Today was kind of a scary day for me. While outside in the garage working on the cars, my dad dislocated his hip. He'd had his hip replaced back in my senior year of college (5 years ago now... seriously? I'm getting old!) and he just got up wrong and popped the replacement hip out of joint.
Thankfully, it wasn't very serious. There were no fractures and they just needed to pop it back in place (easier said than done, of course). The bad part is that a dislocated hip is pretty damn painful. My dad is super tough. He is NOT a complainer and always downplays any pain he's in, but he definitely had some choice words anytime the ambulance people/hospital workers/etc. had to move his hip in the slightest. As a kid, it's pretty scary to see your parent in pain.
He was really lucky in that once the hip was back in its socket, he felt just fine and was able to go home. He didn't need any surgery and didn't have any broken bones, so I am counting my blessings. He even felt well enough to cook dinner for my mom when we got home - see what I mean about my dad being tough?
Anyways, how does this relate to yoga? Well, I had to miss class again today because our planned class came and went while we were at the hospital. I was going to try and go to the last class of the day, the 7:30, but my mom didn't get back in time for me to take her car. So, what this means is that my double count is up to four. FOUR.
I can only conclude that the universe really wants me to work for this challenge. Now, the plan has shifted (yet again) to doubles on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Considering I'm also extremely behind on my day-job work, I'm a little stressed about the state of work I need to do next week, but nothing like starting 2011 off with a bang. I know I can do it, but I'd be lying if I said I don't think I'm going to cry from exhaustion/relief/bliss after the 60th class.
Let's just hope the universe doesn't have any more doubles planned for me. Four in a week is enough, in my opinion.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Day ?: Sweating the sickies out
Whewwwww. Class today was actually way better than I thought it would be ("have no expectations" springs to mind). I was able to do all of the standing series and only had to sit out one set of head to knee with stretching due to some nausea which I assume was due to stomach compression on my still slightly wonky belly.
I was able to touch my head to the floor again in standing separate leg stretching pose, and this time I didn't even somersault out of it! I moved my legs closer together in the second set, so I didn't touch there, but I worked for it. I love progress like this, it's just so motivating.
One thing I did notice that was really, um, kind of gross... my sweat smelled AWFUL. I assume this is because I've been so sick over the past few days and my body needed to expel a lot of nasty toxins. But, seriously, I felt kind of bad for the people around me because the smell was so foul. It even made me a little nauseous during the spine strengthening series when my face was down towards the mat a lot. I'm definitely glad those toxins are no longer in my body. I feel much better and am looking forward to tomorrow's class!
I really feel good now that I've re-focused and re-dedicated myself to this challenge. I forgot to mention that I was lucky enough to be given several gift certificates for my yoga studio so not only do I have enough money for a private lesson, but I also could buy some new yoga clothes or some electrolyte drink powder or any number of things. I could also do a second private lesson, or use it towards a free month of class. I have lots of options, but one thing is certain: I'll be taking at least one private lesson after my challenge is over! I'm going to start compiling a list (which I will, of course, share with you) of things I have questions on/want to work on/etc. that will help me best utilize my lesson.
Things are looking way up. We are sent challenges so we can rise to the occasion. Onward!
I was able to touch my head to the floor again in standing separate leg stretching pose, and this time I didn't even somersault out of it! I moved my legs closer together in the second set, so I didn't touch there, but I worked for it. I love progress like this, it's just so motivating.
One thing I did notice that was really, um, kind of gross... my sweat smelled AWFUL. I assume this is because I've been so sick over the past few days and my body needed to expel a lot of nasty toxins. But, seriously, I felt kind of bad for the people around me because the smell was so foul. It even made me a little nauseous during the spine strengthening series when my face was down towards the mat a lot. I'm definitely glad those toxins are no longer in my body. I feel much better and am looking forward to tomorrow's class!
I really feel good now that I've re-focused and re-dedicated myself to this challenge. I forgot to mention that I was lucky enough to be given several gift certificates for my yoga studio so not only do I have enough money for a private lesson, but I also could buy some new yoga clothes or some electrolyte drink powder or any number of things. I could also do a second private lesson, or use it towards a free month of class. I have lots of options, but one thing is certain: I'll be taking at least one private lesson after my challenge is over! I'm going to start compiling a list (which I will, of course, share with you) of things I have questions on/want to work on/etc. that will help me best utilize my lesson.
Things are looking way up. We are sent challenges so we can rise to the occasion. Onward!
Day Whatever: Holidays, Canceled Class, Stomach Bug, and a Double Date
Whew, it's been a while since I posted. Sorry! You had to expect some kind of distruption - after all, it is the holiday season. ;)
First things first: I finished my whirlwind 3 classes in 20ish hours and it wasn't pretty. I didn't hydrate properly or eat nearly enough before my last class pre-flight to Massachusetts, so that class was predictably tough. I couldn't do anything but lay in savasana and breathe. It was a huge struggle to not fly out the door and run away, but I managed to stick it out and stay in the room despite my dehydration-induced claustrophobia. Sometimes, just staying in the room is a victory!
So, Christmas Eve morning, my mom and I got up early and went out to her yoga studio. Upon pulling into the parking lot, we were informed the class had been canceled due to the holiday. This was news to us, since the holiday schedule on the website didn't quite agree with this sentiment. There are few things more annoying than actually being dedicated enough to get to class, only to find it not happening. Our moods were grumpy for a bit, before I reminded us both to "let no one steal your peace." At this point, doubles needed to finish my 60-day challenge on time: 1.
On Christmas morning, yet again my mother and I rose early to get to class. This one (thankfully still on) was great! It was nice to get into the room again after a day break, which I think my body actually needed. This class felt really cool to me, perhaps because I was right in front of a big fan that kept cooling my sweat the second it popped out my pores. Despite the perceived lack of heat, it was exciting to see my mom's improvement. When we went back in October for the first time, she couldn't even lay in savasana. This time, she was even able to do the sit-ups! She totally slays the standing series, which is the hardest part of class for me. It's funny that her strong points are my weaknesses and vice versa. It allows for cross-inspiration. :)
The day after Christmas was an equally good class. Jason joined us and it was really neat to have both my mom and Jason in class with me. This class felt back to its normal level of heat, which might have been due to my positioning away from the aforementioned big fan. My mom and I both had firsts in this class, too! She grabbed both feet in camel for the first time ever and I touched my head to the ground in standing separate leg stretching pose (without having my legs so far apart it was nearly a split)! Now, after I touched my head to the floor, I rolled my weight so far forward that I did a little somersault out of the posture but I was so excited to have a breakthrough right alongside my mom! So cool. I kind of wish I had video of my gymnastic move cause I bet it looked pretty hilarious.
And here's where it gets hairy.
There was a massive snowstorm Sunday into Monday. It was one of the top 10 storms New England has ever had, and that's saying something. We were expecting our flight to be canceled, since almost every flight out of Logan was. If the flight was canceled, we were all going to go to the 5:30 yoga class together and hopefully head out on Tuesday. However, the universe had a wrench to throw in my plans! I woke up Monday morning around 6 or 8 (it's hazy) to some god-awful stomach cramps. I thought maybe it was just poor holiday eating coming back to get its revenge on me, but I quickly learned that it was more than a food baby. After praying to the porcelain god for a couple hours, it became apparent that I couldn't travel that day. Ironically, our flight was just about the only one not canceled that day, but I couldn't get out of bed, let alone board the airplane. Jason, who had to work this week, was feeling healthy and decided to head back to Texas without his poor, suffering girlfriend (haha). The earliest flight I could get out of Boston? Friday. Guh. I was out of commission, travel-wise and yoga-wise. Doubles needed: 2.
Tuesday was much the same. I wasn't throwing up anymore, but my stomach was still feeling terrible and I wasn't able to eat a bite. I was sustaining myself on small sips of Gatorade and basically just slept all day and tried to find positions that didn't kill my aching joints. No yoga for me. Doubles needed: 3.
So, today I'm feeling relatively back to normal. I was able to keep some food down, and I've been drinking some much-needed water. I'm planning on getting back to the hot room later, for the 5:30 class. My mom is going to come with me, too! Yayyyy.
