Yoga
February 26, 2010 / Friday
Up, Up, Upside Down!
New trick: Plow to Shoulder Stand with my arms fully in the air. I did it just now without thinking. Neato.
Almost there: Back and forth transition between Tripod and Crow.
December 04, 2009 / Friday
Balance
Great yoga class with my usual hatha drill sergeant last night. We ran through a mix of strength and flexibility poses with a good dose of fun. What's fun in my book? Balance poses: one legged, arm, and headstands.
Despite feeling not-so-hot the last couple weeks, I managed to hold a bound side angle* for the first time ever. Also, for the second time ever, I managed to get my palms flat on the floor in a forward bend. My not-so-hotness caught with me, however, as I wound up with a cramp in my left quad while holding an arm balance**.
I've been practicing crow since my little epiphany a week and a half ago. All that practice paid off, as I was able to lift onto my arms without any trouble. As I held the pose, the instructor said to the class, "Look, there is a great example of crow." Not surprisingly, this instantly caused me to fall over.
We did a bound headstand in class. Good news: I can do it now! After class, I asked the instructor to show me a forearm stand (a.k.a. elbow stand). Unlike headstands, which have a controlled ascent, this pose requires kicking up to vertical, the thought of which scares me to death. The instructor demonstrated and then served as my "wall" while I kicked into the pose. I started to get a feel for what I needed to do. I'll try it at home sometime; I just hope I don't kick a hole into my wall!
A couple other students also stayed to talk to the instructor after class. On the way out, one of them said, "I haven't been to any other yoga classes since she started teaching here," then jokingly added, "I have a secret crush on her!" Can't blame him. :)
* I could never do this pose because my hips would cramp every time I tried, despite the fact that the rest of the class seemed hold it with no problems
** I can't find a name or a picture for the pose, but basically you put one leg over your elbow, extend the other one forward, put your hands on the floor, lift, and hold.
November 23, 2009 / Monday
Crow
Tried a new yoga class this evening with a new instructor. She ran us through a good mix of breathing, flexibility, power, and balance work.
We spent some time toward the end of class working on Crow. I first encountered this pose in March, and have attempted it several times with different instructors since. Each time, I've been unsuccessful. I've also felt no closer to being able to do the pose than I did on my first try. This includes an attempt at the last yoga class I attended three days ago.
We prepped for the pose the same way we did last Friday, by getting into Malasana, a.k.a. Asian squat prayer pose. From there, we would put our hands down on the floor, our knees on the backs of our upper arms, and tilt forward. Just like that, the instructors all said, our feet would come off the ground and we'd magically be in the pose.
Up until today, I could never find that magic. I wasn't sure how far apart to place my hands, whether I needed to angle them, where exactly to put my knees, how straight to hold my arms. I would wobble and fall forward, my knees would dig into my arms, my wrists would ache from supporting all that weight.
Today, with the help of a couple choice sentences from the instructor regarding hand and knee placement, I found the magic. Up I went into Crow. I touched my toes together as I maintained my balance. When I was done, I leaned back, came down, and wiggled my wrists. They didn't hurt. Amazing!
And so, today's class gets new a weekly appointment in my calendar. Welcome to my gym, new yoga teacher lady!
October 29, 2009 / Thursday
One Step Closer To Gumbyhood
I can finally place my palms flat on the ground in a straight legged forward bend. Huzzah! \o/
October 07, 2009 / Wednesday
In Ice Cream We Trust
I tried a new yoga instructor today. We did some weird tai chi like moves and she kept telling us to breathe in, do something, breathe out, do something, breathe in, rinse, breathe out, repeat. I had a feeling we wouldn't jibe when she walked in and told us not to put junk into our bodies, then singled out ice cream as an example. I considered walking out right then and there.
Never trust someone who doesn't like ice cream.
09:50 PM | Ice Cream:Yoga| Comments (0)
August 26, 2009 / Wednesday
Inverted Progress
At yoga last Friday, we spent a good amount of time on poses designed to put weight on our heads. People in our class did Tripod Rabbits (I'm making that term up based on the two poses it looks like), Tripod Balances, Tripod Headstands, and Bound Headstands.
I could do all the tripod poses, but not the bound headstand. I remember trying to learn this pose a couple times in the past and failing miserably. But after seeing a couple other students in the class do it, I decided I had to learn it too. If they can, I can too! Who said yoga's not a competitive sport?
So today I decided to work on it. I warmed up with a couple Tripod Headstands to get a feel for my balance and went for it. After a few somersault escapes, I finally got it. Up I went into a Bound Headstand. Finally!
It's definitely harder than a Tripod Headstand, as it requires more strength and control. Learning to do this well will keep me occupied for at least a couple more months.
