Aspen Club and Spa

Let’s face it, there are times we just cannot get to the gym at the time we would like, it interferes with our workday or we have a meeting. Did you know you can practice yoga or stretching in an office setting? Think of it as your own private session. Closing the door for 10 minutes of your day can really make a difference, dedicating this time to relax, de-stress and take a break. Resting the eyes from the computer screen, doing a few neck and wrist rolls, and releasing tension in the shoulders are all good ideas. Many offices are now bringing fitness to the office by offering “on site” yoga or other exercises subsidized by the company. Many companies who offer and promote wellness classes can get insurance discounts.  Stepping out for a brisk walk on your lunch hour is also a great idea. It is absolutely imperative we take this time for ourselves, in this busy crazy world. While the gym and spa is still the ideal place to get in a workout and feel great, remember that you can still “refresh and renew” and keep in mental shape during your workday with alternative methods.

Do you ever stop and think about your breath? Probably not. As we go throughout our days and our busy lives, our breath comes and goes naturally.  Ponder this thought-have you ever been scared, or anxious? The breath will become short and quick. This is a reaction to a situation.  When we exercise, our breath speeds up as does our heartrate. At night, our breath becomes slower as the body prepares to wind down.  Studies have shown we use only a small capacity of what our body’s main breath muscle, the diaphragm, can do.  Taking deep breaths is very healing for the body. The saying “take a deep breath” has a lot of meaning to it.  Pranayama is the word for mindful breathing in Yoga.  It is the practice of really listening to the breath, filling up from the bottom all the way to the top, inhaling and exhaling deeply, affecting energy all over the body. With mindful breath, we are regulating our very complex systems in the body. Try taking a few deep breaths at any time during the day and feeling the experience. Closing the eyes might help you turn your focus inward and allow you to just be. Practicing mindful breathing is a wonderful thing, I invite you to give it a go, for better mind and body health.

Many people don’t associate walking with exercise. Ah, but it is exercise, one of the greatest forms. You can walk anywhere. Up the steep steps at Red Rocks.  On the treadmill at the club, who care’s that you aren’t going anywhere? Down the trails of your favorite hike.  From the farthest parking spot in the mall to a store. Every step counts. Pump your arms a bit and hasten your step, and you’ve got a good heart rate going for some cardio. Put on some tunes or just people and nature watch.

My favorite walk these days involves going to the track. Not the track you’d see at a high school, but the track that is the loop around Washington Park. I like to go in the mornings when there is still mist coming off the lake, Canadian Geese flying overhead. Sure its a man made lake smack dab in the middle of a city park, but I’ll take it as it’s one minute from my apratment. There is a sense of beginning and end as I walk the loop, greeting others along the way-dog walkers, bikers, rollerbladers.

 The walk is not the same every time, as there are different things on my mind and the landscape changes daily. I find walking is also therapeutic; I discuss the upcoming day in my head as my feet lighlty pound the gravel. After a good 3-4 times around, depending on my energy that day, I feel stiff-in a good way. A few stretches and I am good to go. I love the fact that I’ve just exercised, too. Mind and body, what a deal.

I recommend a walk a day, wherever it may be.

The clock ticks, no matter what. I am 36, but there are days I look down at my stomach and wonder, hmmm its not as flat as it used to be,  Flat stomach? Not fond of sit-ups. I enjoy a beer from time to time.  That is my reasoning, and I am fine with that. So while I am 36, I am not 26, nor am I 46. Age is just a number, right? Well, I have got news for you! It most certainly is.  I went to a Yoga class this morning that was not my usual hardcore, heated, fast paced class. Now don’t get me wrong, I am a fan (and recently certified teacher) of all forms of Yoga, so I welcome different styles and Instructors.  This class was a total mix up of everything under the Yoga sun, from deep stretching to Hatha, to chanting and meditation. Here is the kicker-the teacher, who I’ll call “Jim”, was probably the best teacher I’ve had in a long time, because you could just hear the love in his voice, for the patience, for the practice, for the fact of just being. He was extremely flexible and into it, unique and smart-and he must’ve been pushing 70 years old.  I could be totally wrong, but age did not matter, whatsoever, because this guy ruled, for an hour and 30 minutes!  It was a real treat, to see this man teaching and loving Yoga, and busting out some serious moves. He thought nothing of lighting some  candles and wasn’t afraid to guide us through every pose to music and end the class with chanting-not something you see everyday at a mainstrain club. I was really impressed by Jim, and his energy, as he is the perfect example that we do what we love, and we do it with gusto, regardless of age.

Hello all,

 As you can see I was able to have the privilege of the Aspen Club and Spa set me up with a blog of my own. My trainer Tom spoke to Sarah about placing me in “People” magazine which is a once in a lifetime chance for me. Nothing exciting really ever happens in my life. So I figured ‘hey why not, this is my chance to show everyone that they too can be motivated by a “real” person. Not an actor or actress that just wants to lose 5-10 measly pounds.’  Since I was excited about the whole idea, Sarah also mentioned to me about a blog and how you all can keep track of my results and weight loss adventure through my 3 months in the Law Enforcement Academy. This Sunday I leave to set up my dorm room. I must say… this might be my longest 3 months ever. Aspen Club and Spa is very much like my second home. I will deeply miss all the staff members who are always smiling at me and my trainer Tom… who always says “okay, ready”, when I walk in for a good workout.  I will be coming back on July 21 to do the 5K run/walk with my trainer in Aspen. We will most likely have lots to talk about. Every day I see him we always come up with something to either talk or joke about. I should set up a massage on Saturday before I head out for boot camp… HeHe…

Here is something for all of you:
Enjoy life to its’ fullest…live it day to day, not year to year.

AmBeR~

As I sit here at my desk I am feeling exhausted. I was trying to figure out why I feel so wiped out… then it hits me, I missed my workout today! I have been doing personal training sessions with Dirk at the aspen club and he is on vacation this week. Since I have not worked out today I am actually feeling more tired than if I had… It’s so funny how that works… Even when I am feeling tired after a workout at least I feel good…really good… the juices are flowing and my mind is creative and stress free. Now I just feel unmotivated and uncreative. I think I’ll take a walk after work. I’m excited to have my trainer back though!