Last week on this blog, I talked a lot about routines and how I am a true believer of practicing them from sunrise to sunset. It looks like most of you were right there with me, judging by the many comments left by those of you who are self-admitted “creatures of habit.” One reader suggested that routines are due to lack of motivation or creativity, or, to put it gently, just plain laziness! “Me, lazy?” I thought. How, when there’s never a dull moment in my life!?!

I wake up early. Before the sun. That’s just what I do. I practice Ashtanga yoga six days a week, and I also meditate, do pranayama exercises and when Andy’s not home, I even chant. One of my favorite things to do is play the harmonium and chant to the India deities, or Gods. I read the Yoga Sutras and pretty much every yoga related book I can get my hands on. I practice giving adjustments to my students, and when I can, I tell stories about the Guru, Pattabhi Jois that I have heard or seen first hand while in India. All around, I am not a lazy yogi!

 

I have to laugh when people say, “You do yoga? What’s your other workout?” Although I don’t think of yoga as “a workout” for years I was only doing Ashtanga and I guess it was my main form of exercise. Have you ever tried Ashtanga yoga though? To teach it is a “workout” period! As I count to five over and over again (no seriously I do it like 100 times in one class!) I’m running around making adjustments- I make binds tighter, forward folds deeper and downward-facing dog never felt so good after a quick press to the hips. While the students are dripping sweat and jumping through and back, I myself am drenched, thirsty and sometimes I even get breathless!

 

So yes, yoga can be all encompassing. In it’s scope, yoga helps you get stronger, leaner and more flexible at the same time. But I am one of those yogis who thinks there is more to life than just yoga asanas or postures. I am a true believer of practicing yoga on and off the mat but when it comes to other forms of exercise, I sometimes feel myself standing alone in a corner. There are some “hard-core” yogis (they gave themselves that name) who only ever do yoga. They don’t run, lift weights, do cardio, or anything “gym” related if you will. Good for them, but personally I need, want and will always challenge myself to do more!

When I moved to California just over three years ago, I couldn’t believe how active people here were. I met other teachers who on a daily basis swim, trail run, hike, take barre classes, and cycle. Some of them have even run marathons, been in triathlons, or have climbed mountains so high up in elevation I get altitude sickness just thinking about it! It’s weird how much climate has to do with a person’s life. I went from being all cooped up in the house for months at a time in Chicago to hardly ever being indoors here. What a difference. I’m never moving back… lol!

So I like exercise. I’m not a fanatic or anything (well, maybe) but I am a firm believer that you need to move and shake your body everyday. And you need to have fun. You should be able to smile while you sweat if you know what I mean. Besides my yoga practice, I really enjoy taking spin and TRX classes, power-walking and doing circuit exercises to help strength train. What am I training for? LIFE! But I’ve hit this plateau where I don’t really see or feel my body changing and I’m bored with my regular “routine” if you will.

What doesn’t challenge you doesn’t change you right?! So, I went ahead and joined a new place down the street from my house called Club Cardio that not only offers TRX but also Cardio Kick-Boxing. Although I’d never tried to box before, and I know this sounds awful, but…. I’ve kinda always wanted to get into a fight! Like “Momma said knock-you-out style”! Today, I totally lived that reality! I got to box with real gloves on, my hands taped underneath, with a bag bigger than myself. It was AWESOME!!!!!! I cannot describe to you in words how powerful, badass and liberated I felt punching, jabbing and high-kicking the crap outta that thing! Wednesdays and Fridays you can find me and my gloves at Club Cardio at 9:15 a.m. Who’s in?! Looks like I’m already forming a new routine!

 

Because sometimes, you need to switch it up! Routine or no routine, it’s great to work different muscle groups, meet new friends, try new things, and smile while you sweat! Love what you do or you won’t want to do it! Speaking of which, I love to cook! I especially love to cook dinner in the afternoon so when I get home at 7:30 tonight, all I’ll have to do is heat it up! This recipe is for all of you out there who don’t like doing the dishes and/or don’t have a dishwasher, myself included! I call this a One Dish Dinner, so enjoy it, and the fact that there’s only one dish to clean!

And there is a secret ingredient to this meal. It’s called Sarah’s Sea Salt and it’s made in Barnstable, Massachusetts (a lovely, quaint town near the Cape) and it’s delicious. There are different blends of herbs and spices but this one in particular is called Tuscan Salt and features a blend of Mediterranean spices, garlic, tomato, lemon peel and sunflower and rosemary oil. It smells and tastes just as amazing as it sounds!

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One Dish Dinner Chicken Bake- serves two or more 

Ingredients:

-5 chicken thighs (skinless)

-5 carrots, chopped

-1 heart of celery, chopped

-1 yellow onion, chopped

-1 green pepper, chopped

– 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and deseeded

-1/2 cup coconut oil (melted)

-1/4 cup water

-2 T Sarah’s Sea Salt or any spices you have instead

-salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350.

2. If your chicken thighs have skin on them like mine, pull it off and trim at the sides.

  

3. Place the thighs in a large baking dish.

4. Chop up all the veggies and place them on top.

5. Melt the coconut oil and add that and the water into the dish and stir.

 

6. Add the seasoning last and mix before placing in the oven.

  

7. Bake your dish for 60 minutes and stir occasionally. At least once, flip the chicken thighs over. Make sure the chicken is cooked through!

 

8. If you’re planning on eating this later like me, wrap and place in the refrig until dinner! Easy peesy, and easy cleansy!

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I’m still reading Jon Krakauer’s Under the Banner of Heaven and boy is it fascinating. I am learning a lot about the Mormon religion and its founders and it’s amazing to me how religions are formed and followed and are ever-changing.