Alarm clock FAIL again this morning. No candle light yoga for me! It was bright out by the time I unrolled my mat, but at least I did my practice.
I’m feeling stronger today - the vinyasas were not as taxing. I still don’t have my bind back in Supta K, but I bound to fingers in Marichyasana D. That’s promising! I need to lose my Christmas Cookie weight in order to go any further in these bound poses, I think.
At the moment, I’m still skipping Janu Sirsasana C (due to a physical issue). I’m now trying a modified Setu Bandhasana, building strength towards the full pose.
My back is a tiny bit sore in the area that cramped up yesterday, but I felt fine during practice. Whatever it was, it’s passed and I’m grateful.
I didn’t do a lot of Astanga last month. The Primary Series just seemed too impossibly long and draining. Now, because I’m committed to it, I’m not questioning, just doing. Maybe that’s the secret (don’t overthink it).
I’m in the process of reading the new Gregor Maehle book and he mentions that daily practice of the Primary Series (for a YEAR!!) is a prerequisite for practice of the Intermediate Series. The Primary Series builds endurance. I think I agree!
It will be interesting to see if my theory holds up later on in the week, when my teaching load is so much heavier. I may have to reintroduce afternoon naps into my routine!
The decluttering rounds continue. Today, I’m cleaning out the bathroom cabinets. When I finish, I’ll reward myself with a new bath pillow.
Showing posts with label weightloss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weightloss. Show all posts
Monday, January 4, 2010
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Vinyasa
Oh yay, the first of the month. Rent day. *gulp*
If my cocyx wasn't already tucked between my legs, it would be. I had to borrow money from the dog to make rent. Yeah, the dog has her own special savings account (alas, not in her name) for emergency vet bills. It's quite a fall from grace, hitting up my miniature schnauzer up for rent money. Good thing business is picking up. I'll pay her back next week.
I'm teaching four classes again today. So far, I'm taking the shift to a busier teaching schedule in stride. In past years, I've been absolutely exhausted during the start of my fall sessions and very sore. Not this year. I think I have daily yoga practice to thank for my new endurance. Weirdly, my biceps were touchy this morning and my left latissimus dorsi was tender, but that's about it. I'm not overly tired, though I do feel a tad over-scheduled.
For yoga practice this morning, I did 5 Surya Namaskara A, 3 B, and then the 20 minute Balancing Flow #1 with Jamie from YogaDownload. I prefer Dawnelle's instruction over Jamie's - I find Jamie a bit stilted and bland. But the sequence was fun. It has most of my favourite one-leggers: Gorudasana, Ardha Chandrasana, Virabhadrasana III and the unique YogaDownload invention, 'Airplane'. I felt it all my hips.
In other news, I'm slimming back down to 'fighting weight' again. I've been more-or-less practising Calorie Restriction. The qualifier is there because I haven't been logging foods on a daily basis. Instead, I've been keeping a pretty consistent, interesting-to-me daily menu, mostly-vegan, focusing on whole foods.
Mother Hen will be delighted to know that I've reintroduced breakfast: old fashioned oatmeal with raisins, cinnamon and honey. Lunch is the main meal: a big plate of veggies, an egg white wrap on a whole wheat flax tortilla with hummus and flax lavash crackers on the side. For supper, I go light. I eat a plate of fresh fruit, dried fruit and raw nuts (usually almonds). This is enough to carry me to through to bedtime without feeling hungry.
It seems to be working. My pants are beginning to fit again. That's all I wanted.
If my cocyx wasn't already tucked between my legs, it would be. I had to borrow money from the dog to make rent. Yeah, the dog has her own special savings account (alas, not in her name) for emergency vet bills. It's quite a fall from grace, hitting up my miniature schnauzer up for rent money. Good thing business is picking up. I'll pay her back next week.
I'm teaching four classes again today. So far, I'm taking the shift to a busier teaching schedule in stride. In past years, I've been absolutely exhausted during the start of my fall sessions and very sore. Not this year. I think I have daily yoga practice to thank for my new endurance. Weirdly, my biceps were touchy this morning and my left latissimus dorsi was tender, but that's about it. I'm not overly tired, though I do feel a tad over-scheduled.
For yoga practice this morning, I did 5 Surya Namaskara A, 3 B, and then the 20 minute Balancing Flow #1 with Jamie from YogaDownload. I prefer Dawnelle's instruction over Jamie's - I find Jamie a bit stilted and bland. But the sequence was fun. It has most of my favourite one-leggers: Gorudasana, Ardha Chandrasana, Virabhadrasana III and the unique YogaDownload invention, 'Airplane'. I felt it all my hips.
In other news, I'm slimming back down to 'fighting weight' again. I've been more-or-less practising Calorie Restriction. The qualifier is there because I haven't been logging foods on a daily basis. Instead, I've been keeping a pretty consistent, interesting-to-me daily menu, mostly-vegan, focusing on whole foods.
Mother Hen will be delighted to know that I've reintroduced breakfast: old fashioned oatmeal with raisins, cinnamon and honey. Lunch is the main meal: a big plate of veggies, an egg white wrap on a whole wheat flax tortilla with hummus and flax lavash crackers on the side. For supper, I go light. I eat a plate of fresh fruit, dried fruit and raw nuts (usually almonds). This is enough to carry me to through to bedtime without feeling hungry.
It seems to be working. My pants are beginning to fit again. That's all I wanted.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Astanga
I practised in the morning because I had a day of teaching ahead of me. I'm continuing to work on my 'Sharath Cramming' - that's what I've heard it called on other blogs. Apparently, many people are showing up to Shalas to brush up on their Primary or Intermediate Series in anticipation of Sharath's visit.
*raises hand* Guilty as charged!
Full Primary Series today, doing everything. My problem poses are Mari D (used to bind, now I'm not even close) and Setu Bandhasana (ouch, my head). Janu Sirsasana C is actually coming along. It's not my best pose, but I can even do the forward bend, sort of.
