Tag Archives: bar method

Socks, and Slippers, and Tape … Oh My

13 Tuesday Aug 2013

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I love high heels.  High heels are the best.  They make your legs look long and beautiful.  You can tower over others and hold your head high at your remarkable skills of stability on mini stilts.  They are just the best.  Unless your feet hurt.  Then they suck monkey ass.  If I’m not trying to impress anyone you will find me in running shoes.

A few years ago I got a stress fracture in my left foot.  This made perfect sense as I was running a lot at the time.  The problem is I didn’t get the stress fracture while running.  I sustained the injury when I missed a step while getting into the jacuzzi at a Burke Williams spa.  That’s right … to recap my life I’ve gotten a stress fracture by relaxing in a spa and gave myself a concussion by closing the back hatch door of my car on my head.  I’m my own worse enemy.

Stress fractures are a pain in the bum.  They take a long time to heal and often recur.  They almost always recur if you don’t give them enough time to heal in the first place which is why I often have pain in my left foot.

Running and hiking a lot also caused me to have a lot of pain in the balls of my feet.  This is mostly due to my super high arch.  No “normal” shoe or insoles ever touches my arch.  I’ve since had custom insoles made.  These suckers are expensive but worth every penny.

Custom insoles can’t always be used and even if they are they sometimes need a little help.  Here are some things I’ve found really help with feet pain while exercising.

pizap.com13764166821221SOCKS – I remember a time when I didn’t know that there were more than one kind of sock.  I was so young and ignorant.  First of all, I don’t know why they make any socks without that extra arch support stitching.  If a sock doesn’t have that I don’t want them near my feet.  When I first starting having feet problems I went to the running store and was convinced by the salesman that I needed to purchase $15 (ish) dollar socks.  Since I’m use to getting about 8 pair in a giant bag for that cost I was horrified.  BEST $15 ISH DOLLARS EVER SPENT.  I now own three of these pair of socks and get really depressed when they are all in the dirty laundry.  The brand that sold me on superman style socks?  Balega.  They are like a hug for your feet while walking on a bed of cotton candy.  I went to their site to see what kind of magic they use to make such a wonderful product but alas it was much too complicated and lost my attention after a few minutes.  Let’s just call it magic.

photo-32KT TAPE – I’ve written about this before but I can’t emphasize enough how magical this stuff is.  I normally use it for extra arch support (which isn’t what I have pictured here).  If my feet start to hurt the KT TAPE comes out.

SLIPPERS – As you know I adore Bar Method.  One of the items you must wear in class is socks.  They do have special “Barre” socks that have griper rubber stuff on the bottom.  This is to make it harder for your feet to sleep around when you are doing things like bicep curls while in wide second position.  Since I’ve always been on the tad dramatic side I owned a pair of ballerina slippers and wore them to class one day.  I was sold!  The ballet slippers where the little piece of foot magic I needed for class.  Recently I reached into my Bar bag and grabbed my one pair of Barre socks instead of my slippers.  I was running late and could already hear the instructor counting for the first exercise so I quickly pulled on the socks and took off to the studio.  Not using my ballet slippers showed me how much I love them.  Not only was I slip sliding around (even with the gripers) but positions up on the balls of my feet (there are many) KILLED me.  That thin little ballerina slipper is doing something to help protect the balls of my feet and hold my foot in the correct position.  Plus it looks better when you point your foot in a ballerina slipper.    I’ve had a number of pairs but prefer the brand Bloch over Capezio.  The inside of the shoe seems to last longer (remember I’m not really dancing in them I’m only doing Bar Method).  I always buy them through Zappos because I’m too lazy to find a ballerina store.  There is nothing funnier than reading the bad reviews for ballet slippers on Zappos.  Women who are furious that there is no arch support and only a felt sole deserve to have their money taken from them.  (The ballet slipper pictured hasn’t had the straps sewn down yet which is why they look funky.  They are new.  And yes that is dust on the toe because although they are new I bought them ions ago and have yet taken the time to sew those darn straps on!)

There you go!  My tips to happier feet.  Of course when push comes to shove and you need to wear heels you just gotta suck it up and remember how amazing your legs look!

Not Patient enough for Pretty

25 Thursday Jul 2013

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Table top low curl turned out and with an unamused Dragon.

Table top low curl turned out and with an unamused Dragon.

At one point during the hour of a Bar Method class you get to ab work.  After knee lifts, shoulder work, arm work, stretching, thigh work, more stretching, and butt work, you move to some leg work that also includes your abs and then you move straight into “kill me know” ab work.  A few days ago the instructor, who just happens to be perfect in every visual way, came up to me and put her hands further away from my already outstretched arms in an attempt to make me work harder and get to a higher sit up position.  I grunted and did it and while doing so realized my gross, dirt caked, dog smelling nails were having to touch her perfectly manicured hands.  I was HORRIFIED.  Not horrified enough to fix it as it happened again the next day with another perfect instructor.  Know your faults and be okay with them.  That’s my theory.  One of my faults is my inability to care about some girly grooming activities.  Nails being number one on that list.

Downward facing dog on a dog.

Downward facing dog on a dog.

