More like a ''friends first, and then became more attractive as I got to know him'' kind of love...
I always wanted to be considered athletic and can remember the days when I would cry bloody-murder if Ashley Johnson (with her freakishly long 8-year old legs) ran more laps then me during the annual 'Jog-a-thon."
When I turned 18 I bought my first gym membership, for no other reason then I wanted to look hot! From that point on I was always working out, trying to figure out how to achieve that Perfect 10 Body. In college, due to the encouragement of my baseball player boyfriend, I trained hard and started cheerleading, learning just a little more about fitness and how food (or lack there of) effected your body. I wanted so badly to be thin like a Victoria Secrets model and everyone I knew who looked like that rarely ate! I struggled with my weight and my relationship with food all the way to LA where my lack of 'skinny genes' affected my budding career in more ways then I would like to admit. (News flash: If you keep getting cast as the prostitute or 'slutty girl #5' you are probably about 20-30lbs overweight!)
In my early 20's I was at a crossroads. The acting career wasn't panning out and when my part time spa-job turned into a management position, I snapped it up, hoping to hack away at those mounting student loans. It was there that I met (hired) Holly as an Eastitician. Even with all the celebrities that passed in and out of my spa, Holly was the most beautiful, angelic creature I had ever laid eyes on! A part-time model, Holly was tall, thin but muscular, blond hair, blue eyes and what's more, the sweetest girl you could ever meet! While going through the oddest personal transition of my life Holly rescued me and in an odd turn turn of events, became one my best friends.
One day, beautiful Holly invited me to Yoga.
I know... barf. I would rather eat glass then do Yoga.
She explained to me that this wasn't just any Yoga (you mean, there were different kinds????), this was Power/Ashtanga yoga and that I would get a workout that would blow my mind!
I didn't buy it and besides, my trusty elliptical was waiting!
I rolled my eyes and declined her invite but she was persistent and kept asking. She was the fitness missionary, I was the Leper refusing help even though I was miserable and working-out my way wasn't working for me. Here she was: thin, fit, happy and here I was: chubby, miserable and thinking I knew everything because I read 'Shape' and went to the gym 5 days a week. Enough said.
Finally, in the midst of one of my regular fat-day panic attacks, I accepted her offer and we drove to Santa Monica for my first official Power-Yoga experience. I mean, if it was good enough for Madonna...
The Instructor's name was Rudy, and with his bulging muscles and dapper/southern charm I was intimidated before I even got on the mat. Not to mention that everyone in the room was GORGEOUS! I had entered fitness-model-actor-town! All the another girls were in booty shorts and sports bras and I looked like a homeless person in my sweats and baggy t-shirt!
Before I knew it we were in downward facing dog. I was about 15 minutes into the class when I got so frustrated I started to cry! This was FREAKING HARD! I didn't stop though! Oh, how I wanted to give up, but I kept going...
I kept telling myself: I can do this! If this is what it takes to get the body I want, I would do what it took!
I never worked as hard in my life as I did for my first 90 minute Power Yoga Class.
Incidentally, when it was done I did not feel a sense of accomplishment! I felt pissed off and angry that this class had brought me to such an emotional place and what's more, I had sucked at it big time!
But I went back. In fact, I kept going back. I wanted so badly to move with ease from pose to pose like all those beautiful people in that class and to feel comfortable and confident in my skin! I went "to practice"so much that quickly I out-yogied Holly!
For about 2 and a half years I spent about 4-5 days, 90 minutes a class, sweating and chair-posing my bum off in that studio with Rudy!
I was about 3 months into my new hobby when I caught myself in the mirror and realized I had definition in my upper body! WHAT?!?!? I could see the slight curve in my delt arching into my bicep. It clicked for me! I realized in that moment how hard you had to work to see results. How you had to get out of your comfort zone, test your boundaries, and what's more, move around your body weight, to make those types of changes in your body!
Power Yoga taught me how to work hard and push harder when I really (I mean, REALLY) want to quit! Rudy taught me how to laugh through the pain. Holly taught me to how to 'try.'
Gradually I learned how weight-lifting, cardio, and nutrition could take my body to the next level but If I had never fell in love with Yoga and developed a strong 'workout- ethic', I NEVER would be where I am today! I mean, I had spent 6 years in a gym, wasting hours on the elliptical, simply because I didn't take the time to get out of my comfort zone! I shudder to think where I would be without Holly's supermodel-looks and friendly persistence!
Wherever you are at right now in your fitness journey, get out of that comfort zone!
If you have tried and failed, try again, but this time try something completely foreign to you! You never want to miss out on an opportunity to improve yourself or not try something because you "already know you'll hate it."
If you are a gym-kitten who has hit a plateau, hire a trainer or try a class you think is hard or stupid, at least twice, to see what exactly it is you are missing from your program.
Wherever you're at right now, open yourself up to falling in-love with fitness! It's a relationship that will only benefit you and your other relationships!
And whatever you do: GET OFF THAT DAMN ELLIPTICAL!
I believe in you,
xoxo T
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