I am loving my Tuesday/Thursday ritual of yoga, oats and candles. I am working on making my life more peaceful and serene when I can to balance my busy days and everlasting to-do list, and it’s working well.
I woke up at 6 to get started on my day and did Yoga For Runners. It was my first intermediate level session and quite hard!! My muscles were shaking during the lunges, and I can feel that I worked them an hour later. But I was able to keep up after studying the pose guide. I think the reason I hated yoga for so long was I tried to do too much too fast (and hadn’t discovered audio yoga 🙂 ) A few weeks of the very beginner Hatha sessions where you just lay around and stretch made me want to do the more engaging warrior and lunge poses, whereas before I hated them because they were too much work. I used to love savasana and child’s pose, but – dare I admit it – now I prefer the more challenging poses. Not sure if I’ll ever crave an hour of yoga, but I think I’ve somewhat outgrown just 20 minutes as well. Shocking!
My current favorite poses: Down dog (used to HATE it!), anything twist, chaturanga (I’m good at it from lots of push-ups 🙂 ), low lunge, pigeon, triangle, warrior II, half moon, hands on hips & supported fetal position ( 
)
My current least favorite poses: warrior I, crescent lunge (HATE it!), reverse warrior, anything high leg (because I’m horrible at them), chair pose.
The Contents:
- 1/3 cup oats, 1% milk, water (plus a splash more for raisins), 1 tiny banana, pinch salt
- 1 tbsp raisins
- ~2 tbsp blueberries
- 1/4 Honest Foods Apple Ginger Country Square
- A few sugared peanuts
- Drizzle maple syrup
- Spoonful of Smucker’s Natural, followed by a smaller spoonful of Barney Butter!
I made French press today and followed Sumptown’s guide. It was a great cup of coffee! It did get cold pretty quickly so I think next time I should heat the water a tad bit more.
A very foamy chandelier
And she’s off!
allijag says
chair pose is the worst! i agree! 🙂
give it a few more weeks though, and i’m sure you’ll be talking about how easy it is!
Claliz says
Hi Kath,
Just wanted to let you know if you have any Larabars with peanut butter they were recalled – like lots of other peanut butter products sue to salmonella contamination (others are cookies, etc)… so please watch out!! Plain peanut butter is fine (as far as we know so far!)
Bridget says
Yay! I am getting into yoga now too and love the more challenging poses as well, I guess I just want to feel like I’m getting a workout too.
I have the same mug from Anthro but a “B” obviously…and my mom got it for me too 🙂
brandi says
I love that Yoga for Runners one – AND I also hate Chair Pose. I think that is my least favorite 🙂
Beadie @ What I Ate Yesterday says
I love warrior I, II and III, I ADORE downward facing dog and pigeon and half moon makes me feel like a rockstar and sun salutations are my heart. I don’t dig on forward folds.
Glad to see that you are starting to like yoga so much!
Julz says
0MG I loooove Reverse Warrior… L0VE! Have you tried any of the crow poses or forearm stands, or shoulder stands? They are DIVINE and REALLY work your core. I almost feel like I can fall asleep in them when I’m really deep in the pose! It’s like being in a drug induced state (N0T THAT I W0ULD KN0W!)… I’m just sayin!
The key to enjoying crescent is to focus on the energy between your hands… Focus on the earth and your feet powerfully sending the energy from the earth up into your legs, through your core, your tailbone, and up through your fingertips, shining your heart to the sun, while MAKING SURE T0 SUPP0RT Y0UR BACK WITH Y0UR C0RE (sooo important)… The energy between your hands will fuel and propel your pose deeper. It’s an absolutely beautiful pose, Kath! I can’t wait to hear if this helps you!
Julz says
0MG and forward fold is another favorite. I could cry during Sun Salutations, they are so beautiful <3
Meg says
Have a fantastic day! I wish I had time in the morning for a similar ritual!
