NYC #14 // The Runner's High

 Rookie Run // Madison Square Park

Ever felt like being on a Running High?! 

These pictures were captured two weeks ago when I first signed myself up for the free Nike+ Runs.  

Sunday Morning: Rookie Run, a one miler to shake off some dust, get some basics and then build up your way to maybe-your fastest mile ever. This fun-run is for anyone who wants to start running - get back to it - or just any runner who needs a bit of change. It's great for taking friends, to introduce them to running and to move your body! The result of the Rookie Run? So, so much fun! We turned some non-joggers into run-lovers! Although it ended up being more than one mile, maybe two, my friends enjoyed it. For me, this was an easy one. I loved the sprinting part and was excited to start running again!

Tuesday Night: Home Run. Central Park. You can choose between 3, 5 and 7 miles. It's supposed to be your home run, so choose wisely. Nike Pacers will be there to help you with your paces and distances. Start slow, build up, go faster. Wow, that was a more challenging one for me because I wasn't used to the pace and the up and downs inside the park. The Pacer did a wonderful job by pushing us through, we motivated each other by brainstorming hashtags such as #makeitcount #noexcuses #nevernotrunning #sweatismagic Loved this group run!

  Home Run // Central Park

Thursday Night: Local Run. 4-5 miler through places and spaces you've never been. Explore the city with a local and learn something new about the New York City neighbourhoods! The Local is one of the best sessions: new seeings, good people and always a nice party afterwards. Although it was kind of raining and snowing that night, this was my best run so far, I kept a steady pace, breathing was excellent and hey, we made it through!

 Local Run // Roosevelt Island

Long Run // Uptown

Saturday Morning: Challenge yourself. Go further. Choose between 4, 8 and 12 miles. Wow, crazy huh? For everyone who is training for a race, the Long Run is good practice! This was by far the most challenging run for me. Why? I was running out of fuel, and I was damn! tired. The Pacer sticked to me, made me finish the whole thing although we stopped a few times to check breathing. She didn't give up on me and at the last metres, she kept yelling: Finish strong!!! The body was not used to it, still, I fell in love with every metre!

Sunday Morning: Another Rookie Run! Brought another friend. It was cold, but it was so much fun. We laughed lots! Connect with friends through movement and endorphins again. Motivate each other to come out and run in a group. These moments are priceless! 

As you can see, I was on a total running high and I didn't want to stop! You make new friends, get your butt moving, it's an appointment, so therefore #noexcuses!, and the feeling afterwards? Just A-M-A-ZING! Thanks to everyone, who make this running experience such an incredible one! Ever happen to be in New York? Go explore the running groups and never run by yourself again ;)

 Rookie Run // Nike Running Flatiron

NYC #12 // TCS Marathon // Running Towards Greatness

Wow!!! Congratulations to all 50,000 runners, 10,000 volunteers and the millions who cheered and watched them run this town! This was my first time being at a marathon and watching this happening. I had no expectations. That day, it was freezing cold, there was a harsh wind, but the music, the sun, the people and all the runners warmed us up when we cheered for the founders of Undo Magazine Robin and Vasha, but also for their friends from Black Roses NYC and the Bridgerunners.

It was really exciting to spread out positive vibes and love to everyone who passed by. They were so inspiring, encouraging and I was just like: Wow! These champions accomplished 26.2 miles (42,2km) on Nov, 2nd in the city of dreams. 

Have a look at the emotions yourself!

Robin Arzon

Nai Vasha

So many smiles, so much fun!

And we definitely need more women in sports, 

chasing their dreams and running towards greatness!

NYC #8 // First 4 Miles in the City

Thank you!!!

When I'm in cities such as Berlin or NY, I just love participating in fun events such as Food / Yoga festivals or smaller meet-ups for sports activities.. because hey! Often it's for free, there's good music, good action, good food and duh.. good people around! So, there was this Run x Dinner Event this past Tuesday Night and the deal was: Run 4 Miles with Undo Ordinary and have Dinner afterwards sponsored by Sweetgreen to check out their new Fall Menu. Awesome, right? We had to go! Or better.. I had to go.

So, I asked several friends to come with me and they all couldn't make it. I was by myself and didn't know whether I should go or not.. hmm.. my mind told me not to go because I am still sick and trying to recover from my cold.. should really take breaks! But my heart and my 'ants in the pants' I guess, so that's how Americans say: Hummeln im Hintern .. haha! (so lovely to discover new sayings in a different language!) told me to Go! Go! Go! This would have been my first run in a long time, too. So.. yep, you hear it. I did not want to go by myself.. until.. hach, I am such a bad decision-taker.. I asked another friend (who is not into running) for an objective opinion and she was totally like: Yes! You should definitely do it! It will be good for you! Just sweat it all out, it will be good for your cold. You'll make new friends! Just go! 
 
