Lately I've felt the need to sweat (and not only as I walk from my car to the house), so I joined the gym (this is the same gym I left about 18 months ago). I used to be an obsessive gym member. I would go every day for at least an hour (usually two!). I appeared to be in great shape on the outside, but inside I was a mess. It didn't matter how much fat I lost and muscle I gained, it was never enough and I started to hate the gym. After leaving the gym, I went through a lot of failed attempts at physical exercise, DVDs, books, magazines, you name it, I tried it, but nothing stuck. Finally, about a year ago, I found Sivananda yoga. It hit a chord with me and within three months, I quit my job and started yoga teacher training. I loved shifting my focus from purely physical exercise to a practice that integrated the body and mind.
After a year of practicing yoga on a regular basis, something has reawakened in me. I want to run, lift weights, take exercise classes, and SWEAT. There is a summer special at Meadow Mill right now, so I was even more motivated to take the leap and I joined last week. The gym is only a few blocks from my house too! Its heaven so far. I don't feel rushed, judgemental, or negative like I used to. Its more of an enjoyable and relaxing experience. My routine is shaping up to look like this: 30 minutes of cardio on the elliptical machine, 6-7 of the weight lifting machines, and then 20 minutes of yoga (on my own). After the workout, I sit in the sauna for about 10 minutes, rinse off, and walk home! I love it. I don't even have to drive there.
Speaking of driving, I am switching to public transit to get to my day job. There is a light rail station a few blocks from my house and the ride is only 20 minutes (same as driving). The walk from the station to work is about a mile. I'm not promising anything, but I am going to give it a try!
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3 comments:
Good for you on both counts. I switched gyms to one that's only a 5 minute drive from me but somehow I can't seem to muster up the energy to actually go there. I think about it every day, I plan for it, I schedule it and then I never go.
I used to be a gym rat back in the day too and then I went through the same period of wanting nothing to do with it. I'm still in the phase where I've been trying everything and anything related to exercise and nothing is sticking. However, I have actually been wanting to and almost craving the gym again, I know what you mean!!
And good for you on taking the train to work! If we had it here in Seattle area, I would do it in a quick second. I'm about 14 miles from work and it takes about 30 minutes in the car (I go earlier than most traffic) but it would take over an hour and 3 buses if I wanted to use public transport :(
Have a wonderful and safe 4th of July weekend!! Hugs!
How's the public transit going? I've been thinking of making the switch myself.
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