Holiday Shopping Guide: Recovery Stocking Stuffers

Every athlete at any level risks their body every time they train.  Even with proper form, technique, and awareness, the threat of strains, pulls, fatigue, and overuse lingers daily.  Why not help your favorite athlete heal faster and recover better with some great holiday stocking stuffers?!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

PainCakes - The recovery that sticks!  This awesome little ice pack is self-adhesive and reusable, so you can slap it on your sore spots to get relief, then stick it back in the freezer to have it ready for next time!  No wraps, covers, or frustration necessary.  Great for ANY athlete!

SLS3 Compression Sleeves - Though some people actually wear compression socks or sleeves during their runs, I've found them to be absolutely ideal for recovery post-run.  Graduated compression gently squeezes the blood vessels to allow better flow of nutrients to muscles, allowing for faster rebuilding after putting your fibers to the test.  PLUS, right now you can take 40% off your order with code FITNYX40 through 1/31/17!

Telic Recovery Footwear - After pounding the pavement for miles upon miles, your feet can get more than a little sore, and the constant impact can throw much of your body out of whack too.  With Telic shoes or flip flops, tired feet and legs are more comfortably supported and harsh footstep impacts are reduced.  The heat-activated material conforms to the shape of your foot while you wear them, giving you a perfect fit every time.  Use promo code AMANDAN5 to get $5 off your order!

Massages - Nothing says "recovery" like a massage!  Treat your loved ones' sore muscles to a good rub-down with a gift card to a local massage parlor or a relaxing spa day.  A card makes a great stocking stuffer, OR you can get a little mini-massager (like the foot massagers below) to wrap up with a card or a pre-paid package.

IdealLean BCAA Mix - Whether it's cardio or strength work, post-workout muscle soreness is a very real problem.  Working out hard actually tears your muscles, and it's the rebuilding process that makes them stronger.  Speed up that rebuilding time and provide your athlete with more of the essential branched-chain amino acids that are vital to muscle recovery with one of IdealLean's delicious BCAA blends.  These powders mix easily into water for a refreshing and powerful post-workout beverage!  IdealLean is running tons of holiday specials, and you can even get 10% off your order with code anyx10!

Recovery is a GREAT way to show you care!  Support your favorite runner/lifter/yogi with gifts that will keep them doing the things they love longer and safer - that's a happy holiday all around!

Holiday Shopping Guide: Runners

Runners like to think we're pretty easy to shop for, but that doesn't stop our families from asking us "uhh, so what do you want for Christmas?" every year!  If you're stuck on ideas shopping for that runner in YOUR life, consider some of these great options.

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links.

BUFF Headbands - Keep your ears, neck, face, and head warm and cozy for winter running with a Merino wool Buff!  Or, in the warmer months, get a UV Buff to protect your face and neck from harsh sun exposure.  Buffs come in dozens of colors and patters, so you're sure to find the perfect style for ANY personality!  They also make bandannas, gloves, scarves, and traditional headbands.

RunLites Gloves - Light up the night and stay safe with RunLites!  These gloves contain removable light packs that rest on the back of your hand, making them much more comfortable than a headlamp and completely unobtrusive while you're running, not to mention easier to aim when you need to scan your surroundings.  There's even an elastic that will hold your race fuel for you!

Race Entries - This is a sure winner!  Pick a dream race or even just an open-ended offer and make your own gift certificate!  Every runner's worst nightmare is figuring out how to afford their race schedule.  Take some of that burden off their shoulders and they'll love you forever...

JournalMenu Training Planner - Fully customizeable both inside and out, this is a gift that can be tailored to ANYone.  From creating personalized covers to choosing your page layout, and even picking supplemental and informational inserts to be included, JournalMenu lets you craft a tool that meets any goal or training program!

Hydrus Performance Hydration - A liquid concentrate electrolyte mix, Hydrus is one of the best hydration products available on the market.  Not only is it excellent for long runs, hot runs, and recovery, it's also being used by major hospitals to help rehydrate patients suffering from symptoms like nausea and vomiting.  The power is in the microbubble formula that will take your insides from parched to healthy in record time! (Use promo code FITNYX to get free shipping on your Hydrus order!)

Polar Performance Watch - For the serious runner, Polar wearables provide a wealth of training feedback, including distance, splits, pace, heart rate, elevation, and more.  All that delicious data helps track goal progress and highlights opportunities for improvement.  Even the casual runner can enjoy the benefits of GPS tracking and step counting!  (Plus, free shipping on orders over $100!)

