Happy Day

Oh, the power of positive thinking.  I received some very, very good news shortly before class today--excellent news for my husband's career and for future planning!  So by the time I got to class, I was still beaming with positive energy.  I changed, laid out my yoga mat, and thought "Man, I look good in my yoga pants" (Okay, so I'm vain).  I was absolutely ready for a stellar practice.

Kate affirmed this when she was asking us to set an intention for today's practice, to acknowledge the day's events and to allow them to inform today's class.  I harnessed the positive energy bouncing around in my chest, broadened my smile, and applied that joy throughout each and every posture.

This isn't to say that I didn't struggle today.  We held the warrior poses for what felt like forever and I could feel my quads shaking, but rather than think "Ugh, are we done yet?" I thought about how much stronger this would make me, how happy I was to be in yoga class, and deepened my inhale breath.  Besides, how boring would yoga be if we were automatically perfect at everything?  Really boring.  I love that there's always something to strive for, some new adjustment to make, a new and different posture to master (but never actually master).  I am going to sleep like a baby tonight.

It's funny to think how negatively the snow affected my energy yesterday and how much better today's practice was after good news.  It really goes to show how much mood and energy can affect your practice.  I will have to make a habit of thinking good thoughts before hitting the yoga mat!

Positive Pose: Wheel

Through regular Bikram practice, I now have a pretty flexible spine.  Rocking the spine strengthening series took a lot of work and determination over the course of the last year, but I definitely noticed the difference today.  Bridge was fairly challenging, especially with tired quads, but Wheel was a treat.  I just pushed right up into my deepest expression and relished the release through my shoulders and the whole front side of my body.  Ahhhhh...


Struggle Pose: Side Plank

Normally, I feel pretty old hat in this posture.  I've been doing it regularly in Terry's class for a while, but today Kate asked us to do something pretty wild and crazy.  The theme of today's class was balance, so after doing Tree standing, she asked us to form tree in side plank, pressing our top feet against our bottom thigh.  I could NOT figure this one out--at least in the first set.  See how well I adapt to change?  I wobbled and fell a number of times--embarrassing.  However, I was not going to let one posture sour my whole practice.  I thought to myself "Don't over think it.  You can do this, Silly," and did it.  It wasn't nearly as hard as I was making it out to be--and it was actually easier to push my hips up higher with something tangible to push against. 

Thank you Kate for a lovely class.  And thank you Walker for being the source of my elation :)

Day of rest tomorrow and then Bikram again on Thursday.

-Allie

First Day of Spring

You know you live in New England when it snows on the first day of spring.  Delightful.  After Friday's unseasonably warm day, I was ready for spring and was bitterly disappointed when snow started to fall.  Every year, I know we'll have late snow and every year I hope we won't.  I was so distraught by the snowfall that I found myself distracted throughout the standing series.  My eye would wander over to the whitened windows and I would heave a sigh before beginning the next posture.  It was very disheartening.  Spring, please?

I struggled in the balancing series for other reasons, though.  My performances Standing Forehead to Knee and Standing Bow must be inversely proportional to each other because if I do well in the former, I do very badly in the latter.  That was the case today.  I was able to lock my leg out on both sides for the entire first set of Standing Forehead to Knee and got my forehead on my knee on both sides for a good couple of seconds.  So, naturally, I was falling all over the place in Standing Bow.  I think my main problem is that I'm still trying to get my leg up higher than our photo shoot, but in order to do that, I need to find some softness through my spine and, more troublingly, I need to slide my hand down from my ankle onto my shin.  I am over thinking this.  Thursday I need to just drop my story and do it!!

However, by the time we got to the floor and I couldn't see the snow anymore, my practice improved significantly.  Maybe it's the pride in my standing series, my confidence with the floor postures, or maybe the short naps we get to take between postures, but for some reason, I'm much happier once we hit the floor. Don't get me wrong, the floor series isn't any easier than the standing series, but the short savasanas we take between sets mean I can really put all of my effort into each posture, knowing I'll get to refuel shortly.

Positive Posture: Standing Separate Leg Stretching, Hands to Feet

<--Yeah, it looked like that.

Now that I've been stretching them regularly for three weeks (yay!), my hamstrings have loosened significantly.  At first I wasn't able to get my head to the floor with the widest of stances, but today I brought my feet in by several inches and still managed to graze the floor with my forehead.  It still makes me nervous when Vicki tells me to roll more weight into my toes--what if I pitch forward and fall on my face?  It's happened before!  Yet I've found that the more I lock out my legs and lift my hips up, the less danger of embarrassing tumbles.  Hoo-ray.

Negative Posture: Camel

                                                               It did not look like this -->

Oh, this one was disappointing today.  I felt loose and lifted in the spine and really needed the shoulder stretch, but my left knee was giving me a hard time.  I already have a tender left knee, but I can usually get through the series just fine.  I don't know if the snow made it ache or if I was just sitting on the wrong part of the bone, but it was acutely painful to lean my hips forward in Camel today.  Vicki suggested that if I have this problem again, I can roll up my towel and use it as padding.  I'll keep that in mind should my knee again decide to be uppity.

