cytomax

9 Things To Know About Sumits Yoga – Review

A few weeks ago, I pulled a muscle in my back. I rested it for a few days to let it heal. As it was starting to get better, I figured some good, deep stretching would help it. I figured heat would be good, too.
That brilliant line of thought led me to Sumits Yoga in Phoenix, at 20th Street and Camelback. They have a “Two Weeks for $20″ deal, so I showed up, yoga mat in hand, and signed up. Here’s what you need to know about Sumits Yoga.
1. It’s a hot yoga class. The temperature is about 105 degrees. Show up with very cold water, and maybe even a sports drink. I have a 32-ounce H2O bottle and a 10-ounce bottle of Cytomax half-frozen, and topped off with their respective liquids.
2. Dress right. I find Under Armour HeatGear shirts work really well. I think they’re actually a little cooler than just going shirtless, which I also tried. They’re also fitted so they don’t get in the way. Not really happy with my pants situation. But I should probably keep wearing them, ha! The problem is that there are certain poses where I have to brace a foot against my leg, and the incredible gusher of sweat makes me slide all over.
3. Bring towels. The studio sells these fairly pricey towels that keep you from slipping on the mat. I like them a lot. But I also have a regular towel to mop the sweat off myself.
4. All the instructors [...]

The Perils of Sports Drinks – The Primordial Soup

Feb 1st, 2010

by WanderingJustin.

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Welcome to Mountain Bike Monday, my mostly weekly feature offering my favorite mountain bike tips and tricks!
A good sports drink can help you ride better. They keep you hydrated, supplying a lot of the electrolytes you sweat out during a ride. For my money, Cytomax by Champion Nutrition is still the best. It has a decent taste, and a good charge of electrolytes.
That said, there is nothing worse than leaving some Cytomax (or any sports drink) in your water bottle and forgetting about it. Let’s put it this way: My wife recently posted on her Facebook status update that she figured out the origins of life: God went for a ride, and left his Cytomax bottles unwashed. He came back, and the Cyto had turned into a primordial soup that was soon sprouting intelligent life.
So this is what you have to do: The second you get back home, clean those bottles out. Otherwise, that stuff’s gonna sit in there and ferment. You’ll totally forget about it until your next ride. Then you’ll open it up and smell a cross between vinegar, stale beer and fruit punch. Nasty, eh? Then you’ll want to throw your bottle away.
So save your bottles. Save your appetite. Take a few moments to get those bottles washed out after you ride.
Got a question or idea for Mountain Bike Monday? Send it to wandering.justins@gmail.com!

8 Ways to Live Through Summer Exercise

Apr 10th, 2009

by WanderingJustin.

4 comments

Arizona is bizarro world. Most places in the country hibernate and cower from the elements during the winter, but we do it in the late spring and summer – and heck, a little bit of autumn, too. You wouldn’t believe the number of people in this desert city who never learn to deal with the elements, preferring instead to scurry like suited-or-skirted rats from one air-conditioned space to another.
Those of us who choose to embrace the desert do it differently, especially when it comes to outdoor exercise in the heat. You really can survive summertime exercise and adventures in 100-degree-plus heat – you just have to be smart. Ask any member of the local fire department about all the nasty ways heat can hurt you – they’ve rescued enough ill-prepared people to know.
Here are some of my favorite tips to ensure YOU won’t need to be rescued. Feel free to suggest any I’ve overlooked!
1. Bring enough water. It would astound you how many people prepare badly for a foray into the hot sun. My rule of thumb is 30 ounces per hour. You can use a hydration pack, or one of these new-fangled water belts favored by runners.
2. Electrolytes – they’re what YOU crave. Sweating a lot burns off your electrolytes. Get too low on
sodium and potassium and you’re headed for cramp city – or worse. You’ll also feel horrible the rest of the day, with headaches a frequent symptom. If you’re out longer than an hour, use a good-quality [...]