For the past two months I've kept up a 6 day/week workout schedule. But I can't remember the last time I did a truly challenging sprint workout or lifted weights 'til I had that "good hurt" muscle soreness the next day... (I could blame the rut on working two jobs, but really that's a cop-out. I dug myself into this rut. I'll have to dig myself out.)
To start, I picked a November half marathon and updated my training schedule accordingly. (Nothing gets me motivated for weekend long runs like an impending race deadline!)
But that's still pretty normal for me.
So I decided to do yoga. Every single day. For three weeks straight.
My criteria were simple -- the change needed to be something dramatic but low-cost (read: no $$$ investment in a brand new kayak or pricey gym membership). Bonus points if I could work the change into an already crammed schedule (read: at-home workouts get double-extra bonus points).
And just as I was looking for a way to shake up my routine, I heard about the 21-day yoga challenge.
Funny how things work out sometimes.
I had been going to a once-a-week yoga class until June. My shoulders were getting a level of muscle definition that usually only occurs south of my hips. Then my teacher moved away, and I fell completely off that wagon.
What better way to get out of a rut than to hop on the next wagon?
I am already sore in muscles I forgot I had, but it's a pleasant ache that reminds me I'm making my body stronger.
What's the craziest (or most effective) thing you've ever done to bust out of a rut or shake up your workout routine?
Have you ever done a "challenge," yoga or otherwise?
Photo (of rut) courtesy of The U.S. National Archives, plus some editing magic by yours truly. Photo (of shoulder stand) courtesy of yours truly.