What's next? I'm thinking Forearm Stand.
August 10, 2009 / Monday
Mayurasana
We did the Peacock pose in yoga today. Actually, "we" is a tad inaccurate. The instructor did the pose while we made faces trying.
I would like to try more, but it hurts my janky left wrist. So do handstands, which my other yoga instructor has been trying to teach me. Phoo.
August 02, 2009 / Sunday
There Is No Gumby In Me
On Friday, I went to yoga. There were a few new students at the class, and despite the fact that I do yoga twice a week, they were more flexible than could ever hope to be. It probably had something to do with the fact that they were 20 years old.
Come to think of it, I wasn't flexible when I was 20, 16, or even 12. This one time (at band camp), my middle school gym teacher got mad at me for not trying at our annual Presidential Physical Fitness Test sit and reach. Actually, I was trying so hard I thought my hamstrings were going to explode.
July 06, 2009 / Monday
Weak Spots
A couple unsurprising weak spots I discovered at yoga today...
1. The spazzy back is no longer spazzy, but it's definitely not 100% yet. It got all tight and threatened to cramp today when I tried to pull myself into a Bow. I think that means I should do more of that pose.
2. My hips have gotten weak, no thanks to the spazzy back incident and general busyness that's wiped every core class and over half the yoga classes from my schedule since mid-May. I noticed this while trying to do that tabletop balance with the arm and leg out to the side thing. I have no idea what that pose is called. (Update: It's a 90-degree Spinal Balance.) I just know that my hips used to cramp when I did it, that they didn't after weeks of strengthening and stretching, and that they do once again. That definitely means I should do more of that pose.
Speaking of my core class, it's hard to motivate to go back now that I've lost momentum. It's $25 a session and I have to leave work at 5 PM to drive all the way from San Ramon to Mountain View. That, and it overloads my already busy activity schedule to the point where I don't have time for my normal weight training routines. I think I'll drop it for now and think about resuming those workouts in the winter, after after-work mountain biking goes away.
June 15, 2009 / Monday
I Think My Back Is Mostly Back
I didn't kick off my ambitious plan this weekend as I'd hoped. I really wanted to, really needed to, but I simply didn't have time. I had a really good weekend, but by the end of it, I was falling apart mentally from lack of exercise. I'm really not kidding when I say that exercise keeps me sane. By 11 PM on Sunday night, I just wanted to curl into a little ball and cry.
To which Aaron said, "Get over it." I thought he was a big poopiehead at the time, but now that I've returned from yoga and regained some of my sanity, I realize that the sky was not really falling after all.
My original ambitious plan did not include yoga, mainly because yoga puts me into a lot of strange positions that I wasn't sure my back could handle. But since the ambitious plan was now out the window, I decided I needed to do *something*, even if it meant a whole bunch of Extended Child poses instead of whatever balancing pretzels the rest of the class was doing.
To my surprise, I did just fine. Yoga was exactly the mix of stretching and strenghtening my body needed, and the calm and focus my mind needed. I felt great right up until the end of class, when I curled into a tight little ball and rolled on my back. My injury is not ready for direct pressure yet. Ow!
On the upside, I can do a side plank again. This was not even remotely possible a few days ago. And all my stretching the first week must have paid off, because I was able to place my palms flat on the floor in a forward fold for the first time ever. Huzzah! \o/
So here's my revamped ambitious plan: yoga on Monday, mountain bike at Chabot on Tuesday, yoga or mountain bike at Water Dog on Wednesday, low-key pickup on Thursday, yoga if I can fit it into the schedule on Friday, rest or some sort of bike on Saturday, NCWHL on Sunday.
By the end of Sunday, I'll either feel like myself again, or have fallen apart from too much activity. Either way, I'll have achieved normalcy.
My Polar calendar looks so sad. With the exception of my little session on the spin bike, the last two weeks are empty. I've missed ~3 yoga classes, ~3 mountain bike rides, ~2 low-key pickups, 2 NCWHL games, 3 core training classes, and ~1 road bike ride.
Starting today, that will change. The bike rack goes back on the car tonight!
05:25 PM | Injuries:Yoga| Comments (2)
May 08, 2009 / Friday
Upside-Down
After our Monday yoga instructor encouraged us to try to do a Bound/Supported Headstand, I was inspired to work on my Tripod some more. I'd learned how to get off my feet in a Tripod Balance from my Wednesday/Friday yoga teacher, but hadn't yet tried to raise the rest of my body into a full Tripod Headstand.
I spent a few minutes Monday night, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday working on it. It was scary at first, but I eventually reached the point where I can do it most of the time while feeling comfortable enough about landing somewhat gracefully in case of failure.
