Only one more class to go now. I'm kinda of sad that this is almost over...
Today's class was really good. Everyone was in a fantastic mood after Canada won the gold and we practiced to the yells, screaming, and honking of the celebratory world outside.
Still feeling the back and leg, but was able to relax in class and just enjoy it for what it was today. The room was a great temperature too. Hot enough to sweat, but cool enough to keep my sanity! Thoroughly enjoyable, and definitely looking forward to the last hurrah tomorrow night!
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Double Day #2
So as I said previously, I had to skip Thursday and Friday's classes which meant that today was a double class day. I'm going to back track a bit here, and briefly talk about the two days that I missed.
I was surprised at how much I missed doing the yoga! The first day off it just felt like something was missing out of my day, and the second day I started experiencing quite a bit of stiffness in my back (lumbar area) which has turned into quite a bit of pain actually. I also felt a lot more lethargic and tired and overall low on energy; work seemed to drag on a bit and the days there seemed long. It's quite astounding actually the differences I noticed in only two days.
So back to class this morning at 0930. I was feeling pretty tired and stiff. I don't normally do morning classes. I walked in and learned that Ida was teaching which helped me make up my mind to just go in there and do it. She is an amazing teacher, I always learn something new in her classes. It's amazing how a seemingly minor adjustment can change a whole pose. She is quite an inspirational teacher and is somehow able to instruct and motivate at the same time with a strict but caring demeanor and an eye for every detail...
I like to be able to push myself a lot in class and found this morning's class frustrating with the pain in my back. I wasn't able to do the sit-ups at all because of a sharp pain in my back when I attempted them so I had to start rolling from side to side to sit up. It just felt defeating to not be able to do something that I've always been able to do. It was nice to be back in the hot room again though and I was hoping that it would help to relax out the tension in my back so my second class would go better.
No such luck...In fact this evening's class was worse on the pain scale and also a strain that I've been feeling in my inner thigh was exaggerated as well. It was an odd class because while I was still able to push myself into the depths that felt like they were working through the muscles and joints, during the transitions between postures I was really struggling. Another weird thing: despite the pain in my back during my daily life and in the transitions, I felt no pain in the postures, not even in the spine strengthening series where I assumed I would experience quite a bit! Strange...
2 classes left now. I hope that this back issue sorts its self out tonight. It would really stink to spend my last two classes of this challenge in pain...
I was surprised at how much I missed doing the yoga! The first day off it just felt like something was missing out of my day, and the second day I started experiencing quite a bit of stiffness in my back (lumbar area) which has turned into quite a bit of pain actually. I also felt a lot more lethargic and tired and overall low on energy; work seemed to drag on a bit and the days there seemed long. It's quite astounding actually the differences I noticed in only two days.
So back to class this morning at 0930. I was feeling pretty tired and stiff. I don't normally do morning classes. I walked in and learned that Ida was teaching which helped me make up my mind to just go in there and do it. She is an amazing teacher, I always learn something new in her classes. It's amazing how a seemingly minor adjustment can change a whole pose. She is quite an inspirational teacher and is somehow able to instruct and motivate at the same time with a strict but caring demeanor and an eye for every detail...
I like to be able to push myself a lot in class and found this morning's class frustrating with the pain in my back. I wasn't able to do the sit-ups at all because of a sharp pain in my back when I attempted them so I had to start rolling from side to side to sit up. It just felt defeating to not be able to do something that I've always been able to do. It was nice to be back in the hot room again though and I was hoping that it would help to relax out the tension in my back so my second class would go better.
No such luck...In fact this evening's class was worse on the pain scale and also a strain that I've been feeling in my inner thigh was exaggerated as well. It was an odd class because while I was still able to push myself into the depths that felt like they were working through the muscles and joints, during the transitions between postures I was really struggling. Another weird thing: despite the pain in my back during my daily life and in the transitions, I felt no pain in the postures, not even in the spine strengthening series where I assumed I would experience quite a bit! Strange...
2 classes left now. I hope that this back issue sorts its self out tonight. It would really stink to spend my last two classes of this challenge in pain...
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
26 of 30
26th Class in a row. And now unfortunately I have to take the next two days off... So you're thinking I'm cheating, but it's in the "rules" you can miss two days and make them up by doing a double on another day. I know that is not the point. You should be finding time in your everyday life to fit in the yoga, but sometimes things come up.
So I already, in anticipation of tomorrow, did a double earlier this month and I will have to do a double this weekend to make up for my missed class of Friday. It is unfortunate that these two days fall back to back, but I guess that is how the dice fall sometimes. Thursday is the S.A.L.T.S. AGM and Offshore Documentary Premier and Friday I'll be cooking for Street Cafe down at the Mustard Seed and there is no possible way I can make it do any other class that day. The closest would be the 6am class, but I still wouldn't make it to work on time. Drats!
Tonight's class I really tried to focus on the relaxation aspect of yoga. It's easy to get caught up in the deeper, harder, stronger, better, more! more! more! and to forget about the "meditation" side of things. I really tried to keep my mind clear and focused on what I was doing and, while pushing myself in postures, to concentrate on keeping my breath even and my mind witnessing what was going on in each posture. It was a great class and it was a good challenge to try and increase my awareness of everything that was going on in my body and not just what the posture looked like in the mirror.
On a separate note. After having done a number of classes with no water, I thought that to be fair I should try a few classes drinking more often that I normally did just to see. So yesterday and tonight were the starting test of that "theory." Honestly, I'm not sure what I think. When I'm having a great class, water doesn't really matter, when I'm having a "crappy" class then water seems like it matters a lot, but really it's not helping me that much it's just my mind trying to distract itself from the uncomfortableness of the situation. I will say though that I do really appreciate having my water there to take small sips from as my mouth gets dry or chalky tasting...it doesn't always happen, but when it does it's hard to distract my mind from that parched feeling inside my mouth. So I've done it all, water in the room and not drinking it, no water in the room period, drinking more often, drinking less often and I think my opinion is that it is nice to have the water in the room for those moments that a small sip will allow you move more fluidly through class, but best not to focus on the water and do NOT drink, under ANY circumstances during the spine strengthening series. I've never done it because I can't fathom that nasty feeling you'd get in your stomach as it presses into the floor during all those postures, bleh!
