Good-bye MyGym

Today was my last day at MyGym. MyGym has been the longest job I've kept, 2 whole years! I actually feel quite proud of what I've accomplished there and helped to create.
A little history of MyGym. MyGym is a children's fitness facility which predominately teaches gymnastics. It originated in the States and now is almost all over the world.
There are 2 branches in Tokyo, and I can proudly say that I helped start both of them.
Through this job I've meant so many interesting and lovely people and made wonderful friends that I feel very grateful to the company. Of course. there were stressful times, like any job, but I do have great memories and warm feelings for my time there.
I think when I become a mother I would diffidently like to enroll my child there. It's great place for mothers to make friends and of course, beneficial for children as well.



This is the gym in Hiroo (the other one is in Futako-Tamagawa). As you can see, its a FUN FUN place for children. Ballpit, rockwall, swings, slides, trapeze, high-bar, you name it, we got it!

The gym is open 7 days a week so we basically work in shifts. This is the Friday shift. These 2 lovely ladies Mio and Chie have been my Friday team! They totally rock and even though Friday has the most classes (not to mention the heaviest kids! Oh, yeah we do a lot of lifting), its really the most fun day of the week and I think it really has to do with how wonderful these 2 are to work with. Today my boss surprised me with cake right as I was about to leave the gym. There go my vegan efforts out the window! The cake was great though. Very sweet of them to do a mini farewell. They decided not to do a big farewell dinner for me because they are expecting me to come back.

Then the girls and I went out for some healthy macrobiotic dinner afterwards. We look tired and that can't be helped from our busy day. Oh, I'm going to miss everyone!

Wedding bells.

Congratulations Jesse and Rumi!

The beautiful couple had a wedding ceremony yesterday in Patrikiso Garden. Jesse wore an awesome tuxedo and Rumi wore a beautiful white dress. You can feel love floating in the air.

It was so much fun to attend a wedding and to be able to sit back and enjoy. After Motozo and my wedding, we've come to really appreciate all the work a couple has to do to create the special day. You really have no idea until you do it.

As always, I loved seeing family! We finished the day with a karaoke bash and I believe Grandparents were the stars of the show as they sang enka duets.

Oh, to be happy and in love! Lots of pictures below.

Snap Happy!

Last night Motozo brought home a surprise present for me. A camera!
Ever since his died on us over the summer, we kept saying we need to get a new camera and we were determined to get one before our honeymoon.
I didn't expect him to come home with 2 cameras that's for sure. He got a Nikon that he's been eyeballing for sometime and got me a waterproof fuji camera (It'll come in handy in the Maldives).
I'm so happy! I know its corny, but I took photos of my digicam to show everyone. It's pink and oh, so adorable! Motozo stood strong when the store attendant questioned him whether he was sure he wanted to get the pink one. Heheh, so sweet!


Now I can be sure to take lots of photos for Jesse's wedding coming up this Monday! WOOHO

Tis the season to be jolly - and have soup.

Right as I was happily realizing that I've lasted pretty long into the cooler season without catching a cold - I caught a cold.

I wondered why I caught a cold as I feel pretty healthy. I'm careful with what I eat, staying away from too much sugar, eating my usual diet of lots of fruits and veggies, taking my multi-vitamins, and I haven't been working as hard as I was earlier this year. Which means, I've been sleeping more and dealing with generally less stress .
I think it has something to do with my running. I dress in layers now and no matter if its quite cool outside, I'll get warm and will sweat. I continue to run in slightly damp sweaty clothes so I eventually get chilled, especially if my run lasts longer then an hour.

Whatever the reason, I'll try to prevent it from turning into a more serious cold by taking Echinacea and have more garlic.
Last night I made a lovely soup that had lots of garlic, but didn't taste too garlicky. I usually just use whatever ingredients I have in the fridge.

This time I used:

garlic
red onion
carrot
mushrooms
spinach
red lentils
tofu
vegetable bouillon for flavor



The picture doesn't do it justice. It tasted much better then it looked and I have to use my keitai for photos as we still haven't gotten ourselves a camera.


Last winter I made soup often and I remember it being purple because I always had eggplant in my fridge for some reason.

If anyone has any lovely vegan soup recipes, please share!

Yoga For Runners (Athletes)

I teach a yoga class every Sat. It's called "Yoga for Runners". It ends up being more of a Yoga for Athletes class as I get a few triathletes etc. But at the end of the day.....yoga is for everyone and the name is just to make the athletes feel like they are in good hands. And they are!
Being that I'm (at least I consider myself to be) an avid runner, I understand where runners need the most stretching and strengthening.
Its been an interesting experience teaching. It's much harder then I expected, but I always finish the class feeling wonderful and my students are absolutely great.
I've experienced first hand on how beneficial yoga has been to my running as well.
Its funny that people think yoga as basically just stretching. It is stretching, but if done with intensity and awareness, the poses are very strengthening and at the end of a session, you'll get a whole body workout.
I think everyone should do yoga!


My favorite pose (at the moment. it always changes) is headstand.

First Post - Happy December

I've been contemplating for a while now whether or not I want to start a blog. I thought I'd start one in January, but then I realized I won't be here at the start of the New Year. Were going for a nice long honeymoon to the Maldives and will arrive back in Tokyo on January 8th.

Better start this blog December 1st then. For some reason this blog says its November though. HUMPH!

Well, I'll start off with the recent news. I got married! Yes, I know I'm young, but I know I found the man I want to be with forever and ever. It's been 2 months since our wedding celebration and almost 3 months of being officially married.

We've been ever so lazy in sending off thank you cards to all our guests so we'll have to make sure we accomplish that before our honeymoon.

Other news, I'm training for Tokyo Marathon again this year. This time around I think I built a good base to work from. I'm doing more mileage then I ever remember doing in my life. That's either a bad thing as the marathon is way off at the end of Feb or its a good thing.

I'll post more in detail of my training in future posts. This week I didn't start it off well as far as running. I think the 32k over Sun made me tired and bored of running. I'm taking 2 days off which my dear hubby told me I should avoid. Well....hopefully this won't become a weekly habit.