Tag Archives: Yoga

Oakley Women Summit 2013

Posted on by
17

Hello from 30,000 feet!
Let me just start by saying if I had known before that the exit row has like, triple the leg room… I would have been volunteering to sit here all my life. It’s pretty much the poor man’s first class. ;) moving on…

I sit here, rather humbled and inspired by this past weekend. Once again, similar to the feelings I experienced after our trip to Napa over the summer — A very rare feeling… I’m absolutely speechless.

It’s difficult to put into words the inspiration and total bad-assity of the entire Oakley Women’s family. From employees, to athletes, to ambassadors; it is a family who is passionate about a healthy, active, kick-ass lifestyle. A family that pushes each other every day to live in the moment, tackle our goals, laugh until our 6 pack abs turn into an 8 pack, ;) and be as fearless and incredible as we can be.

 

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

20130108-034335.jpg

The weekend was designed so that we could field test one of Oakley’s largest markets. — Winter and action sports, and to learn more about their 2013 focus, including how this amazing ambassador team is going to help drive their initiatives.

Oakley is incredibly wellknown for their eyewear, this includes ski/snowboarding goggles. What a lot of people don’t realize is that they also design beautiful, functional, awesome gear and apparel for practically all sports. Snow sports included. What better way to field test their winter-wear than to stick us on one of the most technical mountains in North America and set us loose to shred the slopes?!

But, lets not get ahead of ourselves. On Friday all of us gals (and Shawn) flew in to Salt Lake City where we were shuttled through the valley and up the mountain to Snowbird Resort. From there we all met up at the Oakley House, overlooking the incredible mountains. For a moment I thought “this must be what heaven looks like“

20130107-202440.jpg

After letting the beautiful surroundings sink in and catching up with some of my favorite ladies in the entire universe, we were served a homemade sushi dinner that our balllller Oakley chef prepared for us, and launched into 2013 discussion. The ins, the outs, the what’s to come. It was such an informative, inspiring meeting that left all of us on the edges of our seats stoked for this year. Stoked to be a part of this rockin’ brand.

20130107-202652.jpg

It was early to bed for most of us, because Saturday morning started bright and early to get our gear and hit the mountain. Our Oakley mamas did a phenomenal job of accommodating everybody’s varying skill levels. They even set up some of the gals who have never skied or snowboarded with lessons! I woke up that morning nauseous with the worst headache. I’m pretty sure the altitude. Slowly through out the day I started feeling better, the more I chugged water and got moving!

Snowbird is not exactly the same as many of the ski resorts I’m used to. Back East I would have no worries hitting a black diamond slope at Holiday Valley.. Even Vail. At snowbird, yeah-friggin-right. ;) However everyone was prepared for the elements with layers of Oakley gear. For the first time, almost ever, I own ski pants that ACTUALLY FIT!!!!!!! Every other pair I’ve ever owned tend to be at least 167 times too big. Not exactly the most flattering thing in the world. My purple MFR pants and Crowbar Ski Goggles make me feel and look pretty fabulous. Feeling confident goes a long way in helping you execute to your fullest potential.

20130108-030539.jpg

After an incredible day on the mountain, everyone cleaned up and back to the Oakley house we went for a Mexican dinner and Product Review. It is so amazing to me that Oakley cares so much what we think. They take all of our field testing results and send them to the design team to ensure premium, quality product. Sometimes implementing changes immediately. How cool is that? They have an entire team just designated to field testing, because they truly value their consumers opinion.

20130108-023706.jpg

The alarms were going off in the morning for our last full day in Snowbird!! The morning started with a fun yoga class lead by fellow Oakley Women Ambassador, Lacey! It was an upbeat and fun Hour! During yoga and after, we had a fitness photo shoot where we got to take a quick fitness class with celebrity trainer Michelle Lovitt! She is such a hilarious and fun spirit!! Next time we all meet up I’m making sure she kicks my booty! ;)

20130108-030107.jpg

It can’t ALL be playtime and living it up in Winter Wonderland. We were all there for one reason, and that’s all about the big Oakley picture. So after the photo shoot we were back up in the Oakley house for various round table discussions and a much earned lunch. We were back in play mode in no time though. The rest of the evening was spent learning about the lives of each woman in the room. 30+ inspiring, strong women (and one kick ass dude) all sharing their stories and passions. It was amazing to see how far so many if us have come in the short time since Napa.

