Friday, August 26, 2011
It's been awhile
When my 30 day challenge was over, I stopped blogging for some reason. I think I need to get back into it - both yoga and blogging. I did pretty well after the 30 day challenge, but I've had periods of several weeks where I don't even go to to the yoga studio. I have my bag packed - I just can't motivate myself to go after a long, stressful day at work. I'm going to the beach at the end of next month, though, so that may be enough motivation to get me back to the studio. I miss it.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Days 25-29... I've been MIA
So... life has been busy. I spent Tuesday at the Capitol in Richmond for an advocacy day for work. We brought all of our student officers in to meet their real-life counterparts and to be introduced in the House & Senate. It was a good day. I made it to Lynchburg just in time for the 6:30 class on Tuesday, and I felt AMAZING. I was super loose from the massage and I was able to stretch deeper than I have before. I hit a major point - I lifted my leg in standing head to knee! I can't hold it long, but I lifted the leg - I felt like it was a huge victory.
Wednesday was a let-down after Tuesday's great class. It was snowing and icing and I made the last-minute decision to attend the 4:30 class, but I ate lunch very late. I usually try to stop eating a few hours before class, but I felt full and sluggish the whole time. I couldn't stretch as well and I just felt like I wasn't doing as well.
Thursday morning's class couldn't have come at a better time. I had a TERRIBLE morning. Woke up with a migraine, didn't want to get out of bed, found out some bad news. I really didn't want to go to class, but I made myself go - I couldn't make it this far and miss a day, even though I did a double earlier just in case. I was in a terrible mood when I got to class and was feeling very emotional during the first postures. After awkward, though, I found that I wasn't thinking about anything - I was just listening and following directions. It calmed me down and I had a much better Thursday because of it.
Friday's class was crowded and I arrived about 15 minutes before class, which is late for me. I had to practice on the opposite side of the room from what I'm used to, and it was right beside a window that overlooks one of the hottest places in town for happy hour - distracting! I couldn't see myself in the mirror so I felt like I couldn't properly see my body. I was also wearing long pants because I dressed for class all day, and long pants are TERRIBLE for Bikram.
This morning was my "official" end of the 30 day challenge because I hit 30 classes in 29 days. I got there early and got a good spot. The class was sold out, which has prompted them to add another Saturday class - yay! I felt great in class and besides losing my balance several times (which has happened a few times over the past days) I had a good class. I didn't feel like any postures were bad, and while none stood out as amazing, I felt great. It was nice to be recognized at the end of class and I had some nice chats with some new yogis after class about the challenge. Sarah and Gretchen have been so positive and encouraging throughout the whole challenge. I'll go to class tomorrow to hit 30 days, but then I have to stop going Mondays and Thursdays - I've been taking half days from work to go those days since I have grad school class those nights.
I feel great. I have a lot of reflective thoughts, but I'll save them for another post. For now, onto dinner, grad school work, and working on the kitchen.
Wednesday was a let-down after Tuesday's great class. It was snowing and icing and I made the last-minute decision to attend the 4:30 class, but I ate lunch very late. I usually try to stop eating a few hours before class, but I felt full and sluggish the whole time. I couldn't stretch as well and I just felt like I wasn't doing as well.
Thursday morning's class couldn't have come at a better time. I had a TERRIBLE morning. Woke up with a migraine, didn't want to get out of bed, found out some bad news. I really didn't want to go to class, but I made myself go - I couldn't make it this far and miss a day, even though I did a double earlier just in case. I was in a terrible mood when I got to class and was feeling very emotional during the first postures. After awkward, though, I found that I wasn't thinking about anything - I was just listening and following directions. It calmed me down and I had a much better Thursday because of it.
Friday's class was crowded and I arrived about 15 minutes before class, which is late for me. I had to practice on the opposite side of the room from what I'm used to, and it was right beside a window that overlooks one of the hottest places in town for happy hour - distracting! I couldn't see myself in the mirror so I felt like I couldn't properly see my body. I was also wearing long pants because I dressed for class all day, and long pants are TERRIBLE for Bikram.
This morning was my "official" end of the 30 day challenge because I hit 30 classes in 29 days. I got there early and got a good spot. The class was sold out, which has prompted them to add another Saturday class - yay! I felt great in class and besides losing my balance several times (which has happened a few times over the past days) I had a good class. I didn't feel like any postures were bad, and while none stood out as amazing, I felt great. It was nice to be recognized at the end of class and I had some nice chats with some new yogis after class about the challenge. Sarah and Gretchen have been so positive and encouraging throughout the whole challenge. I'll go to class tomorrow to hit 30 days, but then I have to stop going Mondays and Thursdays - I've been taking half days from work to go those days since I have grad school class those nights.
