Ujjayi to get by.

I started running again last week after a long (13 months) hiatus spent trying to rehab my right knee. What’s wrong with it you ask? Oh, just inflammation that does not and will not go away. I’ve been trying a combination of “RICE-ing” (rest, ice, compression and elevation) for the past year and nothing has seemed to work. So last week I said “Eff it, I’m going for a jog” and oddly enough I’ve had no knee pain since! Can you believe it? Neither can I! 

Instead of going balls to the wall, I started running for only 30 minutes at a time, three miles a day, four times a week, for the last two weeks. And on the treadmill instead of outside since it’s a little easier on the knees. And I have to say, I feel great! Running is one of the most challenging things for me to do. I could circuit train for two hours, do yoga for days but when it comes to running, I get so bored that I just want to bail. It doesn’t matter that my playlist is upbeat and loud, or that there are other people around me running; that is until last September when I was up to running six (6!!!) miles four days a week. Because I found running such a challenge, I decided to face my fear head on and register for a 5K  or a half marathon, just to see if I could do it.

And then my knee started hurting. A lot. Like even when I pushed down on the accelerator in my car, I would feel or hear a “click.” Sometimes when I was riding my bike it would just give out completely for a minute and then it would go back to normal. So I backed off. Completely. Which if you know me, this was a big deal. I did the whole ice, compression and elevation thing too and nothing happened. I took Aleve (unwillingly) and when that didn’t help I started doing exercises to strengthen my quads and I think that actually helped. I stopped running a year ago and thought our relationship was over.

But then I started having dreams of me running. Dreams where I was late to work and I decided to run the easy three miles. Or dreams where I was still at the University of Rhode Island and I was late for class so I started running. And then the dreams progressed to where I would be walking my usual route with my dogs when the need to run would come over me. My subconscious mind was trying to tell me something…. it was time to lace up again and see if me and running could be friends again. So I did. And I’m going to continue doing so until my body tells me different. But not everyday! Because the body is NOT a machine… it needs rest too. Those of you runners out there should check out my friend Marron’s blog… it’s full of great tips, stories and recipes too!

Have you heard that age old saying that “Yoga is great for runners whereas running is not great for yogis?” I have many runner/yoga students who say this all the time and I never believed it until this week. My hamstrings are TIGHT! And SORE! My calfs are burning and forward folds feel more intense than ever. High lunges? Ugg. Maybe it’s because I’ve just started running again or maybe that age old saying is really true! I think yoga is wonderful for runners, it’s a great balance and cross-training “workout” if you will. We’ll see how I feel at the end of the month after I run the Turkey Trot I registered for on Thanksgiving… it’s a 5K and 10K at the beach! What a wonderful thing to do before I eat all day and all night.. right?!

I will say this about yoga and running before I get to food- without Ujjayi Pranayama, or Victorious Breath in Sanskrit, carrying me through these runs, I don’t know how I’d get by. I get so winded sometimes, especially because it’s been warm here lately, and I find I’m huffing and puffing up a storm. And then I close my mouth. And start the rhythm of breathing in and out of my nose, Ujjayi . Andy makes fun of me for using Ujjayi breath when off the mat. I’ll be cleaning, cooking or even typing this blog and he’ll say “Use that Ujjayi Niccola!”

If you’re not a yogi, Ujjayi, is created when you breath through the nose, and only through the nose, emitting a deep sound similar to waves crashing on the ocean or “Dark Vader” as some teachers like to refer to it as. The lips are gently sealed when creating this breath and there is a slight constriction at the back of the throat needed to create the specific sound. In yoga practice, this is how we breath for our entire time on the mat. There are so many benefits to a pranayama practice and if you are injured or need a day off, this is just as good as any yoga class!

Seriously, I was super hungry when I returned home today from yoga, running and circuit class. But I had enough energy to create this easy peesy breakfast that you can prepare ahead of time and eat whenever. All you need is a muffin tin for this recipe and any veggies you may have around. I am so proud to say everything you see below, grew in my garden these past few months. The jalapeño peppers are spicy and just right while the spinach just keeps on growing… I can’t seem to kill it! But use what you have laying around like mushrooms… I think they’d be perfect with the eggs!

___________________

Egg Breakfast Bites in Muffin Tins: makes 4 bites

Ingredients:

-4 eggs, scrambled

-1/4 cup unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

-handful of spinach

-cheery tomatoes

-handful of herbs (I used parsley and cilantro)

-1/2 zucchini

-1 jalapeño pepper

-scallions

-Coconut oil (for greasing down muffin tins)

-cheese for sprinkling on top (I used Asiago)

-salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350.

2. Chop up all your veggies. Give them a two minute sauté in a pan with a little coconut oil. The eggs cook faster this way.

3. Scramble the eggs with the Vanilla Almond Milk.

4. Grease the muffin tins. Then grease them again. This will insure the breakfast bites don’t stick to the tin!

5. Scoop the veggies into the tins and pour the scrambled eggs on top. I only used 4 tins since there are only two of us. Make this recipe bigger if you need to serve more people.

 

6. Grate a tiny bit of cheese on each one and pop into the oven for 20 minutes or until the eggs are cooked.

7. They will have a tiny bit of water on top when they are through cooking and brown on the sides. Use a butter knife to scoop them.

  

8. Serve with a bit of hot sauce and wallah! Clean eating!

__________________