20130108-040958.jpg

We each had to wear the spirit hood as we told our story…

20130108-041012.jpg

Just like that, in the blink of an eye the Oakley Women Summit was coming to a close. The weekend just zipped right by, and before I knew it we were parting ways last night in elevators hugging and soaking in every last minute.

These women have and continue to change me. They put that pep in my step that I know will help me destroy training for my first marathon.

In order to uncover your true potential, you must find your limits and blow past them.

A Yogi Love Story

Posted on by
11

Some of the greatest love stories of all time started with a very bad first date. By the end of the night you go to bed disgusted and even a little disappointed in yourself for giving it a try in the first place. Little do you know that it really was the beginning of something great, and your life will never be the same. Sometimes you find love in the strangest of places.

My first date with yoga was a disaster. I had such high expectations. After all, I was a gymnast and ballerina my entire life…. Flexibility is something I prided myself on throughout those years. They apparently had gone completely out the window. A distant memory. My rigid muscles aside, there was more to this horrible first date. I couldn’t get my breath on track. As the teacher would count for an inhale, I would be exhaling. I would try to correct it only for them to be proceeding to the exhale themselves. I couldn’t stop comparing myself to the rest of the students in class. The first “ommmmmm” left me giggling and rolling my eyes. The welcoming of the present moment freaked me out…

Favorite yoga mat ever. Thank you Oakley!

A few years later and I am in a healthy, loving relationship with yoga. I fall more in love each class I take, or video I workout with. Yoga has been a great teacher and source of healing for me, especially in this last year. It has taught me to silence my mind, connect with my body, discover my spirit, and focus on the present moment. After all, yesterday is in the past and tomorrow is never promised. All we can do is live and love in the present moment. Something, that before yoga, I was never able to do.

The first time I felt the immense quiet of emptying my mind, I almost cried. The first time I learned how much stronger my body was than my mind believed, I discovered what accomplishment really meant. I could finally breathe. A new mantra that has helped me through so many struggles since then.

It became the perfect yin to my crazy, stressful, out of control yang of a life. Once I started really getting into running, it was like the three of us were destined to be together. They couldn’t be two more different disciplines, but as a whole we make one very happy body and mind.

Perhaps the joy springs because I know the perils of the dark side so well, because I am a champion of the light, and every moment of peace, reconnection, and love, signals victory. Whatever the cause, I will never question it. I am thankful to have stumbled into that first yoga class when I was still in community college. This year would have been drastically different (in a negative way) if I didn’t conquer my mind.

Have you ever taken a yoga class? Do you love it or hate it?

Name it and Claim it: 2013 – The Year I Become a Surfer

Posted on by
11

Since becoming an Oakley Women’s Brand Ambassador, I have been following Oakley Dispatch on pretty much all social media platforms. Oakley Dispatch is a Surfing and lifestyle documentary based around the world class talent that makes up the Oakley Surf Team.

Following along this incredible journey has made me fall in love with the sport of Surfing. Meeting and spending time with professional Surfer Erica Hosseini during the Oakley Women’s Ambassador retreat in Napa didn’t help matters much… Not only was she one of the most rad and down to earth chicks I’ve ever met, she also had so much passion about the sport that I couldn’t help get the itch to dive into it myself!!

Since then, I have been studying surfing like it’s my job. I just can’t get enough of it!! The Surf Science, Theory and Culture just pulls me in and there is no more denying it.

…my bookshelf has gotten a little full of used surfing books. Who knew there were so many great ones on Amazon?

I have decided 2013 is going to be the year I become a surfer. I know that it’s hard because I live in Central Texas, where I am utterly land-locked. However, in the Spring and/or Summer I am heading to Surf Camp in Hawaii! I’m also heading to South Padre Island in the spring for lessons. I’m not kidding when I say I am going to become a surfer next year.