Jennifer says
I wish I could get into yoga. I also found the yogadownloads site downloads sooooooooo slowly, so I get antsy waiting and end up not wanting to do it! Grrr. I also find the poses are hard on wrists, so those who have carpal tunnel (like me) are limited. Def prefer Pilates.
VeggieGirl says
Your least favorite poses are some of my favorites, haha!! I HATE temple pose 🙂
Sharon says
Tasty bowl of oats as always. I want to try yoga now!
K says
Love the foam!
Sarah says
I had to chuckle a bit at your comment about making your life more peaceful and serene.
Your day to day life is full of well-thought out beautiful and healthy meals, a beautiful home, a beautiful husband, lots of sleep and exercise. I’d say you are the picture of a peaceful and serene life!
JENNA says
thats great you are getting more into yoga!! pretty dishes btw 🙂
Katie says
That looks like one rich decadent bowl of oats. Can’t wait to try it.
zestycook says
Oatmeal looks great Kath….. I might have to try it:)
BethT says
I love that Yoga for Runners workout! And, I agree: chair pose is delivered straight from hell. HATE IT!
theoddbod says
nice brekky! i tried yoga yesterday morning too but the dvd stopped working half way though some relaxation stuff and i almost fell asleep! (it was 6am..)
Katie says
Yoga for runners sounds AWESOME! I used to teach power yoga and I can’t deal with the lame yoga classes they have at my gym now, but I’d love to find one of those!!
ps – weird note, but just wanted to say I LOVE that spoon you used this morning. I LOVE how delicate and long the handle is!!
Lori says
I’ve been doing the gentle hatha, and tried the 20 minute yoga for runners trial. That is hard! It was very hard on the legs. Not sure I want the whole version LOL!
Jasmine (Sweet and Fit) says
thats awesome how you have grown to appreciate yoga so much! It really is so much more challenging that I had ever imagined…. at least with the audio yoga you don’t have to do it for an entire hour, like I do in a class!
Karla says
Hi Kath –
I found your blog a while back looking for a recipe, I can’t even remember which one now. When I read that you were a member of calorieking (which I am also) I was hooked. I read your blog everyday all the way from Portland, OR. So I was super excited when you gave a stumptown shout out! I decided today was the day to leave a comment. You are an inspiration for me with my weight loss, thanks! 🙂
linds says
Those warriors can be painful.. Beautiful oats & coffee, as usual. Have a great day Kath!
Shelley says
Thanks for the link for the French press demo – my husband and I have been thinking about buying a press but the directions on the box are a little confusing. That link was great!
Andrea (Off Her Cork) says
I do the Gentle Hatha 1 after my runs in the morning and I love! Perfect for stretching all those runner muscles and totally relaxing. After that and a nice shower I’m all calm and ready to start my day. 😀
Biz319 says
I don’t think I could do audio yoga – I need to see what they are doing!
Congrats on that cool schedule!
Laine says
oooh, pigeon is my favorite!! I’m on day 22 of practicing everyday and I’ve noticed such a change in my body. I started out with short sessions, but now I am definitely craving longer and longer ones.
You might enjoy Shiva Rea, she does some really nice flow stuff, and gives you variations so you can do more as you advance.
Mel says
It all looks so good, your coffee looks so good with the foamy top.
runjess says
Have you ever paid for one of the yoga downloads? If so, do you know if you get to “keep them,” as in you can do them again and again after paying once?
seelee live (for the love of peanut butter) says
hey Kath. I know child’s pose is so easy but I think it’s supposed to be like that. good instructors will call for childs pose after doing a few sets (like sun salutation) of fast-flowing poses. They do this to gather your mind after working hard and begin stabilization. I find it v. helpful!!
Great oats (duh haha) have a beautiful day.
Sarah (lovINmytummy) says
What a beautiful ritual! I need more rituals like that in my life!
I didn’t like that yoga download the first time I did it, but it has grown on me, and really does hit all the right spots on my weary runner’s body.
