Buti, Buti, Buti!

This post is my 300th post!  I can't believe I've done so many!!  So, to commemorate this day I burned over 300 calories!

A few weeks ago I came across an article online about a new workout called Buti Yoga.  I was really intrigued by it.  But, due to the fact that I live in a small town I assumed that I'd never get to try it.  Imagine my surprise a few days later when my gym announced that at the beginning of the year they were going to start offering a class!

I had to hold off on the class until my lungs were in a bit better shape though.  I finally decided that my lungs were good enough to try it today.  {Even though my family wanted me to stay out of the gym a bit longer} 

After I got all the kids off to school and I ran a few errands I headed to class.  This class is no joke.  It was intense.  It's a mixture of yoga and tribal dance with a sprinkle of twerking.  Up, down, hip swivel, downward dog!  My legs were jelly after class.

I wore my heart rate monitor to class and even tho it decided to pause on me about 10 minutes before class was over I had already hit 300 calories.  Needless to say, I will definitely be going back to class next week.  {and the week after, and the week after that}  

If you want a workout that doesn't feel like a workout and isn't one of your typical exercise classes, find a Buti class!  Below is a link to the Buti Yoga site and a link to a YouTube video of a Buti routine for y'all to check out.  


Official Buti Yoga Site

Good Earth Tea Buti Workout Video on YouTube

Have you taken a Buti class??  What did you think?

Friday Randomness

While looking through some old posts the other day I found I had a bunch of half written posts that I {obviously} never finished.  There were a few with some good recipes I really wanted to share with you but, for whatever reason, they never got done.  So, I've put together a post with all of them.

But first, my review on the Chisel & TRX Abs class with Christine at Thriv yesterday.  This class is no joke!  It's a mixture of light weights, kettlebells, bands and TRX.  It starts with a simple warmup, skipping, side shuffles, arm circles, etc.  Then the hard stuff started.  We used a step and all the equipment (besides the TRX to do combination upper and lower body moves.  Bicep curls while stepping, lunges while doing raises, and kettlebell swings to name a few.  As I've talked about before I'm not a sweater, I don't really sweat.  But, about 10 minutes in, at the end of the first exercise, I was drenched.  
Then came the abs portion of the class.  Planks, leg raises and pikes.  My legs and abs were burning.  Christine kept coming by and correcting my form when my hips would drop on planks, or when I was turning out my feet during squats (old dancer habits die hard.)  
I am so sore today it's not funny.  And I will be there next week to do it all over again.  I highly suggest taking this class. 

squash baked ravioli purses
1 medium Butternut Squash
2 T minced garlic
1 medium onion, diced
1 package of wonton wrappers

Directions

1. Cook squash until soft. (I peel and cub it then roast in a 400 degree oven for about 30-60 minutes) and sautee onions and garlic until golden and soft.
2. Heat oven to 375.
3. Mash squash and mix in onions
4. Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment and spray with pan spray
5. Lay out wonton wrappers and add 1-2 tablespoons of squash mixture in center
6. Pick a way you want to fold them (Nasoya has a list of directions.  Click here to be check it out)
7. Use a bit of water to moisten the sides so they'll stick together when you close them
8. Spray the tops with pan spray and bake for 13-17 minutes until golden brown

I served them with a roasted vegetable gravy (not pictured)

roasted vegetable gravy
2 packet Lipton Mushroom Onion soup mix
1/4 flour
4 cup water
16 oz mushrooms, sliced
1 onion, sliced thin
a few cloves of garlic, optional

1. Heat oven to 425
2. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with pan spray
3. Place mushrooms, onions and garlic on sheet and spray with pan spray.  Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and soft
4. Make soup mix according to gravy directions on box.  When the gravy is boiling add in your vegetables and heat through.

Don't you love when you come across a DIY project online that is something you actually need?  My MP3 holder arm band is too small for my new phone so, I was stuck listening to gym music.  (which is okay but, listening to the sounds of the gym, in my opinion, is distracting)  I was really excited when I came across this DIY project online.  It's a cell phone/MP3 player holder made out of an old tube sock.  Is it glamorous?  No.  Is it pretty?  Nope.  (Especially since I made it out of an old army sock.  I need to find a prettier sock to use)  Does it do it's job?  Most definitely.  It works better than the one I paid money for actually.  It's comfortable and I only readjust it if I've touch my phone. It doesn't slip at all. 

