HOT YOGA: 7 Tips for the Beginner

Tips for your first time at Hot Yoga!

I went to my very first Bikram Hot Yoga class a few months ago and was instantly addicted!  There is just something about sweating that much that I completely fell in love with.  Although my first experience was wonderful, I was so scared to even give it a try.  It took me a very long time to finally take the plunge and go to a class.  I put together a short list of tips for your first Hot Yoga class to ensure you are comfortable and don't totally stick out!

1.  HYDRATE:  Seriously guys, you SWEAT.  A TON.  You are losing water like crazy so will want to be sure to replenish.  Take at least 1 litre of water with you to class.  Drink a little more water than usual throughout the day if you are planning on going to an evening class.  Keep drinking lots of water after class. (I really love Results & Recovery after my class!)

2. TOWELS: You will need a small hand towel for wiping the sweat off your face and body and a large beach size towel to lay over your yoga mat.  When you really start to sweat your mat can become super slippery, the beach towel adds a little extra grip.  If you are going to be going to several classes, you might want to invest in a yoga mat towel made specifically to fit over the mat.

3.  CLOTHING:  Less is more!!  There really is a time and place for modesty and Hot Yoga is neither the time or place.  Don't wear pants.  Snug fitting shorts, a sports bra and an optional shirt is great for the ladies.  Guys, Yoga shorts or swim shorts are great.  This is NOT the time to worry about the way you look or what you are wearing.  No one is looking at you in class, they are there for the same reason as you; to get a killer workout.  A change of clothes for after is always nice unless you are ok wearing a soaking wet bra and underwear to work.

4. EATING:  Try not to eat 2-3 before your class. The heat of the room added to being upside down and in different positions can leave you nauseous to begin with...adding food to the mix is not a great idea.  If you must eat prior, a light snack is recommended.

5.  ARRIVE EARLY:  You want to make sure you get to class at least 30 minutes prior to start.  This will give you time to fill out the necessary paperwork, get a good spot in the room and allow your body to adjust to the temp.  Don't forget to let your instructor know prior to class that you are new to Hot Yoga.  There is often time before class where the instructor can go over some "newbie" tips with you.  Lay your mat out, lay your big towel over the yoga mat, put your water and your face towel beside you, and lay on your back, close your eyes and ENJOY!  Listen to the silence, allow your body to adjust and let your mind go free. This was my favorite part as it really is the only place I ever get to just be with me and my thoughts.

6.  BASIC ETIQUETTE:  When entering the Hot Studio, keep sound to a minimum.  If you must talk, keep it at a very low whisper.  Do not wear perfume, strong smelling lotions, please wear deodorant!  Some that smells pleasant to you may not smell the same to the person next to you and when it gets really hot the smell intensifies.  Once you have entered, try your best not to leave.  Not only does this disrupt others and let the heat out but it also allow your body temperature to drop.

7.  LISTEN TO YOUR BODY:  This is YOUR practice.  Do only what feels comfortable.  Listen to your body.  If you do start to feel nauseous or faint, sit down on your mat with eyes open and take a full deep breathes.  Return to your practice whenever you feel comfortable.  Remember, you will not be able to do the same movements as the person next to you, every body is different.  The point is to do YOUR personal best, this is not a competition.  Also, you don't have to be in shape to start this class!  There is people of all fitness levels attending.  Don't be afraid to ask (quietly) for assistance, that's what they are there for. 

Bottom line, GO TRY IT!!  Have fun, keep it light, enjoy yourself.  No one is watching you.  Remember, every single person in that room had their first Bikram Yoga experience...even the people up at the front rocking it.

My Why - Top 10 Canadian Beachbody Coach

Beachbody Canada Top 10

This is how Beachbody has CHANGED MY LIFE in just one year!

I have been putting off this post for months now, I was always far too scared to share the whole story of my success for the fear of being completely judged. The further I move forward, the less I care about the embarrassment or judgement.
...
Every since I was really little, I had dreamt of living my life by design. Everything was very specifically laid out exactly how I wanted it to be (down to the car I would drive, the house I would have, and my kids names!) My entrepreneurial instincts go just as far back, you show me a way to make money and I was ON IT! I think my lack of success in anything was due to my lack of passion in everything, nothing ever really "clicked" for me.

