The biggest thing I'm leaving behind in 2020 is 2020 itself. See ya never, sucka! This year hasn't been all bad for me, fortunately, but it definitely was not my favorite year ever! As is the tradition here on Flecks of Lex, I'm sharing the things I'm leaving behind in 2020, and have some inspirational friends who would like to share what they're leaving behind. Last year, I said I was leaving behind two things: Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda and Dark Undereye Circles. Those undereye circles have made a triumphant return (still working on it!), but I did so much better with Coulda, Woulda, and Shoulda! Here are the 5 things I'm leaving behind in 2020: Double-Booking and Overscheduling This year started out the way most of my adult years have started: with me doing way too much. By mid-March of 2020, that was just not possible, and it turned out to be exactly what I needed! Not being able to do all of the things I normally would do made it so that I could really focus ...

I've already made it Facebook (and Instagram) official: Next week, I begin my teacher training for HIIT & Flow ! What is HIIT & Flow? The HIIT & Flow workout combines high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and power vinyasa yoga, delivering a seriously sweaty workout for all fitness levels! Strength, cardio, and mobility are the three pillars of this fitness program. I got to try HIIT & Flow for the first time last year at Summer Camp , and it kicked my butt! It was such a great workout that could be modified, but which still achieved maximum sweat potential - and this is coming from someone who hardly sweats at all! Why Am I Signing Up for Teacher Training? I love teaching group fitness classes, and I know that this is a workout that will be enjoyed by current and future students of mine! HIIT workouts can be done in a relatively short period of time, but leave you feeling like you've completed a 60-minute workout (or longer!). I want to learn how to teach th...

So... a little secret I've been keeping: I started working with a personal trainer again. I had paid for some extra sessions prior to the pandemic, and I had to use them or lose them by the end of the year, and since I'm already at the gym three times a week to teach indoor cycling, I figured, why not? I really loved my previous trainer, Laila. She pushed me and got me looking and feeling stronger, lifting heavy, incorporating some cardio and core, and just feeling like an athlete again. Unfortunately, she's not training at my gym anymore.  I felt like I was cheating on her at first, but I'm cheap and wasn't trying to lose my money, so I clearly got over that at some point, right? My new trainer is Brandon. He's new to my gym, but he's been training for at least five years. For me, starting with a new trainer is like starting with a new hairstylist for some people. You're not really sure what to expect or how things are going to work out, so maybe you...

Read my previous post, Ayurveda: What I've Learned So Far , for more background on why I've been focusing on Ayurveda so much recently, expert interviews, and more.  Last weekend, I received an Ayurveda diet and lifestyle consultation from Salila Sukumaran of Ayurgamaya . I learned and confirmed some things about myself, and took another step towards living a more Ayurvedic lifestyle in the hopes of finding more balance. It was a real eye-opening experience, and I'm excited about incorporating new-to-me routines and recipes into my life. Pro tip: Check out this episode of my podcast for my interview with Salila, as well as a discount on an Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle consultation, as well as other services. I've been incorporating Ayurvedic practices into my life for about six months now, and it really has made a difference - particularly in regards to taking more time for self-care and mindfulness practices. There have been a number of products and brands I've i...

If you've been following The Sweat Fearlessly Podcast , you might have seen that I've been running an Ayurveda series the second half of this season. If you haven't listened to the podcast yet, you can check it out on Apple , Spotify , Google , Anchor , or anywhere else you get your podcasts. I have had the pleasure of interviewing four Ayurveda experts thus far, and I have learned so much from each of them. I've been really intrigued by how each of them found their way to Ayurveda, how they administer services around Ayurveda, and what simple tips they have shared. What is Ayurveda? Each of my guests shared their definition of Ayurveda, and I encourage you to give them a listen to see the subtle differences in how they define Ayurveda, but speaking very generically here, it is the science of life, and it has existed for at least 5,000 years. Full disclosure: I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I am solely practicing Ayurveda; I visit a Board-certified doct...

It's that time again! I'm sharing my goals for the remainder of December, and essentially the last few weeks of 2020. Can you believe we're less than a month from 2021? Finally, right? I have set lots of goals throughout the year, and while things have been chaotic (understatement of the century, right?), I have surprised myself in my ability to check off most of the items on my list. I have done a ton of professional development, made new connections (albeit virtually), and found ways to lose weight and take charge of my nutrition and self-care practices.  My work isn't done for 2020, though! I have some final goals for this month, so let's get to it! Teach 5 Yoga Classes My goal for this month is to teach five yoga classes. As part of my current yoga teacher training (I'm going for my 500-Hour Certification - learn more in this podcast episode ), and one of the requirements is that I teach 20 free, or karma, yoga classes. I'm getting close! In addition to ...

Last week, my friend Tikima (of Tikima Renee Fitness ) and I decided that we were going to do a TRX workout for at least 10 minutes every day of December. Yeah, we said that. And yeah, we're doing that! What is TRX? The TRX Suspension Trainer is unique! It has an anchor point and straps, and the level of difficulty of each exercise is determined by your angle from the anchor point. It creates instability, which creates core activation, resistance training by the use of your body weight, and helps you work on your balance as well. The TRX brand has a number of products, but the suspension trainer is the most popular product in the line. What Are You Hoping to Learn? We are both certified TRX Trainers , and it's been months  (it feels like at least a year, to be honest) since we've initially gotten our TRX certification. Unfortunately, we can't really teach it to anybody right now because of the pandemic; you can't really sanitize the straps the way you might other p...