Tag Archives: Ashtanga Yoga Charlottesville

The Air is Crisp

MISSION: 10k PR

Week 2

  • long run (7 miles)
  • 1-2 speed workouts (30-45 minute run with sprint intervals)
  • easy run (4-5 miles)
  • 3 days yoga
  • 2 Pilates workouts

Yesterday Tate and I went on a great 4.26 mile run (my “easy run” for the week).  The air was just a little chilly and smelled straight up like fall, yum!  I was still a little sore from Saturday’s dance class but after the run and a noontime vinyasa class I was feeling much better.

Tate and I headed by bike to Kath and Matt’s mid-afternoon to keep Matt company while he made a batch of homebrew.  They invited us stay for a delicious early dinner and we were home by 7pm and in bed by 9:30!

The chilly weather this week has reminded me that it is naturally time to make some shifts in my schedule.   As it gets darker earlier, dinner comes earlier, bed comes earlier, and waking up comes earlier.  I love fall but a few years ago I recognized that my body has a challenging time during this season.  My eyes are a little puffy when I wake up, I need more sleep, and I usually get a cold or at least feel run down as the weather starts to change.

This fall I am taking precautions to avoid that cold/run-down feeling.  Here are some tips to stay healthy and strong as we transition into the dark slumber of winter

  • go to bed half an hour earlier
  • suppliment vitamin C
  • decrease intake of coffee, alcohol, and sugar
  • eat more fermented foods
  • drink more water
  • pay extra attention to eating dark leafy greens, garlic, and ginger
  • note how your exercise routine is making you feel- energized? rundown? needing more? a change in the seasons is an excellent time to change up your routine!

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Filed under goals, running, workouts, yoga

It’s Alive!

I just spilled a whole container of sesame seeds on my kitchen floor.

And I haven’t had my coffee yet.

At least this rain is having the positive effect of making me glad I left Portland!  I LOVED living in Portland, everything about the city was a perfect fit for me (except how far it is from home, which ultimately became most important).  My friend once said something along the lines of “I love Portland and Portland loves me”, and this saying became a common line in our circle.   That town really did love me back.

But the rain!  I was so happy in Portland that I was able to overlook the rain but I don’t think I could have kept up that act long-term. It really is wet two thirds of the year (if not more!).

We are on rainy-day number 4 here in Virginia and I’ve had enough.  The first few days were cozy but now I want to go running or walking or biking or take out the trash without getting soaked.  The forecast for the weekend looks clear and I have my fingers crossed.

I attended another lovely yoga class at Ashtanga Yoga Charlottesville yesterday.   Honestly, I was not impressed with the teacher but I am a harsh critic.  She was fine but not memorable or inspiring or innovative, just a solid “fine”.  My body loves the yoga though.

Post yoga I had an exciting discovery, my kombucha is finally ready!

It is fizzy and sweet and tangy and delicious!  Success!  I have been tasting it every day or two for the last week and until yesterday it was still too sweet and too flat.

The kombucha buzz sent me on a fermentation kick and with yogurt making itself in the kitchen sink

And kombucha brewing in the cabinet

I set about making my first batch of sauerkraut.

This cabbage was $1 at the farmers market and it is perfect!

I used this recipe from the Wild Fermentation website.   My variation had 2 carrots, half an onion, 3 cloves of garlic, and some celery seeds thrown in with the cabbage.

Here are two articles on why I have been adding more fermented foods into my diet.

7 Little Known Reasons Why NOT to Avoid Bacteria

Fermented Foods: Top 8 Reasons Why to Eat Them

There is some fermentation of a slightly different variety on tap for this afternoon :).  But first, run in the rain or yoga?

P.S.  My head is full of Brittany this morning after catching up on Glee last night!

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Filed under food, recipes, running, workouts, yoga