Hey There Friends!
Are we all making it over the hump? This week started busy and will end just the same…story of life I guess, right?!? Anyway, since today is the last Wednesday in March this will be the last installment of my sleep series. Since I have covered most of the basics, I thought I would hit one more – the morning routine – waking up in the healthiest way to start your day. 
We’re all guilty of hitting the snooze button a few too many times in a desperate attempt to get more sleep, only to end up rushing out the door and jolting your body into a panicked start to the day – no bueno! Below are the five things, no matter what, I do every morning to ensure I have a healthy, happy start to the day.
- No Snooze – set your alarm for when your realistically need to get up, and get up. Place your phone or alarm clock far enough away from your bed that you have to physically get up to shut it off.
- Drink a tall glass of warm or room temperature water. If you’re a tea or coffee drinker this is the perfect time to start the kettle, french press, pot, whatever…
- Clean Routine – whether you like to shower in the morning or not, take time to thoroughly wash your face, neck & check, brush your teeth & hair, as a signal to your body that its time to refresh & restart.
- Make your bed and tidy up – I guess this one is a bit of a personal thing but its amazing how much better it feels to come home to a clean and tidy home (or at least bedroom/bathroom).
- Keep things quiet & screen free for 30 minutes if possible. With the exception of shutting off your alarm, try to avoid the TV, iPad, computer, and cell phone while you’re getting your day started – the world can wait another 30 minutes.
I hope these and the last few weeks of tips can help you maximize your energy throughout your day & keep you feeling happy/healthy!
’til next time, keep smiling! 🙂
What a beautiful weekend! We had such a lovely time enjoying the sunshine, taking things slow, and celebrating the culmination of Easter Week. Friday night was quiet and low key (in observance of Good Friday). We had some fish po’ boys for dinner and hit the hay early. Our weekend kicked off with a trip to guitar center to buy Phil his long overdo electronic drum set. We spent the afternoon enjoying delicious wine at our winery’s spring release event, and afterwards some shopping & pizza night! Yesterday was mass, an eggs benedict & mimosa brunch by yours truly, and rooftop yoga/ an evening of grilling & enjoying the sunset. 
We’re almost finished the month of March and even though Phil and I have been making healthier choices we still don’t feel like we’re kicking it up enough. So with three weeks left in our 2016 challenge we’re thinking we might extend things a few extra weeks and try something a little different. Starting next week, so with two weeks left in our original challenge, we’re going to start simplifying our diets & kicking up the healing treatments – epsom salt baths, heat/ice, evening and morning stretching, and myofascial release. We’ll be doing this through the month of May but will still report our results 16 weeks in. 
Keep working along with us or put your own spin on what we’re doing!! Let me know how it all works out…I would love to hear from anyone whose taking steps week by week to make healthier choices! We’re heading into OUR month with energy and enthusiasm….who else wants to make April their best month yet!
Welcome to the weekend! It’s Easter weekend and Phil and I have opted out of a weekend in Tahoe (his back is bothering him). We’ve got plans to do some shopping, hit Vie winery for our spring pick up, go to mass, and spend some time just the two of us!
Even though we won’t be on the mountain celebrating the holiday weekend, that won’t keep me from featuring a Tahoe favorite on this week’s restaurant edition of Foodie Friday. Last month I mentioned we were celebrating our friend’s birthday in Tahoe & we ended up having dinner at Jake’s on the Lake. Normally this is a summer spot for those hitting the Lake, with slips for boats to dock and come up, but the beauty of the snow along the dock as we gazed over the icy Lake was stunning.
The meal was pretty incredible, filled with amazing seafood and delicious wine…not one thing to complain about. The ambiance is pretty incredible too – as soon as you walk in there is the immediate feeling of being in a lake cabin – just perfect!
If you make it up to Lake Tahoe in the summer, winter, spring, or fall, make sure you check out Jake’s on the Lake for a great meal, fabulous service, and a one of a kind view!
I have always been on the fence about napping – I felt time was more importantly spent doing other things – foolish me! I did a bunch of research, tested some theories, and now I’m sharing my results with all of you to round out this month’s Wellness Wednesday. Here are 5 things I’ve learned about napping, why it works, and what to avoid.
Its been another dreadfully rainy day in San Francisco but the weather is supposed to perk up for the rest of the week; which is good because I sure need a kick in the pants! This weekend with my brother and sister in law was wonderful but teaching 16 classes, playing tour guide and managing everything else on my plate has definitely left me a bit drained. Instead of looking at things in a negative way I’ve used today’s weather as an excuse to stay in bed and recharge – well, at least in btwn my 6am & 12pm class I squeezed in a nap, and btwn my 12pm class and my 3pm shift at the studio I did some yin yoga…it’s all about making time for yourself and listening to your body, right?!?!
We’re so close to wrapping up this lovely 16wks of 2016 Motivation challenge and I think both Phil and I have become that much more in tune with our bodys’ needs and how much the food we consume plays a role in how we feel. This weekend was full of more fried food and ice cream than I would care to admit and I’m feeling it contribute to my low energy today. I’m taking steps to hydrate, cleanse, & reboot for this week by adding some probiotics, as well as my trusty apple cider vinegar & lemon tea to help cleanse my system and have my feeling sharper/more alert. It’s GREENS, GREENS, GREENS for the first week of spring & we’re hoping they’ll have us feeling good as new in no time!
It is very difficult to get up at 5am when you finish work at 9pm and still need to eat & unwind; which is why falling asleep quickly to get as much sleep as possible is paramount. I haven’t exactly established a perfect routine yet, but below are 5 easy tips to help you unwind and prepare for a more restful night sleep.
We weren’t able to make it up quite as early on Friday as we would have liked but we got here before 9pm and able to have a healthy dinner before getting to bed. 
We were up with the sun & the first on the slopes Saturday – skiing some tougher terrain All day! We woke up Sunday to the photo above & the snow seemed to be endless pouring from the sky – it was pretty cool! We’re taking a lesson today so we can have a professional show how to take things to the next level for the remainder of the season. My muscles are definitely feeling a little tight but I’ve been hydrating, consuming anti-inflammatory foods, soaking in the hot tub, and doing a ton of yin yoga to keep moving.
This week starts 6am classes and I’m very exciting for my new offering! I’m hoping to maintain my cardio but I also have to remember to take care of my body and not overdo it. That being said, this week I’m cutting interval training/running and only cycling for cardio. There are 5 more Motivation Mondays and I can’t wait to share the overall results and take-aways with everyone!
The poses shown above are as follows: Big Toe Hold A & C (Top Row), Happy Baby, Plow, & Legs up the Wall (Bottom Row). Each pose is to be held for around 7-10 breathes or about 2 minutes. Use a towel, strap, or t-shirt to help with the first two, feel free to bend your knees in plow (the middle one on the bottom row), and make sure your but is touching the wall in the last one.
Livingleen 