I'm really embarrassed that I can't do proper jump-backs and jump-throughs so I've been diligently working on the 'take it up' in the vinyasas. I'm hoping that they'll magically come to me if I keep 'doing my homework'. That's how it played out with Chaturanga.
I'm open to any additional advice. I realise that it's probably not going to happen for me before Sharath gets here, but I'd like to do this eventually. And yes, I've tried using blocks. I just can't do it without the blocks. I feel stuck.
My first Urdhva Dhanurasana was so yucky that I stopped and thought it through. I realised that my hips were tight, so I did a few hip openers and voilà! It was better, not great, but better. My shoulders are still very tight, though. There's a great shoulder opener discussion going on over at Karen's blog. She recommends Erich Schiffmann's video. I found this sequence on his website, so I might start with that.
Tomorrow afternoon, I'm attending a yoga conference downtown, the same one I'm volunteering at. It was a last minute decision. The teacher enrichment sessions look good and the roundtable in the evening should be interesting. I receive a good discount on the half-day rate. I'll also be there on Sunday (attending in two sessions and volunteering for a third; long day). I'm really excited about it!
Some yoga randomness:
I found this article interesting. I do agree with the premise. I've experienced this first hand; I find it easier to maintain a healthy diet when I have a regular practice. And besides increased mindfulness in the general sense, it's tough to ignore the muffin-top when it's hanging in my face in Halasana. Just sayin'.
Some non-yoga randomness:
Hold on to your hat, Dorothy! A fantastic storm just moved through the city. Funnel clouds were spotted downtown and the sky turned this eerie yellow colour. Here's a photograph of the storm as it moved in. Within minutes of this photo, torrential rains came down with zero visibility. It was pretty scary. The dog is still hiding in the closet.
*raises hand* Guilty as charged!
Full Primary Series today, doing everything. My problem poses are Mari D (used to bind, now I'm not even close) and Setu Bandhasana (ouch, my head). Janu Sirsasana C is actually coming along. It's not my best pose, but I can even do the forward bend, sort of.
I'm really embarrassed that I can't do proper jump-backs and jump-throughs so I've been diligently working on the 'take it up' in the vinyasas. I'm hoping that they'll magically come to me if I keep 'doing my homework'. That's how it played out with Chaturanga.
I'm open to any additional advice. I realise that it's probably not going to happen for me before Sharath gets here, but I'd like to do this eventually. And yes, I've tried using blocks. I just can't do it without the blocks. I feel stuck.
My first Urdhva Dhanurasana was so yucky that I stopped and thought it through. I realised that my hips were tight, so I did a few hip openers and voilà! It was better, not great, but better. My shoulders are still very tight, though. There's a great shoulder opener discussion going on over at Karen's blog. She recommends Erich Schiffmann's video. I found this sequence on his website, so I might start with that.
Tomorrow afternoon, I'm attending a yoga conference downtown, the same one I'm volunteering at. It was a last minute decision. The teacher enrichment sessions look good and the roundtable in the evening should be interesting. I receive a good discount on the half-day rate. I'll also be there on Sunday (attending in two sessions and volunteering for a third; long day). I'm really excited about it!
Some yoga randomness:
I found this article interesting. I do agree with the premise. I've experienced this first hand; I find it easier to maintain a healthy diet when I have a regular practice. And besides increased mindfulness in the general sense, it's tough to ignore the muffin-top when it's hanging in my face in Halasana. Just sayin'.
Some non-yoga randomness:
Hold on to your hat, Dorothy! A fantastic storm just moved through the city. Funnel clouds were spotted downtown and the sky turned this eerie yellow colour. Here's a photograph of the storm as it moved in. Within minutes of this photo, torrential rains came down with zero visibility. It was pretty scary. The dog is still hiding in the closet.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Astanga
Girly post today! I'm going to talk about food and hair. But first, my practice.
Same, same. Full Primary, trying to do everything (even the 4,000-year hold in Uth Pluthi, though I never make it past five counts, ever). I'm practising with the recording of Sharath's led.
My practice reports are starting to feel boring. No fun outdoor practices (it's been raining every day; thunderstorms), no funky vinyasa. I'm trying to for six in a row of the Primary Series this week, then I'll reward myself with something different.
By the way, the bottom leg, in Supta Padangustasana, has a pointed toe. I'm discovering pointed toes everywhere these days! An here's another epiphany from the Sunday led class: Baddha Konasana B is this rounded back thing that I'm now absolutely loving. I always heard 'head to toes' on Sharath's recording and wondered what the heck he was referring to. Of course, I could have always asked Arjuna.
Now, girl stuff:
First, food. I'm still working on improving my diet (which has fallen into stunning disrepair since I ceased being a single person last year). Interestingly, I've been very resistant to logging my foods. I can't seem to motivate myself to use CRON-o-Meter, so I've been trying to do without.
This week, I'm focusing on a 'more water, less sugar' strategy. I have a wicked sweet tooth, so eliminating sugar pretty much eliminates most junk and processed foods from my diet. I'm been drinking 8 glasses of water a day, trying to get all of them in before lunch.
This means that I skip breakfast. I realise it sounds suspect, but I really don't miss it and I don't overeat at lunch. I drink water all morning and then eat lunch and reward myself with a pot of chai tea. So far, so good, lots of hydration. I'm sticking to my plan and my pants are fitting better.
This isn't the first time I've done the no-sugar thing, so I'm on the lookout for the effects. My moods stabilize when I'm off sugar and I feel lighter. I'm craving fruit. I've been eating my 'heavy meal' (protein) at lunch and opting for raw veggies and fruits for supper. The fruits help satisfy my evening sugar craving.
Tonight, I was really noticing how 'sugary' the carrots and grapes are. I'm also much more aware of flavour difference between different types of apples now. I accidentally bought a 'golden delicious' at the store and it really *is* delicious, has a pear-like flavour.
