Walking on a Dream
Posted: February 6, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, exercise, fitness, free range, Freshly Pressed is Overrated, happiness, health, hipster, karma, kettlebell, love, marathon, perspective, pilates, running, Spirituality, walking, WOD, yoga 13 CommentsThe understanding of what you actually are is far more important than the pursuit of what you should be. Why? Because in understanding what you are there begins a spontaneous process of transformation-
(We should stop here in all actuality. The quote above is tremendously poignant in today’s world.)
Consider this if you may, what if your approach to contributing to the world was based around helping others rather than helping yourself? Let’s use yoga as an example, cool?!?
Pull up your Google Machine this morning and search away: Om Yoga, YogaFit, Zen Yoga and even the patently ridiculous CrossFit Yoga. Sadly we (more times than naught) associate these forms of Yoga as pure Yoga, hardly the case.
There is only one Yoga. Yoga is a 5,000 year old spiritual discipline. Yoga is a powerful contemplative vehicle meant for each one of us who are interested in furthering our personal and spiritual journey(s). Spiritual, not physical.
Yoga is a tremendous system for helping us to reach our true potential as individuals, however, lost amongst the $$$ signs and intertwined craftily with vanity. Yoga as we know it now, is purely a physical practice that just happens (quite coincidentally) to bring spiritual awakening, while picking out arm warmers at Lululemon.
We are off to light a simple candle, chill a bit, sweat a bit … All the while exploring our true potential.
**There also happens to be these Yoga “things” called Karma Yoga (the path of action), Bhakti Yoga (the path of devotion to God) and Jnana Yoga (the path of knowledge) … Just saying.**
Notes:
We are spiritual beings who just so happen to have physical experiences, here and there … Daily, maybe?!?
Lo Fi Groove
Posted: February 4, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, fitness, free range, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, marathon, motivation, natural, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, social media, Super Bowl, walking, whole foods, WOD, World, yoga 12 CommentsWhatever you do, it should be an expression of the same deep activity. We should appreciate what we are doing. There is no preparation for something else-
It’s amazing how some days (like today) we slowly roll out of our warm beds, rub the concrete form our eyes, wake up and the world seems beautiful, awe-inspiring at every turn, full of wonder, kindness … Pretty cool indeed. We haven’t even looked out the window to see what the true weather has in store for us. The sun shines on us this day, the future seems promising and bright, we feel healthy and energetic, and our lives are full of love.
Although other days (tomorrow) on which our life is eerily similar to the movie Groundhog Day, we roll out of bed and wake up to a sense of darkness, already believing the world is bleak, dark and ugly, that the people around us are feeble-minded newts, that the IT Band ache we have been nurturing will be the end of us, that our past weeks worth of slowing down to listen to our bodies was wasted, and our future is bleak because your pretty pink socks are in the wash … **“I can’t run today with an outfit that does not match from head to toe!”**
We are so easily swayed and affected by our caught up in the moment emotions, desires and rambling thoughts. When we fantasize about the newer, cooler purple Brooks pure connect 2’s or get caught up about the miserable fight we had last night against our body during yoga class? Tomorrow is going to suck to no end! Our lives have become similar to one long stare at the brilliant sun shining down upon us: We are ever so blinded that we simply cannot see beyond this very moment.
The Workout-
Crocodile Breathing, Dead Man Rolls, Dead Bugs, KB Arm Bars, Perfect Turkish Get Ups … Breathing goes a long way today (hint).
Notes:
At the end of the day, when we are wrapped up in bed pondering the thoughts of the last 24 hours … Few things in life appear to be as important as we think they are while we are thinking of them.