Today in class, we spent a few minutes on the tripod. I went for the full headstand and managed to pull it off. Yeah!
After the class, the instructor asked if I'd ever done a handstand. No, I replied, I'm afraid of kicking too hard and flipping past center. "We'll use the wall," she said, "Come early next week, and I'll show you how."
Is next Friday here yet? How about now?
April 29, 2009 / Wednesday
Pavanaaaaah
Just now, I tried look up the name of a one-legged standing rest-of-the-body-in-a-pretzel yoga pose that we did in class today. I didn't find what I was looking for, but I did come across a page for the "Wind Relieving Pose".
The best part is, it means exactly what you think it means. Don't believe me? Read the section labeled "Translation".
I'm glad we don't do this pose in class.
March 23, 2009 / Monday
Balancing Pretzel
Got my butt kicked by the Monday yoga teacher again. This time, she had us struggling to tuck our shoulders under our knees. After that, we were told to bring our legs over and behind our head, which I think was more a lesson in futility than a demonstration of flexibility. Next, we hooked one leg over our arm, hooked the other leg straight over the first leg, and lifted our bodies off the floor with our hands. The first time we did this, I laughed as I watched all of us struggle, look at the instructor, and shake our heads in disbelief. Then we switched to the other side, and I somehow found myself in a strange leggy pretzel knot hovering over my hands. Whoa. (I know kung fu?)
After class, I asked the instructor what that move was called. "I don't know," she replied, "Balancing Pretzel?" Sounds good to me; Balancing Pretzel it is.
We also did Eagle today, which I thought would be worth mentioning in this post because it's somewhat pretzel-esque, but now that I think about it, it's more cinnamon twist than pretzel.
I wonder what challah would look like as a yoga pose.
March 06, 2009 / Friday
Headstand
Our yoga instructor arrived a little early today, while I was in the Group X room doing my rotator cuff exercises. We had a few extra minutes before everyone else arrived, so she asked me and the other lady in the room whether we'd ever done a headstand. A headstand? She demonstrated. COOL. "I want to learn to do that!" I declared, and she came over to teach me how.
She demonstrated again, more slowly, explaining every step all the way to vertical. Then it was my turn. She talked me through the different steps and spotted me, the first time to get my feet off the ground, and the second time all the way to vertical.
I hope to learn to do that on my own someday.
In other news, I could get to 100 on the jump rope with a heck of a lot less effort today than last time. It feels a lot more natural, although I'm puzzled as to why the rope doesn't maintain a smooth arc from end to end during the swing. I see it wobble in the mirror, and the next thing I know it's delivering a welt to my arm. Maybe I should buy a real rope, now that I'm actually using it more. You get what you pay for, right? I paid $2.99 for this one.
07:37 PM | Gym:Yoga| Comments (0)
March 02, 2009 / Monday
Fist Crow Ball
Those were the notes I sent myself after yoga class today. Might as well make that the title.
Fist - My inability to touch my toes while standing has now progressed into being able to put my fist on the floor during class. I could *almost* get my palm down, too. The tight-for-the-last-year-plus right hamstring feels great. I don't notice any tightness anymore, not even when I ride. :)
Crow - We did this pose in class today. It was fun. I kinda got it. Next time, I'll totally get it.
Ball - We did a series of inversions toward the end of class, which included Karnapidasana. If you'd shown me this picture this morning and asked me to do it I'd have laughed, but I actually managed to flip over and get my knees and feet on the floor. What?
We also did a lot of one-legged balance poses, which were super difficult. More, please!
February 28, 2009 / Saturday
100
As of 4:25 on Friday, I had not made much progress on the jump rope for the week. I couldn't get past 50 on Thursday and had trouble getting to 25 on Friday. That is, until the end of my workout, when I went into the Group X room for yoga and saw a lady in there with a jump rope. Hop, hop, hop, hop, hop. Aw, man! If she can do it, I can too!
I grabbed my rope, left the room, found a little corner, and started jumping, determined to reach 100. I didn't care if I looked like a n00b at it; if I had to jump slower and higher to do this, so be it. After a couple false starts, I finally got into a groove. 30. 50. 60. Ooh, new record! 70. How about 75? That's a nice number. 75. 80. Zomg, gotta get to 100. 90. Please don't trip please don't trip please don't trip. 95. Aaaaah! 97. Eeek! 98. Please please please. 99. One more! 100! Yeah!
Me, competitive? I have no idea why anyone would think that.
- - -
Yoga was great, as usual. I can kind of do a double twist now on one side. I'm happy about that one side, but it bothers me that I'm unevenly flexible. The other side was not even close!