So I already, in anticipation of tomorrow, did a double earlier this month and I will have to do a double this weekend to make up for my missed class of Friday. It is unfortunate that these two days fall back to back, but I guess that is how the dice fall sometimes. Thursday is the S.A.L.T.S. AGM and Offshore Documentary Premier and Friday I'll be cooking for Street Cafe down at the Mustard Seed and there is no possible way I can make it do any other class that day. The closest would be the 6am class, but I still wouldn't make it to work on time. Drats!
Tonight's class I really tried to focus on the relaxation aspect of yoga. It's easy to get caught up in the deeper, harder, stronger, better, more! more! more! and to forget about the "meditation" side of things. I really tried to keep my mind clear and focused on what I was doing and, while pushing myself in postures, to concentrate on keeping my breath even and my mind witnessing what was going on in each posture. It was a great class and it was a good challenge to try and increase my awareness of everything that was going on in my body and not just what the posture looked like in the mirror.
On a separate note. After having done a number of classes with no water, I thought that to be fair I should try a few classes drinking more often that I normally did just to see. So yesterday and tonight were the starting test of that "theory." Honestly, I'm not sure what I think. When I'm having a great class, water doesn't really matter, when I'm having a "crappy" class then water seems like it matters a lot, but really it's not helping me that much it's just my mind trying to distract itself from the uncomfortableness of the situation. I will say though that I do really appreciate having my water there to take small sips from as my mouth gets dry or chalky tasting...it doesn't always happen, but when it does it's hard to distract my mind from that parched feeling inside my mouth. So I've done it all, water in the room and not drinking it, no water in the room period, drinking more often, drinking less often and I think my opinion is that it is nice to have the water in the room for those moments that a small sip will allow you move more fluidly through class, but best not to focus on the water and do NOT drink, under ANY circumstances during the spine strengthening series. I've never done it because I can't fathom that nasty feeling you'd get in your stomach as it presses into the floor during all those postures, bleh!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
25 down and 5 to go
Well only five classes left... I'm not sure what I'm going to do when all this is over? I need to celebrate! I'll take a day off, but then I'll probably go into withdrawal...
Both yesterday and tonight's classes were great. Back on track with energy levels and still feeling good about being in class. I'm soooooo close to touching my forehead to my toes, just a couple centimeter's away... I even stayed extra after class tonight to try again, to no avail, but I KNOW that SOMEWHERE between my feet and my head I can find the extra half inch that I need. I WILL do it before this challenge is over!
In general I'm really starting to see and feel the connections between the breath and postures to a greater degree. If you can control your breathing, you can control your posture; filling your lungs and then stretching on the exhale, it feels amazing to go that extra little bit that the release of your breath allows.
One posture that this has been really evident in lately is Rabbit Pose. This posture seemed so weird to me at first... I used to feel a lot of pressure in my neck/cervical spine when I started doing this pose, but now I can really feel it in the rest of my back as I exhale and push my hips more up and round out my spine more and more. It took me a while to "get" this pose, but now I look forward to it as a release after doing Camel (which is one of the deepest backward bends in the series). It also happens to fall very close to the end of the entire series so it's a mark of being close to the finish as well.
My marks have changed as my practice has, but there are always some postures you use to mark different parts of the series as you go and you look forward to one, and then challenge yourself more as you work through a posture that is more difficult. Each class is different though, so you just have to remember to breath through everything and acknowledge each class for what it is that day.
Both yesterday and tonight's classes were great. Back on track with energy levels and still feeling good about being in class. I'm soooooo close to touching my forehead to my toes, just a couple centimeter's away... I even stayed extra after class tonight to try again, to no avail, but I KNOW that SOMEWHERE between my feet and my head I can find the extra half inch that I need. I WILL do it before this challenge is over!
In general I'm really starting to see and feel the connections between the breath and postures to a greater degree. If you can control your breathing, you can control your posture; filling your lungs and then stretching on the exhale, it feels amazing to go that extra little bit that the release of your breath allows.
One posture that this has been really evident in lately is Rabbit Pose. This posture seemed so weird to me at first... I used to feel a lot of pressure in my neck/cervical spine when I started doing this pose, but now I can really feel it in the rest of my back as I exhale and push my hips more up and round out my spine more and more. It took me a while to "get" this pose, but now I look forward to it as a release after doing Camel (which is one of the deepest backward bends in the series). It also happens to fall very close to the end of the entire series so it's a mark of being close to the finish as well.
My marks have changed as my practice has, but there are always some postures you use to mark different parts of the series as you go and you look forward to one, and then challenge yourself more as you work through a posture that is more difficult. Each class is different though, so you just have to remember to breath through everything and acknowledge each class for what it is that day.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
One Week Left
Well. Here we are. 23 down and 7 to go.
4 days ago I would've said that it felt like this challenge was rushing by, but the last few classes have made it seem like I have a long way to go yet. Today's class was a bit of a turnaround though. Mentally, it felt a lot better than the last couple and physically I was going strong until the last two or three poses. This is a vast improvement on the past couple of days, although still not back to where I want to be again.
It has been really interesting to watch the progression of each class in the challenge thus far and how different things outside of the hot room affect my class. Some classes have whizzed by so fast I felt like I was barely in the room at all, and others have dragged on forever. I wish I enjoyed the classes that dragged on forever more than the the ones that pass quickly, but that is not the case.
When classes get difficult, or hot, or you are tired you have to focus on the posture and the correctness of your form. It can be the hardest thing to do though. You just want to think about how hot or uncomfortable you are, how you wish it was over, or the fans were on, or the door was opened for a few seconds... One of the instructors said once "Don't change the posture, just change your mind. It's easy."
Yeah...right...
