Kundalini discovery

My kundalini yoga discovery is something pretty special I am feeling. My understanding of the practice needs to evolve but I am excited at the prospect of learning. Kundalini isn't like the flowing & positions of other yoga practices but more mindful I think & more mindblowing. & still physically challenging I found it energised my being & made my heart soar... 
Motions (kriyas) & asanas are repeated with breathing techniques that take you out of your comfort zone forming 'prana' (energy) so when you still yourself the buzz over your body is electrifying & truly inspiring. 
Meditation through movement is something I associate with my ultra marathoning, reaching peaks of power & feeling a primal connection with the earth. & kundalini has the same essence in the sense of natural elation & the awareness of oneself. With a few uncomfortable (pretty painful) parts of the process that also resonates with long distance running. 
Kundalini yoga has really made me want to find out more about my own spirituality & where I can go with it. & how having this consciousness can affect running. I am thinking a cosmic unity of training & I am hoping that my running will only be more improved by this new presence in my life. 

Yogi heaven

I'm into day 3 of my own yoga zen peace party. & wow what a truly beautiful experience I am having... My limbs are loving the yoga & massage, & I am loving the solitude & serenity. As I write I am listening to birds in the tropical trees & looking up at the beautiful blue sky, with a fresh papaya & cinnamon juice close by. 

My typical day goes a little like this...

6isham wake & meditate
7.30am sunrise hatha yoga 1 hour
8.30am kundalini yoga 11/2 hours
11.30am fresh fruit & breakfast with organic lemongrass & ginger tea made from the garden produce - amaze.
12-4pm sunbathing, reading, relaxing, snoozing, swimming, snacking on juice & nuts.
4pm afternoon yoga - either yin, ashtanga or today vinyasa Bhakti 11/2 hours
6pm massage, traditional Balinese bliss. (& maybes a little pain from all the miles & pounding my legs have been given in the past 10 years!)
8pm dinner of something fresh & veggie & more delicious tea.
9pm snooze..........

My vow is to incorporate yoga into my everyday back in the world of work days. My challenge is to find the time to fit in with ultra running training & my all day everyday job! My vision is to combine the two harmonious activities for rewarding fitness & mental agility. My blog will document my determination & dreams of superpowers... 

Beautiful Bali bliss

On my first day at the divine Desa Seni in Bali. Surrounded by the lushness of tropical trees, traditional art & trinkets, organic veggie patches, hot hot hot searing sunshine & clear blue skies, a warm breeze gives the palm trees a groove & sway, & my yoga flowed with strength & grace & I even felt confident enough to headstand (quite an achievement for my usually wobbly practice)I have a wonderful vibe for my week of relaxation ahead...
My breakfast of fresh fruit, organic rye bread & avocado. 
My lunch of delish gazpacho raw chilled soup. Healthy & happy food.
My afternoon will be spent sunning, yin restoration yoga & a crystal salt body scrub with a traditional Balinese massage. Smug, me? No. But I do feel like I found a little bit of heaven on earth.
Namaste beautiful peeps xox 

XXX Training & tiredness

After running my 50k race last Sunday week I have been doing lots of recovery & X training. Inspired & feeling fit I'm on a roll of stretching & strengthening. My training diary looks like this...

Thurs 15th : Pilates reformer + 10k running
Fri   16th : Pilates reformer + 10k running
Sat   17th : Ashtanga yoga + 1k swim
Sun   18th : Hi performance spin + 1k swim
Mon   19th : Pilates reformer + 13k running
Tues  20th : PT strength & interval + 8k running
Weds  21st : Ashtanga yoga + 10k running
Thurs 22nd : Hatha yoga + power yoga + 8k running

& tomorrow I will REST!!! 
& I'll be getting ready for my blissful Bali retreat =) 
bikinis packed, tanning lotion packed, pink yoga outfits packed, 'way of the peaceful warrior' book packed, pink chanel passport packed, excited & relieved that holidays are nearly here, peace xox

Dreaming of Bali...

