The Weekend Runner: Vinyasa Yoga

I’ve been on a yoga roll lately. I think I was drawn to it because it has principles so different from running – non-competitive, heart-pumping without the adrenaline rush, and taking your time to focus on progress instead of perfection. Yet I think it complements my running routine really well – I learn to listen to my inner-self, build strength and flexibility, and helping me to breathe better.

 

Contrary to popular belief, yoga is not all about meditation, chanting, and relaxing poses. Thanks to Fit Muslim Girl’s blog post on Which Type of Yogi are You?, and my previous experience with Hot Yoga, (now I know it’s called Bikram Yoga), I never knew there were so many different types of yoga to explore! So this week, I decided to try a different type of yoga called Vinyasa Yoga by YogaOneThatIWant (YOTIW). As usual, I booked this class through KFit.

 

According to KFit, Vinyasa Yoga is described as:

IMG_1555

Isn’t KFit awesome? Such a nifty and useful little app because I can continue to explore different types of work out without having to commit to a hefty gym membership.

 

Based on that description, I knew this time around I was not expecting anything relaxing or stretches to straighten any kinks in my muscles. I was prepared for a challenging work out, and it will be a good thing because I really needed to work on toning, strengthening, and balancing. Vinyasa is also great for people with joint problems because they can get some cardio work out, minus the high-impact.

Processed with VSCOcam with a6 preset As usual, I like to keep things simple when it comes to yoga. Nothing like a good Nashata Azeeza Zip Up top and my favourite Iman hijab so I can focus more on my poses, not my outfit. Plus this outfit hugs the body at all the right places, so your top won’t slide down in downward dog pose or other inverted poses.

IMG_1559Love the small class. Since there were not many participants, the instructor could go to everyone and check on their poses. We were closely guided to turn or stretch the right muscles first instead of just rushing to get a pose perfectly done. 

 

At the end of the 1 hour session, I got more than just toned muscles; I was also more aware of my posture when I sit or stand, and I was mentally recharged too. I guess Vinyasa yoga helped me more than just finding my balance physically – it also helped me to balance my mind to simply live in the moment.

For more info, head to YogaOneThatIWant’s website (http://yogaonethatiwant.com/yogaone/)

 

 

Until next week,

The Weekend Runner.

The Weekend Runner: Hot Yoga at Hot Yo Studio

I’m hanging up my running shoes for this weekend because:

1)     My back, neck, and knees were hurting, so no high impact workout.

2)     Running was starting to feel like a routine, so taking a break for a few days will be a good way to mentally reset myself.

 

I knew the right remedy for this was a good stretch, and I immediately thought about a hot pilates class that I used to go at a boutique gym/studio called Urban Spring. Unfortunately, the class that I wanted did not fit into my timing. So, out of curiosity, I stumbled across an app called KFit (it might not be available worldwide yet, but it is available in Asia), where you can find thousands of drop-in classes for gym, yoga, bootcamp, TRX, etc. and you can redeem one free class per month. And that’s where I found the perfect alternative – a hot yoga class at a new studio called Hot Yo Studio.

 

IMG_1290I prefer small, independent, boutique gyms/studios over franchises. They make me feel right at home because the crowd is smaller and more intimate.

IMG_1289

I love how they put thought into the design, continuing on the monochrome theme from the studio, to the receptionist, changing room, and even the shower.

 

As soon as I sat down on my yoga mat in the 38°C studio, I can feel my muscles and joints starting to relax. There was a range of flexibility and experience from today’s crowd, so the instructor focused on some really basic ones such as tree pose, cobra pose, and pigeon pose, but she did encouraged us to follow more complicated poses as well such as half lotus toe balance.

IMG_1291 Warming up

 

My last experience in hot pilates has taught me to wear as simple as possible. Inner hijab caps are a big no, because the tight fabric will hinder circulation, causing a massive headache from the heat. Thankfully, Nashata’s Iman hijab was sufficient to ensure that my hair stays in place without the help of a cap. It is also advisable to wear something form-fitting yet not too tight, so the instructor will be able to tell if you are doing your poses correctly.

IMG_1293 Nashata’s outfits are not limited to running only. They are perfect for other work outs too!

 

At the end of the 60 minutes session, I felt ‘light’ and toned because the sweat has helped me detoxified, and the best part was the back and knee pain was gone! It was a good stretch to realign my posture and loosen up the tight muscles. I did not experience any muscle soreness or fatigue, and I am now mentally recharged to start running again. I’ll be back as soon as I can slot in a session between my running schedule!

 

IMG_1295

A cold and refreshing shower after the work out, with complimentary shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and towel.

 

For more info, head to:

Urban Spring’s website (http://www.urban-spring.com/intro.html) for more info on hot pilates

Hot Yo Studio’s website (http://hotyostudio.com/#home) for more info on hot yoga

 

Until next week,

The Weekend Runner.