Sweat in Style

It's not quite cold enough to discourage me from running, however, come December it's going to take more than an adrenalin rush to get me outside. With this in mind, I decided to get back into Bikram yoga. Well, actually, Sunday prompted this change as Central Park was closed to all but New York Marathon runners. I thought I could weasel my way in but just a block from the park I was faced with a flash mob, barricades and police officers:

So, I took my business up to Bikram Yoga NYC on 72nd and sweated away all the toxins of Halloween weekend. The uniform 90 minute class consists of two sets of 26 poses in a room heated to 105 F with 40% humidity. During this time you sweat profusely, usually losing 1-3 pounds of water. It's hot, it's exhilarating but above all it's good for the mind and great for the bod. It does, however, require an entirely different wardrobe than running. Function is key, but aesthetic is also important; when you look good you feel good and when you feel good you kick ass. If you're going to sweat, you may as well do it in style. Below I've included a selection of my favorite items for both Bikram and cold weather running.

Bikram:

Lululemon (Top L)       Prana (Top R)       Nux (Bottom L)       SPACECAT (Bottom R)

Under Armour (Top L)       O'Neill (Top R)       Nux (Bottom L)       Onzie (Bottom R)

Running:

Icebreaker (Top L)       Sugoi (Top R)       Patagonia (Bottom L)       Smartwool (Bottom R)

                                Oiselle                                                                                             Zella                                  

                        Nike                                                                          Columbia (literally the best)

Running? Check. Bikram? Check. Wrestling? Eh, Zealand says it's overrated...

Fall in Central Park

Ten consecutive days of 6.5 mile runs through Central Park, roughly 17 million pictures and here are the fruits of my labor:

p.s. Zealand says hi.

Run and Reward

I had planned on going for a run in Central Park this morning before class, but when I woke up it was grey and windy and it's just no fun going for a run when you can't enjoy the sunshine. Luckily, it warmed up after lunch and turned into an absolutely gorgeous day. After exercising in a stuffy gym for the duration of the winter, I've been jumping on any opportunity to burn calories outside while enjoying the warm weather.

One of the best (or worst, depending how you look at it) things about living right next to Columbus Circle is Whole Foods. Especially after a six mile run, it's like the light at the end of the tunnel. I usually make a pit stop after my workout and reward myself with kombucha. GT's Synergy kombucha is by far the best and the Passionberry Bliss flavor has become my lifeblood. Cosmic Cranberry takes second place, but it's never as carbonated as the Passionberry Bliss. Divine Grape used to be my favorite but it's carbonation factor has experienced a rather serious decline, which I am very opposed to. The bubblier the better, as I always say. I actually have a sick addiction, but as far as addictions go, it could be worse, right?

First, take a look at these beauties:

And now here are some pictures I snapped of the park today:

While it was an amazing day in NYC, the same can not be said for Boston. My heart goes out to all of the people who experienced the chaos, confusion and loss at the marathon today.

Tribute to the Homeland

 After a much-needed break spent in Vermont, I’m back in the blogosphere here in New York. It was great to relax, hang out with friends, sleep and eat home-cooked meals but I also made sure to fit in some outdoor activities while back in the Green Mountain state. Living in Vermont is of course different from living in New York City, for obvious reasons, but it can be equally as enjoyable as the city if you appreciate what it has to offer. Here are a couple pictures from my snowshoe, hike and run that only begin to capture Vermont’s natural beauty: