Nothing happens unless first a dream

I have been thinking long and hard about what to do with my blog. I have summed it up to three things, which are obvious: I am going to write about the world of fitness, film and theatre, and possibly splash a little bit of travel in there as well. I think one day I will narrow this down to a specific themed blog, but for now, especially as I learn how to write, and what I write about best, this is it. 

My current projects are:

1. Finishing my scripts. I will do this! I think that sometimes you just need to write. Even if you think it is bad or doesn’t make sense, write it down. It can always be changed later.

2. Acting - again. I did it for many years, and then kind of stopped through college. But I am ready to get back on the wagon and go now! Where that will take me, we will see.

3. Volunteering/networking and PR - My job! I plan on writing about the trials and tribulations of working in such a great industry. 

4. Fitness - I am now a fitness instructor, so there’s that journey.

5. Travel - I am currently looking to possibly transfer one day to NYC. And if that happens, this blog will probably change into the “Small Girl, Big City” blog. ;)

For now, I hope everyone enjoys my ramblings on all of these topics. I think once I start writing, I can really start to focus on what is important in my life. Follow my passion and listen to my heart, and I think I will make it! (No, I know I will!)

Here we go…

We live in a world that has a lot of stress. Stress at home, at work, at the mall, really wherever you go you may run into some form of stress or another. It sneaks up on you in the sneakiest of ways.

So I set out to find a way to relieve this stress of every day life, and I found the perfect thing, for me. Hot Yoga. 

I have told a lot of my friends and family about this, and why yoga is so great. Now, hot yoga may not be for everyone, but there are other options out there too. Here are just 15 reasons that 30 days of hot yoga worked for me.

• If you have ever been to Calgary, you will appreciate the fact that the heat is just amazing on a cold winter day.
• The heat in the room can reach up to 42 (Celsius), which helps loosen your muscles, making it easier to gain a deeper stretch, and prevents injury.
• Speaking of injury, anyone that has an injury will benefit from yoga. It helps get those torn muscles and ligaments stronger, and repairs a lot of damage.
• You will drink more water, and we all know how great water is for us. (Always drink a lot after class too!)
• For those of you looking to lose a few pounds, this is the perfect way, along with feeling relaxed and refreshed at the end of the day, you can leave knowing you lost quite a few calories!
• Variation! Every time I go into a class it’s different. Depending on the teacher and the values they bring, it always feels new and fun, even if we are doing the same poses as usual. There are also many different classes to choose from, depending on your experience.
• Acceptance. Every time I am in a yoga class it’s a different day. Maybe the stress of the day caught up to me, and I can’t do a perfect dancer pose, or downward dog is just not cutting it for me. That is OK. Once, I heard an instructor say: “if you want to just lay down and have a 75 minute hot yoga nap, that’s ok.” Acceptance of where you are that day is crucial, and learning to be OK with that - well that’s something you can bring into your every day life.
• After every class, it feels like you just went to the spa. Talk about a stress-reliever! You leave everything outside for the 60 - 75 minutes, and you come out feeling like you can conquer it a little better afterward. Trust me, it works!
• It refreshes and rejuvenates your skin. All those toxins being pushed from your body will leave your skin feeling fresh. People who suffer from acne or other skin problems may benefit from hot yoga.
• If you are having a bad day, it’s a great way to calm your emotions and keep you grounded. 
• Exercise, deep breathing, and reflection are all included in a hot yoga class, and all of these things reduce anxiety (and that pesky stress!). 
• Your activities of daily living will improve drastically! Many athletes take hot yoga because it improves their athletic ability. Speaking from personal experience, it creates a stronger you. You develop stronger, more flexable limbs, a stronger core (want a six-pack? this may help!), and you will just feel better every day. That exhaustion you may feel by the end of the day will slowly dissapear, because you will have the strength to get through. Not only that, but you will notice the tone in your body increase. 
• Having trouble sleeping? It will help with that too. Over time you will learn to calm all those thoughts that are running through your head, and turn them off to have a good nights rest. I never thought I would be able to do this, and it took some time, but hot yoga has taught me to just let things go. Rest is so important, and sleep is imperative, and will help ease stress and keep you relaxed!
• Although yes, it is a relaxing class, don’t assume it’s easy. Your heart rate will rise, and you will work hard, and a harder working heart means a stronger heart, which means you are less likely to have cardio-respiratory problems. The stronger your heart is, the more oxygenated blood will be pushed through your system. Something to think about!
• It’s fun! And you can meet other people who share your values and are maybe going through the same things you are!

There you have it. Those are my reasons for taking hot yoga, and why I find it beneficial in the long run. Yoga <3!