My first day of the 31-Day Yoga Challenge was just so-so. It wasn’t awful, but I didn’t feel focused and refreshed after my yoga session like I had hoped.
For today’s practice, I did yogadownload.com’s 20-minute Yoga for Runners audio class. The class itself was excellent. (My practice, on the other hand, was less that stellar!) Yoga for Runners was designed with the runner in mind, and it is intended to be used after any athletic activity to stretch and lengthen your muscles. I ran 4.5 miles on the treadmill this morning, so I thought it would be the perfect complimentary workout.
As a beginner, the Yoga for Runners class was difficult for me. (It’s technically an intermediate level class.) The hamstring and hip stretching as well as the core and strength work were great, and I liked those parts a lot. But, a number of times during the audio class, I found myself losing my balance and slow, rhythmic breathing– I actually found myself out-of-breath at times! I also didn’t have much focus as my mind wander onto what to eat for lunch once my stomach started growling! Meh.
I definitely have a long way to go with this yoga stuff! I’ve gotta start somewhere though, right? My yoga practice can only get better from this point on as long as I keep it up! 
Feel free to leave your Day #1 Yoga Challenge experiences in the comments section of this post. I can’t wait to hear what everyone has to say!! I’ll compile your comments sometime this evening and add them to the 31-Day Yoga Challenge page.
To start off your 31-Days of Yoga on the right foot, YogaDownload.com is giving all CNC readers 50% off all downloads for the month of March! The coupon code to enter at checkout is CarrotsNCake! 
Lunch
Spaghetti squash. Oh, how I have missed you!
I’ve been meaning to cook-up a batch of spaghetti squash for weeks now, so I was psyched when it finally went on sale at Stop & Shop last week.
I topped my spaghetti squash with garlic-sauteed mushrooms, marinara sauce, and some Parmesan cheese.
I was mmm-ing non-stop while eating my spaghetti squash lunch this afternoon. I forgot how much I love this stuff!
I didn’t add any Olivio to the mix, but the spaghetti squash sort of tasted buttery to me. So delish!
How to Cook Spaghetti Sqaush
1. Preheat oven to 350*F.
2. Cut the squash in half lengthwise.
3. Using a spoon, scrape out the seeds in each half.
4. Bake the halves face-down on a lightly oiled tray for about 30-35 minutes, or until the skin-side of the squash can be pierced with a fork.
5. Allow the baked squash to cool for about 20-25 minutes, then use a fork to scrape-out (length-wise) the “spaghetti” strands from the skin.
FYI: A small, whole spaghetti squash will yield a TON of cooked squash! Spaghetti squash stores well in a Tupperware container in the fridge and tastes great reheated in the microwave.
P.S. I think there is more yoga on the agenda for tonight, too!
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Don’t give up on yoga yet!!!
Mmm, looove that squash dish you created!!
Oh, I’m so jealous I can’t take part in the yoga challenge. I’ve read on other blogs about it, but this month is just CRAZY, as March always seems to be! Yoga would probably help, but if you hold another yoga challenge in the future, I will def. be interested.
While you’re still in the early stages of doing yoga, I highly suggest that you take a class. Learn how to do some of the very basic things (which is all yoga is about, really, all the fancy stuff is cool but if you can’t do downward dog properly.. yeah) with the help of a teacher. It’ll definitely help you get the ‘refreshed’ feeling you’re not getting. I’m sure there are some yoga studios in Cambridge or Boston that have a ‘pay-what-you-can’ class if you don’t want to shell out the whole $12 or so bucks.
Good luck!
I love spaghetti squash, but had a hard time cutting it in half. I asked a worker in the produce dept at Stop & Shop, and he was happy to cut it for me, no extra charge. Just a tip for anyone like me who isn’t a fan of using big knives.
I love spaghetti squash and make it all the time. I am hesitant about yoga for the same reasons that you have. I swear I have ADD and have a hard time focusing on something that long…
I’ve never had spaghetti squash so thanks for the lesson on how to make it, maybe I’ll pick one up today while I’m shopping.