Shoes - Every runner needs shoes, but do be mindful that it's not ideal to run in just any ol' shoe.  Many runners get fitted for the right amount of support and fit for their gait; some even get custom-formed insoles to ensure the shoe meets their body's needs.  If you're not sure which shoe your runner needs, consider a gift card to a running store instead!

iTunes Gift Card - Runners are music lovers too!  Especially on those long runs, it's great to have a long playlist of all your favorites.  Stuff a little running love into their stocking this year with a gift card to fill their devices with their favorite running jams!

Hope this has helped you find the perfect presents for the runners on your list!  Stay tuned for more holiday shopping guides, including ideas for lifters, yogis, and recovery products for ANY fitness fanatic!  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

IdealLean Cake Batter Protein Powder

These days, there are hundreds of protein powders available, at supplement stores, grocery stores, even mass retailers like Walmart.  While it's nice that supplements are so readily available, there does eventually come a point at which the market is overly flooded - and many of the products in that flood are sub-par, low quality blends that don't offer much protein bang for your buck.  Getting a good nutritional return on your investment is important, and so is enjoying the taste of the product you're using.  Fusing a good nutrient label with a delicious taste is NOT an easy feat, apparently, as many of the protein powders I've tried have been unappealing or even downright gross!  Fortunately there are always other powders, and it was just a question of committing to the search before I found something not only protein-packed but delicious to consume.

Disclaimer: I received IdealLean products to try and review.  I am under no obligation to promote the product, and all opinions expressed in this and any related posts are, as always, my own.  This post contains affiliate links.

Honestly, IdealLean had me sold at "cake batter" - but only if the powder actually tasted like cake batter!  Though the nutrition panel on the container boasted 20g of protein with only 80 calories per serving (a pretty darn good ratio), making this powder a nutritional win, my first instinct is to find a product I'll continue to use.  In the case of protein powders, that means something tasty that I'll actually want to keep drinking.  My first test of taste is always powder plus water: pure, simple, with nowhere for a bad flavor or gritty texture to hide.  Even some of the best powders I've tried before are still kinda bland when mixed with just water, but not this one!  IdealLean's cake batter flavor was creamy and delicious even in plain ol' H20.  And the kicker?  FUNFETTI.  No, seriously.  There are little confetti pieces in the powder to make the cake-y experience even more realistic, which made me very happy!  Mixing the powder with milk only made it that much more batter-like and flavorful, making this my #1 favorite protein powder (edging out even my old favorite, red velvet)!

But protein powder is so much more than just a beverage, as I've been coming to find.  There are hundreds of recipes out there (try IdealLean's downloadable recipe book) for culinary creations that provide a big protein boost thanks to their incorporation of protein powder, and I just had to try this new cake batter flavor in another state of consumption.  My pick for my experiment?  Waffles.  Crispy, golden waffles.  Mixing a very basic batter focused primarily on the protein powder, I was able to make myself a very tasty, low-carb/high-protein breakfast.  I'm a sucker for the higher-carb breakfast foods, so I am thrilled to have a palatable morning treat that better suits my nutritional needs as well.

Now that I know the joys of protein powder cooking, I'm excited to try more!  I'm also excited to sample other flavors from the IdealLean line, and am fortunate to also have a big tub of chocolate coconut powder to play with over the coming weeks.  The protein content is consistent with other options, the calories are lower than other options, and the flavor is head and shoulders above the next best flavor I've tried, which sounds like a win all around.  This is also my third IdealLean product success, which gives me great hope for the next couple products I'll be trying and gives me even more confidence in sharing an IdealLean promo code anyx10 for 10% off your order!  Check out all their protein powder flavors along with other nutrition products to help you on your wellness journey - and don't forget they make great gifts for the nutritionally minded people on your holiday shopping list!

The Perfect Running Shorts

I made that mistake the other day.  You know the one - you've worn a particular article of clothing for lots of short runs and never had a problem, so you assume it'll be perfect for your half marathon, even though you've never run more than a 5k in that item.  When that item is your shorts, you're in a LOT of trouble.  If you haven't learned the lesson the hard way, please listen to me now and learn it the easy way!

It became obvious that my trusty ol' racing shorts were not quite so trusty now that I'm consistently running longer distances.  With my lofty six-in-six half marathon goals, I needed a solution, and I needed it FAST.  Then, at the Rite Aid Marathon Weekend expo, I met Amy the Gypsy Runner, and she solved all my chafing problems - along with providing better solutions to other issues I've been trying to solve!

