This morning I got up and pulled out my winter running pants for the first time this winter. You know, since I was hugely pregnant for the whole winter. I only ran for 15-20 minutes but it felt abso-freaking-lutely fantastic! It was super icy and I just about wiped it many many times but caught myself mid-way into the splits every time. No broken hips. This time, anyway. My stretching sessions felt better today than they have in months too. Twelve hours later I’m already feeling it. What do you thing the odds are that I’ll be able to go again tomorrow?

During my second stretch of the day I discovered I can still put my toes in my nose so I haven’t lost too much flexibility.

It’s convention time again and again they gave me three back to back sessions to present (yoga, kickboxing, hip hop) but this time with no break at all. Not so fly for a mommy with a one month old baby who’s exclusively nursed. That’s why I was so pumped (heh - pun intended) that she took a bottle! She’s taking them no problem now every night or every other night so I can relax about my mom hanging with the kids all day this Thursday. If I can move my arms to type a post after convention, chances are that post will have the same title as this one.

I’m extending the deadline to name my kids, so please help! Not that the entries I’ve received so far aren’t great, because you guys rock, but we need some more. Actually, I’m just too indecisive to decide on anything yet. If you haven’t entered, please do! And get your friends to enter too. The more the merrier. And the longer I extend this the more cool prizes are ending up in the random (sur)prize package(s)!

Happy weekend!

My mom’s been here for a few days. She looked after the boy yesterday all day so I could present at our local teacher’s convention. I sit on the convention board when I’m not on mat leave and have been presenting there and at many other conventions for several years. I usually do 2 sessions in a day, but have done 3 occasionally. My sessions are very active and are intended to teach educators how to bring specialized fitness activities into their classrooms and phys.ed classes. This year I told the organizers to go to my personal website and choose which sessions they wanted. A few months later when I received my email session confirmations, I was surprised to see:

9:00 - 10:30 - Pilates
10:30 - 12:00 - Yoga
1:00 - 2:30 - Kickboxing
2:30 - 4:00 - Hip Hop Dance

So that meant getting up at 7 (or so I had hoped - more on that later) to shower, eat and get dressed before nursing the boy right before leaving so he could make it until my lunch break. Unfortunately, his teeth were really bothering him the night before so he only slept from 1-3 am and 4-5 am, meaning I had 3 hours of sleep before 6 solid hours of exercise. When I’m presenting, I have to be “on” all day. Big smiles, lots of energy and no complaining. It’s not as easy as it used to be! I was able to get out the door on time for a change because my mom was here so I only had to nurse him and then she took over. All of my sessions went great and all of the evaluations were really amazing. The participants had no idea I was a walking zombie. I sped home at lunch, nursed him and got him down for a nap and then sped back to kickbox and dance for the afternoon. By the end of the day I smelled like one big walking armpit. Today? It hurts to move. It’s been a while since I taught anything more than one 60 minute class in a day or had anything more than a regular little run or workout. Apparently I’m out of shape. Not that that wasn’t evident by all the jiggling…

Anyway, I’m glad I did it but I’m also glad it’s over. Now would someone go run my bath and pass the Epsom salts?

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Remember last week when I told you I could put my toes in my nose?

Well, Emily at Fenicle asked for a picture.

Around these parts you need to watch what you ask for…

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A little something extra…via Blogging Baby…have you seen this cake? That’s some pretty amazing talent, but creepy, much?

Oh my freaking God people. WTF?

In the linked story, some Christian parents in a small town (in my country…ack) want yoga banned from schools because it’s “religious” and “opens doors to the devil.”

It’s called stretching, people. It increases your flexibility and balance. Which? Are two things your mind really needs.

I teach yoga in my classroom every day as part of circle time as well as in phys-ed and in regular “yoga breaks.” I present on youth fitness at many conferences and my yoga session is by far my most popular (closely followed by my hip hop session ~ I’m a funky mama!). The kids love it, the parents love it and everyone is healthier for it. What does it matter if we call it yoga, dynamic stretch, elasti-kid, or any of the other options. It’s exercise, and God likes it. And really, doesn’t the devil need fitness in his life too? Heh.

If I had time for a long post today, I’d have a lot more to say about this, but as it stands you’ll have to say it all for me in comments.

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In other news, Tara sent this article in relation to my circ post. Those poor island penises never knew what hit ‘em.

My gift to you ~ something fun to workout to over the holidays. We all have to earn our gravy, right? (Mmmmmm, gravy…)

I know very few of you are fitness instructors, but if you like to workout you might like to download this free mix and burn it on a workout CD or stick it on your iPod.

It’s rare to get instructor quality music for less than $40 a pop. (After 10 years as a fitness pro, I could probably insure my music for well over $5000). If you’re interested, be sure to get it fast because it’s limited. It’s hi-lo speed (too fast for step - great for walking or running). It’s high quality - only free because it comes from a lesser known DJ trying to get his name out to fitness specialists. His stuff is good.

DOWNLOAD HERE
This link is limited to only 200 max downloads and will expire in 14 days.

Our gift to each other this year was an elliptical trainer for our home. We’ve had it two days and I’ve had two of the best workouts since the boy was born. I have issues with leaving him in the child-minding area of my gym. Even though I’ll only be outside the door, I am afraid he’ll be ignored or worse so I just can’t do it. I’ve only been to the gym probably 10 times (not including when I teach Mommy n’ Me, because then he’s with me) since he’s been born because I only go when the BG’s awake in time for my favourite class on Saturday mornings. I love love LOVE it!

Speaking of Christmas gifts, this is the first year that I really don’t “want” anything. Though there are always things we could use, I want all the money anyone wants to spend to go to my child and needy children. There are so many material things we want for him that we can’t afford. Does that ever change? When do I get to be greedy again?

Tomorrow: My first official book review and more free stuff!