A Whole Lot of This...

This was the position you could find me in most afternoons this week. It was back to the books, big time! Or I guess back to the laptop. It seems each semester more professors are using online texts and resources for their classes. Pretty spiffy.

The funny/ironic thing about all my studying and sitting at a computer is that one of the classes I'm taking for my major is Leisure and Human Behavior. Leisure. Huh? In one of the lectures we even learned that in one study they surveyed adults and found that 68% of those surveyed said that they did not get a chance to participate in sports or athletic activities, or relax outside on a regular basis. Further, millions of Americans are diagnosed with stress related illnesses every year, many of which could have been prevented if the patients had managed their stress with recreation. Haha - what do they think they are doing to college students?!

Despite the time spent with my dear textbooks, I did get some good workouts in this week. Yoga is tomorrow, which might be the highlight since I get to try something new. I've never been to a real yoga class. This week I did start a new spin class, and it was fun. Those classes never fail to make me sweat like crazy!

Well, I hope this weekend is full of healthy living and leisure!!

~What's your favorite thing to do with your leisure time?
~What was your favorite workout this week?

What does it NOT do?

I used to get together once a week with some ladies to play a pick-up game of basketball. None of us were all stars, but it was fun and a good way to get some exercise. One of the ladies that played with us would often come from yoga. Let's just say she was crazy toned and so strong! Once while we were sitting out I was asking her about her class and she started showing me some moves. I was so impressed! It made me wish I did more yoga...yet I still didn't make an effort to. But not any more! Right?! Right.

The Mayo Clinic defines yoga as a mind-body type of alternative medicine practice that combines physical and mental exercises that result in a sense of peacefulness, relaxation and calmness. Practicing yoga regularly improves both mental and physical well-being. Seriously, what does it NOT do, then?

Yoga has been seen to help with so many things. Here are the ones I want to highlight:

1. Flexibility
Practicing yoga on a regular basis is known to increase flexibility (definitely something I need help on!)

Tight muscles have a negative influence on the alignment of bones and joints. One example is that tight hamstrings create lower-back pain by pulling on the spine. Also, tight hip flexors may cause improper alignment of the thigh bone, which then causes pain in the knee. Increased flexibility also results in better posture. See all the benefits?

2. Stress Management
Since yoga uses quiet, controlled movements, by nature it allows you to focus on things other than the every day stresses and focus on how your body is moving. Stress creates tense muscles, increased heart rate, abnormal breathing and high blood pressure.

3. Fitness
For some reason some people thing yoga isn't much of a workout. Sometimes I want to ask them if they have ever tried it, because it can make you sore if you try hard enough! The poses you do challenge everything from strength, to flexibility, balance and motion. The Defense Institute of Physiology performed a study in which the participants who practiced yoga daily did not fatigue after physical exertion as easily as those who performed basic exercises daily. The study also revealed that yoga increases aerobic capacity and stamina.

~What are the benefits you have found from yoga?

Yoga, anyone?

So I told you last week that one of my goals for January was to do more Yoga. I'm a college student that doesn't have tons of time or money to go to a yoga studio, but I'm determined to get some in at least once a week, just to give my running and cycling legs some good stretching. So this week, the challenge is:

Do some yoga!

It doesn't have to be a long session, it doesn't have to be multiple times, it can even just be after a long cardio session. Just give it a try, and you'll probably see why there are lots of "yogatics" out there. It feels nice to give your body a full stretch!

Today's the first day of a new semester, which means a day full of reading overwhelming syllabuses/syllabi (it can be either way, I just looked it up so I wouldn't sound like a fool). So I'm definitely going to try to fit in some yoga this week! 

Especially since I'll be lugging around these beauties each day for the next 4 months. Thank you, human anatomy.

Have a great week! And keep working on those goals :)

~Are you a "yogatic"?

~ Do you have a favorite yoga DVD or workout you do?

P.S. guess who just scored big? my new roommate is a yoga instructor! Classes every Saturday. I'll probably die...but I'm excited!