I’m saying hi “in person” today with a video blog. A huge thank you, discussion about BodyPump versus CrossFit, switching from gym to studio yoga, plant versus animal protein based diets, transitioning from college to the real world and more. I appreciate all the questions and topic suggestions. These video posts will keep coming and some of your topic requests will become actual blog posts.
Also, wishing my mom a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Love you so much and wish I was there to eat cake with you!
Thanks so much, I love when you do these! My question for you is: do you have any advice for a college student with a huge interest in fitness but limited options when it comes to healthy eating (as I live in a sorority house). Thanks!!
Great post!
Love your support of Crossfit especially with such a wide variety of fitness in your background, its great to hear some positive feedback. I have been going at it for almost two months and love everything about it. Also, I am graduating in December so all these life changing feelings are bottling up! Exciting/scary/fun/nervous.
Happy Monday!
Love this video especially the comments about transitioning from college….making friends as a “grown-up can be so hard relative to school friendships but it always pays off. I am so happy that BodyPump and yoga brought our paths together.
LOVE this post! Would love to know your general tips for college students, related to healthy living/eating/fitness or just college life in general. Thanks!
I know you said you would share the information you have on becoming a group exercise instructor…but I wanted to add to that. Can you also cover personal training certifications? I would like to get mine, but work full time – well, more than full time! So, I would need a flexible program. My goal is mostly to learn more for myself, but also to start working on my dream of owning my own boutique gym. Thanks Jen!
-Elese
Hi Jenn,
I really enjoy hearing all of your yoga-related thoughts–those on teaching as well as those on your own personal practice, and I love that you are always so full of encouraging words for new and potential yogis. I just wanted to add, though, as someone who has practiced yoga for over 12 years in a wide variety of settings, that some truly *great* yoga and yoga communities can be found with in gyms and local Y’s. While the physical spaces of yoga studios certainly tend to trump gym facilities (in terms of room temp, access to yoga-specific props, lack of distraction, etc.), I would still caution yoga newbies to avoid the assumption that instruction at yoga studios will necessarily be better than what they might find at their local gym.
Personally, I have met some of my most influential *and experienced* teachers at gyms and fitness centers. With the number of Yoga Alliance accredited teacher training programs out there expanding exponentially, many gyms now require their teachers to have a minimum of a 200RYT cert–just like studios. And, in fact, if the studio you’re thinking of attending has its own teacher training program, then you may very well end up in a class taught by a very recent graduate of that program. Basically, this is all to say that I’ve encountered many fabulous and not-so-fabulous teachers over the years at both gyms and studios, and I just want folks to remember that great yoga, life-changing yoga, can be found even in the most “unexpected” places.
All the best,
~Mimi
Thank you so much for the video! Those were all great questions, and I loved hearing your responses 🙂
Great video! Your advice on yoga is very encouraging.
This video is great! I am completely motivated to really give body pump a fair shot.
Happy birthday to your mom!! Love this. I would love more info on your fitness training, as I hope to do that some day! This makes me really wish we had body pump in Victoria.
Just wanted to say that your awesome 🙂
xoxoxo!
I like the video format and thought of a question while reading your most recent post about your trip to Whole Foods. I would love to know your thoughts on ‘Paleo’ eating. How do you feel about the idea that grains are bad for us?
I noticed that you bought gluten-free bread, but also got pasta and wheat tortillas. It looks like you very much have an ‘everything in moderation’ approach to food, but I’m curious why you purchased the gluten-free bread, I guess.
Thanks for the great info about Body Pump. I went to a couple of classes at Childress Klein last year and really enjoyed them. I just got frustrated because when I went at lunchtime they had to charge me for parking…I was not happy. That said, I think I’m going to go back Thursday night or Saturday morning. I work out with a trainer 2x a week and think Body Pump would be a great addition!
i teach the thursday night 6 p.m. come!!!
Love the video! I graduated from my Masters program 3 years ago and I’m *still* transitioning into the ‘real world’ (and self doubt/questioning everything was the biggest issue I had as well!)
i STILL struggle with those things to this day!
How long after introducing animal protein back into your diet did you start to notice a change? I have been a vegetarian for about 5 years and am considering trying to introduce some meat back into my diet to see if it helps with workout recovery and overall energy. Thanks so much!
amy – pretty immediately…i would say within a couple of weeks. it made a pretty significant impact in how i felt when i started focusing more on lean protein, veg, fruit and less on processed soy, beans, carbs, etc. i’m definitely not paleo or anything but have changed the makeup of my meals and feel so much better.
I think I’m going to give it a shot! Thank you!
you have the cutest accent, just thought you should know.
Thanks so much for answering my question! Sorry I’m a little late but just now catching up on the blog world since being out of power from Sandy. I asked my teacher today too and she encouraged me to come, so as long as my schedule permits I think I’m going to give it a try! Thanks again 🙂
yay! i hope you can do it and then tell us all about it! been thinking of you so much.