Yoga or Massage???

Thai Massage is a unique form of bodywork that includes yoga, acupressure and reflexology. Its definitely not your ordinary massage, but has the same relaxing and energizing effects.
Thai massage is done fully clothed (which is nice for the modest) and the therapist uses their hands, feet, knees and legs to move you into yoga-like stretches without you having to do any of the work!

My friend Tara has been practicing Thai Massage for over a year now and has made a home at a studio in Old Town Scottsdale at the Thai Royal Massage. We booked a one hour full  body massage, which included a lot of hip and leg mobilization, and ended with upper body work and opening of the shoulders. Each part of the body is massaged first, and then she slowly and gently brings it into a full range of motion stretch (yoga). We finished with a one hour foot massage. The second  hour was more focused on the feet and calves and finished with more shoulder/neck work. The second hour was considerably more relaxing than the first.
I left feeling energized, yet relaxed. And probably a few inches taller. It was a great way to end a week off from the gym and a busy work week.  I would recommend everyone try this type of massage. The prices are very wallet friendly too!

Thai Royal Massage  (480) 429.2828  **ask for Tera**


"Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths."  ~ Etty Hillesum

Crossfit Wrap Up

This weekend was the final of 5 grueling, fun, competitive weekends, otherwise known as The 2012 Crossfit Games Open Sectional  This year there were over 60,000 people worldwide participating in the Open. In my Southwest Region alone, we started with around 1700 women! The Crossfit community is really getting HUGE!!!
This was my 3rd year competing in sectionals. My first sectional was back in 2010, while the format was a little different, I did battle through it making it to the Regional level. Last year, coming off a fresh back injury, I wasn't able to do as well as I expected myself to do, and felt a feeling of defeat. This year, I took a different approach with my training, and got my head in a better place. Not putting so much pressure on myself, and changing my expectations of the competition, I went into The Open this year with a more "just wanna have fun" outlook, and a goal of completing the comp on a happy note, and not getting discouraged.
Even though I hadn't been crossfitting for the last 10 months, all my strength training and new circuit training at "globo gym" paid off respectively. I felt very confident going into each workout (I get a HUGE rush out of competing), and I surprised myself week after week. I wasn't posting top 60 scores, or even top 100 for that matter, but it was the best that I knew I could do, and I had FUN doing it.

*chest to bar pull up face*

They threw everything at us as a test for fitness, from a 7 minute AMRAP of burpees, to a "Karen"/30 Muscle Ups for time combo, and even a do-over of last years workout of a "Fran"  ladder to finish the 5 weeks off (which I scored higher in this year, #winning).
Its a relief that its finally over, but also bittersweet. The Crossfit community is such a great group of people, all of which I can happily call my friends and family.
I will be giving myself a 5 day break from the gym this week. My body and mind are very much looking  forward to this. 5 days of  not even stepping foot in the gym!!! Aaahhhhh. Rest. Recovery.
From here, I begin my next challenge. I will start serious prep for my very first (and maybe not my last) figure show. It will be a true test of will power and dedication, staying consistent on my diet and training with no cheats, and getting my muscles ready for the stage! I'm very excited. I hope all of you to be there every step of the way. I plan on blogging about my challenge, along with pictures of the transformation. Stay tuned!!!

Some videos from my friends at Full Squared Productions:
Workout #2 at Urban Warfit Crossfit
Workout #4 at Core Crossfit



"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." ~ Henry Ford
 

Baking with Pro Powder Part 1

     If your one of the lucky few to have had my mothers infamous Kris Kringle Christmas Bread, then you know that I love to bake (Last year i made over 4 dozen loaves). I especially love to bake when I'm stressed out. The measuring, organizing, the mess and the clean up is somehow all very therapeutic to me. And the "icing on the cake" is you get a delicious home made baked goodie master piece when your through!

     The last few weeks have been pretty non stop between work, training, and competing in the Crossfit Open, and it doesn't look like its going to slow down anytime soon. I stumbled upon this great website for recipes and have been dying to try one. Everything is made with protein powder!!! Being the health nut, gym junkie, meathead  I am, i was instantly excited about pretty much everything on here. Tonight, to relieve some stress and get my mind off of things I tackled the whey protein banana-pumpkin bread. They came out really good, super healthy and was very easy to make. They would also make really yummy muffins! More posts of recipes from the pro powder website to come in the near future.

Vanilla Whey Pro Pumpkin-Banana Loaf

     Since these bad boys are slightly off the menu for me at the moment, I'm gonna have to freeze them, or if your lucky, I'll give you one. =)


     "Whose bread I eat: his song I sing."  – German Proverb

Hasta la Rasta

     My twin sister had dreadlocks. Oh yes, she did. No she is NOT a hippie, and she also does NOT smoke the hippy lettuce. YES, she washes her hair, probably more than you think. But she, like me, likes to experiment and have fun with her hair. Its just hair right!??!

                               * Kate with her dreadies*

     After 8 months of rockin the dreadlocks, she decided it was time to part with them and go for a new look. And who better to call than her sister!!! You can imagine my excitement when I got the phone call that not only was she making a surprise last minute visit to AZ from CO, but I was the chosen one to chop these bad boys off!
     Lucky for her, we didn't have to shave it! But because it was dreaded the option for the long layered look was out. So we opted for a super cute, funky, razored pixie cut, with some ombre highlights in front!!! To my surprise, she wasn't nervous at all, and didn't seem to have any emotional attachment to her dreadies. Which always make my job easy and FUN!!!
     Without further ado... heres Kates new look!

    

     I love when my sister comes in town. Wish it was more often. *love you sis*

     You know where to find me, Tuesday thru Saturday at Le Bella Salon and MedSpa.


     It's double the giggles and double the grins, and double the trouble if you're blessed with twins.  ~Author Unknown