Why I work with a personal trainer

3:37 AM | Posted by Selen Yildiz






Here is why I work with a personal trainer and with Jeff: because it just works.





I remember the old days and the number of times I used to work out. It didnt average
more than 2-3 times a week, and it was always on and off.





When you work with a personal trainer who knows what he is doing, and when you
have to report to him/her about your progress, then you just do the damn work-outs.

During the time Jeff and I have been working together, there have been times when 
I could've easily gotten lazy and skipped my work-outs. I havent, however. It's 
partially because now I am working towards a professional athletic career
and feel more responsible to myself, but I also know that if I do, I will be 
wasting my trainer's time.

Now I work out 6 times a week. Isnt that just AWESOME?

What also happens is, when you start exercising regularly, you just want to keep 
doing it because, as Jeff has said numerous times on his blog, you feel more energetic. 
Sitting around waiting for some magical power to pump energy into your system
is pure waste of time. Only when you get your butt up andstart moving around 
that you feel that energy pumping.





I simply havent felt more energetic in my life before. I want to play all day, 
surf, kite, sail and run around.

The only things that stop me from exercising from dawn to dusk is my thesis 
and my lower back injuries that recently got worse. I am working hard these days
to both finish my thesis, YESSS and to heal my lower back. I have a slightly 
straightened lumbar spine and sciatica possibly due to a disc injury.

My doctor advised me to do yoga, pilates, lots of core work and swimming. He 
advised that I avoid impact exercises such as running or kitesurfing and windsurfing. 
He also told me that I shouldnt go "too crazy out there" when I surf. I have been 
surfing, and I havent been going too crazy out there. Why? Because longboarders 
cant really go crazy. I cant wait to be a shortboarder and go crazy out there.
I wish I could afford physical therapy, but I guess it is OK to wait until I get back home, 
to Turkey,where I have health insurance. I can already feel the blessings of 
yoga however, a less stiff back and neck. Despite my efforts, my sciatica has 
been acting up, sending excruciating shooting painsdown my lower back lately, which I 
can only cope with by stopping to walk or whatever I am doing.I am wondering if it is 
because I have been biking too much.

Oh, lets not forget about my bruised tailbone. I just bought a red donut and
it's been fun sittingon it. Thanks to that red donut, I dont get up from my desk 
like a 95 year old grandma.

Photo: Selen Yildiz. Chilling next to my board before a sesh and dreaming of the south swell.



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JOIN THE 6th Annual INTERNATIONAL SURFING DAY EVENTS w/ the SURFRIDER FOUNDATION! !

5:12 PM | Posted by Selen Yildiz


Stuart Coleman, the head of the Surfrider Hawaii chapter, asked me to spread the word about these events, so I thought I'd share them with you. He and I will be discussing ways to collaborate, which I am very excited about. It seems like I am getting closer to my dream of bringing watersports and conservation together. Jeff Kozlovich, my personal trainer ( see sponsors list) is a great example of how sports can help environment. Sports can do so much. My interest is marine protected areas and as a watersports person, soon to graduate environmental science student and a writer/journalist, I believe there is a lot I can do to contribute.









Contact: Stuart Coleman, Hawaii Coordinator
808-942-3841, scoleman@surfrider.org

6th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL SURFING DAY EVENTS

Surf For A Cause, Give Back and Win Prizes 

Honolulu, HI (June 10, 2010) – In celebration of the 6th Annual International Surfing Day on June 20th, the Surfrider Foundation’s Hawaii Chapters and Kona Brewing Co. are hosting a statewide Concert Tour with Hawaii’s hot new band The Throwdowns at the following dates and clubs:

• Fri., 6/18: The Mixx, 75-5626 Kuakini Hwy, Kona, BIG ISLAND (with special guests)
• Sat., 6/19: The Fresh Cafe, 831 Queen St., Hon., OAHU (with the Deadbeats & Analogic)
• Fri., 6/25: The Lava Lounge, 1387 Kuhio Highway, Kapa'a, KAUAI (with special guests)
• Sat., 6/26: Mulligan's, 1387 Kuhio Hwy., Wailea, MAUI (w/ Moth & Sounds of Addiction)

Along with this benefit concert series, Surfrider is also partnering with Surfing Magazine and other local sponsors to put on Father’s Day Beach Cleanups with prizes, food and fun challenges across Hawaii. The chapters will be having family-friendly cleanups at the following venues:
• Oahu Chapter: Diamond Head entrance, Honolulu, from 10:00am;
• Kona Kai Ea Chapter: Kahalu’u Beach, Ali’i Dr. Cleanup, Kona, 10:00am;
• Kauai Chapter: Nukoli’i Beach Park (outside of Lihue), 9:30am;
• Maui Chapter: Hoaloha Park, Kahalui, 9:00am.

