Yoga, Reiki, Japan, & Running

Hi!

It’s been quite a while since I updated! Good thing this that I’ve been busy accomplishing growing and accomplishing new goals during that time. About a month ago I became yoga teacher! I considered being a yoga teacher before but never brought myself to take that step towards it. I finally did over the summer and I’m so glad I did. During my yoga teacher training I met the greatest fellow students and I learned so much!

I learned more about yoga and about myself. My journey brought me here and now I want to share more of this beautiful practice with others. Since I received my certification I have taught three public classes. Each class is a learning experience and that’s what I love so much about yoga too, I will always be a student.

During my yoga teacher training I also became certified in Reiki level 1 & 2. Learning more about reiki really made the experience more profound and I discovered so much about myself. Reiki provides a kind of healing that I believe everyone should experience. In last April I also visited Japan, which happens to be the country where Reiki originated. My trip to Japan was amazing… hard to even put in words. The country, culture and people are beautiful. I felt so welcomed there and it was one of the best vacations I have ever taken.

So, since the last time I wrote I have become a 200 hour yoga teacher, a Reiki level 1 & 2 practitioner, went to Japan and I am a RRCA level 1 running coach! A lot has happened this year and there are still a few more months left for more growth! In less than three weeks I will be going to my first major marathon, the Chicago marathon which is another step closer to my dream. All of this has taken hard work and dedication. It also comes with sacrifice… but when you know what you want that’s what it takes. Really put your mind to something and you can achieve it!

~Day

Slacking but Trying

​So I’ve slacked a lot with updating. I’ve realized that it takes a lot of effort to be invested in yourself. I have invested time in myself… I’m still waking up at 5AM on Tuesdays and Thursdays going to 6AM yoga, which is going great by the way! My marathon training did slack a bit as well but I still am training. Still, there is more I can do for myself. When I really think about it… I’m spending 40 hours a week working and while I do feel blessed to have a job it also makes me think how can I use my remaining hours on myself. It’s possible but it’s hard work… it’s hard for me to keep up with this blog. To sit down and just write, even if it’s for myself, takes time from my day but it’s time well spent and I need to keep reminding myself of that.

So what have I been up to? Well keeping my fitness up! What I really like about 6AM yoga is that it gives me a reason to wake up for me. I’m not waking up everyday to go to work… no I’m waking up at least twice a week for myself. After I work on myself I get ready for the rest of the day. It keeps me from feeling like my job is a chore because I no longer get up in the morning just to ready myself for it. It has definitely helped me with that aspect. It also has helped me physically of course too! My core has strengthened! But yes I have been training for my marathon which is coming up shortly and cross training. Just yesterday I tried pilates for the first time. It was a great workout but I have to see how to incorporate it into my workout schedule.

I have also been doing quite a few races which has tired me out because I have had one almost every weekend. I love my races of course but it has kept me busy since I’m usually tired afterwards. I can go on about my runs but I think I’ll save that for another time. I did do the Key West Half Marathon on October 6th. I intended on doing it for time but it didn’t turn out that way. Anyway so right now I found the time to post because I am on the way to Las Vegas! Of course because I’m me… it’s to do one of my bucket list races… the Rock n Roll Las Vegas. My aim is yet again to update more often so I will try to write all about my experience at the race! Thank you always for reading.

~Day

Fight Against Lung Cancer 5K

So not only did I not keep to my monthly goal I really slacked off on not updating. A little disappointed in the fact that I didn’t but it’s all right, that just means I have to really get better at this. I’ve done a few 5Ks since I last wrote and some yoga classes. Yes, I’ve kept up with that my yoga classes still doing 6AM yoga twice a week.

Beautiful!

I also was able to experience a beautiful yoga experience at Vizcaya Museum in Miami. I took plenty of pictures so I will only attach a few here. It was a different experience and beautiful.

Underneath the trees!

While I enjoy practicing yoga at the studio I go to, I enjoy it more being outside and connecting to nature. So I’ve been looking to do more  outdoors yoga! I want to go out on the beach again as I did last year, so make that another goal I have!

 

I felt like a mermaid!

