A few weeks in, some tiny successes....

So the day before Thanksgiving, I left work at 4pm.  Yes, I left work SUPER early.  I'm trying to have a better work/life balance, and by work/life balance, I mean leave at a normal time and go to a class.

So since I left early, I took the opportunity to go to a hot power yoga class.  I love my studio, the teachers are all so positive, non-judgemental... well let's be honest, yoga is typically a positive, non-judgemental, full of love type of workout (at least in my limited experience), but I love my teachers....

So anyway, I took this hot power yoga class, and at the beginning of class, we always declare our intention for the class.  In the past, I've said determination (to see the poses through to the end), love (of myself), hope (for my cousin Hope)... so the class the day before Thanksgiving?  I decided "THANKS" was my intention.

No matter how much my muscles shook holding the challenging moves, or how much heat I felt from the warm room, I decided that when the going got tough, I was going to say (to myself), "Thank you body for being able to do this.  Thank you for being strong.  Thank you for being flexible.  Thanks, thanks, thanks."

And you know what? It turned out to be one of the most productive yoga sessions.  Because I didn't focus on the pain - my mind was elsewhere, focusing on being thankful.  I didn't fall out of the poses early.  Instead of focusing on the pain in my legs, or how my arms were shaking, I just focused on being thankful that I had arms and legs that would allow me to move my body in that way.  I just kept repeating "Thank you, thank you, thank you".

It worked.  It was AWESOME.

Highly recommend this strategy.  I used it the next day during a challenging spin class where my quads started protesting.  It worked then too!

So anyway, a few weeks into this challenge, I'm definitely not perfect, but I am feeling like I'm making better choices aimed at being more consistent.

Here's how I was able to work out over the past few weeks:

Friday - 5K
Saturday - 75 min yoga
Sunday - 60 min spin
Monday - 60 min pilates
Tuesday - off
Wednesday - off
Thursday - off
Friday - 60 min spin
Saturday - 75 min yoga
Sunday - rest
Monday - 60 min spin
Tuesday - rest
Wednesday - YOGA
Thursday - TURKEY DAY SPIN CLASS for 60 min
Friday -dance while singing to country tunes

See? More consistent :)

It's FAR from over, but I am proud of the small accomplishments I've made.  Let's see if I can continue this streak into the future!!!