Thanks for the great tutorial on how to cook spaghetti squash. My mom made it for me a lot growing up, but I haven’t tried it on my own. I think I will, though, after seeing your version!
wow, i’ll definitely take advantage of the 50% off.. i’ve only done the free 20 min. classes before! haha
I just finished the 45 minute version of the same class – Yoga for Runners. (I used kath’s code from last month which still worked!) I actually did the 20 minute version a few weeks ago and had the same reaction you did – too fast, too hard, losing your breathing etc. It was still hard today, don’t get me wrong but it was much better. I have been doing both of the Gentl Hatha yoga’s quite a bit and the 20 minute power yoga and found both of those very generally helpful in improving my abilities. Plus I don’t think the Runners yoga is the most refreshing…. I had a good little sweat going.
I did Core Yoga #1 and Detox Challenge flow from Yogadownload.com right after I woke up. Then just now after breakfast, I challenged myself to SadieNardini’s Detox Yoga. I feel great!
i tried the yoga for runners, too, and it was just too fast-paced for me! i couldn’t keep up, so i’ve been sticking with the gentle hatha #1!
yum, spaghetti squash! wish i had one right now …
I did yoga for runners today, as well! I did it following doing Jilliam Michaels 30 day shred and the two combined left me feeling the burn. I am going to be sore tomorrow!
I absolutely LOVE spaghetti squash!! Have you ever tried it with salsa and shredded cheddar?? YUM!
I too think it is a good idea to start at a class. I have signed up for a class and I have been doing it for awhile. It will help. I try and do some at home. Breathing properly is really important. The spaghetti squash looks heavenly.
I found the audio/slide style of the yogadownload website not as visually appealing for me so I went out and bought a 60 minute yoga “body conditioning and toning” DVD. This is the first time I’ve done yoga in a LONG time (I often stretch and meditate, but nothing as structured as a yoga exercise) and it felt really good! The video is set up into sections, so I only did section 1 which was 20 minutes long. It was pretty tough and I noticed that I’ve lost a lot of my flexibility. During the downward dog it was tough to keep my heels to floor. I plan to keep working this video over the next 31 days and can’t wait to see the kind of progress I make.
I wasn’t planning on doing the yoga challenge but woke up today feeling so tense that I decided to try a 20 minute yoga core download I got a few weeks ago. It kicked my butt and I’m definitely feeling it in my arms.
I’m definitely going to be using that code this month though!
I got my day of Yoga in early as well
I did 20 minutes of Sun Salutations from yogadownload. I have done this class before, but have really been slacking off in the fitness department the last few weeks-so i was a bit shaky, but felt wonderful after i finished it. What a great way to start the day for both body and mind 
thanks for the how -to. cant wait to try this!
keep it up we are here to support ya!!
I just added spaghetti squash to my grocery list!
I’m excited about the yoga challenge! I just did “Yoga Scult” on On Demand. I liked the instructor and it was a pretty good class – not the best I’ve ever taken before, but good. I liked that it wasn’t too new-agey – I tried TiVoing some episodes the other day and the cheesy music and nature backgrounds soft way of speaking drove me crazy, heh. I don’t hate nature, but ya know.
But this was a lot more my style. I didn’t want to go downstairs to get my yoga mat from my car (ha, how lazy can I be?) so I started on a towel and was slip-sliding all over the place! I’m glad no one could see me! I finally just switched to doing it on our hardwood floor. There were LOTS of sun salutations (I think that’s what they are called) which I like but I might have liked a little more variety. I’m looking forward to being able to get lower in my chatarunga! I did like the dancing warrior series toward the end. The whole class was about 30 min and I did work up a bit of a sweat! I would do it again for sure. I definitely got a little spoiled, because as I posted earlier this week I had the awesome opportunity to take a few AntiGravity yoga classes, which involves silk hammocks – using them for resistance, hanging from them, etc. It was amaaazing. Here’s an article about it: http://www.fitsugar.com/2478634 Unfortunately I don’t usually go to that gym (my roommate does), but I’m going to see if there is a way I can get back in this month, because I really, really enjoyed it.
Some goals I have for this month: improve chatarunga position and do a headstand! And to improve my patience during longer classes so I’m not getting bored and thinking about the fact that I could use a new pedicure!
