Made for Yoga

Thought about the state of my TYR suit the last time I went swimming. I've been holding it together with a shoe string but now the top part has become loosey goosey. Tried to remember when I purchased it but didn't have to wonder for long because I got an email from Swim Outlet today with the subject one year follow-up.

We wanted to let you know that your size is available for repurchase at SwimOutlet.com. Click the link above to order the same product again. 

Even though I've lost a few pounds, pretty sure that I still wear the same size which is good and not so good but whatever...

Random fact: Ashley, the aspiring comedienne and receptionist at Shortywood on Pit Boss took swimming lessons, at her mother's insistence, for nine years but never learned how to swim...

As I made a palm pillow in Gloria's class tonight, I thought about how I'm a person attracted to quietness. I was made for yoga crossed my mind quickly followed by a few lines of Stevie Wonder's I Was Made to Love Her.

Honestly, though, I was not thinking that I was made for yoga on Monday night. I thought that I might benefit from reflective tape as I sat in the corner of a crowded room in my black pants and black top. I also thought about Sharon Olds' poem My Father Snoring:

...He lay like a felled 
beast all night and sounded his thick
buried stoppered call, like a cry for
help. And no one ever came:
there were none of his kind around there anywhere.

Emailed Alison last night to see if she was still up and aware that there was a special edition, Yoga Guru Under Fire, on Nightline.

Was it good? she wanted to know. I had to laugh since I saw, maybe, five minutes of Yoga Guru before falling asleep... It's been a long couple of weeks.

Reality Testing

The climbing crew is all over the place. Patti is dealing with some wall situation. It's Chris' son's birthday. Joe climbs as his schedule allows and Becky -- not sure what she's doing. All that to say, climbing will take place tomorrow; I shifted gears, called Anita who swims with me and doesn't mind going on Saturday or Sunday.

I took my bike along too because today was gorgeous and I couldn't resist hitting Grant's Trail after swimming.

I often feel like I need to say something like namaste before I get in the pool. Despite my struggle with front crawl breathing et al., the pool provides untold peace. In addition to working on front crawl breathing, I also worked on doing the sidestroke on my left side.

By the way, I so want this Halloween-inspired swimming suit available at Swim Outlet. Then, I could really assume my identity as Super 'Drea. ☺ After all, I do change (quickly) into a lot of costumes. Really, you should see how fast I get from work to Kate's class and how I change clothes somewhere in between.



And guess what? I just happened to win a $100 gift certificate from Swim O.

Congratulations!

SwimOutlet.com has sent you a $100.00 gift certificate!

MESSAGE:

Congratulations Andrea! You have won a $100 gift card in honor of our Twitter launch. Thank you for being a valued SwimOutlet customer!

My shoulder feels great. I lifted my bicycle out of the basement and onto the bicycle rack with no problem and I also encountered no nasty tugs when I did the sidestroke. I wanna thank the academy my massage therapist who has been significant regarding my shoulder success.

In other news, I felt that reality testing was in order.

I have been quietly freaking out about the number on the scale rising. Ironically, my friend was uncluttering and came across some pictures of when I was really living large...

I took a few pictures which set my mind at ease to a certain degree...

If you exercise with others, does the scheduling ever get complicated?

Hope you're having equally stunning weather in your town and that you were able to exercise outside.

You are exercising, aren't you???

Window Shopping St. Patrick's Day Style

I don't consider myself an superfluous extravagant consumer but it's definitely hard at times. So much eye candy, so little...I'm constantly giving myself little lectures. For instance, I was in Big Lots about a week ago and I saw some sturdy Okabashi sandals for $5 dollars. Did I need them? No. Did I want them? Yes, I wanted them even though I had just bought a pair of flip flops to replace my last Okabashi sandals. I wanted them as back-up sandals. You never know when you'll need another pair, right?

I was watching The Ellen Show during lunch and she had some silly big hair contest. She gave the three contestants Specialized bikes. I want one of those bikes. I wonder if I were able to get on The Ellen Show if she'd give away bikes again...

If I had beaucoup money, I would spend it on flip flops and bicycles. Oh my.

Without further ado, here are some other things that I would get:











When I look at these items, I realize how few things I need to exercise and relax.

What do you purchase with your discretionary dollars?

Post Script: Just found out that Okabashi will accept old shoes for recycling. Sweet.