After such an enthusiastic response, I just had to go. I love how she said: Sweat it all out! Often, you have to do what's best for You. And you need that small kick in your butt! Don't depend on others, just do it! So, I was super excited to put on my brand new shoes and couldn't wait for my very first steps in it. Also, it was the perfect night for a run! There, I met some really nice pals and the founders of Undo Ordinary. We did not run to Williamsburg and back, which would have taken us 9 miles, but instead, along the water on the Westside Highway for 4 miles. 

My thoughts during the run were like this: 

1st mile.. this is not too bad, 

it's actually pretty warm with my jacket.

2nd mile.. Okay, this is a bit tough on me.. 

with my cold and stuff.. arghh

but 2 more and you're done! 

3rd mile.. okay, you made it 3/4 of the run

just keep running, no stops, no breaks

slow down if you need to.. 

my legs feel super heavy.. but I'll make it

 maybeee.. this wasn't the best idea..

to push my body to do this, 

hey you're still sick! (doubts, doubts, doubts) 

aah.. whatever I am here right now, enjoy the view!

You cannot change it.. you have to finish it. 

3.8miles.. 300m left, you can do it!!!

Just keep moving! 

Don't forget to breathe!

Aaaand.. I finished my first 4 miles in New York with an amazing view and amazing people who cheered me up the whole way!!! I still cannot believe that I did this, after 3 months of no running at all. Going for a long run, instead of adjusting myself with short runs first. Nope! Shoot for the stars, kids! After this, we had delicious salads as post-run dinner, I wasn't able to eat right away, so I took it home and was exhausted! As you can tell in the picture above in the left corner, I was the only one with a red face, BUT I was happy and now, two days and an intensive yoga class the morning after, my legs are still sore and I feel like an old lady trying to sit down.. soo funny! I think the only solution here is: Go Running! 

Cheers guys! 

I hope you enjoyed this little tale

 of my first 4 miles in the city.

And remember yourself,

kick your butt and just do it!

 Nike Air Zoom Structure 18,

this time no black, yes, it's bright and pink! :)

GIRLCRUSH // Sophia Chang from Queens, NY

 By Jeremiah Wilson for Hypebeast

When I first heard about Sophia Chang, I had to immediately talk to K from Off Color and was like: Oh my! New Girlcrush! I'm so into her! Why? Her appearance and her style, I love the fact that she's sporty and super feminine at the same time! Oh and the most important part: she's real! Also, her work, her thoughts, and yes even her bun! I was amazed by the young illustrator and designer from Queens. She just had a major collaboration with PUMA and designed the series 'Brooklynite', in which she incorporated her New York inspired illustrations. This creative mind is not only active in the arts & design field, but also in sports such as running and aerial yoga/pilates, which I would love to try out myself, too! 

Her interview on Hypebeast really motivated me to also take some time off from school and explore myself and embrace new projects.. Well, time will tell, but her words really stuck in my mind:  

Struggle, fail, try, make attempts, succeed (maybe) and see how far I can take myself.

Read the full interview here.

She is also part of Undo Ordinary, a magazine where sweat meets culture. I will definitely get a copy of that because it sounds like my perfect bible, style meets culture meets fitness.

 Follow the Bun Queen on Instagram.

@esymai

Healthy Wednesday: The Power of Yoga

By Helena Schätzle, Geo-Magazine, published June 2013.

'Words cannot describe the worth of Yoga, it has to be

experienced.' by B.K.S. Iyengar

 

The other weekend, my boyfriend's best friend, a physiotherapist, came up to me and gave me this 15-page long article about Yoga. He, himself received this from a patient and is totally new to it. It wasn't the typical article about where Yoga has started and what it actually is, but more about what Yoga can. Me, as an advocate of Yoga, immediately started to read it and did not stop until the last sentence was absorbed. The article is by the scientist Hania Luczak and was published in the GEO-magazine June, 2013. 

It is a report about Yoga's Health Benefits, but especially about recent scientific results. A GEO-team visited many researchers from Germany to the United States and even to India to learn more about its healing power. Here are the major findings:

1. Neck Pain, the Charité Berlin found out that patients had less
 pain after ten weeks of a 90-minute yoga lesson per week
 compared to patients who practiced back exerices by their own.