The plan for the rest of the week is as follows: I will do singles today through Monday. I will do a double Tuesday, single Wednesday, double Thursday, single Friday, and double Saturday to finish out my challenge. Nita, a teacher at my studio who I've become friends with, is going to join me on my final day! Nita is so inspirational! She has a beautiful practice and a stunningly positive attitude and it will be very nice to have her spirit helping me through the last day of my challenge. She's teaching the 10 am, which I'll take, and then we're going to go to Spiral Diner for some healthy and delicious vegan lunch, and we'll take a class together to finish out my last class of the challenge! It will be such a nice end to what is sure to be a mentally and physically taxing week.
I'm really kind of happy with the way everything is turning out. I think the universe did this whole thing on purpose to force me into a bunch of doubles I would definitely not have done otherwise. When I got sick, I became a bit depressed that I wasn't going to be able to finish my challenge, but I realized that if I didn't finish my challenge, it would be my choice to leave it undone. I can choose to finish it, regardless of any obstacles in my way. Will it be hard? Yes. Can I do it? Yes. Will I do it? YES.
First things first: I finished my whirlwind 3 classes in 20ish hours and it wasn't pretty. I didn't hydrate properly or eat nearly enough before my last class pre-flight to Massachusetts, so that class was predictably tough. I couldn't do anything but lay in savasana and breathe. It was a huge struggle to not fly out the door and run away, but I managed to stick it out and stay in the room despite my dehydration-induced claustrophobia. Sometimes, just staying in the room is a victory!
So, Christmas Eve morning, my mom and I got up early and went out to her yoga studio. Upon pulling into the parking lot, we were informed the class had been canceled due to the holiday. This was news to us, since the holiday schedule on the website didn't quite agree with this sentiment. There are few things more annoying than actually being dedicated enough to get to class, only to find it not happening. Our moods were grumpy for a bit, before I reminded us both to "let no one steal your peace." At this point, doubles needed to finish my 60-day challenge on time: 1.
On Christmas morning, yet again my mother and I rose early to get to class. This one (thankfully still on) was great! It was nice to get into the room again after a day break, which I think my body actually needed. This class felt really cool to me, perhaps because I was right in front of a big fan that kept cooling my sweat the second it popped out my pores. Despite the perceived lack of heat, it was exciting to see my mom's improvement. When we went back in October for the first time, she couldn't even lay in savasana. This time, she was even able to do the sit-ups! She totally slays the standing series, which is the hardest part of class for me. It's funny that her strong points are my weaknesses and vice versa. It allows for cross-inspiration. :)
The day after Christmas was an equally good class. Jason joined us and it was really neat to have both my mom and Jason in class with me. This class felt back to its normal level of heat, which might have been due to my positioning away from the aforementioned big fan. My mom and I both had firsts in this class, too! She grabbed both feet in camel for the first time ever and I touched my head to the ground in standing separate leg stretching pose (without having my legs so far apart it was nearly a split)! Now, after I touched my head to the floor, I rolled my weight so far forward that I did a little somersault out of the posture but I was so excited to have a breakthrough right alongside my mom! So cool. I kind of wish I had video of my gymnastic move cause I bet it looked pretty hilarious.
And here's where it gets hairy.
There was a massive snowstorm Sunday into Monday. It was one of the top 10 storms New England has ever had, and that's saying something. We were expecting our flight to be canceled, since almost every flight out of Logan was. If the flight was canceled, we were all going to go to the 5:30 yoga class together and hopefully head out on Tuesday. However, the universe had a wrench to throw in my plans! I woke up Monday morning around 6 or 8 (it's hazy) to some god-awful stomach cramps. I thought maybe it was just poor holiday eating coming back to get its revenge on me, but I quickly learned that it was more than a food baby. After praying to the porcelain god for a couple hours, it became apparent that I couldn't travel that day. Ironically, our flight was just about the only one not canceled that day, but I couldn't get out of bed, let alone board the airplane. Jason, who had to work this week, was feeling healthy and decided to head back to Texas without his poor, suffering girlfriend (haha). The earliest flight I could get out of Boston? Friday. Guh. I was out of commission, travel-wise and yoga-wise. Doubles needed: 2.
Tuesday was much the same. I wasn't throwing up anymore, but my stomach was still feeling terrible and I wasn't able to eat a bite. I was sustaining myself on small sips of Gatorade and basically just slept all day and tried to find positions that didn't kill my aching joints. No yoga for me. Doubles needed: 3.
So, today I'm feeling relatively back to normal. I was able to keep some food down, and I've been drinking some much-needed water. I'm planning on getting back to the hot room later, for the 5:30 class. My mom is going to come with me, too! Yayyyy.
The plan for the rest of the week is as follows: I will do singles today through Monday. I will do a double Tuesday, single Wednesday, double Thursday, single Friday, and double Saturday to finish out my challenge. Nita, a teacher at my studio who I've become friends with, is going to join me on my final day! Nita is so inspirational! She has a beautiful practice and a stunningly positive attitude and it will be very nice to have her spirit helping me through the last day of my challenge. She's teaching the 10 am, which I'll take, and then we're going to go to Spiral Diner for some healthy and delicious vegan lunch, and we'll take a class together to finish out my last class of the challenge! It will be such a nice end to what is sure to be a mentally and physically taxing week.
I'm really kind of happy with the way everything is turning out. I think the universe did this whole thing on purpose to force me into a bunch of doubles I would definitely not have done otherwise. When I got sick, I became a bit depressed that I wasn't going to be able to finish my challenge, but I realized that if I didn't finish my challenge, it would be my choice to leave it undone. I can choose to finish it, regardless of any obstacles in my way. Will it be hard? Yes. Can I do it? Yes. Will I do it? YES.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Days 41-44
First things first: I missed class on Sunday. The soccer workout wound up being way harder on my body than anticipated. I crashed out on the couch Saturday, barely able to muster the energy to move. On Sunday, I had a whole slew of work to get finished before a holiday party we were attending, and I just ran out of time. This was totally cool with me because I knew I could make it up with a double, which I had been wanting to do anyway but hadn't found the self-motivation to do so randomly yet.
After the day off, I had a couple tough classes. Not tough in a bad way, though! They were very challenging, partly due to the instructor who is very motivating and always pushes everyone to do their absolute best and not slack off a whit. I always find myself really pushing to my ultimate limits in his classes, partially because I don't want to get called out for slacking, but also because I want to show him that I'm not a slacker, that I'm really pushing as hard as I can. In the second class, I got really dizzy in the standing series, which I think was due to improper electrolyte intake. I felt a little... stagnant, I suppose, after that second class, which brings me to the theme of this blog post:
If you are feeling uninspired, you must actively seek out inspiration. You can't just sit back and wait for inspiration to slap you in the face, you need to go searching for it. For me, this has most often taken then form of books. Autobiography of a Yogi has been a wealth of inspiration for me, especially with the spiritual side of the practice, which I really haven't gotten much into here since I'm still working it all out in my head. I also recently purchased a book on yoga anatomy that has been seriously valuable to my practice. The first chapter is all about the dynamics of breathing and it has given me such a great understanding of the physical process of taking in and expelling air. It's so much easier to control your body when you know how it works.
The new understanding of how breathing works totally pushed my practice today! I found it easier to contract my stomach muscles for chest breathing and easier to let go of tension for belly breathing. I was hyper aware of my breath in all the postures, which allowed me to go so much deeper than I normally go in several postures (namely: half moon, standing bow, the entire spine strengthening series). I used my blah feeling after yesterday's class to motivate me to crack the book open, which brought me to a great class this afternoon. Every time I have sought inspiration, I've had a breakthrough class shortly thereafter.
So, I'm going back to the studio this evening to complete the second part of my double so I'm all caught up pre-vacation. We'll be in Boston from tomorrow through Monday and I plan on practicing every day up there. If I miss a day, it's cool, cause I know I can double my way through it when I get back.
I love yoga. My life is so improved as a result of my practice and I give thanks every day for being led to find it.
