20 Something goin' Yoga

Yogi. Runner. Activist.

[20somethinggoingyoga]

Me and mini me in an attempt to recover day 1 & 2 of #mayibeginyoga2016 😂😂😂 Those editing skills tho 👌🏻 Hosted by @kinoyoga and @beachyogagirl Sponsored by @omstarsapparel and @liquidoactive

[20somethinggoingyoga]

Face down, booty up 😂 for day 30 of #MayIBeginYoga2016 Hosted by @kinoyoga and @beachyogagirl Sponsored by @omstarsapparel and @liquidoactive

[20somethinggoingyoga]

Cheating for day 27 of #MayIBeginYoga2016 Hosted by @kinoyoga and @beachyogagirl Sponsored by @omstarsapparel and @liquidoactive

[20somethinggoingyoga]

Nearly done, few days left! Enjoying day 26 of #MayIBeginYoga2016 Hosted by @kinoyoga and @beachyogagirl Sponsored by @omstarsapparel and @liquidoactive

[20somethinggoingyoga]

Day 24 of #MayIBeginYoga2016 Hosted by @kinoyoga and @beachyogagirl Sponsored by @omstarsapparel and @liquidoactive #yoga #yogachallenge #practice #onebreathatatime #love #yogi #yogalove #yogalife #urban #yogaeverywhere #yogagirl #om #yogis #yogini #yogapractice #yogacommunity #practiceyogachangeyourworld #yogalover #yogapants #coreofgratitude

[20somethinggoingyoga]

Outdoor before the rain starts 🏙 #britishsummer Day 20 of #MayIBeginYoga2016 Hosted by @kinoyoga and @beachyogagirl Sponsored by @omstarsapparel and @liquidoactive #yoga #yogachallenge #yogaeverydamnday #yogi #yogis #yogagirl #yogacommunity #yogalife #love #yogapants #onebreathatatime #yogaeverywhere #yogapose #yogainspiration #yogalover #om #namaste #practiceyogachangeyourworld #yogini #yogisofinstagram #commitment #practice #change #igyoga #peace

[20somethinggoingyoga]

Today I've finally.. Nah, my back is still stiff 😂 🕉 work in progress 🕉 Day 19 of #MayIBeginYoga2016 Hosted by @kinoyoga and @beachyogagirl Sponsored by @omstarsapparel and @liquidoactive #yoga #yogachallenge #yogagram #yogagirl #yogi #practice #onebreathatatime #yogini #practiceyogachangeyourworld #challenge #love #yogalife #yogapants #yogagirl #yogalove #yogaeverywhere #yogaeverydamnday #igyoga #yogacommunity

[20somethinggoingyoga]

Took my beloved @liforme for a ride to complete #day4 of #MayIBeginYoga2016 Hosted by @kinoyoga & @beachyogagirl and sponsored by @omstarsapparel & @liquidoactive #fun #yogachallenge #yogagirl #yogalife #yogalove #upwardfacingdog #asana #practiceyogachangetheworld #onebreathatatime #yogini #love #practice (at Birmingham, United Kingdom)

[20somethinggoingyoga]

[20somethinggoingyoga]

By 6:30 I am already used with all the iPhone ringtones and I think I’ve learned how to snooze while sleeping. I am the sort of person that sets 10 alarms, with motivational messages and different ring tones to make sure I wake up on time. Well, Apple should upgrade the alarm as the sounds are already part of my morning ‘playlist’ and I’ll soon end up enjoying them. At 7:00 I wake up panicked I’ll be late to work and try to convince myself that it is ok to skip the morning run or just leave it for later. But then… I’ve been doing this all my life and somewhere, at the very bottom of my heart, I feel like I can’t carry on like this. Sorry procrastination, will have to procrastinate you today.  

Step 1:  Leggings, pjs under the jacket, running shoes, tissues to wipe my tears and water

Step 2: Headphones + playlist (Bastille today) and ready to… Holy Mother of Cold!!!

I have been running for over 4 weeks now, on rainy, windy and very cold mornings, but nothing like today’s temperature. For the first time this year, the track by the canal was as frozen as my heart. First run of the week, longest distance so far and I have already felt shattered as soon as I got out of the building.

This week is going to be a killer. UK has announced the lowest temperatures for this winter and my coach assigned me the highest targets so far:

 Tips & Tricks:

1.     Carry water with you. I have a Nike running jacket that has loads of pockets so it’s easy for me to carry a small bottle. I’ve seen others wearing belts of even arm bands, but for this stage, if it’s not possible to carry the bottle make sure you drink 250ml before living the house.

