The search for a hobby...

Growing up I was always doing something. Beginning when I was just a small child I was in gymnastics. From then all the way until 8th grade I was constantly at practice or competing.
I loved it, but once I hit 8th grade I could not wait to become a cheerleader. After starting Cheer at school...that led me to join an outside of school competitve squad- Edmond All Stars Cheer & Pom. I loved it all. My passion was cheerleading and being the best I could be. Then came high school graduation and it all ended. I didn't want it to really, but I also didn't really desire to continue on into college. Once I was in college, I had my sorority and friends and school keeping me super busy so it wasn't until after I moved to Austin and started my "adult" life working and such that I realized I don't really have a "hobby" per se. I remember people asking me "what do you like to do in your free time?" and I always felt like I was lying or just stealing ideas from other people to fill the answer. I met Dustin in 2003 and he exposed to me to so many activities I had never really spent much time doing...cycling, running, hiking around Austin, etc. I liked them all fairly well mostly because I got to do them with my boyfriend :-)

A year or so went by and I decided that I really actually enjoyed running. I was not very good or fast, but it gave me a great work out and I always felt better after a good run. On February 13, 2005, I completed a marathon here in Austin. I have to be honest and say that I did not really run it...I would say more of a jog/walk. But I finished it either way and it made me feel so accomplished! That summer Dustin and I got engaged and I continued running for fun...unfortunately after the wedding the following summer I kind of got burned out. Since then which it has now been 2 years...I have been hot and cold in the workout scene. I have gone running then burned out in a few months, done pilates at home and then burned out...

In all this I realized how much I missed that passion I had when I was a cheerleader..the drive to do well and work hard. I have seen so many others so into their hobbies/activities...Dustin loving cycling, Jessica loving to run so much she gets up in the middle of the night each day, etc.

So yesterday, after much consideration I decided to try something new. I attended my first Bikram Yoga class, aka "Hot" Yoga. I was a bit hesitant mostly because despite the amazing things I had read/heard about it...doing yoga for 90 minutes in a room heated hotter than an Austin July day did not sound all that fun. I was so wrong though...I loved it. It was extremely challenging and I was sweating more than I had in such a long time. The great thing is it almost feels comfortable to me since it is pushing me to reach back to my younger days when I was Miss Flexible. I took their recommendation and went again today...and it was even better. After it was over I felt completely refreshed and happy with myself. I must say my hopes are high that this may be something I truly love doing. Of course only time will tell...

For more information on Bikram Yoga go to http://www.bikramyoga.com/