Wanna see my yoga room?
Ah yes, that room (I’m sure every home has one!), the one that serves as part “storage” for clothes that need to go to the dry cleaners…
part “office“, containing my non-working desktop computer, empty Anne Taylor Loft Bags and wrapping paper (??)…
part “your guess is as good as mine!” A feather bed and dehumidifier? Really?
Yes, that room has now become part “yoga sanctuary!” It’s where I ooo and ohm to the yoga classes playing on my laptop…and pray that my backyard neighbors can’t see through the blinds as I stretch into my Tedasana pose! 
It’s a little tight, and sometimes I have to bend & twist more than my class requires, just to squeeze into the little space, but, it works for me. I love it!
This morning, I bit the bullet and bought a 45 Minute Power Vinyasa Flow #2 class from YogaDownload.com. $3.99 for a challenging, well guided class that I can do anytime I want? Yes please! And here’s the thing – I think working out in the morning is the bees knees. The later it gets in the day, the more my resolve to work out dwindles – so taking care of it in the morning is absolutely ideal, in my opinion.
But, working out in the morning is also very challenging. I am 100% a morning person mentally, but I feel like my body doesn’t work as well in the early a.m. as it does in the afternoon. It’s like my limbs can’t sync up or something! Yoga at 6am (while definitely not easy – my shoulders and thighs were handed to me on a silver platter this morning!) is definitely not as jarring as a run at 6am, and is a much nicer workout to look forward to. Know what I’m sayin’? At any rate – no buyer’s remorse here. I am now ready to start my day – boo yah!
With Strawberry Banana Oats, no less!
In the mix:
- 1/3 cup old fashioned oatmeal
- 2/3 cup water
- 1 banana
- 1/2 Tablespoon chia seeds
- Vanilla
- Strawberries
- Almond Butter
Creamy, sweet, fresh and filling. Love that straw-ban combo!
What did I do before oatmeal?
Lunch will be just as good – I’ve got Thai Tofu Pizza, Pineapple and a Granola Bar!
Nature’s candy.
Manufactured candy.
But tasty, nonetheless.
And Thai Tofu Pizza! Ok, a lot of you asked so I’ll just tell ya’ – the contest prize was $500! 
This pizza is JUST as good cold, as it is HOT and fresh from the oven.
I would have had two pieces to take for lunch but, cough, I ate the other one last night. 
It was totally worth it!!
Gotta jet – that early morning yoga sesh, coupled with my morning Mom walk, has me running later than normal. Namaste!
~~~~~
Where do you workout? At the gym, home, both? How do you carve a space out for yourself?
Morning workout fans: do you prefer a more low impact, or high impact workout in the a.m.?
I only ever workout in the mornings, so it is usually high impact! I don’t work out at home – I let getting out and doing it!
Wahey, $500! Good going – are you going to go out for a posh meal to celebrate!?
low impact is for the afternoon if I fancy it 
I’m all about the morning workout – either home DVDs or running, and I always go high impact
And now tell us what you will do with that extra $500! Savings? Shopping spree? more giant silverware? I belong to a gym but never go. I need to. its always after work! never a morning person…
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kristin. Kristin said: Low Impact Morning Workout! http://tinyurl.com/37w92ah [...]
I workout at home ,yoga, similiar to you . usually on the living room floor as I live in an apt.
Id love to workout in the morning but i just dont have the tiem unless i get up at 4 am . so its afternoon.
$500! That’s awesome!! Congrats!
I workout each morning in my basement or I run outside. I used to be afraid of basements because of the spiders but I am fortunate to have the space. I just vacuum often and keep my dog down there with me so he can protect me from the creepy crawlies! I think I’ll post some pics of my space this week!
I always try to work out outside if I can (since I run mostly). I try to avoid the gym if I can. I really dislike treadmills and seeing all the machines lined up in a row with people mindlessly staring forward just doesn’t seem like exercise to me! I find exercising outside is not only more enjoyable, but provides a better workout. And I always workout in the morning. I have absolutely no energy in the afternoon, plus I always have a million things to do. I can pop out of bed and head straight out on a run, but I think that I’ve just acclimated to that over time. But early morning runs are the best!
