Practice Yoga

I want to be able to at least set up properly, if not actually do, all the asanas in class.

Today I set up or made a good stab at doing everyone but Ustrasana (camel pose) – I just got too dizzy to put my head back, and had to sit in a kneeling position during that set. But today was the first day I made through all the standing and balancing poses, including tree pose, which I’ve had to sit out of in all the previous classes.

Since this my first entry about this goal, I suppose I should record my previous relationship with yoga:

I was introduced to yoga this past winter. There were a few months where I was practicing fairly regularly, if not daily. Unfortunately, as my school and work schedules increased, my time for yoga practice became nonexistent. I definitely enjoyed the practice and would like to reincorporate it into my daily life.

Lately, I’ve been going on morning runs. I have always been an (inconsistent) runner (maybe I should make that another goal). The past couple days I have been using yoga to warm up and stretch my muscles before my run and then to cool down my body after my run. This has been working out really well so far and I plan to continue doing it. My hope is that eventually I can extend my cool down into a longer practice.

Attend yoga class at least 8 times in the month (an average of twice a week).

I have the DVDs, now I’ve just got to start doing it

I am going to do the yoga video tomorrow early in the morning.

Going back tonight. Going back tonight. Going back tonight. No matter what.

This time, I didn’t feel as nauseated or as dizzy, but then again, I didn’t work as hard either – paced myself better.

Checking now to see when classes are over the weekend…

baddha padmasana and ustrasana

learned that prep for ustrasana should be baby cobra or cobra or warrior poses

I went to a Bikram Yoga class after work.

• I didn’t know if I was going to faint or throw up through portions of the class; managed to do neither, but it felt touch-and-go at times
• I didn’t bring the right sized towel
• A liter of water bought there costs two freakin’ dollars

• Very cheap beginner package of unlimited yoga for ten days for ten dollars
• Other than not having water or the right sized towel, I otherwise brought the right clothes and mat
• I drank every drop of my liter bottle of water
• Class was rigorous – not one of these weany housewife classes where you do some stretching and then listen to new age music at the end of class while resting
• Yoga works everything bicycling doesn’t – core, balance, upper body – really amazing even now.

I plan to go tomorrow, too.

I’ve done it in Australia, India, California and Peru…. but I want to make it stick. I need something to help me take it beyond an occasional exercise to a life-changing daily habit. Where’s my self-discipline?