“Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't.” – Legally Blonde

 A CreComm grad once said it very important in this program to have a hobby. Everyone needs an activity. It helps us to forget daily craziness for a moment and to maintain an internal balance.  I decided to take up some hot yoga classes for the winter.

I’m not new to hot yoga so I knew what I was in for: sweat, sweat, and more sweet in between exhausting poses. What got me through my first class back was my instructor joking around, smiling, and knowing that I’ll feel fantastic afterwards.

My tips for hot yoga:

• Drink a lot of water beforehand to stay hydrated during class
• Know your limits, it’s okay not to be pro
• Try every pose – challenge yourself – have no regrets
•  Bring your shower gear because you’ll want to rise off after
• Don’t plan anything following class – my face is always flush red and I’m exhausted

During the 90minute stretch class all I did was focus on my body.  I forgot about deadlines, projects and work schedules. I did every stretch properly and yes, the next day my body ached - but in a good way. Each week it will become easier.

Before CreComm, producing radio was my hobby. Monday mornings I would be at school at 7am to be on-air for 8am. Now radio is a class and I get graded.  Seems almost cliché to do yoga but people have been doing it for a long time; it’s been around since 300BC. Yoga doesn’t feel like exercise (no running! no weights!) and as a result it has quickly become my favourite kind of exercise. My stiff achey muscles become loose and flexible after a warmed up stretch. 

Yoga makes me happy, but perhaps another activity will work for you. Perhaps it’s movies, sports, knitting, cars, computers, dancing, or traveling - woot. Make time for the good stuff to make the hard stuff worth it. Do what you love. 

Pay it forward!

My blog post is inspired by my research for my personality profile. I did my profile on Father Bohdan Lukie, a priest at St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church.

The sermon I listened to last Sunday was about random acts of kindness. It’s time to take note from the stranger who paid for your coffee or the lady that held the door open for you. Small acts of kindness make your day a little better, so why not pass it on?

On the weekend I walked into the bay and bought a present for a friend, just because! No occasion necessary. Something I saw, and I couldn’t wait for Christmas. He loved it and I felt good for making his day better. I went on to buy two booster juices, one for me and one for a friend. Happiness all around.

Try it for yourself. By making someone else’s glass half full you can feel a little better too. Be nice and pay it forward.