DIY MP3/Cell Phone Holder 
What you need:

• Old Tube Sock
• Scissors

Directions

1. Cut the foot part of the sock off.  Make sure you are left with only the tube.
2. Turn the sock inside out and fold the bottom of the tube up so it meets the top of the tube and so it's right-side-out again.
3. Insert your phone into the pocket you just made.
4. Put your arm into the hole and pull it up to the middle of your arm.

Some people prefer to put on the sock before folding it over their phone.  I was no talented enough to do that so I put my phone in THEN put it on.  But, do it whichever way works best for you. 

Today a Spin Class, Tomorrow.....

I'm not moving! 

I know.  I'm crazy.  Yesterday a TRX class, today a Spin class.  What was I THINKING?!?? Ken laughed at me when I told him I was going to take a spin class because I've always said "don't take a class, buy a bike you'll save money and get some much needed fresh air."  Part of the reason I took this class was to see what all the hype is about.  {Man do people LOVE their spin classes}  The other reason is because as a future fitness professional I believe that I should at least try everything.  If I could I would be certified in everything, train in everything and be so gosh darn well rounded that I could teach anybody any style of any fitness craze. 

Thriv uses Real Ryder bikes.  They're really cool.  They simulate a real bike and they tilt to each side which in turn works your abs at the same time as your legs.

  Photo courtesy of:  RealRyder.com

According to the website the some of the benefits of these bikes are:

1. They increase your core strength
2. Challenge balance and coordination
3. Burn 20% more calories and use more muscles
4. Improve your actual bike riding

But, back to the class.  I went in thinking "this is gonna be no big deal.  How hard can riding a bike be??"  HAHA NO!  Dead wrong!  Spin classes are no joke people.  One of the things I pride myself on is the fact that I don't sweat.   This class changed all that.  By 15 minutes in I was sweating.  I carry around a towel at the gym and never use it but, during this class I actually did. 

Crummy after class, dripping in sweat photo

I couldn't keep up the WHOLE time and had to sit down and just pedal occasionally.  In a spin class you're up and down out of your seat constantly, switching hand positions and resistance.  But for the most part I surprised myself and kept up better than I expected.  My only problem is that my water bottle was too big for my holder so instead of just reaching for my bottle when we were told to I had to stop pedaling, and get it.   

I suffered a slight injury during class though.  I found out the hard way that you shouldn't put too much pressure on your arms.  "Your arms are only for balance, not to hold up your weight."   I'm bracing it for a few days to ease the pain.  I should be back in the saddle {pardon the pun} in a few days. 

My conclusion:  This is an awesome workout.  It doesn't beat a real bike ride but, it is fun.  There's energizing music (which by singing along helped me remember to breathe), an enthusiastic teacher (Julie is awesome!), and great cardio.  I will definitely be doing this often.  

Now I'm going to go, soak my muscles and take a well needed shower.  Goodnite!

Back at the Gym

I haven't been to the gym since Thursday!  I haven't really even worked out since then either.  I've been a combination of busy and lazy. I decided to take a TRX class today. [First day back in 5 days and I decided to take a class I've never taken before, I'm super smart!]  If you aren't familiar with TRX it's the suspension training class.  It kinda looks like this:

Photo From: Workout Wonks
 
Luckily today's class was the "beginner" class.  I was one of only 2 people UNDER 50.  This class was brutal.  I thought it would be easy since I'm fairly strong and lift weights on most days.  But, NO!  This was not easy.  My legs were dead 15 minutes into class.  I found maneuvering the straps a bit tedious but, besides that it was a great workout.  I would highly recommend it.  According to my friend who does TRX, it takes about 3 weeks for your body to stop hurting from it.  I guess I better start counting down the days.   

I think tomorrow I'm going to check out a Spin class.  I'm not too certain I'll be able to walk tomorrow though.  Oddly though, I love being sore.  It means I got in a good workout.
 
The more I learn about fitness, the more classes I take, and the more active things I do, I have decided that if money was no option (or if everything was free) I would be certified in EVERYTHING.  TRX certified, Paddlefit, personal training, everything that I've taken so far I love and I want to teach it to the world (or atleast Flagler County.)

If you want to find out more about TRX or find a gym/trainer that teaches it check out the TRX website
TRX Training