A Word of Forewarning: Contrary to popular belief, this post has nothing to do with Kanye West.

Last week I had an epiphany.  For two months now I’ve been trying to orchestrate a workout program around what I should be doing (but don’t want to do) rather than what I (kind of) like to do.  Trying to schedule a program around what you should be doing (100%!) but failing (0%!) is much less effective than scheduling a program around what you want to be doing (75%!) and will actually do (75%!).  See the math there?  I was, every week, planning a 100% work out.  And every week, I was beating myself up because I was talking myself out of my 100% work out because I HATED IT.  Whereas if my workout plan had more closely resembled something that I desired to do, I would have been a lot more successful.  And even though my desires are less calorie-effective than my ideal, it doesn’t really matter.  Because in the end, my desires are actually are MORE effective than my ideal because I actually DO my desired work out plan, whereas I only ignore and sulk about my ideal (but not fun at all) work out plan.

Why did it take me so long to figure this out?  75%>0%, every single time.

So what do I like, you ask?  Yoga. And running, as surprising as that is.  Also, I like meeting my friend Josie at the gym at 5:50 in the morning for cardio.  I like it so much, in fact, that I am willing to add an extra hour of cardio at 5:50 in the morning twice a week, ON TOP of my regular work out schedule.

So here’s my brand new work out plan:
Monday: Run
Tuesday AM: cardio with Josie, Tuesday PM: Yoga
Wednesday: Run again.
Thursday AM: cardio with Josie, Thursday PM: Yoga, again.
Friday: take a day off.
Saturday: Run some more.  Run really far, even, and usually with Cassie. Feeling crazy and ambitious?  Add a pilates class at 11.  Feeling less ambitious?  Add happy hour at 11.  Bellinis sound really good, don’t they?
Sunday: Rise and Shine Yoga.  Aaah.

And yeah, maybe there’s no weight lifting in that schedule.  And maybe there’s no specified day for ab work.  And you know what?  I think that’s okay with me.  Perhaps after working out every day becomes a habit (as opposed to a phenomenon worth bragging and posting about) I’ll think about adding weights and ab-centric workouts.  Until then, I’ll continue to pat myself on the back for aiming for, and mostly reaching, my about-an-hour-a-day goal.

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Today was my first day in my 4:30 yoga class. The gym I go to is a new gym and they’re just starting to work out their class schedule.  They just added the 4:30 Tues/Thurs yoga class, and I was thrilled to find it on the schedule.

I arrived 10 minutes early for the class today to find the instructor already in the class, stretching and preparing.  After 10 minutes of stretching and self-centering, I discovered that I was the only student in the class today.  We started the class, just her and me.  She performed her instruction as usual, while watching me, her only student, with an eagle’s eye.  Quick corrections in my postures left me in a world of hurt.  It’s amazing how one small adjustment of the hips can change the entire feeling of a yoga pose.  I was elated when another student showed up 15 minutes into the class.  Though the one-on-one instruction was really fantastic, I appreciated a.) having someone to compete against, (I’m a hopeless competitor) and b.) having someone else for the instructor to eyeball during the class.  Knowing that every single word out of her mouth was intended for my ears was a wee bit intense for my liking.  I appreciate being able to ignore about half of what any given yoga instructor says, assuming that they mean those words for weaker, lesser capable students than I.

By the end of today’s class, though, I was convinced that I’ve found my niche.  This instructor is young, hip, and cool.  And more importantly, she has a magical way of making me feel like I am a total Yoga Badass whilst simultaneously using clear instruction to correct some of the bad posture habits that I’ve picked up over the years.  She corrects my hips one minute, and makes me feel like a more flexible version of Gumby the next.  Could it possibly get any better than that?