I always wanted to do Yoga. But I’m not a person who likes “performing” in front of others and that’s what group classes feel like to me. I’d rather go somewhere where I don’t know anyone, but around here that’s impossible. You all know I’m not an exerciser. I’m hugely proud of Julie and her newfound commitment to exercise and Jazzercize! Another reason I give for not exercising is that I also have a very hard time carving out more hours in the day. Excuses. I realize this. Excuses because I hate sweating and I hate exercise. I’ve never found something I enjoy.
One day I discovered that my daughter’s Hebrew tutor is also a Yoga instructor! We discussed me visiting her class in the studio, but it’s a twenty minute trip there and back, and for me I’d lose most of my day. I can’t afford this time when I could be writing. Even though her class would probably be a place where I’d know nobody and meet my first criteria. Anonymity in exercise!
Something made me ask her if she ever taught an individual lesson. She said she did. I made the commitment and started taking Yoga six weeks ago! I LOVE it. It’s an hour and a half and it’s once a week. Not much, I know. But it’s something! And best of all it’s 11:30 so I can write from 9 – 11 which I discovered is my prime writing time.
Did you know there were different kinds of Yoga? This kind is called Vinyasa Yoga. It’s all about breathing synchronized movement. I work up a sweat and I don’t mind, it goes at my pace, and ends with a nice relaxing meditation.
If you’ve never tried Yoga, I highly recommend it!
OM 
and
Namaste 
Carly Phillips would like to take 100% credit for all her stories but the truth is, Carly’s strength is writing family, emotion, funky elderly people and animals. She couldn’t plot her way out of a paper bag, which is why she smartly found her plotmonkey pals early on in her writing career. Thanks to their support, Carly is now a NYT Bestselling author of 23 plus novels. Because writing doesn’t keep her busy enough, Carly is also a wife, a mother of one preteen and one teenage daughter, the primary care giver of her soft coated Wheaten terrier and an expert carpool mom.
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Good for you Carly. I am the most undisciplined person when it comes to exercise. I know I should do it, it’s good for you, but I manage to find 100 other things I could do instead. But I have to stop that. I’ll have to check out to see if they have Yoga anywhere near home.
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I hate exercise too. I can always find something more important to do when I think about it. One of the reasons I got the Wii Fit is because of the Yoga on it. Now that the kid is back in CA, I can get it set up. Someone had to move the TV’s and it wasn’t going to be me!
Glad you found someone that could teach you!
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Good for you Carly! I haven’t been very good about exercising lately, but I’m going to do better. The only Yoga I’ve ever done is on the Wii Fit. Not sure that it really counts, but it has really helped my balance for when I workout with my trainer.
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I’m proud of you, Carly! Yoga is GREAT!
I don’t take a yoga class because like you I’d rather sweat in private. I did go to one over Christmas called Core Power Yoga where they turn up the heat in the room but it is a kind of yoga where you move fast from one posture to the next. Needless to say I didn’t like it especially because there was this woman–she looked about 14–next to me who could twist her body into a pretzel. She made me feel like an clumsy oaf.
I hop on the treadmill everyday then later do some yoga postures. There are a lot of good Yoga DVD’s out there as well.
Keep up the exercise, Carly. You’ll get hooked on it!
Cher
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I’ve tried a bit of yoga on my wii fit (I haven’t used that all winter) I have a hard time with since i’m not flexible. Since I live in a small town and would have to drive at least 45 minutes to find some kind of class I found a Pilates for Weightloss DVD not long ago. I’ve done it once and since i’m not flexible it was hard but I did a half hour of the 45 min dvd and my core was achin the next day. Exercise is not my friend and I find every excuse, but I really need to get healthy.
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I love, love, love yoga!!! I have been doing it once a week for over two years now (you’d never know…LOL). I love that it is relaxing and I can’t think of anything BUT yoga! I am horrible at it and I do it through community education in a different school district for the reasons you mentioned, Carly. LOL because I am horrible at it! My favorite is the Warrior poses…makes me feel like I am going to kick arse (excuse me!).
Plus, total me time (when I walk, I am making lists, blah blah blah). I can’t do that during yoga!
Sorry for my PSA today….this month is Autism Awareness month. As you know my oldest has autism. It affects one in 94 boys; or one in 150 kids. For more information, go to AUTISMSPEAKS.org or you can ask me. Thanks for reading…
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You didn’t tell me you were doing Yoga! Good for you! I can’t see me doing Yoga because I am not flexible. Never have been. I think I was the only cheerleader on my 8th grade squad who couldn’t do a split!
Just got back from Jazzercise. I’m going 5-6 times a week now and I just adore it more than I can say. Every day I’m stronger and more fit. When I first started, I didn’t do any of the “hopping” or “skipping” moves and could barely get through the ab routines. Now, I’m doing nearly all the jumps and can do the whole ab routine exactly like everyone else. I’ve lost nearly 15 pounds, but more importantly, I feel great!
Jazzercise combines dance (my favorite!) with Pilates, yoga and weight training. We do some yoga moves in the stretch and cool-down routines. But I think mostly, I love the music and I ADORE my instructor, who is a ton of fun and who likes to turn the music up loud and rock-out. It was pretty anonymous when I first started…I knew one woman, but she only came for a week before she quit coming. Now, I know everyone because I’ve made friends there. I went to a class yesterday and the Sunday people barely spoke to each other…it was so weird!
But Carly, I’m really proud of you!
