Honey-Dijon Salmon with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato Wedges

This was a great weeknight dinner. It takes about an hour, but there's a lot of down time where you can be doing other things (emptying the dishwasher, putting in some laundry, etc.) while it cooks. It's also all oven-based, which I always like since it feels less messy than having several pots and pans going at once.

I'd especially recommend this as a dinner for the night before a morning workout. I hate waking up feeling hungry and needing to work out before I can eat. The sweet potatoes will keep me full and the salmon has plenty of protein to fuel me through my workout tomorrow morning!

Honey-Dijon Salmon with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Sweet Potato Wedges
Serves 2

• 2 salmon fillets
• 1/2 lb brussels sprouts
• 2 sweet potatoes
• 2 tbs dijon mustard
• 1 tsp honey
• olive oil 
• salt 
• pepper

(1) I made the sweet potato wedges by following this guide over at Carrots 'n' Cake. They turned out great! I cut them up, tossed them in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Then, I put them in a baking pan in the oven on 350 degrees for 20 minutes then pulled the salmon out of the refrigerator.

(2) After the wedges were in the oven, I prepped the salmon by mixing the dijon mustard and honey together then spreading it over the fillets.

(3) After 20 minutes, I mixed the wedges up to make sure they cooked properly. Then, I placed the fish on another pan (greased with olive oil) and put them in the oven alongside the sweet potato wedges for another 20 minutes.

(4) As the salmon and sweet potato wedges baked, I got out my brussels sprouts and chopped them up in fourths.

(5) After chopping up the brussels sprouts, I tossed them in olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste. I used the same bowl as I used for the sweet potato wedges to save on post-dinner clean-up.

(6) Once the wedges and salmon were done, I put the brussels sprouts in a third pan alongside the other two and broiled all three pans for 5 minutes. Make sure to check on the salmon so it doesn't burn!

(7) Once everything had a nice bit of char, dinner was ready!

It doesn't look great, but it was delicious.

Heartbreak Hill

I don't normally take advice from clothing retailers, even if they are as awesome as lululemon, but I love their manifesto. Yesterday, I took one part of it to heart.

"Do one thing a day that scares you"
from lululemon's awesome blog

I've been avoiding Heartbreak Hill in the northwest corner of Central Park during my training for the Grete's Gallop Half-Marathon. Even though I'll have to run up Heartbreak Hill twice since the race loops around Central Park two times, I was petrified of this hill. I had biked up it a few months ago when I was casually biking around the park with a friend and had no idea The Hill existed. I remember pedaling and pedaling, wondering what on earth this giant thing was in a city I considered flat (I'm from Washington State, I know mountains, so Manhattan's hills don't impress me unless I have to run up them).

I had built up Heartbreak Hill in my mind as this horrendous trial that was going to break me come half-marathon day. I had gotten completely scared off from even approaching the northern part of the park.

Today, I told my mind to shut up (I may have used stronger language). I was determined to get over my fear of The Hill. I didn't take the last turn-off before the upper loop of the Central Park road. I told myself I wasn't allowed to stop as I ran up it. So... I didn't stop. I believed I could run up the whole hill at a steady pace. And I did!

Running up a hill without stopping might not seem like a lot to the experienced runners out there. Yet for me, running up this hill--The Hill--that I had built up so that it loomed large whenever I considered the half-marathon, felt like a huge personal achievement. I fist pumped and had a giant smile on my face as I jogged down the hill to finish my 4.5 mile run. This might be one of my favorite running memories for a long time.

What's your favorite running memory?

