Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts

Staying Fit and Balanced with the @AuroraeYoga Synergy Mat {Holiday Gift Guide}

One thing I've learned while on my journey to become more fit and healthy is that we all need balance in our lives. That balance not only keeps us whole and upright, it also helps make sure that we aren't forgetting anything. And with any good workout routine there needs to be balance.

Aside from the cardio and weights, mind-body exercise is a great way to pull together everything we're working on in creating a healthier body and really helps center our thoughts and our ability to work out on a more deeper level.


Recently I've added a yoga class to my workout routine and I'm happy to say that I'm starting to feel more energized and relaxed as I increase my level of cardio and weights. With the addition of yoga and the deep stretching I'm now doing, I'm able to go farther and push myself more in other areas of exercise. My limbs and muscles feel good and I feel more at peace with the body I have.

With any fitness routine, there are always tools that help create a better experience. And recently I was introduced to Aurorae Yoga. Their site carries everything needed for an amazing yoga experience including:

and much more! 


I received Aurorae Yoga's "Synergy" Mat-Towel combo and I must say that I am in love with this mat! While other mats I've used have been pleasant, this Synergy mat is by far the best yoga mat i've used. It's comfortable, padded, and the perfect length!

The Synergy mat is a great way to practice yoga and to use for stretching before working out. The combination of the Yoga mat bottom and the skidless microfiber towel top surface creates a space that is both inviting and relieving for hands and joints. The more you sweat the better you can grip the towel!


With it's beautiful, bright colors and gorgeous embroidery stitching around the perimeter you won't have any problem showing this mat off in class or to your friends at home. I recently went out of town for a family wedding and took my yoga mat with me to stretch before working out.

The Synergy mat made working out while on vacation easy and fun. And the portability of this mat is excellent! I haven't yet had a chance to make a carrier for it but the mat is very light weight. This mat also works great for different varieties of yoga. So whether you're practicing bikram, Ashtanga, or hot yoga, you will find that this mat works wonders!

I've been using the Lavender Meditative Mist Aromatherapy while using my Synergy mat and the combination of the aromatherapy and the yoga has allowed me to work on breathing, stretching, and finding my inner balance. By giving myself 10 minutes for peace, quiet and tranquility I've found that I'm more patient (especially with the kids), I'm enjoying myself more, and I feel better throughout the day.


The mat has also provided a place for teach my children a few moves. They are having an amazing time learning different stretches. My son recently took a few gymnastics classes where he learned a few stretches. So he decided to teach his sister his favorite position, downward dog.

By bringing yoga into the home (instead of simply participating at the gym) I've opened up a door for teaching my children the balance of exercise as well. I've also created an added bond with them. Every morning after I drop my son off at school, my daughter and I get to our stretches before our little dance parties. Before you know it she'll be showing me her favorite position!


Aurorae Yoga products are the perfect gift for this holiday season. Bring some comfort and relaxation to someone you love by purchasing the Aurorae Yoga Synergy towel-mat combo or allow them to take a moment to themselves with the Aromatherapy mist.

You can find Aurorae Yoga on Facebook and follow them on twitter at @AuroraeYoga. For safe and reliable purchasing, check out all of Aurorae Yoga's products on Amazon.





Aurorae Yoga will be including a Synergy towel-mat (an $89.95 value) in the Noise Girls Winter Gift Guide giveaway starting November 1st.

Head back to enter to win one of three amazing prize packages featured in this giveaway. And make sure to check out our complete Winter Gift Guide for ideas on what to give this holiday season.




Disclaimer: I received a Synergy Yoga Mat-Towel for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  
 

6 Week Challenge {1 Week Update}

So as of yesterday it's been exactly a week since I've been on the 6 Week Challenge at the YMCA. I'm working out at least 4-5 times a week, counting calories, and cooking a heck of a lot more at home. I'm feeling amazing and looking forward to continuing to see progress on the scale and in my body. We haven't done measurements yet but will do so on Wednesday. However we did have our first weigh in and I am happy to announce that I lost 2lbs!

That's right. I met my first goal of a 2lb loss per week. And I am currently at pre-pregnancy weight. You don't know how ecstatic I was to see that number on the scale! I am hoping to be at least 10lbs closer to goal weight by the end of the year even with the holidays in the mix. That means hard work, determination, and sticking with my 6 week challenge. Then after the first of the year I'll need to step it up and continue to do well on my own.

I might even be looking for friends to join me and create a 6 week challenge of our own. It won't be with a personal trainer but I'll have some sort of structured weekly challenge. A few workouts or classes we can take either together or separately and a food plan. Because the biggest thing I've taken away from my struggle with losing weight is that I need a food plan. No mindless eating, no carelessly choosing items off the menu. I need to be thoughtful and careful when I put food in my mouth.

The fitness part of this week consisted of a cardio challenge to see how far we could run/jog/walk within a 30 minute timeframe. I was able to average about 5mph on the treadmill during that 30 minutes and ran about 2.4 miles. Now that was without any incline, too. I'm sure my speed would have been a bit lower had I been given an incline (or a double stroller!). After the cardio challenge we had a workout with our trainer with resistance bands. Boy those things suck! We then worked in pairs with the 10lb medicine ball. Our second work out with the trainer had us balancing on a bosu (I had NO idea what this thing was before the session). We did lunges, squats, threw the medicine ball to each other, etc. We worked our core and I felt it the next day!

Each week our trainer also gives us classes or activities to do outside of our 2 sessions. She also wants to see us exercising at least once a day for 30 minutes. This week she challenged us to take one of her classes on Friday. We had our choice of a Cardio Sculpt class or a Sports Drills class. I chose the Sports Drills since I was relatively familiar with them from high school. Oh boy... I HATED it! Running the drills was the hardest thing I had done all week (maybe all year?) physically. She had us leaping like frogs, on our backs walking like crabs, doing push ups (both triceps and biceps) and much more. I even had to excuse myself to use the restroom although later on I would find out that I was just sick. I'm really glad I tried the class but might be choosing another option next time.

Along with the challenge we go to weekly nutrition meetings every Monday night. A nutrition expert comes in and not only gives us a wonderful presentation about nutrition but she also prepares a meal for us each week to enjoy while we listen and watch. I'm hoping to start posting recaps of her nutritional information on here soon in case others are interested as well. And, of course, including the recipes to the yummy meals she's making!

I am very happy with this first week and hope to see continued success on the scale and in my eating choices. More to come next week!

Weight Loss Progress

Starting Weight: 224.6 1/30/2011
Size 16
Current Weight: 201.7 11/12/2011
Size 14/16
 
Total to go: 46.7lbs
Total lost: 22.9lbs