I did a 90 min vinyasa class in my yoga studio. It was a easy relaxing class, but i did enjoy a lot!
my yoga was great, besides that I was sooooo inflexible! My muscles are sore from my long run, yesterday. I could barely touch my toes, and the knee to nose was a killer! Cant wait intil tomorrow:)
This afternoon I did the 30 Minute Yoga for Runners Class after my 5 mile run. I was a little sore, so some of the poses were hard to get into, but overall my body felt nicely stretched afterward.
hey tina ~ i’m a little delayed but i’m going to do your 31 day challenge starting today as well
I will definately be taking part in the yoga challenge! it couldn’t have been at a better time. i just decided to start doing yoga again because i’ve been SO stressed out lately and i thought it would help me. I already exercise daily, cardio and strength, but i don’t stretch enough.
Today i did Core Yoga #1 from yogadownload.com. It was good, not great. I had a little trouble with some of the moves but i think it was effective. I feel realy great now!
I totally had a similar experience as you today. I did yoga before breakfast this morning (for the first time) and kept catching myself thinking about food. I also lost my balance a lot. I did the linked breathing session on YogaToday.com, but I am really interested in trying Yoga Download. I think I prefer doing yoga in a class, so we’ll see how I do this month when I have to settle for doing it on my own!
THANK YOU for sharing how to cook spaghetti squash. i remember my mom bought it once, but we never used it because we didn’t know how to cook it. and then it went bad
but now, if i ever buy spaghetti squash again, i’ll head on over to your blog and re-read your instructions! yaay! thank you
Give Rodney Yee a try for yoga.
I love spaghetti squash! I cook mine in the microwave! Same prep, but place squash in a microwave proof glass dish and put in enough water to cover the bottom of the dish. Place plastic wrap over the entire dish and cook for 10 minutes on high power (less or more depending on micro)!
Thank you also for the yoga info and website. I downloaded one of the workouts and it was awesome! Such a great stretch after working out (and a great de-stresser)! Good luck with your yoga challenge!
awesome lunch – and that’s great about the discount!
i did the yoga for runners today too, but felt lost a few times. i guess i need to get the pose guide for this one.
I did the Advanced Yoga Vinyassa Flow #4 20 minute version after a 7 mile run. I was glad that I’d decided to do the yoga challenge because I definitely would have just crashed and not stretched after running. I’ve had very sore calves lately so I did downward dogs when child’s pose was called for.
Today, I did 20 minutes of Sarah Ivanhoe’s Power Beauty Sweat as soon as I got up. It set a great tone to the day and I felt so much more awake and energized afterwards.
I’m so nervous to try yoga download. I feel like I would be so lost without watching someone do the poses. I’m one of those people who has to hold up her hands to figure out left and right everyday haha!
From what I posted on my blog:
For my first day of the Yoga 31 Day Challenge I did Yoga for Runners from “Yoga is Yummy.” Polly originally did a 10 minute video but I have done this so many times that I know the poses well enough to extend it for a good 20 minute session. It felt great to stretch, especially after my run today. I know I need to focus on taking more time out of my day. Twenty minutes is really not that long, and sometimes I find myself wondering how much time has gone by. I really need to just focus, and devote that time to me, because lets face it – the day is busy enough as it is to constantly be looking at the clock.
One thing that I find really fascinating about yoga is that, after practicing it regularly for a few weeks, my body starts to sort of gravitate toward certain poses, almost as though it is naturally going through the poses my body needs during that particular session on that particular day.
It can also become easy to forget just how soothing and healing yoga can be and how its principles can be applied to stresses & difficulties in all the areas of my life.
I actually did the same yoga practice today. very excited about the discount as I was thinking I might enjoy a slightly longer session. it’s really a great company and they offer so many classes!
Really recommend trying some classes.I would try some diff studios for fun,and usually first class or two is offered very cheap.Do try the hot yoga too….you will feel amazing after!!!!
i continue to enjoy the basic gentle hatha yoga both 1 and 2, i like jackie, the gal who teaches the class. i have been doing this for a few months and find it getting easier SO i am very excited about the discount to your readers. I think I want to get a few 30 minute classes as well as the podcast that i subscribe too. I especially like how some of the classes have a video that comes along with it.