After the day off, I had a couple tough classes. Not tough in a bad way, though! They were very challenging, partly due to the instructor who is very motivating and always pushes everyone to do their absolute best and not slack off a whit. I always find myself really pushing to my ultimate limits in his classes, partially because I don't want to get called out for slacking, but also because I want to show him that I'm not a slacker, that I'm really pushing as hard as I can. In the second class, I got really dizzy in the standing series, which I think was due to improper electrolyte intake. I felt a little... stagnant, I suppose, after that second class, which brings me to the theme of this blog post:
If you are feeling uninspired, you must actively seek out inspiration. You can't just sit back and wait for inspiration to slap you in the face, you need to go searching for it. For me, this has most often taken then form of books. Autobiography of a Yogi has been a wealth of inspiration for me, especially with the spiritual side of the practice, which I really haven't gotten much into here since I'm still working it all out in my head. I also recently purchased a book on yoga anatomy that has been seriously valuable to my practice. The first chapter is all about the dynamics of breathing and it has given me such a great understanding of the physical process of taking in and expelling air. It's so much easier to control your body when you know how it works.
The new understanding of how breathing works totally pushed my practice today! I found it easier to contract my stomach muscles for chest breathing and easier to let go of tension for belly breathing. I was hyper aware of my breath in all the postures, which allowed me to go so much deeper than I normally go in several postures (namely: half moon, standing bow, the entire spine strengthening series). I used my blah feeling after yesterday's class to motivate me to crack the book open, which brought me to a great class this afternoon. Every time I have sought inspiration, I've had a breakthrough class shortly thereafter.
So, I'm going back to the studio this evening to complete the second part of my double so I'm all caught up pre-vacation. We'll be in Boston from tomorrow through Monday and I plan on practicing every day up there. If I miss a day, it's cool, cause I know I can double my way through it when I get back.
I love yoga. My life is so improved as a result of my practice and I give thanks every day for being led to find it.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Day 40
Ahhhh, damn you heat! Today's class was hot and stuffy, with the overhead fans firmly turned off the entire time. I was in kind of a crappy mood before class and I allowed the heat and my mood to get into my brain. I got emotional right around standing separate leg head to knee and I had a little cry. After that, I felt well enough to continue. Sometimes, this yoga shakes things loose that you didn't even know you were hanging onto. After shedding my four tears, I was able to capture control of my breath and re-focus on the class.
I'm starting to see progress on the last part of locust pose. Sometimes, the stars and my hips align and I can push my weight forward to my shoulders and lift my legs more than an inch off the ground. Today, I really felt my legs lifting and my arms were tingling when I released. It felt great. (And hot.)
Bow pose continues to improve and this is the one posture that I really think I'm nailing right now. For me, it's all about hips and shoulders. If I can align my hips and relax my shoulders, I'm golden. I'm continuing to work on tightening my glutes and keeping my legs/knees/feet six inches apart. I'm getting a little closer every day.
I'm sorry to cut it short, but I've got to get ready to go kick around a soccer ball! I'm glad I went to yoga beforehand because I'll be stretched out and ready to go a lot faster than if I were going in cold. Life is good!
I'm starting to see progress on the last part of locust pose. Sometimes, the stars and my hips align and I can push my weight forward to my shoulders and lift my legs more than an inch off the ground. Today, I really felt my legs lifting and my arms were tingling when I released. It felt great. (And hot.)
Bow pose continues to improve and this is the one posture that I really think I'm nailing right now. For me, it's all about hips and shoulders. If I can align my hips and relax my shoulders, I'm golden. I'm continuing to work on tightening my glutes and keeping my legs/knees/feet six inches apart. I'm getting a little closer every day.
I'm sorry to cut it short, but I've got to get ready to go kick around a soccer ball! I'm glad I went to yoga beforehand because I'll be stretched out and ready to go a lot faster than if I were going in cold. Life is good!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Day 39
First things first: The holiday party was a lot of fun! I talked to a lot of people, some that I knew and some that I didn't. I was nervous at first because I have a lot of anxiety in new social situations, but everyone was really nice and easy to talk to. A couple people I'd never spoken to before that night came up to me and said I look like I've lost a lot of weight. Since I'm still hanging out in that blasted three-pound range of death, it was very good to hear that I am shrinking even if the scale is messing with me. And (THE MOST EXCITING PART): my guacamole won 3rd place in the food competition and I won a $25 gift card to spend at the studio! I'm going to put it towards a private lesson, which will be my reward for completing this challenge. I can't stop smiling every time I think about it. It was a fantastic night.
Today's class was greeeeaaaaat! I felt like I slayed a lot of mental demons in this class. The room was undeniably hot today. I felt overwhelmed more often than once but my mind was firmly set on each posture. It really is possible to beat the heat if you keep your brain in the room and on the posture. Anytime you think about the heat, it gets worse. The trick is to keep your brain far away from thoughts like, "It's so hot in here" and tell yourself, "Man, I could use a sweater" and then dismiss it all from your head. It sounds so stupid but it's really working for me.
In balancing stick, it's a lot better for me to keep my hips even as I go down and not lift my leg as high than to have one hip popped and have my leg up parallel to the floor. Add that to the list of stuff I knew mentally but couldn't translate to my body. "Form before depth" rears its beautiful head again!
I guess the universe must have heard my frustrated raging about how much I hate triangle, because I had one very good one today. It was actually kind of rewarding, because after falling flat on my ass and basically all-around failing at the first side, I pulled myself together and tried again and was rewarded with how I think triangle is supposed to feel every time. Muscles all over my body were screaming at me, especially in my midsection and arms. I felt like my hips and my chest were two separate entities, moving in two opposite directions. I am excited that I had this breakthrough and am happy that triangle will eventually feel like that, instead of like I'm a floppy wet noodle.
In toe stand, I got my fingers to the floor and bent my knee but when I got to the ground, I pitched forward. I'm pretty sure I'm putting my hands too far in front of me, so it's a huge shift when I try and move my hands to my sides. Tree pose and toe stand are both really tough because apparently, my hips want to be open on every posture EXCEPT these two.
Okay, let's get real: my ass is SOOOOOORE from the spine-strengthening series. I have to squeeze my glutes so hard to get my heels and toes to touch while working on my spine. The best part about that is that tightening my legs and hips takes all of my effort and concentration and my spine doesn't really hold much tension. Hooray!
I had my best bow pose yet today! I was able to really relax my shoulders which allowed my legs to kick up higher. I felt spinal compression and realized my legs were out to the side so I squeezed the crap out of my glutes and I felt all kinds of not-entirely-unpleasant-but-still-pretty-unpleasant feelings in my body. It's pain, but not the pain of injury. I've come to realize that it's the pain of new muscles being born, of old muscles growing, and of creaky bones and joints regaining their natural flexibility.
All in all, it was a great class with a few key breakthroughs. I'm very happy with how things are progressing. Jason and I are going to the ten o'clock class tomorrow and then we're going to kick a soccer ball around with some friends in the afternoon. It's been so long since I played soccer and I'm in MUCH better shape than I ever was when I was playing. I'm excited to be faster and more in control of my body. I can't wait!
Today's class was greeeeaaaaat! I felt like I slayed a lot of mental demons in this class. The room was undeniably hot today. I felt overwhelmed more often than once but my mind was firmly set on each posture. It really is possible to beat the heat if you keep your brain in the room and on the posture. Anytime you think about the heat, it gets worse. The trick is to keep your brain far away from thoughts like, "It's so hot in here" and tell yourself, "Man, I could use a sweater" and then dismiss it all from your head. It sounds so stupid but it's really working for me.
In balancing stick, it's a lot better for me to keep my hips even as I go down and not lift my leg as high than to have one hip popped and have my leg up parallel to the floor. Add that to the list of stuff I knew mentally but couldn't translate to my body. "Form before depth" rears its beautiful head again!
I guess the universe must have heard my frustrated raging about how much I hate triangle, because I had one very good one today. It was actually kind of rewarding, because after falling flat on my ass and basically all-around failing at the first side, I pulled myself together and tried again and was rewarded with how I think triangle is supposed to feel every time. Muscles all over my body were screaming at me, especially in my midsection and arms. I felt like my hips and my chest were two separate entities, moving in two opposite directions. I am excited that I had this breakthrough and am happy that triangle will eventually feel like that, instead of like I'm a floppy wet noodle.