I kind of hate the gym, but it’s necesary in a northern climate! Now that it’s nice out, though, I’ve been walking/jogging/playing tennis outside and doing strength training/Pilates in the basement family room.
I agree about not being quite “with it” in the morning and feel like I have more effective workouts in the evening. Sometimes the morning is the only time to fit it in, though.
I usually workout in the morning and it is my normal cardio and weight lifting, I do try to get in a yoga session every week and that may be in the evening. I go to the gym, for some reason I can not get into working out at home.
Congrats on the win!!! What are you planning on doing with the $500?
Unfortunately I just received a $500 cheque from my tax return which went directly towards my new laptop! (So maybe it’s not to unfortunate! It’s purple!!)
I workout at the gym. It’s the only place where I can get in a fitness frame of mind! At home or outdoors there are waaay too many distractions.
I find low-impact yoga-ish exercise is best in the morning because you don’t need too much energy.
I actually tried my first 45 yoga sesh in the morning on Sunday and honestly, it was ROUGH. I felt like my body just wasn’t prepared and I wasn’t able to get through it with as great of form as I would have liked – so, I’ll stick to the PM work-outs. I like doing yoga after work anyway, it lets me decompress and not bring the stress of work home with me. I tried out a “gentle yoga” routine last night around 8 and it really zoned me out. I was ready for bed after that!
Congrats on the big win!!!
I am at my best when I workout in the AM. I go to the gym for a water aerobics class. Easier impact but major cardio. It is better for my knees. I have been doing this for over five years and now I am an instructor! LOVE IT!! I also have a set of hand weights and a bar at home so I do a Body Pump type of class with Jari Love. The rest of my balance and strength issues will be taken care of by the new Bosu trainer that the fam gave me for my birthday. Yea!
I run every single morning
It is the only way to start the day!
I get up at 430 am, so I can get myself and two kiddos ready, so I skip the morning workouts.
I run 4 days a week, and would love to try Yoga but I am so uncoordinated!
Congrats on your win! Pizza looks delic!
That pizza sounds fantastic!!! And aren’t strawberries and bananas the perfect combination?! Love them.
I would generally do high impact workouts in the morning but with a few days of low impact too.. I always found the mornings my best time for working out. But I also enjoyed doing yoga or pilates at night because they are so relaxing.
I don’t know how you find the time to do so much in the morning! Kudos to you! I have been working out over my lunch hour. I go to a gym and am in the second week of the Couch to 5K program. I haven’t done much exercise in a very long time due to pregnancy and baby. Did you see Larabars are 10 for $10 at Hy-Vee?? I just picked some up! I’m excited to try them. Congrats on your big win!!
i run outside as much as possible but i totally do yoga in my TINY dorm room so i feel you on the small space thing hahah luckily my dorm is a single so it is a littler larger than some of the other ones and i dont feel goofy doing it because i know no one is going to walk in (like a roommate)
ok that pizza looks mouthwatering delicious!!! no wonder you won!!!!
i want to make it sooo bad but don’t have the ingredients – when i go home for summer i will definitely buy them!
i prefer working out at the gym then on my own. i try and do 2 strength classes a week (called total body conditioning) since i have no dedication to abs or weight lifting on my own. i also try and use the treadmill to run 3-5 times a week too and i do a meditation/yoga class once a week
I actually dropped my gym membership this year after I found myself doing 95% of my workouts at home w/ ExTV & being in the best shape of my life. We have an exercise room upstairs w/ a big tv, mats, weights, etc. that I use. Love being able to have such a variety of options from the comforts of home!
Morning workouts + me = don’t happen. Not anymore at least, when I worked in public accounting and had 15 hour work days they would happen at 5am but that was just craziness haha.
I work out at home or outside – and I am so NOT a morning person!
I like your little yoga/storage room! I can’t wait to have a house so I can dedicate a room to all my odds and ends
All of your eats thus far look uh-mazing. I seriously do not know how I lived my life w/o oatmeal either – just finished a bowl of PB & banana : )
congrats on your win! am so going to try your recipe!
I always work out in the morning, before work, which means a wake up call between 5-5:30! I feel as though my day is more productive as far as what I eat and my energy, and just my demeanor when I get it done in the morning. Like you said, if I plan to go after work, my motivation slips- and I find ANY reason to skip! And, I only work out at the gym- I can’t run on my own and although I bought free weights for the house, I’ve yet to use them.
