I was feeling the “holiday hangover” something fierce last week. I found myself feeling pretty low on energy, taking more naps than normal and sleeping later than usual. I blame it on the cumulative effects of running around, stress, indulgent foods, parties and more drinking than normal. The weather we’ve had for the last few weeks certainly didn’t help anything with temperatures in the 70s, rain and very high humidity. Even the air felt heavy.
Many of my students and fellow teachers were feeling the same and asking me if it was normal to feel so sluggish and blah in their practice. I said, “unfortunately, yes…but we must keep moving!” One of the best ways I’ve found to beat the blahs and lethargy is to move in order to create energy in your body. I see this so much with my clients who are expecting. Working out is generally the last thing they feel like doing but they feel so much better afterwards.
Luckily, I had the final week of our studio’s 62 Day Challenge to motivate me to show up on my mat and move. I ended up finishing the challenge with somewhere around 45 practices. It helped greatly to have 100 other yogis participating in order to stay motivated and accountable.
I shared this on Instagram on New Year’s Day (the final day of the challenge) but I’m so glad that I participated this year. My original goal was to get 50 practices in but I’m happy with where I ended up. I haven’t practiced this consistently in a very long time. Through consistently showing up and practicing, I achieved handstand to crow, felt open and in-tune with my body (more so than I have in a long time) and was reminded of the importance of taking time for myself, even when life feels chaotic. Some days I was forced to literally stop what I was doing to practice and it was honestly the very best thing for me.
So here’s a recap of what the week looked like!
Monday
Hot yoga
Tuesday
Hot yoga
Wednesday
CrossFit
Strength:
5 x 5
Barbell bent over rows (I worked to a 70# bar)
Barbell roll outs (think ab wheel)
18 minute AMRAP
400 meter run
20 thrusters (55# rx)
10 toes to bar
10 burpees
I finished 3 rounds + 1 run.
I took class at our gym’s CrossFit box for the first time in gosh…a year? 18 months? I was wrapping up one meeting and had a small window to workout before teaching. I liked the look of the WOD so I decided to go for it.
Man, this workout totally smoked me! I always forget how much harder I push myself when I’m working out with a class instead of doing WODs on my own. Especially when over half the class was people I coached for the better part of two years! I was sore for three days from the barbell roll outs and thrusters…and my arms were still shaking when I got to the studio to teach. Good stuff! 🙂
Thursday
Hot yoga
I audibly groaned on that first jump back to chaturanga because my tricpes were so sore from the thrusters!
Friday
Hot yoga
Last day of the 62 day challenge!
Saturday
1 mile warm up run + strength
3 rounds of the following supersets. Do three rounds of each exercise in the superset back to back before moving onto the next superset.
10 dumbbell chest flies (25#)
10 chest push ups
10 dumbbell front squats (holding one 45# dumbbell)
10 dumbbell plie squats (holding one 45# dumbbell)
10 bicep curls (20#)
10 tricep dips (bodyweight)
10 single leg deadlifts (holding one 30# dumbbell)
10 split squats with back leg on bench (holding two 20# dumbbells)
10 assisted pull ups (using machine)
10 bent over rows (holding 25# dumbbells)
Sunday
5.5 mile run with a friend
This was my first run in the 30s and wearing gloves. Definitely felt it in my lungs. I’ve been so lucky to run mostly in a tank and shorts up until this month!
That does it for me. Stay tuned later this week for more details on a January clean eating challenge that I’m spearheading with a friend, a recap of my weekend and New Year’s and a new strength training focus! Lots of good stuff to come in 2016 on the blog! 🙂
How do you combat feeling tired and sluggish? What helps you?
What’s your workout focus in the new year?
Have you ever completed any type of challenge?