In toe stand, I got my fingers to the floor and bent my knee but when I got to the ground, I pitched forward. I'm pretty sure I'm putting my hands too far in front of me, so it's a huge shift when I try and move my hands to my sides. Tree pose and toe stand are both really tough because apparently, my hips want to be open on every posture EXCEPT these two.
Okay, let's get real: my ass is SOOOOOORE from the spine-strengthening series. I have to squeeze my glutes so hard to get my heels and toes to touch while working on my spine. The best part about that is that tightening my legs and hips takes all of my effort and concentration and my spine doesn't really hold much tension. Hooray!
I had my best bow pose yet today! I was able to really relax my shoulders which allowed my legs to kick up higher. I felt spinal compression and realized my legs were out to the side so I squeezed the crap out of my glutes and I felt all kinds of not-entirely-unpleasant-but-still-pretty-unpleasant feelings in my body. It's pain, but not the pain of injury. I've come to realize that it's the pain of new muscles being born, of old muscles growing, and of creaky bones and joints regaining their natural flexibility.
All in all, it was a great class with a few key breakthroughs. I'm very happy with how things are progressing. Jason and I are going to the ten o'clock class tomorrow and then we're going to kick a soccer ball around with some friends in the afternoon. It's been so long since I played soccer and I'm in MUCH better shape than I ever was when I was playing. I'm excited to be faster and more in control of my body. I can't wait!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Day 38
I had a good class again, thankfully! I haven't taken a noon class in a while and I'm always so happy when I leave and have the whole day open ahead of me. Tonight is the BYD holiday party and I'm about to make some guacamole and bean and vegan cheese casserole for the festivities. It'll be fun to see everyone in normal clothes and not covered in a liter of sweat.
I really enjoyed the instructor that taught today. She is constantly reminding us to lift our chests, which helps me in so many postures. I love classes with a lot of corrections and today was one of those. The standing series was pretty hard for me again around triangle (grumble, grumble) but I did the best I could and tried to put it behind me. I still really hate triangle with every fiber of my being. I know that this just means I need it really badly, but damn. I wish it would click for me already. Patience, patience...
I had my hips perfectly aligned in wind-removing pose, which allowed me to really feel the pinch in my hip. I got a cramp in my right hip joint on the first set which was actually kind of cool. It was really nice to be able to relax into the posture and find my peace within it. I just can't do that if I'm freaking out about my hips.
The best part of class, far and away, was camel. The instructor said we had a little extra time and that we'd be hold the second set of camel for a full minute as a result! She said she's give the option to come out of it when we normally do, but I decided I was going to hold it the whole time. It was AWESOME. I almost felt like I was flying when I came out of it. The post-camel feeling is such a beautiful release. I almost started crying, not from sadness and not quite from happiness. It's hard to explain, but it's simply a lightness.
Because we pushed camel longer, we also pushed the second set of rabbit longer so we would have a balanced backbend/forward bend combo. I didn't hold rabbit as long as I held camel, but I pushed it longer than normal until I legitimately couldn't breathe anymore. That's always my problem in rabbit. My stomach and chest will push up into my throat and squish my breathing parts. It's a work in progress!
Can I mention how much I hate spine twist? I can't get my heel to touch my knee, it's always like... the side of my ankle, or even my calf. Then the instructor today said our weight should be in our front knee, when I've been trying to keep it even in my hips. This posture makes me feel totally clueless some days. I think it will get a little easier as I continue to tone up, because my stomach makes the twisting a little awkward right now. I'll just keep trying and see where I end up.
And now to make some delicious food for the holiday party! Perhaps I will see you there. :)
I really enjoyed the instructor that taught today. She is constantly reminding us to lift our chests, which helps me in so many postures. I love classes with a lot of corrections and today was one of those. The standing series was pretty hard for me again around triangle (grumble, grumble) but I did the best I could and tried to put it behind me. I still really hate triangle with every fiber of my being. I know that this just means I need it really badly, but damn. I wish it would click for me already. Patience, patience...
I had my hips perfectly aligned in wind-removing pose, which allowed me to really feel the pinch in my hip. I got a cramp in my right hip joint on the first set which was actually kind of cool. It was really nice to be able to relax into the posture and find my peace within it. I just can't do that if I'm freaking out about my hips.
The best part of class, far and away, was camel. The instructor said we had a little extra time and that we'd be hold the second set of camel for a full minute as a result! She said she's give the option to come out of it when we normally do, but I decided I was going to hold it the whole time. It was AWESOME. I almost felt like I was flying when I came out of it. The post-camel feeling is such a beautiful release. I almost started crying, not from sadness and not quite from happiness. It's hard to explain, but it's simply a lightness.
Because we pushed camel longer, we also pushed the second set of rabbit longer so we would have a balanced backbend/forward bend combo. I didn't hold rabbit as long as I held camel, but I pushed it longer than normal until I legitimately couldn't breathe anymore. That's always my problem in rabbit. My stomach and chest will push up into my throat and squish my breathing parts. It's a work in progress!
Can I mention how much I hate spine twist? I can't get my heel to touch my knee, it's always like... the side of my ankle, or even my calf. Then the instructor today said our weight should be in our front knee, when I've been trying to keep it even in my hips. This posture makes me feel totally clueless some days. I think it will get a little easier as I continue to tone up, because my stomach makes the twisting a little awkward right now. I'll just keep trying and see where I end up.
And now to make some delicious food for the holiday party! Perhaps I will see you there. :)
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Days 36 & 37
I don't remember much from yesterday's class. It was another good, solid class with strong breath control. Sometimes, there just isn't too much to say about a class and that's how I feel about yesterday.
Today, however... sigh. Today's class wasn't so great for me. The good news is that my bad classes are not quite as bad as they used to be. I only got a touch dizzy and I didn't skip any poses. So I'm pretty happy that my perception of a bad class has been bumped up a notch.
I am having a lot - and I mean a LOT - of trouble with triangle. It's the bane of my existence right now. I have a hard time taking a wide enough step so I don't have to wiggle my foot around to get my thigh flat. My heels don't want to stay in line. I cannot, for the life of me, stop slipping and sliding. If I get my arms vertical and look up to the ceiling, I almost always fall over. I am working really hard to not get frustrated with myself in triangle because frustration never serves me. I guess we all looked miserable because the instructor lovingly laughed at us and said, "It's just triangle, guys!"
My hips were not good in this class. I had to do a lot of mid-posture hip adjustments and sit through a lot of wonky savasanas. Fixed firm pose was bad and I felt a cramp in my back, weirdly enough, which I think means I was doing something really wrong. I need to keep my back flat on the ground and not arch at all. That pose either really works or really doesn't for me. In bow, despite my wonky hips, I managed to get some spinal compression. At the very end of bow, I tightened my glutes as much as humanly possible and my legs shot in towards the center, which is AWESOME! I love bow pose!
The general consensus post-class was that it was a fairly hot one, but I didn't really notice the heat much. It would explain why I got dizzy in that one spot, though. Also, something I read in a teacher training blog (I went on a TEAR of reading TT blogs for a minute there) struck me: when the room is on the cooler side, the game is physical. Your body doesn't stretch as easily because it's not as warmed up. When the room is on the hotter side, the game switches to mental. Your body is supple and flexible but your brain is jumping off bridges and you have to rein it in. It's an interesting thought for sure. And it'd explain why my head was a little off today in class!
See you crazy kids tomorrow. I'm thinking about a double on Friday but it all depends on how much I get done between now and then. We'll see!
Today, however... sigh. Today's class wasn't so great for me. The good news is that my bad classes are not quite as bad as they used to be. I only got a touch dizzy and I didn't skip any poses. So I'm pretty happy that my perception of a bad class has been bumped up a notch.
I am having a lot - and I mean a LOT - of trouble with triangle. It's the bane of my existence right now. I have a hard time taking a wide enough step so I don't have to wiggle my foot around to get my thigh flat. My heels don't want to stay in line. I cannot, for the life of me, stop slipping and sliding. If I get my arms vertical and look up to the ceiling, I almost always fall over. I am working really hard to not get frustrated with myself in triangle because frustration never serves me. I guess we all looked miserable because the instructor lovingly laughed at us and said, "It's just triangle, guys!"
