WORKing out.

This whole work thing is getting in the way of my working out.

I find myself more eager for my workouts these days, as work related stress increases.   I'm not wishing time away, per se, but definitely anxious to get on with my "me-time".  This week we had major testing.  I was basically stuck in a closet for 3+ hours each day for the past three days - a windowless closet.  Stuck.  It was very stressful for me, I can't imagine what it was like for the students.  Today, my third day in a row, in a windowless room - for 5+ hours this time, I was practically jumping out of my skin to get outside and run.  By the time the last student finished, I had my running bag over my shoulder, walking as fast down the hallways as possible to go change, and run.  I got it in, just before carpool started.  Thank goodness.

And, I don't even work full-time.  How sad is that?  I know, get your violins out.

Honestly, life is stressful enough.  As I've mentioned before, my workouts, my "me-time", are a chance to decompress, and calm down.  I always feel better after a workout.  Always.

Recently, I've been trying Pilates.  I have 3 introductory sessions, and I am going with a friend from work.  It is on the reformer machines, which I think is totally different from the Mat Classes - which I have done at the gym. 

I think of myself as in shape and relatively fit, but these reformer classes must stretch me in new ways, or different muscle groups, because I am blissfully sore afterwards. 

I've always believed movement helps with so many things - stress, positive attitude, energy, and learning.

A fun new way I integrate work with working out?  New math problems for the kids!
"If Miss X works out from 5:30-6:30 in the morning, and then goes for a run in the afternoon from 12:00-1:20pm. . .How many hours does Miss X workout a day?"

"If Miss X starts running at 1:15 and she runs for 2 hours and ten minutes, what time is she done running?"

I also incorporate a lot of movement/activities.  My groups of students at work have been playing basketball with math facts, and we also do a running exercise with our multiplication tables. 

Win-win. . .as long as I am not stuck in a windowless closet.