Founded six years ago by the Surfrider Foundation and Surfing Magazine, International Surfing Day unites surfers from around the world in celebration of the sport of surfing. As is tradition with the annual holiday, surfers will do their part to give back to our oceans, waves and beaches through various organized events such as clean-ups and restoration projects courtesy of the Surfrider Foundation. This year, chapters will offer special membership packages to support our programs.
Surfrider is dedicated to preserving water quality, beach access and responsible stewardship of our coastlines. “We are proud to announce that we just helped pass a new Beach Access Bill (Act 160), which the Governor just signed into law on June 2,” says Stuart Coleman, Hawaii Coordinator. “Act 160 helps ensure that private landowners cannot block direct public access or lateral access along the shore to our beaches. What better way to celebrate than have beach cleanups around the Islands!”
International Surfing Day is supported by sponsors like Vitamin Water, Earthpack, Planet Green and local companies like Wahoo’s Fish Tacos. For more information on International Surfing Day, including challenges, events and participating chapters, please go to www.intlsurfingday.com.

About Surfrider Foundation

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world’s oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 90 chapters worldwide. Surfrider’s Hawaii Chapters focus on water quality, beach access, plastic marine debris and coastal stewardship. For more info about Surfrider, go to www.surfrider.org/oahu.

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Lumbar spine injuries and extreme sports don't go together. Oh well...

4:21 AM | Posted by Selen Yildiz

Hi all, 



I havent blogged for a while; partly i was very busy and partly because the past month got a bit too complicated to stick to my schedule. the 2nd oweek of May, i had to cease working out because of a possible tear on my leg. I should probably go to the doctor about it. I can feel a knot on the lower and inner part of my right leg and I remember that heat was coming up my leg for a few days, plus the pain. I started worrying about deep vein thrombosis. Who knows. the 3rd week of May, I hiked Stairway to Heaven and I was soooo sore for about a week. I still tried to exercise and even played tennis despite a painful wrist after having held on the stairs' bars for hours. For a few days I ws walking like a monkey in the mornings and it took me a few minutes of stretching every morning to be able to walk like a human being who has completed her evolution.




Climbing the Haiku stairs. My friend Christie and I climbed 3, 992 stairs up and 3,992 stairs down.

So I finally found out WHY I have been having lower back all this time. It turned out after an X-ray examniation that my lumbar spine had slightly straightened out and my doctor said I had sciatica, which is most likely due to a disc injury. Awesome. Whats more awesome is that he doesnt want me to do any "impact" sports which of course includes my favorite sports ever, windsurfing and kitesurfing. Surfing is ok as long as I dont "go crazy out there", quoting my doctor, and of course as long as it doesnt hurt too much. I still will go kitesurfing as it is way easier on lower back but maybe not as often as I was planning to do. I will have to stop sprinting on sand like Jeff and I had been doing, and do easy swims. I am also required to do more intense core work to strengthen all those muscles that support the back and do exercises that will help my spine get its curve back. I guess I will have to leave the real fun stuff for later, to the waters of the Mediterranean.


Photo: Selen Yildiz. The Chinaman's hat in the Kaneohe Bay looked cute 





Photo: Selen Yildiz. At the summit of the Koolau mountains, watching the clouds move by is an amazing experience

The doctor said Pilates will help a lot, as well. I'm glad Im working with Bryan Jordan my former massage therapist, and a Pilates instructor. Since I sadly cannot afford physical therapy, as I dont have health insurance, I will have to resort to exercise for now. And maybe get therapy when I go back home to Turkey in August.


Photo by Jian Ma


So it wasnt until Bryan and I did some Pilates and Bryan massaged my calves that I was able to get back to my activities. He showed me how I can massage my calves. I will upload the video next time. Until then, play hard but take good care of your bodies! Ciao!






At Kailua Beach.Photo by Jian Ma

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Long time no post!

