfort zone was when I started my blog less than a week ago! Itโ€™s definitely something new, exciting and nerve-wracking for me, but Iโ€™m optimistic, so far!

  11. Lucie on October 29, 2013 at 4:01 am

    I would love to do Acro Yoga, looks so cool!
    We are โ€˜re-doingโ€™ our kitchen currently, itโ€™s an old cute kitchen and we turn it into shabby-chic style with new shelfs and painting. So fun!

  12. Kim @ BusyBod on October 29, 2013 at 5:25 am

    I find acro yoga so intimidating! Iโ€™m not sure iโ€™d ever be able to work up the courage to try a class. Stumbling into it might be just what I would need!

  13. Missy on October 29, 2013 at 6:15 am

    Both the acroyoga and the painting + wine look like so much fun!

  14. Katie on October 29, 2013 at 7:18 am

    Your piano looks so good! ๐Ÿ™‚ Iโ€™ve been painting all of our furniture with Annie Sloan chalk paint. (We have all hand me downs that I wanted to brighten up and match a bit). I love the fresh look her paint gives to furniture.

  15. Simply Life on October 29, 2013 at 7:24 am

    Iโ€™m impressed with your painting! Looks great!

  16. Livi on October 29, 2013 at 8:05 am

    my roommates and I have been painting all semester, using them to decorate our apartment! so fun ๐Ÿ™‚

  17. Karen on October 29, 2013 at 8:22 am

    Oh, I love the painting. Very nice!!

  18. Captain Competition on October 29, 2013 at 8:32 am

    Not sure I could handle acro yoga, I have a hard time balancing doing simple yoga. It is good to push out of your comfort zone. I need to do that more often.

  19. Alex @ Kenzie Life on October 29, 2013 at 8:54 am

    Acro yoga looks tricky but it also looks like so much fun! I love your painting! I donโ€™t have much artistic talent at all and I wish I did!

  20. Rachel @ Betty LIVIN on October 29, 2013 at 9:15 am

    I donโ€™t think I could do acroyoga- thatโ€™s just a little to intimate for my liking. Maybe with my husband but that would be it.

  21. Haley @Cupcakes and Sunshine on October 29, 2013 at 9:25 am

    I have been wanting to try acro yoga. It looks like fun! And painting is one of my favorite ways to de-stress. what fun.

  22. FitBritt@MyOwnBalance on October 29, 2013 at 9:49 am

    I am so not good at DIY stuff. I am just not very talented in the creative department! I do love Acro Yoga though! Itโ€™s so fun to get into these cool poses that you would never be able to do yourself. I love the plank photo!

  23. Megan on October 29, 2013 at 10:38 am

    Wow, acro yoga looks crazy (and super fun)! And your painting is better than anything I could ever do even on my best day โ€“ I just do not have the drawing/painting gene in me.

  24. Karen on October 29, 2013 at 12:14 pm

    Haha!! I went with my girlfriends to pain our own art and guess where my picture is hanging? In my laundry room:)

  25. Stephanie @ BabeMeetsBalance on October 29, 2013 at 12:20 pm

    I love this! Iโ€™ve seen groupons for a similar place in my area and have wanted to try it out. I think your painting looks great! I do need some artwork for my house, why not make it myself and enjoy some vino in the process!?

  26. Coco on October 29, 2013 at 2:04 pm

    Small world.. I am also one of the Yogaslackers and friends with Chip and Laura ๐Ÿ™‚ They are a great couple and lots of fun! Glad you enjoyed the Acro!!

  27. Jamie on October 30, 2013 at 3:25 pm

    Iโ€™ve seen more and more of the acro yoga photos pop up on pinterest. I definitely have to try it out one day. Do you find that it mostly just helps with balance?

  28. Julie on November 3, 2013 at 8:22 am

    What kind of paint did you use for the piano? Iโ€™m into redoing a lot of furniture and have been using annie sloan chalk paint but wanting to try different kinds!

    • Julie on November 3, 2013 at 8:30 am

      Never mind! I was a little behind in your blog and just saw the annie sloan wax picture! Love the stuff. You should try the distressed look on something. Iโ€™m kind of obsessed.

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