Day 108 - Finished!

Wow.  Well, it's done!  108 Sun Salutations and 108 days of yoga in a row.

I did them this morning after mobilizing for about 15 minutes.  It was pretty tough but enjoyable - I had to ignore a tricep niggle which set in at around number 50!  I wasn't able to reflect on the 108 days whilst doing the SS's because the speed is pretty quick so not much time for reflective thought.  I won't spoil the ending of the 108 SS on the DVD, but it is moving and this is when I felt teary.  I then stood for a while with my hands in prayer position and thought about my journey.

It really shaped my summer, that's number one.  When I look back on the Summer of 2013, I'll be saying, "that was the summer I did my first 108 journey".  I feel like I've been given a gift; this actually feels more like the start of the journey now I've finished - the 108 days was a preparation, or foundation.  Funny that lots of opportunities seem to have arisen in my last week.  Spooky!

Number two: that Travis is a hell of a wise man!  He moves you through a class and manages to say exactly the right thing at exactly the right moment.  I can only imagine what it's like to take a live class with him - maybe one day I will.  I am thankful that I found him and this programme.

Number three: the production and music were faultless.  They contributed immensely to the experience and I thank all those involved, including the participants in the DVD classes who all came from different places, with different sizes and shapes, strengths and weaknesses and gave it their all, 100%.

And of course, number four.  The fabulous people in the facebook group - it would definitely not have been the same without them.  I thank them all for their encouragement, support, wisdom and most importantly, their humour.  We mustn't forget to laugh and have fun.

I wish everyone on their journey, whichever round it is, all the very best and anyone who's contemplating it - what are you waiting for?!  You will NOT regret it!

Namaste :).

Day 107 - The eve of my 108 Sun Salutations and a spot of Yin

Just finished Yin on my second to last day of the programme!  I still can't relax into the poses like so many others seem to be able to do but I did it and that's the main thing.  It's getting a lot colder now so if I continue with Yin after the programme I'll have to put the heating on - I could feel an uncomfortable draught as I lay at the end trying to relax.  Cold!

Worked with a couple of clients today and on my article.  Tomorrow I will do more work but I will be doing my 108 Sun Salutations first thing, with maybe a bit of a warm up first.  It's gonna be tough!  Still not sure how I'll manage to run on Sunday, bearing in mind how sore my hamstrings were the day after the 72 SS's!

Off to read my book and chill.  Namaste!

Day 106 - Almost there!

Spent some time lying in bed this morning weighing up morning Gentle yoga versus evening.  I decided on the morning; even though I'm less flexible, it's my favourite time for yoga and in the evening it means kicking David out of the living room which isn't really fair.

I quite enjoyed it, although I felt really tight.  I just took it very easy and gradually my body loosened up.

I then went for a swim - still get riled about some people (always men!) not having any manners when it comes to swimming in lanes.  Just simple manners, nothing complicated.  But they have none.  Ah well.  Still got my mile in and the water was surprisingly warm on this chilly day.  Brrrr.

Did quite a lot of work after swimming, in the form of emailing and networking.  We have quite a few things on the horizon, all quite exciting :).

Went out to pick up my contact lenses and sat in a coffee shop to work on my article.  Didn't get it all finished but have the structure sorted and am about one third of the way through.  Hope to finish it tomorrow, in amongst training people.

I plan to do Yin in the evening tomorrow because David will be out training his martial arts crew.  Then Saturday is my final day.  Yikes!

Day 105 - The running has it

Just come back from a delicious run.  The weather was quite autumnal - breezy, a bit of cloud and a bit of sun.  Not too cold.  Perfect.  I often wonder if I like yoga or running better - I have to say, I think running has the edge :).

I did Mountain Pose earlier this morning.  After several good sessions with this one, I can safely say that it is definitely beneficial for me.  I have to do Yin and Gentle this week, which I'm still on the fence with.  Hmm...

Lots of the facebook group began their round two yesterday.  I think for most of them, they've been continuing to practise yoga and do other types of exercise but they've missed the structure and the support that comes with doing it as a group.  I'm still undecided whether or not I'll do another round, but I suspect that after a break, I'll be ready to head into round 2.  Once again, we'll see!

I have only just eaten breakfast (at 3pm!) so I need to get some work done and have a shower before some clients late this evening.  My early client that I usually have on Wednesdays cancelled last night, so today won't be as long as my Wednesdays usually are.  So, it'll be breakfast at 3pm and then dinner at 10.45pm today.  It'll keep me going in my morning swim.

Planning to head out and find somewhere different to work tomorrow.  I hope to have completed my notes for an article I'm writing and then I'll find a nice, quiet coffee shop tomorrow to write it in.  

