Last week Hulu.com made the announcement that they will charge $9.99 for an upgraded HD version to view on your computer and mobile devices (you can also see full season shows, etc.). But the OLD familiar shows are still there, for FREE - so go enjoy them!
Besides my obsessive watching of “House”, “Top Chef” and “HGTV Design Star” I have also been taking advantage of the “Health & Wellness Channel” at Hulu.com. We have an old tower hooked to our TV and the internet – love, love, love it! (Click on What is Hulu? post in case you need a refresher)
I just started to practice “beginning yoga” for 45 minutes once a week. You can search for “Fusion Yoga” in Hulu.com, “play” and you are on your way. It's NOT the crazy “pretzel yoga"; it is “normal people yoga". They also have “Yoga & Pilates” if you want a bit more intense.
What intensified my Hulu.com loyalty? A few months back, I gave up the monthly gym fee and decided to exercise at home – we got a nice treadmill viaCraigslist, dusted off the weights and exercise books, cleaned my exercise DVDs, filled the exercise ball with air and "instant gym"! You probably have some of these things at home too – huh? Thought so!
Ok, BUT am I REALLY going to have the discipline? Well, it has been, let’s call it “interesting but good”LOL. What helps me is that I am in an ETERNAL PURSUIT OF COMFORT! How can life get any better that waking up, having some tea, looking at the morning sun and then - I get to enjoy MY “choices”? Do I run on the treadmill with my shuffle? Do I do yoga fusion on Hulu? Do I work out with Jillian Michaels’ “30 Day Shred” DVD? Or do I work on a fitness routine from one of the books? I so, LOVE choices – don’t you?! Some days I chose to NOT do anything and I love that too!
I’ve discovered some very informational and FUN health related podcasts that I REALLY like. I listen to them while I run or go on a long walk – super motivating! (Post about this soon to come).
I encourage you to add these simple choices in your life – it’s all about “comfort” – and in this case YOURS. Just to make it very clear, my beloved Zumba with Janel Gauger is still one of MY choices - it makes HAPPY!
I was so EXCITED after reading an article written by Tess Marshall; it’s in Forbes Woman, called Born to Run. A runner friend posted it on Facebook – thank you Kristy, you are inspiring.
I loved Tess' phrase "Like life, running takes courage--everyday kind of courage" I immediately shared the article on Facebook and Twitter. It reminded me of the time I ran a 5K. Yep, I ran a 5K once – HA!
More than a year ago I ran/walked the Susan Komen 5K race in Newport Beach. Kristy had recommended this amazing site and this article - “Couch Potato to 5K”(don’t you just love the title?? LOL) - one day at the beach, I started the simple program. The next day I had things hurting that I did not know existed! But I loaded up my Latin tunes and I was ready!
Pushing myself just that little bit more each time was a great feeling; one more song, one more lap, 3 more minutes, I so enjoyed the mind games I played and the competition with ME.
Another thing I REALLY liked, was how when I ran, it was “all about me”- which you know I love – MY thoughts, MY health, MY space outdoors, MY strength.
Also, what an amazing stress reliever - we were in the midst of buying our 1st home; packing, signing checks with lots of zeros, reviewing 1 inch paperwork that seemed to be in a foreign language, etc.
Running was a parallel world where I could
find freedom and peace.
That’s it - I’ve just sold myself on running again! Kristy, thanks! Many thanks!
Ok, so who has a treadmill collecting dust? Either use it or let me have it – I’m serious, I’ll go pick it up! REALLY!
Click here for songs I bought via Amazon to put on my Shuffle.
I went to play racquetball early in the morning with a good friend. Up at 5am, all organized and though it was really hard to get out of bed, I was very of proud of me - talked about it all week - I WAS GOING TO TEACH HER. Of course I was! I used to play every day when I was 15 years old, I can teach her – EXCEPT I am no longer 15 and about 10 minutes into it I was running towards the ball and I just kept going until I HIT the wall. POW! I hit my forehead (an angry bump immediately surfaced); I hurt my left knee, and left shoulder. Ouch!
My saint of a friend drove me home and we were both grateful that I had NOT knocked my front teeth out. Why do I say this? This is what happened to the good friend of the girl who helped us with the ice at the gym – wonderful sympathetic story she told us as I was signing some paperwork before leaving the premises. Pretty funny!
Lots of ice and ibuprofen later, I’m better – banged up but better AND now that my body reminded me, that I am 44 and not 15, I am determined to get strong and beat the crap out of that racquetballwall!!
I am so glad I came home. When I got here, things hurt. As I was waiting for my wonderful husband to finish making lunch, I was resting and reading on the couch strategically sitting where a nice breeze comes in from our large front windows – and for a moment I thought "one can milk anything if you really want to huh?" He's a sweetheart and he knows, I know, he’d milk it too!! Not sure about going to Yoga tomorrow, darn it, it will be the 2nd time I don't go...there must be a reason. Gotta stop running into walls for starters.
Since I’ve been resting most of the day, I've come up with silly things for the blog (maybe the injury will make me really witty now as a result- SERIOUSLY) - the bump on my forehead is sort of like temporary Botox – when I look at myself in the mirror, I have no expression lines above my eyes due to the swelling – LOL! And I was thinking that if I would have had my teeth knocked out today, I would have totally taken advantage of it and had my teeth whitened - since I'm dying to do that but it's not in the budget until next year!
I'm going to read this book while I heal. Have you read it?Nora Ephron is amazing and so damn funny!
Nonetheless I am grateful:
I was with a friend – (who did not laugh at me)
I came home to a wonderful husband
I experienced temporary Botox
I have been reminded my body is no longer 15 – HA!
Most importantly, I should remember not to run into walls.
I am lucky that I get to go to Zumba with a friend - we giggle and laugh at each other over what is going to hurt the next day, or how when we learn a step we still get confused. But we come out happy, pumped and talking about the next Zumba class we’ll be going to. Ok, I admit, I am a Zumba snob - I go check out the instructor first. I want to see if I like them before I join the class. Usually the mix of Latin song rhythms and the enthusiasm that the instructor brings IS what MAKES the class.
Fortunately we have one of the best Zumba instructors out there Janel Gauger, Master Zumba Instructor – she teaches in Orange County, California and besides being a beautiful person inside and out (what a body!) - She is a powerhouse of energy – she is one of the main reasons we LOVE Zumba. Visit her website www.janelgauger.com to see pictures of her two-hour Zumbathon. If you live in the area you can come for free to the first class – email me and I’ll be happy to make intros. tanya@wellbeingover40.comI loved to dance salsa, so I get an automatic high when I go to class. Ditch the workout and join the Zumba party – you’ll have a blast! Did you go already??
I had a hard time finding a class I liked at first, so I bought these DVDs and had fun at home until I found Janel.
Ok, but what is it? Zumba is an aerobic exercise routine inspired by Latin dance. You burn at least 500 calories an hour and it’s fast, fun and exhilarating! It’s the most fun you’ll have with your clothes on - :)
It incorporates footwork from merengue, salsa, cumbia, mambo, samba, and flamenco as well as other dances from around the world including hip hop and belly dance. You pump legs, windmill arms, gyrate hips, dip, slide and spin — all to a "party" atmosphere that leaves you dripping in sweat (less fat). It features aerobic/fitness interval training with a combination of fast and slow rhythms that tone and sculpt the entire body.
Here is a video (about a minute long) so you get the idea
Where do you Zumba?
In the next post I'll share great info on an amazing instructor in Orange County, California.