Half-Marathon Training Update & {inspiration}

Here's what I wanted to get done last week:

• 1 yoga class
• 1 hill run
• 3 cross training sessions
• 2 easy runs
• 1 long run

Here's what I did:

• 2 yoga classes
• 3 cross-training sessions (1 strength workout, 1 Physique 57 class, and 1 Uplift cardio-strength interval class)
• 1 short spinning session
• 1 easy run
• 1 long run

I had to adapt my plan since I had some pain in my foot that may have been tendinitis. I decided to add in extra yoga, which I think really helped a lot, and I got rid of the hill run and replaced an easy run with a short spinning session. The pain was gone by Wednesday, and after an awesomely tough cardio-strength interval class at Uplift Studios on Thursday night, I only had to fight delayed onset muscle soreness in my long run (8 miles) this morning. The run was rough, but I got it done, and it inspired me to think of this:

(source)

I love this. So many times during my run this morning, I felt like I couldn't do 8 miles. Since I'm new to longer distance running, each long run in my half-marathon training is the longest and farthest I've ever run. It can be really intimidating, especially since I'm also doing a pretty intense exercise regimen right now to get back in shape now post-summer job, while I have fewer school commitments.

As I approach my workouts and training for this week, I need to keep this in mind. I believe I can -- so I will!!

Goals for this week:

• 3 yoga classes (I think this will help heal my body from the physical stress of longer runs)
• 3 cross-training sessions (1 Uplift class, 1 Physique 57 class, and 1 workout with my trainer)
• 2 easy runs
• 1 hill run
• 1 long run (9 miles)

Have you faced any mental hurdles in training for fitness goals recently?

Studio Review: Uplift Studios - Get Uplifted!!

Confession: I am in love with Uplift Studios.

Located on West 23rd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues in Gramercy, this women-only fitness studio has amazing instructors, killer classes (seriously, 3 days later and I'm still sore from Chelsea's Uplifting class), and a wonderful female-empowerment atmosphere. The whole philosophy of Uplift is that fitness and fun go hand-in-hand. The studio is set up so that you can hang out before or after a workout, chatting over complimentary snacks and beverages with other students and the studio founders.

space for personal training or pre-/post-class workouts (source) 

I first heard about Uplift through my trainer, Amanda, who was teaching yoga classes there. Since the studio had just opened, they had some great deals on classes, and I decided to try it out. I'm so, so happy that I did. Every class I've taken has been wonderful and, even better, each time I go there I feel like I'm entering a community of fun, fit, awesome women.

"You're only one workout away from a good mood!" SO TRUE. 

Uplift has inspirational quotes written on glass and mirrors all around the studio. It's the kind of girly touch that makes me smile as I get ready for class and shower after. Oh, and did I mention the gorgeous locker room that has complimentary Malin & Goetz products, dry shampoo, mouth wash, and everything you could possibly need to make yourself presentable for work, a date, etc.??

everything you need to make yourself presentable after sweating enough to create a small lake on your mat (source) 

And you need those products since the classes are HARD. Seriously, I am in good cardio and strength shape, and I am always sore after an Uplift class. The 55 or 30 minute classes are mostly a mix of cardio and strength training intervals, with some pilates, yoga, barre, and other options mixed in. Word on the street (AKA weekly email from Uplift) that even more options will be added this fall. Classes are small enough that you feel motivated to not be the slacker and instructors can provide individual attention and adjustments.

I've taken various classes with four of the instructors and all of them have been wonderfully encouraging and tough. Not to start on body image issues or anything, but I have to say that one thing I love about Uplift is that the instructors are all really strong, toned women. No fear of strength-training here! Muscle tone is sexy and clearly Uplift's instructors know it.

Uplift's Raise the Bar workout+wine classes featured in Self Magazine! (source) 

A lot of the press Uplift has gotten is about its Raise the Bar classes, which consist of a regular class followed by wine tastings, visits to a neighboring bar, etc. These classes are the embodiment of Uplift's overall philosophy: balance in all things, including fitness and socializing. Plus, it's a great way to meet other professional women who are into fitness. On my first visit, I found out that one of the founders, Helena, had spent two years as an attorney at the law firm I'm going to be working at once I graduate law school. She put me in contact with some friends there and it was a great introduction to my new firm.

the gorgeous founders of Uplift: Katie, Helena, and Leanne (source) 

Ok, yes, maybe I have a girl crush on the entire studio, one of those "I want to be like them when I grow up" feelings, despite technically being grown up already. If you're looking for an awesome workout (or a great yoga class) and a different fitness experience, you have to get to Gramercy and try out Uplift Studios. I think it adds something new and wonderful to the New York fitness scene for women.