Amy sells a huge variety of running gear: everything from tank tops to shorts to skirts to compression sleeves and everything in between.  With dozens of cute and clever shirt prints and a big selection of patterns for her shorts, capris, and skirts, it would be so easy to fill my entire wardrobe with Gypsy!  But to start, I just had to try her amazing double-pocket shorts, which are available in a 7" length as well as a 9" length for those of us who hate hate HATE when those booty shorts ride up too far!  Being an outta-this-world kinda gal (heh), I naturally chose the Cosmic pattern, and went with the shorter length.  It's long enough to not ride up, but short enough to be versatile in both hot and cooler weather.

I took a couple short training runs in my new shorts, and all was looking good - so far.  After working up the mileage a little bit, I was confident enough to test them in a longer-distance race, and chose the Towpath 10-10 as my guinea pig.  It was going to be a hot day, and knowing the Towpath valley, I expected a bit of mugginess along the canal too, so it was the perfect test of the material's moisture wicking and breathability.

Now, there's no way to know what exactly was the cause, but I flew through that race like you wouldn't believe.  I ran sub-10 splits for the first time at any distance longer than 5k, and PRed by almost 10 full minutes.  It was, for lack of a better word, bonkers.  I felt amazing for most of the run, apart from a little hamstring strain towards the very end of the race, and could not believe how well I did.  Was it the shorts, or was it just better training/preparation?  The world may never know, but I DO know that my new shorts were perfectly fitted, did not ride up, did not chafe, and pulled my sweat away from my skin so I never felt swampy no matter how hot and muggy the morning became, and all of that is almost as much of a WIN as the PR!

With the chafing issue properly addressed, the shorts were already a great purchase - but the awesomeness doesn't end with just a great pair of running shorts.  There's the whole "double pocket" part.  I've used a variety of running belts to bring keys, nutrition, my phone, and even water with me on my runs, but even the best belts in my collection are a little awkward.  Between bouncing around, needing constant adjustment, and not having enough space for everything, I haven't found the perfect carry-all belt option yet.  Fortunately, thanks to Gypsy Runner, I don't need to keep searching!  The huuuuuuuge pockets provide ample secure storage for my runs.  I tuck my phone in one pocket (my Droid Mini fits sideways into the pocket for even more security), a key and some nutrition in the other, and I'm ready to go.  If the run is very long (like the marathon training 20 milers I'm about to hit), I can toss extra nutrition in the other pocket.  I can also wear a belt and use both options to ensure I have everything I need, especially on days when I need water along with me on the run.  I had originally worried there would still be bouncing, but so far, nothing I have tucked away has moved mid-run.

Towel and phone stuffed in pockets, water and fuel on hip.  Great!

I love these shorts so much, I haven't worn much else in a couple months!  So many runners have asked about them, especially when they see me using the POCKETS that most other running shorts DON'T have!  After the Rock Hall Half, I forgot to toss my humid, sweaty, mucky clothes into the wash in time for my next long run, but the importance of wearing those shorts was so great to me that I wore them dirty (and I mean these things were nasty, I should probably be embarrassed to admit this in a public post) and gutted out the run despite the nauseating smell.  And pretty much flew through that run too - almost making sub-10 splits despite the massive hills I threw into the middle!  Are we seeing a pattern here?

Well the verdict is that Gypsy Runner shorts are AMAZING.  In fact, I just got two new pairs (in equally awesome patterns) in the mail today, so that whole gross-unwashed-rewearing thing doesn't have to happen again and I can always have a pair ready to go whenever I need!

And what's even better than hearing about the perfect product?  Getting a discount, I should think!  Thanks to Amy's generosity, I can offer you a discount on your next Gypsy Runner purchase!  Use promo code FITNYX to get $5 off your order of $45 or more.  This code is valid through September 8, so don't wait - grab the best pair of running shorts you'll ever own right away!

What's your favorite piece of running gear?  Why are pockets the greatest things known to (wo)man?  Check out Gypsy Runner and tell me what your favorite patterns are!

Product Review: Foxy Box Subscription Boxes

My quest for the perfect subscription box service has been ongoing since my first less-than-perfect experience with one of the most popular boxes a couple months ago.  These types of monthly sampler sets are becoming more and more popular - and for good reason!  It's an ideal way for consumers to be introduce to the VAST range of products available these days, especially if you're interested in a niche product or prefer to support smaller companies that can't afford the in-your-face advertising of the market dominators.

One of the more interesting box companies I found is Foxy Boxes.  They offer four different subscription options to meet the varied needs of healthly lifestyles.  You can choose from paleo, vegan, endurance, or gym-goer options; each category provides a different set of products, making the experience much more customized than other services that send the same items to all customers.  Since I have been spending so much more time in the gym while I've been building my boxing strength and teaching more boot camps, I opted to try the Gym Goer Foxy Box.