2.     ISOTONIC – apparently helps a lot and gives extra energy. I haven’t tried it yet but am planning to in the near future.

The water made miracles on the way and for the first time ever I have managed to run 7km at 6:40 min/km without stopping. I am not bragging about how easy it was, but I felt damn proud of reaching a real target for the first time! Surprisingly, at the time I was already looking forward for tomorrow’s run. Don’t worry though, I’m over it now and am sure I’ll hate it again in the morning.  But my point is, today I finally felt good after doing it. At 8 am I was back home, showered and managed to get to the office on time feeling highly productive and ready to mingle. Here’s the proof of today’s performance:

[20somethinggoingyoga]

New year, new.. S**t is Feb already..

A day will come, when I will no longer be able to lie to myself. Lucky, today is not that day, but no matter how much I am trying to prove that is possible to maintain my ‘harmful’ lifestyle (aka wine and food overdose), reality slaps me every single time I put my running shoes on. Today, I have completed my 4th week of training and despite being told that ‘it’s something’ I don’t feel like I have properly commited to it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m aiming for progress not perfection, but I still have a long way ahead to call myself a runner. 

Although the weather is against me every morning and my bed is not willing to let go, I prefer to run at early hours as it is still dark outside and no one sees the struggle on my face. And boy, how I struggle..

The past two weeks have been slightly more difficult as the number of km has increased. Coincidentally, so have the Chardonnay units and number of meals. Once again, it’s all about balance. So, as you can already imagine, while is very easy to intake the ‘harmful stuff’ I have hated my guts after the first km. Thus, no progress so far and here’s how my running goes: 

If you don’t relate to my experience, congratulations! You are my hero and I wish I was like you! On the other hand, if you are anyhow like me, you will have to make some drastic decisions on the way. Yes, I know wine makes life better and I’m sure there is a special place in heaven for the person who discovered garlic bread. I also know that waking up early sucks and I have yet to discover how running will give you more energy. But tonight my coach sent me next week’s schedule and ‘I s**t you not’ I am still laughing after having read the message for the 10th time. (detailed schedule will follow tomorrow)

This, along with the ‘suicidal’ thoughts after each training have made me realised that i won’t be getting anywhere if I try to balance two completely opposite lifestyles. So, I have decided to change things for 1 week and see if I notice any differences. Should my running become easier, I might do it again once in a while, otherwise, I’ll simply admit I was not made for physical activity and get back to the old me. But starting tomorrow, I will have 7 full days of ZERO alcohol, proper nutrition (further details to follow),  4 morning runs and 6 Yoga sessions. And yes, I work 9-5 and do my master’s degree as well. (this is why I need wine) 

Do note that every change in my life starts on Monday and I feel no shame in writing this with my one and only red. If I’m still alive at the end of the week, I will let you know how it goes. 

[20somethinggoingyoga]

Let the pain begin!

Here I am, sitting in the office and writing February’s first post. It has been a while since I’ve shared my last experience, but you’ll have to understand that I was extremely busy balancing my body with the nature by hibernating the whole month. While I am happy we’re getting closer to the summer, I’m still feel like Christmas was yesterday. I guess this ‘adult-ing’ makes time fly aaaand I’m 40. 

But, before that, I’ll have you know that I am keeping my promise of running at the Birmingham Black Country Marathon. Can you believe that? Me neither. 

Well, it’s not me, it’s my coach that keeps embarrassing me every day with his active Facebook pictures and sends me weekly schedules. I am ought to run in the morning (like having to wake up for work was not enough) and send him my performances at the end of the week. He keeps me on track by checking my Runtastic account and although I though of riding my bike for a better timing, I have to send him videos so he can measure my posture. Extremely supportive, highly motivational and very strict, so basically there is no way out. Thank God we have not spoken about nutrition yet! I am avoiding the subject as much as I can, hopefully I’ll manage to keep my relationship with Mr. Sauvignon Blanc until the end of the month (at least) 

Meanwhile, here’s this week’s schedule:  

Tips & Tricks: 

1. Aim for resistance, not speed. 

2. Keep the time frame between 6:40-7:10 per km. 

3. Knees up, tiptoes and active arms. 

4. Make sure you’re not wearing your pyjamas if running in the morning. 

And here’s my Tuesday performance: 

Whenever you need a good laugh, you can find me on Runtastic as Antonia Hruscovschi. Feel free to add me so we can complain about our experience together. 

