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Wednesday, June 10, 2009
9am Bikram w/Afton
Got into class a couple of minutes late which bugs me when I've driven 40 minutes to get there. The roads were very congested. It is so much better to get there a few minutes early to stretch, relax and switch gears from "getting to class" to just "being in class".
Afton is a very good instructor so I'm glad that she is working in both Bikram locations.
#1 Standing deep breathing. I see people with elbows pointing up to the ceiling and arms along the side of their head and I wonder how long does it take before that starts to happen. Of course, the main focus is on breathing and warming up from the inside. After all, yoga is about the practice not the posture. Still....
#3 Awkward pose. The third position. "Press knees together and go down slowly". Why is that so hard for me? I cannot do this properly. Seems like it should be so easy. I've always had strong legs. Today, I was actually able to lower down to the floor. Got a bit weeble wobbly while down there but at least there was noticeable improvement.
#5 Standing head to knee. The standing leg is getting very firm. The only thing that really keeps me from doing this pose fully, it seems to me, is the pain in the right hip. Hopefully, massages will help with that.
#9 Triangle/Warrior Pose. Getting more strength here. Starting to get into the full position.
#17 Locust pose. My hips actually came up off the floor for just a split second while doing the locust pose. Hallelujah. In the beginning I just dreaded the floor series with the cobra/locust/full locust because it took so much effort for so little result. The locust in particular... I mean the beginning and ending poses looked exactly alike! The only difference was my facial expression which went from relaxed to gritting and grimacing but those legs didn't move an inch. Just a lot of "vibration".
#20 Fixed Firm. I have had to stay in an upright position during fixed firm because the ankles were so tight. Now that there is some loosening up I was able to lean back now, not 100% but it's coming along now.
#22 Camel. After the first camel pose everything went black for a moment. I felt okay though I did take a few extra seconds until I could see again before I laid down between postures.
#24 Head to knee. Only did one of these. I don't do it fully like I used to. I think this is where I re-injured my lower back. So I'm careful here. Before, I thought I knew my limits but was pushing too hard and re-injured the back. For me, the key is to be consistent in practice and not push so hard that I can't come back tomorrow.
At the end of class, I always stay a few extra minutes in corpse pose. Then I do downward dog and pigeon pose [see photo] to stretch out the leg muscles associated with lower back pain as it stretches the thighs, groins and psoas muscle.
Noticed that I did a lot of deep breathing today. I think because I could really feel the heat in the room today.
I was happy to see that I managed to do the situps between postures during the floor exercise although there was some tightness/pain in the right hip. Though I'm glad that I have a massage appointment this Friday with the miracle worker, Rex.
Afton is a very good instructor so I'm glad that she is working in both Bikram locations.
#1 Standing deep breathing. I see people with elbows pointing up to the ceiling and arms along the side of their head and I wonder how long does it take before that starts to happen. Of course, the main focus is on breathing and warming up from the inside. After all, yoga is about the practice not the posture. Still....
#3 Awkward pose. The third position. "Press knees together and go down slowly". Why is that so hard for me? I cannot do this properly. Seems like it should be so easy. I've always had strong legs. Today, I was actually able to lower down to the floor. Got a bit weeble wobbly while down there but at least there was noticeable improvement.
#5 Standing head to knee. The standing leg is getting very firm. The only thing that really keeps me from doing this pose fully, it seems to me, is the pain in the right hip. Hopefully, massages will help with that.
#9 Triangle/Warrior Pose. Getting more strength here. Starting to get into the full position.
#17 Locust pose. My hips actually came up off the floor for just a split second while doing the locust pose. Hallelujah. In the beginning I just dreaded the floor series with the cobra/locust/full locust because it took so much effort for so little result. The locust in particular... I mean the beginning and ending poses looked exactly alike! The only difference was my facial expression which went from relaxed to gritting and grimacing but those legs didn't move an inch. Just a lot of "vibration".
#20 Fixed Firm. I have had to stay in an upright position during fixed firm because the ankles were so tight. Now that there is some loosening up I was able to lean back now, not 100% but it's coming along now.
#22 Camel. After the first camel pose everything went black for a moment. I felt okay though I did take a few extra seconds until I could see again before I laid down between postures.
#24 Head to knee. Only did one of these. I don't do it fully like I used to. I think this is where I re-injured my lower back. So I'm careful here. Before, I thought I knew my limits but was pushing too hard and re-injured the back. For me, the key is to be consistent in practice and not push so hard that I can't come back tomorrow.
At the end of class, I always stay a few extra minutes in corpse pose. Then I do downward dog and pigeon pose [see photo] to stretch out the leg muscles associated with lower back pain as it stretches the thighs, groins and psoas muscle.
Noticed that I did a lot of deep breathing today. I think because I could really feel the heat in the room today.
I was happy to see that I managed to do the situps between postures during the floor exercise although there was some tightness/pain in the right hip. Though I'm glad that I have a massage appointment this Friday with the miracle worker, Rex.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Colonic #2
Number two in a series of four.
After yoga, I went to the wellness center for the second colonic. If you are like my spouse, you might ask "why do a series?".
I look at it like "pressure washing". The more you hold the hose on the area, the cleaner it is going to get. So, a series of colonics will clean deeper.