Class Review: Uplift's Power Yoga with Amanda Rose Walsh

I've written before about how much I love my trainer, Amanda Rose Walsh. She is like walking sunshine that somehow manages to rain pain and hurting on your ass while making you smile (AKA the best). She's also a wonderful yoga instructor and she teaches at Uplift Studios, a women-only fitness studio that is the BOMB.

Since I'm taking an afternoon class right now, and I hadn't seen Amanda in almost a month because she was off adventuring on the other side of the world with her fiance (India and the Maldives -- yes, I'm super jealous), I reserved a spot in her Wednesday morning Uplift yoga class.

Uplift's studio is gorgeous, and I'll write about it in my post on the cardio-strength Uplifting class tomorrow. Classes are nice and small, making them intimate enough for lots of hands-on adjustments. You feel like you're really interacting with Amanda as she leads the class, which is nice.

Amanda doing an awesome side plank

Amanda starts class by asking you to dedicate your practice. I love, love, love this. I told myself, "I am here to strengthen my body and calm my mind," and throughout class, whenever I felt like holding a pose was tough (so every 2-3 minutes, basically), I'd repeat that to myself. Forcing us to reflect on why we were there at the beginning was a great motivation for the rest of class.

The class is tough. You hold a lot of poses for five deep breaths, but sometimes that "we're here for five breaths" instruction only comes after Amanda has gone around the room adjusting. Trickery!! But fine, I'll forgive her, especially since I hurt so good this morning (gotta love a yoga class that leaves you refreshed and stretched but with sore muscles the next morning).

I've also mentioned in other reviews how important a good flow is to me. I loved Amanda's flow. It's not a cardio class because you hold poses for a while rather than moving quickly through them, but I was still dripping sweat due to all the strength-intensive poses we did. Amanda is heavy on the warrior and downward dog split poses, which I love -- yoga butt, here I come! -- and you hold variations (extended side angle, warrior 1, warrior 2, etc) for quite a while, so you really build up that heat.

I cannot recommend Amanda, her yoga class, or Uplift Studios enough. Love the female empowerment message of the studio and love the self-empowerment I feel after any yoga class or training session with Amanda.

Facts:
Class - Power Yoga 
Site Description - Focuses on fundamental poses that strengthen and stretch every muscle in your body! Sequencing is nonstop, creative, fun and inspiring with an emphasis on breath and alignment. Be prepared to hold poses longer than usual to really feel the burn! Core work is included for a total body experience. Leave class glowing from the benefits of a great workout combined with a renewed sense of balance, ease and flexibility. No shoes required.
Instructor - Amanda Rose Walsh
Length - 55 minutes
Cost - $32 with free water, snacks, etc.
Location - Gramercy/Flatiron (24 W 23rd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, Second Floor)
Skill Level - it's a tough class, but since Amanda demonstrates the poses at the front of the room and it's small, anyone could come in and get a great yoga workout.

Class Review: Strala Yoga's STRONG with Mike Taylor

Sunday morning, I headed down to SoHo to try another Strala class. I loved Heidi Kristoffer's RELAX class when I went at the end of July, but I'd been traveling and hadn't been able to make it back to try more classes yet. 

After taking Mike Taylor's STRONG class Sunday morning, you can consider me an official part of the Strala fan club. These yoga classes are everything I look for in a place to practice yoga. The studio is lovely, the students are chill (I didn't see anyone being competitive about who can do a better Crow -- spoiler alert, not me), and the instructors are laid back, helpful guides through the flow of that day's class.

The word "guide" is key here because Strala refers to its instructors as "guides" rather than teachers. The studio is very centered on each class being an outlet for everyone's individual yoga practice rather than a rigid set. I noticed this in Heidi's class and it was just as evident in Mike's class. I really love this aspect of Strala. 

Mike Taylor, from Strala's website

Before class started, as I was chatting with a friend about my sore foot--possibly minor tendinitis from my long run?--Mike asked where the pain was, then suggested "pumping" the foot (putting pressure on and off) to increase circulation to it throughout the class. I took his advice and my foot felt much, much better post-class. Thanks, Mike!!

