Fitness is Curative

This afternoon I had a horrible headache. I really started feeling it right before I left work for the day. When I got home, all I wanted to do was lay down and pass out. I tend to over think things and it can really be mentally exhausting. My eyes seriously felt like they were going to pop right out of my head!

I figured I would turn in super early and try to sleep off the pounding headache. Sometimes it’s torture for me to insist on dealing with aches naturally. I put on my headphones and started with some slow music by Tank. While I laid there I realized that a good sweat may be better for the ache. With a flick of the switch~ Fire Hive by Krewella got me up and out the door.

I was so right. A good workout took my headache away. I actually cranked out an awesome outdoor workout using: the wall (stiff legged deadlifts); a scaffold (pushups and pullups); pieces of flagstone (hammer curls and kickbacks); rebar (straight bar curls); a swing set (external hip raises and squats); and a lawn chair (scissors and crunches).

Next time you feel bad, try a workout. Sometimes we need to move in order to feel better. Now I will listen to Tank again and peacefully slip off into dream land. Fitness is indeed curative.

A Visit to Villanueva State Park and the San Miguel del Vado National Historic District

Here are some photos from the trip we took yesterday to Villanueva State Park and the San Miguel del Vado National Historic District. This is a great day trip for anyone interested in history, nature and fitness!

“The church at San Miguel del Vado was built in 1806 at the principal vado of the Pecos river on the old Santa Fe Trail. This is where custom taxes on caravans, entering New Mexico, were paid to the Mexican government. The original church is still in use.”

Now I’m off to Tortilla Flats. Happy Mother’s Day to my beautiful mommy and my grandma Emily. Today I also remember my grandma Corine and my great grandma Lina.

A Healthy Hike

•~Villanueva State Park Visitor Center~•

Every Sunday we go to the track and eat right. Call it religious! Sunday is usually “get back on track” day. Since I’m meeting my mom and fam for lunch tomorrow I opted for fitness today in exchange.

We spent the day visiting Villanueva State Park. It was a good hike with a lovely ridge top panorama. I am always left in awe by the beauty of my state. On a rather challenging hike for a 7 year old, D didn’t complain once!

I am super tired. After finishing the hike, we walked along the river bank for a while. The weather was nice and moved from cool to hot to cool. Light sprinkles of rain were welcomed and invigorating.

I will close down the night in bed with my iPod. After an adventurous day I’m ready for some smooth beats followed by dream land and heavy Zs.

Guts, Heart and Glory: Get Serious

Good workouts rock! Now that’s a workout. When you go to the gym, either get serious, get out of the way, or go home! Those new Planet Fitness commercials make me laugh! Why do people who are in shape get called lugs on this planet? Oh yeah– I forgot- because Planet Fitness is “not a gym!” Hum? How can we get in shape there in that case? I have been in the gym for years and have yet to meet a man or woman fitting the image in those stereotypical commercials. People with no guts will have no glory and weak people find comfort in calling strong people lugs. It takes guts, heart and brains to train- so remember that! Smart equals sexy! Bring it!!

Whisked Away

A rush of air
from Heaven’s
gate waiting
to break free.
Whisked away
like a wish on
wind, the same
I’ll never be.

~~~» Felicia Lujan
~~~» 4.17.2013

The Loss of Tradition

•Cherry Blossoms and The Acequia_3.23.2013•

Today I participated in the annual cleaning of the acequia in Pojoaque. New Mexico’s acequia system is comprised of several communal irrigation canals. Some parts are dirt and some parts are paved. Some parts are narrow and some parts are wide. These canals or ditches play an essential role in the community I grew up in.

The mayordomo (water master or “ditch boss”) of the acequia is trusted by his neighbors to make critical decisions. The ditches are governed by the boss and by the community members. Mayordomos oversee the distribution of and rights to water. The boss also plans meetings, in addition to coordinating repairs and the annual cleanings.

This year my participation was bitter sweet. For centuries acequias have been cleaned and repaired almost exclusively by men. I was the only woman on the crew today. I am good with a shovel and I’m not scared to break a nail. There is only one other woman I know who cleans the ditches each year. Why does it have to be that way? More women should take pride in their traditions. While most people would opt to pay– we decided to work. It was not an easy task but it did make me feel good.

I was also disappointed to see that there were only three young men on the crew (one was my son). These days it is rare to find parents who want to pass on traditions. Most children are not willing to participate. It made me proud to see my son under bridges and in the mud with his mini shovel. My son was the youngest worker. It was his 1st time cleaning the acequia. He didn’t complain for several hours. At the very end we all grew tired and he said he wanted Subway.

I don’t want to see another casualty in our traditions. More people, young people, and women should take pride in preserving our acequia system. I was told that less than 10 representatives of at least 60 properties showed up for the cleaning. Water is a sacred resource. Ditches have been used communally for so long that they are now part of us.

•Daryn in part of the Acequia_3.23.2013•

•Pojoaque Acequia Crew_3.23.2013•

Fight…

–Danni is The Biggest Loser–

•………•………•………•………•

“Fight— every single second.”

…………Bob Harper

•………•………•………•………•

Yes!!! Danni pulled through as The Biggest Loser on the Live Finale. She was absolutely smokin’ in a hot dress and nude heels.