And, onto hair (continuing the 'post-yoga-fro' discussion on Karen's blog)...
Oh, yoga hair, how you vex me! When I started Yoga Teacher Training, I had waist-length curly tresses! No joke! (I was a big fan of French braids)
It only took a few months of hair-wrangling in YTT for me to cut it all off. Literally, I went from long to very short. Now, after years of a 'Pema Chodron-esque' hair-do, I've been trying to grow mine out - not very long, just longer. I guess I'm trying for a softer look, but I totally forgot about all of the high-maintenance styling and upkeep that longer hair entails. And it gets in the way of my yoga.
I'm discovering that hair is insulating (read: HOT) and also absorbent. By mid-practice, my brain is boiling and the sweat is dripping down my face. Right now, I'm trying the 'Baron Baptiste Head Bandanna' strategy, but I'm this close (*millimetre*) from chopping it all off again. The only thing that's stopping me is that I don't have the money to throw at this problem. It's fine for now because I have time to bath after practice and I'm not teaching a lot.
But soon I'll need to make a hair decision.
Same, same. Full Primary, trying to do everything (even the 4,000-year hold in Uth Pluthi, though I never make it past five counts, ever). I'm practising with the recording of Sharath's led.
My practice reports are starting to feel boring. No fun outdoor practices (it's been raining every day; thunderstorms), no funky vinyasa. I'm trying to for six in a row of the Primary Series this week, then I'll reward myself with something different.
By the way, the bottom leg, in Supta Padangustasana, has a pointed toe. I'm discovering pointed toes everywhere these days! An here's another epiphany from the Sunday led class: Baddha Konasana B is this rounded back thing that I'm now absolutely loving. I always heard 'head to toes' on Sharath's recording and wondered what the heck he was referring to. Of course, I could have always asked Arjuna.
Now, girl stuff:
First, food. I'm still working on improving my diet (which has fallen into stunning disrepair since I ceased being a single person last year). Interestingly, I've been very resistant to logging my foods. I can't seem to motivate myself to use CRON-o-Meter, so I've been trying to do without.
This week, I'm focusing on a 'more water, less sugar' strategy. I have a wicked sweet tooth, so eliminating sugar pretty much eliminates most junk and processed foods from my diet. I'm been drinking 8 glasses of water a day, trying to get all of them in before lunch.
This means that I skip breakfast. I realise it sounds suspect, but I really don't miss it and I don't overeat at lunch. I drink water all morning and then eat lunch and reward myself with a pot of chai tea. So far, so good, lots of hydration. I'm sticking to my plan and my pants are fitting better.
This isn't the first time I've done the no-sugar thing, so I'm on the lookout for the effects. My moods stabilize when I'm off sugar and I feel lighter. I'm craving fruit. I've been eating my 'heavy meal' (protein) at lunch and opting for raw veggies and fruits for supper. The fruits help satisfy my evening sugar craving.
Tonight, I was really noticing how 'sugary' the carrots and grapes are. I'm also much more aware of flavour difference between different types of apples now. I accidentally bought a 'golden delicious' at the store and it really *is* delicious, has a pear-like flavour.
And, onto hair (continuing the 'post-yoga-fro' discussion on Karen's blog)...
Oh, yoga hair, how you vex me! When I started Yoga Teacher Training, I had waist-length curly tresses! No joke! (I was a big fan of French braids)
It only took a few months of hair-wrangling in YTT for me to cut it all off. Literally, I went from long to very short. Now, after years of a 'Pema Chodron-esque' hair-do, I've been trying to grow mine out - not very long, just longer. I guess I'm trying for a softer look, but I totally forgot about all of the high-maintenance styling and upkeep that longer hair entails. And it gets in the way of my yoga.
I'm discovering that hair is insulating (read: HOT) and also absorbent. By mid-practice, my brain is boiling and the sweat is dripping down my face. Right now, I'm trying the 'Baron Baptiste Head Bandanna' strategy, but I'm this close (*millimetre*) from chopping it all off again. The only thing that's stopping me is that I don't have the money to throw at this problem. It's fine for now because I have time to bath after practice and I'm not teaching a lot.
But soon I'll need to make a hair decision.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Astanga
It was pleasant out in the early afternoon, so I was able to take my practice outside. This has a number of advantages: sunlight, air, a tree branch hovering just overhead that brushed my fingertips as I reached up in sun salutations (and the fact that I'm unlikely to burst into tears in a public place).
I went to the Little Park and set up near enough to the pine trees to enjoy the piney scent, but far enough away to avoid the pine cones on the ground. As I moved through the Primary Series and felt the breeze on my skin, I knew that I was in exactly the right place this time. I felt a sense of peace.
(No tears today. By the way, that was definitely my Lady's knocking on my emotional door. I feel better today, still funk-y, but better.)
Unfortunately, grey clouds moved across the sky as I practised and by the time I was in Savasana, tiny rain drops were falling. I was perfectly fine with this, but the dog was not; she equates any type of precipitation with thunder storms. As I tried to enjoy my rest, she shook like a leaf under my arm. Distracting.
So I came inside. I had intended to meditate right after my practice, but that will need to wait until later. For now, I'm drinking hot tea and putting off running errands for as long as possible!
This is Day 2 of my Back to Healthy Eating Campaign, made easier by the fact that my partner is out of town for a week. My greatest challenge will be avoiding goodies in the morning, since there's nothing unhealthy to be found in the apartment (but many, many donuts to be discovered in my morning hours; so far, I've resisted).
I'm mostly eating raw foods. The cooked items include egg white omeletes, seasoned tuna and those lavash crackers I'm so crazy about. The lavash crackers are the only wheat. No dairy and I'm trying my best to avoid sugar. I was breaking out in hives over the weekend, so I figure a little detox is in order.
Lots of water, fruit for snacks. And yes, logging my foods, a la CRON.
And avoiding the fridge.
