Today Was A Good Day

I started today off right with a Yamuna Body Rolling class courtesy of a 50% off coupon I got through Yipit. (Do you use Yipit, Groupon, LifeBooker, Living Socials or any other online group coupon websites? I guess they're most popular in big cities. I. LOVE. THEM.)

Back to the class- I'd first heard of Yamuna's work when I worked at a pilates studio- one of the trainers was studying with Yamuna and raved about how intense and beneficial this methodology is. When I saw a Life Booker coupon for three classes for $30, I decided to treat myself (it counts as one of my adventures for the month of February). From the website, the purpose of Body Logic and Body Rolling is:

"to identify structural and muscular restrictions, and release compression and tightness, freeing space around joints and elongating muscles. This is where the glide returns to your gait. 

  Flexibility, tone and balance are keys to muscle function and alignment; standing straight, shoulders back, a natural curve to the spine, hips, feet and knees aligned. It’s about liberating the body. Just one YBL session introduces effortless grace to your posture. Stand up straight without strain, and perform to your athletic maximum potential."

(Photo from: blog.scoopst.com)

I took the Body Rolling Basics class and really enjoyed it. We used two inflatable balls of differing thickness, size and resistance and rolled around on them, releasing tension and creating space in compacted areas. I was sore from running/ strength training to begin with and I won't lie- it hurt. But in a really, really nice way. (How sado-masochistic does that sound?) I left feeling open, light and bendy. I can't wait to go back!

I had BOLTED out the door this AM to make it from my apartment in Brooklyn to the studio in the West Village on time, so I hadn't had much for breakfast... 

No, there are no babies in my house (or near future). Yes, I bought baby food for myself because it's packaging is convenient for eating on the subway. Don't judge.

I was STARVING after class, so I had an excuse to stop by the Westside Market (on of my mainstays when I worked in Chelsea) and snag some vegan/ macro sushi (I'm neither, but it looked good). 

It was really yummy! Super moist, and the carrots and veggies were sweet and crunchy!

AND THEN....

I went to Loehmanns on a whim and found my wedding gown! Badgley Mischka- $700 marked down to $85. Yep. I can't make these things up. 

When Joe got home, we made dinner together. We considered ordering out, but instead decided to see what we could find in our super-stocked/ terribly organized pantry...

We had some spare veggies in the fridge, so we steam/ sauteed them in one pan and cooked up some wheatberries in another.

I added some tofu for protein!

I put some adzuki beans in the fridge to soak for tomorrow...

And I REALLY wanted to eat this pineapple, but it's not quite ready yet. Joe's making me wait...

Mmmmmm...

Was today a good day? Why?

Hopping on the ABC train!

Lots of my blogger pals have been doing ABC lists, so I thought I'd join! I used ideas from theirs and switched up a few letters... Enjoy!

Age: Actors don't have ages- we have "ranges". :) My "range" is 16-25.
Birthday: May 27th! Yay Geminis!
Cake or Cookies: CAKE. Hands down.
Dance Style: Irish Step Dancing- going on 15 years!
Essentials to Start my Day: ICED COFFEE. Regardless of the weather.
Favorite Time of Day: Sun rise- though I rarely get to see it! :)
Gold or Silver: Silver.
Height: 5'3 and 1/4.
Inspiration: Art, Kids, City Life
Job Title (s): Actor, Dancer, Writer, Teaching Artist
Kids: Are awesome.
Located In: Brooklyn, NY
Mom's Name: Maxine
Nicknames: Keels, Keeks, Donger (high school nickname- don't ask)
Oldest Posession: Books
Pet Peeve: Selfishness, Close Mindedness, Ignorance, Taking up multiple subway seats on a crowded train.
Quote: "The principal mark of genius is not perfection but originality, the opening of new frontiers." -Arthur Koestler
Righty or Lefty: Righty, but I paint and eat with both. :)
Siblings: Two younger biological sisters (Kieren and Courtney), who are my best friends, and four older step sisters
Time Spent Getting Ready: To look and feel good, about an hour...
Underwear: Whatever I can find...
Vegetable You Dislike: Mushrooms. I'm trying to learn to like them a little, though... They're Joe's favorite.
What Makes You Run Late: Thinking I can do things faster than I actually can....
X-Rays You've Had Done: Teeth and some MRIs/ CAT scans if those count
Yummy Food You Make: I am the burger queen. Ask my fiance.
Zoo, Favorite Animal: Zoos usually depress me, but I think elephants are the most beautiful creatures on earth.

What are YOUR ABCs?

Giving it all I've got...

Today's challenge? Create an in-home workout that uses EVERY piece of exercise equipment I own, including resistance bands, a jump rope, 12, 10 and 8k kettlebells, 10, 5 and 2lb dumbells, a pilates ring and an exercise ball. Here's what I ended up doing.