But if it's all about intent and intensity, then I guess you don't have to master the mental challenges right away just as you wouldn't expect to master the physical ones.
4 days ago I would've said that it felt like this challenge was rushing by, but the last few classes have made it seem like I have a long way to go yet. Today's class was a bit of a turnaround though. Mentally, it felt a lot better than the last couple and physically I was going strong until the last two or three poses. This is a vast improvement on the past couple of days, although still not back to where I want to be again.
It has been really interesting to watch the progression of each class in the challenge thus far and how different things outside of the hot room affect my class. Some classes have whizzed by so fast I felt like I was barely in the room at all, and others have dragged on forever. I wish I enjoyed the classes that dragged on forever more than the the ones that pass quickly, but that is not the case.
When classes get difficult, or hot, or you are tired you have to focus on the posture and the correctness of your form. It can be the hardest thing to do though. You just want to think about how hot or uncomfortable you are, how you wish it was over, or the fans were on, or the door was opened for a few seconds... One of the instructors said once "Don't change the posture, just change your mind. It's easy."
Yeah...right...
But if it's all about intent and intensity, then I guess you don't have to master the mental challenges right away just as you wouldn't expect to master the physical ones.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Class 22
Eight classes to go.
I've felt really weak and tired in the last couple classes so hopefully there is a turn around here in the next few.
Oh, and my computer is in the shop....so if you don't hear from me, that's why.
I've felt really weak and tired in the last couple classes so hopefully there is a turn around here in the next few.
Oh, and my computer is in the shop....so if you don't hear from me, that's why.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Two Thirds + 1
I can't believe I missed blogging yesterday! It was such a landmark class in the grand scheme of thirty days! Alas...
My reflection on today is about differences.
It is amazing how different one day and one class can be from another. Yesterday's class number twenty was an amazing class. It felt fantastic and really focused and intense. Beautiful yoga.
Today my class was one of the harder ones I have ever had. I felt nauseous, weak, and tired and it was all I could to go from one pose to the next. After Stick Pose, which is the 5th out of 26, I pretty much wanted to just give up and not do anything... I did managed to push myself through all the poses, but it was probably the most mentally challenging classes I have ever had.
I know why the difference was, and it is an eye-opener to see how everything in your day affects everything else. Diet for example: Yesterday I ate really healthily, lots of fresh fruit and vegetables at every meal and tons of water. Today there was lots of water too, but I had a grilled sandwich for lunch, a sugary mocha, a giant cookie... it was "Bean Friday," it's tradition! Also, mood. Yesterday was fun and less stressful and I was in great relaxed mood when I got to class. Today was fun and productive, but I was in a bad mood by the end of the day and in a rush to get to class and it made a difference.
So. Lesson learned. Eat well.
Live. Laugh. Love. Yoga.
My reflection on today is about differences.
It is amazing how different one day and one class can be from another. Yesterday's class number twenty was an amazing class. It felt fantastic and really focused and intense. Beautiful yoga.
Today my class was one of the harder ones I have ever had. I felt nauseous, weak, and tired and it was all I could to go from one pose to the next. After Stick Pose, which is the 5th out of 26, I pretty much wanted to just give up and not do anything... I did managed to push myself through all the poses, but it was probably the most mentally challenging classes I have ever had.
I know why the difference was, and it is an eye-opener to see how everything in your day affects everything else. Diet for example: Yesterday I ate really healthily, lots of fresh fruit and vegetables at every meal and tons of water. Today there was lots of water too, but I had a grilled sandwich for lunch, a sugary mocha, a giant cookie... it was "Bean Friday," it's tradition! Also, mood. Yesterday was fun and less stressful and I was in great relaxed mood when I got to class. Today was fun and productive, but I was in a bad mood by the end of the day and in a rush to get to class and it made a difference.
So. Lesson learned. Eat well.
Live. Laugh. Love. Yoga.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
19. When Chuck Norris does yoga...
Please complete the sentence...
I honestly didn't ever think that the two would go together, but my teacher tonight thought that one of the students had a resemblance to this reknowned roundhouse kicker and proved me wrong managing to bring "Chuck Norris" into our practice a least 5 times that I can recall. (Only one thing wrong. In the reference to his mother telling him to go outside and dig a hole, and then Chuck Norris digs a hole to China and comes back three weeks later with a black belt in Tae-Kwon Do: Tae-Kwon Do is Korean not Chinese....)
Aside from all things Chuck Norris.... Class 19 was a great one. I really feel like I'm getting into my groove again. It's amazing how much doing the yoga revitalizes me. Coming into the room is immediately calming. About ten minutes before I left my house to come to class tonight I was curled up in bed hiding under the covers, exhausted from a physical day at work, and feeling like maybe I should just take a break tonight and pull a double on the weekend... But I managed to get myself out the door and as soon as I got into the room it just felt right. It's so great to be able to do something, even at the end of a long day, that energizes and relaxes me all at the same time.
I knew it would be a good class as soon as I hit the first backward bend. I just had this great release of all my tension and nothing matter but breathing and working through each posture as they came. I love classes like that!
I'm also sold on the "no water" theory. Tonight was three classes in a row and the new challenge was to not even bring my water bottle in the room. Previously I had always had it in the room, you know, "just in case." It just felt safer that way somehow, but it was unnecessary and I'm enjoying the challenge and focus of a practice without it.
I honestly didn't ever think that the two would go together, but my teacher tonight thought that one of the students had a resemblance to this reknowned roundhouse kicker and proved me wrong managing to bring "Chuck Norris" into our practice a least 5 times that I can recall. (Only one thing wrong. In the reference to his mother telling him to go outside and dig a hole, and then Chuck Norris digs a hole to China and comes back three weeks later with a black belt in Tae-Kwon Do: Tae-Kwon Do is Korean not Chinese....)
