A Week and Half of Anti-Blah

The majority of the anti-blah activities that I participated in the past week and a half related to fitness of some sort. And I'm way ok with that. Since I enjoy working out and getting healthy - it's only fitting!

I started May off right by taking an interesting fitness class entitled BOING with Kangoo at my gym. (Based on the name only, how you could not want to try this class out?!) So this class is based around the footwear that you put on when you do this dance class...Kangoo Jumps. Yeah, the name is similar to kangaroo and with good reason. It's a boot that is cross between a rollerblade and a trampoline.

Whew! The idea behind these nutsy looking things is that it takes the pressure off your joints as you move. Plus, because it's unstable, it makes you utilize your core much more. Well, as the instructor walked into the class, he informed us that we would be moving the class outdoors because it was such a beautiful day. BUT, because there was a rally going on in Union Square, we were going to have to run downtown to Washington Square Park. Wearing the booty-things. Yeah. I could've backed out, but what's anti-blah about that?! Nada. Which is why I kept on trucking! We ran down there. Did a workout surrounded by onlookers (both kind and not so much) and amateur photographers and videographers. Yeah. Then came back. Oy. But so AB, it's not even funny.

I also took two personal training sessions with a personal trainer. Luckily those two were included with my initial gym membership. I worked super hard, but I did enjoy it a lot.

Then came Saturday! Ok, so here is the back story. As a former South Carolinian, I have always been envious of those in big cities because they get to do all the cool stuff. They get neato opportunities that you just don't get elsewhere. So, the week I moved to NYC, I found out there would be SELF Magazine's Workout in the Park! This is one of those neato events I would always think about doing when I got to the big city. So I signed myself right up! I figured it would be an awesome opportunity to do something healthy and hopefully meet some nice people.

Then came along a fellow blogger Kristine, Shape Up in the City! I reached out to Kristine when I first got to the city because I was looking for a gym to join. She had done some great gym reviews that were super helpful! She told me she was meeting some other bloggers at the Workout in the Park and that I should come and join too...and since I was planning on going anyways...it was a great chance to meet some great people. So, being my anti-blah self, I went and I met! I met Kristine of course, but I also met Angela, Mari, Missy, Julie, Mo, and Melissa!

L to R: Julie, myself, Kristine, Angela, Mo, Mari, and Missy.

We tried to go into the rebounding area, but were turned away because they had already reached capacity as we were walking up! (Which is totally a good thing! I'm so glad they were able to reach so many women with this event!) Because there were so many people, we decided to split up a bit and do our own thing. I went to just about all the booths available. I checked out some Reebok Easy Tone shoes (that I'm totally thinking about investing in!) along with SoyJoy, SoyMilk, iVillage, CancerandCareers.org, and many others. The main workout area was pretty full and Kristine presented me with an opportunity...try out Core Fusion. I'd never heard of it before, but I figured...why not?

Kristine, Angela, and I walked from the location down to Kristine's neighborhood then caught a subway down to SoHo. (I'm in dire need of increasing my walking speed, fyi!) We went to this quaint studio called Exhale where we had to remove our shoes for the class. I was given plenty of warning that this was going to be tough, but I went in with an open mind. My tools were in front of me: a set of 2 pound weights and a belt similar to one that I used to wear when I took karate. The wonderful instructor was as sweet and kind as could be as she took us through the various exercises. You simply use your body weight, focus on your core, and connect your mind and body. Not my usual pace considering I love me some cardio. That being said: Core Fusion is not a joke. I've never felt sore like this before. All without heavy weights, tough personal trainers, perfuse sweating, or sneakers for crying outloud! Then, we ate brunch at this cute place in SoHo. What a fun day!

And to wrap up a full week and a half of being anti-blah, I took myself to the only NY public library that seemed to be open on Sundays. I walked up enjoying the breezy weather, spent upwards of 2 hours in the 'brary and enjoyed the walk back. I really liked being in a library, as crazy as that sounds. That's always been my sanctuary. As a child I loved to read. When I was old enough to, I used to volunteer a my local public library for fun. (Yeah, I'm cool like that. Don't judge.) Then, in high school, I constantly went to The Citadel's library to do research for my thesis. And it of course didn't stop as I went through undergraduate and graduate school either. But this is the first time in a very long time that I was looking for nothing in particular. I was just enjoying time with myself, being around fellow New Yorkers, enjoying where their tax dollars are going. (***THEIR will become OUR when I find THE job!) I decided on two books and two movies. But, I thought, I don't really have anywhere to be, so I read over one of the books and left it there.

This was the most AB I've been in a really long time. I hope that I can continue to use that sentence as I move throughout my life because anti-blah really is the only way to really live.