I went to the Little Park and set up near enough to the pine trees to enjoy the piney scent, but far enough away to avoid the pine cones on the ground. As I moved through the Primary Series and felt the breeze on my skin, I knew that I was in exactly the right place this time. I felt a sense of peace.
(No tears today. By the way, that was definitely my Lady's knocking on my emotional door. I feel better today, still funk-y, but better.)
Unfortunately, grey clouds moved across the sky as I practised and by the time I was in Savasana, tiny rain drops were falling. I was perfectly fine with this, but the dog was not; she equates any type of precipitation with thunder storms. As I tried to enjoy my rest, she shook like a leaf under my arm. Distracting.
So I came inside. I had intended to meditate right after my practice, but that will need to wait until later. For now, I'm drinking hot tea and putting off running errands for as long as possible!
This is Day 2 of my Back to Healthy Eating Campaign, made easier by the fact that my partner is out of town for a week. My greatest challenge will be avoiding goodies in the morning, since there's nothing unhealthy to be found in the apartment (but many, many donuts to be discovered in my morning hours; so far, I've resisted).
I'm mostly eating raw foods. The cooked items include egg white omeletes, seasoned tuna and those lavash crackers I'm so crazy about. The lavash crackers are the only wheat. No dairy and I'm trying my best to avoid sugar. I was breaking out in hives over the weekend, so I figure a little detox is in order.
Lots of water, fruit for snacks. And yes, logging my foods, a la CRON.
And avoiding the fridge.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Astanga
Today was another perfect day. This weather is just amazing! Normally, practising in the sun in the middle of summer would be an invitation to heat stroke, but today it was a bit chilly whenever a cloud passed over and the temperature was just perfect in the sunlight. So after work and a round of errand running (which included riding through the city with a 30lb bag of dog food balanced on the handle bars of my bike - I do have the madskillz, don't I?), I headed to the park for my practice.
I had a great practice and I figured a few things out. Even though there were huge grass stains on my heels from sliding my feet forward for Kurmasana, Supta Kurmasana is definitely easier on the grass. And in one of those bizarre little shifts of perspective, I found myself face-to-face with a white and purple flower as I held the pose. Hello, Nature!
I'm struggling with Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana in the great outdoors. No available drishte seems stable enough. My balance is just completely off. Could be the uneven surface underneath my feet, but that's probably just a handy excuse. I'm a creature of habit in so many ways! The truth? I miss looking at my bookcase as I bring my leg out to the side. Outdoors, looking at the ground helps a little bit so I'm sticking with that.
And this time, in addition to the kite and the books, I brought a picnic lunch (I was starving after practice yesterday) So after I finished my lengthy Savasana in the sunshine, I enjoyed a salad and some fruit. Flew my kite for a couple of hours (bliss!) and read a chapter, then headed home for supper.
It's no secret to anyone who reads this blog that I've struggled with my diet over the past year. At this time last year, I was a very dedicated CR practitioner. But I was single then and I've found that being in a relationship puts a new spin on things. It's harder to say no to unhealthy food choices when they're dancing enticingly within reach. Still, I was holding together pretty well until I fell ill in the fall and that when things really fell apart for me. I lost my yoga practice. I stopped meditating. I started eating bagels. I gained weight.
I finally have my practice back. This weekend, I dusted off my altar and resumed my meditation practice. So far, so good.
This week, I'm resuming food logging. Just logging - I'm not changing my diet right away. It's actually pretty good right now - I think. I eat a lot of salads, some healthy proteins, I don't snack too much. Logging my foods in CRON-O-Meter will give me a good idea of where I'm at nutritionally and how much gaky snacking I'm doing. My goal is to lose the extra pounds by late August.
But in order to do this, I'll need to avoid Chocolate Explosion cake, brownies and other things that make me happy. ;-D
I had a great practice and I figured a few things out. Even though there were huge grass stains on my heels from sliding my feet forward for Kurmasana, Supta Kurmasana is definitely easier on the grass. And in one of those bizarre little shifts of perspective, I found myself face-to-face with a white and purple flower as I held the pose. Hello, Nature!
I'm struggling with Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana in the great outdoors. No available drishte seems stable enough. My balance is just completely off. Could be the uneven surface underneath my feet, but that's probably just a handy excuse. I'm a creature of habit in so many ways! The truth? I miss looking at my bookcase as I bring my leg out to the side. Outdoors, looking at the ground helps a little bit so I'm sticking with that.
And this time, in addition to the kite and the books, I brought a picnic lunch (I was starving after practice yesterday) So after I finished my lengthy Savasana in the sunshine, I enjoyed a salad and some fruit. Flew my kite for a couple of hours (bliss!) and read a chapter, then headed home for supper.
It's no secret to anyone who reads this blog that I've struggled with my diet over the past year. At this time last year, I was a very dedicated CR practitioner. But I was single then and I've found that being in a relationship puts a new spin on things. It's harder to say no to unhealthy food choices when they're dancing enticingly within reach. Still, I was holding together pretty well until I fell ill in the fall and that when things really fell apart for me. I lost my yoga practice. I stopped meditating. I started eating bagels. I gained weight.
I finally have my practice back. This weekend, I dusted off my altar and resumed my meditation practice. So far, so good.
This week, I'm resuming food logging. Just logging - I'm not changing my diet right away. It's actually pretty good right now - I think. I eat a lot of salads, some healthy proteins, I don't snack too much. Logging my foods in CRON-O-Meter will give me a good idea of where I'm at nutritionally and how much gaky snacking I'm doing. My goal is to lose the extra pounds by late August.
But in order to do this, I'll need to avoid Chocolate Explosion cake, brownies and other things that make me happy. ;-D
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Astanga
I went to the bookstore earlier this week, intending to buy nothing and walked out with a bag in hand. This is an 'event' in my world, since I rarely buy books. After years of book addiction, I've channelled my love for bound paper into an enthusiasm for the public library, encouraged by the city library's fabulous collection and exquisitely functional online catologue/hold/request system.