Aside from all things Chuck Norris.... Class 19 was a great one. I really feel like I'm getting into my groove again. It's amazing how much doing the yoga revitalizes me. Coming into the room is immediately calming. About ten minutes before I left my house to come to class tonight I was curled up in bed hiding under the covers, exhausted from a physical day at work, and feeling like maybe I should just take a break tonight and pull a double on the weekend... But I managed to get myself out the door and as soon as I got into the room it just felt right. It's so great to be able to do something, even at the end of a long day, that energizes and relaxes me all at the same time.
I knew it would be a good class as soon as I hit the first backward bend. I just had this great release of all my tension and nothing matter but breathing and working through each posture as they came. I love classes like that!
I'm also sold on the "no water" theory. Tonight was three classes in a row and the new challenge was to not even bring my water bottle in the room. Previously I had always had it in the room, you know, "just in case." It just felt safer that way somehow, but it was unnecessary and I'm enjoying the challenge and focus of a practice without it.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Eighteen.
First and most importantly: Happy 21st Birthday to my Sister!!!!
And we got to do another class together tonight which is always fun. Tonight's class was number two without water and I'm still enjoying it. So far I've still have my water bottle in the room, but maybe I'll try tomorrow without even bringing it in... I really do think that it increases the intentionality and focus of my practice without the water. I'll keep going "sans H20" for a bit here and see how I like it.
I'm starting to feel like the the finish line is coming up and I'm getting excited about having the end in sight, despite the fact that I will miss it and probably go into withdrawal at first... One of the major goals that I would love to attain by the time this challenge is over is touching my head to my toes in Stretching Pose I'm so close, about a thumbs width away, so I think I can do it. I've been that far away for a while now though and then regressed during my period of hip-stiffness, so I'm just getting back to that depth within the last two days, hopefully this road keeps heading upwards.
You know it's funny; I make these little goals for myself in the different postures, and I'm a fairly competitive person, but something I really enjoy about the class is the lack of competitiveness while we are practicing. It's not about who can bend themselves into a pretzel and you really don't even notice the people around you, but at the same time there is a group energy that happens when everyone is doing everything at the same time. They say it is an "awake meditation" which is a pretty accurate description; it is a very intensely focused 90 minutes.
And we got to do another class together tonight which is always fun. Tonight's class was number two without water and I'm still enjoying it. So far I've still have my water bottle in the room, but maybe I'll try tomorrow without even bringing it in... I really do think that it increases the intentionality and focus of my practice without the water. I'll keep going "sans H20" for a bit here and see how I like it.
I'm starting to feel like the the finish line is coming up and I'm getting excited about having the end in sight, despite the fact that I will miss it and probably go into withdrawal at first... One of the major goals that I would love to attain by the time this challenge is over is touching my head to my toes in Stretching Pose I'm so close, about a thumbs width away, so I think I can do it. I've been that far away for a while now though and then regressed during my period of hip-stiffness, so I'm just getting back to that depth within the last two days, hopefully this road keeps heading upwards.
You know it's funny; I make these little goals for myself in the different postures, and I'm a fairly competitive person, but something I really enjoy about the class is the lack of competitiveness while we are practicing. It's not about who can bend themselves into a pretzel and you really don't even notice the people around you, but at the same time there is a group energy that happens when everyone is doing everything at the same time. They say it is an "awake meditation" which is a pretty accurate description; it is a very intensely focused 90 minutes.
Monday, February 15, 2010
No Water...What?
Class 17 and one of the best I've ever had.
During the second leg of the first set of standing bow I managed to stay in the pose, (with my elevated leg soooo close to being locked out), for the WHOLE time. AND I feel like I got up higher than ever today in locust pose! This is what it ultimately looks like and this is probably similar to what I looked like today, although it's hard to say. You can't exactly look at yourself in the mirror to see your alignment on this one because your face is all mashed into the floor.... but I definitely felt like my hips were just leaving the floor. Yowza! So proud of that one, this pose is HARD. When I started could probably lift my legs about a foot off the floor. I also didn't have ANY of the stiffness that I've been feeling for the past while. It was just magically gone!
So what did I do differently? The only thing was that I didn't drink any water during class. I have very recently read an article by Mary Jarvis about the importance of NOT consuming water during class. She has practiced for 26 years and maintains that water does not help, but hinders you during class. Yes you should be hydrating coming to class, and Yes you should drink afterwards, but during class you should abstain from H2O. Her theory is that people drink for a variety of reasons, but none that help the postures. Most people drink because they think they will "die" without it! or it's habit, or boredom, or an escape... She is right though. You don't NEED water, you just WANT it. It's a good mental challenge too, to try and push through and realize the difference between needs and wants. It's the same thing with wiping the sweat. Do I need to wipe that sweat off my face? No, I just want to.
So I thought I'd give it a try, and you know what? Before class, I thought I would die, but in reality, it was fine. I had a great class, one of my best ever actually, and I didn't miss it either. So I'll try it again, we'll see...I'll keep you posted.
During the second leg of the first set of standing bow I managed to stay in the pose, (with my elevated leg soooo close to being locked out), for the WHOLE time. AND I feel like I got up higher than ever today in locust pose! This is what it ultimately looks like and this is probably similar to what I looked like today, although it's hard to say. You can't exactly look at yourself in the mirror to see your alignment on this one because your face is all mashed into the floor.... but I definitely felt like my hips were just leaving the floor. Yowza! So proud of that one, this pose is HARD. When I started could probably lift my legs about a foot off the floor. I also didn't have ANY of the stiffness that I've been feeling for the past while. It was just magically gone!
So what did I do differently? The only thing was that I didn't drink any water during class. I have very recently read an article by Mary Jarvis about the importance of NOT consuming water during class. She has practiced for 26 years and maintains that water does not help, but hinders you during class. Yes you should be hydrating coming to class, and Yes you should drink afterwards, but during class you should abstain from H2O. Her theory is that people drink for a variety of reasons, but none that help the postures. Most people drink because they think they will "die" without it! or it's habit, or boredom, or an escape... She is right though. You don't NEED water, you just WANT it. It's a good mental challenge too, to try and push through and realize the difference between needs and wants. It's the same thing with wiping the sweat. Do I need to wipe that sweat off my face? No, I just want to.