I just don’t have the time for it.  Do you realize how stressful and boring it is to sit in one ofthose mani/pedi chairs and have someone do it for you?  Gah!  I almost always screw up something on my way out because I don’t have it in me to wait long enough to let them dry.  I envy those lovely ladies who find the activity relaxing and have a standing weekly appointment at their local nail joint.

I don’t know what my problem is.  I’m super girly in other ways.  If it was socially acceptable I’d be wearing a corset right now.  If I was allowed to walk around in a costume from the Moulin Rouge my life would be so much happier.  My theory about heels?  “The higher the better.”  I managed to do some things, like get my eyebrows waxed.  That only takes a few minutes and is an AMAZING transformation from hideous hairy beast to normal human.   Nails?  Nope.  Ain’t got that kind of time.

At one point I worked down the street from a nail place and forced myself to go there during the summer on a regular basis to get my toes done.  I was pretty happy with myself and my toes actually looked good in summer sandals.  Of course I refused to get away from black nail polish, even in the dog days of summer.  It’s the only color that makes sense to me.  Don’t ask for the logic behind that statement.  There is none.

Cutie Kira with her "my nails are prettier than my Aunts" face.

Cutie Kira with her “my nails are prettier than my Aunts” face.

I’ve never gotten my fingers done on a regular basis.  That’s a SERIOUS waste of time. With my active schedule they look like crap in a matter of hours.  Years ago I was in my boss’ office for a meeting.  A boss I actually respected and looked up to.  She was super stressed and eating lunch as we talked.  I noticed her nails.  They were short.  Really short.  I loved them.  I saw it as a powerful nail cut.  Don’t mess with the chick who has the guts to cut her nails super short.  That’s been my style ever since.  No fuss no muss!

My sister often sends pictures of my niece with her nails newly painted.  She’s 4.  A 4-year-old has more patience than me.  Seems about right.

Silent Protest

20 Monday May 2013

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imageAs you know, or surmised by the lack of posts last week, I was sick.  Sicky sick sick.  I really dislike when I don’t feel well.  It throws me off my routine and there is nothing worse than getting back into a routine after spending two weeks switching between lying in bed and lying on the sofa.  My goal was to get back to Runyon come hell or high water this past weekend.  I didn’t care if I was still coughing or not.  I was going to get off my tush and start moving!

Sat I got everything together and Riggins and I headed out to the hill.  Once out of the car and on the road Riggins made it clear that he was not on board with my plan.  He lagged behind and even came to a stop, looking at me as if to say, “you are crazy if you think I’m going a step further.”  People who passed looked at him with sad eyes and then angrily at me as if I was forcing this poor sickly dog to take another step.  Frankly, that may have been his plan.  There is nothing he likes more than human attention.  After a few steps I gave up and did some shorter and flatter paths around Runyon.  Riggins couldn’t have been happier to do those.  He galloped along as if nothing was wrong.

Sunday was a new day.  TODAY we were going to make it up and down the hill on our normal path … or not.  Again Riggins refused to move faster than a turtle taking the time to look up with pathetic eyes to each human who passed him.  Again I gave up and did the secret loop.  The secret loop isn’t really secret.  Although the few times I’ve done it I’ve seen no more than 2 other humans on it.  Runyon can be packed with people and the secret photoloop is still deserted.  It’s possible that the reason for this is the big “no trespassing” signs you go by to get to the path.  The signs I ignore.  Frankly the signs confuse me.  It’s obviously a path.  There are park trash cans dotting it and someone even took the time to put plant markers up.  Not to mention there isn’t just one but two park benches tucked away so you can sit and meditate in the silence (or if you are me force Riggins to come close so you can take your picture together).  So really someone besides me is walking past those trespassing signs.  It’s possible that it is public property kept up by the folks who own houses around there.  My theory has always been to act like you belong and no one will question you.  So that’s what Riggins and I did.  At one point (although not in the no trespassing zone although obviously headed that way) a ranger cruised by and waved at me.  I considered that the “all clear” signal and carried on.  (Please note I in no way suggest that you should do something unlawful like pass no trespassing signs and/or ignore “dog on leash” signs.  In fact if this is an officer of any kind then I deny that any of this story is anything but fiction.)

Today, Monday, I didn’t even try the hill.  Instead Riggins and I walked around Silverlake image (30)and then went to that dog park.  His favorite dog park.  He grumbled a bit at first when he realized he wasn’t going to be able to play until we made the loop around the “lake” but that is normal behavior.  By the time we turned the corner on the 1/2 point he was a full speed trying to get to the park part as soon as he possibly could.  Once at the park he seemed to be happy as a little lark, canoodling with people and dopily following other dogs running in circles.

So the question becomes what was Riggins problem?  Why did he refuse to go up the hill this weekend?  I have lots of theories but since he doesn’t speak English he isn’t much help in clueing me in to which one is right.  Here are my thoughts:

*  He doesn’t feel well.  He has shown some signs of having a tummy ache.  Then he doesn’t.  So this is a coin flip.

*  He didn’t think I feel good enough.  Possible.  I went to Bar Method yesterday and, for the first time ever, had to leave class part way through.  I knew I wasn’t doing well when I looked in the mirror during butt exercises and watched the color drain from my face right before things started going blotchy.  Since the next step was to pass out I choose, instead, to lay my head on the bar and then exit to the sofa in the waiting room until I felt good enough to drive home.  I’m going back today.  I REFUSE TO GIVE UP.  NEVER SAY DIE!

