Friday, September 11, 2015

Oh Ya, Feel That Burger...I Mean Burn.

There is something delicious about being deep down sore. Not nearly as delicious as a blue cheese bacon burger or a sopapilla or deep dish Chicago style pizza, but considering I can't say no to incredible food...I have to also enjoy being incredibly sore from a brutal workout.

As my avid readers know, I have recently joined the gym. As a new member of the gym, I have decided it is my duty to try the buffet of exercise classes offered. Being that I am wickedly out of shape, I thought it best to start with a Yoga class.

There is a reason why "Yoga" conjures certain images in your mind. Yes, Yoga is obviously good for you, I don't think people (read that as me) stretch enough and having taken a number of Yoga classes before, I also know that it requires strength in muscles we don't work regularly. BUT, when you walk into a room that has a stench so thick you can almost see it hanging in the air, like a fog, you start thinking about all the jokes you've read on Facebook about Yoga.

I came into the Yoga class late. I know, how rude right? Well like true karma, it was to bite me in the ass. As I raced in and tried to quickly find a spot in the packed room, the 'fog' smacked me in the face. Suddenly surrounded by people in strange combinations of clothing they had either been wearing for decades or found in the free box, I realized I had changed my mind. Tough luck baby! After a late and obnoxious entrance, I had no choice but to breath (not so deeply) and surrender to the fact that I was in over my head.

When did people stop explaining moves in exercise classes? Sure I've done Yoga a few times, but that doesn't mean I have the slightest clue what is happening when the instructor calls out words in Sanskrit. My baffled expressions and "modern" running attire must have given me away as an impostor because my neighbor (who was way too close for comfort might I add) started giving me a very rude stare down. Whatever guy, don't get your skirt all in a bunch, after all aren't you suppose to be kind as a Yogi?

Needless to say, my attempt to become Gumby didn't leave me feeling worked out so I stayed for the next class, BodyPump. In my mind I started to imagine myself spending all day every day floating from one class to the next, unleashing the Goddess body I have hiding under burgers, pizza and sopapillas. Then I got a wake-up call of reality.

No BodyPump is not like the fight-for-your-life CrossFit, but it is not to be taken lightly either! For one, it is dog eat dog vying for a ticket just to get in the room, or in my case stay in the room. A little luck and a Golden Ticket in my hand, I was ready to collect my mountain of equipment and feel the burn!

Oh ya, that class definitely makes you feel the burn. Designed to "shock" the muscle, BodyPump shocked the Holy Hell out of me! I was in such "shock" after that, that I needed to comfort myself with a blue cheese bacon burger. I know, it was horrible, thank you for feeling my pain.

Over the last couple days, I have been deeply sore. The kind of sore that wakes up in the night when you try to innocently roll over only to have your thighs scream in pain. But it is that delicious kind of sore, the kind where you feel like you are making changes, real changes. I just might order that burger with gouda, mushrooms and bacon next time.

(this blog is brought to you today by the Vivac wines Dolcetto, Merlot & Syrah which are always amazing with a great burger)

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.VivacWinery.com