So I thought I'd give it a try, and you know what? Before class, I thought I would die, but in reality, it was fine. I had a great class, one of my best ever actually, and I didn't miss it either. So I'll try it again, we'll see...I'll keep you posted.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Valentine's Day - Free Day!
16 classes down and Yay for Free Day!
This meant that I could invite anyone I wanted to, to come and try out yoga for free! So I sent Bonice a valentine with an invitation to try it out, and she, along with Elske, came.
Bonice is an amazing woman. She is so solid and ready for any challenge life throws and I am always surprised at her incredible strength; you would never guess it from looking at her! She did amazing! For her first time she stayed in the room the whole time and did every pose!
I'm looking forward to this week, just to see how my practice changes again. It's changed quite a bit (for the better) just in the last two weeks, so I'm excited to see where it goes next!
This meant that I could invite anyone I wanted to, to come and try out yoga for free! So I sent Bonice a valentine with an invitation to try it out, and she, along with Elske, came.
Bonice is an amazing woman. She is so solid and ready for any challenge life throws and I am always surprised at her incredible strength; you would never guess it from looking at her! She did amazing! For her first time she stayed in the room the whole time and did every pose!
I'm looking forward to this week, just to see how my practice changes again. It's changed quite a bit (for the better) just in the last two weeks, so I'm excited to see where it goes next!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Halfway there...
Wow, I just realized that I'm halfway through my thirty day challenge!
15 Classes! Woot! Woot!
However, class today was actually one of my worst classes. I felt like I had I no concentration and fell out of almost every pose in the standing series, especially anything on one leg and I even managed to fall out of some of the floor series which is really, pretty incredible because you are already on the ground. Maybe I should I clarify what "falling out" means - it doesn't necessarily mean that you fall down (although that did happen once in standing bow!) but that you leave a posture early for whatever reason)
I'm hoping that I have an increased attention/concentration span for tomorrows class. Also, I don't really want to look like a fool in front of all the new yogis coming tomorrow to "Free Day" It's Valentine's day and you get to bring someone you love for free.
15 Classes! Woot! Woot!
However, class today was actually one of my worst classes. I felt like I had I no concentration and fell out of almost every pose in the standing series, especially anything on one leg and I even managed to fall out of some of the floor series which is really, pretty incredible because you are already on the ground. Maybe I should I clarify what "falling out" means - it doesn't necessarily mean that you fall down (although that did happen once in standing bow!) but that you leave a posture early for whatever reason)
I'm hoping that I have an increased attention/concentration span for tomorrows class. Also, I don't really want to look like a fool in front of all the new yogis coming tomorrow to "Free Day" It's Valentine's day and you get to bring someone you love for free.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Two Weeks - I'd rather be in Acapulco!
Quote of the day: Motion is the Lotion for your joints. - David
Ok, so for those of you who think I'm superstitiously avoiding number 13, it's not true, yes I DID do a class yesterday, but I did completely forget to blog about it. Which is a surprise actually because it was really a turn around class as far as the stiffness I've been experiencing in my hips. It really started to release yesterday and more-so today. I'm back on track to increase of flexibility, but with the added bonus of more correct form. Because I was experiencing a really deep, painful at some points, stiffness in my hips I had to really start focusing on the posture and correctness more which has totally improved my overall practice.
Tonight's class was actually the first class that I've been able to do with my sister since we started this 30 day challenge together. It was great to be able to practice together and the class was a great one. It was small enough so it wasn't crazy hot and the instructor, David, was pulling some hilarious one-liners. It was all I could do to not start busting in the middle of class and at one point I definitely did and Diana did too and then the whole class was laughing...oops! He was using this analogy. If you ride a bike for 90 minutes and stretch for 5 min before and after, then you are slowing going to start increasing tension in your hamstrings, and then your back, and your traps, and then you'll get migraines, and you won't be able to tie your shoes, and then not be able to zip up your pants, and then eventually you just won't be able to move at all...Motion is the Lotion for your joints.
(Maybe you had to be there, but when he finally got to not being able to move I lost it, it's just so ridiculous...but there is truth there too I suppose)
There were quite a few other witty remarks made, some poking a bit of fun at one of the other teachers, then at the end he was saying how Peter (one of the other instructors) did his training in Acapulco and it was actually hotter outside the room than inside, so....
Ok, so for those of you who think I'm superstitiously avoiding number 13, it's not true, yes I DID do a class yesterday, but I did completely forget to blog about it. Which is a surprise actually because it was really a turn around class as far as the stiffness I've been experiencing in my hips. It really started to release yesterday and more-so today. I'm back on track to increase of flexibility, but with the added bonus of more correct form. Because I was experiencing a really deep, painful at some points, stiffness in my hips I had to really start focusing on the posture and correctness more which has totally improved my overall practice.
Tonight's class was actually the first class that I've been able to do with my sister since we started this 30 day challenge together. It was great to be able to practice together and the class was a great one. It was small enough so it wasn't crazy hot and the instructor, David, was pulling some hilarious one-liners. It was all I could do to not start busting in the middle of class and at one point I definitely did and Diana did too and then the whole class was laughing...oops! He was using this analogy. If you ride a bike for 90 minutes and stretch for 5 min before and after, then you are slowing going to start increasing tension in your hamstrings, and then your back, and your traps, and then you'll get migraines, and you won't be able to tie your shoes, and then not be able to zip up your pants, and then eventually you just won't be able to move at all...Motion is the Lotion for your joints.
(Maybe you had to be there, but when he finally got to not being able to move I lost it, it's just so ridiculous...but there is truth there too I suppose)
There were quite a few other witty remarks made, some poking a bit of fun at one of the other teachers, then at the end he was saying how Peter (one of the other instructors) did his training in Acapulco and it was actually hotter outside the room than inside, so....
"It could be worse, you could be in Acapulco!"
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Two-Sixths
New favourite pose! Well actually it's not that new, it's one that I've really been working hard on the past few months. The pose is called Bow Pose. Now that picture is a bit insane, I'm not quite their yet...but I'm working on it! I love it thought and lately I've been get this really fantastic "burn" in my quads.