I really liked the flow of Mike's STRONG class. I've taken some yoga classes that won't be appearing on my blog because I simply couldn't stand the flow; Mike's class flowed in a way that made sense to me, where I could easily follow the flow from pose to pose, and I appreciated that. There's nothing more frustrating to me than being in a class and being unable to figure out what the teacher is having us move through. 

The class was tougher and more cardio-based than the RELAX class I'd taken (which makes sense since one is supposed to be Strong and the other Relaxed...). For example, Mike had us hold Warrior 2 for something like two minutes, which might not seem like a lot, but just try it and then tell me two minutes isn't a long time to be in Warrior 2. We also did a lot of downward dog splits, and spent quite a bit of time in plank as well. Oh, and did I mention Mike's killer abs sequence at the beginning and end of class? I can normally keep up with abs sequences, even in classes like Physique 57, but I had to stop twice to stop the abs burning. It was awesome! There was still plenty of time for a lengthy shivasana at the end, enabling everyone to really center themselves after a rigorous hour and fifteen minutes. 

I am so excited that I've found Strala Yoga and hope to make it a routine part of my exercise schedule. And that's saying a lot, since I have to transfer at Times Square to get to the studio!

Facts:
Class - STRONG
Site Description - Strala's STRONG class builds strength, balance, focus, and body awareness by finding the ease in each moment, whether simple or challenging. You will build a strong, healthy body and calm mind from the inside out. *Open to all levels*
Instructor - Mike Taylor
Length - ~1.25 hours
Cost - $15 drop-in, $10 for students, $2 for mat rental, $2 for Smart Water (but you can fill your bottle in the bathroom for free)
Location - SoHo (632 Broadway b/t Houston & Bleecker, 6th Floor, enter on Crosby St during construction)
Skill Level - probably not for absolute beginners since the flow moved pretty quickly and there wasn't guidance from someone doing the poses at the front of the room at all times. I'd try Strala's BASICS class Saturday or Sunday mornings first. 

Chia Seed Pudding Recipe

Last night I finally got around to trying a chia seed pudding recipe that I could make overnight. I wish I'd done it sooner! The delicious, chilled chia seed pudding is a perfect summer breakfast. It's sort of like tapioca pudding, but much healthier.

Chia seeds have a ton of health benefits. They're full of omega-3 healthy fats, they pack quite the protein and fiber punch for their calories (roughly 65 calories for 2 tablespoons), and many other wonderful health benefits.

Recipe
1/4 cup chia seeds
1 1/4 cup almond milk (vanilla unsweetened)
1/4 cup fruit of your choice (I used blueberries)
1 tbsp agave syrup
1 medium Mason jar
Nutrition estimate -- 250-275 calories, 9 g protein, 18 g fiber, 15 g fat, 30 g carbohydrates

1. Put all your ingredients into the Mason jar and stir it up.

pre-shaking and stirring

2. Put the cap on the Mason jar, tightly, and shake it vigorously for 30 seconds or so.

3. Put the jar in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
4. Open and enjoy!

it doesn't look that good, but it tastes delicious!

Delicious Destinations: Chobani SoHo Yogurt Bar

After an awesome STRONG class with Mike Taylor at Strala Yoga (review to come soon!), I dropped by Chobani's new SoHo yogurt bar. I had met up with an old friend at Strala so it was the perfect place to grab a post-workout snack and chat.

The boutique is quite small, but it's very pretty. The wood detailing is nice and the all-glass storefront makes the store stand out on its corner location.

Oh, all you care about is the food? Cool, me too. So I love Greek yogurt, but I don't always like Chobani (especially their fat-free) because it lacks that creamy factor. The in-store yogurt was perfect -- creamy and smooth, tangy and rich, without that cloying cream after-taste that I personally can't stand.

Blueberry + Power

I got the blueberry, chia seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, and agave blend. It was SO good. I love blueberries, and thought they mixed well with the chia and hemp seeds and the walnuts. And of course I love agave (who doesn't??). All the sweet combinations looked great, and at $3.75 each (and you get to keep the glass jars!), they're pretty cheap, too.