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I’m impressed by anyone who has such dedication to exercise (even if it is only once a week – at least it’s something). I try to get motivated, but the excuses out number the reasons to get sweaty.
I’ve always wanted to be a part of a yoga class, and at my school they make it really easy cause there are like three different times you could take one twice a week. (and I know that if I signed up I would go just to get the grade) The only thing is that I’m so embarrassed…because like a few people have mentioned – I am so not flexible. Touching my toes is a feat in itself. I went to a yoga class with one of my friends last year and felt so out of place because I was the only one who couldn’t do any of the poses correctly. Although I think I’d enjoy yoga, I keep telling myself that I’ll wait to partake until I become more flexible on my own…which leads me back to motivation
I’m glad you found something you enjoy Carly!
<3 J
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Carly, that’s wonderful!!!!
I used to work with a Pilates trainer twice a week. I felt so much better when I was doing that and the teacher said I was a poster child for it. Then life happened and I had to quit.
I really need to find something that I can get into and enjoy because I despise exercise. Jazzercise might be something I should check into because I like to dance.
*Fingers crossed* It looks like hubby might be getting his driving abilities back in a month (he hasn’t driven in over a year!) and that will free up a tremendous amount of time for me. There are some days that I spend as much as 3 hours driving everyone around. I really hope to take some of that time and put it into exercise.
You guys are definitely inspirational in getting me motivated for it!!
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My dad and I used to do yoga. LOOOOONG time ago. When I have time, I do some of the yoga on the Wii Fit. I’m to old and stiff to much any more. Wish I was more motivated to do it every day. That would help with the flexibility.
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I tried yoga many years ago but “Miss Cordination” kept getting made an example to the class.
I actually found out that weight lifting was more to my liking. My daughter and I had joined the local Y and we try to go 3 to 4 times a week. It has turned out to be some great mom and daughter time.
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Yay, Carly! I’m big on exercise videos – no time or money to go/pay for classes
But I tried doing yoga… and broke myself. >.< I did something terrible and awful to my knee, so I’ve given up on yoga for a while. (Well, I’m not sure if yoga was the original culprit, but it made everything come back worse.) :X
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Good for you Carly!
Not a big fan of exercise either. I’ve never done yoga but I’ve done Pilates which also focuses on breathing and working your core muscles….I keep saying I’m going to do it again but like you time is very scarse….although my husband keeps telling me to just make the time for myself which sounds easier than it actually is…lol
Namaste
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Today is my first day of Spring Break, and to celebrate I am trying out hot yoga near my house. I love yoga, but I’m gloriously out of shape at the moment. And I’ve never tried hot yoga… I’ll let you know how it goes!
Congrats on getting an exercise routine!
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I’m with you, I’m not so in love with exercising, but I want to. I do for a few days then I stop. I’ve got to give yoga a try, it seems like something I would enjoy.
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Before taking a class, I spent a few months doing yoga DVDs. I feel the same way about taking exercise classes. I get a bit competitive. If I am not doing it the best, I get grumpy. My friend took me to Bikram yoga and I almost fell on my head.
(I know that’s not the right emoticon but, it reminded me of some of the positions.)
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Okay, I guess I am in the minority! I actually like exercise! If it hadn’t been for a friend getting me into an arobics class I might not have survived the death of my father, then 3 weeks later the separation from my husband. That physical activity was a great outlet for everything.
Eventually I taught arobics which was extremely intimidating in the beginning!! 
Now I walk, that is something anyone can do, no class you just need a good pair of shoes, get out enjoy the scenery, don’t do the same exact walk everyday, look at the flowers, people’s yards, houses. I love it! I’ve been trying to find a yoga DVD so I can try that. For those of you that don’t like the class you can do it on your own at home even those that are not flexible. Yoga will help you become more flexible.
Congratulations to both Carly and Julie for taking better care of yourself.
For so many of us, as females, we put everyone else first and do nothing for ourselves which is not at all good. We have to learn to take care of ourselves in order to take care of all those we love and care for. If you are still raising children I am aware that it is hard to carve out time for yourself but the results are so worth it. 
:eastereggs:
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I know, Donna M….it’s almost two hours (including transportation) of ME time. I know if I don’t take care of me, how can I take care of others?
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That’s great Carly, so glad you’re doing this for yourself! I am absolutely insistent that I’m going to do the same thing, very soon. It’s spring now, the weather’s warming up, my clothes are lightening up and it’s not as easy to “hide” the 10 pounds I gained over the cold winter!
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Hey everyone…I hope that all is well…
Carly, I have been considering yoga, but I haven’t committed like you have…there are numerous places here, and I would have the anonymity, but I just don’t have the time…I guess I could use one of my days off to do it…I will see what happens…
I am glad that you were able to find something that fit your schedule…I know how time can just fly by, even though there is supposed to be enough to do everything…I am going to bed now, but I will try to pop in again tomorrow…gnight…
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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A few years ago, I got really ambitious and managed to lose 30lbs. I attribute much of my success to my morning yoga routine, because, though I wasn’t initially a believer, it really did help with my mindset. The days I did yoga seemed so much easier than the ones I didn’t. However…I eventually got preggers and stopped working out altogether. Now I feel like I’m too far gone to start up again.
It’d probably take me a year of yoga to be able to touch my toes again. 
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I’m another one who doesn’t like exercising around others. I consiously know that no-one else is interested in what I’m doing at the gym, but for some reason for some reason I still feel like others are watching me when I’m doing my workouts.