Disclaimer: I received one Foxy Box Gym Goer box free of charge in exchange for my review.  No additional compensation was provided.  All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.

The first thing I noticed when I opened my box was how much stuff there was!  Other boxes send a few tiny samples, but Foxy Boxes send either larger sampler packs or full size products for just about everything included.  I had a full bottle of coconut water!  I also had a few non-consumables; it was nice to find that the box branched out from "snacks and supplements".  In fact, the Bondi Band headband and Popband hair tie were probably my favorite products out of this box!  I've always wanted to try Bondi Bands but never got around to ordering one - so Foxy Boxes definitely started out with a notch in the "win" column.

As I picked through my box and started using more of my products, I started to notice that about half the box was REALLY on-theme for a gym-goer box.  Besides the hair products, I received a few protein products (gel, chips, pudding, snack bar), joint health chews, pre-workout drink mix, and portable body wipes.  While things like the protein pudding and chips were a little odd, they were definitely products I wouldn't have found myself and offered the kinds of benefits for which I as a developing gym rat am searching.  The other half of the box seemed to be much more general-wellness-y.  Almond butter, anti-aging skincare and supplements, coconut water, a tea infuser...  Some of these products could probably fit any of the Foxy Boxes, which isn't unexpected when I think about it.  For an independent company to piece together four completely separate sets of items every month while retaining quality, there probably will end up being some crossovers.  Otherwise, they'd pack every possible gym-specific goody into one box, and have nothing new for next month!

In fact, I started thinking about what types of goodies the Foxy Box might include in the future, if I were to continue my Gym Goer box subscription, and I realized there are actually LOTS of box-able products out there I'd be curious to try!  Having received such a wide variety of products in this box, I have faith any following boxes would also offer the same plethora of items.  With a mix of brands I recognize and companies I've never heard of, there are endless possibilities for the future!

What it comes down to is price - Foxy Boxes are $30/month (less, if you commit to a subscription term) and claim to contain $50-$100 worth of product in each box.  Having seen the joint chews in stores for $25/bag, I definitely know I got far more than $30 worth of product in my box!  What I'd be curious to see is how often the products are repeated in subsequent months.  After seeing a couple other reviews posted about a month prior to when I received my box, I noticed there were quite a few similarities between my box and theirs - but I'm not sure exactly which month's box I actually received!  It's possible I got a leftover from a prior set since I'm new to the company, which would account for some of the overlap.  If Foxy Boxes can come up with totally unique boxes every month, it's going to be one of the best subscription sample services out there, especially for women since these boxes are designed for us!

As always, you know I love passing on discounts on products I enjoyed!  I think Foxy Boxes offers more than ample value for the cost of a subscription already, but it's even better when you get to use a discount code, right?  So now you can use FITNYX10 for 10% off your subscription to any of the Foxy Box options, and have exciting health, wellness, and fitness samples delivered right to your doorstep every month!  This code will only be active through October 31st, so don't wait!  Of course, the only thing better than getting something at a discount is getting something FREE - and thanks to the generosity of Foxy Boxes, I get to give away any one Foxy Box to a reader!  Enter using the Rafflecopter below.  Giveaway ends October 13th at 11:59pm.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Have you tried a subscription box service yet?  What types of samples would you like to see in your box?

Race Recap: Insane Inflatable 5k

So...  It's been a little while since I last ran more than a mile or two.  Sure, I've taken the dog for a jog occasionally, but actual training runs have been almost non-existent since mid-July when I last participated in a race event.  And while I've been spending plenty of time on fitness, I'm definitely not in distance shape anymore!  But since it's been months since my last event, I've definitely been feeling the itch to get back out there, and turned to obstacle course races (OCRs) once again as a fun, low-pressure way to get back into the racing world.

A friend asked me about a race called the Insane Inflatable 5k, which happened to be stopping in Erie PA, about an hour and a half from my current home.  I'd never heard of it, but did some research and was excited to find a growing company with a slew of successful events already under their belt.  I'm always cautious of OCRs, especially if they haven't been on my radar previously, because the OCR industry is becoming notorious for scams, disappointments, and even injuries - general warning, do your research on any adventure race or OCR company before you get swept up in their hype!  But the Insane Inflatable passed check, and I eagerly signed up to give it a go.

Disclaimer: I was provided a comped entry for the event in exchange for my review.  I have not received any additional compensation for this post, and all views and opinions herein are my own.