Yum! So good!!

While my friend and I chatted, we were given another dish! Apparently they made extra and didn't want it to go to waste. Thanks, Chobani!! We both were given a savory dish, the Plain Chobani + Cucumber, which comes with fresh cucumber, sea salt, and sprinkled fresh mint. It was really delicious, and if paired with some couscous or something, would have made a terrific lunch. I love that Chobani is offering savory yogurt options in addition to the sweet ones.

Plain Chobani + Cucumber

All the dishes come with plain Chobani yogurt in a cute little glass jar. You can keep the jar or return it and get a $0.25 off coupon.

The Details:
Address -- 150 Prince Street (at W Broadway)
Hours -- 9am to 8pm daily

Half-Marathon Training: Week 2 + Update

Last Week
Last week was a bit of a bust as far as my half-marathon training went, but it was a lot of fun. Sunday to Tuesday, my boyfriend and I rented a car and drove 1.5 hours north of the city to the lovely Buttermilk Falls Inn and Spa. It was a wonderful birthday trip!

Our adorable rental Fiat

The Inn had a working farm that provided most of the fruit, veggies, and eggs for breakfast, afternoon tea, and dinner. I definitely indulged in their tea time goodies and devoured many pieces of fresh, delicious fruit. We also had an amazing dinner at the restaurant the Inn ran, Henry's Farm to Table Restaurant.

The Inn's restaurant

The property had several trails around the farm, down to the river, etc., that we walked our dog along every day (did I mention it was dog-friendly??).

Mason meeting a donkey

Besides eating our way through the farm, we also did some shopping at the Woodbury Commons Premium Outlets for some fall clothes, I got a pedicure at the Inn's Spa (loving my purple toenails), and did the Walkway Over the Hudson, a large pedestrian bridge that spans the entire Hudson near Poughkeepsie.

The bridge used to be the main railway across the Hudson, connecting the Western part of the U.S. with the Northeast 

Unfortunately, I also got sick while we were away, so I spent Sunday to Wednesday battling a nasty head cold. Lots of sleep and liquids and a community hot power yoga class at Pure Yoga West seemed to clear it up, however, and after a super kick-ass beginner class with Physique 57 founder Tanya Becker on Thursday morning, I was ready to hop back into training. Woot!


Back to Half-Marathon Training!
I haven't really talked about the plan I'm using for training for my half-marathon on October 14. My trainer, Amanda, sent me a plan to guide my training that I tweaked to fit my own goals and time commitments.

The basic parts of each week's longer race training are:

3 “short” runs	These runs should be roughly 1/3 to 1/2 of the distance your long run is. As your long run gets longer (say, over 10 miles), two of the short runs should be more like 1/3 of your long run distance, and one should be closer to 1/2. So for the week you run 12 miles, two short runs would be 4 miles and one would be 6 miles. In the last week and a half, these should be even shorter, so closer to 1/4 of the total distance.
1 long run	The long run should start at the furthest distance you can comfortably run and then add 1 mile each week until two weeks before the half-marathon. Then, in the week before the race, do your short runs but no long run so your body is ready for the half-marathon. The long run is the best way to tell how long you need to train for a race. You can count back, subtracting one mile from the race distance each week, to figure out when to start training, making sure to keep the week before the race as a “rest” week.
1 hill run	Hill work is important to building up your endurance since most races do not take place on a totally flat course (unless you’re in Chicago, in which case you’re really lucky). Start by going up a large hill 2-3 times and try to work up to 4-5 times by the end of your training.
X-Training	Cross training is extremely important to preventing injuries when running. It can consist of cycling, swimming, strength training, etc. For me, I normally plan on taking either a strength and cardio class or doing a strength workout consisting of squats, push ups, lunges, planks, and other full body strengthening exercises.
Rest	A rest day is super important for allowing your body to recuperate. Make sure there is at least one a week. This doesn’t mean you have to be totally inactive, but nothing that’s very hard on your body should be done. I like to schedule a yoga class for my rest day.