My hips were not good in this class. I had to do a lot of mid-posture hip adjustments and sit through a lot of wonky savasanas. Fixed firm pose was bad and I felt a cramp in my back, weirdly enough, which I think means I was doing something really wrong. I need to keep my back flat on the ground and not arch at all. That pose either really works or really doesn't for me. In bow, despite my wonky hips, I managed to get some spinal compression. At the very end of bow, I tightened my glutes as much as humanly possible and my legs shot in towards the center, which is AWESOME! I love bow pose!
The general consensus post-class was that it was a fairly hot one, but I didn't really notice the heat much. It would explain why I got dizzy in that one spot, though. Also, something I read in a teacher training blog (I went on a TEAR of reading TT blogs for a minute there) struck me: when the room is on the cooler side, the game is physical. Your body doesn't stretch as easily because it's not as warmed up. When the room is on the hotter side, the game switches to mental. Your body is supple and flexible but your brain is jumping off bridges and you have to rein it in. It's an interesting thought for sure. And it'd explain why my head was a little off today in class!
See you crazy kids tomorrow. I'm thinking about a double on Friday but it all depends on how much I get done between now and then. We'll see!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Days 34 & 35
I'm having a really nice stretch of classes right now. I LOVE YOGA!
The biggest change is that I am not really having to stop in the standing series anymore. I've been paying a lot of attention to my breath and it's definitely helping. I've also been working on not getting too attached to emotions and thoughts. Sometimes I catch myself thinking, "Ugh, it's hot" and then I take a breath and think, "but you'll live" and continue with my practice. Steering my mind away from negative thoughts really helps to remove their hold on me.
I had my best standing bow yet today! My left side continues to be better than the right (in a strange reversal from the norm), and I really got deep into the posture today. I felt compression in my back and my leg was shaking I was pushing it back so hard. After I released, I felt like it was five months ago and I was coming out of my first good camel. In moments like these, it's impossible to keep the smile off one's face.
I can definitely feel improvements in rabbit. I can get my forehead to my knee now, though it's tough to hold it. I also realized I have a problem with my hips being too open when I sit Japanese-style, which impacts the postures that follow the direction to sit as such. Today, I focused on keeping my knees together, which meant tightening my inner thighs and flattening my feet on the floor. It makes the posture really, really, really hard, which obviously means I'm doing it the right way. Heh.
Another weird thing I'm noticing is that I'm healing lightning-fast. I tend towards clumsiness and am always picking up burns or cuts from the kitchen, bruises from running into things, etc. Two days ago, I tore off a big chunk of one of my toenails and it was a bit of a bloody mess. Today, you would never have known it bled, it's so well-healed. The other day, I cut myself on the trunk of my car (don't ask me how because I have no idea) and I couldn't even find the cut the next day. I guess my blood is flowing through my body extra well these days. It's insane and cool. It also makes me have less attachment to pain. If I burn myself pulling my dinner out of the oven, I don't dwell on it because I know it's going to heal super fast.
I keep discovering new and exciting benefits from the practice and it is beyond exciting. I'm definitely doing at least one double this week. I've been bitten by the double bug and I'm psyched about it. I need to get a double or two in before I leave town for Christmas so that I can have some leniency with travel days. Also, doubles are kind of fun. Shh, don't tell anyone.
The biggest change is that I am not really having to stop in the standing series anymore. I've been paying a lot of attention to my breath and it's definitely helping. I've also been working on not getting too attached to emotions and thoughts. Sometimes I catch myself thinking, "Ugh, it's hot" and then I take a breath and think, "but you'll live" and continue with my practice. Steering my mind away from negative thoughts really helps to remove their hold on me.
I had my best standing bow yet today! My left side continues to be better than the right (in a strange reversal from the norm), and I really got deep into the posture today. I felt compression in my back and my leg was shaking I was pushing it back so hard. After I released, I felt like it was five months ago and I was coming out of my first good camel. In moments like these, it's impossible to keep the smile off one's face.
I can definitely feel improvements in rabbit. I can get my forehead to my knee now, though it's tough to hold it. I also realized I have a problem with my hips being too open when I sit Japanese-style, which impacts the postures that follow the direction to sit as such. Today, I focused on keeping my knees together, which meant tightening my inner thighs and flattening my feet on the floor. It makes the posture really, really, really hard, which obviously means I'm doing it the right way. Heh.
Another weird thing I'm noticing is that I'm healing lightning-fast. I tend towards clumsiness and am always picking up burns or cuts from the kitchen, bruises from running into things, etc. Two days ago, I tore off a big chunk of one of my toenails and it was a bit of a bloody mess. Today, you would never have known it bled, it's so well-healed. The other day, I cut myself on the trunk of my car (don't ask me how because I have no idea) and I couldn't even find the cut the next day. I guess my blood is flowing through my body extra well these days. It's insane and cool. It also makes me have less attachment to pain. If I burn myself pulling my dinner out of the oven, I don't dwell on it because I know it's going to heal super fast.
I keep discovering new and exciting benefits from the practice and it is beyond exciting. I'm definitely doing at least one double this week. I've been bitten by the double bug and I'm psyched about it. I need to get a double or two in before I leave town for Christmas so that I can have some leniency with travel days. Also, doubles are kind of fun. Shh, don't tell anyone.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Days 32 & 33
This has been such a fantastic yoga week that I almost can't believe it. Last night's class was somewhat unremarkable, just a normal solid class. However, I was overtaken by the most amazing flood of energy a few hours after class ended. I turbo-cleaned my kitchen... and I do mean turbo-cleaned. I even had a little plastic knife out to do some detail cleaning of the stovetop, which hasn't been done since we moved in last March. I love that I finally have the energy to do things that I normally avoid.
Tonight's class was another one of those good-but-unremarkable types. There weren't really any breakthroughs, it was just a solid practice, which is fine with me. I was focused and strong. I did feel like the heat wasn't as hot as it normally is, but who knows. I can never really tell if it's hotter/cooler than normal or if my body is just different/I'm controlling my breath differently/etc. I just try not to focus on temperature anymore and just practice as hard as I can.
I found an awesome blog about teacher training that you should check out if you're curious at all about the process. Reading this blog REALLY motivated me and got me excited about my future. I think I tentatively have my sights set on Spring 2012 for TT. My body will let me know if it's ready or not when the time comes, but I have the opportunity for over 450 classes between then and now (more, if I get crazy with some doubles). That's lots of time to practice! I'm not setting anything in stone for TT; when it happens, it happens. The financially responsible side of me has tentatively set the date simply so I can get my savings plan together. If worse comes to worst, if my body isn't ready, at least I'll have the financial part squared away.
Time to immerse myself in "Autobiography of a Yogi!" Goodnight, friends!
Tonight's class was another one of those good-but-unremarkable types. There weren't really any breakthroughs, it was just a solid practice, which is fine with me. I was focused and strong. I did feel like the heat wasn't as hot as it normally is, but who knows. I can never really tell if it's hotter/cooler than normal or if my body is just different/I'm controlling my breath differently/etc. I just try not to focus on temperature anymore and just practice as hard as I can.
I found an awesome blog about teacher training that you should check out if you're curious at all about the process. Reading this blog REALLY motivated me and got me excited about my future. I think I tentatively have my sights set on Spring 2012 for TT. My body will let me know if it's ready or not when the time comes, but I have the opportunity for over 450 classes between then and now (more, if I get crazy with some doubles). That's lots of time to practice! I'm not setting anything in stone for TT; when it happens, it happens. The financially responsible side of me has tentatively set the date simply so I can get my savings plan together. If worse comes to worst, if my body isn't ready, at least I'll have the financial part squared away.
Time to immerse myself in "Autobiography of a Yogi!" Goodnight, friends!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Day 31
Last night's class was another great one. I had very good control of my breath which really helped to propel me through towards the end of class. Instead of allowing myself to be overwhelmed by the heat, I just tried to breathe through it. I had a hyper level of focus and it really helped me get the most out of class.