I headed out to Erie early, with my mom along for the ride (she hopped over to the casino while I ran, it was a win-win).  The drive went quickly and I arrived more than an hour early for my start time, as advised in the pre-race email.  For the first few waves, though, this was probably an unnecessary precaution!  I waltzed right up to the row of registration tables, picked up my bib and wristband, and was done in less than a minute.  Leaving me a LOT of down time before my scheduled wave (the first of the day).  This meant I had time to poke around the festival area without having to fight through crowds!

As promised, the little midway offered some inflatable playthings such as games and bouncy houses.  The venue provided food booths, and a couple local sponsors had set up tents.  Erie is not one of the race's primary markets and receives relatively low registration (compared to the metropolis races, which obviously have a larger pool of participants), so the festival area was properly scaled to the size of the event.  The main feature was the Air National Guard station, which offered mini fitness competitions throughout the day.  Race participants and spectators were all welcome to pick a fitness challenge such as planks, wall sits, sit ups, push ups, chin ups, and more, then do their best to set the day's record.  A couple girls had stepped up to set the first few numbers, and when I saw the current record was only three chin ups, I knew I could beat it.  I managed seven chin ups before my start wave was called and I had to head to the start line - but after the race I came back to see how my number had held up.  I'd been beaten!  Someone had done 10 chin ups, so I hopped back up on the bar and gutted out another 10 of my own, but couldn't quite get that last one for the record!

Anyway, I was there for the run, so let's talk about that!  I was in the first wave at 8:45am, and it was chilly and damp when we started.  This made the inflatables pretty slippery, which was an immediate concern since even the starting line itself is an obstacle!  I was impressed right off the bat, though, when volunteers and race staff cautioned participants to use ropes and handholds when climbing to prevent slipping.  This same focus on safety lasted for the entire course, and was probably the most noteworthy aspect of the whole race!  Every worker along the course was vocal and clear, including letting racers know which side of the slide would have puddles at the bottom!

My shoes got damp quickly from the dew, but the middle third of the course was on pavement and they dried out without much fuss.  Obstacles were kept on the grass, which meant they were grouped at the beginning and end of the course since the that paved mile was actually partially ON the Lake Erie Speedway racetrack!  My dad has autocrossed on the same track a few times but I got to tackle it on foot!  I of course had to stop for a quick selfie.

The early wave had a surprisingly good turnout for a place like Erie, which is a little out of the way for big city runners, but we still spread out quickly and I was rarely running near anyone else, which meant the obstacles were quick and easy to tackle.  Later waves didn't look so crowded as to cause line issues at the inflatables, either, which has been a chronic problem in other OCRs.  In a larger city, this might still be an issue but Erie was the perfect size to keep things moving.  Or perhaps it only seemed that way because Insane Inflatable does a great job metering out wave registration to ensure there's no overcrowding...

I made it through the 5k course in about 30 minutes, which surprised me because I thought I was taking it pretty easy and there were obstacles...  I didn't track the distance but it's possible the course was a little short - it's also possible I ran a little harder than I realized.  One thing is for sure - I was WIPED for the rest of the day!  Between running and participating in several of the fitness challenges, I was tired and sore in that exquisite way that proves you're getting stronger.  I received my medal and t-shirt at the end of the race, mingled with the crowd for a while (and met some fun people), then picked up my gear and headed home, exhausted but exceptionally pleased with my experience!

Organization: As I mentioned, I was there very early, and that affected my check in times, but even later I noticed that registration was moving efficiently.  There were ample volunteers and staff in place to handle the size of crowd I was seeing, and everyone was willing to be helpful.  The course was well marked and laid out creatively to maximize the space available at a tight venue, and crowd control was actually pretty well done.  This is the first race I've done with wristbands designating wave time, and I was surprised to see they not only checked wristbands but were strict about people entering at the right time.  Having witnessed the problems overcrowding and wave switching can cause, I'm grateful for the level of control that was exercised in the interest of keeping the event consistently fun and safe for everyone.

The Course: Lots of obstacles!  Another chronic problem in the OCR world is overpromising and underdelivering on things like number of obstacles, but the Insane Inflatable had plenty of fun things to try along the course!  Some of the inflatables were relatively similar, but there's only so much that can be done with bouncy technology at this time, I suppose.  Every one of them was fun, which is the most important thing - there were no lame components that looked cool but then ended up being a total bore.  My favorite part was probably running on the Speedway, though, which has a lot to do with dad's history on the track, but can also be attributed to being a very unique feature of the venue.  Not every race gets to run on an automotive racetrack!

