Valentines Day Gifts for the Yogi You Love

Did you know that Valentines Day is only 10 days away?!? There are plenty of us out there still scrambling for that perfect last minute gift. If that is you and you also have a fitness loving significant other, your are in luck. We will be going through a giant list of all the things your fitness loving friend will go crazy for come Valentines day. Everything is also linked and able to be to you in time for the 14th. I know, so great!

But, where do we start? Why, with the yogi, of course! Oh the peaceful, calm, and kind yogi; one of the newer fitness loving groups. These fitness lovers tend to be oh-so chiseled, especially since they do the equivalent of rolling around on a mat 3+ times per week. Yogis can be some of the easiest people to buy gifts for, and some of the most difficult. Thankfully, your yogi is guaranteed to like one, or all, of the things on this list!

1. Men's Yoga Bracelet. These are great for guys and gals and come in way more colors than you will ever need. It is also a cheap, cute gift for only $12.
2. Have you seen anything cute than this Onzie yoga outfit?! I think not. I also think your yogi will be feeling the same when they open this next Saturday! At $56 for the top and $65 for the bottom, it is also something they may not just buy themselves any old day of the week.
3. Manduka yoga mats are pretty well known for being the best thing to touch the feet of yogis ever. If your yogi does not have one, they will love it and their yogi respect for you will go up by mounds too! I should probably also mention the price- $118!
4. I Bend so I Don't Break is just a pretty, inexpensive top that any yogi would love to wear for their morning Vinyasa. It is simple and only costs $26. Fantastic!
5. Gold and Red Lotus Bracelet. One time the hubs got me a lotus bracelet out of the blue and it was the best day ever. He got it because he knew I loved yoga and because I like pretty things. It was a win-win and possibly the best gift ever. And did I mention is it only $20? Buy it.
6. Yoga Toes. Do your toes slip and slide one the mat? Mine do! These yoga toes will make down dog slippage a thing of the past. You can also where them to Pure Barr if you are in to that sort of thing! Oh, and they are Calvin Klein and less than the ones Pure Barr sells. Just sayin'.
7. Skidless Mat. The best thing ever. Your yogi's mat will not slip and neither will their toes! It is huge, machine washable, and only $68.
8. Hair Ties that will make your hair look trendy when up and kink free when put back down. It is all in the little things and this little thing says "Your hair is so pretty, only the prettiest of hair bands is worthy to be stretched around it." Yes, that is actually what these say.
9. Quartz Calmness Bracelet. Because it is Valentines day and we do like shiny things. Oh, and because it is less that $50.
10. Goddess Ribbed Yoga Pants are so pretty, I just want to wear them right now. They also come in plenty of different colors, all of which keep the two-tone effect. My favorites are these crazy bright yellow ones for $92!

A Back Sculpting Yoga Flow

Happy Monday! Hopefully, your weekend was fantastic and you were able to do something wonderful! This was the first weekend the hubs and I were both home together, so we had an easy weekend at home.

This weekend I was also able to do some reading on back strength that led me down the rabbit hole of interesting reads. It all started when I went to the chiropractor and got a massage and adjustment for the first time in 2+ months. It was not the comfiest of visits and I am quite certain that my masseuse, who usually likes me, was trying to kill me. The chiropractor was also quite disappointed with my massive back tightness and asked if I had been having back spasms or cut back on yoga. Guilty on both counts, for shame.

I later read a couple of articles on back strength (including this one) and it led me down the bunny hole of internet reading. Turns out that yoga can help us in more ways than body weight training alone. This Huff Post article talks about the significance of back pain and whether or not yoga is a viable remedy while this article talks about the reasons yoga is good for us to do.

For these reasons, I wanted to create a simple interval workout based on a few core yoga poses that help with back strength and flexibility. As far as I know, we have never touched on back workouts here on P+K, this one is a great way to go into that new territory- it will work your lats, trapezius, teres, rhomboids, and even the bum!

I recommend doing at least one set of this, holding each pose for as long as possible. Then, if you want to try it all again, see if you can hold each for a few seconds longer! If you are doing two sequences of this, no need to do the first set of sun salutations the second time around. Also, links or explanations of every exercise are listed below :)

Sun Salutations

Sphinx Push-Up

Down Dog Plank Rolls: Go from downward facing dog to plank, hold in plank, then return to downward facing dog. The movement should cause a roll in the back, much like a wave.