But as soon as I saw this book, I *wanted* it and I've been enamoured with it for days. I've been engrossed. Obsessively. In fact, I've started referring to my new book as 'Yoga P- - n'. (fill in the blanks - there's an 'o' and an 'r' in there. I'm not about to type it out in a searchable medium). My partner snorted with laughter when she heard this designation, but agreed that it's accurate. This is one kick-ass yoga picture book.
I was never willing to shell out the bucks for the 'coffee table' size book, but this is a tiny paperback edition. I can carry it around with me (and do!). I love the gorgeous depiction of yoga postures, especially the ones I can only dream of doing. I love that a few of my 'yoga heros' are among the models. Looking through this book is instant inspiration on days that I don't feel like I want to practice. It was a good investment.
Today, I definitely wanted to practice. It just didn't happen in the morning because of my new early schedule and I slept late. But I unrolled my mat as soon as I got home. First half of my practice was fabulous, but right after the standing poses, I started feeling a bit dizzy and off-balance.
The headache waited until I was well into the seated poses. I took a couple of pain killers after Garba Pindasana and pressed on. Back bends felt good. I forced myself to do headstand in the middle of the room, even though it felt impossible (it wasn't). By the time I finished closing, I was feeling a bit better and a long, hot bath afterward sealed the deal.
I've put on a few pounds in the past few weeks because of my new, near-daily donut habit. The donuts appear as if by magic in the mornings and I have a really hard time just saying 'no'. Today, I said 'no' and instead ate half an apple at a small yoghurt for my snack. I don't know if I'll have the self control tomorrow but I'm going to try. If 'you are what you eat', I'm becoming 'round' ;-)
But as soon as I saw this book, I *wanted* it and I've been enamoured with it for days. I've been engrossed. Obsessively. In fact, I've started referring to my new book as 'Yoga P- - n'. (fill in the blanks - there's an 'o' and an 'r' in there. I'm not about to type it out in a searchable medium). My partner snorted with laughter when she heard this designation, but agreed that it's accurate. This is one kick-ass yoga picture book.
I was never willing to shell out the bucks for the 'coffee table' size book, but this is a tiny paperback edition. I can carry it around with me (and do!). I love the gorgeous depiction of yoga postures, especially the ones I can only dream of doing. I love that a few of my 'yoga heros' are among the models. Looking through this book is instant inspiration on days that I don't feel like I want to practice. It was a good investment.
Today, I definitely wanted to practice. It just didn't happen in the morning because of my new early schedule and I slept late. But I unrolled my mat as soon as I got home. First half of my practice was fabulous, but right after the standing poses, I started feeling a bit dizzy and off-balance.
The headache waited until I was well into the seated poses. I took a couple of pain killers after Garba Pindasana and pressed on. Back bends felt good. I forced myself to do headstand in the middle of the room, even though it felt impossible (it wasn't). By the time I finished closing, I was feeling a bit better and a long, hot bath afterward sealed the deal.
I've put on a few pounds in the past few weeks because of my new, near-daily donut habit. The donuts appear as if by magic in the mornings and I have a really hard time just saying 'no'. Today, I said 'no' and instead ate half an apple at a small yoghurt for my snack. I don't know if I'll have the self control tomorrow but I'm going to try. If 'you are what you eat', I'm becoming 'round' ;-)
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Day 30
I did it. I made it to Day 30.
It was not a happy-go-lucky, easy practice this morning. In fact, it's amazing that I practised at all, given how I was feeling. But I did - I practised for an hour and a half, just as I always do. It's certainly a testament to the power of habit and routine.
You know that old saying that it takes 21 days to form a habit? Apparently, that's just a myth, loosely based on a study done in the 70s. But software developers offer '30 day trials' in the hopes that the software will become so habitual that the user will fork over money for a licence.
Well, I've had my 30 day trial of the Ashtanga Primary Series and here are some thoughts:
It's a routine
Every night, I leave my mat out (after my short evening practice) and also lay out clothing, props, and Mysore rug for my practice the next morning. Then I go to sleep. After I get back from my walk in the morning, all I have to do is hop into my yoga clothes and I'm ready to go. Even if I don't feel like practising after my walk, everything is just THERE and it's beckoning to me. So I just do it. It's no great feat of will power, really. It's just a routine.
Meditation
I've been meditating for years, but it ebbs and flows. Over the past month, I combined my meditation practice with my Ashtanga routine - I meditate for a brief period following my practice. Sometimes it goes well, sometimes it doesn't, but I almost always meditate. Interestingly, I find myself meditating other times too - to centre myself after brunch in a noisy restaurant, in the evening before bed. I've started meditating because I *want* to.
Strength
I've already written about the numerous comments about the muscle tone in the arms. From a purely practical standpoint, I'm noticing new strength and I'm using it in my day-to-day life: everything from carrying my folding bike around to lifting myself from a seated to standing position to carrying heavy boxes.
Cravings
Put simply, I crave the bad stuff less. I had already been on a 'sugar-free' diet before I started doing this, but I've found myself craving junk food a lot less. When I do break down and eat it, it doesn't taste as good to me. I crave food that's good for me, like veggies and rice and fruit. This has all led to...
Weight loss
I'm pretty sure that Ashtanga is responsible for boosting my metabolism which, in turn, allowed me to shed some extra weight I had been carrying around for about a year. It would be dishonest of me if I didn't mention this very-much-appreciated, but not necessarily expected benefit of this system of yoga. I certainly don't want my three readers to get the impression that this is the primary motivation for my practice, but I'm not exactly missing that weight either. ;-)
Asana
I've had some gains and a few setbacks, but overall, I think my practice is stronger. The true test will come in the fall, when I return to study with my teachers. What interests me the most is whether my skills in the poses of the Primary Series will transfer to some of the other poses I've been struggling with.
Will power
There is definitely something pretty special about doing this thing with such regularity over the past month. As I go through my days, I know that I've already done something challenging in the morning, so the rest of the day doesn't feel as hard. I've also been getting up early for my practice, which structures my days and seems to pave the way for more productivity in the morning and early afternoon.