In this posture, you can't rely on gravity to help your back curve and push your legs up. So you really have rely on your legs and butt muscles to kick up there. You need to let your arms be pulled back so you can't use your arm muscles at all and ideally you must keep your knees, legs and feet no more than six inches apart. I love the process of breathing through it and on every exhale getting just a little bit deeper.
Haaaaaaaaaaaa (*sigh of bliss) :)
In this posture, you can't rely on gravity to help your back curve and push your legs up. So you really have rely on your legs and butt muscles to kick up there. You need to let your arms be pulled back so you can't use your arm muscles at all and ideally you must keep your knees, legs and feet no more than six inches apart. I love the process of breathing through it and on every exhale getting just a little bit deeper.
Haaaaaaaaaaaa (*sigh of bliss) :)
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Number 11
What a peaceful class.
Tonight's class was quite small (maybe 20?), so quite a bit less humid, still hot, but not unbearable, a really good deep heat, it was very relaxing.
I actually went to class tonight thinking: "Okay, I'm a little sore, so maybe I'll just back off things a bit." But you know, it's funny, as soon as I get in the room and get into the first breathing exercise "Pranayama - Deep Breathing"(Inhale and Exhale) I don't really want to slack off anymore. I want to push till I feel that deep stretch.
It just feels right.
Tonight's class was quite small (maybe 20?), so quite a bit less humid, still hot, but not unbearable, a really good deep heat, it was very relaxing.
I actually went to class tonight thinking: "Okay, I'm a little sore, so maybe I'll just back off things a bit." But you know, it's funny, as soon as I get in the room and get into the first breathing exercise "Pranayama - Deep Breathing"(Inhale and Exhale) I don't really want to slack off anymore. I want to push till I feel that deep stretch.
It just feels right.
Monday, February 08, 2010
One-third Complete!
So from what I'm told day 10 is the hump you have to get over doing a thirty day challenge, so that's either today (since it's ten classes) or tomorrow will be ten days, so we'll see which class is harder...
When I first started doing Bikram Yoga last winter I did some reading about the it's history and found a very interesting tidbit of information that I related very personally to. At the age of thirteen, Bikram won the National India Yoga Championship and was undefeated for the following three years retiring as the undisputed All-India National Yoga Champion. But here is the interesting part:
It's funny how simply changing your mind about something can change it in actuality as well. We all grow up being told that sitting down on the floor with your knees out to the side is bad for you, but according to this style of yoga a pose like Fixed Firm Pose is one of the most healing postures for knees...interesting.
When I first started doing Bikram Yoga last winter I did some reading about the it's history and found a very interesting tidbit of information that I related very personally to. At the age of thirteen, Bikram won the National India Yoga Championship and was undefeated for the following three years retiring as the undisputed All-India National Yoga Champion. But here is the interesting part:
At seventeen, an injury to his knee during a weight-lifting accident brought the prediction from leading European doctors that he would never walk again. Not accepting their pronouncement, he had himself carried back to Bishnu Ghosh's school [where he practiced yoga], for he knew that if anyone could help to heal his knee, it was his teacher. Six months later, his knee had totally recovered. Ghosh was a celebrated physical culturist and the first to scientifically document Yoga's ability to cure chronic physical ailments and heal the body.Having broke both of my knees, this story is very encouraging. Obviously I can walk and I don't have pain in my knees all the time, but since breaking them walking down hill, deep knee bends, jumping down from things, etc. are always moments when I experience some sort of pain. I always thought that would just be life, but maybe not...
It's funny how simply changing your mind about something can change it in actuality as well. We all grow up being told that sitting down on the floor with your knees out to the side is bad for you, but according to this style of yoga a pose like Fixed Firm Pose is one of the most healing postures for knees...interesting.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
9 of 30
If I could tell the world one thing about yoga, it would be to challenge the belief that yoga is only for people who are flexible. It doesn't matter how flexible you are as long as your intent is right. If you are trying to do it the right way then you are getting just as much benefit as the person in the front who can turn themselves into a pretzel.
I was feeling tired today and had to fight not to give up at the end of a posture. Sometimes I won the fight, and sometimes my mind did and I left a posture early. I always have this sense of defeat when that happens; even when it's only a couple seconds, maybe I could've just taken one more breath and lasted for the full time, but instead I let myself come down. Yoga is just as much of a mental challenge as it is physical. One of the hardest poses to master mentally is Savasana or "Corpse" pose. You go into this pose for two minutes between the standing and floor series and for 20sec between each posture on the floor. The idea is to lie still and concentrate on nothing, or just one thing, your breath. Ideally the whole class is geared to be 90 minutes of awake meditation, and this is one of the core postures in which to practice that. But it's hard not to think about that piece of hair on your face, or the sweat sliding down somewhere, you want to wipe it away, but that would be the equivalent of falling out of the pose, so you try to breathe past it and just lie still, because it is in savasana that the healing happens and the blood is allowed to flow back freely through your body.
I was feeling tired today and had to fight not to give up at the end of a posture. Sometimes I won the fight, and sometimes my mind did and I left a posture early. I always have this sense of defeat when that happens; even when it's only a couple seconds, maybe I could've just taken one more breath and lasted for the full time, but instead I let myself come down. Yoga is just as much of a mental challenge as it is physical. One of the hardest poses to master mentally is Savasana or "Corpse" pose. You go into this pose for two minutes between the standing and floor series and for 20sec between each posture on the floor. The idea is to lie still and concentrate on nothing, or just one thing, your breath. Ideally the whole class is geared to be 90 minutes of awake meditation, and this is one of the core postures in which to practice that. But it's hard not to think about that piece of hair on your face, or the sweat sliding down somewhere, you want to wipe it away, but that would be the equivalent of falling out of the pose, so you try to breathe past it and just lie still, because it is in savasana that the healing happens and the blood is allowed to flow back freely through your body.