I also had a very bizarre connection with the instructor in this class. I simply knew when he was speaking to me. He didn't have to say my name for me to be aware he was directing his energy at me. I don't really know how to explain it, except it was the closest sense I've gotten to a guru/student relationship so far in this practice. I felt like he was a radio transmitting energy to my frequency (a concept I just learned about in Paramahansa Yogananda's "Autobiography of a Yogi"). He'd give me a correction without saying my name, I'd make the correction, and as soon as I did, he'd give positive vocal feedback that I instinctively knew was directed at me. It was a very strange and wonderful synergy.
I'm experiencing a lot of change in standing head to knee. I am consistently kicking my right leg towards the mirror now. The instructor yesterday told me to really force my toes back towards my face once my leg is kicked out and this was very valuable advice. I felt the stretch like crazy on the underside of my leg. I'm still working on being able to grab my left foot and hold it with my knee locked, but the fact that I'm close to it is fantastic. Progress!
I had one of the best standing bows I've ever had! My lightning-bolt focus really served me in this posture. I was able to hold the first set on the left side for almost the entire minute! During this posture, I especially noticed the aforementioned synergy with my instructor. It felt beautiful.
Triangle continues to be a big challenge and I feel like sometimes my momentum hits a brick wall as soon as I set up for it. My body is definitely strengthening a lot now that I'm consistently able to attempt the posture, but it's certainly one of the hardest asanas for me. I have a very hard time with my balance. I'm working on keeping my hips down and my chest lifted. I tend to topple over once I look up towards the ceiling, so I'll be working very hard on focus over the next few classes.
Floor bow is really becoming something special for me. Correcting my hip alignment makes me able to work very deeply into my spine and it feels amazing. I love this posture, even though it's very difficult. Spinal compression is one of my favorite feelings these days.
Rabbit pose is getting better, too. I'm working on lifting my hips off my heels to really get into that spinal stretch. I have a hard time with this posture, since my chest/belly bulk can tend to choke me from time to time. I also tend to get overheated in this posture. I am going to work on keeping my breathing as regular as possible in this posture to see if that helps. I'm figuring it probably will.
In head to knee with stretching, I also experienced the teacher synergy. I was able to lock my knee, lift my heel off the ground, keep my opposite knee on the ground, tighten my stomach, get my head to my knee, and roll in to the opposite side. It was really intense and beyond awesome.
All in all, yesterday's class was a humdinger. I love when I put together a good string of classes where I feel change happening in my body. I'm expecting to have another fantastic one this afternoon. I will work as hard as humanly possible! YEAH!
I also had a very bizarre connection with the instructor in this class. I simply knew when he was speaking to me. He didn't have to say my name for me to be aware he was directing his energy at me. I don't really know how to explain it, except it was the closest sense I've gotten to a guru/student relationship so far in this practice. I felt like he was a radio transmitting energy to my frequency (a concept I just learned about in Paramahansa Yogananda's "Autobiography of a Yogi"). He'd give me a correction without saying my name, I'd make the correction, and as soon as I did, he'd give positive vocal feedback that I instinctively knew was directed at me. It was a very strange and wonderful synergy.
I'm experiencing a lot of change in standing head to knee. I am consistently kicking my right leg towards the mirror now. The instructor yesterday told me to really force my toes back towards my face once my leg is kicked out and this was very valuable advice. I felt the stretch like crazy on the underside of my leg. I'm still working on being able to grab my left foot and hold it with my knee locked, but the fact that I'm close to it is fantastic. Progress!
I had one of the best standing bows I've ever had! My lightning-bolt focus really served me in this posture. I was able to hold the first set on the left side for almost the entire minute! During this posture, I especially noticed the aforementioned synergy with my instructor. It felt beautiful.
Triangle continues to be a big challenge and I feel like sometimes my momentum hits a brick wall as soon as I set up for it. My body is definitely strengthening a lot now that I'm consistently able to attempt the posture, but it's certainly one of the hardest asanas for me. I have a very hard time with my balance. I'm working on keeping my hips down and my chest lifted. I tend to topple over once I look up towards the ceiling, so I'll be working very hard on focus over the next few classes.
Floor bow is really becoming something special for me. Correcting my hip alignment makes me able to work very deeply into my spine and it feels amazing. I love this posture, even though it's very difficult. Spinal compression is one of my favorite feelings these days.
Rabbit pose is getting better, too. I'm working on lifting my hips off my heels to really get into that spinal stretch. I have a hard time with this posture, since my chest/belly bulk can tend to choke me from time to time. I also tend to get overheated in this posture. I am going to work on keeping my breathing as regular as possible in this posture to see if that helps. I'm figuring it probably will.
In head to knee with stretching, I also experienced the teacher synergy. I was able to lock my knee, lift my heel off the ground, keep my opposite knee on the ground, tighten my stomach, get my head to my knee, and roll in to the opposite side. It was really intense and beyond awesome.
All in all, yesterday's class was a humdinger. I love when I put together a good string of classes where I feel change happening in my body. I'm expecting to have another fantastic one this afternoon. I will work as hard as humanly possible! YEAH!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Day 30: Second half of the double!
The second half of my double was just as good as the first half! I found it much, much easier to breathe in this class (probably because I had already worked on breathing for an hour and a half) and I had a surprising amount of control. My focus was really spot-on and I worked into my body deeper than in the first class today. There's really something to this double thing.
My most surprising new favorite posture is the backbend in half moon! Losing the fear of that posture is definitely the best first step towards a really deep bend. For me, I need to square my hips towards the mirror and make sure my weight is in my heels before I try to go backwards at all. The tip I received today to point my fingers back at the wall has totally changed the posture for me. For some reason, it makes me bend so much deeper. I never thought I'd be saying that I look forward to any part of half moon! Change is good.
My spine had a fantastic day. Bow continues to get better for me. I know I've got my hips in the right place when I feel the compression in my lower spine. It's not a comfortable feeling but it's a feeling I definitely look forward to in every single class now.
Rabbit was good today, too. I am now working on lifting my hips off my heels which really increases the spinal stretching. I now get more of a camel-like release with rabbit than ever before. It just feels so gooooood.
After class, I have a lot of energy. I felt really body-tired after the first class of the double. I laid down a lot and took a little nap in the early evening. I feel surprisingly less tired both mentally and physically after the second class. My body is definitely sore from taking 3 classes in 26 hours but it's nothing bad. I feel pretty damn fantastic.
My most surprising new favorite posture is the backbend in half moon! Losing the fear of that posture is definitely the best first step towards a really deep bend. For me, I need to square my hips towards the mirror and make sure my weight is in my heels before I try to go backwards at all. The tip I received today to point my fingers back at the wall has totally changed the posture for me. For some reason, it makes me bend so much deeper. I never thought I'd be saying that I look forward to any part of half moon! Change is good.
My spine had a fantastic day. Bow continues to get better for me. I know I've got my hips in the right place when I feel the compression in my lower spine. It's not a comfortable feeling but it's a feeling I definitely look forward to in every single class now.
Rabbit was good today, too. I am now working on lifting my hips off my heels which really increases the spinal stretching. I now get more of a camel-like release with rabbit than ever before. It just feels so gooooood.
After class, I have a lot of energy. I felt really body-tired after the first class of the double. I laid down a lot and took a little nap in the early evening. I feel surprisingly less tired both mentally and physically after the second class. My body is definitely sore from taking 3 classes in 26 hours but it's nothing bad. I feel pretty damn fantastic.
Days 28 & 29 (part 1)
So, last night's class was probably my worst ever. I had a few issues, namely that I ate too close to class and I had massive cramps. My stomach was not well. I spent the vast majority of class (post-first set of standing head to knee) on my back in savasana, simply trying to not leave the room/throw up. Considering how awful I felt, I was pretty proud that I was able to stay in the room. I definitely almost fled several times. I decided to put the bad class behind me and look forward to today's double!
I've completed the first part of the double already today. Jason and I got up at the crack of dawn to hit up the 7:30 am class. Waking up at 6 is torture for me but getting out of class at 9 am and feeling all awake and happy is priceless. As Jason said after class, "What a great way to start the day!"
Class today was fantastic for me! I'm not sure if the heat wasn't as bad or if my body was just acclimated better, but I didn't get dizzy at all. The class was small and Jason and I both got a lot of personal correction, which I LOVE. I even got a correction and a compliment on my backbend, which was so cool since I have very recently figured out how to relax my right side to bend deeper. I love feeling compression in my lower spine!