Anyways, all of that is just a distraction from the real story, which is how bad my practice sucked this morning. Ladies Holiday is on the near horizon and my low back hurt so much. I modified a lot:
I blew off Supta Konasana and did Supta Baddha Konasana instead (and my lower back felt SO much better after that)
I didn't roll up into Ubhaya Padangustasana and Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana, instead opting to do come into them from Navasana
I blew off the entire shoulderstand series in closing and just did Viparita Karani against the wall.
Some days, it's not a great practice, or even a good practice, but just a plain old practice and that's fine too.
It was not a happy-go-lucky, easy practice this morning. In fact, it's amazing that I practised at all, given how I was feeling. But I did - I practised for an hour and a half, just as I always do. It's certainly a testament to the power of habit and routine.
You know that old saying that it takes 21 days to form a habit? Apparently, that's just a myth, loosely based on a study done in the 70s. But software developers offer '30 day trials' in the hopes that the software will become so habitual that the user will fork over money for a licence.
Well, I've had my 30 day trial of the Ashtanga Primary Series and here are some thoughts:
It's a routine
Every night, I leave my mat out (after my short evening practice) and also lay out clothing, props, and Mysore rug for my practice the next morning. Then I go to sleep. After I get back from my walk in the morning, all I have to do is hop into my yoga clothes and I'm ready to go. Even if I don't feel like practising after my walk, everything is just THERE and it's beckoning to me. So I just do it. It's no great feat of will power, really. It's just a routine.
Meditation
I've been meditating for years, but it ebbs and flows. Over the past month, I combined my meditation practice with my Ashtanga routine - I meditate for a brief period following my practice. Sometimes it goes well, sometimes it doesn't, but I almost always meditate. Interestingly, I find myself meditating other times too - to centre myself after brunch in a noisy restaurant, in the evening before bed. I've started meditating because I *want* to.
Strength
I've already written about the numerous comments about the muscle tone in the arms. From a purely practical standpoint, I'm noticing new strength and I'm using it in my day-to-day life: everything from carrying my folding bike around to lifting myself from a seated to standing position to carrying heavy boxes.
Cravings
Put simply, I crave the bad stuff less. I had already been on a 'sugar-free' diet before I started doing this, but I've found myself craving junk food a lot less. When I do break down and eat it, it doesn't taste as good to me. I crave food that's good for me, like veggies and rice and fruit. This has all led to...
Weight loss
I'm pretty sure that Ashtanga is responsible for boosting my metabolism which, in turn, allowed me to shed some extra weight I had been carrying around for about a year. It would be dishonest of me if I didn't mention this very-much-appreciated, but not necessarily expected benefit of this system of yoga. I certainly don't want my three readers to get the impression that this is the primary motivation for my practice, but I'm not exactly missing that weight either. ;-)
Asana
I've had some gains and a few setbacks, but overall, I think my practice is stronger. The true test will come in the fall, when I return to study with my teachers. What interests me the most is whether my skills in the poses of the Primary Series will transfer to some of the other poses I've been struggling with.
Will power
There is definitely something pretty special about doing this thing with such regularity over the past month. As I go through my days, I know that I've already done something challenging in the morning, so the rest of the day doesn't feel as hard. I've also been getting up early for my practice, which structures my days and seems to pave the way for more productivity in the morning and early afternoon.
Anyways, all of that is just a distraction from the real story, which is how bad my practice sucked this morning. Ladies Holiday is on the near horizon and my low back hurt so much. I modified a lot:
I blew off Supta Konasana and did Supta Baddha Konasana instead (and my lower back felt SO much better after that)
I didn't roll up into Ubhaya Padangustasana and Urdhva Mukha Paschimottanasana, instead opting to do come into them from Navasana
I blew off the entire shoulderstand series in closing and just did Viparita Karani against the wall.
Some days, it's not a great practice, or even a good practice, but just a plain old practice and that's fine too.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Day 29
A few days ago, I mentioned that the blue pants (my bellwether indicator of 'ideal body weight') were fitting a bit snug, but fitting. Yesterday, I tried them on and the snugness was gone, so I wore them to brunch, to a flurry of compliments. I guess they do seem 'new' since I haven't worn them in well over a year. Today, on a whim, I tried on a pair of shorts that haven't fit in years - I nearly donated them to Goodwill last fall. They fit! I was ecstatic! No need to buy new shorts for my upcoming camping trip. Coming soon: an enthusiastic dive into 'clothing storage' to find all the skinny clothes I thought I wouldn't wear again anytime soon.
I'm sure my sugar-free, low-fat diet has a lot to do with this, along with the long walks I've been taking every day since early May. But I'm also sure that 2 hours of daily yoga practice every day, particularly a vigourous practice like Ashtanga, hasn't hurt. To be honest, I'm amazed that it was this easy. My metabolism seemed to take a dive last year and I was sure it was due to my age. No amount of effort seemed to budge my bulge. I felt doomed. When I resolved to start walking every day, it was more of a summer project than anything. And I started the sugar fast because I felt I ate far too much sugar and it affected my moods. But it wasn't until I started doing the primary series that everything kind of 'firmed up.'
It will be interesting to see how Ashtanga affects weight maintenance. If I manage to do this practice 365 times over the coming year as planned, how will my body change? Will my metabolism change? And on another level still, will my meditation deepen? How will this effect my teaching (of mainly Hatha Yoga classes)?
My practice was sweaty today. I started out very distracted, mentally writing a to-do list for the camping trip and fussing about the details, but I settled in after a few standing poses. Today, I noticed the I was using ujayi breath more instinctively than I ever have before.
Apparently, I hate Marichyasana C. How do I know this? Because I blissfully went straight from B to D without stopping. Then I had to backtrack to catch C. I think my subconscious is telling me something (and she's absolutely correct!).