I feel great. I have a lot of reflective thoughts, but I'll save them for another post. For now, onto dinner, grad school work, and working on the kitchen.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Days 23-24 - something new
Sunday's class was crowded, as always. Someone was in my usual spot when I arrived, so I decided to suck it up and take a spot in the front row. I found it to be easier to focus on each posture since there was no one between me and the mirror. However, I like the extra space in my usual spot :) There were a lot of new people in class, possibly from this article that ran in the paper (yes, that's my quote in there). As for postures, I felt like everything I'd said about triangle went out the window - not great on Sunday.
Monday's class was after a night of little sleep (except for right before class, because I always seem to get my best sleep when it's time to wake up). Morning classes aren't as crowded (though there are usually 20 or so people there). Class was good overall - triangle improved, balancing stick is getting better.
Today was great for other reasons, though. I left after class to go to Richmond for business, and I got a massage when I got to town. The masseuse could tell I was practicing and asked if I was having issues with my left shoulder and my glutes - if you'll remember, my left side standing bow is doing terribly due to pain, and I can't get my legs locked in standing head to knee. She worked on my shoulder (said it was like concrete - SO painful) and on my glutes a bit, and said to schedule 90 minutes next time to spend more time on those areas. We'll see tomorrow night if it helped. For now, I'm going to do some reading for school and drink a nice glass of wine :)
Monday's class was after a night of little sleep (except for right before class, because I always seem to get my best sleep when it's time to wake up). Morning classes aren't as crowded (though there are usually 20 or so people there). Class was good overall - triangle improved, balancing stick is getting better.
Today was great for other reasons, though. I left after class to go to Richmond for business, and I got a massage when I got to town. The masseuse could tell I was practicing and asked if I was having issues with my left shoulder and my glutes - if you'll remember, my left side standing bow is doing terribly due to pain, and I can't get my legs locked in standing head to knee. She worked on my shoulder (said it was like concrete - SO painful) and on my glutes a bit, and said to schedule 90 minutes next time to spend more time on those areas. We'll see tomorrow night if it helped. For now, I'm going to do some reading for school and drink a nice glass of wine :)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Classes 21-22 - two good ones
I love Bikram yoga - anyone who has talked to me over the past month will tell you that it's become something I'm passionate about and something that has changed me. However, it's rare that I have two classes in a row that are good classes. As I've said before, I'm different every day, and therefore my practice is different every day. Friday and Saturday were an exception, though, as I felt both classes were good classes.
Friday's was a bit crowded and filled with a lot of new students. One of my biggest pet peeves is when there are a bunch of newbies - not because of their practice, but because they TOTALLY ignore the "no talking" sign as they enter the room. It's like a huge social hour and they don't notice that everyone else was silent as they entered. Those 25 minutes before class are important - I adjust to the heat, think about a million things for work, and generally relax. Class was good, though, and I'm really finding a breakthrough in triangle. My thigh is much closer to parallel with the floor, which is making it so much easier to not slide throughout the posture.
Friday's class was a bit different, though, because there was a visiting teacher. They're trying out some new teachers because the studio needs to add more classes. This teacher was a lot quieter than Gretchen and Sarah (hardly anything during the breathing exercises and not a lot straying from the dialogue). I'm used to Gretchen and Sarah constantly talking and giving encouragement. The teacher was good, though, and I think I'll just have to get used to quieter classes if she becomes permanent. I'm spoiled in that I've only taken Bikram from a few people, and they're all very outgoing and talkative. They each have their own style, though (I miss Lizzie walking on my feet).
Saturday's class was a morning class, which meant not much time between classes. My breathing exercise was crap - I was yawning the whole time and basically couldn't get it, which usually sets the tone for a bad class. That wasn't the case, though. Class was good and I felt like I've improved on a lot of things. That's the point of this whole challenge. I'm seeing a lot of improvement, not overnight, but as a whole. I wish I could've had pictures of me in each posture then and now. But who wants photos of themselves in Bikram class?
Speaking of pictures, the newspaper article I mentioned earlier is out today. I was a bit misquoted in the beginning (I said I questioned myself the first few classes, not daily) and I feel like I gave a LOT of great quotes that weren't used, but it's a good article and it's great publicity for the studio. I wonder if it'll have any effect on crowds in class this afternoon. I'd better get there early...
