Fitness Thursday #5 Yoga

Ahh, a week off training (if you discount the 5k run two days ago) but still ahh for no sprint sessions and no puled muscles. However, I do a few Yoga poses before I go to bed just to make sure I don't lose form and so I work off those last few chocolates I just ate (and to increase my flexibility which is definitely my weak point, I blame it on short-muscled sprinters, I'm jealous of all you long-muscled dancers)

I used to practise Yoga quite a lot when I was in secondary school but didn't have time for it through sixth form but I still used some of the poses after I went to the gym to relax, stretch and de stress my muscles. Here are a few of my favourite stretches and some poses which target deeper muscles. All of these have come from FIT SUGAR YOGA which is full of poses, routines and targeted Yoga practise so check that out too!

 Downward facing dog: Ahh the classic Yoga pose to stretch out your tired legs and back and arms etc etc try to touch your heels to the floor, if this is too hard place your elbows and forearms on the floor for a modified version. Hold this pose for as long as you need, and breatheeee. 

Eagle: this Yoga pose is really good for thigh strength, the photo isn't very clear so I'll fully explain this one. Stand on your left leg and wrap your right leg over your left thigh and bring your toes to the inside of your left legs' calf. Squat down and find your balance. Wrap your arms over each other (right over left to start with) and bring hands together. Balance and hold

Camel: Please be careful with this one, especially if you have back problems, however it is much easier than it looks (begin and end with child's pose (below) to stretch your back).

Kneel on the floor and bend back and grab your right heel with your right hand, stretch your left hand up/back/sideways, which ever is comfortable, come back up and switch sides, when you are ready, place both hands on the respective heels and hold and breathe 

Upward facing dog: lie on the floor, as if about to do a plank, then inhale and push up with your hands using strong arms and lift your legs off the floor, balancing on the top of your feet, round your back and look up, neck back, hold for several breaths 

Butterfly: my favourite post-run stretch to de-stress groin and inner thighs (and back!), bring feet together, as close to you as you can, lean forward and push elbows into thighs to push them closer to the floor 

Wide legged forward bend C: I don't know where the C comes from, some Yoga guru I suspect, this is a really relaxing pose to work the legs and shoulders. Stand with legs wide and bring hands together behind your back. Keeping legs straight (don't bend your knees) bend at the hip and fall as low as you can go

Child's pose: Ok, maybe this is my favourite (I always remember a Yoga instructor telling the class to complete a Warrior sequence and end like this, I just went straight to this saying I was over stretched and needed to just lie there, like a child ahh). Sit on your feet, with knees apart, bend at your hips and stretch hands forwards as far as they will go and hold for hmm about 20 minutes ish




I do all of these Yoga poses before I go to bed, or at least the latter two to relax, never go straight into Yoga, make sure your breathing is correct and don't over stretch as this can cause injury. 

I also came across this video on Popsugar a few days ago and it is a 10 minute Yoga sequence by JENNIFER ANNISTON'S YOGA INSTRUCTOR (I know) its called the "Get Happy and Toned" Yoga sequence, watch it and go with it and you will know what I mean when during the sequence I ended up high fiving myself. But this is a really warm, happy, heart-opening Yoga sequence that will de-stress you in 10 minutes!

Enjoy and relax
RHS x

The calm before the storm

I'm sat in bed - Don't be too shocked, I was at work till 12:30am 

Listening to 'Blue Velvet' by Lana Del Rey.

Thinking - what next? 

I'm not talking the deep "what am I?" "where am I heading in life?" kind of thinking - get real. 

I'm thinking what do I blog about. 

I feel I'm having a lul. 

I'm going to Durham on friday (hometown 2) and I can feel things brewing up there. 

I'm going to France in 9 days (oh how I love love love going to France - await lots of pictures of chateaus and me drinking samples of wine) 

I'm going to Marbella in just under a month (with two friends and I am so excited, just to go to Surrey to be honest - expect where to go and where not to go I'm picturing)


But I thought to end this random blog I would share one of my greatest loves... 

Yes, the piano. 

Horrible to hear (again) but I have broken yet another violin string, this time the D, first it was the A, then they wanted to change the E too (don't make them so damn thin then!)

But my piano is still perfectly in tune - of course it is because it loves me. 

I have my lovely concert grand Steinway and Son 

but I dream of having an upright Kemble. 

I may have got that the wrong way round. 

Anyway, getting lost in classical music isn't something to shout about I can imagine but its definitely what got be through A levels, GCSE's and my first year at Uni, 

If you can't play the piano - I highly advise you listen to it (Einaudi has released several albums on iTunes - he's one of the ones that are still alive - most of the pieces I play are from pianists who were around in the 1700's. 

And I also think if I can pass my grade eight piano after 3 months at Uni with no piano teacher - anyone can do anything if you put your mind to it


RHS x

Easy like Sunday morning

Ahh bacon sarnies (sandwiches darling), football, beef bourginon, red wine and a Jane Austen novel.

And for first time in ages - no work at 6pm - a real day of rest ahh. 

So I've edited my blog a bit - seeing as I have joined so many new sites - Tumblr, Svpply (American, but I am getting addicted to it - find things (anything, I mainly find products) you want and have (just to make people jealous)) and Delicious (which is my least favourite but still an easy way to find blogs you actually want to read).

Tumblr is by far my most favourite, latest join - I love how you can design your own page and post anything you want! - get it!.. and add me. 

I'm slightly consumed by quotes at the minute and they're my favourite things to post on Tumblr, I am now no longer afraid to admit that I love A.A.Milne quotes (basically what Winnie the pooh - and friends said): 

"Think it over, think it under" - Winnie the Pooh. 

"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one. So I will never have to live a day without you" - Piglet. 

ahh - that was nice wasn't it. 

So Im currently sat in my living room whilst mum conducts some Pilates moves (found on MY iPad), dad files his nails (yep) and I watch the Derby match (we're winning 1-0 to Blackburn)

Its raining, its warm, the beef is cooking and I've already practised my violin for an hour and played the piano for half an hour and been and bought all of my bedding for year 2 - King Size quilts - YES. 

(mum wouldn't let me buy a sign that says "no boys allowed" for my bedroom) - sigh. 

I'm several chapters into Pride and Prejudice and I have to say I highly recommend it! - I think its free on iBooks - it would make a good summer read if you don't regularly get a shot of English culture - ok, the novel is more of a triple JD that takes several hours to drink then a down in one shot of Sambuca - but trust me - its good! 

Talking of drinks - Do people use sundays as a day to get over hangovers before work starts again on Monday - perhaps. 

Definitely the best part of Sundays is family time - even if you don't talk to each other, presence in itself is satisfying enough. 

"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in our hearts" - A.A.Milne

Happy sunday

RHS x