dailyMYB: ARE YOU MEDITATING WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING IT?

Meditation sounds hippy dippy to some, but the shocking truth is you may already be doing it on the regular without even knowing it. Sure you may not sit on your living room floor to zen out, clear your mind from clutter and just breathe (though that does sound AMAZING right now - be honest). However, there are other things you might do to zone out in order to zone in on you. 

Like what? Any act where you actively switch off your mind to let it rest a bit (and i don’t mean naps). Maybe you sit down with your coffee and paper every morning. Maybe cleaning is your zen time. Maybe listening to music and turning everything else off. Maybe playing music even. And For many of us, working out might be that “moving meditation” we all do and don’t even realize. Shooting hoops solo, swimming laps, even straight weightlifting.

Think about it. Alarm goes off, you get up, put on the clothes, walk out the door, get moving, push yourself, listen to tunes, and move through all these motions without even thinking about it. It’s like you don’t even really wake up until after the run is completed and you start to zoom in on your day. **Could your daily workout be how you zone out in order to zone in on your body?** It just might be that you’re mediating daily after all.

VIDEO: I was thinking about this recently on a run the other morning and then I found this video from lululemon talking about the exact same thing. Check it out above. And more on Jessica in BK here.

(VIDEO: by lululemon)


7 months ago
MYB mayMADESS* workout #1 of 20: soccer. *join the 20 workout challenge, now! From ages 8-20, soccer ruled my life. I played year round in North Carolina growing up, traveled the entire state for games, and played some in college (though took a sharp left turn when I discovered a hip hop dance troupe and dove head first into that - you can never predict these things!). But Mike (leBF) and I try to find all kinds of ways to get our MYB on (soccer is to me as football was for him growing up). Sometimes the gym just doesn’t do it for this guy, so we change it up between weights, basketball, soccer, football — and yes, sometimes even bowling. Lucky for us, there is both a park AND a bowling alley (actually 2) right near our apartment. Anyway! Workout #1 of 20 was completed playing a friendly game of soccer (some thrown elbows and all). 19 more to go!! High-res

MYB mayMADESS* workout #1 of 20: soccer.

*join the 20 workout challenge, now!

From ages 8-20, soccer ruled my life. I played year round in North Carolina growing up, traveled the entire state for games, and played some in college (though took a sharp left turn when I discovered a hip hop dance troupe and dove head first into that - you can never predict these things!). But Mike (leBF) and I try to find all kinds of ways to get our MYB on (soccer is to me as football was for him growing up). Sometimes the gym just doesn’t do it for this guy, so we change it up between weights, basketball, soccer, football — and yes, sometimes even bowling. Lucky for us, there is both a park AND a bowling alley (actually 2) right near our apartment.

Anyway! Workout #1 of 20 was completed playing a friendly game of soccer (some thrown elbows and all). 19 more to go!!

1 year ago
VIEW FROM MY “GYM” The Brooklyn waterside where I took a break from my run to kick out a few sets of squats and push ups. How else am I going to get ready for CrossFit in May????? Plus I had the place to myself. Where’s your “gym?” High-res

VIEW FROM MY “GYM”

The Brooklyn waterside where I took a break from my run to kick out a few sets of squats and push ups. How else am I going to get ready for CrossFit in May????? Plus I had the place to myself. Where’s your “gym?”

1 year ago
MOTIVATION: the outskirts. Took on 7 miles and decided to run the outskirts of North Brooklyn and Long Island City, Queens. So prefer that to the crazy stop and go streets of busier neighborhoods. Hit up Greenpoint, the Pulaski bridge, the LCI waterfront and McCarren park. Getting ready for the Broad St. 10 miler on May 6th! Bring it on! High-res

MOTIVATION: the outskirts.

Took on 7 miles and decided to run the outskirts of North Brooklyn and Long Island City, Queens. So prefer that to the crazy stop and go streets of busier neighborhoods. Hit up Greenpoint, the Pulaski bridge, the LCI waterfront and McCarren park. Getting ready for the Broad St. 10 miler on May 6th! Bring it on!

1 year ago
MOTIVATION: first time for everything. Crossfit. It’s everywhere, everyone’s talking about it, everyone’s doing it. It was my turn. Granted, I only took the beginner intro class (located right down that alley at Williamsburg’s Crossfit Virtuosity). But you’ve got to start somewhere. After the intro explanation, I worked out for 5 minutes. Literally, 5 minutes. And I can’t lift my arms. Anyone can do this. You’ve got to start somewhere. Mostly, what appeals to me is that it’s about your own body’s weight, moves that your body should know how to do anyway, and the overall functional fitness aspect. There are tons of moves I do in other workout classes that feel so unnatural, but twist our bodies in such a way that hit on certain muscles. It seems like Crossfit is about functioning at the very best your body possibly can. I also like the competitive angle and how it’s also about self improvement. You measure yourself up against others, but your #1 competitor is you. Did I mention, I broke a crazy mindblowing seat with 21, 15, 9 squats/burpees over 5:00 minutes? Mostly, I think the skill is counting accurately while pulling off the moves. They’re not messing around when they say high intensity. And this is only the beginning…  Let it not go without saying that while the intro class is winding up, and you think you’ve achieved something, we see the class attendees across the way come sprinting back into the gym gasping for air and falling to their knees in total and utter exhaustion. Quite the endorsement….  I’ll be back, crossfit! Just you wait and see! High-res

MOTIVATION: first time for everything.

Crossfit. It’s everywhere, everyone’s talking about it, everyone’s doing it. It was my turn. Granted, I only took the beginner intro class (located right down that alley at Williamsburg’s Crossfit Virtuosity). But you’ve got to start somewhere. After the intro explanation, I worked out for 5 minutes. Literally, 5 minutes. And I can’t lift my arms.

