Local Lululemon Community Sweat Challenge

It's Lululemon's 20th birthday.  The local Lululemon decided to put together a "sweat challenge."  They gave out "passports" to individual participants along with cards from 20 local gyms/clubs for a free class.  The business "stamps" the passport when the participant takes a class.  The challenge started at the end of August and last until September 23rd.  My regular exercise routine consists of Pilates at IM=X (once or twice a week, paid), yoga classes on Sunday mornings at said local Lululemon (free) and sometime Sunday afternoon at Fleet Feet (in store yoga for runners, $5 donation), treadmill (45 mins walk or walk/run mix), and walking my small dog (more of a stroll).  Initially I was reluctant to participate but decided to shake up my routine and try some new classes.  It has been fun.  I have enjoyed all of them, some more than others (they fit me better). 

Here's a summary of the classes I attended (date, business name (instructor name if remembered/known), class type (time) along with my other non-challenge workout activities.  I only numbered the activities that earned a passport stamp.

1. Friday, 8/24/18.  The Floating Lotus -- Happy Hour Yoga (5: 30 pm class).  Enjoyed. 
2. Saturday, 8/25/18.  IM=X (Emily)-- Pilates Reformer (8 am) -- this is part of my normal routine.
3. Saturday, 8/25/18.   Little Rock Athletic Club (Heather)-- Hot Yoga (4 pm).  Enjoyed.
Sunday, 8/26/18.  Walk with Lizzie (my dog) at Two Rivers Park  (~7-8 am) -- this is Lizzie's big walk of the week, the rest are short walks once or twice daily.
4. Sunday, 8/26/18.  Orange Theory (Quen) -- OT60 (9 am).  Enjoyed.
5. Sunday, 8/26/18.  Lululemon (Catherine from Big Rock Yoga) -- yoga (11 am). Enjoyed.

Monday, 8/27/18 --  treadmill at home
 6. Tuesday, 8/28/18.  Omnis Crossfit -- crossfit (4:30 pm).  Enjoyed, made me feel out of shape.
7.  Wednesday, 8/29/18.  Clique Cycle (Annie) -- yoga rather than spin class (6:30 pm)
8.  Thursday, 8/30/18.  Clubhaus Fitness (David) -- hot pilates (5 pm). Great class, great instructor.
9.  Friday, 8/31/18.  Zen Studio (Kelly) -- Barre Bounce (noon, took off work early for Labor Day weekend)
10. Friday, 8/31/18.  Arkansas Yoga Collective (Wesley) -- all levels Yoga (5 pm).  Enjoyed.
11.  Saturday, 9/01/18.  Barefoot Yoga (David) -- Hot Yoga (10 am).  Love this class.
Sunday, 9/02/18.  Walk with Lizzie (my dog) at Two Rivers Park  (~7-8 am).
12.  Sunday, 9/02/18.  Big Rock Yoga (Sandra) -- all levels Yoga (10:30 am).  Enjoyed.

Monday, 9/03/18.  Cammack Village 5K (hills, heat, humidity) -- finished in 36:37.02, won 3rd place in female Senior division
Tuesday, 9/04/18.  IM/X (Emily) -- pilates/Abs (4:30 pm)
13. Wednesday, 9/05/18.  Straightright Boxing (Anthony) -- adult fitness class (6:30 pm).  Love!
14. Thursday, 9/06/18.  D1 Fitness -- Adult Training (5:30 pm) -- Great workout even if it reminded me of line drills from my old basketball days in Jr/Sr high
15. Friday, 9/07/18.  Blue Yoga Nyla -- Happy Hour Yoga (5 pm).  Enjoyed.
16. Saturday, 9/08/18.  Full Out Barre   -- Barre w/ cardio (9 am).  Great workout, tough.
Sunday, 9/09/18.  Walk with Lizzie at Two Rivers Park  (~7-8 am)
Sunday, 9/09/18.  Lululemon (Kelly from Zen) -- all levels yoga (11 am)
Sunday, 9/09/18.  Fleet Feet  -- in store yoga for runners (4:30 pm, $5 class) -- great stretching

Monday, 9/10/18.  Treadmill at home
17. Tuesday, 9/11/18.  Pure Barre  -- Pure Empower (5 pm) -- Great workout, tough.

I learned that I need to put more cardio into my routine.  Either I need to run more on my treadmill or add in something like Orange Theory, Straightright, crossfit, or cardio barre.  I would be willing to do that especially if I could get my husband to do those with me (he won't go to pilates or yoga with me, I've tried; doubt he'd do barre with me either).  I think he might like those workouts.  Will work on him. 

I found it harder to eat health with so many out of my house workouts during the week.  I have not mastered the cooking healthy meals ahead of time on the weekend for the upcoming week.  My husband was working out of town during this time period.  He isn't much of a cook but might have helped with meals if he had been home however I'm not sure he would have liked me not sitting down for meals with him. 

I had to give up some of my quilting/sewing time to do the challenge.  Not an issue in the short run but I know my "soul" needs the sewing time like I need sunshine.  I will somehow have to find some balance between exercise, sewing/quilting, and home cooked meals (rather than salads, soup, sandwiches).  Life is journey and this challenge has been a nice adventure.

My thanks to Lululemon for putting this together and to all the businesses that participated.  There were some I was not able to try -- R.E.P.S., Unleased (Roland), McClure Fitness (Benton), and Crossfit Maumelle.  Either hours didn't fit my schedule or distance (drive time to/from was greater than workout time).   You know what would be lovely -- a city/county pass that would allow you to buy 10-20 passes to be used in say a 2-3 month period but could be used at several places rather than just one. 

Meet my rescue dog Lizzie.  This is where she insist on sitting when I sew.

This one was taken out at Two Rivers Park.  She allowed me to place her on the tree branch and then stayed put while I took the photo.