Saturday, February 06, 2010
One Week - 8th Class
I was definitely a little more tired than usual waking up this morning and in general I'm starting to feel some overall stiffness, especially in my hips actually, which is good I think because it has always been really hard for me to stretch or work into my hips/hip flexors because they're pretty flexible in the grand scheme of things. So hopefully the stiffness just means that I'm working hard and not improperly.
Ida taught my class again today. There were lot of other instructors taking the class as well. I always think it is interesting to watch instructors as they go through they're own classes. It's really leveling to know that everyone is doing the same class, the same postures, in the same heat, for the same time. So even people who've been practising for years and years are still doing the same 26 postures. Ida mentioned today that a guy (one of the instructors) finally yesterday (and again today), after SIX YEARS of practice, saw the top of his mat behind him while doing Camel Pose I couldn't even imagine (as I was looking at my hands grabbing onto my heels) the determination it would take to come back day after day, year after year, and not see the improvement that I wanted. I would get so frustrated!
As much as I love yoga, I'm glad (at least for now) that it has a season in my year. I can only practice for 4 months of the year, because I'm on the water for the other 8. It's an intense 4 months and feels so good, and as much as I notice how much I stiffen up in March when I stop, I can then look forward to going back again in November.
Ida taught my class again today. There were lot of other instructors taking the class as well. I always think it is interesting to watch instructors as they go through they're own classes. It's really leveling to know that everyone is doing the same class, the same postures, in the same heat, for the same time. So even people who've been practising for years and years are still doing the same 26 postures. Ida mentioned today that a guy (one of the instructors) finally yesterday (and again today), after SIX YEARS of practice, saw the top of his mat behind him while doing Camel Pose I couldn't even imagine (as I was looking at my hands grabbing onto my heels) the determination it would take to come back day after day, year after year, and not see the improvement that I wanted. I would get so frustrated!
As much as I love yoga, I'm glad (at least for now) that it has a season in my year. I can only practice for 4 months of the year, because I'm on the water for the other 8. It's an intense 4 months and feels so good, and as much as I notice how much I stiffen up in March when I stop, I can then look forward to going back again in November.
Class 6 AND 7!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, two classes in one day, actually two classes back to back, phew....
So I came to the realization a few days ago that towards the end of the month there are two days when I will not be able to attend any yoga classes. One due to the AGM for SALTS! (p.s. everyone come! or at least come for after; we will having the premier for the Pacific Odyssey documentary) and the next night I'm going to be cooking for Street Cafe.
In any case, it means that two days this month I need to double up my classes, so I got myself all geared up yesterday to do two classes in a row. I have done two classes in a day before but they were very spread apart (6am and 745pm) so this was a new kind of challenge and I figured it would be a good time to try because I had Michelle and Alysson were meeting me for the second class so there'd be some people there to push me a bit.
Okay, so first class: Great, a little on the warmer side. After my first class I wasn't sure if I had made a smart decision to stay and do another, but once I got out into the cooler air I perked right up again. So I drank about half a litre of apple juice and a good liter of water and I was geared up to go again half an hour later.
Second class: I was tired! But I was excited to have Ida Ripley teaching the class (she was the silver medalist in the Hatha Yoga Championships); I have never had her as a teacher but have practiced in the same class as her before and she is quite inspiring to watch. She was a great teacher and good at pushing me when I was feeling tired and weak. Her repetitive line throughout the class was "Don't give up on yourself." I could especially feel it in my arms in the standing series. It was hard to even hold my arms above me head. I pushed through quite a bit, but had to take a knee a couple times. Once we hit the floor thought I felt great. You know how during a long run you can get a "runner's high" and you feel like you can go forever? Well this was like a yoga high, it was a great way to finish the second half of the class and awesome to have some friends there doing it with me. Plus! Since it was a Karma Class all the proceeds from the class went to Haiti, so doing good for yourself and globally at the same time, is there a better combo? ;)
So I came to the realization a few days ago that towards the end of the month there are two days when I will not be able to attend any yoga classes. One due to the AGM for SALTS! (p.s. everyone come! or at least come for after; we will having the premier for the Pacific Odyssey documentary) and the next night I'm going to be cooking for Street Cafe.
In any case, it means that two days this month I need to double up my classes, so I got myself all geared up yesterday to do two classes in a row. I have done two classes in a day before but they were very spread apart (6am and 745pm) so this was a new kind of challenge and I figured it would be a good time to try because I had Michelle and Alysson were meeting me for the second class so there'd be some people there to push me a bit.
Okay, so first class: Great, a little on the warmer side. After my first class I wasn't sure if I had made a smart decision to stay and do another, but once I got out into the cooler air I perked right up again. So I drank about half a litre of apple juice and a good liter of water and I was geared up to go again half an hour later.
Second class: I was tired! But I was excited to have Ida Ripley teaching the class (she was the silver medalist in the Hatha Yoga Championships); I have never had her as a teacher but have practiced in the same class as her before and she is quite inspiring to watch. She was a great teacher and good at pushing me when I was feeling tired and weak. Her repetitive line throughout the class was "Don't give up on yourself." I could especially feel it in my arms in the standing series. It was hard to even hold my arms above me head. I pushed through quite a bit, but had to take a knee a couple times. Once we hit the floor thought I felt great. You know how during a long run you can get a "runner's high" and you feel like you can go forever? Well this was like a yoga high, it was a great way to finish the second half of the class and awesome to have some friends there doing it with me. Plus! Since it was a Karma Class all the proceeds from the class went to Haiti, so doing good for yourself and globally at the same time, is there a better combo? ;)
Thursday, February 04, 2010
A Sixth of the Way
A sixth of the way through and still going strong. It is pretty amazing what the body can do if you let your mind get out of the way and just breathe. I am a fairly flexible person, but I have my limits and it's always a challenge to breathe beyond them and let my body rather than my mind tell me when I'm going too far. I had a great breakthrough during Half Moon Pose tonight. I have slowly been realizing how much the side bends prepare you for the backward bend. It's one of the first poses in the class so you feel like you are not warmed up enough to do it, but tonight on the second backward bend I could see my mat about a foot and a half behind me and it felt like I was able to release all this tension in my back and just hang out back there rather than restraining myself from being able to bend backwards. It was such a great feeling to let my body decide how far it was able to go rather than being scared and have my mind holding me back.
