exercise

Bikram Yoga: Part Two

Heather was wise, she got there early and set us up near the door. The instructor seemed nice enough and told me that my only goal was to stay in the room for the full 90-minute class even if I didn’t do any of the poses. In Bikram Yoga you do 26 poses and two different breathing exercises and repeat everything twice. Her attempt at calming me didn’t really help because what I’d really wanted to hear her say was that it would be okay to leave if I felt uncomfortable at any point.

Another woman told me that she hated it her first time and then she came back and loved it. Then she looked at me and said, “But you look pretty fit. You’ll be fine.” I appreciate the comment, but it’s simply not true. I’m fit, but that doesn’t mean that without proper training I can run a marathon or ski or toboggan in the Olympics without killing myself. It’s an assumption people often make. I remember when I was younger and was a reasonably good field hockey player people used to be surprised to discover that […]

Bikram Yoga: Part TwoMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:57-04:00

Bikram Yoga: Part One

Last Sunday, the morning it snowed about three inches, I tried Bikram Yoga for the first time. I was really nervous. I can only stay in a sauna or steam room for about 10-minutes and then I usually get a sudden urge to leave. The urge doesn’t creep up on me. I need out of the hot space immediately.

I never really wanted to try Bikram Yoga because I heard that they frown on you leaving, so I basically assumed I would hate it. But a lot of my clients ask me what I think of it, and I feel inappropriate saying that it didn’t seem good to me when I’d never done it.

Heather who teaches our Bloomfield classes and subs has done Bikram Yoga, so she agreed to go with me—this was a few weeks ago. We made a plan to go to a morning class on a Sunday in Glastonbury at Bikram Yoga. I didn’t set my alarm because I’m normally up by 6am at the latest and the class wasn’t until 8, […]

Bikram Yoga: Part OneMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:57-04:00

Wait A Minute! I’m not sore!!!

Today’s post is a reminder that you don’t have to feel sore after a workout. You can be getting stronger and healthier whether you feel delayed onset muscle soreness or not (DOMS—the muscle pain you feel 12-48 hours after exercise). This Today Show video discusses the DOMS myth and other fitness myths. It’s a great summary.

I rarely feel sore after I do pilates (and when I do feel sore it usually comes after I do a beginner workout). I’m rarely sore, but I am strong and I get better and better at the exercises. Sometimes I take a few steps back, but generally speaking I see improvement.

So the question you should be asking, is not Am I getting sore? But, Am I getting Strong?

Wait A Minute! I’m not sore!!!Maggie Downie2014-08-04T18:02:51-04:00

Valentine’s Day Gift for YOU!

Give yourself a V-Day gift this year. Choose one way you are going to be healthier. It’s the best way to love yourself, and, ultimately, the best way to love someone else. I’m on a mission this year to get in the best shape of my life. I’m not sure how well it’s going, but here are some tips for all of us:

Trade sugary beverages for water or unsweetened herbal tea
Limit processed foods
Try to get at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day
Start a calorie journal
Sign up for a race or walk to motivate you to get in better shape
Join a fitness class with friends
Give up dessert for the rest of the month

Valentine’s Day Gift for YOU!Maggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:58-04:00

Shoveling Woes

In the midst of shoveling the other day (just which day who can tell anymore), Matt joked and said that Mother Nature must have known that I wanted to get in the best shape of my life this year and that is why she is making it snow so much. I love when the world revolves around me so much that I’m the reason Connecticut has gotten over 80-inches of snow.

But here’s the problem. I don’t feel like I’m in better shape. Last week when we got the back-to-back heavy and icy snow, I felt really weak. Shoveling felt like a chore for the first time all winter. I had hoped to feel stronger, and like I was getting in better shape, but I just felt exhausted.

Now, on the one hand, I’m grateful to pilates. I’m convinced that one of the reasons I don’t have an injury from all this shoveling is because pilates has made me truly strong, from the inside out, as we like to say. I’m not injured; that should be a […]

Shoveling WoesMaggie Downie2017-09-12T19:31:58-04:00