But I did go to the beach today! The 5K was on the beach and before it started I just took a moment to stand on the sand and reflect. I watched as the dark sky slowly began to lighten and the first rays of the sun began to come out, all while listening to the peaceful sound of the ocean waves. I felt so thankful to be there, to have the opportunity to experience these things that we usually take for granted on a daily basis.

Group Photo!

The run today was in support of the fight against Lung Cancer. We have a family friend who is a lung cancer survivor and we are truly blessed to have him still with us after he was diagnosed as terminal nearly 8 years ago. It was for a great cause and one I really would like to get the word out about, especially for runners and athletes a like! If you happen to see a lung cancer event near you participate, help out out, it really is for a great cause. And on a side not I got 1st place in my age group! Thank you always for reading! I hope to update more often!

~Day

Goats and Runs

The last two Saturdays I tried different types of yoga. The first yoga I tried was heated yoga. I was pretty hesitant about it because I don’t like too much heat (being a Floridian I’m surrounded by it), and the thought of hot temperature with a bunch of body heat didn’t attract me. But since I was still on my new trial membership I thought I may as well take advantage. So I went and… I actually liked it! It was terribly hot (I asked the yoga teacher later and it was only a slightly heated room to about 90°), it was more of a nice warmth that made me sweat. I’m also used to being drenched in sweat when I run and it was much less than that. I plan on going again and trying the hotter yoga they have available soon!

With a goat!

And the yoga I went to this weekend was a bit more exciting in my opinion… Goat Yoga!! I heard about it a while ago and being a goat lover I really wanted to try it! I searched and search for one in South Florida and finally found some classes available in my area (kind of it was an hour drive!)! It was so much fun! I didn’t pay much attention to the class because the goats were so interactive haha, but the teacher was really great and it was enjoyable. The goats were soo cute, I wanted to take one home! It is a different experience for sure and I would recommend it for animal lovers or if you’re looking for a different yoga experience! I would do it again for sure!

Still happy I got 3rd!

Well I’ve spoken about my yoga experiences and I also had a Back to School 5K where I got third place. I’ve been slacking though and haven’t gotten my best time again and I know it’s mental problem not a physical one. Training myself mentally is very important in running and throughout life, it’s one of the many reasons I picked up yoga. I doubt myself a lot when I run and I’m training myself to stop feeling those doubts it only affects my performance. It’s something I’m working on and I will post more on it.

I’ve gone longer than I wanted to without writing… my sister left for Japan to live for a year, my marathon training is on its fourth week, I have more tinctures that are soaking (I will definitely write on this soon!), and I have some more planned races coming up. I’m going to try and set a goal for every month. My goal this month is to write more often. My half goal is to read all the books I bought but haven’t gotten to yet. I will work more on the first goal and if I don’t make my half goal that will be it for September. I’m hoping to make some progress! If you’re interested in seeing more pictures of my experiences I post a lot on Instagram and you’re welcome to follow me at aDaywithDay! Thank you for reading!

~Day

Trainings

On Sunday I went to another 5K. I was first place in my age group but the run was really small so I still want that day when I really earn it! It felt good though knowing that with enough training it really is possible. This week marathon training has officially started. It’s 18 weeks until my first marathon and I want to feel prepared for it! Monday was cross training day. I went to the gym did the elliptical and the bike… cross training really does help because it was a great workout. Yesterday was a 3 mile run and today is 5 miles. It isn’t much right now but the mileage will build up!

Along with my marathon training I’m still adding yoga to it. I’ve gone 6 days since I started, most of those days involving early morning wake ups but I really feel good. It takes a lot of work and dedication to get to where you want to be but it will be all worth it. This is just the start of my official training and I’m already seeing how much work it’s going to take!

On another note my first infused oil was finished last night! It has calendula and horsetail in it which is really good for the skin! I’ve just started using it and I will update on the results. The tincture I made for cardiac health so far seems to have a great result for blood pressure (my dad is the test), I’ll post more on this as the days go by. I’m also making more tinctures. All these natural medicines really are the best.

