And Happy Hanukkah from me & Seth Rogen!
Month: December 2015
Yoga: Day 2 Reflection
Back on the mat again! Before getting on the mat, I had run a bunch of errands and gotten some Christmas shopping done. It was past 9 PM by the time I was ready for yoga, and by that time, I was starting to feel sleepy.
BUT I PROMISED MYSELF. If I can’t keep a promise to myself, what am I even doing?
I started with Adriene’s Day 2 workout, of course. This one was definitely more challenging than the first. I still felt tight, still had audible cracks when I circled my neck. But after that one, I started to feel a little more connected to my body and in tune with myself. I finished my hour with Yoga for Bedtime, which was perfect. It was a nice meditative yoga, and exactly what I needed after a long and busy day.
Now, I may not do an hour every single day. I’ll definitely do my darndest to complete the day’s video, but the second video is more ‘when I have time’ and ‘when I’m not doing 500 other things’. Tonight might be that way – after work and the office holiday party/Secret Santa, I’m meeting up with a friend for a gift exchange. I’d like to do laundry and 2 videos, but the realistic view of getting ALL that done is…I’ll probably do 1 video and end up doing my laundry sometime this weekend. Sigh.
I did weigh myself this morning, and I haven’t lost any weight. Completely unsurprising, considering I’ve just begun. But, that’s not why I’m doing this. I’m doing this for happiness, inner peace, mindfulness, and confidence.
If you join me, what are your reasons?
Join me in the 30 Day Yoga Challenge!
Since I moved away from my old beloved yoga place, I’ve gotten out of the habit. I had many excuses – directing a show, adopting a puppy, having a 2nd degree burn on my hand, but now, I’m done with all that. I’m ready to start back up again, and to feel better about myself.
My Weight Journey
I currently weigh ~126 pounds. On my 5’2″ frame, above 135 is considered overweight. My highest weight, freshman year of high school, was 139. The summer after that, through calorie counting and exercise, I dropped down to 123. I fluctuated after that, and graduated high school at 118.
At my skinniest, I was 115. This was sophomore year of college. I was more active then (gym 4-5 times a week), with much better eating habits. My frame was entirely different, and I felt much more confident in my own skin.
Please ignore the bizarre picture taken at an MIT frat house, but I think that’s the best representation of how tiny I really was then. 11 pounds really is a lot on my frame.
11 pounds is equal to 33,000 calories I didn’t need to eat. I really gained most of it in the course of a single year, and that only adds up to about 100 calories a day that I didn’t need. It really does happen quickly.
The Yoga Challenge:
For me, a good yoga instructor makes or breaks the practice. I found immediate joy in discovering Yoga with Adriene on Youtube. Her videos are friendly, informative, and – to my joy – encourage taking your practice into your own hands. And, cleverly, she does NOT have any music in the background of her instruction. If you prefer music in your practice (as I do), you can play is softly in the background without distracting from her videos.
Yoga with Adriene’s 30 Day Yoga Challenge playlist can be found here.
I have modified the challenge for my own efforts, as I prefer an hour long yoga workout and to spend some time dedicated to certain areas. As a former competition dancer, and a yogi of almost a year, I’ve been choosing a second video of hers to complete after my challenge. But, if you’re new to the practice, a half hour should be plenty to get you started!
Day 1:
I’m taking selfies of me on the mat to hold myself accountable. Here is selfie #1.
I started with Day 1 (as you would), and followed with Yoga for Upper Back pain, as I had been experiencing tension in that area – likely due to my desk job.
I noticed almost immediately after getting onto the mat that I had been carrying a lot of tension. My neck made a lot of noise as I did head circles. I struggled a little in plank. I hadn’t lost any of my previous flexibility (if I did, it was minute enough for me not to notice), which I was happy with. But, it was clear that I had been away from the practice for bit.
It’s the morning of Day 2, and I’m excited to get back on the mat. It was incredibly refreshing to be in tune with my own body and practice mindfulness.
I’ve got to say – it sure is nice to get back into the groove at NO cost to myself. A happy self, and a happy wallet – what more could a girl want?
Oof, I’ve been out of college for a year now as of this month.
I’ve changed jobs a few times. Inbound Marketing Intern promoted to Content Manager at a financial software company, which I resigned from to start as Onboarding Coordinator at a ticketing software company this past April. I am where I want to be at this point in my life – communicating people in box offices across North America on a daily basis, in a cubicle next to my best friend, in a dog friendly office. I have my own insurance now, and was able to get off my mother’s (who had to have the ridiculously priced ‘family plan’, because her insurance did not offer anything better for a single mother).
Home has also changed. I moved from loud/college-y Allston to the more quiet Central Square/Cambridgeport area. I adore my apartment. Skylights, hardwood floors, a fenced backyard, free laundry, and TWO closets in my bedroom. I finally brought my Toyota Corolla to the city, and have regained a feeling of freedom. My roommate and I adopted a rabbit, Boo Radley. I adopted a puppy, Smiley Face.
I also did a lot of things. I went to a lot of therapy. I took up yoga. I went through a very emotionally taxing breakup and came out smarter, stronger, happier, and more confident. I flew on my own for the first time in my life and visited LA. I went to a lot of live events, many with the help of my company: the Bruins game on New Years Eve, a taping of @ Midnight with Mark Mahron/Jen Kirkman/John Hodgeman, Kroll Show at Largo with Nick Kroll/Ron Funches/Jenny Slate/John Mulaney, Damien Rice at the Orpheum, a Red Sox game, Grimes/Lana Del Rey Summer Tour, Iliza Shlesinger at the Wilbur, and, this weekend, Miley Cyrus’s concert collaboration with Flaming Lips at House of Blues. I did one last show at my alma mater – Alphabet STEW for new student orientation, hoping to impact the incoming freshman class and encourage them to participate in shows but also to perform on the C. Walsh stage one last time. I got a record player, and have already collected dozens of records. I saw the fireworks on the Forth of July from the employees only area behind the Museum of Science. I had catered lunch and free drinks in a private cabana on a Boston rooftop, and got paid for it (it was a work outing). I got Reddit Gold from a stranger on the internet – twice. I did voiceover recordings for an animated feature with WPI comedy alum (which has yet to be animated). I cut off all my hair. I got a spine tattoo. I purchased my dream vanity for myself. I sang at the opening of the new building at Suffolk University. I met the founder of the global cosmetics company Fresh Cosmetics at their first location (Newbury Street) and got to speak with her privately after store closing. I was blessed to be there when one friend got married, and when another got engaged. I directed a show at Improv Boston.
I live a pretty amazing life. There is so much to be thankful for, but most of all, I am thankful for all of you – my friends old and new. I’ve had such an amazing year, and you have all made it possible. Damn, are you still reading at this point? Anyway. I love you all.
Corinne DeCost 