The Swag: Every runner gets a t-shirt and a medal as they cross the finish line.  I thought this was interesting, as you usually receive your event shirt at registration so you can wear it while you run, and therefore show up in your event photos with the race shirt.  Receiving the shirt at the end is logistically easier on the race organization: it allows check-in to move more quickly, and uses the finish line as a way to space out participants so the t-shirt line does not get overcrowded.  As I never wear the event shirt on the same day, this certainly didn't bother me!  I love the medal, which actually features one of the obstacles instead of just the event logo.  I was also very appreciative of the full size Kind bar I received with my medal, as I had yet to eat any breakfast!  Boy did I scarf that thing down...  Post-race, the Insane Inflatable offer FREE race photos, which is a huge value for any event.  They had several photographers out on the course, even early, and took some great shots!

The Bottom Line: This was a great OCR for the family!  It's not hardcore like Spartan or Tough Mudder events are, which is totally fine for me right now.  The draw of these races would be the emphasis on having fun while moving a little more than usual, and I think that's one of the best things happening in the world today.  Anyone can get through a course like this and get a positive fitness experience out of it, and the obstacles and festival make for great stories to tell later!  If you're thinking of spending more time moving, but you're intimidated by timed races or intense OCRs, the Insane Inflatable is the perfect introductory race to get you started.  If you're a regular runner and you're just looking for a change of pace, this is the event to keep yourself training but with an added element of silliness that'll make your workout seem like a party!

Did I get you thoroughly juiced about the Insane Inflatable 5k?  Go try it yourself and get 15% off your entry fee with promo code FITNYX15!  And be sure to have a BLAST!

Product Review: YogaFlexCo Yoga Wheel (GIVEAWAY)

***UPDATE: YogaFlexCo has expanded and become Breathe Life Yoga!  You can still get the same fantastic product from YogaFlexCo, but if you're near Tom's River NJ, you can also stop in to the new Breathe Life Yoga studio and meet the beautiful mind behind this great company!***

This past month I joined the Move More Yoga challenge on Instagram, and thoroughly enjoyed finding ways to work yoga into all of the many adventures I've been blessed with throughout September.  Organized by weekly themes, this challenge dared me to try some new things and bend in ways I didn't know my body even could!  I was most intimidated by the week of backbends, though.  I've had chronic back pain from an injury years ago, and my flexibility leaves a lot to be desired; needless to say, backbends don't always sound incredibly appealing to me!

But as I started following more and more yogis on Instagram, I started seeing photos of people with an interesting prop: the yoga wheel.  There are several companies making these wheels on the market, but the YogaFlex wheel in particular caught my eye.  With a wide variety of colors and padding thicknesses, and some of the best pricing available, these wheels seemed to be a great investment for advancing my yoga practice and finally overcoming some of the hesitations and fears I had about my body's abilities.

Disclaimer: I received one YogaFlex wheel free of charge in exchange for my review.  No additional compensation was provided.  All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.

I was surprised and grateful to have received a new style of wheel: this model not only has thick mat padding around the exterior, but also has two strips of material on the inside, to provide better grip if you're holding on to the wheel mid-pose.  I found this especially helpful with poses like camel and one-legged bridge.  The padding is plush and soft, so resting on the wheel is very comfortable and allowed me to actually relax into some of the poses that otherwise would have strained my back painfully.  Backbends ended up being my favorite week of the challenge, now that I finally have the right equipment to help me learn and grow!  You can even see my progression in the photos below - by the time I took the bottom photo at the end of the week, I was MUCH more comfortable with backbends and with my wheel.

The yoga wheel is helpful for more than just backbends, though!  Any pose that needs additional support can benefit from a yoga wheel: forward bends, low lunges, goddess squats...  You can even use the wheel to make a pose a little more challenging, helping you push yourself past a plateau in your practice!  Try sticking a wheel under your feet in plank pose, for a little extra core work, or in wheel pose to really work those arms!  And of course, you can use the wheel for a better stretch and range of motion in restorative poses such as child's pose.

Especially for beginners, the yoga wheel should be a go-to piece of equipment in your yoga practice.  My wheel bolstered not only my back but also my confidence, which has helped me grow in leaps and bounds.  As I broke down barriers within my mind and body, as yoga is meant to do, I found myself more and more willing to try new things and push my boundaries in other practices.  I would highly recommend a wheel to anyone who is looking to build more yoga into their lives, and couldn't imagine a better wheel than the YogaFlex grippy wheel to get started!

Wanna see for yourself?  YogaFlexCo has generously offered to give away a yoga wheel to one of my readers!  Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below!  Giveaway ends October 6th at 11:59pm; winner must be willing to provide valid shipping address.  And even if you're not the lucky winner (or you just can't wait to find out if you won) you can still get 15% off with promo code FITNYX15 on the YogaFlexCo website!  With the holiday season approaching, yoga wheels make great gifts for the yogis in your life - and they even make yoga wheel ornaments too!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Do you use props in your yoga practice?  What poses intimidate you, and how have you overcome those fears?  What's your favorite yoga pose?

