Hi there! My name is Maria, and I love to sweat!
I know that might sound a bit weird, but truly I have always enjoyed activities that keep me physically and mentally healthy. Being active is a foundation in my life.
I met my husband Ben when we were both undergrad students at Ithaca College. He was a senior on the baseball team and I was a sophomore obsessed with baseball. I knew I was going to marry a baseball player, and Ben was just so darn cute and kind and FUN, and we hit it off pretty quick. Our first official “date” was taking batting practice on one of the practice fields on campus. I think he completely fell for me when I hit a ball a ball over the (albeit short) fence with a wooden bat.
Needless to say, sports have been a fixture in our relationship.
In December of 2006 I took my first Bikram Yoga class, and my life changed forever. I had never felt so incredible – so empowered and challenged and determined like I could use this yoga practice to endure anything I faced. I saw fellow yogis heal crazy ailments like herniated discs and depression. People I practiced next to were telling me about how they cancelled their surgeries because yoga was helping them heal. I saw people come into the studio tired and stressed, and they’d leave after class energized and happy. I was only a senior in college at the time, but I knew I would practice this yoga for the rest of my life.
Practicing soon became not enough. I wanted to help people discover this yoga too. I got certified to teach Bikram Yoga in 2008, and spent the next two years teaching as many classes as I could at as many studios as I could throughout New England.
Then in 2010, after a year of searching for the perfect space, I opened my very own studio in my hometown. I had always known I wanted to own a small business while helping others, and my studio was the way to bring this all together.
Now, Ben and I are married with three kids. THREE! I can’t believe that. Juggling the studio and motherhood is NO JOKE. There is a lot to get done at the studio and in our home each and every day. Whether I’m managing my cash flow at the studio or working to bring in more clients or figuring out nutritious dinners to make that my kids will eat, I realize now more than ever how important our health really is.
Because what good is all the cash flow and clients and dinners in the world if we’re not healthy?
That’s how Rather Be Sweating was born.
This blog is about all things health-related. Not just about getting in shape or having a strong core, or how to do a great Standing Bow Pulling Pose (though you can definitely find those things here too), but it’s about having a healthy life from the inside out, physically, mentally, emotionally, financially. It’s about developing positive habits that lead to peace and contentment.
Do you have to be a Bikram Yogi to benefit from this blog? Absolutely not! In fact, there are so many posts like this one on healthy eating and this one on marriage and definitely this one about accomplishing anything you want that are helpful if you’re just looking for some tips.
I share challenges that I experience in business, motherhood, as well as yoga that can be resources too.
I am a firm believer that in this life, we should focus on that thing that brings us so much joy and happiness, that thing that we’d rather be doing!
Feel free to drop me an email at ratherbesweating@gmail.com. I’d love to say hi!
Ruth Aaqqii says
February 2, 2017 at 6:32 pmHi! Thank you so much for your encouraging blog posts about Bikram Yoga! I visit your blog and follow you on Instagram to get inspiration and also to learn more about the different postures! I live in a very small, remote community in the Arctic (East Greenland), where there are no Hot Yoga studios or Yoga classes to attend. But, last fall, when I was travelling in Europe, I tried Yoga for the very first time in my life in a Bikram Studie in Oslo, Norway. The first class felt more like torture then anything else, but still made me curious to come back for more :-). I bought a book and later purchased a CD, so I could continue to learn the postures and practice on my own, once I came back home. – Now, I only get the temperature up to about 25 to 30 degrees celsius in our home (I usually wear several layers of woolen clothing to help me heat up, though) and the climate here is very dry, so I can`t practice under “normal” Bikram Yoga circumstances. I have tried to learn some other Yoga Postures – no heat – online, but usually feel like I´d rather do the Bikram poses then anything else. What is your opinion on that – do you have any advice for doing Bikram Yoga at home? We live in a tiny house without running water or a bathroom, so it`s not easy to create a hot, humid environment. It would be great to hear what your opinion is about home practice in general, and how to make sure it`s safe, for a beginner. Thank you again for your interesting content on this blog!! Ruth
Maria @RatherBeSweating says
February 2, 2017 at 10:30 pmHi Ruth! Wow!! Thank you SO much for saying hi and telling me a little bit about your story! I’m so happy you stumbled upon the Bikram Yoga class in Oslo and good I give you so much credit for continuing to practice at home – it’s not easy! In terms of getting your home environment a bit hotter and more humid – with no running water – hmm… I can’t say I know the answer to that!! A small humidifier is out of the question I’m guessing…? If there was a way to get a little humidifier in a small space, that can make a difference. And 30 celsius really isn’t that far off. If you can get it to 30, that’s a nice little hot room you’ve got! Wearing layers is also good. I have done that when doing a home practice. As for a home practice in general, I think it’s good and safe so long as you don’t push yourself too hard. The pranayama breathing, half moon series, awkward pose, and eagle pose are all sooo effective at really warming up your body to prepare you for the postures where you’ll stretch a little bit more deeply. So trust that you are getting the appropriate warm up with the beginning postures and breathing exercises. I think with your layers and really listening to your body you will be great with a home practice. The one other thing I would suggest is to not take too long in the savasanas on the floor series. In a regular class we give 2 minutes after the standing series and then 20 seconds in between each posture. I would do 30 seconds instead of 2 minutes and then 10-15 seconds instead of 20. Just to keep things moving. I’m actually in the process of creating a youtube channel with Bikram Yoga posture demonstrations and explanations, so that might be helpful and I will announce on Instagram when it’s ready. Thanks again so much for commenting, and please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions!
Ruth Aaqqii says
February 21, 2017 at 1:31 pmThank you so much for your reply!! I am looking forward to follow your on youtube in the future, that would be very helpful!