Keeping Workouts Fun - Halloween Style

Happy Halloween Everyone!

One of the things that keeps me motivated to stay in shape is not just because I want to fit into that latest pair of designer jeans, but because I want to have fun! What better time of year to do that than during Halloween when we all get to dress up and be someone we're not (or wish we could be). Every year, our surf club, Blackie's Classics in Newport Beach hosts the annual "Surf in Your Costume" Halloween Bash.

Now I know that not all of you have access to the ocean, but if you do, give surfing a try. It is a phenomenal upper body workout, it works your abs and of course, tests your balance. Plus, if you're a female, like me, you get to check out all the cute guys in their wetsuits. That's how I met my surfer boy husband. Every year for the Halloween event, we dress up in some type of matching costume. This year, we decided that he would be the butler and I would be the upstairs maid. I talked him into wearing his real tuxedo. Here's how the conversation went: "But I spent hundreds of dollars on that tuxedo" to which I replied "How many times have you worn it, and how many more times will you wear it? Now's your chance!" Another one of my pearls of wisdom: Don't save the good china and special occasion "stuff". Today is the day!

Today is the day to get in shape! And next time you are in Newport Beach on Halloween, come join us for the Halloween Bash. I promise you a great time. And you might even get to meet King Neptune!

Hot Yoga

Hey guys! As my mom was talking about in her last post one of our favorite work outs to do together is hot yoga, or other wise known as Bikram Yoga, named after it's inventor Bikram Choudhury. The way that it differs from your standard yoga class is that instead of just doing a series of poses, your doing a set series of 26 poses in a room heated around 95-100 degrees. Now I know what your thinking, that sounds crazy! But it really isn't as bad as it sounds :)

The reason that it is done in such intense heat is because when you sweat that much your releasing all the toxins from your body, as well as the heat warms your body up which in turn makes you more flexible. I don't know about you, but if I'm not sweating then I don't feel like I'm getting a good enough work out. With Bikram yoga sweating is'nt even a question, your pretty much sweating within moments of being in the room. You start with a simple breathing pose, then you move into the standing poses (which I find to be the more difficult poses in the series) and gradually move into the floor poses. So it's set up in a way that you do the more strenuous poses in the begging, so once you start to feel like you getting pretty tired the floor poses begin. Even though sometimes it feels like your not going to be able to finish, somehow your body pushes through and when your done you feel amazing!

I really encourage everyone to try hot yoga, it is hands down my favorite work out and defiantly the most effective method to stay in shape that I have ever tried. Most people don't really get it on the first class, so instructors encourage people to give it at least 10 tries before you decide if it's for you or not. That's about how long it takes for your body to really understand exactly how it works. Hope everyone tries it out sometime soon, Good Luck!

Bikram Yoga, Surfing and Ultra Running

Hey There Everyone! I'm Angela's Mom, Jen. I just celebrated my 51st birthday. Entering the half century mark is exciting for me. Why? Because I love to work out. Angela and I will be sharing with you our two generations worth of adventures, so come along for the ride!

Some of the things that I love include, Bikram Yoga, often called hot yoga, surfing (started at age 45 folks, so it's never too late) and my main love, is ultra running. What's an ultra run? It's any distance over a standard marathon which is 26.2 miles. Our shortest run is 50K, 50 miles, and yes, I have completed a 100 mile race as well. Oh, and Angela and I just tried stand up paddle boarding.

I love to run on trails for the breathtaking beauty and meditation. Your mind slows down from all the chatter and you hit this amazing zone. Plus, you get some pretty nice looking legs in the bargain!

So, there I was two and a half months ago on the trail with my favorite running partner, Rico, when disaster struck. I came home that night from a 20 mile run and was limping. Turns out I had a torn meniscus and torn ACL. All those miles and I had never had a twinge of knee problems. Until I did. The doctors recommended surgery. Ouch! What self respecting ultra runner would allow themselves to be cut into? Me.

But I firmly believe that our bodies are magnificent healing machines. It's been two and a half months and a lot of ice. I am biking, doing yoga, surfing (finally) and am determined to reinvent myself into an even better ultra runner than ever. I have to keep up with Angela don't I? I've got some ideas on how I am going to accomplish this, so stay tuned.