Tue, Jul 27, 2010
Crazy Aerobics
Hi everyone,
How's your day going? Hot and tired like most people? I actually love summer. This is my favorite season and I'm enjoying every hot and sunny day.
I just got back from what I call "crazy class". Every wednesday from 3-4pm and every friday from about 4-4:45pm, my favorite instructor, Mori San, teaches aerobics at Inspa Sendai (look at all the free advertising!).
I've been taking this class since the gym opened a few years ago and in my opinion it's the hardest aerobics class in Sendai.
The instructor lived and taught aerobics in New York for some years so her way of teaching is totally different to other Japanese instructors. She dosen't waste time doing the "V" step over and over again and dosen't use the same steps week after week. She makes you use your body and your brain, so it's like a double workout.
Today's lesson was really fun (as usual). She played a lot of Michael Jackson which was nice for a change. I have P.Y.T.(Pretty Young Thing) ,stuck in my mind and can't get this song out of head. But I'm not complaining. As long as I don't have Enka stuck in my head I'll be fine!
Had a great workout, sweat heaps. Now could someone please come and pick me up and tell me if I've lost weight? Ha ha!
Have a good night!
P. S.
I took this photo just now. Sakura follows me everywhere (kawaii kara janai). I just noticed her in my office next to my computer relaxing. Isn't she just adorable! Chu!!
Sakurako's New Balls
Don't worry. I haven't given her a sex change or anything like that. Ha!
Had to buy something to get rid of Sakuro's fur on my clothes and came across these colorful balls at the one million dollar shop.
Brought them home and at first she was kond of scared to go near them, but as I'm writing my blog now, I can hear her jumping around and chasing them. Looks like she's starting to enjoy playing with them.
So what kind of toys do cats (racoons?), like? Let me know if any of you have any ideas.
2nd Try
Just getting up to have a touch before she decides whether ahe wants to play with them or not. Kind of reminds me of women with men!!
3rd Try!
She finally started playing with her new balls. Should keep her busy for at least 10 seconds!
My Day Off
Last week I was entertained by a friend of mine from Fukuoka who comes to Sendai every now and then on business. It was a really fun night. Lots of bubbles (sparkling wine), interesting conversation, laughing. I had a really good time. BUT, the next day I was so sick. I rarely take days off, actually I'm quite serious when it comes to my jobs (kou mietemo!). So I took the day off and relaxed at home with my pounding head and sickly stomach.
The moral of this story you ask....? Don't drink with people from Fukuoka!! Ha ha! Mata matemasu!
Now that I have the little racoon at my place again I can't wait to get home from work so I can hang out with her. Last night I was in bed quite early and got up at a reasonable time this morning. Went to the gym for a yoga class and sweat out all the poison (you know what I mean..), from last night. I feel great today.
Let me talk a little about Yoga.
If anyone thinks that yoga is just stretching and meditating then you are quite wrong. However, there are classes that do cater for the not so energetic crowd. I avoid classes that I feel don't make me work hard. If you're going to take the effort to get up and go to the gym then you might as well excersize and sweat.
As most of you know, I'm a member of Inspa Sendai. Great gym. I love it.
I started hot Yoga about 3 years ago when I had some trouble with my back and have been doing it ever since. I still take some aerobics classes, but not as much as before. Yoga however, just does something to your mind and your body that no other form of excersize can do.
If you haven't discovered yoga yet I suggest you give it a try.
And if you're a guy, please don't wear "mokori tights"!! Ha1
My favorite yoga class is every Saturday from 11-12pm. This instructor teaches Bikram Yoga. If you want to really work out I recommend this class. It's really hard, but totally worth the pain for what you gain after it.
I also tried a different instructor's class last week for the first time and really liked it. I don't know how old the instructor is, but her body was gorgeous. So toned and strong. I want her abs!!
Her lesson is every Friday from 12:45 to 1:45pm. This lesson is called "Hot Body Make". Don't really know what that means, but it was also really "hard". I like my yoga lessons hard, my aerobics lessons hard, and, ahh, use your imagination! Ha!
When I got back from the gym I started cooking lunch and Sakurako was helping sniff the vegetables to make sure they were ok. Kawaii desho!
Time for munchies.
Bye!
Plum Compote
I love fruit, but I get bored just eating it fresh all the time. I often make jams, fruit bread and fruit cakes using seasinal fruit, but this year I have starting making compotes, which is basically just fruit simmered in red or white wine.
With weather so hot like it is now, chilled fruit compote is really refreshing and extremely yummy on hot summer days when you don't have appetite.
The recipe is simple and takes about 2 minutes to cook. If you can't make something as easy as this I suggest you give up cooking all together!
In my cooking lessons we used the same ratio of white wine and sugar and made a Japanese cherry compote. Try the same recipe with pears, nashi, nectarins, etc. Use your imagination and test it with other fruit.
Hope you try it.
Plum Compote
4 plums, peeled
4 Tbs. white wine
2 Tbs. sugar
1 Tsp. lemon juice (optional)
1. Put the whole peeled plums, sugar, white wine and lemon juice in a pot.
2. Heat till the sugar dissolves and the fruit has released some of it's juices, about 2 minutes on medium heat.
3. Remove from heat. Transfer to a bowl. Chill and dig in!
That's it!! Good luck!