The Cailin Crusher

I have a cocktail named after me (Campari, Champagne, Club Soda...slice of orange and two green olives). I have a sushi roll named after me at Sushi Ocean View (zucchini tempura with spicy tuna on top). And now I have a crossfit named after me: the Cailin Crusher (named this because I crushed the shit outta this gnarly workout) is 10-1, which means you do 10 of each then 9 then 8, all the way til 1. You had to move through thrusters, kettle bell swings, and burpees. It was the most intense 16 minutes in my workout history for sure. Later that night all of the guys did the Cailin Crusher and it killed them. Yeeeeww I drank the Kool-Aid and I love it.

Yup.

I felt pretty nauseous after my crossfit workout, and then I realized that I'd done two yoga classes and a workout, and at 1pm in the afternoon I still hadn't eaten or drank anything. Stopped into the Asian Supermarket in Pleasantville and treated myself to some Vegetable Pho. MmMmMm Good! 

Whoa. Been having a challenging couple of days. Aside from being physically exhausted, I have been emotionally exhausted as well. My truck was dying, my Dad has been out of it, and my mom has been sick. And Mom being sick is what threw me off. She's like (as one fellow friend/reader once said) Elmers glue around here - holding us all together. So when she was crying the other day and defeated, well - it shook me a bit. I taught two yoga classes this morning and left feeling powerful and amazing. I got done a list of things that needed doing, and even bought myself a new car, a Toyota Prius. Damn, I feel like a Yuppie. But the gas mileage is much much much MUCH better than my Toyota Tacomas was, that's for SURE. I even managed to squeeze in a (much-needed) session with Dr.Adonis and a short CrossFit workout with Chris Paisley. Came home and made my family some dinner, cleaned up the house, picked tomatoes from the garden, and have some design work and yoga planning to do before getting some sleep. Thanks to all of my students who keep me inspired and filled up with love and light - and thanks to all of our family and friends who have been helping out so much with my Dad. 

Beep Beep. I'm a yuppie. 

Living WELL.

Jean, Brooke, Lauren and Carmen in supported headstands in Wednesdays Sweaty Vinyasa / Yin class @ Ocean City Zen Den (922 Asbury Ave).

 Holy shitballs...it feels like every day of mine is full - every.single.minute. But, I'm okay with that. I have been seeing Dr. Adonis for my knee/hamstring lately and there have been miraculous results. After NO success with my Orthopedic, and no help from my doctors - my knee and hamstring are completely pain free for the first time in a year (and after only 3 visits). Dr. Adonis is the man who has me teaching Yin at his CrossFit center. So the other day (after my truck broke down and I was stuck with Chris Paisley at Living Well CrossFit) I was peer pressured by trainer Chris Paisley to finally try out a cross fit "WOD" (workout of the day). I was ill prepared - bare feet, bathingsuit, and a negative attitude towards exercise. Well, I only worked out for about a half hour - but it kicked my ass. Pullups, rowing, air squats, crunches, pushups, hell. Surprisingly, I felt good after - invigorated. 

Next day - not feeling as epic, but feeling strong. It was a GOOD tired. Now, two days after the workout I feel exhausted - I can barely bend or lift my arms - but I have been reassured that the first time is the most painful and then it becomes less painful as time passes. 

Well, last night when I was teaching YIN at Living Well CrossFit, I read a quote from Osho about pain (yin poses can be quite uncomfortable...):

"When pain disappears, the desire for pleasure also disappears. When you are not in anguish, you don't ask for indulgence."

So instead of the fighting and resisting the pain, I'm surrendering. I'm super excited for the SIX classes that I'll be teaching these next three days, and I can't wait to get back into Dr.Adonis's office, and into CrossFit.

I'm Living WELL...how are YOU living?

Yin

Erika in Butterfly.

Yin isn't for cissies. I have been teaching at the Living Well CrossFit center in Northfield for about two months now and I'm loving it. These athletes love their bodies, and they understand the importance of adding Yin into their very active (Yang) workouts. One of my students here is even a professional boxer!!

Unfortunately I had to cancel my 5:30pm Yin class in Margate because of poor turnout, but the classes at the Living Well CrossFit center are open to everyone and are at 7:45pm every Wednesday night. Classes are $10 for crossfit members and $15 for non-members. The class is an amazing group of individuals, so drop on in and get your Yin on!

Supported Headstand.

Btw: the photo below is of crossfitter Chris Paisleys' hand after one of his workouts....

Brooke in a heart opening butterfly. 

My friend Brooke was down for a day and a half, and in that the we had two yoga sessions, and enjoyed some coffee, fresh juice, hot tub time, wine and sushi. Last night I played at the Dead Dog until 2am, and she made it out for some of that as well (despite a 5am wake-up-time to commute 1.5hrs to work!). Also out last night were both my Megan's (Albrecht and McD), Yeeew. Summer fun has begun.

Megan Albrecht and Megan McD 

Wave Sliding Wednesday

Yesterday was a glorious day from start to finish. Taught my 9:30am flow class at the Ocean City Zen Den {922 Asbury Ave} and had 9 beautiful women in class. It was especially great because my friends Bridget, Kaitlin and Megan were able to come - and probably for the last time until Fall {they all work round the clock in the summer}. There were some new faces in class: Erin and Jess, and some previous (amazing) ZenDenners: Shelby and Angela, and then a special surprise were my friends Brooke and Lorraine (Brookes mama) who happened to be in town. Beautiful, magical morning. 

After class Bridget, Megan, Kaitlin and I headed to my favorite place in the worlddddd (or should I say favorite cafe in New Jersey?): Who's on 1st Cafe. It is simply the BEST, and Mila (the most spectacular beautiful kind and wonderful Barista) was working which always is a plus.  We had 3 lattes and I had the most spectacular grilled cheese with asparagus on it and fresh pesto. Holy shitballs, it was ammmmazingly finger-licking-good. 

I had my board with me...which has been no easy task . As soon as the girls left the cafe, I got a text from a friend saying that the waves were super fun. It was pouring rain, but the air was warm and I had my wetsuit in the truck. I headed to Delancey and surfed for over 2 hours with just 3 other guys out. Wave after wave after wave after wave....nose ride after nose ride. The rain maintained a steady downpour throughout the session, but that couldn't shake the smile from my face. There is nothing, truly nothing, that beats a surf session like that...where your whole body and soul just seems to be in alignment with the universe. Hallelujah.

After surf I headed to my friends Jay + Marthas house to use their outside shower and to hang out for a bit. Martha has two art shows coming up so it was great to get a peek into her studio and see what she's been working on. All of her artwork is inspired by her travels in Europe this past winter with her husband, and she's also painted me playing music into one of the pieces! 

I still had some time to kill before I headed to the Zen Den (in Margate) for my 5:30pm Yin, so I bopped in and out of a few thrift shops, picking up some treasures. Taught Yin and then headed to Northfield to teach my third class of the day: another Yin class @ Living Well Holistic and CrossFit Center. Living Well is owned and operated by Dr.Adonis Alejandro, an amazing chiropractor and CrossFit coach. I love Living Well, I love Dr.Adonis,  I love all of his CrossFit clients and I love teaching Yin here. After class we went back to Chris Paisleys house for a late "paleo" dinner (grilled steaks and lots of vegetables). I did some thai massage on everyone, Dr.Adonis did some adjustments on my body - working specificially on my meniscus and hamstring, and all around it was just a mellow ending to an amazing day.

Beach yoga starts this Sunday, and I have a lot of amazing classes planned for this weekend - so I hope to see you!!