While the entire process takes about an hour, the actual filling you up with water is about 30 minutes. You get filled up with water and then you release it. The hydrotherapist will massage the stomach area to "loosen" things up. Todoay, it was about 24 minutes into this process before any matter was released. The colonic hydrotherapist mentioned that the "lighter" colored stuff is more recent while "darker" matter is older. So, apparently, we got some deeper stuff. There was a lot more discomfort this time.
However, even as I was driving home, I was feeling cleaner and better.
After yoga, I went to the wellness center for the second colonic. If you are like my spouse, you might ask "why do a series?".
I look at it like "pressure washing". The more you hold the hose on the area, the cleaner it is going to get. So, a series of colonics will clean deeper.
While the entire process takes about an hour, the actual filling you up with water is about 30 minutes. You get filled up with water and then you release it. The hydrotherapist will massage the stomach area to "loosen" things up. Todoay, it was about 24 minutes into this process before any matter was released. The colonic hydrotherapist mentioned that the "lighter" colored stuff is more recent while "darker" matter is older. So, apparently, we got some deeper stuff. There was a lot more discomfort this time.
However, even as I was driving home, I was feeling cleaner and better.
9am Bikram w/Maria
Didn't quite hydrate enough before class and I could feel it. Need to drink at least 16 ounces about an hour before class. That gives you time to go to the restroom before class ☺
Missed class during the weekend because I went out of town. Annual get together with friends that I grew up with. It's the best R & R, the best therapy. To be yourself, to share your deepest and to laugh your hardest. Yoga is about union and so is true friendship. Wishing everyone that kind of connection.
Class with Maria today. Even though this is my first class with her, I am struck at how you can get the essence of a person when they lead a class. She seems very kind and gentle. Enjoyable class.
Attention. Noticed that today I didn't have the level of focus that I normally bring to class. My attention was elsewhere at times. As a result, my balance was off. It didn't help that there were two people behind me that were flopping all over the place. Normally, I don't think that would have affected me. I felt "scattered" and it was reflected in my workout today.
Missed class during the weekend because I went out of town. Annual get together with friends that I grew up with. It's the best R & R, the best therapy. To be yourself, to share your deepest and to laugh your hardest. Yoga is about union and so is true friendship. Wishing everyone that kind of connection.
Class with Maria today. Even though this is my first class with her, I am struck at how you can get the essence of a person when they lead a class. She seems very kind and gentle. Enjoyable class.
Attention. Noticed that today I didn't have the level of focus that I normally bring to class. My attention was elsewhere at times. As a result, my balance was off. It didn't help that there were two people behind me that were flopping all over the place. Normally, I don't think that would have affected me. I felt "scattered" and it was reflected in my workout today.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
4:15 Bikram w/Lynn
Ahhh.... this is more like it. Lynn's speech is more balanced and so it doesn't knock me off my balance. I can get into the postures and focus more on deepening my balance, flexibility, etc. rather than having to withstand a barrage of words and volume. What can I say? I love love love her class.
I will definitely need to arrange another massage with the amazing Lex since I can still feel tightness in the hips. His hands are lot hot pads. He is definitely a healer. And now I can do the sit-ups between postures though there is still some pain.
The change in diet complements the yoga practice. The heat feels good though I seemed to get a little overheated today. It just feels so great to sweat and workout.
I spoke to someone yesterday who told me she tried Bikram for the first time. She felt "incredibly tired" afterwards. I remember that feeling when I first started. Actually, I would go on a Saturday morning and then sleep the rest of the day. No more. I just keep on going nowadays.
Today, in locust, for a fleeting second, my hips came up off the floor. Wow.
However, not the same story for awkward pose. I find it incredulous that someone with thunder thighs has trouble going into the squat position in awkward pose. Seems like that should be a cinch. Who can explain the inexplicable?
I will definitely need to arrange another massage with the amazing Lex since I can still feel tightness in the hips. His hands are lot hot pads. He is definitely a healer. And now I can do the sit-ups between postures though there is still some pain.
The change in diet complements the yoga practice. The heat feels good though I seemed to get a little overheated today. It just feels so great to sweat and workout.
I spoke to someone yesterday who told me she tried Bikram for the first time. She felt "incredibly tired" afterwards. I remember that feeling when I first started. Actually, I would go on a Saturday morning and then sleep the rest of the day. No more. I just keep on going nowadays.
Today, in locust, for a fleeting second, my hips came up off the floor. Wow.
However, not the same story for awkward pose. I find it incredulous that someone with thunder thighs has trouble going into the squat position in awkward pose. Seems like that should be a cinch. Who can explain the inexplicable?
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
6:15 w/Joe
Had a good class though I feel like we are at the racetrack with Joe. I like high energy but not to the point where it is a distraction from focus on the posture. At an energetic level, it seems to me that Joe's style is more about him though I don't think that he feels that way. It's just a matter of evolving into the practice. Lynn is very much into the yoga itself. You can feel the difference.
I'm looking forward to vacation and the opportunity to focus more on diet and yoga not to mention a different time where there will be different instructors... ☺
I'm fitting in to my fat clothes again (ha ha) and am happy to be moving in the right direction. The weight loss is the beginning, the ultimate goal is shining health.
I'm looking forward to vacation and the opportunity to focus more on diet and yoga not to mention a different time where there will be different instructors... ☺
I'm fitting in to my fat clothes again (ha ha) and am happy to be moving in the right direction. The weight loss is the beginning, the ultimate goal is shining health.
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