September - I took up Bikram Yoga (aka hot yoga)!!!
Brace yourself - it's HOT. 106 - 115 degrees to be exact. (the humidity is kept at 30%).
Things to bring to Bikram - a yoga mat (obviously), a change of clothes, water (and lots of it), towels (both for your yoga mat and for showering), toiletries for shower time, a power bar (for after class), extra hair ties, and a positive attitude and open mind.
Nothing can prepare you for the amount of sweat that will pour from your body. I was sweating in places I didn't realize there were sweat glands. We move through 26 postures repeating each. It's a 90 minute class - the first hour is standing postures and the last half hour is on the floor. I find the floor portion to be the most challenging. Class begins and ends with breathing exercises.
Since that first class in August, I've been going regularly. Sometimes with some of my girlfriends. Sometimes by myself. And sometimes Dennis joins me - he's decided to take up Bikram and I'm so proud of him for it. (He's actually pretty good!)
Bikram has done wonders for my body both physically and mentally - cleansing my body of toxins, stretching my muscles, burning tons of calories, clearing my head. It's a great workout with serious health benefits.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Labor Day means Back to School
I'm in the home stretch - this is my third and final year of graduate school. Last week was my first week of classes. This semester I'm taking Financial Management for Nonprofit Organizations and Leadership - two required classes. The finance class will be challenging but our professor is friendly, very knowledgeable, and he makes the material interesting. Leadership should be fairly easy and it's co-taught by two really wonderful professors. Overall, I'm very satisfied with my class schedule for the semester.
My research assistantship is a ton of work already. So far, I'm researching Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in New York City and their involvement in arts and culture. While it is extremely interesting, I'm already starting to feel the pressure from the added workload.
This past Labor Day, I decided to not do any work at all. I went with Dennis to a Yankees game. Even though the Yankees lost to the Orioles, we had a great time. We took a water taxi to the Bronx and had hot dogs, beer, and garlic fries (which smelled way better than they tasted). I met his twin sister who is sweet, easy going, and very warm and friendly. The weather was beautiful and my skin is nice and tan.
It's so important to take a little time to relax and put work on the back burner every once in a while. This was such a great way to ease into a hectic fall semester.
My research assistantship is a ton of work already. So far, I'm researching Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in New York City and their involvement in arts and culture. While it is extremely interesting, I'm already starting to feel the pressure from the added workload.
This past Labor Day, I decided to not do any work at all. I went with Dennis to a Yankees game. Even though the Yankees lost to the Orioles, we had a great time. We took a water taxi to the Bronx and had hot dogs, beer, and garlic fries (which smelled way better than they tasted). I met his twin sister who is sweet, easy going, and very warm and friendly. The weather was beautiful and my skin is nice and tan.
It's so important to take a little time to relax and put work on the back burner every once in a while. This was such a great way to ease into a hectic fall semester.
Monday, August 30, 2010
STAYCATION!
The last week in August, Dennis and I decided to take the week off and have a STAYCATION. We mapped out what we wanted to do and followed through with all of it without a hitch.
Monday - Unfortunately, Dennis had to work. Boo! So I slaved over a hot stove during the day cooking him dinner - shrimp cocktail and bacon wrapped scallops as an appetizer, shrimp fra diavolo over whole wheat pasta served with garlic bread and a spinach salad, with vanilla ice cream with berries for dessert. It was an overwhelming success! We topped off the night by staying in and watching a movie.
Tuesday - TKTS line at the South Street Seaport to wait for American Idiot tickets, lunch at a fancy taco stand in SOHO, dinner at Mermaid Oyster Bar in the West Village, and then American Idiot on broadway - it was really great. I would highly recommend it to any Green Day fans.
Wednesday - Dennis came to Bikram Yoga with me (more will be posted about my hot yoga adventures in a later blog). It took us a few hours to recover aka shower, eat, rest, and cool off. Then we stayed in and watched a movie on this rainy day. Once the weather cleared, we headed out to an outstanding southern restaurant in midtown.
Thursday - Went to the Met to check out some art work and spent an extra long time at the Musical Instrument section looking at the evolution of the French horn. Checked out the Big Bambu exhibit on the roof - 45 feet above the roof of the Met, we walked through a sculpture of ocean waves made entirely from bamboo and nylon ropes. Enjoyed some lemonade on the roof deck and took in the view. Headed to Union Square for marshmallow milkshakes and burgers at The Stand. Spent time in the Union Square Park. Took the Staten Island Ferry to a minor league baseball game and lucked out with a double hitter(SUPER FUN and SUPER CHEAP = win!).
Friday - Brunch on the Upper East Side then Pizza for dinner in Little Italy followed by a viewing of The Godfather II on a school rooftop (we brought our own canollis and a bottle of wine).
Saturday - Tour of the Brooklyn Brewery followed by an entire day of drinking and Scategories. Called it an early night with some Pinkberry and a lovely evening walk on the Upper East Side.
Sunday - A quick and uneventful trip to the ER where I was checked in and released in 2 hours (a table got dropped on my foot at the Brooklyn Brewery - and I had to make sure nothing was broken before I iced/taped up my toes and loaded up on Advil). Made breakfast together and congratulated ourselves on a successful fun-filled Staycation :)
Monday - Unfortunately, Dennis had to work. Boo! So I slaved over a hot stove during the day cooking him dinner - shrimp cocktail and bacon wrapped scallops as an appetizer, shrimp fra diavolo over whole wheat pasta served with garlic bread and a spinach salad, with vanilla ice cream with berries for dessert. It was an overwhelming success! We topped off the night by staying in and watching a movie.
Tuesday - TKTS line at the South Street Seaport to wait for American Idiot tickets, lunch at a fancy taco stand in SOHO, dinner at Mermaid Oyster Bar in the West Village, and then American Idiot on broadway - it was really great. I would highly recommend it to any Green Day fans.
Wednesday - Dennis came to Bikram Yoga with me (more will be posted about my hot yoga adventures in a later blog). It took us a few hours to recover aka shower, eat, rest, and cool off. Then we stayed in and watched a movie on this rainy day. Once the weather cleared, we headed out to an outstanding southern restaurant in midtown.
Thursday - Went to the Met to check out some art work and spent an extra long time at the Musical Instrument section looking at the evolution of the French horn. Checked out the Big Bambu exhibit on the roof - 45 feet above the roof of the Met, we walked through a sculpture of ocean waves made entirely from bamboo and nylon ropes. Enjoyed some lemonade on the roof deck and took in the view. Headed to Union Square for marshmallow milkshakes and burgers at The Stand. Spent time in the Union Square Park. Took the Staten Island Ferry to a minor league baseball game and lucked out with a double hitter(SUPER FUN and SUPER CHEAP = win!).
Friday - Brunch on the Upper East Side then Pizza for dinner in Little Italy followed by a viewing of The Godfather II on a school rooftop (we brought our own canollis and a bottle of wine).
Saturday - Tour of the Brooklyn Brewery followed by an entire day of drinking and Scategories. Called it an early night with some Pinkberry and a lovely evening walk on the Upper East Side.
Sunday - A quick and uneventful trip to the ER where I was checked in and released in 2 hours (a table got dropped on my foot at the Brooklyn Brewery - and I had to make sure nothing was broken before I iced/taped up my toes and loaded up on Advil). Made breakfast together and congratulated ourselves on a successful fun-filled Staycation :)
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