Women’s Health / lululemon
Like a lot of people, I haven’t been to a gym or a fitness studio in over six months, and this extended hiatus has all but unmoored my workout schedule. Something else it’s done? It gave me the opportunity to improve my fitness routine. Much moreI needed a refresher. I realized I was out of my usual workout routine (spin, sculpt and reformer Pilates). I hadn’t even noticed because I was too busy rushing to make it to classes.
This and my general meh-ness towards exercise (it happens to everyone even fitness directors) led me to set a new goal to get sweaty to regain the joy I felt when being physically active was more fun than worrying about class cancellation fees.
This little exercise experiment began in the same place that most things start for me: deciding what to wear. I tend to enjoy what I’m doing more when I feel good about my outfit. Anecdotal evidence suggests that wearing something you love can actually motivate you to exercise.
For me, that’s typically a workout set, since I’m an early morning exerciser and can’t be trusted to pull together a coordinated outfit before coffee. Lately, I’ve been living in a matching tie-dye sports bra and pair of Unlimit leggings from lululemon.
Tie-dye is back in fashion as a major trend this summer (funny fact: I used to be a style editor before I became a fitness coach). This set stands out because it mimics a bleaching technique, which is more difficult to find among the sea of neon options. I could also see that the keyholes at the bottom of the calves gave me the free-flowing vibe (and ventilation), I needed for my morning yoga classes, even though I had no access to the megapixels.
I was bleary-eyed but determined to complete my mission. I changed into my outfit. I swear that cocooning in the Nulu cloth made the transition between my bed and my yoga mat so much easier. I crossed my legs and listened to Beth Cooke’s class. She is a yoga teacher and instructor at my favorite studio.
Cooke radiates good vibes even from a screen. I find myself gravitating towards her classes because of our mutual love for dancing and a perfect timing. “You can literally jump up and down and shake out your hands, your feet and shimmy your heart to release anything that’s been weighing you down, holding you back, or making you feel stuck,” she tells me.
I don’t like dancing in public, but since I’ve been exercising at home during the pandemic, I’ve found myself letting loose a lot more. Nobody is watching except my cat, and I’m already used to her judging me.
About halfway through a vinyasa flow that’s been pretty much dedicated to traditional poses like downward-facing dogs, low lunges, and chaturangas, Cooke pumps up the playlist and encourages us to bust a move, which for me involves a lot of arm flailing and hair tosses. I am out of breath by the end and elated. I take this blissed feeling into my day.
I don’t bother to change my clothes because I know that I’m going for a walking meditation later, plus my sweat-wicking leggings have already dried by the time I roll up my yoga mat and sit down at my computer to start working. I just toss on a black crewneck sweatshirt (it’s also from lululemon and I love it because they’ve managed to get the oversized fit just right) to make my outfit more video chat appropriate. I feel much less overwhelmed by all the emails in my inbox. I think it’s due to all the endorphins that are pumping through my body. I take a moment to think about this: Yoga is my favorite. That felt so good. I can’t wait to do it again.
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Source: Women’s Health Mag