For the Wild

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Birds sing after a storm;
why shouldn’t people feel
as free to delight in whatever
sunlight remains to them?
~~~~Rose Kennedy
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

It has been snowing on and off all day. As I anticipated last night, the clouds did bring in a slight storm. Where is the spring? This morning I felt really bad for my beautiful feathered friends. It was very cold and there they were speaking sweetly and fluttering about in the bitter chill. I decided to make a trip to town so that I could pick up a bag of wild bird seed. The treat is sure to make my friends sing! At least I know that they appreciate me.

Face Your Fears

•Marilyn Monroe Lifting Weights•

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“Fear can paralyze us or
it can motivate us.”

~Jillian Michaels
The Biggest Loser
(2.25.13)
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“Pain is temporary.
Quitting is forever.”
~Gina
The Biggest Loser
(2.25.13)
••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Rousey: Beautiful, Focused, and Deadly

Today on a special featuring an interview with Ronda Rousey, someone said…

“No body becomes
a fighter because
they have an easy life.”

Ronda Rousey rocked it out yet again in the 1st round of UFC® 157. She made Liz Carmouche submit with her deadly arm bar. This has become her signature death move!

It was the 1st night for women in the UFC, it was Rousey’s 1st time defending her title, and it was over in the 1st round for the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion. Absolutely awesome!!

Ronda Rousey rockin’ it out~ UFC® 157

Ronda Rousey’s ground work~ UFC® 157

Ronda Rousey made Liz Carmouche submit with her deadly arm bar in the 1st round of UFC® 157.

Ronda Rousey takes it~ UFC® 157

Ronda Rousey accepts her win with Joe Rogan~ UFC® 157

A Rowdy Woman & UFC 157

I can’t wait until Saturday night. On February 23, the world will watch as the 1st women rock the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The main event of UFC® 157 will feature Rousey ~vs~ Carmouche at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Rousey “the trash talker” is the 1st and current UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion. She was also a Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion.

I put it all down for Ronda Rousey. She will take Liz Carmouche to the floor with some Judo or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on Saturday night. “Rowdy” Rousey is an American Olympian from Cali. If you look up her pictures you may think this bombshell can’t possibly drop bombs~ but think again! She is straight awesomeness and has won medals for the Olympic and other games (bronze, silver and gold).

Kim Kardashian is lucky she’s pregnant right?! She only heard about the Queen of arm bars talkin’ trash. I don’t think Kimmy would want to feel the Rousey “strikeforce” of the 1st woman signed by the UFC! I’m just sayin’~ Ronda’s awesome…strong women rock!! Don’t let her beauty fool you.

My Weights in a Panoramic View

Wow… I must have destroyed and lost
so may iPods over the years that
I need to stop counting! Maybe I need to
have pod insurance since that
is one thing I simply can’t live without?
Funny~ that I lost the pod under
similar circumstances last time! What the?
Really?? Anyhow~ I guess it’s all good!?
I went for the big boy this time~ the more
memory, the better! Turns out the newest iPods
have a photo flash. They can also capture
panoramic photos, which happens to be one thing
I love about working in the archives. There are
some nice historical panos from back in the day!

Check out my panoramic shot of my
home away from home~
Mandrill’s Gym in Santa Fe, New Mexico

(click twice on the image to see it close up~
once in this window and then again in the next)

Panoramic photograph of Mandrill’s Gym
Santa Fe, New Mexico
by Felicia Lujan on 2.19.2013

“My Weakness Becomes My Weapon and Pain My Pleasure.”
Isn’t this quote awesome???

 

Strong Women Rock

Quotes from
The Biggest Loser Trainers
2.18.2013

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“My girl is stronger than you.”
•••Bob Harper’s tee shirt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I don’t like quitters
and I don’t like excuses.”
•••Dolvett Quince

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Don’t speak~ just do it!”
•••Jillian Michaels

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“That’s another obstacle
that you are allowing to
take control of your
change.”
•••Dolvett Quince

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fear: The Enemy of Fitness

Tonight The Biggest Loser tackled fears and focused on finding “inner health.” Fear can hold us back from optimum fitness. The fear of failure, fear of the unknown, and fear of change forever lurk, but it is critical to push through. Here’s to the awesome leg workout I got today!! Just pushin’ on through!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
“You have nothing to worry
about except what you create.
Stop closing your eyes. Open
your eyes. Focus on your body
and let go of the fear.”

~Dolvett Quince to Gina on
The Biggest Loser (2.11.13)
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Understanding My Heart Chakra <3

I have been taking some time to learn more about my chakras. I want to better understand myself emotionally, physically and mentally~ how I feel inside and out~ how I think. Chakras are energy locations within our bodies. Hinduism and Buddhism both teach that these energy locations can be manipulated to make us better and whole people. Some people refer to the chakra as an energy wheel or vortex.

The chakra I am interested in starting with is my heart chakra. It is the strongest energy source. The green energy vortex of the heart is the central point of balance which corresponds with unconditional love, the acceptance of self and others, and true connection. Learning about and manipulating the energy of my heart chakra will allow me to better understand myself, as well as my connection with others.

This chakra is at the center of all relationships. It involves those who give love and those who make love. Buddhists believe that this energy center provides for the integration of a person’s physical and spiritual connections. Since I was in high school I have experienced shortness of breath, which is indicative of tension in the heart chakra. It has become much better with exercise, but I am starting to see that some form of meditation or Reiki would probably help. I had several expensive lung tests years ago and they all came back saying my lungs were perfect. Maybe it has always been a blockage of energy?

I have learned that Reiki may be a good way to balance my heart chakra. Energy can be stimulated by absorbing nature through hiking, gardening, or working with plants and flowers. Floral design does make me feel good, so that could be a great start. Reiki is a Japanese form of alternative medicine to promote the healing of energies. It is a natural, holistic, approach to well being.

There is also another reason that I think it is important to learn about my chakras. On January 29, I posted Eye 2 Eye. In that piece I talked about the “eye of contemplation” or the “eye of the spirit.” It is said that this eye of knowledge is only open when we become fully illuminated with spiritual insight. This is really the highest level of consciousness. I do want to be fully awake, real, and free.

~The 7 Chakras~

~The Heart Chakra~