Twas a very early morning for me today. I woke up super early to go to 6:00 AM Bikram Yoga. I decided that I need to start doing my workouts early a few times a week to gradually get used to it, since the half marathon I’m running in will start at 7:00 AM. Need to prepare my body for exercise at such an insane hour (insane for me at least). I went to bed on the early side last night so I would not be crying when my alarm went off at 5:30 this morning. Unfortunately, it was still pretty rough. But once I got up and out the door, I was at the studio before I had time to change my mind. I felt kind of like a zombie, not sure how I actually got there.

And wow, that was the best Bikram has ever felt. I really need to start going early more often. It was actually more rejuvenating doing the practice without having a caffeine buzz or food in my belly already. And it totally woke me up. I feel more awake right now than I have the other days when I got a couple extra hours of sleep! One thing the instructor said during half tortoise pose was that Bikram himself claimed doing the pose the right way is the equivalent of 8 hours of sleep. Now, I’m not sure I believe that entirely…I don’t think I could skip a full night of sleep, do half tortoise pose, and feel completely rested. But I like the fact that it is so beneficial for your body!

^ Half tortoise pose (source)

I also enjoyed that the class was way less crowded than usual. The class size was at least half the amount that it usually is when I go midday or in the evening. Another plus of going at 6:00 was that I got my workout for the day done by the time I would’ve normally been waking up! So much more time to do things today I don’t know if any of you have ever done or regularly do Bikram, but there are certain parts of the class I dread doing (Awkward pose, you are so awkward), and other parts that I love (I am awesome at Eagle pose). But my favorite part of the class has to be at the very end when the instructor leaves the room as we are all laying on our mats and says, “Namaste”. The entire class responds in unison by saying “Namaste” back. It makes me giggle a little each time. This ritual is not something I was ever told to do or explained as to why this exchange goes on, but every yogi seems to pick up on it after a couple classes. Well, I think it’s fun and it makes me feel like a real yogi

Breakfast

I got home at 8:45 (Bikram classes are 90 minutes long) super sweaty and hungry. I didn’t even have that need for coffee like I usually do as a groggily stroll into the kitchen. Maybe morning yoga could kick my caffeine addiction…….too soon, too soon. I made a cup of coffee with my Keurig and got my mason jar of overnight oats out of the fridge. I was thankful I didn’t have to prepare breakfast so I could just grab and eat.

Tropical Overnight Oats

• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1 cup vanilla almond milk
• 1 tbs chia seeds
• about 1/2 cup frozen mango chunks (pre chunked and frozen from TJ’s)
• 1 tbs Earth Balance coconut peanut butter spread (this stuff is my jam right now)

Last night I put it all in a mason jar, shook it really well so the PB spread would distribute, and popped it in the fridge.

I like putting frozen fruit in my overnight oats because it thaws out overnights and soaks up the almond milk. The coconut + mango made it taste a little tropical. Yum. Overnight oats really don’t photograph that well, but they sure do taste good.

Time to shower and start my day. I am starting a freelance article today about happiness, my kinda article. Hope you all have a terrific Tuesday!