In balancing stick, I worked really hard on keeping my lifted leg's hip down in line with the other. God, does that make the posture so much harder! It's a little easier to balance that way, though. It's one of my first real breakthroughs on this particular posture, so it's worth noting.
In half-tortoise, the teacher told me to try and lift my arms up before my head at the end of the posture. HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL, that is hard. I kind of fruitlessly flopped on the ground for a minute before getting out of the posture, but I know I'll get there eventually if I keep trying. It's all just a matter of time.
I've been finding that if my hips are out of line, I need to look at my shoulders. Often, when my hips are twisted or wonky, my right shoulder will be WAY higher than the left. So I'm working on relaxing my shoulder down, which in turn usually evens out my hips. I'm making baby steps towards fixing my silly ballet hips. It's a slow process, but I'm seeing progress so it's great.
And now, I'm going to rest for a while before making dinner. I will make sure to eat WAY in advance of class (I'm thinking at least 4 hours before is best) so I don't get nauseous or birth a food baby in the middle of wind-removing pose. I'll let you know how the second half of the double goes! After tonight, I'll be all caught up and halfway done. Wow.
I've completed the first part of the double already today. Jason and I got up at the crack of dawn to hit up the 7:30 am class. Waking up at 6 is torture for me but getting out of class at 9 am and feeling all awake and happy is priceless. As Jason said after class, "What a great way to start the day!"
Class today was fantastic for me! I'm not sure if the heat wasn't as bad or if my body was just acclimated better, but I didn't get dizzy at all. The class was small and Jason and I both got a lot of personal correction, which I LOVE. I even got a correction and a compliment on my backbend, which was so cool since I have very recently figured out how to relax my right side to bend deeper. I love feeling compression in my lower spine!
In balancing stick, I worked really hard on keeping my lifted leg's hip down in line with the other. God, does that make the posture so much harder! It's a little easier to balance that way, though. It's one of my first real breakthroughs on this particular posture, so it's worth noting.
In half-tortoise, the teacher told me to try and lift my arms up before my head at the end of the posture. HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL, that is hard. I kind of fruitlessly flopped on the ground for a minute before getting out of the posture, but I know I'll get there eventually if I keep trying. It's all just a matter of time.
I've been finding that if my hips are out of line, I need to look at my shoulders. Often, when my hips are twisted or wonky, my right shoulder will be WAY higher than the left. So I'm working on relaxing my shoulder down, which in turn usually evens out my hips. I'm making baby steps towards fixing my silly ballet hips. It's a slow process, but I'm seeing progress so it's great.
And now, I'm going to rest for a while before making dinner. I will make sure to eat WAY in advance of class (I'm thinking at least 4 hours before is best) so I don't get nauseous or birth a food baby in the middle of wind-removing pose. I'll let you know how the second half of the double goes! After tonight, I'll be all caught up and halfway done. Wow.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Days 26 & 27
This challenge is flying by. I can't believe it's already almost halfway over. I had one of the most breakthrough-filled classes in a long while today and I can attribute this to my mindest. I went to class today with the idea fixed firmly in my head that I would try my absolute hardest. I was not allowing any slack at all. "If you can, you must."
I know that's the attitude I should have before every class. I'll admit, I struggle sometimes to keep my head in the game. I'm working harder than I've ever worked in my life but sometimes I wonder if I'm really working to my maximum. Today, there was no doubt.
As a result, I had success with practically every posture. I did much better than usual on the second part of awkward and was able to keep my balance almost the entire time. I leaned farther back in eagle than ever before, too! I felt my leg wrap just a tiny bit more than usual on second set. Sweet!
Standing head to knee is becoming a posture I actually look forward to now. I'm now able to grab my right foot and kick it forward with a locked knee. I even locked my other knee today - then promptly lost my balance. But it's farther than I've ever progressed in that pose before and that is a happy success! Additionally, I was able to grab my left foot. Kicking out is still a ways off on the left side but to have two firsts in the same posture is really, really cool.
I had a huge breakthrough in bow! I tried really hard to keep my hips in line from the very beginning of the posture. I made sure I was perfectly balanced on my hips/chest before I kicked up and it really helped. With my hips not opened up, I was able to achieve intense compression in my lower spine. For the first time ever in that pose, I didn't feel even a tiny bit out of alignment. I think I felt how it's really supposed to feel for the first time. It was glorious!
I focused on my hip alignment in camel and was rewarded with more spinal compression than normal! I have been feeling this compression at the base of my back in my lower spine. It's a crazy sensation and it makes me feel fantastic. I love the feeling of blood pumping through my body after releasing a posture!
I can touch my head to my knees in rabbit. I'm doing this now with my knees squeezed together and my stomach tight. Tightening the stomach really helps in forward bends, come to find out. Of course, the teachers have been reminding me of this for months, but I finally decided to go ahead and listen!
I can consistently get my forehead to knee in sitting head to knee, which gives me the world's craziest rush. I got this particular rush a few times in class today, but it was strongest after head to knee. It sort of messes up my vision for a few seconds and isn't entirely unlike dizziness but is definitely NOT dizziness. I don't know how else to describe it! It's pretty cool, though.
In almosts: I almost touched my face to my legs in hands to feet. I almost held the entire standing bow. I almost got my head to the floor in separate leg stretching. Almosts are almost as exciting as firsts!
Class 28 tomorrow and then classes 29 and 30 on Wednesday! A double is in my future and I'm beyond excited about it!
I know that's the attitude I should have before every class. I'll admit, I struggle sometimes to keep my head in the game. I'm working harder than I've ever worked in my life but sometimes I wonder if I'm really working to my maximum. Today, there was no doubt.
As a result, I had success with practically every posture. I did much better than usual on the second part of awkward and was able to keep my balance almost the entire time. I leaned farther back in eagle than ever before, too! I felt my leg wrap just a tiny bit more than usual on second set. Sweet!
Standing head to knee is becoming a posture I actually look forward to now. I'm now able to grab my right foot and kick it forward with a locked knee. I even locked my other knee today - then promptly lost my balance. But it's farther than I've ever progressed in that pose before and that is a happy success! Additionally, I was able to grab my left foot. Kicking out is still a ways off on the left side but to have two firsts in the same posture is really, really cool.
I had a huge breakthrough in bow! I tried really hard to keep my hips in line from the very beginning of the posture. I made sure I was perfectly balanced on my hips/chest before I kicked up and it really helped. With my hips not opened up, I was able to achieve intense compression in my lower spine. For the first time ever in that pose, I didn't feel even a tiny bit out of alignment. I think I felt how it's really supposed to feel for the first time. It was glorious!
I focused on my hip alignment in camel and was rewarded with more spinal compression than normal! I have been feeling this compression at the base of my back in my lower spine. It's a crazy sensation and it makes me feel fantastic. I love the feeling of blood pumping through my body after releasing a posture!
I can touch my head to my knees in rabbit. I'm doing this now with my knees squeezed together and my stomach tight. Tightening the stomach really helps in forward bends, come to find out. Of course, the teachers have been reminding me of this for months, but I finally decided to go ahead and listen!
I can consistently get my forehead to knee in sitting head to knee, which gives me the world's craziest rush. I got this particular rush a few times in class today, but it was strongest after head to knee. It sort of messes up my vision for a few seconds and isn't entirely unlike dizziness but is definitely NOT dizziness. I don't know how else to describe it! It's pretty cool, though.
In almosts: I almost touched my face to my legs in hands to feet. I almost held the entire standing bow. I almost got my head to the floor in separate leg stretching. Almosts are almost as exciting as firsts!
Class 28 tomorrow and then classes 29 and 30 on Wednesday! A double is in my future and I'm beyond excited about it!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Days 24 (oops) and 25
Day 24 simply wasn't.
Jason and I planned on taking the 4:30 together since he took the day off work. We slept in and lazed around in the morning and then got ready for class. On the way, we hit a massive pile of traffic that conveniently had us reaching the parking lot at the stroke of 4:30. As we had to change, use the restroom, and purchase water, it dawned on us that we didn't really have time to get in there before the end of pranayama. So we made a split-second decision: We would skip class that day and commit to a double on another day. It just wouldn't be a 60-day challenge without missing a class due to circumstances outside my control, now would it?
