Coulda Woulda Shoulda

I've been practicing yoga on and off now for about 7 years. And when I say 'on and off' I basically mean once a week at a gym during those times when I HAD a gym membership and as well as the occasional at home attempt which usually led to me asleep on the floor (according to D). And so, when I discovered there was yoga at D's school and that it was FIVE CANADIAN DOLLARS a class, I decided it was well worth my time and money to sign up. The best part was that rate also included a drop in rate. So, literally I would buy up a bunch of tokens to use at my leisure and not feel tied into going every week at a certain time. Because guess what? They're even MORE flexible - the classes are on 3 different days during the week, at different times. And lets face it, it's a FIVE MINUTE walk from my house. I expected to stretch my muscles out a bit, help build some strength for my half marathon (support me here!!) and just generally have an excuse to get out of the ho...

I'm salivating at the possibility that I will be here this weekend: Blitz Your Bod It is exactly 10 times the price of what I would pay for my Korean Sunday Sauna but that just means that I can only go 1/10 of the time. Better than nothing. And this time of year, I can't wait!

This is disgusting. And it's important you read it. And write to someone about it. I'm going to. Thanks Faith. 9 steps to an eating disorder by age 12

When I lived in Belfast, I was kinda addicted to the gym. I say kinda because it was in a can't-go-out-Friday-till-I've-pumped-it-up type of way as opposed to training-for-the-next-body-building-championship type of way. I fell in love with Body Pump, a class dedicated to pump *clap* you up. (SNL? Anyone? Am I dating myself here?). I always just felt so strong after a class and, as D could attest to, frequently walked around the house, checking out my biceps and asking him, REPEATLY to 'feel them, come on, feel how HUGE I am'. I was glad to hear that in Korea, they had gyms. When I arrived, I realised the Koreans have a little obsession of their own with fitness and that maybe I would fit in just fine here. They enjoy being healthy SO MUCH that in parks, there are actually OUTDOOR WEIGHT MACHINES. I mean, this is genuis! Run around the park AND get in your weight training all FOR FREE. Alas, the gym I joined did not have a Body Pump class. So I was stuck singing the son...

Dear Mr. Defeated Ragweed, Due to my enduring curiosity and ingenious research skills, I have discovered that the pescription allergy medication I used in Canada is actually AVAILABLE IN KOREA. It's under a different name and of course all instructions are in Korean but it is made by the SAME COMPANY. Not only did I enquire to my pharmacist friend the very day that I wrote you my first letter but I also was able to see a doctor a 7 AT NIGHT and actually get A DISCOUNT on both my vist to see him and my purchase of the said drug. I celebrated my triumph, again in another language and another country, by having a nice tall well-and-duly breathed glass of merlot - something I KNOW you and your allergen buddies like to use to stuff me up as well AND since the dust arrived, I had not been able to really enjoy a nice glass of red wine. But HA the joke is now on you. Yes, I see you just dropped that fag hanging from your lip and downed that last drink of yours as a symbol of THE PARTY'...

Dear Mr. Ragweed, After 5 springs of avoiding you like the plague, you'll be happy to know that I am back in the land of now breathing, specifically due to a very unlikely ally of yours.... The Yellow Dust from China. You see, here in Korea, all of us unassuming foreigners are being attacked by this dusty substance that is blow over the entire country for..well..I've been told the ENTIRE SPRING SEASON. This means, I'm back to being stuffed up and nasally, except this time, I don't have any of the strong stuff to help me avoid you. The Korean medicine is doing it's best but I can tell you, it's no match for your dust friend. You must have been in such a rage while I was in the UK, breathing in and out, smelling and eating like a normal human being, while you were stuck all the way back there in Canada, helpless to debilitate me as you usually do during the spring and autumn months. I'm sure you're partying it up right now, with your allergen friends, smok...

Since back on my feet, from breaking my foot, I have been mainly focussed on getting my foot back into running shape. Many of you who know me will know I have turned into, over the past 5 years, one of those people who is addicted to the gym. Not addicted in the 'oh my god, I have to get that new outfit, so I can show it off to the new cute towel boy' but addicted in the REAL sense. That it is like a drug I cannot do without. I would be called what I would consider 'hormonally challenged' although, since I'm pretty sure 51.2% of the world's population probably is (are ya with me women?) I suppose that's not really that challenging. Since I began regularly excercising when we moved to Belfast in 2004, I just suddenly always felt better. In the past, there were certain times of the month when I would simply have to just deal with the 'oh-look-at-that-milk-commercial-I'm-going-to-cry' and the 'I am so ANGRY THAT YOU HAVE PUT THE FORK AND KNIFE O...

I'M ABOUT TO LOSE CONTROL AND I THINK I LIKE IT! People, HOW GREAT is it to walk? Last night, I was given the a-okay from the doctor to walk again. "Good" he said "All finished'. That's allI needed to hear. I shreiked with glee, shook his hand and wished him a Merry Christmas. And I wanted to hug him. But instead, I just kept saying 'gamsahamneeda' and Merry Christmas, through a gigantic grin to all the hospital staff. And although there is still quite a LOT of pain in walking (think of the entire bottom of your foot badly bruised. Then walk on it) I am amazed at how the ache is not affecting my ability to smile with each step I take. I am me again. I haven't felt like this in awhile. And I can't tell you how grateful I am for the mobility. I suppose you can get used to anything and if I ever permanently lost the ability to walk, I know I would turn lemons into lemonade but just waiting for the cast to come off was more than I could bear. I ha...

You can never really get through a day in Korean without someone saying something is either 'good for health' or 'bad for health'. They seem to be a culture obsessed with being healthy. That and if you're a woman looking younger and being skinny. So, not far off from Westerners then. Except perhaps things that I've always learned make the most sense to stay healthy. Like washing your hands before you eat. And after you go to the bathroom. Not sure what bathroom sinks are meant for as Korean women are usually stood in front of them, preening themselves, looking ready to pounce on you if you need to get through to wash your hands. And then, there's the temperature. It's always cold. I have seen women in the saunas throw down cold water where they walk or where they were sitting after they leave, in an effort I can only guess to 'cleanse' the area so that someone else can sit in their place. But, it's...cold...water. You can't freeze the ger...

People of the world Every boy every girl (Spice Girls? Anyone? C'MON who DOESN'T remember girl power all packaged up in skimpy outfits?) Today is the day I go visit the doctor to see if I can become cast free. I'm not getting my hopes up - as D and teacher B have been telling me all week, along with scolding me for any pressure applied to the foot by myself - so I'm really just looking for some finger crossing. I have been a very good girl for the most part and have done minimal walking...I SWEAR...so please, Internet, if you could all cross your fingers and your toes that the TINY TINY FRACTURES will now be healed. Either way, a big glass o' red wine is in order for this evening.

I spent the first quarter century of my life in a land with ample amount of ice to slip on. Never once did I break any bone. Now, on the other side of the world and NO ICE to be found and guess what? I've actually taken a tumble, worthy only of ICE RIDDEN STREETS and broken my foot. I was taking a quick break from class to stock up on some Vitamin C drinks (which you need I find GREATLY as you are constantly around kids who seem to pick up EVERY SINGLE COLD GOING!!) when suddenly, I lost my footing. It was one of those really good falls too. One you wished you had videotaped so you could watch later along with the rest of the people who bit their bottom lips, stopping themselves from guffawing. One of those arms-flailing-legs-balancing trying anything in your power not to go down and praying all thos crunches and plank poses you did will definitely how pay off and save your back. Being a certified wuss, I don't know if it counts when I say the pain was un-real. I'm thinking...