Yoga and Booty Camp? The Perfect Match!

Hey there Booty Campers!

As we're now officially offering free indoor yoga classes on Friday mornings, Kimae and I thought it was time that I "formally" introduce myself. So hello! My name is Jennifer (Jenn) Abel and I teach an all-levels yoga class in conjunction with Kimae's four days of hardcore outdoor play.

I am, first and foremost, a SWL Boot Camp participant. In May 2008, having just moved to Seattle from south India, I needed to jump-start my fitness level. I'd been living abroad for over a year, and let's just say that I might have enjoyed a bit too much rice and curry while away. I joined the 5:50am session (unable to believe I'd ever be able to get up that early!) and was amazed at how quickly I improved my physical fitness and overall health. But there were other benefits - I soon found a new strength in my seven-year-long yoga practice. I was a better "yogi" thanks to all that I was cultivating in boot camp. And my yoga practice was helping me to stretch out all of the muscle groups that Kimae's workouts target (hamstrings, hip flexors, shoulders, abs, quads, etc.) I've been teaching yoga since 2005, and together with my experiences at Booty Camp, I am able to truly realize both mind and body wellness!

So it wasn't too long before Kimae and I began to brainstorm about the idea of free yoga classes. We found a studio space in Wallingford where women can safely learn and practice yoga together. I craft the Friday classes around the work we do in camp (you'll see me there, sweating alongside of you, several days a week). If Kimae emphasizes core power in Week 1, you can bet we'll explore and compliment this power in our yoga class. Once we've built up serious stamina in Week 4, we'll challenge our bodies with a more vigorous yoga practice that builds on the previous sessions.

I'm incredibly excited to share yoga with my fellow Booty Campers. I think yoga is one of the most accessible ways to cultivate strength, flexibility and balance (all you need is your own body - although we'll play with props in class from time to time). I also try to remind people that, like Booty Camp, yoga can be playful - we're doing poses called "Downward Facing Dog" and "Cow Face" and "Camel" - how serious can it be? In fact, if you'd like to see one artist's rendition of yoga's sillier, imaginative side, check out Metamorphosis: An Artist Envisions the Asanas of Yoga. I wrote this book with Emanuele Scanziani, who creatively depicts some of the more popular yoga poses. We've included his vision of plank pose below, a move we do often in camp!
In any event, I can't wait to see you in the play, both out on Trail and down on our mats!

Jenn

It May Be Cool and Rainy Out, But This Hour Long Workout Will Heat you Up Fast!

This is a map of the hills of lovely Phinney Ridge between Greenwood Avenue North and Fremont Avenue North. I first used this route back in the 90's when I lived on the Ridge. It was summer time and all the English style gardens were in bloom, Beautiful! Make this route a habit the next few months and you'll be rewarded not just with a strong backside and killer abs, but with a sigh worthy workout view of lush greenery come Spring.

If you haven't checked out the hills of Phinney, they are STEEP and make for a super lower body targeted, neighborhood workout. My favorite way to work these hills is to climb up, then down, then travel the length of each block along Fremont Avenue North. On the map above, you'll notice the inked-in path crosses each street at the top of the hill, and follows the length of each block at the bottom. Below is how it's done, complete with tips for beginning exerciser's:

1) START at the bottom of the hills on the corner of 71st Street North and Fremont Avenue North, on the SOUTH SIDE of the street, and head up to Greenwood Avenue. Pull your navel into your spine as you climb. Empower your core! Be mindful of pace and breath.

2) At the top of Greenwood Ave, walk across the street to the NORTH side of 71st and head back down the hill, using your core for control while you power up the quads on the descent. Your body may give you the signal to slow down as you descend. Listen to this! These hills are steep; controlling your speed by using your core power will protect your knee's, especially for those new to exercise.

3) Now at the bottom of 71st, turn left down Fremont Ave (heading NORTH) and SPRINT THE LENGTH OF THE BLOCK (Alternately, for beginning exercisers or those new to running, you can walk this portion or alternate a walk with a light jog. Let your quadriceps muscles be your guide as you progress during the hour. This is a great workout for beginning exercisers, as the climb can be adjusted to advancing fitness levels).

4) At the corner of 72nd and Fremont, remain on the SOUTH side of the street and again, CLIMB up hill to Greenwood Ave where you will cross the street to the North side, again heading DOWN hill. Continue traversing the ridge in this way, climbing and descending the hill to SPRINT (walk or jog) the length of the block along Fremont Ave.

End at the corner of 79Th and Fremont. Use the return distance back to 71st as a cool down, or power it up with an 8 block run!

ALTERNATE: Wanna go HARDCORE?? (recommended only for advanced exerciser's)
Run the up hill climb! Even at a snails pace, this will jack up your cardio and strength power. Be sure to ease down these steep hills, mindful of foot falls and strength sapping quad tension. Continue to Sprint the block along Fremont Avenue North.

A similar workout path can be made along any of the traversing hillsides found in Seattle. Another favorite, for those off Madison in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, runs the distance of 27th, heading NORTH away from the Madison shopping district.