yoga

The teacher today said something that really clicked with me – about relaxing, enjoying, and really being present in yoga not treating it as a series of minor tortures to make yourself feel better about yourself. Breathing and focussing on your body is clearly the way forward – it becomes very medatative. The heat and sweat of bikram makes this harder in some ways but more rewarding when you do manage to get into the zone.

I am trying out Bikram yoga at a studio near me. First impressions – it is hot – this makes you sweat and makes it harder to breath and in theory it makes you stretchier.

I am not sure I am ready to do it topless – this feels strangely wrong but I might change my mind.

The poses are classic Hatha yoga poses but you don’t hold anything too long – there are lots of poses in the class and most things are repeated.

It seems good at the moment – another 27 days left of the trial – I will let you know how it progresses.

Not the same as the old one – but different can be good.

The old one was Hatha with Trevor – the new one is Ashtanga with Fran.

We did Dragon flies over the world this week which is kind of cool.

It is not as hardcore but I think that is okay

After 3 years of yoga (once a fortnight) – my gym has gotten rid of my teacher – now I need to decide:

a) Join another gym which has yoga classes
b) Go to a separate class
c) Go on a course
d) Just try to stretch more

Hmmmm

Trying to keep going to yoga – even though I have broken ribs and dodgy cartilidge in my knee.

The lesson this week was a particular thougie with some standing hamstring stretches that were well a real stretch. I definitely am bender after wards though ….

I am cheeky free member (just for a week) of a Holmes Place gym near me and so I am trying to make the most by going to as many classes in a week as I can. Today I failed to get a place in a Pilates class and so I tried something called Body Balance – which is basically yoga to funky music – pretty good actually :-)

The swan hurts my knees – though I don’t think I will do that next time.

Also I am not sure that the angry badger posture is a real one…

I haven’t been to Yoga in a while because my boss has organized a weekly meeting when I used to go – this weeks was cancelled though so I got to go – hurrah!

It was good – I have managed to maintain my flexibility even though I haven’t been for a while. Unfortunately, the instructor decided that this week was the time to do some paired yoga worked, where your partner helps to with your positions and he decided that I would be the one he would use to demonstrate on – very embarassing – the first one was okay just normal kinding of sitting down forward bend – but then there was another one which was the normal touching toes forward bend but then the assistant/partner basic has to sit on top of your (back to back) – very very strange – but it actually really helped with the stretch – my head almost touched my knees – so I guess there is method to the madness. None the less I am glad that nobody walked in when we were doing this coz I think it might have looked a bit strange…

After the physio has scared me about yoga and said nice things about Pilates I thought I would give it a go.

Pretty good fun. A little less hardcore than yoga but still kind of good. My chums tell me it is good for “core” strength – which is good – I think.

I found that I was much more aware of my body after doing this and how my muscles move in harmony (or disharmony as the case may be).

I might do it again.

I have been going for a while now (probably another 6 or 7 classes) I feel like this is something that I really enjoy. It seems to lend a certain perspective to life. Although there are two things that worry me:

1. The yogi said that yoga was a long term investment and that we should be looking at the 2-6 year time period and not expect quick wins (and the problem is, is that I really like quick wins!)

2. Also I went to a physio about my knee today and she kind of sucked her teeth and muttered about yoga being bad for your back.

I think I am getting bendier though.

Just started going to classes, so far I am two down and easily the worst in my class. I know it is not a competitive thing but even so. I think this we have to be my target – I can only mark this one as done when somebody worse than me comes to the class… One of the problems is that I am a man and most of the class are women who just seem naturely more bendy. Having said that the yogi(?) is a man.

I love the feeling of relaxation immediately afterwards but don’t like the feeling of stretched muscles the day after – I wonder if I am doing it wrong?