Week 3, finished!  Vinyasa with Kate tomorrow.

-Allie

Lunar Sunday

In honor of yesterday's Super Moon, Kate themed today's class around lunar salutations and a feminine, receiving, lunar energy.  It fit perfectly into a Yin/Yang class, but was little bit ironic since today was the first time in a while I was able to convince Hubby to come with me to class. 

He really didn't like the Bikram series.  Since his hamstrings and hips basically make mine look like jelly and the Bikram series requires loose, strong hamstrings, I can completely understand.  I thought he might like Yin/Yang better because it's less intense, but he still had a tough time.  Part of the problem was that he doesn't have a lot of experience with the yoga poses and flows, so it took him a little while to catch on. 

He sure was a trooper, though, and did not give up or leave the room the entire time, despite feeling tight, sweaty, and humbled.  He rolled his eyes at most of the talk about tapping into lunar energy (always the sensitive one, my husband), but I think once he figured Downward-Facing Dog, he was much more confident and enjoyed himself (a little bit).  I asked him later how he did and what he liked best.  Turns out the only pose he actually liked was Shoulder Stand because it didn't require hip/hamstring flexibility and he felt like he was doing it right.  He then added, "I will say this for yoga, it makes me smellier than anything else."  Delicious.  Thanks, Honey.  We'll see if I'm able to bring him back again...

I, however, enjoyed the entire class.  It was just enough to get my heart rate going, but plenty relaxing for a Sunday morning.  The lunar salutations were really cool.  I'd never done one before and it was nice to try something different and tap into a more passive, female energy than I do in other classes.  I am that athletic, overachiever crazy person who needs the gentle reminder that it's okay to take it slow and smell the proverbial roses throughout my practice.  I tend to shoot right into my fullest expression of postures and don't take stock of how each micro-movement feels.  I miss my body's signals and don't always give it what it wants.  Today's class was methodical and attentive and exactly what I needed.  There weren't any poses that struck me as especially good or especially bad today--they all informed and built my practice in their own way.  Thank you Kate for a lovely class this morning. 

Bikram Yoga tomorrow

-Allie

Inches

Tough practice today.  Like I've said in previous posts, morning classes are much more challenging for me because I haven't spent as much time up and about, loosening up my muscles.  My hamstrings and obliques are the biggest trouble spots. 

So my first set of half moon was very uncomfortable and Vicki held us in that posture for what seems like forever.  It could just be my perception (since I hate them), but the first sets of half moon and standing head to knee seem interminable.  I keep thinking "are we done yet?  Are we done yet?," which is completely unproductive.  I really should be focusing on breathing and getting deeper/more comfortable with the posture. They both come early in the series and I haven't had much of a chance to focus my attention yet, at least that's my excuse. ;-)

My hamstrings sure made their presence known in the balancing series.  Since we did the photo shoot last weekend, I've been trying to get deeper into poses like standing bow, but as soon as I would kick my leg up higher this morning, my standing hamstring would tug back and I would fall over.  And then I would get frustrated by how poorly I was doing in this pose and, subsequently, balance even worse.  It's a vicious cycle that will try to avoid next time.  Just drop my story and do it! 

However, despite my protesting hamstrings, I did quite well in the second set of standing head to knee today.  I got my forehead to my knee on both sides for a good 2-3 seconds.  Next time I'll shoot for 4-5!  frustrated by how poorly I was doing in this pose and, subsequently, balance even worse.  It's a vicious cycleI'll be more warmed up and ready to progress on Monday!

Positive Pose: Toestand

I think this is the one posture in which I am consistently seeing progress with each practice.  I am balancing and meeting my gaze for an extended period nearly every time!  Like in Awkward Pose, the trick is to engage your core.  If you pull the balance out of your toe and into your stomach, it's much, much easier!!

Struggle Pose: Standing Bow

Ugh, as I get better at Standing Head to Knee, I get worse at this one.  I think I must be developing some kind of mental block against it.  Next time, with loose, wide awake hamstrings, I will do better.  If I keep telling myself this, maybe it'll actually happen.  Does this kind of thing really work?  At least my feet (and calves) aren't cramping up anymore.  That's a blessing.

Other progress: I weighed myself this morning and was dismayed to find that I am right back up to starting weight.  Sad.  I told my Hubby about this and he told me to go measure myself because I'd probably lost inches, if not any pounds. "You have too many muscles," he said.  So I took his advice and broke out the tape measure--I am down a total of 2"!  I lost 1" from my hips and 0.5" from each thigh!  So I might weigh more than I would like to, but the gun show I'm carrying isn't exactly light! I'm strangely okay with this...

Yin/Yang yoga with Kate tomorrow!

-Allie

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

So I didn't set foot in a bar today or bake anything Irish.  In fact, I had leftover tortellini for dinner.  I'm not really Irish, anyway, so I didn't feel the least bit bad about spending the evening with Hart Yoga.

I wasn't really feeling yoga today.  I was tired and very ready to just go home.  But I mustered my determination and went anyway.  I immediately felt better when I walked into the tropical temperature of the studio.