Enjoy your day!
jh says
Thanks for the link to yoga for runners–I have never seen it before and it looks amazing. i love yoga but hate stretching for running so this is really great. Love the blog by the way.
bodaweightloss
Rachel says
I never do yoga anymore, but I think I was one of those who started too quickly when I should have eased into it. Thanks for the info about these shorter audio classes.
Btw, a random question, but can anyone tell me where the word “brekky” or “breaky” came from? Is this a regional term? I’ve never heard anyone use it before except more recently on food blogs and such.
Meghann says
Thanks for reviewing Yoga for Runners. I’m a beginner at Yoga too but have been dying to try the Yoga for runners. i think you’ve inspired me to atleast give it a try 🙂
KatieTX says
Pigeon is so good! I could stay there for 10 minutes and stretch my hips! Keep trying new ones, I bet you will find even more deep stretching poses you like!
HangryPants says
You know what is interesting about yoga, at least for me? The poses that you dislike or dread now will eventually become poses you look forward to doing. It’s like a little cycle like that. Just breathe!
JENNA says
Kath,
What brand of coffee do you use? Do you prefer the coffee press over your coffe maker now?
Danielle says
I hope you find the happy balance between serene and your busy days.
I need to make more of an effort to do that. It’s hard working during the week and then wanting to just go to the gym on weekends and then spend the rest of the weekend doing nothing. Maybe if I could work in more meaningful relaxing time on the weeknights I’d be more energetic on the weekends.
Do you have any tips for relaxing after a long day?
polly says
hi Kath!!
Oh I love your yoga faves and non faves list. hehe I do NOT like pigeon, but love him anyways. 😉 It’s funny I think your least fave list is my fave list. 😉 I swear it has to do with what comes naturally for everyone. Chaturangas are STILL so hard for my wimpy arms. Working on that!!
I love standing splits and half moon. My two over all favorites, I think. I have lots!
Hugs and yummy oats, my friend! XOXO
Sami says
I just wanted to wish you a happy day, Kath. 🙂
Shelby says
I haven’t tried most of the poses but I LOVE tree pose. It’s so simple but I love how it makes me feel taller 😉
Andrea of Care to Eat says
Stumptown!!!! Holla! Stumptown is on my top 10 list for reasons I love living in Portland – we even insisted that our caterer use them just for our wedding! Their coffee is THE best I’ve ever had.
Amelia says
Yoga for Runners sounds great. I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about it. Now I will definitely have to check it out!
Andrea [bella eats] says
Good for you with all the yoga!!! Mmmm…I love pigeon pose too. My hips get really tight from running and pigeon releases all of the tension! I like warrior and crescent too though because I feel like a real yogi when I do them 🙂 but I’m really bad at all of the balance poses requiring upper body strength because, well, I don’t have any. 🙂
Love your new K mug!
anne says
Just wondering… when you say 1/3 cup of oats, does that mean cooked oats? Or 1/3 cup dry?
thanks!
Jen says
the mug is totally awesome!! 🙂
I really, terribly need to get back into yoga! Glad you had a great morning!
Kath says
Julz ,
I will try really hard to focus on the energy between my hands!!
Thanks Katie 🙂
Karla ,
So glad KERF is helpful 🙂
runjess ,
Yes, you get to keep them. Once you download it to your computer it’s just like an mp3 file you have forever – on your iPod, etc.
Rachel ,
I don’t know, but I hate that word.
JENNA ,
We use any kind of coffee we can get, but if I buy it, I love Fresh Market’s flavored ones.
Our coffee pot broke so I haven’t been using it. Taste-wise I think they are comparable, but the French press sure it much more time intensive. I’d use a coffee maker if ours wasn’t broken.
Danielle ,
Lunar yoga (yogadownload’s), hot bath, reading in bed, candles, tea.
anne ,
Always uncooked.
Kath
Rachel says
I hate that word too!