Since I'll probably (hopefully) look back at my yoga progress with chuckles, I thought I should comment on the improvement I noticed in my second Warm Yin Yoga class. Last week our first pose was a wide-legged child's pose, knees apart towards the outsides of the mat, leaning forward with forehead down and arms stretched out. I couldn't last the entire pose without bringing my knees together - it was to much for my hips to be in that wide pose for that long.
However, this past Sunday I managed to stay down in child's pose for the duration! Near the end I had to employ some breathing techniques (thanks Joyce!), but I made it. Joyce (my yoga instructor) also commented this morning that she can see my hips opening a bit....yay - I love to see progress!
Interestingly, since Joyce has been receiving complaints about her Yin poses, she didn't do any this morning, and I felt out of sorts for the entire hour. There must be something about Yin that grounds me for the day....I'll have to look into that. I've ordered a book on Yin - should go well with my Essential Ayurveda book. Speaking of which, it's from that book that I found the best advice ever:
Do less
Be more
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
Warm Yoga
Everyone who knows me would agree that I am not a person who should be put in a hot climate. I get fidgety, irritable, and downright cranky. When friends are discussing their plans to go to Mexico or Cuba for a winter getaway, I just dream about going to the mountains and walking around in the crisp, cool air. It should come as no surprise that this new craze known as "hot yoga" scares the bejeebers out of me!
However, as is usual in my life, logic always triumphs over fear. I am currently taking two yoga classes a week here in town, and long for the day when my body doesn't feel broken down. My trainer told me the tales of her hot yoga experience, and while the thought of moving around in a room heated to 38-40 degrees is not my idea of a good time.....EVER, I thought that maybe the "warm yoga" (a mere 32-34 degrees) might be okay. So my friend and I headed down the highway to a Sunday night Warm Yin Yoga class.
If I could sum it up in one word.....AMAZING.
And in a few words.....why didn't I start doing this years ago?
Our instructor had a voice like maple syrup - flowing, dreamy, calming. Her postures were simple, yet effective, and very gentle. The air was hot, but I found it comforting, almost like being wrapped in a warm blanket. At the end, as everyone else was leaving, I just lay there, enjoying the silence and the heat. The class went by too fast and I can't wait until the next one.
I came home so relaxed and slept very well. I awoke at 5:15 feeling great and rolled out of bed for an am bootcamp-ish class. If Jo from two years ago visited Jo today in a time machine, she would not believe what I am about to say.
I think I prefer the yoga class.
However, as is usual in my life, logic always triumphs over fear. I am currently taking two yoga classes a week here in town, and long for the day when my body doesn't feel broken down. My trainer told me the tales of her hot yoga experience, and while the thought of moving around in a room heated to 38-40 degrees is not my idea of a good time.....EVER, I thought that maybe the "warm yoga" (a mere 32-34 degrees) might be okay. So my friend and I headed down the highway to a Sunday night Warm Yin Yoga class.
If I could sum it up in one word.....AMAZING.
And in a few words.....why didn't I start doing this years ago?
Our instructor had a voice like maple syrup - flowing, dreamy, calming. Her postures were simple, yet effective, and very gentle. The air was hot, but I found it comforting, almost like being wrapped in a warm blanket. At the end, as everyone else was leaving, I just lay there, enjoying the silence and the heat. The class went by too fast and I can't wait until the next one.
I came home so relaxed and slept very well. I awoke at 5:15 feeling great and rolled out of bed for an am bootcamp-ish class. If Jo from two years ago visited Jo today in a time machine, she would not believe what I am about to say.
I think I prefer the yoga class.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Yin Yoga
I am not a huge fan of yoga, but I am logical enough to know that there are huge benefits, especially for an aging body. I am therefore taking two yoga classes a week, and last night was introduced to Yin Yoga.
Gak.
I don't know much about Yin Yoga, other than it is good for facsia and connective tissue, poses are held for a long time, and oh yes, one more thing.
IT HURTS. A LOT.
I am writing this account in the hopes that I can look back on it in a year and chuckle, but I sure wasn't chuckling last night. To start with, I couldn't even get my feet into the right position, the instructor had to come over and help me, so with her help I was able to get my legs in a contorted position. Then she was expecting me to sit back. My butt cheeks were supposed to be touching the floor. I think the entire volume of the World Book Encyclopedia could have fit between my butt and the floor. So she put yoga blocks underneath so I could somewhat sit. Then she told me to lean forward.
I looked at her like she was crazy, and showed her that I wasn't able to lean forward. She then pulled out a huge bolster that I had to rest my head on. The whole time I was supposed to breathe, but I spent my time cursing my poor flexibility. I felt like a big loser with my blocks and bolster while everyone else in the class was leaner forward, and yes, with butt cheeks on the floor. Getting out of the position wasn't much easier. And to top it all off my hips hurt when I woke up this morning.
However, I am determined that this Yin stuff will get easier each time I do it, and off I go tomorrow morning to try it again. We'll see if it seems to be any better.
Somehow I doubt it will.
Gak.
I don't know much about Yin Yoga, other than it is good for facsia and connective tissue, poses are held for a long time, and oh yes, one more thing.
IT HURTS. A LOT.
I am writing this account in the hopes that I can look back on it in a year and chuckle, but I sure wasn't chuckling last night. To start with, I couldn't even get my feet into the right position, the instructor had to come over and help me, so with her help I was able to get my legs in a contorted position. Then she was expecting me to sit back. My butt cheeks were supposed to be touching the floor. I think the entire volume of the World Book Encyclopedia could have fit between my butt and the floor. So she put yoga blocks underneath so I could somewhat sit. Then she told me to lean forward.
I looked at her like she was crazy, and showed her that I wasn't able to lean forward. She then pulled out a huge bolster that I had to rest my head on. The whole time I was supposed to breathe, but I spent my time cursing my poor flexibility. I felt like a big loser with my blocks and bolster while everyone else in the class was leaner forward, and yes, with butt cheeks on the floor. Getting out of the position wasn't much easier. And to top it all off my hips hurt when I woke up this morning.
However, I am determined that this Yin stuff will get easier each time I do it, and off I go tomorrow morning to try it again. We'll see if it seems to be any better.
Somehow I doubt it will.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