This Week
Here's what I hope to accomplish this week:

Sunday	Rest (STRONG class at Strala Yoga)
Monday	X-training (strength workout)
Tuesday	Run (4 mi) + possible yoga class
Wednesday	X-training (Physique 57 class)
Thursday	Hill run (3x up Cat or Harlem Hill in Central Park)
Friday	Run (3 mi) + X training (strength workout)
Saturday	Long run (8 mi)

If my foot stays painful (it may be tendinitis -- I'm just trying to ice and stretch it, while taking ibuprofen to keep the swelling down), then I may replace the Tuesday run with a spinning class. 

My First Half Marathon: Announcement!

I thought this was a perfect quote for what this post is about. I've decided to train for a half-marathon! I'm going to be running in Grete's Gallop in Central Park on October 14. I am totally nervous about whether or not I'll be up to the challenge, but I'm also extremely excited to see how strong my body can be.

In an inauspicious occurrence, I had to abort my run this morning because I felt so sick. I have some sort of upper body cold bug and after 5 minutes I felt so terrible that I thought it made more sense to head home than to keep torturing myself. I'm sure I'll have enough of that in the next 9 weeks!

I will be posting my weekly training plans once I start training on Tuesday, Aug. 14. I'm going away for a short birthday getaway with the boyfriend and the dog, hiking upstate and exploring small towns along the Hudson. When I get back I'll dive right in -- I'm planning a fairly intense training schedule that combines distance and endurance training with strength and interval training, and of course a healthy dose of yoga. Can't wait to update the blog with how it goes!

Vacation: Grouse Grind

Wowww. I'm back home in New York City and I still can't believe that I climbed the Grouse Grind. It was by far the highlight of my trip and I can't wait to go back and try it again.

Grouse Mountain and North Vancouver from downtown Vancouver

I'm not sure I've ever had such an amazing exercise-related experience. This hike--if it can even be called a hike--is much more intense than advertised. It is also incredibly awesome. The entire route, all I could think was "holy sh-t I'm climbing a mountain! My legs are carrying me up a mountain!"

the entire hike is like this -- stairs up a mountain

The hike is roughly 1.8 miles and has a 2800 ft elevation gain with just 2860 steps, meaning that the average step is 1 ft high (and since quite a few are less than that, there are a lot of large steps you're taking!). But at the end, you're rewarded with a great view of the Greater Vancouver area at the top of Grouse Mountain.

such a gorgeous city!

Or at least you're supposed to see that view. The day I hiked the Grind with my dad, there was a heavy mist covering the mountain, so what we actually saw was this:

this is how the Pacific Northwest looks 75% of the time

In some ways, this was better. It made me feel like I was ascending up into the clouds as I hiked! I did get a bit cold since I wasn't wearing proper moisture-wicking gear, so my shirt got wet with sweat and cold and once I got to the top I started freezing. But that was just an excuse to get my Grouse Grind t-shirt that I am now wearing proudly.

I was SO proud of myself for making it up that mountain. I stopped frequently with my Dad during the first half because he isn't in great cardio shape (although he does a lot of strength training and yoga, so this hike was a great push for him to start running). At the halfway mark, he encouraged me to go on alone so that I could try to make my goal of finishing under the average time (1.5-2 hours). I pushed on ahead and finished in 1 hour and 15 minutes! I think I could have done an hour or maybe even less if I'd gone alone, but it was great to have my Dad there with me for the first half.

a very sweaty me after finishing the climb

If you are visiting Vancouver, you HAVE to go on this hike. It's such a wonderful personal endurance test and there's a restaurant at the top for those who need food as motivation. On a sunnier day, the view from up there would be amazing!

You can hike down a different route (the Grouse Grind only goes up, for good reason -- you might die if you tried to go down those steep steps) or take the Grouse Mountain Skyride, which is what my Dad and I did. It cleared up as the gondola went down the mountain and we got to see the beautiful Vancouver skyline.

we were stuck in the middle so I stood on tiptoes to see the view

 I'm hoping to go home to Washington State in mid-August again next year so that I can run the second Lululemon Seawheeze Half Marathon and do the Grouse Grind again. This time, my goal is to make it in under 60 minutes. I can't wait!!

