Fitness/Health | Sam from Amsterdam

so before today I had only ever sorta taken half a yoga class. In highschool me and my friends went on a visitors pass and took a class. But because of our constant giggling we left half way through.

In these last few weeks I’ve been wondering if I had been doing the poses right, or was I pushing to hard? I really don’t have a clue.. I looked around here in cullman if there was a place were yoga classes were given. To my surprise there was! “Santosha yoga,” is the name of the studio. I checked times this morning and there was a class at 9:30 that I could make. I quickly signed up, grabbed my May and headed out the door. I didn’t know what to expect. I came in and was greeted by the instructor, everyone waved hello and seemed friendly.

I rolled out my mat and we sat down. We immediately started. I’m guessing it wasn’t 10 minutes into the class and my arms were already burning and I was working up a sweat. To my surprise I kept up with the class pretty good on most poses. My balance is something I’m proud of, but as for my flexibility I have a loooong way to go. We did this one pose where we spread out legs wide and had to fold our chest to the ground. Everyone was close to nose to the ground while I was still sitting straight up! That was as fat as I could go.

We did another pose called bird in paradise, I was a little lost at first, but after watching I did a motivated version of it. So proud of myself!

I was mostly surprised by the effect of the breathing aspect of it. Doing yoga at home I hadn’t really paid much attention to that. I’d watched a video here and there, but usually while watching tv and I would just kinda follow along with the poses but didn’t listen to the instructor in the video.

I had seen child’s pose before, looking up new poses to do. But it looked boring to me, just laying my head on the ground with my knees tucked in. But today doing child’s pose and taking deep breaths I finally understood the sensation of feeling the energy going through your body. I could feel the breath opening up my ribs and could feel the nerves in my neck all the way down my spine.

I recommend everyone that’s a new by to yoga like me, to take a class. It sure benefit me and helped me in continuing my practice

One of the things passed down to me by my dad, is that I am too, very frugal. I don’t like having to spend money on things I don’t need, or even on things that I want, but that are not a priority now.

I try to cut luxuries since I’m not making a killing 😉 things I love but avoid are starbucks, pedicures, hair appointments, spa days, expensive restaurants, victoria secret, any store that is not Walmart, rue 21 or Ross and yes, the gym. I would love so much to have a gym membership and take spinning classes, and yoga classes and make use of the pool!! But for the past years, that wouldn’t have been a smart choice. If I was gonna splurge on anything it was to see my family. I take a lot of pride in my fitness not ever making use of a gym. As a runner, I’m lucky that my sport requires just a couple good running shoes. I don’t ever go to a real running store, as tempting as it is! I’m loyal to my $50 ascics and love some mizunos on sale when I can find them. No need to spend $170 on the newest trend in running shoes. Just know the support you need. That’s why ascics do so good for me, thick gel soles are my savior! I run like I’m in an elephant stampede, just stomping away. I tried to go even cheaper with sketchers, but that was a huge mistake, those soles didn’t last 2 weeks with the way I stomp.

Besides shoes, you need some good running clothes. I’m super frugal on this as well. Of course I’d love to have the newest lulemon yoga clothes or the latest Nike shorts, but my wallet just doesn’t agree with me 😉 Walmart has a great fitness clothes selection!

This top and tights are both from Walmart, 2 tops for 10 bucks and 12 for the tights!!

And those are the sketchers I was talking about, pretty, but no good!

For yoga, you can get a yoga mat for under 10 bucks at Walmart as well! And while you’re there grab a kettle bell! They’re miracle workers!

Those are the only things I own for my workouts, a 20 pound kettle bell and my yoga mat. I use chairs, the couch, coffee table and any heavy milk or drink cartons in the house.

If you live in the USA, you get to use the highschool track! I absolutely love to go to the track and have a different kind of workout every time I’m there. Sometimes I just work on the bleachers. Great to do jump squats! It’s nice to stay creative, that way things don’t get boring.

Of course if you do have the money to spend on a gym, I say go for it. Don’t hesitate to ask fit people there for advise, they are more than happy to help!