Tomorrow is the last day of the Victoria's Secret semi-annual sale! There are tons of great workout related and non-workout related goods for quite a hefty sum off. Although I personally like to get things from the store directly, online has some great stuff and will also have free shipping up until Thursday when you buy $25 or more and use the code SHIP25! Here are just a few of the things I am currently loving.
What is Aerial Yoga and The Benefits
This weekend I attended my first ever aerial yoga class. In case you have never heard of aerial yoga (which many have not), it is yoga that combines aspects of pilates and gymnastics in an elevated hammock-like swing. Some people also call it anti-gravity yoga.
The class was super fun! So much so, that I was convinced it was not much of a workout at all. Sure, down dog and cobra are completely different when your feet are suspended above the ground, and sure, the balance work was definitely a core exercise, but it really was more fun than work. At least, that is how I felt until I woke-up the next morning with sore buns, sore lower abs, and sore upper arms. The beginner aerial yoga class I attended ended up being a great workout with very, very little of the traditional yoga environment.
It makes sense that aerial yoga was different from any other yoga class ever taken since it was created by gymnast and Broadway choreographer, Christopher Harrison. Aerial yoga is meant to give a whole body workout while also decompressing the spine. Some of the benefits include:
- Cleansing the body of toxins through inversion
- Reactivating the circulatory, digestive, and respiratory systems
- Decompressing the spine- Anti-gravity yoga actually guarantees that after the class is the tallest you can be.
- Toning more muscles than the same positions done without the hammock
- Improving flexibility
Just like other yoga classes, shoes are not needed and tighter fitting, comfortable clothes are recommended. This is especially true for your top since many of the poses are inversions or nearly so. Almost anyone can take an aerial yoga class and get something out of it. In fact, one other first timer in my class was a 50+ year old man who had only done yoga once before. He sincerely enjoyed the class and looked pretty proficient while doing the poses!
For me, the class was very freeing and extremely fun. It honestly felt like I was five again and playing on the jungle gym in my back yard. The fact that this is a workout method is pretty impressive. Although the class is not your ohm-centric yoga fest, it does have similar mind-over-matter benefits and will definitely help improve traditional yoga poses. For those who do not usually do yoga, you may sincerely enjoy this class. Yes, there are yoga poses, but really, you get to play on a swing for an hour and call it a workout!
Last Week in Pins: Adventures
Last week was a bit of a pin-crazy week for me. Between New Year's and being at home sick, I had plenty of ambition and time to Pin. Being in the New Year's mood, my pins mainly relate to things I want to do or pretty clothes to do them in. It makes sense, right? Here are a few of my personal favorites, all focusing around those New Year's resolutions.
I went bungy jumping once and formed a bit of a fear of falling from it. Now, I guess it must be done again to get rid of the fear. This is one of the places that I would be ok with jumping off a ledge and dangling from my feet.
For all those cold adventures where I need a sweater... and some style...
Best be in shape for an adventure, especially if it includes trekking the wilderness or jumping from way too tall of things. This 30-day bum challenge seems to be shooting quite a few birds with one 30-day stone!
The Dismals Canyons in Alabama. This place is pretty fantastic backpacking inspiration! Apparently, they are one of the only locations where you can see dismals- these insects that glow blue when larvae. The insect larvae will line the cavern walls so at night, they glow blue!
This Week in Workouts: Happy New Year!
This week was a pretty important week for workouts since it was the first week of the year. Some go all out for new year's week and get some massive fitness in. I did not. This week was more about recovering from Christmas festivities and the not-too-fun sinus infection afterwards. Yes, there was lots of yoga with a great deal of twists, very little running, and no hot yoga. tear.
I did, however, accomplish my New Year's goal of a new workout this week times two and got in some major cuddle time with our kittehs on my sick days. The simple pleasures. Then, there was also the pretty great news that two of my Snapguides where Snapguide's most popular of the year. Funny, but both were about abs... I guess we know what everyone wants!
Sunday and Monday: Rest days. And by rest, I mean head on pillow, living in my pajamas days.
Tuesday: Twist and Detox Yoga flow by Yoga Journal since this sickness wasn't going to cure itself. Forgot how much I love this flow and how great it is!
Wednesday: 2-mile warm-up run followed by this stretching yoga flow by Tara Stiles. This was a new yoga flow for me and one that i very much enjoyed. She moves through it fast though, so get ready!
Thursday: 3-mile jog followed by Yoga for Bootylicious Buns and Lean Legs which was a new workout and very much not like your usual yoga flow. This one is quite short but fits in quite the punch, it is also not very ohm-y, so those who get bored with the typical yoga flow may actually make it through this! I was also super sore the next day.
Friday: Ali K's 220 Rep Interval Vinyasa Yoga which was also new, so i guess there were three new yoga flows this week. Whooohoo, overachiever! This flow was great for those dreaded saddlebags.
Saturday: Rest day.