*  He was being a brat.

*  He wasn’t happy with the heat.  I’m leaning toward this one.  Riggins does not do well with the heat and although it wasn’t horribly hot this weekend we have had a few days of super heat and that puts him in “time out” mode.  I always forget how much he gears down over the summer until the winter comes and he peps up again.  His unhappiness with the heat seems to get more pronounced the older he gets.  This may just be signs that he wants to stay far away from the hot.

* He misses his buddies.  We haven’t had a dog on vacation with us this past week and Riggins seems a little mopey.  In his heart Riggins is a pack dog and would be happiest if everyone he loved (human and dog) lived with us and all slept in a pile on my bed.  He stepped it up on our walk when a group of dogs came by and took off to be part of the bunch.  He is also super happy at the dog park where he can spend his time following dog after dog until he is distracted by a human he thinks needs to pet him.

Those are my theories.  What do you think?  Either way we are getting back on that hill this weekend (as long as it’s not too hot) and I am going to Bar Method all this week …. all without passing out and/or dragging a dog on a leash behind me.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

 

Bar Method – Connecting my Brain with my Body

02 Thursday May 2013

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I’ve written a lot about Bar Method (here, and here, and here, and here), so you know it is my exercise of choice. You also know that it was not/is not easy for me! When I took my first class on 9/8/2009 I was super cocky. After all I was a triathlete. What did I have to fear? I promptly almost threw up 1/2 way through class! After nearly passing out I walked out of class into the waiting room where one of the owners (although I didn’t know that at the time) Kate, came out to check on me and Mason (who I also didn’t know at the time and wasn’t even the super star teacher he is now) promised me it got easier. I must have looked as bad as I felt.

Just a small sampling of the classes I've attended.

Just a small sampling of the classes I’ve attended.

Over the years I got better. Not great, but definitely better. I’ve admitted before I’m not at all flexible so it is a slow process for me. The day I could touch my toes I was elated. The day I got through all of thigh exercise without re-setting I was beyond happy. The day that one of the teachers said, “Oh my goodness Wendy you are at the tall barre.” I smiled like a cheshire cat. All of these things were HUGE accomplishments for me.

Last year I took a time-out from life (as you know). Due to travel and mental angst I didn’t go to class as often. When I left my job at the beginning of the year, I told myself that while I was looking for my new career I would take Riggins up Runyon and go to Bar Method as much as possible. My health and happiness was going to come first … dang gumit!

Going back “full-time” to Bar Method was not easy. I re-dedicated myself to 3 or 4 times a week. If I was insane, or it was raining and I couldn’t do other activities, I’d bump that number to 5. It took me a long time to get back to where I thought I had been before (minus the gumption to stay in thigh … man I hate thigh). It was heartbreaking how hard it had become again but I wasn’t going to give up.

This week I made myself a vow to step it up to the next level. Riggins is still limping so my daily trips up Runyon or my run around Silver Lake isn’t happening. I have no excuse not to give 100% in my evening Bar Method classes. I can’t rely on the crappy excuse that I was up early spending an 1 and 1/2 hours hiking up and down a mountain with a dog or two, so didn’t have to work as hard. I needed to dive deeper into Bar to move to the next level. This week during class I realized what I had been missing. I was missing the mental aspect of class. It took me this long (4 months) to shake the self-doubt and general unhappiness I had last year and to refocus on what I was doing for myself. My body wasn’t the only thing in the game anymore. My head was back in it as well!

Concentrating really hard on controlling my shaking hand.

Concentrating really hard on controlling my shaking hand.

Let me tell you it is tough! I’m back to hurting every day after I work out. Something somewhere hurts every day. The good hurt. When I leave the parking lot and put that little parking ticket in the machine to let me out, my hand is still shaking from how hard I worked. Tonight I went to meet a friend for a drink and had a hard time holding the wine glass correctly without it slopping all over the place because of my STILL shaking body (1 1/2 hours after class had ended). What has changed exactly:

  • I force myself to always take the “extra challenge” in class. Extra challenges make the hard movements even more difficult. I’ve always been good at taking some but now I at least try them all … well most of them. I mentally give myself a point for every challenge I try, and two points if the instructor gives me a “wow Wendy” or “way to take the challenge Wendy.”
  • I demand that I can do better for each move that I hate. Thigh in wide second …. hate … go deeper. Pretzel … hate … move my knee back further. Arabesque … hate … get that leg higher. I’m constantly trying to check to see if I’m doing the most I can. It’s a pain in the butt … sometimes literally. It IS not easy to keep that up for an entire hour. I can also feel more of my muscles working beyond just the “main” ones that exercise focus’ on which means overall I’m getting more bang for my buck.
  • I try to stop caring about the counting (just get me to the last number … please) but instead try to listen to the music. This was suggested by the founder of the Bar Method in her last blog. It is working for me. She suggested it for thigh … I haven’t mastered it for that section yet. I’m in too much pain. In general if I feel I can’t keep up the level I’m at for any longer I try to listen to the music. This doesn’t work when that Barbara Streisand song is playing. That thing cracks me up and I have to tune it out.
  • I don’t give a shit that I’m not the most flexible, strongest or best in the class. I’m not. Nor am I the youngest, skinniest or prettiest. Who gives a flip? It use to really bug me that I would get so sweaty during class while the adorable young 20 something year olds glide through the movements with obvious ease and nothing past a lovely “glisten” covering their brow. I was the dancing hippo next to the lovely gazelles. I would get upset when I would read a review about the Bar Method that says it’s great that you don’t get sweaty. Were they on crack? And really what an odd thing to say, “this is a great exercise you work so hard you don’t get sweaty.” I get sweaty. Granted I get sweaty doing anything … a n y t h i n g … but that doesn’t make me any less of a bar-er ball-er. Now I purposely try to work so hard I HAVE to change my top after class because I’m such a sweaty mess.
  • I always use to play mental games with myself while I was running why didn’t I do that in class? Sometimes I pretend if I can stay in thigh the entire time the cute guy from Match.com will write me back (never works but it’s a good way to push myself). I will pretend that my friend I’ve been trying to get to come to class is behind me and I have to show her how it’s done.
  • I try to act as if the teacher is always watching me … the thought that they are makes me work harder.

None of this is earth shattering. In fact it’s odd I didn’t put two and two together months ago. Again I blame everything on my horrible last year. I obviously had to turn my brain off to survive and it’s starting to fire back up again!

One day I was walking back to my car after class and a young woman asked if I had been going for long. I said I had and then she asked if I ever feel like it is hard. Apparently she felt she didn’t get a workout and would now have to go to the gym. I told her she was doing it wrong. I was a little nicer than that but not much. I feel the same way when people leave negative reviews online (there aren’t many). It’s easy if you want it to be. Get your head in the game, and mind your positioning (aka do it right) and you will be shaking when you put the parking ticket in the machine too! If you aren’t feeling it you are letting yourself do it wrong.

I have followed this new and improved work out plan for an entire 3 days! Ha! I feel like I’m getting more out of it and overall I’m prouder of myself and find myself standing up taller. The best thing of all? Now I’ve written it down so I HAVE to keep it up or I’ll not only disappoint myself but I’ll disappoint you and we can’t have that!

Please share any tips you have on getting to the next level of your exercise of choice. I’d love to steal them! AND … if anyone can give me tips on how to get through dreaded thigh during Bar Method class PLEASE enlighten me.

The current Pasadena instructors (and owners Kate & Liz).

The current Bar Method teachers at the Pasadena studio. Source.

(Bar Method studios are all over the US & Canada. I have been loyal to the studio located in Pasadena, CA and can tell you all the instructors there are wonderful. I’m not the kind of person who chooses the class she goes to because of who is teaching it but instead I go when it is the best time knowing no matter who the teacher is, I’m going to be getting a good one. The two owners of the Silver Lake, CA studio used to teach at Pasadena so I can tell you they are also pretty brilliant.)

Magic Oil

04 Thursday Apr 2013

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Coconut oil is magic. I know this because Pinterest told me so and Pinterest would never ever lie to me. A quick Google or Pinterest search should give you an impressive list of uses for this magic oil, many of which I wouldn’t try because I would never think of it and/or the use is just dumb. For example, many will list it as a natural sunscreen of a huge giant SPF of 4ish. 4???? 4???? I slather spf 70 on my face and 50 on my body and I still manage to get burned/tanned/sun damaged. 4???? Don’t make me laugh. I suppose if I was stranded on a desert island with no hope of rescue I’d take a coconut and rub it all over me just to pass some time, but really that’s it.

There is also lots of advice on what kind of coconut oil you should use. I bought the Trader Joe’s a couple of times. The bottle contains the buzz words “organic” and “virgin” so it sounded good to me. Last time I purchased some I was too lazy to make a trip to Trader Joe’s so tossed the brand they have at Ralphs into my cart. The only ingredient listed is coconut oil so that was good enough for me. Works fine. I see/feel no difference.

My use for coconut oil is limited to my hair and body. I tried cooking with it once but it was annoying to measure and liquefying took patience I just don’t have as a chef. Coconut oil will be solid in most of our homes only liquefying at 77 degrees-ish (I could be wrong on the exact temperature … I said “ish” to remain safe and honest.) and above. Before I use it I usually stick the container under some hot running water to liquefy enough for me to slather all over myself. One genius blogger said she keeps hers in the shower and by the time she is finished getting clean it is warm enough to use. Brilliant! That’s now where mine is kept.