Locus Pose

Banana-Boat

Cobra Push-Ups: Start in cobra pose and push-up so you are almost in upward facing dog. Be sure you are using the arms and upper back. Hold at the top before coming back down to cobra.

Side Plank Dips

Swimmies

Dancing Shiva

How to Reward Yourself for Accomplishing a Goal

{via}

I have heard before that there are two ways people are driven to accomplish their goals. The first is reward based- you accomplish a goal and get a reward. The second is punishment based, meaning if you do not accomplish a goal, this will happen. Which are you? I am the latter. But, I am desperately trying to become the first. 

Part of me loves the idea of getting a reward for accomplishing something, but the other part of me thinks, "if you do not accomplish the goal, you will not get that thing you really want." No fun. And, I know that all those goal oriented, reward driven people are saying, "then accomplish the goal, silly." You are right, but it is still hard. This may seem funny, but the way I have worked around the not-getting bit in the past is, are you ready? Not deciding a reward until after the goal is accomplished, then rewarding myself with a prize that seems appropriate for the effort. It works, and man does it work well. But, for a new goal I have, I have decided to do the more traditional route. 

This time, I have chosen a reward before the goal is accomplished. Gasp. You may remember me talking about this Run Yogi Run shirt on a previous post (if you have hung around with me for that long). What you do not know is that I still have not bought it and I still thiking about it, pretty much, everyday. Do not ask me why it is not mine yet; maybe it is the price ($25.99) for a t-shirt, or the fact that I have to wait for it to be delivered before wearing it (we do live in an instant gratification society), or the fact that I cannot decide which color. Any which way you throw it, the shirt is still not on me and I still want it. 

Drum roll please. I have decided that when I accomplish the Nike+ Run competition I am in right now, my reward will be this shirt. Yes, I am putting myself out there and the scariest thing is not the work it will take to win (which is A LOT), it is the idea of not getting the shirt I have been wanting for so long. If I fail, does that mean I never get the shirt? Do I just do another goal with the same reward? Should I get the shirt even if I come in second? Gah, there are so many questions that I think we will answer along the way. 

Thank you for listening to the crazy ramblings of a not-type-a personality. If you have any goal making/succeeding recommendations, man would I be happy to hear them! For now though, let's go on some runs and beat some boys. Oh, and be sure to check back tomorrow and Friday at some pretty exciting new posts that I have been looking forward to (for one) for over a year now. The other is something that kind of fell into my lap and I am so excited about!! 

Also, I have had dreams about this bread and have very serious plans of making it and eating all of it on my next splurge day. 

Gifts for the Gym Lover

You may know one or two of these... Those incredible people who have no problem going to the gym three to five times a week for an hour or so. I give props to these people, since they are doing something I would hate. Home gym is my love, but why not help those who enjoy sweating in a group too :) Here are my top gifts for the gym lover- Or even the one who enjoys cute things! And, with Prime, you can till get it by Christmas!

If you are going to the gym, you want to look cute. Few things seems this gym adorable as this Lululemon sports bra. A sports bra is a must have commodity for any decent, gym going girl. This one give you the support you need and in style, plus, it is under $50. Scorsees!

One of the only reasons that I venture from my home gym to a group fitness area is for a group fitness class. In most cases, it is a yoga class. Maybe that is why this incredible yoga mat is in the gym category... For all other gym goers like myself. 

The mat is 72" long, uber thick, and phthalates and latex free. Honestly, I am a little shocked that I do not own this already. Really, it is under $40 and a prime order. Someone should smack me. Hopefully, your gift receiver will feel the same gratitude towards you for getting them this incredible thing they had no idea they have been missing!

If we listed all the things needed during a trip to the gym, the list could get quite hefty. Keep all your goods organized and dry in this super cute gym bag. It is small enough to be a bag for the gym instead of a bag for trekking the globe (we have all seen those gym goers... What do they keep in a duffel anyway?). Something I really like about this bag is how many people say it is comfortable. There are enough things that add discomfort at the gym, thank goodness my bag is not one of them! The bag is also great for yogi's since it cradles your mat. Must have.