Life. So full. My crazy busy job. My running/training. I want a holiday! Balmy beachiness & quiet relaxation, hot sunshine on my skin, morning swims & evening cocktails... 
BALI BABY! I leave for Desa Seni eco yoga retreat on Sunday. I CAN NOT WAIT! Set in the lushest of gardens, this traditional Balinese retreat has a daily yoga & meditation program, a spa for wellness offering massage, beauty & acupuncture. & with its very own organic farm the food is fresh & sustainable.
I feel like I need this break to recharge & stretch out & reinvigorate & bliss out before my worldly work travels take off & the next season at work begins (again!!!)
Peaceful dreaminess. & Balinese friendliness. & healthy heavenliness & holiday amazingness...

The Tan Ultra photos =)

                                          My first lap finish in 23 mins...

                                          Running strong for nearly 2 hours...

                                          Feeling the 4 hours of running - OUCH!!!

new runners for new run training...

Just going to enter my next race challenge - a 64k on the 30th November in Tasmania - the Bruny Island ultra...

So in anticipation of the action my feet will acquire over the next few months I've updated my nimbus (again!!!) Loving the little bit of pink design this time, thanks asics! 

I have worn this runner for at least 7 years. Yes I have read 'Born to Run', I know all about bare foot running & the perfect poise. & although I heel strike first & somewhat shuffle, I'm kinda happy with my running style. Injury free (touch wood) for most of my running years, I'm not going to change my footwear for fear of getting injured & I embrace the slower pace.

So how many miles will these little pink bunnies get through?? 
70k's a week x approx 10 weeks training = at least 700k's!!! 
& when I've done the run I'll update my same old/new asics nimbus once more..... Looking forward to clocking the miles in style =) 

vegan gingerbread girls

I have to share my creative cookery for a Monday night!!

Deee-licious divinity divas! My gingerbread girl biscuits... Veganom nom nom.

2 2/3 cups wholemeal flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 cup molasses

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup coconut sugar

1/4 cup almond milk

1 tsp organic vanilla

Mix all the dry ingredients. Whisk the wet ingredients. & mix together.

Flatten dough & pop in the fridge for an hour. Flour a surface & roll 1/4" thick.

Cut into shapes. Bake for 8-10 mins on 220..... 0<I=

the tan ultra tribulations

yesterday was a super sunny Sunday & one of those days when running makes me the happiest being on the tan track. The tan ultra is a trails+ running festival event & I ran the 50k race.

The day started at 5.55 am eating my specially made bliss balls with extra cardamon for extra kick. & I got to the start in my shiny pink jacket & freshly dyed fluoro pink hair just in time to chat to a few fellow participants & to power up with electrolytes & get the race briefing.

& then we were off. The run is 13 laps around the tan track (a 3.9km loop) & I kept to my pace of 6 minute k's. Pretty much all the way. With a little assistance from -

Pink Floyd - shine on you crazy diamond
Queen - don't stop me now
Franz Ferdinand - Right action
Robin Thicke & Pharrell - Blurred lines
Daft Punk & Pharrell - Get lucky
Doves - Pounding
Take That - Rule the world (hehe)

The laps kept coming. I was off in a meditative trance. I felt strong as the sun got stronger. I channelled much emotion into my motion. & then lap 9, 10 & 11 got really tough, muscles tightening & soreness setting in. But mental toughness prevailed & I railed, I ran the last hill even. 

I lost my 5 minute buffer to get to the finish line on the last few laps. But with one last push, spurred on at the sighting of support (from a man that I have just met & I quite like & his dog!!! Must look composed & cool whilst sweating with dribble on my chin!!!) I ran through the finish line at 5 hours (& ok 2 mins) 

My PB smashed by 24 mins. My smile beaming. My love for this running experience ecstatic. My excitable ambition - next year I will do the 100k distance. Inspired. 

to 50k or not to 50k...

that is the question!

I'm entered into the tan ultra this coming Sunday. That's 50k's of running, 13 laps of the tan track in Melbourne. & that's more than I have ran in a wee while... In fact I haven't ran over 25k's in the last 2 months. But I have spirit, determination & damn it, I'm going to do it! My head will be saying, you can do this (maybes), my body will be saying, please stop pet! & my heart will be saying, go Pinky go!

ability is what you are capable of doing.
motivation determines what you do.
attitude determines how well you do it.

So 3 more days until the race. Off to yoga tonight for some vinyassa flow to help my body go...

& after my asanas I will be having yogi bunny yummies - avocado, lemon, pink sea salt & organic roma tomatoes on my homemade olive & rosemary bread. HEAVEN!