Running in Washington State

Had a gorgeous (but rough) run this morning! I flew home to Washington State last night. The flight was fine, but it turns out that running on 5.5 hours of sleep without drinking any water, after waking up and after flying on a dry plane for seven hours, leads to a run that feels way harder than it should. It didn't help that for the first time this year it's 90 degrees in Washington (but dry heat, which is SO much nicer than New York humidity).

I brought my phone along so I could snap a few pictures along the way. Loved running in the country!

horses! they were unimpressed with my running ability.

running straight ahead on a country road makes the miles seem shorter somehow

Cascade Mountain foothills

so.much.corn.

Travel Time!

Yesterday was my last day of my summer position at the law firm where I'll be working when I graduate. Tonight I'm flying home to Washington State to visit my family. Luckily I'm flying on JetBlue, so I'll be able to watch the Olympics during my evening flight!

I'm so excited to see my sister, cook with my dad, and have a "spa day" with my mom. My parents and I are going to travel up to Whistler Blackcomb. On the way, we'll climb the Grouse Grind near Vancouver, B.C. I'm going to try to make it up in under an hour, which might be impossible, but we'll see!

the view from where I'll be running tomorrow!

I haven't been home when it's sunny and nice out (aka August and September because it's Washington State) in almost three years, so it'll be wonderful to spend time outdoors, hiking around real mountains (sorry East Coast! Your mountains just can't compare).

see? snow-capped peaks!

When I get back, I have some big fitness goals for the fall that I'm going to start on and post about. Can't wait!!

Class Review: Physique 57 Beginner with Sarah M.

Wednesday night I tried my first Physique 57 class! I had read The Physique 57 Solution and thought that the rationale behind the series of movements made a lot of sense, so I wanted to try out the classes.

I took a Beginner class with Sarah M., who was great. I thought the class was hard but not impossible; I never had to stop during the upper body and core work, but there were a few times my thighs were burning just a bit too much for me to handle. But how often do you get a great burn over and over in the same workout? I didn't realize how worked-over my body was until the following morning when I felt a bit sore, but mostly I felt physically tired in a great way.

Sarah M. had an infectious energy that had me giggling several times even while in the middle of a torturous exercise. In honor of the Olympics, she had us making "gymnast hands" during thigh dancing on the floor, and we had to pretend to be Michael Phelps and "swim" during the core portion. Her enthusiasm and jokes made the class feel really comfortable, even though it was my first time. Because Sarah roamed around the classroom, it could be a bit hard to see her demonstrating the moves, but since she was moving around so frequently she was able to see everyone and make constant adjustments so I think it was worth the trade-off.

Overall I loved the class and I'd really like to make barre work classes a regular part of my exercise routine. Unfortunately, they're a bit too expensive for me to attend consistently. I'm considering investing in the DVDs and using those in tandem with 1-2 classes a month in order to have someone check my form.

Update -- I forgot to mention that I received a call before my class noting what I would need and giving me a few tips for before class. Then today I received a postcard from Sarah M. welcoming me to the studio. I think the personalized touch is really great considering that Physique 57 is a large chain of studios.

Facts:
Class - Beginner
Site Description - Clients are introduced to the basic movements, positions and methodology of the exercise system. We advise clients to take at least 8-10 Beginner classes before advancing to the next level. A greater understanding of the technique allows clients to get deeper in the positions, making the workout even more effective.
Instructor - Sarah M.
Length - 1 hour (technically 57 minutes)
Cost - $35 (newbies get a 2-for-1 special and get 2 classes for $35 with this coupon)
Location - Upper West Side (73rd Street and Broadway, on the 2nd floor of the Ansonia building), there are also locations in SoHo and Midtown West
Skill Level - Definitely a good beginner class, although if you were totally new to exercise I'd recommend getting a bit more in shape before dropping in.



Has anyone else tried barre classes? What did you think of them?