12:46 AM | Posted by Selen Yildiz

Hi all,






The most interesting update with me is I guess my attempt to fix my lower back and wrist with help from a chiropractor. I visited her on April 26, and she did neck and lower back adjustments. She said my L4 bone was out of place. She said no bone was out of place in my wrist so she didnt do any manipulation for my wrist; however, because lower back is related to the wrist, my right wrist felt much better after the lower back adjustment. The wrist was very stiff, and after the cracking, it wasnt stiff at all. It still hurts, however. I will need to visit a physician to make sure I dont have carpal tunnel- my forearm gets numb some nights- and I will definitely get an X-ray or other tests done for my lower back to see what exactly is going on. The reason is, although I had no pain for about 3 days after the back adjustment, my pains came back. My bruised tailbone was relieved a lot, but the pain came back. The sharp pains on both sides of the sacrum bone also came back. But my back is still a lot less stiff than it was. There is no way I can afford these here, as I have no insurance, so I have to wait until i get back to Turkey. will visit her again in 2 weeks, and we'll see what happens then. She also mentioned circulation,  heart issues (inflammation around it)  and some other ones (e.g., stressed adrenal glands) that absolutely need to be fixed if i want to go pro. She will help me with all those. 










JEFF KOZLOVICH (MY COACH) AND I SPRINTING IN WAIKIKI









My massage therapist, Bryan Jordan from Pilates Training Center in Kailua, noticed that I have very stiff connective tissue. It hurts a lot when he presses on my body. My legs are fine, most parts, the rest of my body gets very sore. I seem to have many trigger points, and every time I visit him, those points become the priority. He cant massage my lower back really, because the area from the tip of the tail bone to the top of the sacrum bone hurts so badly... I wonder if I have sciatica. Bryan said I need to also work with someone who does fascia release.

Due to my work-outs getting more intense, I had to slow down  abit due to my back and wrist pain in April. I had to skip my sprints in water, and slow down on my soft sand sprints. I really hope that I will fix my injuries soon and be able to push it. My fitness is getting better for sure, I can now sprint on soft sand without getting nauceous, or get so tired that I can't even speak. 

I cant wait for school to be over because it gets in the way of my work outs. I had to skip a few of them due to hardcore thesis work. School ends next week, but I still have to bust out a thesis. At least I wont have any class to worry about and I can commit that time to my work outs. I cant wait to graduate and get in the water every day, and surf, kite or windsurf! 

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The month of March: the workouts, and the spring break

1:30 AM | Posted by Selen Yildiz










My workouts got more intense in march and my weaknesses in my body started to speak up. I got sick during my second week having to skip my Tu and W workouts, and on Th, after a 1000m swim i had to stop because of right wrist pain. I was afraid of hurting my wrist more so I had to skip my 100m*5 sprints. on monday, on my 3rd week, I went out surfing to try my new short board only to suffer; it turned out the board was too short for me and I needed a long board, an 8-footer or bigger. I was able to paddle it out to the surf at Diamond Head but my shoulder began hurting soon and my neck got very stiff. I still made it to the surf, but couldnt catch any waves. I was too tired by the time I got there, and the waves werent big at all, which made it even harder. So, I'm selling my board to get a long one.

Thanks to my surfing fiasco, I had to skip my Tu and Th swimming work out on my 3rd week due to shoulder and neck pain. I didnt want to hurt them so I figured it would be best to wait.


 On F, I walked on sand for about 45 min after a 45 min Pilates and a massage session with Bryan Jordan from Pilates Training Center in Kailua. Bryan worked on my stiff neck mostly, and on the trigger points on my my right arm below the elbow, and shoulder. It turned out I need to do more stretching- because all the swim muscles on the shoulders hurt too much when pressed. Bryan is very attentive to my body's needs and gives massages accordingly. He is also very good at teaching Pilates and making sure you do the moves with the right posture. For information on Bryan Jordan, please scroll down to the bottom of this post.


On Sat, I went swimming in Waikiki to make up for the skipped workouts. After swimming for 1000m, I swam a set of three 100m sprints, and I stopped after that getting anxious about  my shoulder.

On the weekends, I either hiked or kited, but I didnt get much kiting in because of wind. I'm happy the summer is approaching with steadier trades which means a lot more kiting or windsurfing time. 



