Yoga with Jenna Hill

/

A few weeks ago... I won one of the prizes in the Caught in Southie Instagram contest. Sidebar: If you live in Southie and you don't follow "Caught in Southie", you need to get on that... STAT.

Anyway, to my delight... I won a complimentary private Yoga session with Jenna Hill. Jenna teaches all over the city including at The Club by George Foreman and Charlestown Yoga. You can find her full schedule here. In addition to teaching in a class format and private settings; Jenna is one of the co-owners/founders of PopUpAsana. She and Kristin Khederian created this business as a way to make yoga more interesting, social and fun for their attendees. They have events all over the city and beyond and are currently working on the website but in the meantime, check out their facebook and instagram!

As soon as Jenna greeted me... I knew I liked her. She is warm, friendly, and extremely well-versed in yoga. She asked me a bunch of questions regarding my current state of health. She also asked me about past injuries, what I might want to work on, and if there are any exceptionally "tight or cranky" areas that I needed to work out. 

As I moved through my practice, Jenna focused on giving my hamstrings, feet, upper back, and lower back some attention. (Yes, I told her all of those things needed help haha).

Jenna gave me all kinds of new yoga moves that I have never done before... plus some old goodies that I've neglected to do as of late. Every little re-position, adjusted twist and turn made a HUGE difference in the poses and by the time savasana came around... I was feeling GREAT! Plus, see that sunset behind me? So pretty ( and relaxing!)

Jenna hill!

I enjoyed my practice with Jenna so much that it made me REALLY want to get back into Yoga. I put a lot of demands on my body between boxing, running and lifting so I could really use some yoga in my life to balance it all out.

Thank you so much for this session, Jenna - it was amazing!

If you are interested in getting in touch with Jenna.. see links below:
Facebook: Jenna Hill Yoga
Twitter: JennaMHill
Instagram: jenna_m_hill
Web: jennahillyoga.com
Email: jenna@jennahillyoga.com

Have a great Thursday! xo

Weekly Workouts III

/

Last week, I got back to Yoga for the first time since the North End Yoga Class I took for #LaceUp365. I've been wanting to go for a while because there is an excellent studio right inside Legacy Place (across from JP Licks). It just makes sense for me to walk over after a day in the office before I go home. It was a great class and, Betty, who owns the studio taught it. Whenever I take Yoga, I tell myself I need to keep going because it's such a great complement to my normal workout routine. Also, it's fun to work on my back bridges and headstands... it brings me back to my gymnastics days! My goal is to try and go once a week.

Monday: Fighter Conditioning at Peter Welch's Gym (Brian's Class)

Tuesday: Vinyasa Flow Yoga at Stil Studio at Legacy Place (Betty's Class)

Wednesday: Fighter Conditioning at Peter Welch's Gym (James' Class)

Thursday: Rest

Friday: Fighter Conditioning at Peter Welch's Gym (Derek's Class)

Saturday: Rest

Sunday: 3.83 run

Post yoga - thumbs up!

Taking a poll: What is your favorite type of Yoga class?

Happy Thursday! xo

#LaceUp365 at North End Yoga

/

On Saturday, I was honored to join another #LaceUp365 event at North End Yoga with New Balance and Susan G. Komen. I've been lucky enough to participate in two of these events in the past... at Barry's Boot Camp and at The Handle Bar. 

As a refresher... the #LaceUp365 program celebrates the 25 year Anniversary of the partnership of Susan G. Komen and New Balance. Every day, a new survivor story is published on the New Balance website... HERE. You can dedicate your workout to a survivor with the hashtag #LaceUp365 on any social media outlet. I love this program because it provides breast cancer awareness 365 days a year, instead of just in October. Join us by taking a photo during your next work and sharing it with the #LaceUp365 hashtag.

This class was different than the past two #LaceUp365 events. In the last two... my thought process was focused on pushing as hard and fast as possible... "this is just a workout - what some people go through is much harder than this 1 hour workout". I haven't taken an in-studio yoga class in a really long time... I forgot how reflective and spiritual it is.  Our instructor, Joanna, spoke to us in the beginning of class about her dear friend who recently lost her battle with cancer. She explained that she was very much an inspirational and positive person that she really admired and learned a lot from. We dedicated our workout to her. This class felt to be more of a group dedication to those who are are survivors, those who are fighting the battle, and those that have lost the battle. Each movement was for them. All three classes that I've attended have been moving in a different way... just another reason why I love this program.

On a lighter note, the physical benefits of the class were AWESOME! I had been dealing with some serious muscle soreness and really tight IT bands and hamstrings (I know, I know... I NEEEEED to foam roll and partake in yoga more often). By the end of class - I was feeling MUCH better. I had a dull ache in my left hamstring (where I tore it 2 years ago) for about a week and it was even hurting on my ride over. It is now gone. There are so many physical and mental health benefits to yoga. I need to figure out how to fit in a real in-studio class back into my schedule. My at-home yoga videos just aren't enough.

After class, a few of the representatives from New Balance spoke to us about the partnership with Susan G. Komen and showed us some new items in their line. Here I am sporting some of them (I know - sweet selfie). Everything is SO comfy. 

Here we all are at the end of class. Shout out and thanks to Joanna who guided us through the whole thing. 

... And of course... a big thanks to New Balance and Susan G. Komen for putting together such an amazing program. Hope you are all having an awesome week! Remember... #LaceUp365 xo

 

PS: I was not monetarily compensated to write this post, however, New Balance did provide me with the awesome gear and a pass to this class. As always, opinions are honest and my own (and always will be :))