Here are my main reasons I like coconut oil:

  • It’s a wonderful hair conditioner. Kinda brilliant in fact. Before going to bed slap some on your head and work it into your scalp/hair. The next morning, after rinsing it out, you will be amazed at your soft locks. The first thing people ask is how you can sleep in bed with a head full of oil. For one, you aren’t dipping your head in it. You put some in your hand and work it around. There isn’t enough to cause any problems. If you don’t believe me put a towel on your pillow. My other tip, if you are worried, do this the night before you change your sheets.
  • As a skin conditioner it works really well. Not the best in the land but pretty good. In fact it has helped the bumps on my upper arms. In the past I’ve used keratosis pilaris lotion along with any other lotion I could get my hands on. Nothing worked that well. The KP lotion was the best but it kinda smells like you are burning your skin off. The other day I noticed that after using coconut oil for a couple of months the bumps are a lot less noticeable. Plus it is much nicer to smell like a mai tai then a burn victim.
  • The number one reason I like using coconut oil for a skin moisturizer is that it makes Round back with Riggins. Strong leg and ab Bar Method muscles allows you to put your dog with your feet!doing round back in Bar Method easier. Hear me out. There is an exercise in Bar Method called round back that targets slimming and elongating your legs as well as working your arm and abs. You sit in front of the wall with your butt a foot or so away so you can lean back against the wall on your shoulders. Then you put one floor flat on the floor and the other lifted as high and as straight as possible. Finally you push both your hands up into the barre over your head. I think round back is one of, if not the most, effective leg tapering exercises in Bar Method. Unfortunately you do need the barre so it isn’t something you can do at home. Anyway, once your leg is as high and as STRAIGHT as you can get it you go through a series of lifts and extends that test your mental endurance not to mention make the top of your thigh (among other things) quiver with the intense effort. In between the 30 one inch lifts or 40 small extends or 30 tiny circles you get to hold back on for a 1/2 of a second to your ankle for a quick reset. This is where coconut oil comes in. when I use lotion on my legs, even if it is hours before, the lotion is doing its job and therefore my hand slips right off my leg. I can’t get a grip which means no short time-out for me! Coconut oil will soak completely into your skin. This doesn’t happen right away so don’t run to take as shower, cover yourself in oil, and then get angry at me because you are all slippery. Give it 30 minutes or so and you will no longer feel like a human slip and slide. Coconut oil allows me to get a firm grip on my ankle and take that miniscule time out that gets me through the rest of the exercise.

    The correct way to do round back. If you are super fancy, like the founder of Bar Method in the blue tank, you can be cool and put your non-working let straight out vs. on the floor. Source.

    source


So there you go! Give the stuff a shot and let me know why you like/hate it.

Tata Talk

14 Thursday Mar 2013

Posted by in movie

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If you are worried about this break from the 39 Acts of Kindness, don’t be. I’m working on putting together some great St. Patrick themed fun! I’m excited to tell you about them but this isn’t the time. Right now I am preoccupied with my boobs.

You heard me.

photo (3)6 months ago I had an irregular mammogram which lead to another mammogram and then a sonogram and then a biopsy. I still have the scar from where they stuck a needle to take out a chunk of me to investigate further and put a metal marker in its place. They put the marker in so during future exams if there is a question about that same area, it shows that it was already examined. My mom was treated for breast cancer just a couple of years (or maybe it was one) early so I was shocked (and thrilled) that the test came back negative. Like any other lady part test if you fail once you have to go back every 6 months for a while and today is my lucky six month boob check anniversary. I’m glad I’m going since I’ve had some pain (not double over and die pain but, “hey that kinda hurts” pain) and a very odd skin infection (at least that is what the dr thought) in/on my boob(s). I’m sure it’s nothing but it is always better to know and, if needed, get treatment, then sitting around twiddling your thumbs as your body rebels against you. Luckily, I’m getting a sonogram not a mammogram. Although I don’t think mammograms are nearly as horrible as people say. Some would say it hurts less because I have big boobs while others would say it should hurt more because I have big boobs. Whatever. They only get squished for a second and then it’s on with your life. Lesson — go get a mammogram.

While we are on the topic of my boobs, let me tell you about my movie theater trips. They involve my tatas. My movie theatre uniform is work out pants, tennis shoes, sports bra, tank top and hoodie. Each clothing item has a purpose. Work out pants are just comfy and allow for wiggles and leg shifting without any difficulty. Tennis shoes are nice since they cover your entire foot protecting it from the goopy gross floor. Sports bra and tank top are the comfy equals to the pants and the hoodie allows for me to cover my head and lean my head back without touching the back of a gross chair (gross in so much as a zillion other grimy and greasy haired owners have leaned against it in the past). Plus the hoodie up gives the world my international sign of “I’m invisible. Don’t talk to me.” I started this at a job so I could maintain the HR suggested open door policy while still giving my employees the understanding that now wasn’t the best time … as I was invisible to them. I’ve since adopted it for plane rides and, if necessary, dog park outings. Of course none of these items covers my cleavage. In fact they allow for a clean popcorn runway right down my blouse. You’d be amazed at how often I miss my mouth and the popcorn makes a run for it right down my shirt. Constantly. Then I sit there in the dark theatre and dig it out hoping no one sees me. It adds to the entertainment of the show. Probably does so for others as well.

In general I have a sports bra coverage, cost, and support issue. First of all why are they so expensive? Someone needs to fix that. I have a zillion of the Target flimsy sports bras that really do nothing. I wear them at Bar Method. Since they do nothing I’m constantly giving someone a cleavage show when I bend over. The biggest problem with this is I really don’t care. Target sports bras are cheap and comfy so I’m wearing them. I’m not bouncing around all over the place in Bar Method I’m moving inches and breathing heavily concentrating on not throwing up. I’m too busy to care if someone is looking down my blouse. Most of the class is almost always women anyway so no one cares (I assume). Every once in a while a straight guy manages to find his way in and then he gets an extra show. Good for him. Welcome to Bar Method!

