Getting My Cardio on at a Yoga Studio #FaBloggersMixx

So recently I posted my workout story and how I've started being more active thanks to ClassPass. Not only have I been more motivated to be active lately, but I have been wanting to collaborate with more local businesses and people as well. 
With that, I met Kalila, who is an instructor at Mixx Yoga in Newport Beach and is now a good friend of mine. I talked with her about hosting an event with her studio for bloggers and the #FaBloggersMixx was born!
Mixx Yoga is not your typical yoga studio. They incorporate cardio into their yoga classes, which allows for people to get a full workout of improving flexibility and balance as well as getting their heart rate pumping and improving your endurance and stamina. And it's cool because it is run by all women! The founder, Mitra Hooshmand, is a neuroscientist that discovered her love for fitness and so Mixx Yoga was founded! 
All photos done by the lovely Golden Hope Studios!

Fabletics also sponsored the event because all the trainers at the studio that day were certified Fabletics Masters.  We got some Fabletics socks, cute hair ties (I lost one of them already, sad day), a coupon for a free pair of Fabletics pants, and a gift card from Mixx Yoga.

I have never taken a yoga class before, so this one was my first. I knew that it wasn't your typical yoga class, so although it was very intense, it was still great.

There were about 15 of us bloggers there and I think we can safely say that we got our butts kicked by the yoga - cardio - yoga - cardio - yoga workout! It was relaxing yet very exhausting. It was a great experience though and I am excited to go back again when school gets out!

It was a great time to meet and mingle with all these bloggers, none of whom I had met before so it was great! I also decided that I really enjoy being active and that I will for sure be returning to Mixx Yoga for classes in the future! Although they incorporate cardio into their standard classes, they also have yoga classes without the cardio. I'll probably try those classes next.

Another great thing about this event: I got to meet some great girls from the Her Campus Blogger Network! This is a network that I have been a part of for the past 2 years now so I am glad to finally have met some of the girls in this group! I'm hoping to have more events with them soon :]

So with this post I am saying these things if you think it's tl;dr (that term is #gamergfprobs):

1. GO TO MIXX YOGA. If you want to try working out but want to try something different, I guarantee you Mixx Yoga will be different. And guys, don't be intimidated by all the women in these photos. There are definitely men that take classes here too; there just weren't any male bloggers in attendance here.

2. Network and meet people! It is honestly my favorite thing to do. Whether you are a blogger or a neuroscientist, get out and meet people in your field, or just meet people in general! You never know where unlikely connections may lead you. Trust me.

Okay. I know this was a long and photo heavy post, but I hope you are inspired either to work out, go to Mixx, or to go network. Or all 3. Even better.

Mixx Yoga's Social Media:

Twitter || Instagram || Facebook

Have you ever done yoga? What are some poses that you think I should learn? I really want to regain my flexibility!

Disclaimer: This post was not sponsored by Mixx Yoga. I hosted a blogger event at their studio with their help & with the help of Fabletics. All opinions are my own.

My Workout Story and What I Learned About Myself Through Class Pass

I usually HATE working out. I don't mind being physically active, as I used to be a dancer when I was younger and loved it. What I hate is the conditioning aspect of it--most of which includes some type of running. 

From my dancing days, circa 2007--I want to get this flexible again one day!

A little known fact about me: I actually have exercise-induced asthma, but it really only flares up when I do some intense running or any kind of exercise that involves a form of it, like suicides. I always run at the same pace (even though it's slow) like all my coaches recommend, but my asthma still flares up pretty badly. Because of this, I dreaded tennis practices in high school because the first half of practices included conditioning. 
Because I hated the feeling like I was dying every time I tried to work out, I completely stopped doing any kind of regular physical workout after tennis season ended my junior year. 
I remember when I did drill team (a type of dance and not the ROTC kind) and tennis, my coaches would say the same things: "If you can't run a mile, then you can't [do a 3 minute dance routine/play a full match]." However, when it came to doing those very things, it came pretty easily to me and I didn't get tired nearly as quickly. 
Now fast forward to me in college: I don't go to the gym at all. I eat a lot of crappy (but delicious) food, and I only do physical movement if someone is making me (ie: walking somewhere or I'm being forced to help move something). 
I know that this type of lifestyle is not healthy. I may not be overweight by any means, but I know that if I don't do anything soon these habits will catch up to me. It's just that I get so lazy and because most people's idea of working out usually involves running, I am never motivated because I hate the feeling of not being able to breathe.  Enter ClassPass.

When I found out it was coming to LA/Orange County and learned about the basic concept of it, I was beyond excited! The idea of getting to take a bunch of classes in a bunch of studios in the area sounded great. I love variety and the types of workouts being offered in the classes (dance, barre, yoga, pilates, etc) so I just had to give it a try!
ClassPass contacted me about trying it out for a month and I could not turn down that offer! Free workouts that aren't running? How could I ever turn that down? 
So through ClassPass, I was able to try out a few different types of classes at different studios. I tried barre, pilates, cycling, zumba, and aerial silks. 
I liked barre and aerial silks the most because they both incorporated dance and flexibility while doing things to help build some strength in my body. Barre is basically ballet exercises done at a fast pace to do cardio workouts. Aerial silks are where you are hanging in cool poses from the ceiling, but trust me, it's much harder than it looks because of the upper body strength it requires to lift yourself off the ground. 

So with all of that being said, here is what I learned about myself through ClassPass: 
+ I prefer workout classes compared to working out at my own pace.  Even though most people work out on their own time and at their own pace, that isn't enough to motivate me. I like taking classes for school, so of course I am the same way with being physical. 
Taking classes forces me to set aside time for it because I have to sacrifice gas to drive to the studio and usually money in order to take these classes. I know you have to sacrifice money to have a gym membership too but with these classes I am also accountable to the instructor to make sure that I show up and don't have to pay a cancellation fee. 

+ Workout classes are just more fun for me in general. Sometimes classes at these kinds of studios can add up to be more expensive than a gym membership depending on how often you go, but honestly they are just more enjoyable for me than running on the treadmill or lifting weights. I mean who doesn't want to learn how to hang out from the ceiling? 
+ I would have to make a lot of changes to my diet if I really want to see results. I'm not necessarily trying to lose weight, but I do want to flatten my resting pregnant tummy (I know I am small and I'm not calling myself fat--but trust me my stomach looks pregnant all the time!) and gain some muscle in my upper body because my lower body is still pretty good. 
When I played tennis, even at my most fit self, my stomach was still so big it looked (and felt like) there was a balloon inside of it. Darell told me not too long after I started ClassPass that my diet was the reason that I didn't see results in my core. Not only would I have to limit the junk food I ate, but I would also have to track what I'm eating and what is in it and how often I am eating (my metabolism lets me get away with eating so crappy but staying small that's why). 
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ClassPass has really made me excited and have hope for myself as far as workouts go. If you are interested in trying out Class Pass, it's $99 a month to try out as many classes as you'd like! And with some of these classes costing between $20-$30 for just one, you've already gotten your money's worth after 4 classes (although I recommend taking much more than that)!
I'm actually very excited to get more active in my lifestyle thanks to ClassPass. It sounds cheesy, I know, but I swear this is all genuine! If you have any more questions or want more info you can ask me or just head on over to the ClassPass website. 
#LivingtheSweatyLife 
Disclaimer: ClassPass provided me a complimentary month-long membership but I was not financially compensated nor was I asked to write this post. I just really love ClassPass and what they have to offer!