[wnq-writers]

You see more flaws in yourself than anyone else ever will. Everyone is too busy focusing on their own flaws to notice any of yours.

Lynette Simeone   (via wnq-writers)

[20somethinggoingyoga]

Jan Practices

It’s Monday and after a never ending day at the office followed by 3 hours of intense MBA teaching, I really needed my Hot Yoga class!  Do not worry though, I'm not here to preach the ultra-active life for women that wake up at 6 am to work out, go to office and shine at the end of the day. Those ladies are my heroes but they’re also a mystic ideal I will never reach. I, on the other hand, hate Mondays, drag myself out of the bed after sneezing the alarm for 30 times and have no shame of showing the exhaustion on my face at the end of the day. If it was not for the overdose of caffeine, I would not be able to go out of it alive. Why? Mondays are my nightmare: I leave the house at 6 am to do some extra hours at the office so I can attend uni in the afternoon, finish with a Hot Yoga class and get home by 10 pm. At that time, the only thing I am still capable of is to take a shower and scroll on Instagram until I fall asleep. 

Today’s class however, has inspired me! It was the laziest Hot Yoga class I have had in a while! Richard, my instructor at Yoga Sweat Birmingham had raised an amazing point tonight about how bodies are in balance with nature and we should accept its tendency to ‘hibernate’ during winter. This is one of the reasons why January (mid-winter) is not a good time to force your body into fulfilling your ‘new me’ duties. 

Say no more Richard! Say no more..

I’ll be back in July when my body is done hibernating.

But, leaving my laziness apart, this was quite an interesting approach. Rather than a challenging, ultra-sweaty practice, with emphasis on correcting the postures, synchronising the breathing with the movements, and trying to chance certain aspects about yourself, today was all about positivity and acceptance. 

Although selfish, I have only taken in consideration the things that I am good at. I have settled a personal intention by visualising myself more confident along with being satisfied for strongly holding a plank or raising up to warrior 1 without falling on the side. Today, it did matter that I could not force myself into another vinyasa and felt extremely comfortable with meeting others in down-ward-facing dog. By the end of the class I have not worked as much as I usually do and that is OK!

Meanwhile, enjoy another 2016 ‘calendar wanna be’ picture from my latest holiday in Cannes! 

Namaste Yogi’s!  

[20somethinggoingyoga]

Kickstart the year!

New year, new.. wait, no! I am still carrying with me the new year resolutions from 2010, so this year I have decided to take a yogi approach and LET IT GO!

Here I am, typing my first post of this year after an amazing evening at the studio with an extra crowded Hot Yoga class. Yoga Sweat in Birmingham has quite large studios but lately I have notices loads of new comers. I guess this time of the year people decide to try new things and I am glad to see that Yoga is one of them. I have also had my first practices last year in January and here I am one year later writing about my experiences.

Talking about trying new things, I am glad to announce that although I do not consider it a resolution, this year I will be running the Birmingham Black Country Marathon on 2nd July! Before you laugh, let me tell you more about myself:  

1.   I am a hard core coffee drinker (sometimes up to 4 cups per day)

2.   Pasta + wine or pizza + beer are my favorite combinations and are always welcome

3.   I am not capable of running more than 1 mile without having a heart attack

Well, now you can laugh even harder.

Basically, the only healthy thing in my life is Yoga, but that is about to change for a while as I will be virtually trained by a Romanian marathoner that completed numerous laps including the ‘Maraton des Sables’ in 2014. So, there is no way back now.

Aris Necula will guide and train me starting with my first run tomorrow morning. I have mentioned ‘virtually’ because he is currently based in Romania and will be checking my performances through one of the most famous running apps: Runtastic.

I will be writing about his program and my performance along the way. January will be the accommodation month, for which he has recommended a ‘light’ schedule and the trainings will intensify each month. Obviously, we do not have the same understanding of a ‘light’ schedule, but considering that I will be starting in the middle of the week I have the following program to play with until Monday:

Wednesday - 30 min walk

Thursday - 30 min jogging

Friday - A well deserved break

Saturday - 30 min jogging

Sunday - 2 km jogging

Tips:

-       Run on tip toes or soul of the foot

-       Never EVER start running without a full body warm up

-       Always hydrate before a run

[beyondfabric]

Ignoring your passion is slow suicide. Never ignore what your heart pumps for. Mold your career around your lifestyle not your lifestyle around your career.

(via lopmon)

[20somethinggoingyoga]