Today I’m going with my friend to her gym to do some sort of dance class. It’s a huge sacrifice for me not to go to Bar but she says it’s ridiculously fun so I’m trying it out. I had to dig through a giant pile of clean clothes to get one of my sports bras that actually have some holding power. I figured dancing equaled bouncing and the Target non-sports bra wasn’t going to cut it. Then I proceeded to put it on inside out 3 times. Not once, not twice, three times. Seems impossible right? Wrong. Totally possible. Each time I’d start laughing again as I tried to wiggle my way out and then wiggle, tug and pull my way back in. Sports bra (non clasp kind) are an X rated comedy sketch waiting to happen. It is NOT EASY to get those suckers on and off. You know where it is nearly impossible? The pool. It is actually almost impossible to put anything on in the pool locker room. Everything, including you, is moist and there is no way to get dry. So there you are standing in a moist room, with moist skin, trying to yank down a sports bra that has decided to go no further than your armpits. Once, at the pool, I failed so miserably at putting on a sports bra post swim and was laughing so hard at myself, I had to take a time out to go pee. Sports bra 1/2 on. One boob hanging out the bottom refusing to corporate and the other mashed at the wrong angle, mocking the other one. Thank goodness I was alone! That pool is frequented by JPL employees. Can you imagine? I could have failed at the simple task of getting dressed in front of an actual rocket scientist!

Well — I have to go get my boobs checked. Enjoy the boob-o-licious pics of Riggins and me. Due to the position of my chest and the angle of any self taken iPhone picture 90% of my Riggins/Wendy photos have my cleavage front and center.

 

39 Acts of Kindness – 24

07 Thursday Mar 2013

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It’s been a gloomy day here in Los Angeles.  It’s cold again … a near freezing 59 degrees (don’t mock me that is cold).  I tossed and turned last night with a sore throat and woke up groggy from lack of sleep.  I’d like to say that Riggins is missing his friend Bud but I think he is glad to be back to being the only child!

I did spend some of my morning getting Wendy Bombs of Niceness out in the mail.  I’m so excited for them to get to their recipients.  Tee hee!  On my way to the post office I stopped by the corner laundromat for a niceness time-out.
photo (7)#24 – Free Wash – This was a suggestion from a number of people so thanks to all who had this idea.  I have to say it was a bit difficult to give up my sacred quarters.  I save them until I have enough to treat my car to one of those self car washes.  Now the dog mobile will have to wait a little bit longer for that luxury!  I loaded up a couple of machines which should make the next person to come by really happy.  I haven’t had to use coin operated machines in 6-ish years so I was shocked to see how expensive it is.  I would go broke!  I usually do some sort of Riggins related activity in the morning, like hiking up Runyon, shower, go on with my day, then go to Bar Method in the evening.  That is, at the minimum 2 full outfits that get dirty each day.  Remember I sweat a ton (as described here – https://wendyandriggins.wordpress.com/2013/02/06/dont-sweat-it/) so work out gear HAS to be washed after each use unless I want to smell horrible.  Add PJs (I sweat even at night.  It’s gross.) and that is a full load every other day or so!  I don’t think there is enough quarters in rotation to get me through all the loads of laundry I have.

Speaking of, I have a few clean loads hanging out on the counter I better go fold right now.

Act of Kindness Roll-Call:

To be continued …

39 Acts of Kindness – 12, 13 and 14

28 Thursday Feb 2013

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Are you guys sick of these posts yet? We are a third of the way to 39! Just hold on a bit longer.

Thursday’s Wendy Kindness Bombs:

photo (7)*12 – Good Morning Donut. This morning instead of hitting snooze when my alarm went off I rolled out of bed. Half asleep I pulled on my running gear to get ready for my first Kaboom! My goal was to get to the corner (a few blocks away) donut shop, pick up a donut, and then get it to the elementary school (Different school from kindness number 10. My area is loaded with the things.) crossing guard who boldly protects young ones and their growing minds from the cars zooming through a very crowded intersection. It didn’t make sense to take my car. I’d just be driving into the horrible school drop off/work commuter traffic. It is very walkable, it’s just that length that seems silly to be walking without Riggins. Unfortunately, this was an act of kindness I’d be delivering without the dog. Food, crowds, children and Riggins are a recipe for disaster. Better for him to stay home. So I tucked my house keys and a buck into the weird little pocket found in most work out pants, hit shuffle on my iPhone and went for a jog. I opted for a chocolate bar. I figured that was a flavor that most enjoy. I managed to hold off buying one for myself. Aren’t donuts just the most delicious and evil high calorie things on the planet? I could really go for a chocolate donut with chocolate frosting and coconut topping right now! The sweet crossing guard seemed shocked by my delivery but after a beat was all smiles!

*13 – After getting home I rounded up Riggins to go for a walk and to stop by his favorite (and the most disgusting) dog park. Upon opening the garage I saw a bag of clothes that I had packed up awhile ago but had never made the effort to load up and take over to Goodwill. Today was the day! Riggins waited patiently in the car as I made the delivery.