2. Back Pain, the University of Washington (Seattle),
almost 80% of Yoga practitioners were able to quit their
 painkillers by doing yoga once a week for half a year.

3. Stress Level, it definitely reduces your stress level so that you
 become more calm and mindful. Stress, we know it all, 
is the cause for burnout, depression, anxiety, addiction, obesity, 
chronic inflammations and more. 

4. Aerobics vs. Yoga, University of California, 
Yoga is not only as good as physical exercise,
 but might be even better. The researchers suggest: Cardio for
 endurance, but yoga for your mind and well-being.

5. Sleep, Harvard University in Boston, 
after only eight weeks of yoga, people sleep better :)

6. Stress Reduction & High Blood Pressure, Yale University,
 patients were able to reduce their medications by doing yoga.

7. Relaxation, University of Dresden, 
Yoga calms down your heart :)

8. Changes in the Central Nervous System, Boston University
 School of Medicine, the researchers found out that Yogis and
 people who regularly practice yoga produce more gamma-
aminobutyric acid, short GABA, which eases anxiety. 
They also compared this to sport activities.

9. Mental Health and Improvement in Cognitive Performance, 

University of California, L.A., only 12 

minutes of Yoga per day lead to a reduction of depression, 

a highler level of mental health and cognitive performance

 compared to a group which only listened to relaxation music 

in those 12 minutes. Additionally, they've found out that there's

 also a reduction of cell aging. Incredible, right?

10. Breast Cancer, Department of Psychology, 

University of Calif., people who suffered from breast cancer

 and had to deal with the Fatigue-Syndrome,

 (which occurs after a chemotherapy)

and did Yoga for three months, twice a week,

 felt an improvement in their physical and emotional condition.

I have to add that the researchers were mostly examining the Iyengar-Yoga which is based on these three pillars: Breath Control (Pranayama), Physical Exercise (Asana) and Meditation. Those three can be healing, but together they are invincible.

The key factor in those studies were that participants practiced a type of Yoga that includes the practice of breathing and mindfulness. Modern types like Bikram and Power Yoga will not lead to the mentioned benefits. With Yoga, Hania Luczak writes, one will slip into a Health-Provision-System. Often, you will subconsciously turn to a healthier lifestyle, have better relationships and a better working life.

Morning Meditation Post, Summer 2013.

After this well-written and well-explored article, I just had to start my Yoga practice again. I have thought about it a few months back because I was lacking routine, but this totally convinced me to get back deeper into it. Thank you Oliver for this article, I just needed a bit of motivation to go to the local Yoga Center and sign myself up :) The first 90-minute session this Monday was already worth the time and money :) 

Will you give the Power of Yoga a try? ;-)

Love and Namaste ♥

Mindful Monday: Let's go for a run!

Long time no post, huh? Well, a week I guess :) But that's not too bad because you know what? I've started working out and eating healthier again!!! This year we had barely no winter here in Germany, except from a week full of snow in Berlin, but this amazing weather and the early signs of spring just made me go out and put on my running gear again :) So, the last week was packed with my studies, but also 5 times of exercise. I have to say it has been really tough for me to get back on track since that crazy year in the U.S. in 2011-2012, why? Because then, I had sooo much time to care for myself, like really. I would workout every single day, being outside, having loads of activites and read about food, health and trying out new stuff, experiencing the super-healthy-American-way of life :) Actually experiencing the best and healthiest ME I could ever be and reaching limits, but more of my transformation in this post.

What did I do last week? I went for a run, did some weight training and yoga :) I think now it's really time to get back on track. Remember, being healthy, eating mindfully and being active is not just a trend, which comes and goes, it is a lifestyle decision. As soon as I've started running outside last week, I felt more alive, more energized and motivated to keep all this -yes life- going! Therefore this week's motto is simply:

You're only one run, stretch, skate, swim, play.. 

away from being happy. 

That's just how it is. Move your butt! For example yesterday when I didn't feel well because I was a bit stressed out with Uni and several other projects, I've turned away from my desk, put on my running shoes and went for a run. How did it feel? It's like meditating, I am by myself, fully focused, clearing my mind and the only thing I am doing is: breathing.

Inhaling 

I breathe in all positivity and light which nature gives me. 

Exhaling

 I breathe out all negativity and worthless thoughts.  

