I have a new love….YOGA! Not just any yoga but hot Power Vinyasa. Unfortunately I did not have the same love and affection for the yoga mat during my practice. For a long while I loved the align mat by Lululemon mainly because I am a perfectionist and loved the lines along the mat. Unfortunately, after a few months it began to lose its stick and the top layer began to pick off. I brought this mat and the yoga towel to an immersion with Baron Baptiste but within a 1/2 hour I was annoyed with the yoga towel and simply used the mat. I had to constantly wipe it down, which was annoying to say the least.
Again I travelled for a training with Baron Baptiste (this time a week long Level 1 training) and I decided I didnt want a repeat of my old slippery mat episode. It was time to invest in a good mat. I did some on-line research and (mainly do to geographical accessibility) decided to purchase Le Mat by Lululemon. I am not disappointed.
I loved this mat. There are a few words of advice. The plastic smell did bother me for the first few days. At times the smell was so strong it overpowered my apartment. I went to the Lululemon store to ask advice and they suggested Lysol. I used this and air dried it a few times which seems to have helped. I also use a lavender and tea tree essential oil mixed with water to spray it down after each practice.
It also stains easily. If you do not want your mat to look truly loved with sweat and dirty feet I would suggest a dark color. I had a difficult time with this as the colors are so inviting. I chose a dark magenta color and it still looks fairly worn in. It is also heavier than the average mat so it may not be ideal if you like to carry your mat along with you throughout the day.
As for myself, this Pilates instructor is now in love with both Power Yoga and Le Mat.
For the past year I have been a brand ambassador to SOLOW, a clothing company based in California. Basically this means they send me clothes and I give them a try. It is a marketing model I have seen other athletic companies use, and I believe it is a smart one. I think sometimes there are workout clothes made to look good but are just not functional. I found that out the hard way in a Pilates class. While in a plank position I realized my workout top from another athletic company looked amazing but unfortunately did not actually support or stay on my breasts. Truly not a functional style. Lesson learned; always try on clothes and jump around a lot before purchasing.
In a recent delivery from SOLOW I received a support bra from their Free People collaboration. I have never received as many compliments as I had for that top. It is supportive, functional and super soft and comfortable. There are so many athletic companies out there now but when I find something good I have to share it!
Again, I am attempting to update this blog and see where it takes me. Don’t expect a well formatted list of exercises and diet plans or all things related to health. My mind just doesn’t seem to run so precisely. Sometimes I get ideas or inspirations and want to jot them down. I am hoping I can hold onto those thoughts long enough to make it to this blog. Often times I forget them before finding a pen and paper. Especially now that it is summer I am often walking in the clouds.
I would like to say I am full of wisdom about health, but even as someone who loves being a “fitness expert” I don’t often feel I am truly an expert. I have my strengths. I have an amazing eye which I think is rooted in my many years in art school. I am extremely insightful and intuitive when it comes to others (unfortunately not always when it comes to myself). I am truly in love with the body and movement. BUT I often find the same difficulties that most other people have when it comes to finding what works for myself.
Recently I decided to join Weight Watchers. I am not an overweight person but I do have that tendency and I would love to lose 5-10 pounds. A friend who is similar to me joined and had lots of success. I have also seen clients come through the studio looking amazing and they said it was thanks to Weight Watchers. Now, those who know me also know I hate going places. I hate appointments and scheduled events. I just can’t ever get to them, and there is something about them that makes me feel obligated (yes, I’m working on this little issue of mine). So I joined online. It was convenient and I like that you can calculate food based in points. It made it very easy for me. The problem was it just didn’t work for me. For the past 5 weeks I calculated all I ate and exercised. I held myself accountable to each food. I drank more water, I joined a gym, I stocked up on fruit and vegetables. I gained 5 pounds. Meanwhile my friend lost 10.
Before anyone sends me hate mail. I AM NOT saying that there is anything wrong with Weight Watchers. As I stated I have seen it work. It just does not work for me. What I am saying is this. I think from this and other experiences of mine I have found that just because something works for one person does not mean it will work for everyone. I think we need to give each other the freedom to find our own way. Yes, I have a lot of understanding about nutrition and I don’t need to be told about healthy choices. I think for someone new to health and food choice WW is a great program. It teaches portion control and you get rewarded for making good choices. I guess I am sick of hearing or reading that the simplest way to lose weight is diet and exercise because sometimes it also comes down to chemistry and the individuality of a person. In the same way I don’t know if someone can always lose weight or get fit through the newest fitness craze. What works for one person may not work for the next.
Honor your individual self.
