365 days of yoga

On June 20, 2019June 20, 2019 By lex270In Fitness, Parenthood, Uncategorized2 Comments

It was on the 20th June 2018 that I started doing yoga everyday.

Why? Yoga is something that I’ve always turned to in times of need. That sounds a bit dramatic, when I say need.. I mean, I couldn’t do any other sport.

So quickly, the three main times I’ve used it is when I was 19 and I’d had knee surgery. I was prepped to have a couple of days on crutches but once the surgeon had got in there, it turned out I’d done loads of damage, which led to being non-weight baring for TWO MONTHS. What the hell. They were a dark two months. I even turned to art to let out some emotion. Good lord. So after learning how to walk again, I turned to yoga to get my body moving.

Then I used yoga after having both babies, as you can’t just pop out a kid and hit the water two weeks later. And I don’t do very well when I can’t move my body, its how I think, brainstorm, plan, let anger out, grieve.. you get the picture. So yoga allowed me to start moving again.

I’d wanted to start doing yoga everyday for a long time, like a year, but NEVER made any effort to actually do it. Then it was my husbands birthday (and it was a big birthday) and I had a mid life crises. Not him. Me. What? I freaked out. Like, shit, we’re not getting any younger. Our bodies are only going downhill from here, I don’t want that to be it, I’m going to die!…. all of that.

That evening I did yoga.

I felt calmer.

That night I said to my husband, ‘I’m going to do yoga before you and the kids get up.’ I set my alarm for 6:30 (the household comes downstairs at 7am). The alarm went off the following morning, I got up and did a morning yoga routine on you-tube.

I felt amazing. Number one because I’d just woken my body up with yoga, but secondly because I had actually done it! And then I did it the next day, and the next… before I knew it, I’d done a week of yoga every morning. My days were better, I was eating better (you know me, I’m always over-hauling my diet, I love learning about different foods and what health benefits they have), and my mood considerably improved.

Noticing my mood with the kids was the real eye opener. Whether you have kids or not, sometimes you’re not in the best mood first thing in the morning. So for me, being thrown 101 questions and demands before I’d had my breakfast was a shit way to start my day. Everyday… until the end of time. Amen.

So, now with the yoga kick starting my day, I have limbered up, I’ve oxygenated my blood, got the blood moving around my body and gone through my checklist of three things to be grateful for in my life. (And I do between 10 – 20mins of yoga in the morning, not loads, but just enough). When the kids come down at 7am, I’m ready for them with a smile on my face, open arms for a morning cuddle and down to make breakfast, (I’m on hot water with lemon, porridge with walnuts, almonds, raisins and coconut, with full fat cows milk, maybe I’ll switch to a nut milk one day but I like dairy for now).

I honestly don’t think there were any more than 10 days in the last 365 days where I haven’t done yoga.

What have I noticed from doing yoga nearly everyday for a year?

1. I sleep better

2. I’m happier

3. I deal with things in a much calmer way

4. I’m stronger physically

5. I recover from workouts faster than I used to (yoga is stretching everyone, shhhhh)

6. I haven’t had any injury (touch wood!)

7. I feel agile, which I bloody love!

8. I feel 25 (I am not 25).

9. I want to eat better because I’ve started the day with movement

10. I can’t think of a single negative. Honestly. None. Nothing. Nada.

Doing yoga nearly everyday for a year wasn’t an experiment for me, I wanted to make a lifestyle change, a manageable one which I feel I’ve achieved. I wanted to be able to do the things I used to do in gymnastics, I want to push my body past what I could do as a kid, and stay active and agile for the rest of my life. I really didn’t expect it to have the effect it did on my daily mood that it did.

And now I’ve achieved one goal… its onto the next…

What I would love to do is get up a little earlier to get a 20min run/bike/hiit session in, and then yoga. We shall see… I’d need to get up at like 6am to fit all that in and then I’d need extra time to make a huge breakfast after that kind of activity! Mmmm fruit and banana pancakes…

I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog, maybe it’ll inspire one person out there to start integrating yoga, movement & mindfulness into their daily routine! 🙂 Do you do yoga often? What are your thoughts on it? Let me know if you’d like me to send you a few links to the morning yoga you tube videos that I followed!