**A show of hands if you have ever uttered these words?!? Come on don’t be shy, purge your feelings this morning.**
Who did That to You
Posted: February 1, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: 5k, blogging, confidence, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, Happy Hips, health, hipster, hope, intensity, jogging, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, marathon, motivation, natural, paleo, passion, Patience, perspective, pilates, Practice, running, trail running, walking, Warm Ups, whole foods, WOD, yoga 35 CommentsMeditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away or become something better. It’s about befriending who we are already-
One mistake we often make is misunderstanding how confidence affects us, some firmly believe confidence is something you either have or you don’t have. Confidence is a skill that develops when we nurture our bodies, discover self-awareness and practice, yes practice- Confidence.
When we talk about confidence, inevitably the topic of success creeps into the conversation. It’s nearly impossible to go out and have a huge success in life and instantly gain confidence. Finishing your first marathon does not mean you have more confidence, you had enough when you clicked “submit” after filling the registration form out (in your jammies), picked out your matching running outfit, stocked up on useless fuel gels and finally showing up at the Start Line.
We preach here: little “victories” every day in your preparations and work effort. When you leave work for the weekend, the gym this afternoon, the studio … You should be able to say that you have just “won” by doing what you needed to do to achieve your long-term goal(s). Each small victory (as small as they may seem), one after another, accumulate. Moving us closer to the big victory’s in life, like making it through a 90 minute power yoga session, a 4 hour-long marathon and especially the first firm grip and foot placement at the beginning of a day long climb.
The Workout-
Our signature Happy Hips Warm Up followed by whatever you feel like doing today, enjoy.
Notes:
Confidence, did it magically fall in your lap this morning? Probably not. Take care this weekend and be well.
A Dream Within a Dream
Posted: January 30, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: crossfit, Dreaming, Dreams, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, Freshly Pressed is Overrated, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, pain, paleo, passion, pilates, recovery, running, Sacrifice, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 5 CommentsInside myself is a place where I live all alone and that’s where you renew your springs that never dry up-
Pain, injury, surgery, pain, injury, surgery, rehab, surgery, rehab … Before I injured myself, over and over again. I was rarely quiet or still long enough to notice, or care what was happening to my body. Through all the pain therapy and bio-feedback sessions, I was merely following instructions from those who wanted to help me, I never felt alone during these times … “the springs never dried up”. Now, when I’m alone. When I lie in bed at night, surrounded by the quiet, still night air, I feel these springs renewed.
In these personal moments, I find myself content to watch how life will unfold. Mindful of how I was before.
Notes:
Time to Medivate
Flypaper
Posted: January 28, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Bliss, blogging, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, Heaven, hipster, hope, intensity, jogging, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, lust, marathon, motivation, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, running, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, Wonder, Wrtiting, yoga 14 CommentsMy God, a moment of bliss. Why, isn’t that enough for a whole lifetime?-
What if we told you that finishing a marathon, cycling a century, putting up max numbers in the gym, advanced yoga poses, holding a plank for ten minutes … Really don’t matter much?
The ritual does, the preparation, all the hard work, the failure before the activity. Slow down this morning and explore this profound idea with us.
All of the above activities (and more) have a few things in common.
The entire family, including your friends can participate in them. Walking, running, cycling and especially yoga. You don’t have to be “talented” or “skilled” to have fun with your family and friends. There’s no one to impress
By slowing down to savor the ritual, you are afforded the time to socialize and enjoy yourselves. Let’s use cycling as an example: You can tease the dudes in your group about their freshly shaven legs and their choice of skin-tight lycra. When you run out of things to share, you can ease into the saddle and enjoy the scenery rolling by.
Often times when we plan a big, wonderful and memorable “LIFE” changing event: Our very first marathon, first time showing up for yoga class, the sleepless night before your first 5k (look through your blog roll today). We forget about where our journey started. The thing is, our lives are made of so many touching small memories, this is our foundation in life.
The Workout-
A light and flowing Warm Up: Tumbling, Rolling and Jump Rope.
10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1
Ring Dips, Ring Perfect Push Ups, Ring Rows
Notes:
Too many times we only focus on the end result and not where our journey began … Bike ride to the park, a few drinks with friends after a grueling trail run, tying your shoes properly in the morning. The simple things in life truly are heaven.
CultFit 