I have surfed twice in the past. Both times I spent a majority of my time smacking the water and just paddling around on the board. The first time was in the Bahamas in 2009 and the second time was while I was living in Florida during a trip to Miami with my boyfriend at the time. In the Bahama’s we didn’t exactly have a formal lesson. We just kind of had fun with our leashed boards that we rented and played around. In Miami we did take a 2 hour class with a bunch of other tourists and mostly practiced on land and in “white water” next to shore. I don’t think I stood up for more than 15 seconds max. It was still a complete blast, and was incredibly freeing. It’s amazing what the open water can do for your mind. It was a wild feeling…. Even if I wasn’t very far out into the water at all.

I already have a few basic things down that are helpful when starting out as a surfer. I have some endurance in me from the last two years I’ve spent running, I also have pretty decent balance, thanks to the 13 years of gymnastics under my belt… But, those aren’t the only important pre-requisites for surfing.

Over the next five months I will be diligently working on my swimming, yoga, and core work. As well as still running, of course. Getting into surfing, I have no intentions of replacing my running with it. I will always be running.

I can do a mean doggie paddle, I can do the breast stroke.. I can definitely swim, just not very gracefully or fast. Any swimmer with a day of training under his or her belt would be ashamed that I even call my ability to stay above water and move forward, SWIMMING! ;) I will be focusing on the front crawl/freestyle especially. Gotta be able to paddle out and survive the waves if and when you fall off the board! Honestly, THIS is my biggest fear with surfing. I don’t mind the open water, I don’t mind the huge waves. I don’t mind falling off the board and smacking the water hard.. I am worried about being able to make it back to my board and/or shore after being pulled under. It’s a wee bit frightening to think about. Yes, beginners usually surf with a leash.. But, it’s only a convenience factor. It is not a guarantee and one day, the leash will be taken off or broken. So swimming is my #1 priority.

I’m off to my first “Charlotte’s Prep for The Year of Surfing” yoga class this morning at Dharma Yoga. This will also be my first class in Austin!!! I’m really looking forward to it. I miss yoga classes. I do videos frequently at home, but there just isn’t the same buzzing meditative energy at home as there is in a packed class.

Maybe one day I’ll even get to shred some waves with the athletes who live love and train at the Oakley house in the North Shore in Hawaii ;)

Photo Credit: Oakley Dispatch Instagram @Oakley__Dispatch

Have you ever surfed? Have you ever wanted to surf?
Have you ever chased a fitness dream that most people thought made you crazy?

13.1 Take Two – Better Stronger Faster

Posted on by
14

Training for my second half-marathon begins in a few weeks.

SOURCE: unning.competitor.com

Training this season is an entirely different ballgame. At the beginning of training for Columbia Iron Girl, I honestly wasn’t sure if I was capable of running for 13.1 miles. Now, with Columbia behind me — I know that I can rock the distance. It’s all about rocking it stronger. Boyyyy do I feel like I will be starting on the right foot.

My hip issues were a blessing in disguise. I know, that sounds crazy… But hear me out. Before I started experiencing pain, I was focusing on strengthening only my core and upper body. I hardly paid any mind to the lower body. I’ve always had strong, powerful legs — it never occurred to me that my hips and glutes may be extremely weak. Since focusing on listening to my body, and balancing my strength training; the aches & pains I feel while running are very minimal, if they appear at all.

One thing that totally excites me: THIS COURSE IS FRIGGIN FLAT!!! Columbia is hilly, and I knew that going in… But I didn’t know HOW hilly it really was. That was a rude rude RUDE wake up call.

