10 mile run.....OUTSIDE!!!

Took advantage of the warmth and ran outside today. Hard to believe we were ice-bound a week ago. Running on the street (Pennsylvania between 71st and 86th..I do laps!) was so nice. I felt the winter depression start to fly away from me. I saw old man winter and told him to keep on blowin' outta here.

Friday, hot yoga with Lisa D.

Saturday Morning, my favorite time of the week, power yoga with Chris.

And doing a really solid show at IRT. And Jen is back home.

I am a lucky guy.....

Namaste,

Rob

Be Creative...there is ALWAYS a way to workout!

I have been thinking about last Saturday's post-yoga meeting. One issue that was touched on was someone's inability to work out because of snowy conditions. No running on ice.....and I agree! What we all have to remember is this: By using our creativity we can almost ALWAYS come up with a decent workout to sub for what our first choice might have been.

For example: Running or walking stairs. Unless you live and work in a ranch house, this one rarely gets done and it is an ass-buster! Even a walk up and down stairs for 20 minutes will leave you sweating. I often times find it more challenging than lots of machines that are out there. So BAM! That's a permanent excuse-killer for not doing some great aerobic work!

Another example: I found a welded bar of iron at the theatre where I do most of my work and it is PERFECT for chin-ups. I love the challenge of chins....and understand that they can be daunting. IF YOU CAN'T DO A CHINUP, just find something to hang on that can support you weight! Hang as long as you can. When you get stronger (and you will!) start pulling....somewhere down the line, you WILL do a pullup!

Anyway, when I know I am going to be pressed for time on a day I want to work out, I plan to use that chin up bar. It's right there, and the moment I am done with a show, I hit the bar (hee hee) Even if I'm a little hungry I wait to eat till the chins are done.....and if you don't want chins......you can do push ups ANYWHERE! When I drive back to NY to visit my family, every time the car stops, I do 50 push ups. It wakes you better than any coffee, and in one trip I can bang out 300 push ups.....

On any day if you need a workout and can't possibly get to a gym or even to you Project Gym at your house, BE CREATIVE!!! There is always a way!

Peace,

Rob

Keeping the Project Workouts Rolling....even in an ice-storm!

Hey All Project-ers!

I just finished a really fabulous yoga class. All my friends were there. Chris Roche was the teacher and he ran a great class...just what I needed. How did I do this during one of the worst ice-storms on Indiana record?

I used Chris' cd of a class that he recorded a few months ago during an inspired Tuesday night class.

The next few days drive home the importance of a home workout program. No one should travel in this weather to do something like a workout in a gym or yoga studio. AND NO ONE SHOULD USE WEATHER AS AN EXCUSE NOT TO WORK OUT! (unless you lose power, your roof caves, your kid is frozen onto his sled....you get my drift....or my snow drift....:0)

The project is such a good tool to teach us to keep our bodies vibrant so our minds and hearts can be vibrant and happy. So if you haven't began the process of learning to work out at home....seize the crappy day and GET ON IT!!!!

Sending all you guys love and safe thoughts,

Rob

Lovin' the Project meetings! and Yoga!

Had a nice Project meeting at the coffee shop after a great yoga class taught by Chris this morning. Feels so good to get back into BOTH things. I was reminded especially of how we all are emotional eaters at times, and we talked a lot about getting only good stuff in the home to eat, so when we do have an emotional binge, at least we are eating good stuff and not pure crap!

Also, I LOVED sharing ideas about substitutions for crappy food (greek yogurt for sour cream type of stuff). We need to have a meeting based around that stuff. I'd love to hear what everyone has come up with......

Be well everybody!

A Nice Ten Mile Run

I set out to run ten miles today with the intention of not pushing my speed, which can get me very emotional when I run.....when I feel my body pushing for a personal best time, and when I know it's not the "right day" to go that hard, I can get very scared when I run. No fun! What am I doing that for? Save it for the day I am feeling the great mojo! I don't have to prove anything to anyone, just keep myself healthy.

So I ran with purpose: Stay off the speed and focus on form and enjoyment. And I succeeded! And my time was still good: I averaged 6:50 per mile. Still two seconds under my cut-off time for running a sub-90 minute half marathon. Just reducing the speed from a 6:35/6:40 type of run to what I ran today lets me relax so much. I need to remember that......

Back in the Blog-o-sphere!

Hey Fellow "Project" Alum and Newcomers!

Though I am not in the project, I believe I am going to be a mentor with this winter's group so I want to get back in the saddle and start communicating!

My name is Rob Johansen. I have gone through two rounds of the Project and loved both experiences. I am looking forward to helping this group in any way I can.

I am currently putting myself through a mini-type of project...kind of inspired by Chris. I have put myself on a two week South Beach Diet, phase 1.....the short story: No cereal, no bread, no rice or pasta, no fruit. I am just trying to give myself a bit of a clean-out. Trying to lose a few pounds and curb a bit of an addiction to munching on cereal every time I walk past the pantry.

As I learned in The Project, you'll be amazed how fast calories add up. Those fistfuls of cereal I was having could easily add up to 500 additional calories a day. And since much of it was "mindless eating" I wouldn't figure it into my daily intake. It's been four days without doing that, and I already notice a big difference! Will I go back to having cereal? Frankly, YES! But it's good to curb it and after two weeks gently re-introduce it. Hopefully I won't want it as much!

Anyway, I will be around the blog world and I look forward to reading all your posts. Happy New Year!

xoxo,

Rob

Waiting to arrive in the NOW

Haven't posted anything for six months. But re-reading some old posts, I thought it was time. Even if no one else reads this, it's nice to have records of where I am at different points.

I am really blue. I have good stuff going on, and things keep cropping up in my career that give me more hope for a better future. But I feel no spark personally right now. I rehearsed my one man show today (by myself) and felt GREAT. But still feel no personal spark.

I feel I need to find my passion again. My heart feels like wet cardboard. I feel heavy in my heart and wish I could cry it out. I don't know what to do to shake it.

I think I am feeling old. I know that is lame. And the folks who have been on this blog that are older than me will smack me for saying that, but right now that's kinda the way I feel. No hot sauce in my soul.

I know it will probably be a phase. But I thought I should write about it and hopefully look back and laugh in a few (days? weeks?.....hopefully not months......! and let's not even talk about the "y" word!)

Workouts are good. Took a day off today....first one in too long! I think I am overdoing it at the gym sometimes, so I need to remember to take a knee sometimes......

Okay, more later. When I have my shit together and feel better!

Of course, if anybody reads this, I welcome any shot in the arm you have for me!