In my quest to find consistency with some sort of exercise, my goal for February was to learn to do Yoga in the comfort of my home and do it 3 times a week.
Meet my renowned Yoga instructor Barbara Benagh...
This is my camping mat, turned Yoga mat...
As soon as I got my big kids off to school and my little ones fed it was Yoga time.
I started at the top of "Getting Started" and worked my way down, doing one each day.
Doing Yoga with mom was WAY more entertaining than Curious George or Minnie's Bowtique. Which made doing Yoga anything but relaxing. I tried doing Yoga while the girls were in the bathtub, just steps away from me. But my 3 year old needs a constant referee so after multiple interruptions I gave up on that idea. My main goal for the year is to get up an hour before the rest of the family for my personal prayer and scripture study which means I'm up around 5. I could get up at 4:30 for uninterrupted Yoga time but I refuse to give up another half hour of sleep.
I guess I should mention here that I am jinxed when it comes to exercise.
It never fails, every time I get into an exercise routine something happens to trip it up. Usually it's the birth of another baby. A few years ago it was a stalker at the gym. Another time, just as I was really starting to love running, it was my birthday and I was on a treadmill at the gym, I ran longer and harder than I'd ever ran before when all of the sudden my heart started racing. It took 90 minutes for it to go back to a normal heartbeat. Scared me to death. And that was the end of that. The only consistent exercise I've ever done for an extended period of time is walking with my husband, but neither one of us are dedicated enough to do it during the winter.
So was I surprised when my hip got messed up after my first week of Yoga? Of course not. After a weekend of no Yoga it seemed back to normal but then after a few more routines it was really messed up. So I made it through 3 weeks of my goal but it still worked out.
A while back my daughter Kloe told me she wanted to start jogging. I figured out if I made lunches the day before, Kloe and I could go jogging from 6:45-7:15 during the half hour I usually made lunches. So for the last 2 weeks we've jolked (a mix between a walk and a jog) in the mornings before school.
Meet Kloe--my 4th child. She is my child who loves to sing and act and has a huge heart. My child who HATES to play the violin but I make her play anyway. My child who speaks Spanish fluently and loves to sing songs in Spanish. My girl who is quickly approaching 13, is taller than me and wears all my clothes.
It actually has worked out so well! I get in some exercise and some quality time with my girl who is getting ready to enter the most difficult years of her life (Jr High).
We've been having good talks (except for yesterday when she didn't want to go but I made her and she didn't say a word the entire 2 laps around the block, and stayed a couple paces behind me.)
It was pretty cute though when she called me after school to say, "Mom, I'm sorry I was difficult this morning. I had a rough night and hardly got any sleep".
March Project: Put together a neighborhood cookbook with my neighbor Joyce.
8 comments:
I laughed so hard when I saw your yoga pictures with kids climbing all over you!! That is exactly what happens every time I try to do yoga at home! Hang in there. :) I love the idea of running with your teenager. Great way to bond!
Running with a built in buddy is great! I really enjoy yoga but I think I just liked Perry, the teacher I attended on and off for about 10 years. I did prenatal yoga from a library video back in the fall and miss heard the time commitment. I thought it said 15 minute sessions, turned out to be 50. Something will stick. But for sure, don't give up any sleeping time!
Working out with littles at home never went very well for me either. Way to go figuring out something that works! And I'm with Nora...don't give up any more sleep!
Kudos on sticking with Yoga. Yoga and my uncoordinated body really don't get along, but I could sure use some flexibility!
I think running with your daughter is so awesome!! I always think about starting that with my oldest, but I don't want to be tied to her free hours. You make it sound worth the cost! :)
Yoga time = jungle gym time in my house too! It's hard to find times to exercise as a mom isn't it. I love that you go running with your daughter! What a great way to spend some one on one time with her, even if she is going through a funk.
I LOVE yoga. Good for you for trying something new!
I always dream of fitting yoga into my schedule. It is awesome, but I have yet to do it consistently. The selfies of you and your daughter are the best!!
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