Now...here is a very common misconception: if you come from a wealthy family, you get to do what you want, be what you want, live that life you want. This couldn't be more WRONG. Yes...I was raised in a "well-off" family, my parents worked VERY HARD, my dad NEVER HOME, to create a beautiful life for us! But what happens where a parent gets sick and they lose EVERYTHING? Let me tell you what happens: you put everything in your life aside to make sure everyone is emotionally safe, you lose that ability to have whatever you want. You gain this feeling that God has completely forgotten about you and your family, good people or not.

Not long after...new baby on the way, a job I couldn't continue with, boyfriend going to school full time and working 12 hour shifts on the weekend trying to save up enough money to move out of my parents basement into a shit shack we later find out is infested with mold. 22 years old and I felt like my life was crumbling before it had even started.

For the first time in my life I felt like everything I had learned and felt up to this point was nothing but a childish dream. Maybe this was my fate and I was born to be just average...

After deciding to take control of my own health (the ONLY thing I still had control over) I met an amazing family of people...I watched them go exactly where I wanted to go!! That place that I knew I was meant for. The opportunity to buy our first house, pay off our debt, give our daughter the life she deserved.

What's my point here?? If I wouldn't have struggled and experienced the bottom, no one would be able to relate to me. No one would be able to say "if she did it, SO CAN I!"

My WHY now is to help people see what I SEE. I want to show people that no matter where you are at in your life or where the CRAZY path has taken you, you can always turn it around and CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY, your life purpose.

Honestly, If I can just help 1 person, my MISSION and life purpose is complete.

Now, I challenge you...search for YOUR PURPOSE! Out of your darkest moments will come the brightest light...use that. Someone out there might need your experience right now, be that light for them.

**please feel free to share with anyone you think might benefit ♥**

 

Clean Eating Deviled Eggs

 

Clean Eating Deviled Eggs
Only 70 calories per egg...NO MAYO!  Great appetizer to bring to your next BBQ.

Ingredients:

6 hard boiled eggs

6 teaspoons of plain yogurt

2 teaspoons of dijon mustard

2 teaspoons of finely chopped onion

2 tablespoons of honey

2 tablespoons of paprika or chili powder

Hard boil eggs, remove shell, cut in half, remove hard yolk.
Mix all ingredients in bowl then scoop back into the hard egg white!

Healthy Beef and Broccoli

 

 



 

 

Healthy Beef and Broccoli

I love a good Chinese food alternative!  This is a healthy meal the whole family will enjoy.

INGREDIENTS  (SERVES 2)

1 tbsp. coconut oil
 3 cloves garlic chopped
2 tsp ginger, chopped...
1/2 cup yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 small bunch broccoli florets in small pieces
12 oz flank or skirt steak, thinly sliced
1 lime, juiced
1/2 tsp sesame oil
2 tsp low sodium soy sauce ( I substitute braggs aminos)
2 tsp cornstarch

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat a large saute pan or wok to medium heat. Add coconut oil and beef and cook for 6-8 minutes or until golden brown. Scoop meat out of the pan and keep warm.
2. Add garlic and ginger to pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. Add yellow onion, broccoli, 14 cup of water, sesame oil, soy sauce. Cook 6-8 minutes or until broccoli is bright green.
3. Add cooked beef back to pan and season with soy sauce.
4. Mix 1/2 cup of water with cornstarch and add to pan. Bring to a boil. Add lime juice. Serve with brown rice and hot sauce if desired.

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 385 calories, 38 g protein, 10 g carbs, 20 g fat, 4 g fiber, 2 g sugar, 250 mg sodium

Salmon Florentine

I haven't always been a big fan of fish, especially Salmon.  It still isn't one of my favorite dishes but when it is all done up the right way I really enjoy it!

Salmon Florentine

INGREDIENTS
2 packages (10 oz each) frozen spinach, thawed
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup minced shallots ...
2 teaspoons minced garlic
5 sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
1/2 teaspoon himalayan salt, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta
4 skinless salmon fillets (6 oz each), rinsed and patted dry


PREPARATION

Heat oven to 350°.
Squeeze spinach of all excess liquid. Set aside.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shallots; cook, stirring, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add garlic; cook 1 minute more.

Add spinach, tomatoes, salt, pepper flakes and pepper; cook, stirring, 2 minutes more.
Remove from heat; let cool about 15 minutes.
Add ricotta; stir to combine.
Season with salt and pepper.
Pack about 1/2 cup spinach mixture on top of each fillet, matching the shape of the fillet. Place fillets on a rimmed baking sheet or in a glass baking dish; bake until cooked through, 15 minutes.

334 calories per serving, 14 g fat (3 g saturated), 11 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 43 g protein