Now that looks beautiful ;)

I’ve designed a plan of attack that I’m hoping confident will bring me to the finish line stronger, faster, more confident and most importantly less miserable. (The last 4ish miles of Columbia I would have rather be hit by a car than continue running)

  • Listen to my body. The first time around, I was so focused on getting in my miles, following my training as close to 100% as possible. I ignored the aches & pains. I ignored the huge red flags. As a result, I crossed the finish line with the beginning to my hip issues. Issues that I am still working to correct.
  • Run with a group. Having just moved to Baltimore I didn’t know very many people, and the group runs that were held at Charm City Run intimidated me for that reason, and the fact that I was slow. This time I’m not letting that interfere. I’ve grown to know many of the employees, and runners in the community. No one cares if I’m in the back of the pack. It’s all in my head… Plus, running with faster people is known to help speed up a runner. Feeling the need to keep up with the mid-front of the pack will give me the boost I need.
  • Continue to strengthen the hip abductors. I can’t afford to allow my body to break down again. I’m being pro-active this go around. Flying Pig FULL Marathon training begins shortly after San Antonio. I’m planning to use this training as a way to go into Marathon training the strongest I’ve ever been in my life. Physically, Mentally, Emotionally.
  • Don’t Race to Train. Train to Race. I’m still learning the whole, long run pace thing. Pacing myself is something I’ve always had a problem with. I used to be a sprinter, on the track team. Ya know, go all out as hard as you can for a short period of time. The whole ‘conserving your energy’ thing — lost on me. But I’m learning. I love seeing a fast pace on my garmin and seeing how long I can hold it… It doesn’t end well when I can hold it until the point of puking for 4 miles, and I still have 4 more to go for the day…. heh.
  • More Water, Less Sugar. I am sort of kind of addicted to Mt Dew. It’s disgusting and awful… Its literally eating away at my soul, I know!!! But — I’ve cut back significantly. By the time I start training for San Antonio, I want to have it cut out entirely. I want to only be drinking 100% juices, water, and sports drinks. No more sugary crap that is hurting my body and my runs.
  • Foam Roll. Yoga. More Yoga. I felt, super limber & awesome during my 30 day yoga challenge. While I’m not going to say I’ll do yoga EVERY day during training (because well thats not realistic for me. I just wont be able to keep up with it 7 days a week for 12 weeks) I AM going to do it at least 3 days a week through all 12 weeks of training. A limber runner, is a happy runner.
  • Spend more time outside of my comfort zone. I discussed this in a post a few weeks ago. I run comfortably about 80% of the time. That isn’t going to get me very far now is it? Exactly. Time to let it hurt for longer periods of time. I’ve been doing speed work, and it hurts.. for like 30 minutes.. But I’m going to step it up a notch. Speed workouts are going to be a weekly thing.

Heres to a few weeks of mentally preparing for whats to come! 12 weeks of half marathon training. 3 weeks of “recovery miles” Then 20 weeks of FULL marathon training.

Solstice in Times Square: Athleta Mind Over Madness All-Day Yoga

Posted on by
1

Wednesday, June 20th will be the longest day of the year – the Summer Solstice.

In celebration, Athleta is holding an event in Times Square called – Solstice in Times Square Mind Over Maddness, All Day Yoga! Where 9,000 yogis are expected to greet the sun as they find tranquility in the worlds most frenetic place. (You can join for free any time during the day!! Classes will be going on from 7:30am to 8:30pm.)

Class Schedule:

7:30am – 8:45am - Open to all levels (Drisana Carey)
12:30pm – 2:00pm - Bikram, open to all levels (Rajashree Choudhury)
3:30pm-4:45pm - Open to all levels (Douglass Stewart)
7:00pm – 8:30pm - Open to all levels (Dana Flynn)

In addition, Athleta is inviting yogis across the country to join together and share a collective ‘om’ at all of their 16 retail locations as well! To find an Athleta location near you you can scoot on over to their website here. Classes are open to all skill level!

All of my Maryland loves, Towson’s Dulaney Plaza location will be having class from 8:00 – 9:00am

I was super excited when I heard about this. As you probably know, unless you’re new around here ;) I’ve been on a 30 day yoga streak. June 20th will launch the last 10 days of it (Though seriously, I may not stop.) So it will be fun to do outdoors in the Summer sunshine in beautiful Towson!!!

I encourage you, if you’re in NYC – or have an Athleta store near you, pencil it into your planner for June 20th! :)