I'm already planning which DVDs I'm going to do immediately post 108.  I'm going to do a Rodney Yee one first (really hoping to see/feel lots of improvement there), a Shiva Rea one and then my old favourite, Detox!  Not all on the same day though!  Can't wait :).

Day 104 - Not much!

Last Cardio session today - of the 108 anyway!  It went fine, although I was still just a bit bunged up from swimming yesterday so it took a while to get into my breathing. 

I spent most of the day at the pc which was a pain.  I made sure I got up regularly and worked out a nice flow for my client later on.

I'm writing this the day after and I really can't remember much else about it - must have been a pretty uneventful day!

Day 103 - Last Balance session!

Balance this morning.  Glad to say it went better than the last two balance sessions, so I was quite pleased with that.  My right leg was almost better than my left which was weird!  This was my last Balance class of the series and I didn't manage the leg up arm balance but I will keep working on it - it's one I want to conquer!

Went swimming straight afterwards.  My goggles have a habit of leaking so after four lengths worth of having my left eye filled with water, I borrowed David's spare ones and realized how uncomfortable I've been in my other ones!  David's spares (I have the same pair here at home) mist up, which is why we got new ones.  I've decided I prefer compromised vision rather than my head being squeezed and having my eyes filled with water!  Did the usual mile, felt pretty good.

Other than that, lots of pc/admin work today.  I have no idea how many emails I send in one day, but there are a LOT!  I've just finished my final hardCORE of the series too!  Feels very strange.

Just Cardio to go tomorrow before the 'juice feast' which, in fact, I won't be doing because I don't have a juicer.  I will go raw as much as possible though.  After Cardio, the last three days are all the gentle DVDs but I will be running and swimming in those days (although I won't push it).  I have no idea how I'll manage 108 Sun Salutations on Saturday!

Off to a client now :).

Day 102 - I think pensive is the word

Went for a little run this morning in the beautiful sunshine and then Strength after that.

I must admit, I wasn't feeling it today.  I had the energy but just felt that the repeated curling under of toes that's involved in all the poses aggravates the little plantar fascia issue I have at the moment.  I wasn't in the zone mentally, but felt pretty strong and my breath was calm throughout.

I can't decide if I'm looking forward to finishing the programme or not.  I'm starting to feel quite restricted by it but also wonder how I'll feel at the end when I suddenly no longer have a schedule!  I'm looking forward to doing some other yoga DVDs but will keep most of these in.

Yep, with more thought, I'm anticipating a sense of emptiness or something at the end.  Life is full of ups and downs but the yoga is a constant, something safe.  I think the change in the weather and the shorter days are a factor too - we've had such a lovely, bright summer and the darkness and cold always get to me.  I guess I could go straight into round two...hmmm...

I did some meditation in the evening.  Still need to work on this but it's ok :).

Day 101 - Getting close!

Got up and ready to go for a walk before Cross Train when the phone started making funny noises.  This resulted in no phone connection or internet connection.  David had to call from his mobile (expensive!) to try and sort it out...

It is now sorted, but took all day.  Meanwhile, after giving up on the phone, we did go for a walk and then I did a very enjoyable Cross Train.  My legs struggled with the bound side angle pose after yesterday's 'Athletica' DVD but I managed it on both sides - just.  Other than that, Cross Train has become pretty easy, which seems to be what the rest of the facebook group experienced towards the end of their 108.  The balance is still tough, but only on my rubbish right leg - left leg is fine.

The day has felt pretty wasted because I had a fair amount of work planned but it requires internet connection.  Never mind, I can do it tomorrow.  Still got some housework to do (booo) and hardCORE and then I expect I'll chill out with my book.  It's called, "Trust Your Eyes" by Linwood Barclay and it's very good!

Might go for a little run tomorrow before Strength.  Only a few days to go.  It feels very weird.

Day 100 - 100 days of yoga!

Up around 6am for Mountain Pose, Pranayama and meditation.  As is now the case, I enjoyed MP (still can't believe I'm saying that!) and it realigned me.  I also enjoyed the Pranayama and meditation, so a good start to the day.

On the way to my first client, it was raining and I found out that my car roof is leaking...again.  Ah well.

After clients, I did a fair amount of work, including a proposal for this latest project.  I have learned not to spend too much time on these things as people can be very fickle - enthusiastic to begin with before something else becomes more important and they lose interest.  We shall see (I say that a lot).

Felt a bit rubbish later on in the day (hormones) but did my 'Athletica' DVD to get a bit of a sweat on and felt much better afterwards.  I hadn't done this one in a while and I can really feel how my stronger core helps support me so much better.  Also enjoyed my shoulders feeling more mobile but still strong - some of the weights exercises are pretty demanding.

