FIT Magazine

Happy Thursday all - almost the weekend!

I thought it might be an idea to take a look at FIT magazine that comes free with today's Irish Independent. It isn't available online, so I thought a quick review could be a good idea. I thought this week was only the second, but apparently it is the fourth... Oops!! I am not a fan of the Indo at ALL, so covertly went off to the shops to get a copy (buried deep in the handbag) and who is on the cover of my goal magazine? My good friend Siobhán! I will have to get two - one for the wall :-)



Look who it is with her yoga mat!

 All in, I think this is a fantastic free supplement. It covers all the bases - interviews with elite athletes (runner Paul Hession in this issue), sports tourism information (yoga in Sri Lanka or the Tour do France anyone?), lots of inspiration, sports gear, new activities, what events are coming up and, my favourites - tips on fitness, strength-building and nutrition. And of course - Siobhán's great article on yoga!

A few months ago a friend of mine was considering starting yoga classes on her lunch break. She told me that what convinced her was that everyone she knew who practised it was slim and healthy-looking. Not that this friend isn't, but I can see her point. You don't meet fat yogis, do you? Do YOU? Comments below please!

I did yoga a few years ago when I lived in Korea. Before that I never understood what the big deal was and that the benefits had to be exaggerated as it looked so easy. How wrong can a person be? When I started I realised that I had thought it looked easy because I had always seen proficient yogis practising. I was quite flexible already, but found it challenging and enjoyable. I'm not sure if not being able to understand what was happening at least 50% of the time worked in my favour or against me, though I definitely learned quite a bit regardless. 

One time it definitely worked against me was when the instructor was trying to convince me to do some twisty-thing (I never claimed to know what I was talking about here!) with my arms and I couldn't explain to her that I had previously dislocated my shoulder and couldn't bend it in necessary direction or the required amount. Koreans don't take 'no' for an answer and she proceeded to pull at my shoulders before I shouted, 'Pain!' and she stopped. Ah, the memories!



I probably looked a bit like this!!



The article in FIT Magazine (unlike the picture above!) today really sells yoga, I have to say, especially from a running\ runner's point of view. Siobhán doesn't say where she practises yoga (though, granted, I have access to the inside scoop here!) though I'm too busy to sign up anyway but I am encouraged to take out my yoga book and mat at home and see how I get on - even if it's just once a week. Maybe when I'm less busy I'll look into some of the classes I have briefly investigated below.

A cursory glance through a Google search shows up Yoga Dublin Studios in south Dublin locations and Spirit Yoga in north Dublin as well as Samadhi Yoga and Hush Yoga in the city centre. These are just a few sites I thought looked decent, but I didn't look at great length. 

Please advise - where is best to study yoga? What is your favourite type of yoga to practise? Anybody practise Bikram Yoga? If not, don't look at this site because the photos on the homepage are guaranteed to put you off!!