My back is still cranky in Urdhva Danurasana and I don't think that's going to change anytime soon. I've come to a mindful acceptance of my own stiffness and I'm not going to let it get in the way of the joy of my practice. I did the backbend three times to the best of my ability and celebrated what I *could* do.
I'm sure my sugar-free, low-fat diet has a lot to do with this, along with the long walks I've been taking every day since early May. But I'm also sure that 2 hours of daily yoga practice every day, particularly a vigourous practice like Ashtanga, hasn't hurt. To be honest, I'm amazed that it was this easy. My metabolism seemed to take a dive last year and I was sure it was due to my age. No amount of effort seemed to budge my bulge. I felt doomed. When I resolved to start walking every day, it was more of a summer project than anything. And I started the sugar fast because I felt I ate far too much sugar and it affected my moods. But it wasn't until I started doing the primary series that everything kind of 'firmed up.'
It will be interesting to see how Ashtanga affects weight maintenance. If I manage to do this practice 365 times over the coming year as planned, how will my body change? Will my metabolism change? And on another level still, will my meditation deepen? How will this effect my teaching (of mainly Hatha Yoga classes)?
My practice was sweaty today. I started out very distracted, mentally writing a to-do list for the camping trip and fussing about the details, but I settled in after a few standing poses. Today, I noticed the I was using ujayi breath more instinctively than I ever have before.
Apparently, I hate Marichyasana C. How do I know this? Because I blissfully went straight from B to D without stopping. Then I had to backtrack to catch C. I think my subconscious is telling me something (and she's absolutely correct!).
My back is still cranky in Urdhva Danurasana and I don't think that's going to change anytime soon. I've come to a mindful acceptance of my own stiffness and I'm not going to let it get in the way of the joy of my practice. I did the backbend three times to the best of my ability and celebrated what I *could* do.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Day 25
The 'Shape Shifting Edition'
With the 'teeny ashtangi' thread going full-throttle over on the Ashtanga message board, now seems to be an opportune time to talk about yoga, weight loss and the changes I've seen in my body during the month I've been practising the Ashtanga primary series daily.
I'm no stranger to regular yoga practice - I've had a daily yoga practice (Hatha, Vinyasa, Anusara) for 10+ years. As a full-time yoga teacher, I also teach anywhere from five to fifteen classes per week. I'm in good shape and not remotely overweight, though I do notice when I put on a few additional pounds. Last year, during a stressful period, I consoled myself with muffins and I put on some weight.
I guess you could say I got a muffin top! ;-)
This spring I made some simple lifestyle changes in order to speed my metabolism (which is slowing down as I near my 40s): I started walking for an hour every day and cut out sugar completely. I was already seeing a moderate weight loss from those changes when I decided to add a daily Ashtanga practice to my routine. Since I started this practice, I've seen some dramatic changes in my body that I can't attribute to diet and walking alone. Simply put, the shape of my body is changing:
Weight-loss
I have, in fact, lost some weight. Whether it's due to diet, walking, Ashtanga or the combination of the three is anyone's guess. I suspect the walking fuels the Ashtanga (it gets me up in the morning) which fuels the diet (I don't seem to crave junk food as much when I'm practising vinyasa). I don't know how much I've lost because I don't weigh myself. Instead, I use my favourite blue Capri pants as a measure. This winter, I couldn't get into them, in the spring they zipped but didn't button, now they're slightly tight but I can wear them.
Top-heavy?
From the waist down, I'm shrinking, but from the waist up, it's a different story. Many of my shirts are now too small, and this despite the fact that I've gone down nearly a cup size in my bust. Specifically, I've gained some brand new muscle mass in my arms and broadened in the shoulders. A few shirts that I bought last summer no longer fit properly due to my new, 'buff' physique.
“Baby, I love your arms!”
The first time it happened, I thought it was a fluke (a complete stranger complimented me on my arms and asked if I lift weights). But last night, a close friend said almost exactly the same thing. I was showing her the rash on my arms (yeah, I love to show off my nasty rash to people in pubs) and she suddenly commented on the 'definition' in my arms. Of course, I responded by doing flexing and doing my best Charles Atlas impersonation. ;-) Seriously, though, I've noticed it too. I'm stronger; lifting things is less of a chore. I have no doubt at all that this new strength is derived from doing Chaturanga Dandasana a kazillion times every morning.
But back to the 'teeny ashtangi' issue (which revolves around weight, self-image, and whether one's size impedes yoga practice): Having practised yoga for many years, I can say with certainty that dedicated practice has changed the way I view my body and the altered the importance I assign to physical appearance. I think a strong, properly focused yoga practice can cultivate self-acceptance. I have round-bodied students who have beautiful, advanced yoga practices. I have slender students who can't touch their toes, but express incredible grace and beauty in their asanas. Bottom line: I don't think it matters what your BMI is *and* I don't think it really matters how flexible you are either.
Seriously.
Yoga is about moving the body, mindfully. Period.
From a strictly physical standpoint, moving, stretching, and building strength are all things that make us healthier. Movement increases blood flow (bringing a sense of well-being and health to the internal organs), lubricates joints (alleviating stiffness), lengthens muscle (which prevents injury), and builds muscle mass (to better support the joints and increase quality of life). The mindfulness aspects developed in yoga practice carry over into daily life, increasing tolerance to stress, ability to 'stay in the moment', gratitude, joy and self-acceptance.
I continue to reap these benefits from my yoga practice, regardless of the style I'm practising (though I do find that a daily practice is the best way to cultivate the benefits of yoga).
And on that topic, I had a great practice today. I felt comfortable and unrushed and for the first time, my hour-and-a-half Ashtanga practice felt smooth and graceful. And I was able to bind in Marichyasana D on the right side! The straight-legs-into-headstand project is going well. I'm not there yet, but I'm feeling stronger.