I did yoga for runners but found it too difficult for me. I really just wanted to be able to do the whole class, not struggle with trying to get into the positions that i wasn’t familiar with.
Tina, thank you so much for posting this! I have never bought a spaghetti squash because I didn’t know what to do with it. I’ll pick one up now!
I forgot to post about yoga! :–) I did 30 min this morning from yogadownload’s “Hot Yoga.” It’s a 60 or 90 min class (can’t remember :/) but I only had time for 30 min. It was challenging to hold the poses for 30 sec to 1 min but I felt great afterwards.
Thank you so much for the how-to! I’ve been wanting to make this for FOREVER but never knew how. It looks amazing! And I added you to my blog roll – hope that’s okay.
So far today I did Tom Morley’s “Buns and Thighs Yoga”, a 20-minute video from Exercise TV. I’m probably going to do a gentle hatha yoga (20 minutes) from yogadownload later this afternoon. I would hightly recommend the gentle hatha yoga as well as the sun salutations flow #1 for beginners – i wouldn’t start out on the intermediate because it can be frustrating!
I did slightly over an hour of Rodney Yee’s Power Yoga. I used to do a lot of pilates and recently got into yoga. This workout is a challenge for me but I really love it! It gets me sweating and I can really feel my heart rate going up.
This week I’m heading to Vancouver (home of Lululemon) for work so I’ll be sure to pick-up more Yoga DVDs!
I started my morning with yoga today! I found some short videos free on demand on my TV and chose AM Yoga for Your Day (or something like that). I had a hard time with it too… I’m with you on having a long way to go! But that’s what the challenge is for! Can’t wait to keep it up and see if I notice any changes.
I like that download too, but it is challenging! I started my day with 20 minutes of Morning Flow! Love this challenge!
I did one of Sara Ivanhoe’s 20 minute yoga session, I believe it is called Power Beauty Sweat. I really like Sara, but I did not find this particular session very “sweat” making. I have been doing her Fat Burning yoga from Crunch, maybe I have just built up stamina? I am going to be looking into using that yogadownload coupon, thanks!
I did Yoga Downloads’ 20 min Hip Opening Flow. I think you would enjoy this, Tina, since you have tight hips like I do! It is a nice and gentle series that starts with one or two sun salutations, then goes straight into some hip stretches. They are killer if you’re feeling tight, but I really enjoy feeling my hips release and relax with each breath. I did this right after a hard bootcamp class so it was nice to go from the tough cardio/strength session into a gentle yoga class.
I’m joining the 31 day yoga challenge with everyone else! This is also my first post on Carrots N’ Cake although I read it every day. I did a Namaste Yoga from FitTv is was about 20-25 minutes. I did the Shoulder Strength and Flexibility episode. It was only my 2nd time doing yoga and I liked doing it in my house as opposed to the class I took. I found this to be a good program for a beginner while I have a lot of work to do (I am NOT flexible at all!) I did find it to be very relaxing. I did my 20 minutes while my ground turkey & artichoke stuffed shells were cooking in the oven (giada recipe!) It was a relaxing way to unwind after all my afternoon cooking to get ready for the week! Thanks for putting this challenge together Tina I’m really looking forward to seeing how far I come in 31 days.
I’m so glad you are doing this challenge! I also did a 20 minute download from that website (thanks for the link)… only mine was beginner and it was still hard for me. I am overweight and in horrible shape, but once I just went with it, I started to relax into the poses and felt much calmer and better after the workout. I can’t wait to see how I improve over the month!
thanks for the coupon, I really really need to try that site.
Thanks for organizing and inspiring us, Tina!
I did the 25 minute Power Yoga #3 from Yoga Download. I’ve done it a number of times and enjoy it thoroughly but I think it’s a little too brief for me…good thing I can download for 1/2 off this month so I can try out some longer practices!!
I did a video from Crunch called Super Slim Down. Technically it is yoga and pilates but I hope that counts! I love this workout. My short review is on my website http://www.startinginthebasement.com/?p=336
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