*14 – Tea at the Bar. I often go on hot tea jags. It doesn’t seem to last long but while I’m in it I’m the biggest hot tea supporter you’ve ever meant. I’m currently in a tea phase. I had gotten into the habit of having a glass of red wine every night and although some Americans and most Europeans would say that’s perfectly fine it felt like it was becoming a habit that I needed to break. So I’ve swapped my nightly delicious red wine for a soothing cup of tea. To help in my transition I ran to the grocery store and bought a yummy green tea/berry flavor. Once home I realized the box looked mighty familiar. After searching through cupboards I found a number of boxes I had hoarded from my last tea kick. So, I decided to share the wealth and put together a “To Go Tea” tray for my friends at Bar Method. I’ll drop it off tonight and hopefully there will be enough for the class I attend, along with the two after that.

photo (5)Last night since I didn’t have any cake cookies to make I decided to take a break. I grabbed my tea and settled down in the sofa to catch up on some of my DVRd shows. Riggins took advantage of this opportunity and laid down with his head in my lap and fell asleep. Then started snoring. It was so cute! I wanted to share it with you. Turn your sound up and enjoy the very dark video below. You can’t see anything so here is a picture of his sleeping position post video when he woke up and decided I was a better suited to rub his chest than be his pillow.

Acts of Kindness Roll-Call:

To be continued …

Not That Kind of Bar

16 Wednesday Jan 2013

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Bar with Riggins(Quick note about this picture. You have no idea how hard it was to get this picture. No whispers from the peanut gallery. I know it isn’t great form but you try getting Riggins to sit in a position where you and he can be seen in a skinny mirror, your only full length mirror, hold up dog biscuits to keep his attention AND hold an iPhone at an angle where you can get the action all while attempting basic thigh work. It’s not easy. After seeing it I thought I should retake it after moving the Lucy bag in the background aside — then I thought “nah … good enough.” Side note – wouldn’t it be awesome if Riggins could come to class? How much more fun would it be doing push ups and plank knowing that there was a chance a cutie dog could be licking your face at anytime? I once did a Bar Method video work-out at my sister’s house amongst chaos, Riggins continually trying to lick the salty sweat off me and my oh so helpful nephew deciding I didn’t look enough like the ladies on TV so helped by pushing my leg up higher.)

I was having a discussion with a New York friend the other day and we decided that extreme love and loyalty for a specific exercise routine is a left/right coast thing. It’s not like you go to Des Moines and meet up with a group of women that will just die if they don’t get to their Physique 57 class. Only us coasters would be crazy enough to spend oodles of cash on an exercise routine then spend hours on hours demanding to others that it is the best and better than whatever pilaties class they are loyal to.

My exercise class of choice is Bar Method. I realize it can be confused with the good kind of bar. After all that’s how it is spelled (Bar not Barre). No confusing once you are there. This is work out time not drink up time. Before I list off the reasons my loyalty stays with Bar Method let me set the scene.

I’ve said it before but it’s worth repeating. I’m not an athlete. I do a lot of athletic things but they never come easy and I’ll never grab a fist place ribbon in anything. Every 5K, triathlon sprint, hike up a hill I do I have to push myself to make it happen. When I went to my first Bar Method class years ago I went with a good friend. A very flexible good friend. The studio, Pasadena, was new at the time so most of the room was new or new-ish to this style of exercise. At the time I was VERY active. I ran more than 1/2 dozen 5K’s a year. I’d finished 2 triathlons. I considered myself relatively in shape. Famous last words before entering a Bar Method class. During thigh (still the hardest part of class for me) I literally started to black out/throw up (if you don’t think you can do both of those at the same time you haven’t taken a Bar Method class). I actually had to step out of the studio and sit down with my head between my legs. One of the owners (at the time I didn’t realize who she was) came out to make sure I was okay and the super sweet guy behind the desk assured me that the rest of the class was easier (he lied but it was nice of him to say). I took a deep breath and returned to class. After class as my friend and I were walking back to our cars I made the vow that this silly little exercise class would not be the end of me. I would do it until I conquered it …. I’m still going to class 3+ years later.

