I just have to tell you all...

Last night I found 15 steps (the big ones, just like mine) and 74 risers on ebay. The guy said "pick-up only" but I talked him into shipping them for an extra 50 dollars. Then someone outbid me by 50 cents in the last minute. I'm depressed.

I'll keep looking.

Yoga

So how do you like yoga so far? When I was younger I didn't like yoga so much, but the older I get, the more I like it. I felt pretty good after class tonight. The stretching made everything feel better. My back doesn't hurt for the first time in weeks. I hope you like it enough to keep doing it for a while; I think the longer we do it, the better it will get.

Anyone have a vote? Would you rather do something else?

Step Shopping

I know that several of you have been shopping for steps, so I thought I would do a little research on the internet to see what I could find. Here's what I have so far:

Susan G. Komen STEP
This one is built like Rachel's, but pink instead of blue. $39.99

Same STEP as above, but on Amazon
This one costs a little more, but is eligible for free shipping. $44.95

A Good Buy?
This step is DuraGym brand, which I am not familiar with. However, the price is right, and the step looks stable and skid-proof on top. Even when adjusted to the "intermediate" level, it doesn't look as high as the medium boxes, so this step would be best for someone who uses the smaller box. 24.99 and eligible for free shipping at Amazon.

I found a couple of other steps that I would NOT recommend. The first is "The Firm" step workout system. The boxes that come with the tapes are not really made for step aerobics like we do them. The other is on a variety of websites including Overstock. The reviews of this step say that it is narrow and not totally stable. This one makes me nervous.

My other suggestion is to check places like Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul on a regular basis. I bought my step at Goodwill (still in the box) for $8. (It retails online for $125.) At that price, they don't last long, so check often. Finally, yard sales are graveyards for loney steps. All 3 of my extra steps were yard-sale finds for $1 each.

After talking with several of you, I've decided to make Thursdays a cardio/yoga mix class. Here's the logic. We really need at least 3 days of cardio per week (and this class will give us that third day), but it's not a good idea to lift weights two days in a row. Since we do a full-body weight routine on Monday and Wednesday, we should do something else on Thursdays.

One of the most important (but most often overlooked) components of physical fitness is flexibility. Yoga provides some extra work in that area.

So...we will start with cardio at 3:45. I know that some of you can't make it that early, so come when you can. We will warm up for about 10 minutes (so if you are coming at 4, you can still get most of the cardio workout). We will do about 20-25 minutes of cardio (until 4:20-4:25).). Then we will start yoga. It's a good idea to do at least some of the cardio before the yoga so that your muscles are nice and warm, and as I have said before, it's ALWAYS ok to come in the middle of a class...just be sure to start slowly and work at your own pace.

For yoga, you can use the mats available at the club, but you might find a "sticky mat" more comfortable (Amazon has sticky mats for about $15). Yoga is usually done in bare feet, and the sticky mat just makes it a little easier. Also, bring a towel to roll up for the yoga portion.

Remember, keep looking for steps. I'm planning to put an ad in the EW, but haven't gotten to it yet. Also, if you have a big ball, bring it in and we'll write your name on it with a sharpie. You can store it at the club! When we have enough balls, we can use them for lifting weights, cardio and even yoga.

See you at the gym! Jill