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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