So why I like it:
* When I had high blood pressure, enormous amount of life stress, and overall was a mess I was told by a number of doctors, including a very sweet doctor in the ER, that I needed to do yoga. Here’s the rub. I hate yoga. That’s a bit harsh. I don’t HATE it. I’ve actually had a very good time at yoga classes when I’ve gone with friends (including the same friend who took me to Bar). I’m just NO good at it. I can’t mentally get into the ohm-ing/meditation part. Even worse, I’m the least flexible person you know. I can’t even do downward facing dog correctly. My heels won’t go all the way to the ground. If that is difficult for me imagine what the rest of yoga class is like. Bar Method gives me that meditative time out my stressful life needs. As much as I’m sure I’d love the verbal group excitement of a class like Zumba I wasn’t lookimg for rambunctious fun. I spend the entire time in Bar Method methodically breathing. I’m talking about the giving birth labor type breathing for the entire hour. This gives me a meditative type calm. Well as meditative as I’m going to get anyway. It also has just enough stretching to piss me off but not make me feel like a loser. Which is the PERFECT amount. With Bar Method I feel like I get a sprinkle of yoga and therefore it’s benefits without making me hang my head in shame due to lack of ability.
* It really does change your body for the better. While swimming I chant two things over and over in my head. one is the lap number I’m on and the other is “lean and long.” Running does not make me lean and long so I’m always trying to find things that will. Bar Method is definitely a lean and long look. While doing round back (sit in a lounge position against the wall w/ your arms up pushing against the bar and one leg at a time lifted as high and straight as possible as you go through a series of leg lifts and such) I will often look at my leg and be impressed with the “lean and long” look. It keeps me going through that horrific exercise! I also love the swimmer without the heaftyness arm/shoulder look I get. I adore swimming. I miss swimming. I wish I was swimming right now. I have a list of things I will do once I get a job again and have money … swimming is on that list. What I don’t like about swimming is after a week I look like a linebacker for the Ravens. No man likes a women whose shoulders are broader than theirs. Bar Method gives me the fit upper body look without looking like I need to throw on some gear and hit the field. I’d like to say I lost a zillion pounds but I haven’t. I’ve gotten fitter, no doubt about it, but I’m not a tiny petite doe. Others have lost weight so look to them for that. I blame traveling over the past year. I missed a number of classes and on top of that feasted on wine and nachos for comfort while on the road.
* I love feeling like a ballerina even if it is for a few minutes. Those few minutes only happen when I put on my ballet shoes and anytime I “point my toe strongly.” Pointing my toe is really the only ballet I’ve ever mastered. All in all I have the grace and flexibility of an elephant. No worries. In my head I’m magnificent!
* It’s never easy. I’m always hurting. I know it isn’t the best thing for your body to do the same exercise all the time. Your body gets use to it and you are only working those specific muscles the same way over and over. I figure my hiking and other activities work well sprinkled in between my Bar Method classes. Not to mention I’m always hurting after class. Sometimes not hurting a lot but always hurting somewhere! Although every class is similar and follows the same outline each is different and those little differences, when done correctly, can really hit different muscles and/or work them diffently. That means ouch. The good ouch.
* The people are nice. That’s all I have to say about that. Nice people are cool.
* The teachers are extremely helpful. I need help. Serious, serious help. I hate doing something and knowing I’m doing it incorrectly but not knowing how to fix it. The teachers at Bar Method will help you fix your form. What’s the point of paying hard-earned cash, getting in some stretchy pants, driving to a studio, and going through the motions if you aren’t going to benefit from it because you are doing it wrong? One time I was walking back to my car and a woman stopped me. She had just been in class with me and asked if I benefited from the exercise. When I told her I had she said she didn’t feel anything and felt like she needed to go to the gym now to get a workout. Since at that moment every muscle in my butt and legs were still shaking I responded, “you are doing it wrong.” That leads me to my final point …
* The classes are as hard as you want them to be. The teacher will be there to help and push you but really it is up to you. You know when you can feel it and when you are cheating yourself. I’m not saying that is bad. Maybe rhythmic breathing for an hour is all you can emotionally do today. Fine. Tomorrow be ready to get your booty kicked!

So I know you love your Zumba, your Cardio Barre, your ExtremeSpin, your Antigravity Yoga, your P90X and on and on. I love my Bar Method.

Psst … Come Here (For Real This Time)

15 Tuesday Jan 2013

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Psst … come here … just come here … don’t look around … I SAID DON’T LOOK.ry=400  I want to tell you something.

I swear to you that a good number of businesses I pass on a daily basis are fronts for some money laundering or drug mob thing.  I mean come on.  I know the cost of a candle and the average rent of a store front and it just doesn’t add up.   One reason why I like it … math doesn’t lie.  I’m actually scared crapless of the stores and people in my neighborhood so I refuse to call any of them out by name.  Please don’t hurt me.

BUT I don’t live in Pasadena so it’s safe to call out one there right?  There is this bar next to a bar next to the Bar Method studio I go to (it’s actually insane how many bars are between where I park and the studio.  It’s just constant temptation to skip working out and enjoy a delicious gin and tonic instead) that I SWEAR has something shady happening.  I’m now convinced it is the hang out/business location of the Pasadena mob.  I don’t know exactly who and what makes up the Pasadena mob but I’m telling you they exist and can be found at the bar next to the bar by my Bar Method studio.  Why do I think that?  Well first of all there is ALWAYS a table reserved in the corner of the patio and 99% of the time it has one or more people sitting at it that I would not want to meet in a dark alley.   I’m sure they are perfectly wonderful and nice people (I said that just in case they are reading this and are thinking of putting me on some kind of “to kill” list) it’s just odd that no matter the day or temperature they are out there smoking, chatting, drinking, and going over paperwork.  Secondly, there are rarely a lot of people in the place.  Maybe I’m just walking by at odd times but I did eat there once (actually kinda nice) and it wasn’t very packed then either.  Finally it has a vibe.  An “you can come in and drink/eat here but we couldn’t care less one way or the other” vibe.

Mob I tell you.  It’s so weird.  Almost as weird as the homeless guy who hangs out on Colorado with his cat.  You heard me … his cat.  He has a cat!  His cat sits in his lap or next to him or alone on his blanket while his dad asks for money or leftovers from those holding Cheesecake Factory bags.  Give him the leftovers.  He has a trained cat for goodness sakes.  That’s impressive.