I would love to work out in the morning, but for the past 5 years I’ve had MAJOR issues with my back
I’ve had two corrective surgeries in the past year (I’m currently recovering from my spinal fusion) And mornings are the worst for me right now, I’m so stiff most mornings its hard to get out of bed. Once I feel better though I hope to get back to morning workouts. I used to go swim laps every morning before school and I always felt great all day.
My apartment complex has a 24 hour fitness center and an indoor/outdoor pool so I work out there. Although after hearing so many good things about it I did finally pick up the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred dvd. Between that and my Wii fit and the exercises my physical therapist has me doing I would say my time is split pretty evenly between working out at home and at the gym.
What I LOVE though is that my apartment backs up to a forest preserve nature trail so I have miles of trails with beautiful scenery to walk and bike in.
And as always your breakfast looks so yummy.
Congrats on the big win!!
I workout outside……tie up those running shoes and hit the pavement. We did 18 miles this Sunday and it felt great! I do lift 8 lbs weights in my bedroom–very exciting stuff. Basically to strengthen my upper body but that’s it.
That pizza looks great, congrats!
I love working out in the morning, although what type of workout depends on the day. Usually I do yoga twice a week, and run three times a week!
xo
K
I know EXACTLY what you mean about morning runs – so jarring and I feel like my limbs just haven’t had enough time to wake up. I actually avoid morning runs when I can. Perfect time of day for me is around 11am so weekends are where it’s AT!
Congrats on winning the competition – that pizza looks like it means business!
We work out at work at lunch time and breaks. We have a walk club. I love it because it leaves my mornings to me and my evenings to my family. Love getting it out of the way while I am out of the house.
Congrats on the big win! Wowser! That is a lot of money! The pizza looks like it is a lot of work so you earned it!
So glad youre starting to encorporate yoga into your life! Cant wait to read about your pose as part of Yoga Pose May!
I usually workout at home or outside. My favorite is definitely a run right when I wake up, I feel like it definitely pumps me up for the day!
That breakfast looks DIVINE! Love the strawberries piled next to bananas. The am is a perfect time for me to get in a quick 20 min yoga session. Much harder to get the body moving to run. Also, congrats on winning the recipe contest! I’m not surprised. You always have creative ideas up your sleeve. Tomorrow I’m making your green chicken chili for cinco!
i think i am one of the weird ones that like to workout after work…i have tried in the morning and it is horrible. im a night owl so i think it just works for me. im a runner! no gyms for me…i can’t justify the price!
I work out (running) in the morning! I can’t function after work:)
I work out in my living room… it’s the routine of pulling out the weights and sliding over the coffee table!
And I also have a little “storage room” that includes my old nonworking desktop. Why do I still have that thing?!?! No idea…
I find it more difficult to workout in the morning, my body just doesn’t do what it can do later on at night – doesn’t make any sense, does it??
i work for a gym, but i actually hate working out on the machines there(i know, but its so weird seeing my boss on her way to the sauna!)–i only use their gym equipment when there’s ice on the ground. otherwise, i jog a few miles with my dog everyday when i wake up, rain or shine, and do a zumba class a few times a week…which is totally free for employees. it’s awesome, LOL.
I never liked oatmeal until I started making your concoctions–so thank you
And stupid ? but Vanilla what?? (in your picture perfect morning oatmeal??)
I work out and gym, home, yoga studio, outdoors…I can’t decide
and for the record TOTAL night owl. I’ll go to the gym at 10pm if it’s open! =)
Was doing great with either a 45 minute Jillian Michael’s work out 3 times a week or a 30 minute treadmill session in the mornings with an hour jazzercise Monday thru Thursday night. However, addition of first grandbaby has my schedule a little wacked. Choice: Do workout and miss time slot with baby or do workout….tough one!
[...] though, between a Mom walk and 45 minute yoga sesh, there was just no time for blogging this morning. Though, instead of caffeinated pills, I turned [...]
[...] raging and the cold was still abundant when I got off of work today, so I tackled 45 minutes of Power Vinyasa yoga. I have been “doing” yoga for about a month now – and I swear to you, one month [...]
Kind of disagree with the commenter above me on his opinion, but that’s why it’s called opinions I think