In other personal news, we're renovating our kitchen right now. I'll add more about that later (Extreme Makeover: Davies Edition!), but I'm sure that'll be consuming a lot of my time over the next week. Fun!
Friday's was a bit crowded and filled with a lot of new students. One of my biggest pet peeves is when there are a bunch of newbies - not because of their practice, but because they TOTALLY ignore the "no talking" sign as they enter the room. It's like a huge social hour and they don't notice that everyone else was silent as they entered. Those 25 minutes before class are important - I adjust to the heat, think about a million things for work, and generally relax. Class was good, though, and I'm really finding a breakthrough in triangle. My thigh is much closer to parallel with the floor, which is making it so much easier to not slide throughout the posture.
Friday's class was a bit different, though, because there was a visiting teacher. They're trying out some new teachers because the studio needs to add more classes. This teacher was a lot quieter than Gretchen and Sarah (hardly anything during the breathing exercises and not a lot straying from the dialogue). I'm used to Gretchen and Sarah constantly talking and giving encouragement. The teacher was good, though, and I think I'll just have to get used to quieter classes if she becomes permanent. I'm spoiled in that I've only taken Bikram from a few people, and they're all very outgoing and talkative. They each have their own style, though (I miss Lizzie walking on my feet).
Saturday's class was a morning class, which meant not much time between classes. My breathing exercise was crap - I was yawning the whole time and basically couldn't get it, which usually sets the tone for a bad class. That wasn't the case, though. Class was good and I felt like I've improved on a lot of things. That's the point of this whole challenge. I'm seeing a lot of improvement, not overnight, but as a whole. I wish I could've had pictures of me in each posture then and now. But who wants photos of themselves in Bikram class?
Speaking of pictures, the newspaper article I mentioned earlier is out today. I was a bit misquoted in the beginning (I said I questioned myself the first few classes, not daily) and I feel like I gave a LOT of great quotes that weren't used, but it's a good article and it's great publicity for the studio. I wonder if it'll have any effect on crowds in class this afternoon. I'd better get there early...
In other personal news, we're renovating our kitchen right now. I'll add more about that later (Extreme Makeover: Davies Edition!), but I'm sure that'll be consuming a lot of my time over the next week. Fun!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Days 19-20 - Two-thirds completed!
I can't believe I'm 2/3 of the way done already. Class was HOT on Wednesday night - I don't think it's ever been that hot. I got dizzy during a few postures and several people left the room. Regulars were kneeling down. I took a knee during the first half of the first triangle posture, but only because I slid and fell a bit because I was sweating so much. I talked to a few people after class who all agreed it was hot.
I went back to class Thursday morning because I had my second grad school class Thursday night. The room was much more comfortable. There was a photographer taking pictures for a magazine article, but luckily he was only taking photos of the other side of the room from my usual spot. When they told us at the beginning that he'd be taking photos of the left side of the room, there was a bit of a migration to the right side :) I don't think anyone wants to be seen by the public with the "Bikram glow!"
I went back to class Thursday morning because I had my second grad school class Thursday night. The room was much more comfortable. There was a photographer taking pictures for a magazine article, but luckily he was only taking photos of the other side of the room from my usual spot. When they told us at the beginning that he'd be taking photos of the left side of the room, there was a bit of a migration to the right side :) I don't think anyone wants to be seen by the public with the "Bikram glow!"
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Day 18 - Getting Worse to Get Better
I think what I've learned more than anything over the course of this challenge is that the postures stay the same, but my practice changes daily. Postures that I thought I did well before are challenging now. Postures I loathed are becoming easier. I ache in different places daily, but that means that my body needs to stretch.
Tonight's class was good. Not great, not bad. It felt like it had been forever since I'd been there since I practiced yesterday morning. That break was much needed. The second half of standing bow is getting difficult. I can't get my left leg over my head anymore, and my back hurts when I do it. I asked about it and I just need to continue to stretch. I spent the whole class thinking about how hungry I was because I hadn't eaten since noon, when I had a half of a bagel. That made it a bit hard to concentrate.
I've noticed I'm sweating a lot more in class now, which I think is good. I've also noticed that I constantly yawn during the breathing exercises. I don't know if it's because it's the end of the day or because of the heat, but it can really mess with my deep inhales!
I'm watching Heavy on A&E right now, and its super motivating. I really don't have weight to lose, but I need to tone. I cheated and took my weight and measurements today instead of waiting until the end. I'm down 9 pounds and have lost 1.5 inches on each thigh, 2 inches on my hips, and 3 inches on my stomach. I'm a believer in Bikram!
