yin yoga

I bought an unlimited membership to the yoga studio around the corner from my house when we got back from Barbados. I’ve been going twice a week, but hopefully once my papers are out of the way (only two more days!) I’ll go maybe three or four days a week. I want to say that I’m going to go five days a week but I’m no superhero. The point of all this is that I went to yin yoga last night which is a more gentle and slow practice and today my body hurts and I love it.

I went to ashtanga on Monday which is more difficult and I was struggling to do one of the postures and I was getting frustrated and I thought to myself “what am I doing here? I hate this!” but then I left and I felt better and I realized that this is one way of exercising that I actually enjoy and of course it’s going to be hard. Nothing that’s good for you is easy, right? Plus, if I’m going to feel good in my clothes or bathing suit I have to do something drastic. I mean, I have to look good when I’m hanging out on Brighton beach this summer!

Bluebell’s First Trip

I took my bike out yesterday. Yes, yes you heard that correctly. I took my bike outside for a ride!!! For the first time since Bear put her together. I had to go to the post office, and it’s quite a hike, so I thought “It’s a beautiful day, go ride your bike up to the post office.” And I did. And now my bum hurts. But that’s ok, because I was proactive, and my bike is amazing so fabulous. Also, (maybe most importantly?) I discovered that I look really sassy in my helmet.

Dutch bikes

I’m very partial to Dutch things. Bear is half Dutch, I like shoes and in particular ones that are clog-like (I have yet to own my own wooden shoes, but I have big ideas for my first pair), and I am totally obsessed with Delftware. MomKat’s best friend is Dutch and I’ve been around Dutch people for as long as I can remember, and collectively they are all very very nice. Kind of eccentric, but very nice. I also like cheese, and I think that almost completely flat countries are cool and I cannot wait to go to Amsterdam. Plus, my mom and I had these magnets of Dutch houses when I was little and I loved them so much. Moving on, one of my favorite things from Holland (alternatively called something I’m obsessed with lately) is the Dutch Bike.

A few summers ago I started biking, something that I hadn’t done since I was a little girl, and I found that I really enjoyed it, and even though it made me perspire more than just walking to work, it felt like a really good workout. Once we moved to London, I decided I’m not brave enough to bike here, and I feel fine with that decision. It’s easy to walk or take the tube here anyway. Next year, though, when we move to Brighton, a city with a massive amount of bike paths and a seriously pro-bike culture, we’re both getting bikes and we’re going to be student bikers and get out groceries and put them in the basket on my bike. So, because we’re getting bikes, I’m going to have to buy a bike and I’ve been looking at Dutch bikes because they are beautiful and they look really retro and ladylike. Did I make myself clear? I want a Dutch bike bad. They’re so fierce. They just look so old-timey and I picture my Gramma on a bike like that, cruising around doing errands in her poodle skirt (I think she had one of those). Plus, they’re just so fabulous, even though they are fanstastically expensive and only have three gears. That’s a minor problem, though, I’m sure. I’ll keep you updated on what I end up with, but I just wanted to let you all know what I’m currently coveting.

hot yoga, or how to sweat a bucket in 90 minutes

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, I haven’t been overwhelmingly successful in making friends this year. However, there are a few friends here in London who miraculously happen to also be here and who have been very important to me this year. One of these friends, my pretty popular friend, asked me the other day if I wanted to join her in purchasing a 10 day pass for hot yoga for the bargain price of £20. Initially, I was hesitant. But The Cool One is very tall and slender and very athletic, and I, more of a “let’s go for a walk to the store to buy chips instead” big-bummed typed girl, didn’t like the fact that she doubted me, and my athletic prowess and determination to get a fit, bikini appropriate body before summer. So I did it with her! And do I ever like it, and please notice that I am recommending it to you! I’ve been a general yoga fan for a number of years now, but when I moved here and got a monthly pass I hated going. I’m not sure if it was the fact that it took me a half an hour to get there and back, and the class was only 60 minutes. Maybe it was that I didn’t really like my teachers the way I liked the ones I was fortunate to have back home. Either way, I didn’t really go and wasted a lot of money and consider my lesson learned. But, this “Bikram Hot Yoga” this yoga is different in a very good way. It combines all the good things about yoga, the centering, the breathing, the feel really good and refreshed and flexible after class with the benefits of an hour and a half of crazy cardio. It’s a series of 26 postures that are the same in every 90 minute class and it’s suitable for beginners, and pros and it’s hard either way. The postures themselves aren’t particularly difficult, it’s more about the challenge of being in such a hot room and staying focused and not needing to sit out for a few minutes. It’s a fantastic workout. But only if you’re not afraid to work out in a 40˚c room and sweat buckets. I also like it because it’s been forcing me to drink a lot more water, and even though I know water consumption is crucial to higher brain function and overall well-being, it’s amazing how much of a difference it really does make when you go from only drinking a few cups of (decaf!) tea a day to drinking almost two litres of water. So, the moral of this story? Go to hot yoga, and drink a lot of water. But not too much, because you don’t want to die from washing away all your electrolytes. Namaste.