Anyone can do this. You’ve got to start somewhere. Mostly, what appeals to me is that it’s about your own body’s weight, moves that your body should know how to do anyway, and the overall functional fitness aspect. There are tons of moves I do in other workout classes that feel so unnatural, but twist our bodies in such a way that hit on certain muscles. It seems like Crossfit is about functioning at the very best your body possibly can. I also like the competitive angle and how it’s also about self improvement. You measure yourself up against others, but your #1 competitor is you.

Did I mention, I broke a crazy mindblowing seat with 21, 15, 9 squats/burpees over 5:00 minutes? Mostly, I think the skill is counting accurately while pulling off the moves. They’re not messing around when they say high intensity. And this is only the beginning… 

Let it not go without saying that while the intro class is winding up, and you think you’ve achieved something, we see the class attendees across the way come sprinting back into the gym gasping for air and falling to their knees in total and utter exhaustion. Quite the endorsement…. 

I’ll be back, crossfit! Just you wait and see!

1 year ago
MOTIVATION: change it up! So I moved apartments. And not just into a new apartment, but into a new apartment with the boyfriend. And when I broke this news to my father, he didn’t have the typical reaction. He didn’t ask about this boy’s intentions or where this was going. Instead he asked, “Are there good running routes around there?” My new spot in Brooklyn is, in fact, close to my favorite Williamsburg Bridge run, a run on the water overlooking Manhattan, and the McCarren Park track.  But just like our mind, our muscles get bored. And if you drudge through the same exact movements every day, they’ll stop reacting the same way to the workout. So I’ve been trying to change up my routine. The other day I ran the Pulaski Bridge which connects North Brooklyn to Queens (pictured!). When the scenery around you changes, it’s a whole different experience. But sometimes it has to be more than just changing your running route. The same movements, same muscles being used, the same muscles NOT used, the same workout class, same weight lifting routine—eventually your muscles plateau and aren’t challenged anymore. Now that I’m officially into my 30s, I’ve found supplementing my running is more and more important. You gotta branch out people! Biking, yoga, core training, weight lifting, any of it, all of it — change it up! Try random stuff you never thought you would! If we learned anything from this 60yo runner, you can peak at any time in all kinds of activities! So change up your typical routine! Maybe even bring a friend along (MYBsocial!).  High-res

MOTIVATION: change it up!

So I moved apartments. And not just into a new apartment, but into a new apartment with the boyfriend. And when I broke this news to my father, he didn’t have the typical reaction. He didn’t ask about this boy’s intentions or where this was going. Instead he asked, “Are there good running routes around there?” My new spot in Brooklyn is, in fact, close to my favorite Williamsburg Bridge run, a run on the water overlooking Manhattan, and the McCarren Park track. 

But just like our mind, our muscles get bored. And if you drudge through the same exact movements every day, they’ll stop reacting the same way to the workout. So I’ve been trying to change up my routine. The other day I ran the Pulaski Bridge which connects North Brooklyn to Queens (pictured!). When the scenery around you changes, it’s a whole different experience.

But sometimes it has to be more than just changing your running route. The same movements, same muscles being used, the same muscles NOT used, the same workout class, same weight lifting routine—eventually your muscles plateau and aren’t challenged anymore. Now that I’m officially into my 30s, I’ve found supplementing my running is more and more important. You gotta branch out people! Biking, yoga, core training, weight lifting, any of it, all of it — change it up! Try random stuff you never thought you would! If we learned anything from this 60yo runner, you can peak at any time in all kinds of activities!

So change up your typical routine! Maybe even bring a friend along (MYBsocial!). 

1 year ago

Track: Running Remix

Artist: Move Your Booty (Emily)

Album: www.moveyourbooty.org

MYBjamz: the running remix.

Yesterday morning I ditched the earbuds and went naked for a run of strictly natural noises. No, we’re not talking chirping birds or crashing ocean waves. Running over the Williamsburg Bridge amidst the morning rush hour means an orchestra of whizzing cars, rumbling subways, honking trucks and whizzing bikes. Not to mention it has just rained so lots of squeaking sneakers.

Sometimes the best workout song is the song of you and your surroundings!

What do YOUR workout surroundings sound like??

1 year ago
MOTIVATION: bridge to bridge. Williamsburg to Greenpoint to Williamsburg to Fort Greene to Downtown Brooklyn to Manhattan Bridge to Chinatown to LES to Williamsburg Bridge to Williamsburg to phew, HOME!! The coolest part of this 10 miler was seeing one bridge in the distance from the other that you were aiming for next. And then seeing the last bridge you conquered from the new one. Amazing where your two feet can take you. Actually, I take that back. The coolest part was when Van Halen’s, “Jump” came on in the last mile to help me sprint it in!! Gotta be one of the best end of run songs ever. Ever!! Only a couple more long runs to go! Bring it on, DC!! High-res

MOTIVATION: bridge to bridge.

Williamsburg to Greenpoint to Williamsburg to Fort Greene to Downtown Brooklyn to Manhattan Bridge to Chinatown to LES to Williamsburg Bridge to Williamsburg to phew, HOME!!

The coolest part of this 10 miler was seeing one bridge in the distance from the other that you were aiming for next. And then seeing the last bridge you conquered from the new one. Amazing where your two feet can take you.

Actually, I take that back. The coolest part was when Van Halen’s, “Jump” came on in the last mile to help me sprint it in!! Gotta be one of the best end of run songs ever. Ever!!

Only a couple more long runs to go! Bring it on, DC!!

1 year ago