I just got back from my Maui trip and I am more pumped than ever to get back to windsurfing which I havent done for a while. I was lucky that my spring break was on my resting week, the 4th week of every month, so I didnt have to worry about exercising while cruising on the island. It felt very good to be back on Maui and to be around some world-class windsurfers. I am hoping to spend some time there after I graduate this semester and try sailing and kitesurfing Hookipa. There aren't many people windsurfing on Oahu anymore- many of the former windsurfers switched to kitesurfing. On Maui, windsurfing is still very big and you get to interact with world-class, bad-ass sailors, which inspires you to become better! And, did I mention the killer deals you get on gear? I got two posters signed by Francisco Goya, the guy who inspired me to follow my dream of living in Hawaii when I had contacted him by e-mail 5 years ago from Turkey. Back then, Hawaii was nothing but a dream. He told me his unique story saying that I would find my own unique way of realizing my dream, which would be even more rewarding.  He was completely right. I received 100% scholarship and ended up on an island in the middle of nowhere dreaming of turning pro in windsurfing! Windsurfing and I decided to stay friends, however, and I fell for kitesurfing. :) 




So, I am just starting. There are so many aspects of my health I need to work on that it's crazy and overwhelming. Last friday, while I was getting a massage from Bryan Jordan, I felt way too much pain on my lower back close to my tailbone. He said the bone there could have moved. He said the name of it, but there is no way I can remember it! He referred me to a chiropractor. As of now, that area still hurts. Plus, sometimes I am still  in pain because of my bruised tail bone. I believe that my right wrist pain is caused my a misplaced bone, as well. My lower back hurts even when I am swimming, especially when I swim breast stroke. I hope a chiropractor visit will solve my joint and lower back problems once and for all! Oh, that would be sooo good... I;m sure my trainer would be happy about it, too! 

 Some photos I took on Maui... I thought I'd share...Enjoy!

HONOLUA BAY...



JAWS


My great companion on Maui, Alexandra, the manager of Paia Yoga











       




PAIA TOWN





HOOKIPA


HAIKU 
















THE GOYA/QUATRO SHOP IN HAIKU 



THE SURFING GOAT FARM IN KULA 


I couldnt ask the owners why they cut off the goats' horns but I assume it's because they hurt each other with those horns. This does not mean, however, that I agree with this practice. To me, it's unethical to take away something an animal needs. Other than that, everything seemed to be fine in the farm. I was happy to see animals freely roaming. 



Innocence...





---
Bryan Jordan
Sacred Breath Healing Arts
Bryan@SacredBreathHealing.com
(808)782-9595
Chi Nei Tsang
Mind-Body Freedom Technique
Therapeutic Massage
Certified STOTT PILATES Instructor
Sound Therapy
Singing Crystal Bowl Concerts

Sacred Breath Healing Arts- Improving your health one breath at a time.

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my 1st month with my trainer!

1:31 AM | Posted by Selen Yildiz

Jeff and I just finished a 4-week work-out program and I can already see a huge difference in my body and mood! I lost 4Ibs and the sluggishness that can take over me sometimes is gone. If I hadn’t eaten those brownies, I could weigh even less right now but hey, this is only the beginning! Thanks to the power of exercise, I feel like I lost even more weight- because I am a lot more energetic!




My joint problems of course still exist- after all they have been around for years and it will take more than just a month to heal them. I admit that I did a slightly bad job of keeping to the weight-lifting schedule that also included easy exercises for my wrists, so for next month I will make sure I won’t skip them. The calisthenics exercises were fine for my wrists for the most part, but I had a hard time sometimes and even had to omit one because of the pain. I like them a lot, though, because you use your own body weight and you don’t need machines to exercise. It lets your body turn to a free gym with no monthly fees!



My knees were fine in general. They hurt sometimes when I walked for 2 hours, which tells me they are still weak! Being overweight certainly wears your knee joints out. I remember times when I couldn’t kneel down to pick something up from the ground without going “oouuuch”! So, BEFORE you start freaking about your looks, you should get concerned about those knees and your health in general if you gained some evil pounds!



The part that I liked most was that all exercises could be done outside and some simply HAD to be done outside, such as walking on soft sand and swimming! Being a former competitive swimmer, I was happy to get back to it! I am a beach bum so I'd rather walk barefoot on sand than on a thread-mill watching a TV!There were days I couldn’t make it to the beach, however, so I walked in the Manoa Valley for 2 hours instead. I took my camera with me which made my walk all the more fun!



Before I had Jeff as my personal trainer, I tended to skip exercising, get lazy (or give in to tiredness) and I wasn’t as motivated. Having someone to guide you and care about you feels excellent! He knows my body’s weak points and he doesn’t push hard like many other trainers might assuming that if you push hard, you will get better! It doesn’t work that way. It’s all about listening to your body, and in our case, we get to listen to the sounds of nature, as well. I can’t wait for more…

P.S: We will be posting updates each week from now on! Stay tuned and dont forget to follow my blog as well!

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