yoga 3 times a week

Last night’s class was equally amazing although I realized even more fully my limitations. Not to dwell at all on the negative but the things I struggled with were monkey pose (ouch!), all of the balancing poses, and holding plank for what seemed like an eternity. I have long known that I have VERY little strength in my upper body, my arms are like twigs, but hopefully that will improve. The class was challenging for me and I was sweating half through. That is good though.

I was VERY impressed that the teacher was so thoughtful of my back limitations. While we were in shoulder stand, she came over to make sure that it wasn’t too much on my back but, since the problem is in my lower back, shoulder stand was okay. However, a bit later in the class, we were doing double leg lifts and I CANNOT do those. I can feel the steel rod grinding against my spine when I try to lift both legs at once. So, I stay away from that pose. I did alternating leg lifts instead. I say that to say that after class, the teacher mentioned to me that she had thought after the move that I didn’t need to raise both legs at once. Very few people realize that or make that connection so I was very impressed. I’m happy to have an attentive teacher like that.

So, overall, the class is going great and I love it. I’m already looking forward to Monday night!

_Namaste

I still feel like my yoga practice is a bit haphazard. Part of the problem is that I don’t have the privilege of practicing with a teacher, in a class, as there aren’t any offered in my small town. So, I have to practice at home with my DVDs which feels after awhile like I’m really doing the same thing over and over and over, which I guess I am. This makes for mundane repetition and I don’t feel like I’m being challenged as much as I could be. Sigh…. I’m going to make out a yoga schedule for myself today so that I can have a bit more structure to my home practice. Maybe that will help some. :)

Help! my favorite yoga teacher is moving away next month. I’ve been trying to do more at home, but don’t go as long and tend to space out and my roommates always tromp on in when I’m at Shivasana. Though even if I don’t do it as long, at least I can get the kinks out of my hips and shoulders. Crack!

I have rededicated myself to yoga and feel great about that decision. I ordered a yoga meditation book last night (called 365 Yoga) and dusted off the Yoga Journal Diary that I’ve never used. I plan to start documenting my practice in the hopes of deepening my understanding of myself and parallels between my practice and my life. I practiced for 40 minutes after work last night and for 20 minutes this morning before work. I feel REALLY great about this!

I;ve been consistently going to a Yoga class on Sundays for a few months. I’m doing stretching as part of my other excercise, so if I can get in 1 more yoga class a week, I’ll feel good about things.

I am going to start out trying for thirty minutes three times each week. I want to work up to many more than that but I need to start with baby steps. As stated in my earlier entry, I practiced for thirty this morning. So, one down! :)

I finally practiced this morning, albeit only for thirty minutes. But, something is better than nothing, right??

I am still just NOT with it on this goal. I have good intentions – GREAT intentions – but I never GET IT DONE. I have DVDs, tapes, a yoga mat, etc. but no discipline to practice. Ugh! I really do aspire to live the yoga lifestyle and I greatly admire people that do but how can I live that life if I don’t practice? Any help for me?