Vinyasa Hot Yoga

I have recently discovered that amazingness of Vinyasa Hot Yoga. After several months of my friend, Ghazala, talking about how much she loves practicing yoga, I finally fought my fears of passing out or looking like an idiot, and I attended my first yoga class. Much to my surprise, not only did I not suck that bad, but I also really really loved it! The studio has this deal for new students where you pay $10 for your first time and you get 10 consecutive days unlimited. So, I was all about that! In those 10 days, I went 4 or 5 times! Thats a lot considering how you all know how crazy hectic my school schedule is! Once my 10 days were up, I decided this is something I definitely want to stick to. Hot yoga is such a great exercise because you sweat like CRAZY that you know you just had a really great workout, but you leave feeling so relaxed and rejuvenated. It is so easy to focus on your school work after you have just done yoga, so I really think its going to be a great thing that I get into!

I will definitely post more about any yoga accomplishments once they happen, but one huge accomplishment so far: I can do a headstand! After only 4 days of working at it, I was able to hold a head stand for a good 5-ish seconds! I've gotten better at it, can hold it longer now and hope to keep working to strengthen my core so I can hand out in a head stand for a while! I will post pictures once I am good enough to hold it for a good picture! :)

Namaste! 

2011 Reflections

In light of the fact that today is New Years Eve, I decided that I would look at my old New Years Resolutions and see what progress that I made. I also hope that I this will make me highlight some of the important things that happened this last year. 

These were my resolutions for 2011: Get into medical school, exercise five times a week, travel to a new place, learn how to cook healthy meals, read for fun, & be genuinely happy. 

1) Get into Medical School
Well, I am so happy to know that you all know the answer to this one. Getting into medical school, specifically being accepted to MSU has been one of my life's greatest accomplishments. This year has allowed me to really realize my career dreams are becoming a reality. I am only one semester into school, but I know that I made the right decision to work so hard in high school and undergrad. 


2) Exercise 5 times a week
This resolution I was pretty good with for the first half of the year when I was not in school. I would either swim laps, work out on the elliptical, do "biggest loser" workout exercises, or even just play wii Fit. However, since school started, I have definitely been slacking on the work-outs I should be putting in. So, I will continue working on getting a regular exercise plan in order for the new year. 


3) Travel to a new place
On first thought of this one, I was not to impressed with my traveling in this year. I have not traveled outside of the United States all year, BUT I have done a ton of traveling within the US. Heck, I want on a cross-country road trip!! So, really I have traveled to lots and lots of new places this last year! Some of the highlights were Yellowstone National Park, Crazy Horse, and Mount Rushmore. I also have moved to another state! So, I have been to a lot of different cities in the state of Michigan that I had never traveled to before. My personal favorite: Holland, Michigan (basically a cute little Dutch town!). Finally, I ended this year in Disney World. I went there one time when I was much younger, but I don't really remember anything. SO, I am counting that as a new place that I traveled to. Overall, I think that I completed this resolution quite well. 


4) Learn how to cook healthy meals
Much like number 2, I was doing this pretty well up until school started. I have mastered how to make Lemon Peppered Chicken and vegetables (one of my favorite meals). I have also learned how to make several other variations to the whole lean meat/fish and vegetables combination. However, I have stopped there. So, I will continue to work towards learning how to cook more healthy dinner and lunches as the next year goes on. 


5) Read for Fun
My grandmother always loved to read books. I, however, did not really develop this passion until the last bit of college. I now can say that pleasure reading is one of my favorite hobbies. This year, I have happily read a ton of books. Some of my favorites have included: 
1) The Harry Potter Series (obviously) 
2) The Hunger Games 
3) Catching Fire
4) The Pact
5) Dear John
6) Eat, Pray, Love 
7) The Lovely Bones 
8) A Walk to Remember
9) The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down (Which was actually a required book for school which I really loved!) 
10) The Last Song


6) Be genuinely happy. 
I think I can confidently say that I have developed genuine happiness. 2011 started out very confusing. At the start of January 2011, I had received two medical school interviews, but had not attended either of these interviews. I was not sure how many more I would get and if any of these interviews would result in acceptances. I was not sure if I would continue working my three jobs throughout the 2011-2012 school year and if I would need to develop an entirely new career plan. I didn't know where I stood in my relationship. In January 2011, I had already been long distance for a year and a half and could not see an end to it in the future. However, come April, everything changed. Being accepted to MSU not only reassured me that I would be able to fulfill my career dreams of becoming a physician, it also meant that my long distance relationship would become much much MUCH shorter distance. I was obviously nervous about school and about my big move, but I was excited! Now, on December 31, 2011, I can happily report that this is the best I have felt in years.  The friends that I have made in medical school have helped me through the daily struggles of school and for the first time in my academic career, everything I am learning I find interesting. I can see how everything I am learning will play into my future career and how the work I put in now will benefit my future. I am happy with school. I am happy in my relationship. I am happy with my family. I am happy.  

iPhone

I got a new iPhone on Saturday and I LOVE it! I have been looking into getting one for medical school because I know there are a lot of great clinical apps, like a pharmacology reference and a clinician guide. However, I had no idea of how many amazing apps there really are out there. I am kind of a cheap-o, so I am not going to buy an app unless I really need it, but I still have downloaded the following free apps:

1) MyFitnessPal (which allows you to type in all the foods you eat and get a complete breakdown of the nutritional factors; it also gives you a breakdown of all the exercises you do)
2) Daily Yoga (My new favorite thing... I have done yoga every day for the last 2 weeks!)
3) Jillian Michael's Recipes and Workouts (I <3 J.M.)
4) Human Anatomy Study Guides/Practice Quizzes (I am a big nerd and am studying for med school already)
5) Learn Spanish! (Because I am currently trying to learn on my own)

Its truly amazing how much technology can do these days! :)