05:54 PM | Gym:Yoga| Comments (0)
February 20, 2009 / Friday
Hop Hooah Om
Went to the gym today for some UB and yoga. Yes, writing about a workout is super boring yawn snore, but this was a really good workout. So it's super boring yawn snore to everyone but me.
What made it really good?
1. I suck less at jump roping.
I bought a speed rope many months ago and finally tried to use it last week. I failed miserably. I had trouble getting over 10 jumps in before tripping over the rope, and since it's more plastic whip than rope, ended up with welts on my arm. What a disaster!
I gave it another go earlier this week and managed 25 jumps before tripping. I tried for 50, but after I started giving myself welts again, I stopped.
Today, on the first try, 53 jumps! I am pleased with the increase. Jump roping isn't exactly fun, but it's a quick warmup I can do that will help with speed and coordination. Way more challenging than any of the cardio machines. Cardio machines, super boring yawn snore.
How many jumps can I do in a row? And will I ever learn to do that thing where I alternate feet like I'm running? So far, all attempts to do so have resulted in instant welts.
Actually, yes, I will learn, and when I do, the grin on my face will be worth all the welts I'll have endured, and then some.
2. I am stronger.
I lift weights for many reasons: I don't want to be weak. I like to count. More muscle means more ice cream. I can't stand cardio machines. I have a short attention span (a set usually doesn't last more than a minute).
I also like that I can lift more over time if I work at it. It's like jump roping, but instead of working on the number of jumps I can do in a row, I work on the number of pounds I can lift.
Historically, I've plateaued at a certain number of pounds for each muscle and/or exercise. Plateaus suck; they're frustrating and boring.
Today, I started to creep past those plateaus. That made me really happy. What changed? I don't know. Maybe yoga? That brings me to really good workout item number 3.
3. I love yoga.
I never thought I'd say this. For years, I hated yoga. I found it difficult and unenjoyable. It highlighted my lack of flexibility and made me feel tired and sore afterward. My lack of knowledge about the various poses meant I had no chance of doing them them properly, and that frustrated me. I took group lessons at work, but there were no mirrors for feedback. I took lessons at the gym, but the instructors sucked. I quit yoga for several years.
Then I got old and started pulling muscles. I knew that I needed something to help with flexibility. Stretching on my own wasn't going to be enough, especially because I found it boring. I can't do boring. I think it has something to do with my short attention span.
As with the jump rope, I bought a nice yoga mat several months ago. After carrying it in my trunk alongside a giant pile of good intentions for way too long, I finally started going to yoga classes at the gym last week. I tried several different instructors, and got really lucky. I found one decent instructor, one terrible instructor, and one really really good instructor.
A good instructor, plus mirrors on all sides, means I have both the knowledge and visual feedback to work on doing things right. I love that. I work not only on flexibility, but also on balance and control. It challenges me, forces me to focus, and clears my mind.*
It also points out all the muscle imbalances in my body. I can't turn my neck as far to the left as I can to the right. My right shoulder twinges when I stretch it in a certain way. I'd forgotten about those injuries, but I know what they're from: my car accident in 2002 and playing goalie, respectively. I hope that stretching them and challenging them to "behave" will help them heal over time.
Tomorrow, I plan to do my first decent bike ride in a long while. We'll see if yoga has helped any with my tight hamstring, and maybe even my knees. I am hopeful...
* The only other activity that can clear my mind like that is hockey, but it does so in a very different manner. I like both. A lot.
10:40 PM | Gym:Yoga| Comments (2)
January 26, 2005 / Wednesday
Yoga Just Kicked My Ass...
again.
I just hope I'm all healed up by tomorrow night's game...
in Vegas! :-D
August 05, 2004 / Thursday
Thursday Cantonese Haiku
yo gah tong cheuy sieu
duk gnoh day leung goh hok sahng
seen sahng moe tseen tsahn
doo hoe geah. mmm wuey
guey doe mmm dah duk haw kee.
lee gah deem fay laeh?
Sad news from the the world of HR benefits this week:
yoga class cancelled
only two students signed up
no bling for teacher
i guess it's good. won't
be so tired that i can't skate.
but how will i fly?
Yes, fly. And I don't mean on the ice.
I mean this.
11:27 PM | Haikus:Yoga| Comments (0)
July 14, 2004 / Wednesday
Yoga Is Hard
Went to my second ever (first in many moons) yoga class, and it thoroughly kicked my butt. My arms feel tired and floppy. My quads feel tired and weak. I have a hockey game tonight. I hope my body recovers by then. Waddling around in pounds of goalie gear is cake compared to holding strange poses for minutes on end!