Tonight's class was good. Not great, not bad. It felt like it had been forever since I'd been there since I practiced yesterday morning. That break was much needed. The second half of standing bow is getting difficult. I can't get my left leg over my head anymore, and my back hurts when I do it. I asked about it and I just need to continue to stretch. I spent the whole class thinking about how hungry I was because I hadn't eaten since noon, when I had a half of a bagel. That made it a bit hard to concentrate.
I've noticed I'm sweating a lot more in class now, which I think is good. I've also noticed that I constantly yawn during the breathing exercises. I don't know if it's because it's the end of the day or because of the heat, but it can really mess with my deep inhales!
I'm watching Heavy on A&E right now, and its super motivating. I really don't have weight to lose, but I need to tone. I cheated and took my weight and measurements today instead of waiting until the end. I'm down 9 pounds and have lost 1.5 inches on each thigh, 2 inches on my hips, and 3 inches on my stomach. I'm a believer in Bikram!
Days 16 and 17
I'm closing in on 2/3 of the way completed! On Sunday I took my sister, who hasn't done yoga in years, to the brand new 2:30 class. It was crowded but not uncomfortably so. Melissa did great - only sat out for two postures, one of which was standing bow (which can be intimidating). I found a good modification to help me stretch my poor glutes and hamstrings on standing separate leg stretching, and it helped a LOT.
I went to the 9:30 class yesterday because I started my Ed.D program last night and had no other time to go. It felt odd to be there first thing in the morning. I think next time I do a morning class I need to get up earlier to drink some water and eat a small bowl of Special K. I couldn't get my usual spot so I was right in front of the instructor. It was weird being in the center of the room. I couldn't stay in standing bow to save my life, especially when I was grabbing my left leg. I'm noticing improvement in rabbit, though, and in balancing stick. I ended up going to lunch with my sister, brother-in-law, nephew, and mom after class. Melissa said she was a bit sore after Sunday's class but she was feeling good. She said class was like medieval torture :P She won't say she'll never go back, but she won't be back soon!
One side effect I've noticed - I'm having a lot of trouble sleeping. I've always been the type of person who requires 8 hours of sleep to not be a grump. In college I'd stay up until all hours, but I'd also sleep in. Ever since I worked crazy hours at the TV station I can't sleep much past 7 or 8 unless I'm just exhausted. I typically go to bed by 10 and wake up between 6:30 and 7. Since I started the challenge, though, I'm up until midnight every night. When the 6:30 alarm goes off, I'm dead. I hit snooze until all hours and then rush out the door. I also can't get back to sleep in the mornings if Corey accidentally wakes me up on his way to work, no matter how exhausted I am. I'm looking forward to this weekend because I don't have anywhere to be Sunday morning and I plan on having no alarm set... let's see how long I sleep!
Since I went early yesterday, I get a nice long break before tonight's 6:30 class. As of Thursday I'm 2/3 of the way done!
I went to the 9:30 class yesterday because I started my Ed.D program last night and had no other time to go. It felt odd to be there first thing in the morning. I think next time I do a morning class I need to get up earlier to drink some water and eat a small bowl of Special K. I couldn't get my usual spot so I was right in front of the instructor. It was weird being in the center of the room. I couldn't stay in standing bow to save my life, especially when I was grabbing my left leg. I'm noticing improvement in rabbit, though, and in balancing stick. I ended up going to lunch with my sister, brother-in-law, nephew, and mom after class. Melissa said she was a bit sore after Sunday's class but she was feeling good. She said class was like medieval torture :P She won't say she'll never go back, but she won't be back soon!
One side effect I've noticed - I'm having a lot of trouble sleeping. I've always been the type of person who requires 8 hours of sleep to not be a grump. In college I'd stay up until all hours, but I'd also sleep in. Ever since I worked crazy hours at the TV station I can't sleep much past 7 or 8 unless I'm just exhausted. I typically go to bed by 10 and wake up between 6:30 and 7. Since I started the challenge, though, I'm up until midnight every night. When the 6:30 alarm goes off, I'm dead. I hit snooze until all hours and then rush out the door. I also can't get back to sleep in the mornings if Corey accidentally wakes me up on his way to work, no matter how exhausted I am. I'm looking forward to this weekend because I don't have anywhere to be Sunday morning and I plan on having no alarm set... let's see how long I sleep!
Since I went early yesterday, I get a nice long break before tonight's 6:30 class. As of Thursday I'm 2/3 of the way done!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