How to wakeboard through the winter in England

On November 28, 2017November 28, 2017 By lex270In Fitness, Travel, Uncategorized, WakeboardingLeave a comment

Ahhhh its that time of year again.. The time when the trees are bare, the time when driving gets a bit dodgy because the sun sits in that awkward low position for most of the day. The time when you never have enough windscreen wash in your jet things. The time when you physically have to peel yourself off the sofa and get your ass to the gym when the only thing you want to do in the evening is veg out in your pjs with a glass of wine (cough, Sherry). Basically that time of year when England turns into a very gloomy place. Or it does for me anyway.

Theres an up side as well though… Hallelujah! You know those rare bluebird days when theres been a frost and the air is crisp? Those are my favourite days in the English winter. Unless it snows… I love snow.

Those crisp days are the best ones to ride on, theres just something slightly magical about them, even if they are bloody freezing. However, they don’t come about to often, so you just have to suck it up and ride in the miserable grey windy, drizzly weather this beautiful little island attracts.

So, how do we survive riding throughout the winter….?

Go abroad. Get on a plane and go ride somewhere hotter than here, preferably for the season and you’ll come back all tanned and smug because you’ve got a whole new bag of tricks.
If you’re going to ride in the UK, get a decent wettie. Don’t prat around with some useless piece of rubbish neoprene. Invest. I’m in the new Mystic Diva 5.3mm and its toastie warm.
If you’re rocking the open toe, get some socks. Otherwise get your hands on some Systems because you’re basically walking around in a snug snowboard style boot – toastie tootsies!
Gloves. Its a coin toss really. Do you want frostbite or do you want that unavoidable forearm ache that you only get with gloves. I go for the arm ache personally. Saves my manicure.
Maintenance. If you’re landing new tricks in the winter in the UK – give yourself a huge pat on the back. Otherwise, just maintain what you can already do so that you come into the next season ready to go.
Keep active. You can’t sit around doing nothing all winter and then expect to be able to shred your tits off come April. Keep those muscles active and work out in other ways, whether it be gym work, cycling, running, yoga… just keep moving.
Take your mates. Theres no fun in riding alone in the winter. Fact. And if theres people with you, you’re more likely to actually ride rather than sit in the cafe with a cuppa.
Flask. Invest in a flask and fill it to the brim with hot tea / coffee / hot choc… you’ll be grateful post ride.
Leave time for a shower afterwards – to warm up obvs.
If theres no shower, take a sleeping bag and drive home wearing it. Jokes. Take thermals, sweats, mountain attire; anything to keep you warm until you get home.
Fun is the word. Just be grateful you’re able to get out there and ride.

Gym Gear: Island Feather

On October 16, 2017 By lex270In Fitness, Uncategorized, WakeboardingLeave a comment

A while ago I ventured off to Plastic Playground down at the wake mecca that is Liquid Leisure. No, not to compete this year, but to spectate. After popping out a couple of kids, I have spent less time at lakes, but as my cherubs are getting on a bit (2.5 and 4.5yrs old), I feel I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The baby haze and toddler tunnel that is. So what better way to spend a Saturday, than watching some of the worlds finest wakeboarders do what they do best. Of course me being me, I mixed a bit of business with pleasure.

I had a meeting with the beautiful Claudia from Island Feather. This little package of hotness started an active wear company that she’s been working on for years. I remember the company first starting with hair accessories and its incredible how its grown into a amazing line of active wear. I was kindly given a few pieces from the line and of course I put them to the test. I wore them to my body pump class and also while practicing yoga and I’m in love. I love the fit and the feel, I love the design and the prints. Its great that there are three different sports bras as well; ones for low, medium and high intensity – which is just perfect if you do different activities like I do. If you are looking for some beach chic active wear then this is your go to brand!