~Day

Yoga and Tinctures

Last Thursday I finally went to early morning yoga! I woke up at 5:15am and really considered going back to sleep. I still had plenty of hours before work. But I thought about it and knew that it really isn’t easy to be up that early but that’s what makes a difference. So I got up and am so glad I did! The 6am class I went to was awesome and I felt so refreshed afterwards. I woke up really early but I wasn’t even tired throughout the day, it was a perfect way to start a morning! Since then I’ve been to two more classes, one on Saturday (not as early but a morning start), and another one today. As long as I keep this up I can make it into a habit. While yoga is excellent for runners and we need those good stretches I also do it for the mental benefits it gives. Our minds need to be exercised too.

My tinctures ready to be strained!

Also during the weekend I finally strained my first tinctures! They came out great. I made a Hawthorn Berry tincture which is good for cardiovascular health: blood pressure. I also made Echinacea purpurea which is good for the immune system and helps fight colds and the flu, especially during the first signs. I’m going to write about the Echinacea purpurea because I just had an experience with it.

During the weekend my niece slept over and she was sick. She’s feeling better now but what she had was at risk of spreading it. Last night I felt terrible. My body was aching, I had the chills and was lethargic I just wanted to sleep. I thought about canceling my yoga class because I felt so bad. I took some drops of the echinacea and went to sleep. Woke up in the middle of the night, took more drops and went back to sleep. I woke up at 5:15am and I was surprised that I felt so much better! My body aches were gone, my chills gone, and I felt energized enough to go to yoga! And that’s exactly what I did. I had a great start to my morning and my yoga class helped me feel even better. I still find it amazing how well it worked. I’ve used other remedies that are supposed to help stop colds the moment symptoms start but none of them have worked for this. Natural holistic medicines really are the best. I really recommend the echinacea since I’ve tired it and can say it definitely works! As of right now I can say I feel 90% better and all I did was take the tincture and sleep. I still have other ones I’m making and they will be ready soon!

~Day

Start of Something New

Last night I planned on waking up for early morning yoga. I set my alarm, paid for my class and left my clothes ready. But everything doesn’t always go as planned and I woke up a bit too late. It’s difficult to start something new but the point is to keep trying and eventually results will come… such has been my experience.

Usually when I tell the story of how I got into running I don’t mention the first run I ever did. The reason why I don’t is because I never thought of it as momentous and it was not the run that really got me into running. However, when I started to think about it I realized that it was a huge stepping stone in how my running life started. I wouldn’t say I was always overweight but I can say I always had a problem keeping my extra weight off. It was late 2013 when I finally really dedicated myself to a weight loss regimen, which for me was eating healthy and going to the gym. I was really over weight and knew it was time for a change. It took a lot of work but I was very dedicated and lost about 15 pounds (I promised myself I would never gain that weight back… unfortunately I did but more on that later). Then I hit a plateau… I thought that running would help me lose those stubborn pounds so I started going on the treadmill and reading up on running.

At this time I knew absolutely nothing about running… and I mean nothing from the shoes to the distances. I had done 5K walks with my mother for the Strides Against Breast Cancer so I at least had an idea of the 5K distance but that was it. With some reading and Facebook posts I learned about the runDisney events which immediately caught my attention because I love Disney and the themes looked amazing. During a 5K walk in 2014, my friend and I spoke about one day doing the Princess Run together, but it was just a thought and a someday goal.

2016: At my first 5K

It took about a year later until I finally signed up for my first official 5K run. I received an advertisement for a children’s hospital 5K and after some nervousness decided to sign up for it. My same friend worked for the hospital and she told me she was also going and that made me feel better. It was February 28th, 2016 when I did my first official 5K run (it would be this same weekend a year later when I would run again). I was with my friend and her friends so it was a good experience. I got the feeling of what the runs were like and my time was 40:05 which I found to be very good since I did not train a lot.

Unfortunately, after this 5K I didn’t run again. I did sign up for another 5K with my friend but when she couldn’t make it I was too afraid to go by myself. However, this run did get me to want to do what I had spoken about two years earlier, a Disney run. So when registration opened up that July I took a chance and signed up for the Disney Princess Half Marathon… it would be this run that changed my life. Of course I will write about my life changing run but writing about my first ever 5K makes me realize how everything came together. While I may not mention this first official run or even my 5K walks I see now how much of a role it played in my journey. We all have to start somewhere and I see now that this was my prequel.

“…For you will always gravitate toward that which you, secretly, most love. Into your hands will be placed the exact results of your own thoughts…” -James Allen

~Day