And also during the run, I was grateful for having the ability to actually walk, run, and breathe in this fresh air. Friends and other people tell me that they don't like working out because they feel tired afterwards, but what it does for me is, it actually relives me and gives me more strength for the upcoming tasks and challenges life has for me. A dear friend once said: Energy creates energy. Give it a try, I promise you will feel better afterwards when you get the hang of it! Or better yet, wanna meet up for a run? :) 

Here are tips on how to get back on track and 
here's one on how to deal with your muscle ache the day afterwards ;-) 
Enjoy reading them! 
Keep up the light guys and stay positive ♥

Workout Wednesday: Full-Body Workouts

           

It's a new year, a new me and yeah a new day :) I hope that from this day on, I will post more about fun and active stuff like workouts, my actual jogging routines and just how to stay fit ;-) The past few months I have been lacking on regular workouts and training because I had to study for exams and right now, I am also working on papers, so no rest and relaxation for students ;-)

Anyways, when I lacked of motivation at the end of 2013, a dear friend came up to me and gave me a lovely letter with a bunch of 'fitness bloggers' to try out. I'm gonna assure you, I will never make videos like this ;-) there are a whole lot of peeps who can do it better ;-) Nevertheless, I thought it would be nice to share the videos/exercises which work for me and are not too 'depressing', haha =D meaning not too painful, but totally worth it! 

           

So, when I started my workouts back then I used these videos by Popsugar Fitness to help me get going :) I love these women and ever since whenever I want to do a 10minute workout I put them on. I always mix and match different videos depending on what I wanna work on and how much time I have. No more excuses, guys ;-) Be it cardio, strength with or without weights, arms, legs, abs.. Popsugar Fitness have a lot in store for you. Try out the videos and let me know how you like it :) I'm gonna change my clothes now and squeeze in a 30minute workout with these ladies ;-) Happy exercising! ♥  

           

21st Birthday Wishlist ♥

Well, another year is over and in two days I'm turning 21 :) I'm having a smile on my face right now because thinking about this year, it turned out really good.. so far ;-) There's a nice German proverb to it: Don't praise the day before nightfall! But we'll stay optimistic, right?

When I first came back to Germany in September 2012, I had a reversed culture shock since I wasn't used to everything anymore =D I had to adjust myself to German seriousness, but also to Vietnamese conventional lifestyle again (parents ;)), but that wasn't enough: friends and family had to get used to me and my new lifestyle now, less partying, more exercising, stuff like that, a lot has changed and if you want to know more, read on here. Unistress came along the way and the past winter was really about 'adapting' to my 'old' life again, but trying to stay the 'new' ME. Throughout this year I've met interesting people, some became friends, some I had to let go, and I think that anyone gets into thinking whenever another whole year passes. 
Time is flying so fast, right? 

This year, I'm not having big 'material wishes' compare to the last birthdays or rather: if material wishes like a pro-camera, a smartphone (yep, haven't one! yet! =D), I buy them myself ;-) This list here is really about things I need or would like to have for comfort.

Since I'm running around with my green metal bottle with hot tea inside, and it's actually not doing its work, I am looking for a NEW Thermos Bottle :) Simply plain, nothing special, just to have more than a cup on the go and to keep my tea hot for more than half an hour! Talking about staying warm, I'm also back in running and going to get myself a nice pair of Running Shoes, as well as a Running Headband. Super cold outside, but if you have the gear, move your butt I'm saying ;-)

How hard is it to NOT find a grey hoodie? Just scrolled through shopping-sites, impossible!!! I really like hoodies, but don't own as many because I can be picky with those. For my 18th birthday I've got a really nice grey one and am still wearing it. Now, three years later I'm seeking for a different color than grey =D Oh boy, but this selection is not better because it's all black: really fell in love with that super-cute and stylish Panda Sweater (always wanted a panda-sweater ♥) and the Black Hoodie from Naketano which would be more sporty.

Other than the more practical wishes for my birthday, I was thinking of buying D&G-TheOne again since my bottle is almost empty, but also thinking of changing my perfume, don't know yet ;-) Oh and I've just noticed the white nail-trend at my friends' fingers, so I'm totally digging the Essie Blanc Color-matte and pure whiteness :) 

Looks like this birthday wishlist is super long, but I think it's quite fair since most of the stuff I honestly need =D Broken running shoes, freezing ears, NO working thermos bottle and a new hoodie, which I get once a year at most =P are the reasons. Nevertheless and most importantly I cannot wait to spend some quality time with friends and family, have missed them so much since I don't get to see them everyday, week, month ;-) ♥