I mentioned that I talked my sister into doing this challenge with me (despite the fact that she had only done five classes prior to starting the challenge). Well, I asked my sister how her thirty day challenge was going and she said "Good I think, it kinda feels like I'm still dreaming..." So I guess that means it's going well?? I know what she means though, the thought of starting this challenge seemed really overwhelming, but in reality it's just taking it one day at a time. You just go to class. One day. Then the next one day. I definitely thought it would feel like it was taking up a lot more of my time that it is.
I mentioned that I talked my sister into doing this challenge with me (despite the fact that she had only done five classes prior to starting the challenge). Well, I asked my sister how her thirty day challenge was going and she said "Good I think, it kinda feels like I'm still dreaming..." So I guess that means it's going well?? I know what she means though, the thought of starting this challenge seemed really overwhelming, but in reality it's just taking it one day at a time. You just go to class. One day. Then the next one day. I definitely thought it would feel like it was taking up a lot more of my time that it is.
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
4/30
Good class, didn't start out fantastic. I was feeling a little dehydrated on my way to the studio, but I guess I drank enough today cause I didn't get any of the usual signs except for a brief dizzy spell after losing my balance during the second set of Standing Bow Pulling Pose
This is actually a poor picture of standing bow, I was trying not to fall off that cement block at the time so I didn't dare go down all the way, this is a better picture.
This has from the beginning been one of my favourite poses. In the start I loved it because it reminded me of dancing and it felt "easier." I could from the beginning lift my leg quite high, but as I have progressed in my practice I have begun to see more and more things that I was initially doing wrong. The biggest thing for me is keeping my hips square and not letting one come up higher than the other as you would as a dancer. Teachers, on more than one occasion, have asked if I had dance training, and I imagine it is mostly due to my form in this pose.
Someone once asked me if it [Bikram Yoga] ever gets easier... My answer was this: yes it's challenging and no it never gets easier. But that is because it shouldn't. You should always be working just as hard to perfect your form and increase the depth of your pose. When your strength and flexibility increases, it just means that you have to continue to try harder more correctly every class. What does get easier is the mental challenge. At first its so hot, and that's all you can think about, but once you can get over that, it's bliss. As I've been told:
This has from the beginning been one of my favourite poses. In the start I loved it because it reminded me of dancing and it felt "easier." I could from the beginning lift my leg quite high, but as I have progressed in my practice I have begun to see more and more things that I was initially doing wrong. The biggest thing for me is keeping my hips square and not letting one come up higher than the other as you would as a dancer. Teachers, on more than one occasion, have asked if I had dance training, and I imagine it is mostly due to my form in this pose.
Someone once asked me if it [Bikram Yoga] ever gets easier... My answer was this: yes it's challenging and no it never gets easier. But that is because it shouldn't. You should always be working just as hard to perfect your form and increase the depth of your pose. When your strength and flexibility increases, it just means that you have to continue to try harder more correctly every class. What does get easier is the mental challenge. At first its so hot, and that's all you can think about, but once you can get over that, it's bliss. As I've been told:
"It's not HOT, You're HOT!"
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Day 3
Wow, HOT!!! so whereas last nights class felt cool, this one was one the warmer side of the scale. Regardless, still a good one class though.
On an entirely different topic, I have one written exam left in the process of getting my 150T Ticket, and that exam is tomorrow...so I shall attempt to motivate myself to study for this mostly open book exam. This is the only one that has been open book and I have been finding myself procrastinating (i.e. tonight's blog entry) more often than actually studying.
Apparently 2 x 30 sec of "half tortoise" pose is like getting 8 hours of sleep! (not sure I'm buying that one) but maybe "half tortoise"along with sending blood to my brain and re-energizing my brain cells will increase my intelligence and memory retention... (I'm gonna have to give myself a major kick in the but it I don't pass this one!)
On an entirely different topic, I have one written exam left in the process of getting my 150T Ticket, and that exam is tomorrow...so I shall attempt to motivate myself to study for this mostly open book exam. This is the only one that has been open book and I have been finding myself procrastinating (i.e. tonight's blog entry) more often than actually studying.
Apparently 2 x 30 sec of "half tortoise" pose is like getting 8 hours of sleep! (not sure I'm buying that one) but maybe "half tortoise"along with sending blood to my brain and re-energizing my brain cells will increase my intelligence and memory retention... (I'm gonna have to give myself a major kick in the but it I don't pass this one!)
Monday, February 01, 2010
Day 2
I love hot yoga. It's been decided. Well actually it was decided pretty much the first time I stepped into the room. It felt like the tropics all over again, the warmth is so relaxing. Tonight's class was actually cool by comparison, at least that's what I felt, but in all honesty where one person feels a class is cool another will tell you that it was the hottest class they've ever taken! Every class is different depending on how you treated your body that day. Did you drink enough water? What and when did you eat? Did you sleep well the night before? etc...
The water thing is one of the biggest challenges outside of the room. If you are dehydrated before you get into the studio then good luck staying upright for the class. I've been to class before when I haven't had enough to drink during the day and I've gotten so dizzy I can't stand up for all the poses, or I get crazy pounding headaches when we are doing postures on the floor when I bring my head up from being down below my heart. It's bad. Drink enough water everyone! (even if you aren't doing hot yoga everyday)
The water thing is one of the biggest challenges outside of the room. If you are dehydrated before you get into the studio then good luck staying upright for the class. I've been to class before when I haven't had enough to drink during the day and I've gotten so dizzy I can't stand up for all the poses, or I get crazy pounding headaches when we are doing postures on the floor when I bring my head up from being down below my heart. It's bad. Drink enough water everyone! (even if you aren't doing hot yoga everyday)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)