Need another great gift idea for your beloved yogi?  Snag a promo code for the Sapphire Soul Mindful + Mystic subscription box from my review earlier this week!

Product Review: Sapphire Soul Subscription Boxes

When I received a Bulu Box for review last month, it was my first experience with a subscription box service - and it didn't go as well as I would have liked.  I liked the idea of a monthly box that would expose me to a wider range of potentially awesome products, but Bulu wasn't quite for me.  I set off to find other options to investigate, and came up with some really interesting finds.  The most interesting I found was the Sapphire Soul Mindful + Mystic series, which offers a monthly set of mindfulness, yoga, or meditation focused products.  While most other boxes are packed with small product samples, the Mindful + Mystic boxes actually contain beautiful decorative and usable items to grace your home and your spiritual practice.

This month, the Mindful + Mystic box was created around an interesting theme: the Hamsa Hand, a multi-faith symbol for protection.  Hamsa history dates back to ancient Mesopotamia, and is found prominently in South Asian, Middle Eastern, and North African cultures.  Originally used to ward off the Evil Eye, the Hamsa has become a more generalized protective amulet, and is also associated with blessings, power, and strength.  I opened my box to find myriad Hamsa products, as well as several items that can be used with the Hamsa to generate protective energies - as indicated by the box's insert describing how to utilize the items for a purification and protection ritual.  Every box comes with information about the individual items as well, including pricing and discount codes if you want to purchase more from the partnered vendors.  In a $33 box, I received over $70 worth of items, making this a phenomenal value!

Disclaimer: I received one Sapphire Soul Mindful + Mystic box free of charge in exchange for my review.  No additional compensation was provided.  All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.  This post contains affiliate links.

As you can see, I got a LOT of really nice stuff!  Honestly, I was BLOWN AWAY when I was unpacking my box.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but this much beautiful was far more than I could have anticipated.  What really impressed me was how on-theme everything was - I've looked into some boxes where about half the items were perfectly on point, but the rest seemed to be more like filler items.  For my Hamsa box, as you can see, just about everything had a Hamsa on it!  The other items, like the gemstones and the cleansing mist, fit nicely into the protection theme and can be used as supplemental items in related rituals.  The only thing that seemed a little out of place was the Earth Magic Oracle card, though stunningly my Wolf card actually suits me pretty well, as several times it has been suggested to me that the wolf is my spirit animal.  Certainly my puppy, who is basically me as a canine, seems to align with that possibility!

My favorite item in the box turned out to be the hilarious "Talk to the Hamsa" coffee mug, which I can already tell will get me through many long nights as I continue to pack my schedule.  The amulet and votive holders are very close second and third favorites.  One thing to note, however, is that not every box will contain the same items.  Sapphire Soul designates a little "pool" of items for each month's box, and subscribers receive a subset of those products.  For example, while I received hematite and malachite gems, another subscriber might have received smoky quartz and snowflake obsidian.  I received the oracle card, but others would receive a spirit animal gemstone.  I think this variation idea makes for a wonderful surprise, so your friends can't completely spoil your excitement if they happen to receive their box first!

Years ago, when I was still in school and religious studies (especially alternative and Asian religious) were my heavy focus, I spent a lot of my time getting in touch with my spirituality.  Over the years I have lost touch with so much of that, and when I returned to Cleveland, I made a promise to myself that I would find my spirituality again.  One thing I've wanted to do is create a household shrine for myself.  What better way to start than with my Hamsa items?  The first thing on my list is energy purification, to remove the negative energies that followed me from the past, and the items in this box are perfect for such purpose.  Not only was the box a wonderful surprise, but it is also a timely convenience, as if Sapphire Soul knew exactly what my soul needed!

Here's maybe the best thing about Sapphire Soul: the Mindful + Mystic box isn't their only product!  They have a wide range of boxes to suit any spiritual needs.  For crystal healing, try the Treasure Box.  Love essential oils and dreamy fragrance?  The Potions Box is your own personal apothecary.  If you like to wear your spirituality on your sleeve (or wrist or neck), the Adornments Box is for you.  There's even a Chakra Crate option, a series of seven boxes shipped one month at a time, to help cleanse and balance your chakras!

Perhaps better still!  Who doesn't love a good ol' discount code?!  I've got not only one, but THREE discount codes available for readers!  Hop over to Sapphire Soul and get your own Mindful + Mystic box sent right to your door, with a different theme every month, or give the gift of mindfulness to someone special in your life!  These boxes would make amazing gifts!