The Last Minute That Just Elapsed

Went swimming even though there's snow on the ground and I had an inkling that the water would be cold. I stood in the pool for a few seconds hoping that the water would suddenly warm up but it didn't and I submerged.

I worked on my front crawl swimming and remembered how my teacher used to say that I could breathe as often as I needed which translates, in my mind, as I can breathe anytime I want to. Once I reframe it this way, I'm able to breathe better.

Even though I wish I had learned to swim much earlier, I so enjoy my time in the pool and there's nothing that you can do about the past. You can't even have the last minute back that just elapsed.

It took me an hour to get in 20 laps.

Maybe these FINA-approved suits from Swim Outlet will help me swim better???







My swimming suit is actually getting looser. It's time to make some alterations before a wardrobe malfunction occurs.

Those Successful 25 Yards

Seeing that it's 24 degrees out, I wondered about the wisdom of going swimming and opening up the old pores but I went anyway. After being subjected to that beat down on Monday, I needed the water or to not exercise at all. Not exercise? For shame...

I put on my thermal underwear and otherwise wrapped up and headed out. The water wasn't bad since it was one consistent temperature.

I pulled up as I'm prone to do while doing the front crawl and this woman with a sweet grandmotherly face said you're looking good. I turned around to see if anyone else was in the vicinity and since there was no one else around, I said thank you.

I think the lifeguard could also see my front crawl struggle, because she kept giving me warm smiles.

And guess what? I actually swam 25 yards three times doing the front crawl without stopping. That's the most that I've ever done in one night.

During those successful 25 yards, I noticed that I was more relaxed when I turned my head to take a breath. Now, hopefully, I can continue with my little front crawl success.

I have been getting tons of e-mail from any company that I have ever ordered from online. I saw this eye candy from Swim Outlet.








Cool as the parka is, I wondered why someone would need one until I was reading this post over at 623 Tries. Ah, yes, it would be nice to have a parka for that walk from the pool to the locker because no matter what the temperature in the building or in the water, the cold will hit you in the locker room and it's enough to make you gasp.

Give The Gift Of Swim

When I went to Target the other day, the Halloween aisle had been wrecked. Over my shoulder, I spotted the Christmas section. It's that time of year again.

It also looks like Swim Outlet is ready for the big holiday.Sometimes I think that I want a waterproof MP3 player. But do I really need one? Swimming presents a rare opportunity to unplug and it's an activity that I find relaxing as all get out. In fact, I'll probably sleep very well tonight since I swam 30 laps -- the most laps that I've ever done.

While getting in my laps, I watched the young dynamic duo. One girl's butterfly stroke is getting better and better. I can always tell when someone has started the fly; it almost sounds tornadic.

I also watched as chatty Kathleen taught a young man how to swim.

I listened as one dad continued to develop his sons' swimming skills. He continued to coax the younger son while reassuring him that he was safe and that he wouldn't let anything happen to him. Even though his son told him I don't think I'm made for this.

I chit chatted with a woman who executes gorgeous dives. I asked her how long it takes her to swim a mile but she insisted that she was not a swimmer but a diver, nay, runner who got into marathons at the urging of her boss. She even qualified for the Boston Marathon. Upon reflection, the runner said: I like running. It's the only time I get to be alone. Otherwise, it's mom, mom.

I probably won't get the water audio system.

It's good to unplug and it's good to engage with people.

Dear Swim Outlet

Dear Swim Outlet,

I do not want to crush the competition. In fact, I'm not capable of competition-crushing in the pool. I just want to get better at the front crawl. I didn't do too badly today as I continued to experiment with breathing in different patterns and I'm getting closer to swimming a mile. My arms were like jelly but I managed to do 28 laps today.

Also, Swim Outlet, I'm not even competitive. Although, one of my friends recently said that I like to compete. She took her statement back after some discussion but still said I like to compete with myself. I think that I like to challenge myself.

Your crush the competition suits, while not needed, are cute.

Pulling Off The Splish Meow

Got an e-mail from SwimOutlet.com who's having a Halloween clearance sale and I was intrigued by some of the teaser swimsuits in the ad and I clicked.



I could completely go for one of these swimsuits. I don't think that I could or would want to pull of the splish meow.

Of course, there are truly scary things like the Borat swimming suit
and the Speedo that I purchased from Ebay at a very reasonable price which was new without tags. No tags, hunh?