With the 'teeny ashtangi' thread going full-throttle over on the Ashtanga message board, now seems to be an opportune time to talk about yoga, weight loss and the changes I've seen in my body during the month I've been practising the Ashtanga primary series daily.
I'm no stranger to regular yoga practice - I've had a daily yoga practice (Hatha, Vinyasa, Anusara) for 10+ years. As a full-time yoga teacher, I also teach anywhere from five to fifteen classes per week. I'm in good shape and not remotely overweight, though I do notice when I put on a few additional pounds. Last year, during a stressful period, I consoled myself with muffins and I put on some weight.
I guess you could say I got a muffin top! ;-)
This spring I made some simple lifestyle changes in order to speed my metabolism (which is slowing down as I near my 40s): I started walking for an hour every day and cut out sugar completely. I was already seeing a moderate weight loss from those changes when I decided to add a daily Ashtanga practice to my routine. Since I started this practice, I've seen some dramatic changes in my body that I can't attribute to diet and walking alone. Simply put, the shape of my body is changing:
Weight-loss
I have, in fact, lost some weight. Whether it's due to diet, walking, Ashtanga or the combination of the three is anyone's guess. I suspect the walking fuels the Ashtanga (it gets me up in the morning) which fuels the diet (I don't seem to crave junk food as much when I'm practising vinyasa). I don't know how much I've lost because I don't weigh myself. Instead, I use my favourite blue Capri pants as a measure. This winter, I couldn't get into them, in the spring they zipped but didn't button, now they're slightly tight but I can wear them.
Top-heavy?
From the waist down, I'm shrinking, but from the waist up, it's a different story. Many of my shirts are now too small, and this despite the fact that I've gone down nearly a cup size in my bust. Specifically, I've gained some brand new muscle mass in my arms and broadened in the shoulders. A few shirts that I bought last summer no longer fit properly due to my new, 'buff' physique.
“Baby, I love your arms!”
The first time it happened, I thought it was a fluke (a complete stranger complimented me on my arms and asked if I lift weights). But last night, a close friend said almost exactly the same thing. I was showing her the rash on my arms (yeah, I love to show off my nasty rash to people in pubs) and she suddenly commented on the 'definition' in my arms. Of course, I responded by doing flexing and doing my best Charles Atlas impersonation. ;-) Seriously, though, I've noticed it too. I'm stronger; lifting things is less of a chore. I have no doubt at all that this new strength is derived from doing Chaturanga Dandasana a kazillion times every morning.
But back to the 'teeny ashtangi' issue (which revolves around weight, self-image, and whether one's size impedes yoga practice): Having practised yoga for many years, I can say with certainty that dedicated practice has changed the way I view my body and the altered the importance I assign to physical appearance. I think a strong, properly focused yoga practice can cultivate self-acceptance. I have round-bodied students who have beautiful, advanced yoga practices. I have slender students who can't touch their toes, but express incredible grace and beauty in their asanas. Bottom line: I don't think it matters what your BMI is *and* I don't think it really matters how flexible you are either.
Seriously.
Yoga is about moving the body, mindfully. Period.
From a strictly physical standpoint, moving, stretching, and building strength are all things that make us healthier. Movement increases blood flow (bringing a sense of well-being and health to the internal organs), lubricates joints (alleviating stiffness), lengthens muscle (which prevents injury), and builds muscle mass (to better support the joints and increase quality of life). The mindfulness aspects developed in yoga practice carry over into daily life, increasing tolerance to stress, ability to 'stay in the moment', gratitude, joy and self-acceptance.
I continue to reap these benefits from my yoga practice, regardless of the style I'm practising (though I do find that a daily practice is the best way to cultivate the benefits of yoga).
And on that topic, I had a great practice today. I felt comfortable and unrushed and for the first time, my hour-and-a-half Ashtanga practice felt smooth and graceful. And I was able to bind in Marichyasana D on the right side! The straight-legs-into-headstand project is going well. I'm not there yet, but I'm feeling stronger.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Day 12
Another very warm practice. I'm getting used to sweating a lot as I practice. I sort of expect it now and even feel cheated if my body doesn't warm up as much as I would like. One thing I've noticed recently is that my hams are very, very tight - tighter than they used to be. I'm not sure why this is and they only seem tight in some postures - like seated forward bends.
Ever since my ill-fated handstand a few days ago (when I bumped my head on the wall), I seem to have come to a very strong place in my handstand practice. I kick up easily, I feel comfortable, confident and stable. Ditto with my headstands. I really don't need the wall anymore - it's a psychological crutch more than anything.
Cranky back today, but I still managed two backbends, again using the wall and blocks. I can come in really deep this way.
I've added two replacement postures: Eka Pada Raj Kapotanasana for Janu Sirsasana C and Hanumasana for Mirichyasana D. Hanumasana was on my New Year's resolution list, so I figured I'd better work on it.
Somewhat related to practice: I've definitely lost some weight. My camp pants are loose now (they were very tight just a couple of months ago) and my blue pants (which I use to determine if I'm at my 'ideal weight'; I don't own a scale) fit without a struggle. They're still a bit tight in the bum, but I'm getting there, slowly but surely!
Ever since my ill-fated handstand a few days ago (when I bumped my head on the wall), I seem to have come to a very strong place in my handstand practice. I kick up easily, I feel comfortable, confident and stable. Ditto with my headstands. I really don't need the wall anymore - it's a psychological crutch more than anything.
Cranky back today, but I still managed two backbends, again using the wall and blocks. I can come in really deep this way.
I've added two replacement postures: Eka Pada Raj Kapotanasana for Janu Sirsasana C and Hanumasana for Mirichyasana D. Hanumasana was on my New Year's resolution list, so I figured I'd better work on it.
Somewhat related to practice: I've definitely lost some weight. My camp pants are loose now (they were very tight just a couple of months ago) and my blue pants (which I use to determine if I'm at my 'ideal weight'; I don't own a scale) fit without a struggle. They're still a bit tight in the bum, but I'm getting there, slowly but surely!
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