• FALL2015: Receive a FREE gemstone bullet necklace with any Original or Large Mindful + Mystic box (Retail $33). The code expires 10/25/15.
• 2016SHINE: Save 10% off any 6- or 12-month subscription for any box option! The code expires 10/25/2015.
• PINKSHAKTI: Receive FREE shipping on the special edition Pink Shakti Warrior Breast Cancer Box. Items in this box are created and customized specifically to show support for the fight against breast cancer, and to help lift up and inspire women who are currently going through breast cancer treatment or have won the fight. A portion of the proceeds from this box will be used to create additional boxes to give to women who are going through treatment and breast cancer charities.

How do you channel your inner mystic? How does spirituality play a role in your life? Which Sapphire Soul box is calling out to your heart?

Me Strength has arrived! [Discount Code]

I received my first product review samples today - and I'm so excited to share!

Right now, I'm just going to tell you a little about the product itself, and I'll follow up sometime next week once I've had ample hands-on experience to give you a full review of Me Strength.

I can already tell you I LOVE the flavor options and the pretty colors!

Me Strength was created to address the fact that most electrolyte drinks on the market are full of calories, artificial ingredients, sugar, and all that other nasty stuff we're learning shouldn't go in our bodies.  Instead, Me Strength provides your body with the right amount of electrolytes to get you properly hydrated both before an activity and during recover after your workout - without using artificial ingredients.

In addition, Me Strength has introduced creatine into the mix to enhance and maximize muscle performance.  Creatine, an amino acid occurring naturally in the human body, helps your muscles create fuel.  I know what you're thinking: isn't creatine the stuff those beefcakes take to get really big muscles?  The answer is yes - but they're taking a whole lot more than they really need.  Me Strength has just enough creatine to help the average athlete get the most out of their workouts, but won't make you bulk.

Overall, it sounds like a great product, combining the much-hyped electrolytes with the underused (by endurance athletes, at least) creatine to create a mix that will really make an impact on training.  I'm excited to try it and tell you my thoughts!

If you absolutely can't wait and want to try it RIGHT NOW, you can get yourself 25% off your order by using the discount code "fitnyx" at checkout!

Have a go-to hydration mix?  Know of another tried and true recovery product?  Tell me all about it!

Fall in love with prAna! [Discount Code and Sweepstakes]

Prana (प्राण) is an ancient word that represents the vitality of the spirit.

Or at least, that's what it means in Sanskrit.  Since 1992, prAna has taken on a new meaning, in its new guise as a clothing line for active and mindful people.  Always keeping in mind the roots of its name, prAna embodies fair trade, use of recycled materials, a commitment to organics, and over twenty years of proven faith pact of sustainability.

Shop now with code pranasweatspink for 15% off!

To celebrate their new fall line, prAna is teaming up with Fit Approach to offer both a great 15% off discount (use code pranasweatspink at checkout) AND a fabulous giveaway!  Visit Fit Approach to enter - three lucky winners receive a prAna product of their choice!

And always remember to SweatPINK!

Get PINK with Skirt Sports #10on10 virtual race! [Race Discount]

I'm super excited to share with you my very FIRST SweatPink race discount!

On September 15th, Skirt Sports is celebrating 10 years in business!  To celebrate, they are hosting a virtual race - with some excellent swag!  You can run 10k or 10 miles, whatever your preference, any day during their anniversary weekend (September 13th, 14th, or 15th).  And it's virtual, so you can do it wherever you like!

The race package includes some great stuff.  They have three "finisher" awards to choose from (I'm getting the PINK skirt, of course), plus every registration includes a $50 gift card to their store!  You'll also get a race bib and sponsor samples.  You have the option to "upgrade" your entry for a bigger gift card, too, which gets you even MORE sweet gear at an even better price!  And since Skirt Sports has grown by leaps and bounds, there's tons of cool stuff from which to choose.  I'm eyeing down some pink compression sleeves...

As an added bonus, Skirt Sports will be giving away additional prizes to anyone posting photos or videos to the Skirt Sports Facebook page or Instagram!  Use the tags #10on10 and #SkirtSports - or you can email your experience to Skirt Sports and they'll post for you.

I know what you're thinking: "I WANNA SIGN UP RIGHT NOW!  How do I do it?!"  Here's your answer: click HERE to register, and be sure to get 10% off using my code SkirtPink10 when you register!  Also, help me out in return by adding my name and email (fitnyx@gmail.com) as your referral at checkout in the Order Comments box.  Registration ends September 15th.

Run it, tell it!  Let me know your virtual race results!