And boy was it hot today! I was already dripping sweat by the end of the first breathing exercise.  The heat basically turned me into cooked spaghetti, which was great for flexibility and not so great for stability.  Part of the stability problem was fatigue.  This was my 4th class in a row and I was definitely feeling the strain.  However, I am pleased to report that I had much more energy at the start of class than I did the last time I did 4 classes in a row.  I was able to do some poses well, at least.  My stamina is building, if slowly.

Positive Pose: Full Locust

Yesterday I had a great standing series and struggled through the floor series, but today it was the opposite.  My noodle-y back rocked the floor series.  I think I had the most lifted Full Locust I've ever had!  As Jenn would say, I dropped my story and fatigue and just did it.  I was that 747 ready to take flight into the mirror.



Struggle Pose: Standing Bow
My standing series was (literally) a hot mess tonight.  I got really, really deep into the poses, especially standing bow, but could not hold them for very long.  My standing just did not want to lock out.  I think I spent more time trying to reset the posture than I did actually in it.  It sure wasn't for lack of trying, but I would kick my leg up, reach forward, and immediately lurch to one side.  Frustrating.  Next time, after a rest day, this pose will be mine.  At least I can take pride that I finished class stronger than I started.

Friday rest day tomorrow, then Bikram again on Saturday.

-Allie

Make up Wednesday

Oh dear, 7pm is just too late for me.  I'm glad it works well with others' schedules, but it sure doesn't work with mine.  If I'm not fed--or on my way to being fed--by 7pm, I turn into Cranky Allie and nobody wants to see that.  Vicki might tell Cranky Allie to bend to the right into half moon and she would say "No!  I don't wanna!"  Or, even worse, Cranky Allie might actually escalate the ongoing turf war over parking spaces with the karate people next door.

Since I got out of work around 5:15, I thought that in order to avoid the above scenarios, it might be a good idea to get a small dinner.  I got myself a small grilled chicken sandwich and enjoyed it while working on a sock and waiting for Hart Yoga to open.  The immediate result was that I was wide awake, ready to work, and, most importantly, not hungry.  The eventual result was not so positive.

Little did I know that while I was doing so well in the standing series, this sandwich was slowly making its way toward my stomach, eager to sabotage my efforts on the floor.  I felt everything.  Most of the spine strengthening series was a test of wills between me and that sandwich.  It billowed and gurgled as I lay on my stomach, sending nausea throughout my system.  It urged me, "You don't like locust anyway.  If it's too uncomfortable, just sit this one out."

I told it, "No, you're not so bad.  I know I can do this."

Sandwich oozed and shifted and replied, "C'mooon *burble* It's just one posture.  Give up just a little bit."

Unwilling to yield to Sandwich's demands, I powered through the whole spine strengthening series.  I centered my attention on my breath and alignment and not on the evil entree in my stomach.  I did not puke, even with my forearms pressed unmercilessly into my stomach.  In fact, my determination increased with each posture so much that my Floor Bow was quite possibly the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.  That is, until Vicki told us to set up Fixed Firm and I could get off my stomach again.

If I come to the 7pm class again, I need to remember to either eat earlier or eat lighter and drink plenty of water.  No yoga class is much fun with a bellyful of maniacal foodstuffs.

More Bikram tomorrow!

Halfway There

It's day 15 of my challenge.  I'm halfway done and feeling great!

Today's class was Vinyasa with Kate--an hour and a half of a very physical form of meditation.  With Bikram, since you repeat the same 26 postures every class and hold them for extended periods of time, you notice even the most minute progress and can set very specific goals (see my Previous Post).  Through repetition, the magic is forced to rise.

However, with Vinyasa, the postures change and flow into each other organically with your breath.  The series can change with each class, with each instructor's whim.  Since you can't anticipate your next move, you have to focus and be present in your body.  It is not at all an easy style and each posture requires your full attention to maintain both your alignment and calm your breath.  You forget your day, forget your future plans and just breathe.  There is no room for any other thoughts. 

 Positive Pose: Bird of Paradise

Okay, so I know I'm not doing this pose exactly right.  I need to work to get my lower back unhunched and my raised leg straighter, but man does it look cool, even in my not-quite-there expression.  It's also an amazing stretch up through the standing leg and through the raised one.  We spent a lot of time on loosening hamstrings today--something I definitely needed.

Struggle Pose: Standing Split

I hate this one.  I've never been able to do it in a way that even resembles well.  It almost always comes at the end of practice, when my legs are already tired and the last thing I want to do is balance and bend forward at the same time.  Boo.  There must be something I'm doing wrong because I feel like it shouldn't be as difficult as I'm making it.


After yesterday's successful class, I was left with some very sore quads.  Many of today's standing postures were pretty challenging, but I was able to work through them, at least until the end of practice, when most of the muscles in my legs started cramping up.  Drinking water should probably help with this for next time.  It sure felt great to spend 90 solid minutes focusing on me and my body, away from busy, negative things.

Make-up Wednesday class tomorrow.

-Allie