March 16, 2008

Hot hot hot!

Filed under: Fitness — caroline @ 10:57 pm

An old colleague of mine was really into yoga and she’d told me 3 years ago about this class she’d been doing in North London known as Bikram yoga. At the time, I was a bit miffed as to why anyone would want to stay in a room set at 40 degree heat for 90 minutes, and just admired her for her perseverance, and that was it.

3 years later, here I am, having recently signed up for a £29 for 30 day trial and all I can say is I’m loving it. The first class was an absolute killer. Breathing in through my nose, I was convinced my nostrils would suffer from some kind of third degree burn…and I have to admit, I had to step out of the first class for a minute to catch my breathe, but out of the 3 newbies that started…I was the only one that stuck it out at the end…to the delight of the instructor.

I’ve tried yoga once before, but this class is something else. The postures themselves do not seem bad if you’re doing them in a standard class, but in the heat, it really tests you! In every class I’ve been to so far, I’ve had difficulty even gripping onto my legs due to the intense heat and sweat, but within the week that I’ve been doing this, I’m already seeing some improvements in my posture, skin, and body…its no surprise that its a popular activity, with almost every class I’ve been to, having been completely packed out.

I’m going to have to reevaluate what to do when the 30 day offer is up. Classes are quite pricey, but I really am enjoying it. I’ve been banging on about it so much to friends, that my current boss is considering doing it, and I’ve successfully converted a friend and her brother to join too!

So if you can stand the heat, don’t mind sweating, can ignore lying next to people that have nasty looking feet (I’ll save you the details on my experience!), and can deal with sitting next to the odd moaner/groaner that may make you lose your focus, then give it a go is what I say!!!

I’m a convert…that’s for sure!

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April 23, 2007

Flora London Marathon

Filed under: Fitness — caroline @ 2:16 pm

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To all of you that took part in the london marathon yesterday, hats down to you.  I was there yesterday supporting one of my friends, who ironically wasn’t into any fitness when I first met her 5 years ago, but she seems to have turned it around, so much so that she completed the course yesterday.

The crowds of people was pretty crazy, but the atmosphere was great, and standing around watching the likes of Elvis, Borat, and Fred Flintstone go running by, was enough to make you smile!

Someday I will enter into this, and do myself proud…but to you guys that ran for charity…WELL DONE!!!

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September 3, 2006

Hydro Active 5km run in Hyde Park

Filed under: Fitness — caroline @ 10:02 pm

Hyde Park,

20,000 women,

Tons of different charites,

Raised £500.99

5km,

39minutes,

DONE! :D

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August 25, 2006

Let’s push it to £500

Filed under: Fitness — caroline @ 10:12 pm

Over the last few weeks, my dearest godsister and I have been hitting the local roads trying to do 5km every other day, with a combination of running and walking. I don’t know why I just didn’t train with someone in the first place…its so much easier and you can pace yourselves better! THANKS KAREN :-D

Its funny how I get a mixed reaction to the distance. Some people say how 5km is nothing, others say its quite far…I guess it depends on whether you regularly exercise or not, but one thing is for sure…I’m loving it. I never used to be into running, and the most I would do is run for a bus, but just the thought of getting to Hyde Park next week with a whole group of women running for our chosen charities, that’s just awesome!

Needless to say, I’ve been ever so persistant with the hounding of people to support me, so much so that I’ve now raised the target to £500…so let’s hope I fulfil that.

Until then, the training shall continue…my race number has already arrived, as has my Christian Aid running shirt, so all I need to do for the next week is sort out the tunes on the old IPOD and not endulge for another week!

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June 26, 2006

£190 and still going up!

Filed under: Fitness, General — caroline @ 8:05 pm

I’m actually quite chuffed. When I signed up to do the 5km run, one of the questions they asked is how much they thought I could raise. I said £200…and honestly, that’s how much I thought I’d be able to get, and looky here, I have now reached £190…just a tenner away!

Needless to say I have since increased the target sum for this run.

According to Christian Aid, £190 is 2 teacher’s annual salaries in Bangladesh, plus basic essentials for an Angolian family. Quite a lot for what has been donated so far.

Its funny how there was so much fight for change last year with the G8 summit, but yet the politicians and governments have so far fallen short of meeting targets.

I wasn’t around to campaign for making poverty history, but it is something that I strongly believe in, and hope others follow too. So for those that have donated so far, THANK YOU, and to those that have still to donate…what are you waiting for?!?!? ;)

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