It's kind of exciting, though. For starters, I've been wanting to try out some doubles but my silly brain has been doing a great job of talking me out of it for the past few weeks. This gives me an absolute reason to do one, which I'm hoping will turn into a desire to do more. Jason suggested doing a 7:30 am/8:15 pm combo which is way less intimidating than my last double, which I did back-to-back. Also, we've taken the 8:15 pm one day and the 7:30 am the next, so I've actually done doubles closer together than that before. I can come home, make some food, and even take a nap if I need to in between the two classes. I'm totally sold and Jason seems kind of pumped up about it too!
Today's class was nice. Jason gave me a great tip for balance in standing head to knee. Instead of trying to keep my leg lifted once I've got it in my hand, it makes a much bigger difference in my balance if I press my leg into my hands and pull my upper body up. It's got that "natural human traction" feeling to it and it makes my standing leg way more solid. I only fell out of the first set three times this way, which is a pretty great success for me.
A teacher the other day told us to push the tops of our feet into the ground on cobra, which has increased both the difficulty and the benefit of the posture for me. I am now touching my heels and toes without turning my hips out! It's not perfect every time, but I'm far more consistent than I've ever been. I can work a lot deeper into my spine this way. I like when things start to line up properly.
The absolute best thing about this practice is that you will never run out of things to work on. When you think you have a posture figured out, some small piece of it will open up and completely change everything. I love breakthrough days like this.
I feel great after today's class. I even had the energy to cook a new recipe, broccoli and potato soup, which I am now about to enjoy. And thus the blog comes to a close!
Jason and I planned on taking the 4:30 together since he took the day off work. We slept in and lazed around in the morning and then got ready for class. On the way, we hit a massive pile of traffic that conveniently had us reaching the parking lot at the stroke of 4:30. As we had to change, use the restroom, and purchase water, it dawned on us that we didn't really have time to get in there before the end of pranayama. So we made a split-second decision: We would skip class that day and commit to a double on another day. It just wouldn't be a 60-day challenge without missing a class due to circumstances outside my control, now would it?
It's kind of exciting, though. For starters, I've been wanting to try out some doubles but my silly brain has been doing a great job of talking me out of it for the past few weeks. This gives me an absolute reason to do one, which I'm hoping will turn into a desire to do more. Jason suggested doing a 7:30 am/8:15 pm combo which is way less intimidating than my last double, which I did back-to-back. Also, we've taken the 8:15 pm one day and the 7:30 am the next, so I've actually done doubles closer together than that before. I can come home, make some food, and even take a nap if I need to in between the two classes. I'm totally sold and Jason seems kind of pumped up about it too!
Today's class was nice. Jason gave me a great tip for balance in standing head to knee. Instead of trying to keep my leg lifted once I've got it in my hand, it makes a much bigger difference in my balance if I press my leg into my hands and pull my upper body up. It's got that "natural human traction" feeling to it and it makes my standing leg way more solid. I only fell out of the first set three times this way, which is a pretty great success for me.
A teacher the other day told us to push the tops of our feet into the ground on cobra, which has increased both the difficulty and the benefit of the posture for me. I am now touching my heels and toes without turning my hips out! It's not perfect every time, but I'm far more consistent than I've ever been. I can work a lot deeper into my spine this way. I like when things start to line up properly.
The absolute best thing about this practice is that you will never run out of things to work on. When you think you have a posture figured out, some small piece of it will open up and completely change everything. I love breakthrough days like this.
I feel great after today's class. I even had the energy to cook a new recipe, broccoli and potato soup, which I am now about to enjoy. And thus the blog comes to a close!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Day 23
I went to the noon class by myself today, since Jason and I have plans when he gets off work. It's nice to go a couple times a week during the day to get class out of the way early!
I'm noticing a big increase in strength the past few days. I'm pretty sore in my glutes and legs and abdomen. I've been feeling new muscles pop up all over my body in places I didn't even know muscles were supposed to be. I've been really ravenously hungry in the past few days and I'm assuming it's because I'm building muscle pretty fast. My cravings have all been for things like beans and cottage cheese, so I'm wagering that I need extra protein right now to sustain the rapid muscle gain.
Other than that, I feel a little like I did at the beginning of my practice. I'm suddenly floored tired again as opposed to light and full of energy. I'm hungry as hell. This has to be a sign that I'm achieving changes in my body. As out of shape as I was when I began my practice, I'm not really surprised that I'm reaching peaks and valleys along the way. It's going to take me a lot longer to get to a place where I can call myself "fit," but I'm motivated by more than just numbers on a scale now. And who knows? Maybe tomorrow's class will leave me bouncing off the walls! But for now... I'm going to lay on the couch and chill out until Jason gets home from work.
I'm noticing a big increase in strength the past few days. I'm pretty sore in my glutes and legs and abdomen. I've been feeling new muscles pop up all over my body in places I didn't even know muscles were supposed to be. I've been really ravenously hungry in the past few days and I'm assuming it's because I'm building muscle pretty fast. My cravings have all been for things like beans and cottage cheese, so I'm wagering that I need extra protein right now to sustain the rapid muscle gain.
Other than that, I feel a little like I did at the beginning of my practice. I'm suddenly floored tired again as opposed to light and full of energy. I'm hungry as hell. This has to be a sign that I'm achieving changes in my body. As out of shape as I was when I began my practice, I'm not really surprised that I'm reaching peaks and valleys along the way. It's going to take me a lot longer to get to a place where I can call myself "fit," but I'm motivated by more than just numbers on a scale now. And who knows? Maybe tomorrow's class will leave me bouncing off the walls! But for now... I'm going to lay on the couch and chill out until Jason gets home from work.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Days 16-22
I have had plenty of motivation to going to class but shockingly little for writing in this blog. My apologies! However, my practice is getting stronger and stronger despite my little respite in posting.
The biggest news is that I've begun to regularly keep my hips in alignment. I've figured out that if I really squeeze my inner thighs and keep my knees together, my hips stay in the proper place. It also really helps me to keep my stomach tight, which I've been working on very hard in the past week.
I feel like I've bumped up my practice to a new level in the first part of this challenge. I'm working into different parts of my body. I'm actually going less deep in a lot of the postures but I'm doing them with proper form. "Form before depth" - yeah, I finally understand it!
I can grab my right foot in standing head to knee! YES! I can't hold it very long with my knee locked but, sweet sassy molassy, does it work my core. The discovery of muscles in my stomach continues to amaze me. I cannot believe how long I went without using these muscles! Finding my abs means slightly more stabilization and the ability to push my arm up to the ceiling in triangle. I actually got through all four triangles today! No sitting for me in the standing series. It was a very nice feeling.
I think I must be building a lot of muscle because I've been sort of staying in the same 3-pound weight range since the beginning of the challenge. I can feel it in my body but it can be tough to listen and be patient.
Life is good. Jason signed up for the auto-pay program at yoga so he's committed to at least three more months! YAY! Have I mentioned that going together is the best? IT IS THE BEST.
The biggest news is that I've begun to regularly keep my hips in alignment. I've figured out that if I really squeeze my inner thighs and keep my knees together, my hips stay in the proper place. It also really helps me to keep my stomach tight, which I've been working on very hard in the past week.
I feel like I've bumped up my practice to a new level in the first part of this challenge. I'm working into different parts of my body. I'm actually going less deep in a lot of the postures but I'm doing them with proper form. "Form before depth" - yeah, I finally understand it!
I can grab my right foot in standing head to knee! YES! I can't hold it very long with my knee locked but, sweet sassy molassy, does it work my core. The discovery of muscles in my stomach continues to amaze me. I cannot believe how long I went without using these muscles! Finding my abs means slightly more stabilization and the ability to push my arm up to the ceiling in triangle. I actually got through all four triangles today! No sitting for me in the standing series. It was a very nice feeling.
I think I must be building a lot of muscle because I've been sort of staying in the same 3-pound weight range since the beginning of the challenge. I can feel it in my body but it can be tough to listen and be patient.
Life is good. Jason signed up for the auto-pay program at yoga so he's committed to at least three more months! YAY! Have I mentioned that going together is the best? IT IS THE BEST.
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