I am so honored to have Amy @train.eat.repeat do a guest post for me today! She is super talented and the best yoga instructor in America! Yes that's right America! Amy and I met while our husbands attended MidWestern University in Glendale, AZ. She helped me through some rough times while I was pregnant with the twins. She stopped by once a week to check on me. Helped me stay sane after they were born. And though we haven't seen each other in over 3 years she still is a close friend and is very supportive with my adventure in green smoothies and blogging. Thanks again AMY!
So What’s the Deal
with Yoga Anyway?
Amy Tenney, Yoga Teacher, Triathlete, Wife and Momma.
Sure, Yoga Handstands look awesome on Instagram, but you can
certainly enjoy yoga without them. Don’t let all those extra bendy, upside down
photos that scare you away from trying yoga, or staying with it, or trying it
again. If you can breathe, you can do
yoga. Seriously. Yoga means to “yoke” or “unite.” We unite our breathe with our movement, our
body with mind and soul. I thought about
what I could offer you, dear readers, as both a yoga teacher and lifelong
student and all I could come up with is HONESTY. So here we go:
Does it stink in HOT
yoga?
Sometimes, yes. I
live in El Paso so the aroma of my evening class resembles green chilies from
time to time. Haha. Whatever you’re eating, you’re sweating out
its aroma. How’s that for motivation to
clean up your diet?
Will we end the class
frolicking in a circle and throwing flowers?
Ummmm, no. When I
started teaching at a Crossfit gym, the owner really asked me this. For some, yoga is a spiritual journey. For some
it’s a lifestyle. For other’s it’s strictly a workout. Many take a few pieces from all these
elements.
I tried Yoga—ugg! I know I need it, but seriously, I couldn’t
concentrate. I hate it.
If you don’t like the vibe of one class, try out another
one. Maybe my style isn’t right for you,
but maybe there’s a different style, a different teacher you connect with. Yoga ranges from the restorative and
meditative (often labeled: Hatha, Yin or Restorative) to the dynamic, sweat
your guts out challenging (Vinyasa Flow, Power, Hot, Ashtanga). From the music choices to the pace of the
class, you need to find something you enjoy.
Is Yoga just for thin
bendy girls?
No! Emphatically
no! I actually have more male students
than female, and every body type. I work
with our local high school football and baseball teams. These athletes found yoga helped with injury
prevention, flexibility and focus. My Crossfit
and runner friends agree. As a triathlete,
I've found yoga helps me recover faster to hit my next workout harder. For the non-athlete, curious and skeptical
about yoga, the invitation remains. Find a style and teacher that meshes with your
personality and goals.
Do I have to be vegetarian,
vegan, fruitarian to REALLY be a yogi?
Do I have to give up sugar and happiness?
Find your personal balance between food and fitness. What works for me might not work for
you. I love fresh vegetables and
fruit. I incorporate as much wholesome food
as I can and hydrate well. That being
said, I went hiking one morning and did yoga at the summit. While standing in tree pose, I had an
epiphany: I love “Macadamia Lacey’s”
from Trader Joes and I’m not going to apologize for it!!! It’s a thin caramel/macadamia/chocolate
creation that I absolutely love. I’m not
going to tell you what to eat. I will
tell you that the food we fuel our bodies with makes an impact mentally and
physically; so figure out the best way to take care of yourself.
When we honor our bodies and the movement available to us, we
learn to appreciate our abilities, limitations, flaws and possibilities. We strive for progress and find joy in the
journey. Namaste!
You can follow Amy and all her amazing moves on instagram @train.eat.repeat
She is an amazing athlete and great cook and an exceptional friend and Mother!!