Hip Bridge Extensions on Exercise Ball- 15 x 2

Straight Leg Hip Bridge on Exercise Ball- 15 x 2

30 Jumping Jacks w/ 2lb weights in each hand

KB Double Handed Swings with 12k bell- 30

Resistance Band Deadlifts 15x3

Bicep Curl Variations (Hammer, Turned Out, Trad) with 10 lb dumbells- 15x3

Alternating Snatches with 10k bell (10/arm)

100 jump rope turns

Rear Lunges with 8k bell press (10/leg)

Pilates Ring Crunch 10 x 3

100 jumprope turns

Punch variations (jab and upper cut) with 5lb dumbells- 30/arm

It's pretty crappy out today, but relatively warm. If the rain stops, I'm going to try to convince Joe to go for a run later! Wish me luck! (Update- I the quick 2.4 mile loop from my house to Manhattan Beach and back after I put dinner in the oven).

Roasted Asparagus, Onions and Pork Loin!

Followed by:

Mmmmmmm....

What exercise equipment do you have at home? How frequently do you use it?

I'm Baaaccckkkk....

As promised, a photo from the 6 mile loop down the Brighton Beach boardwalk... It was INSANELY windy today, so it turned into a 4 mile loop because I just couldn't take the sand in my eyes...

I also stopped at the awesome workout station they installed a year or so ago- pretty awesome!

I hadn't paid it much attention before, but it's a pretty cute little set up! I'll be spending some more time here once it's a bit warmer!

As a sidenote, I'm getting married in 51 days and I need to kick my workouts up a notch! I've been pretty lax this winter if I'm being honest, but I've got a gown to squeeze into and a tropical honeymoon to look and feel fabulous for!

If you're dying to know EVERYTHING about the wedding, check out my wedding webpage here!

My Favorite 6 Miler

From my house to the end of the Coney Island Boardwalk in Seagate and Back is just over six miles. It's one of the most beautiful runs in the world. I'll miss it if I end up moving for graduate school. 

I'll let you know how it goes! It's been an embarrassingly long time since I've done any running, and I haven't run outside since the summer. Bring it on!

The boardwalk can be treacherous, though- so be careful! I personally think this makes it more exciting.... (Photo from the NY Daily News)

Valentine's Day Recap

Happy Post-Valentine's Day! I hope yesterday was wonderful for all of you! :)

My Valentine and I both had to work all day... I did a poetry workshop with the adults I work with at Brooklyn's Block Institute and then went to the afterschool program that I teach dance at to begin dress rehearsal week! I was armed with bribes (the candy is for my co-workers, the stickers for my students)!

I usually teach Monday evenings, as well, but I had arranged not to go in so that I could surprise Joe when he got home! 

Double fudgy Nutella cake! SO. DECADENT.

How was your Valentine's Day?

Just Checking In...

I'm alive! I swear! I've been a bit bogged down with life, work, wedding planning, etc....

I hope you all have an awesome Valentine's Day! Will you be celebrating with someone, or are you your own Valentine? :)

Joe and I don't usually do anything terribly out of the ordinary for Valentine's Day... We're not big gift exchangers, either... I think I'm going to do the dishes (a nicer gesture than it sounds- we alternate and there's a MASSIVE pile of dishes in/ on our sink/ counter region, and we don't have a dishwasher...) And I got him a card!

Dinner Always Tastes Better When Someone Else Makes It...

Tonight's dinner brought to you by my awesome fiance! He's quite the chef, and has been pretty good at trying to stay conscious of nutritional value. He had the day off, so while I was at work, he was busy whipping up some pretty fantastic marinated/ baked chicken breast and sauteed asparagus with parmesean and garlic...

Yes, my  hair is crazy, and yes, those are hot pink leg warmers (I'm THAT kind of dance teacher)... Don't judge! :)

I did some resistance band/ jumprope work before work, and this quick little yoga combo to relax before bed... Ahhh....

On a slightly more somber note, one of my first grade students informed me today that when she grew up, she wanted to be really skinny, just like me. It broke my heart. Maybe I was naive, or lucky, but I feel like I was a bit older than six before I started worrying about my weight...

It makes you think...

DVD Review: Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred

My life at the moment dictates 20 minute workouts. I guess it's better than nothing... I'm usually pretty good with doing my own thing (I have some kettlebells, hand weights, resistance bands and an exercise ball), but some days, you just don't feel like thinking. On those days, I pop in a DVD.

Today I did Level 1 of Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. If you're looking for a bunch of new, innovative moves, this workout isn't for you. If you're looking for a fast moving combo of old standbys to get your HR up and feel a bit of a burn, you're in luck. I was able to get in a pretty decent workout- the key being to mix your weights. There's no talk of switching hand weights during the DVD, but having a few different options available was quite helpful, as I was able to go heavier on exercises that felt too easy, and lighten up on exercise that were more challenging. If I had to do this entire routine with a single set of weights, I don't think it would have been as effective.

I still feel like I should go run a few miles, but I definitely got some decent strength moves in! Thanks, Jillian!

Happy Sweating! :)