Finished up with some reading, TV and looking at footage of some of David's fighters, analyzing how they move.  Actually, it's not just how they move, but the whole picture.  You can tell the ones that will go far and it's their personality/attitude that will make or break them.  Interesting stuff.

Day 99 - hardCORE, I am coming for you...

I didn't struggle too much with the early rise this morning.  It certainly feels strange getting up and doing my whole yoga session when it's dark outside.  However, that didn't detract from my enjoyment of it.  I think that swimming and doing Cardio later in the day yesterday meant that I hadn't had time to stiffen up, so I felt quite loose, even from the beginning. 

Vitality isn't too demanding.  It's not one of those ones where you think, "Have I really got enough energy for this?"  It's just about right, so that you can feel you've worked in lots of different ways but that it was manageable. 

I had two clients afterwards this morning and grabbed breakfast in between.  Again, I've got lots of other things done working from my list and it always helps me feel more positive.  There's only one more thing on there, in fact, and that's hardCORE which I will do when I've finished this!

Spoke to someone today about yet another potential project.  It could be huge or nothing at all, but worth investigating.  It's on my list for tomorrow!

...as are Mountain Pose, Pranayama and Meditation, which I'll do first thing around 6am.  I then have two back to back clients which I've just realized I didn't think through - means I won't get to eat until around 1pm.  Ah well, tonight's dinner will see me through :).

HardCORE, I am coming for you...

Day 98 - Big dose of Cardio!

Up at 5am to head into London.  I try and read some of the Bhagavad Gita on this journey and did so this morning.  I wish I had more time to read and think about this - maybe when I've finished the 108, ha ha!

Got back around 9am and went for swim.  It was pretty good - we got ourselves into a good lane, started slow with the middle sector quick and then some sprints towards the end.  One mile complete!

Back home I ran through my 'to do' list, which I've begun to use again.  I stopped doing it for a while and became completely disorganized but I'm now back on it and beginning to feel less stressed about everything. 

Went out again in the afternoon to run some errands and came back for Cardio.  I do love this flow - I sweated a lot today for some reason too.  I did, "Feel sick for six" in the series of 10 :).  I think I was feeling the early start.  I like that this DVD is quite fast-paced for the first half but then includes some nice varied strength/stretch elements in the second half.  It's called 'Cardio' but is a pretty good all-rounder I think.

Up again before 5am tomorrow for Vitality followed by clients, so a good night's sleep is needed!

Day 97 - The calm after Yin

Despite my early night, I felt groggy this morning.  I very occasionally get tension headaches that make me feel sick and this went on during the night and I woke up still feeling iffy.  I rarely take painkillers but know when I need to - this morning was one of those times!  The lightest ones work for me though which is good, because I hardly ever use them.  By the time I got to my client, I felt much better :).

I still have a love/hate relationship with Yin.  I finished it about half an hour ago and it does make me feel calm.  However, I am not able to do this in the evening, especially when it's set on a specific day, so Travis talking about getting a great night's sleep afterwards when I actually have to get ready to go and train someone...it's kind of lost on me!  Not sure if I'll keep this one in at the end - although if I decide to just stick to my own programme, I will be able to find times when I can do it in the evening, so we shall see.

I feel back on my game again today.  I wrote out a list of things to do, including some emails that I kept pushing to the back of the queue, so I feel like I've accomplished things.  I will have another early night as I have a 5am start with a swim and Cardio planned at some point.  I don't have my usual evening clients so things can be a bit more relaxed and I should be able to get a significant amount of work in.

I seem to be juggling so many projects at the moment.  It's difficult to know how to spread my time as it's touch and go which ones will pay off and which ones won't.  Oh well, keeps life interesting!  And the yoga, as I've said before, is a welcome constant.

I will meditate before bed tonight and hopefully sleep through this time :).

Day 96 - Need a new right leg

Didn't see my client this morning as she woke up ill and cancelled, so I could have done my yoga then.  I was so tired though because we didn't get back until after midnight, so I'm afraid I went back to bed!

Couldn't really sleep though and still fighting off the lurgy (although I'm definitely winning - hurrah!).  Did lots of admin bits during the morning and then headed out in the afternoon to get some bits and work from a different venue.  David and I are working on a project (one of many) that involves lots of discussion so we sat in a quiet coffee shop and hashed out some ideas.  This project is scarily huge but something we've wanted to do for years and only ever been able to work on sporadically.  It's health-related (as usual) but feels new and exciting.  We'll just keep chipping away at it but on a more consistent basis...

I got to balance at around 5pm.  This DVD has got worse for me.  My stability is terrible on my right leg - something going on there, need to address it.  Again, I almost got that leg up/arm balance thing.  One day!  Managed to hold the crow the whole time, steadily too, which was good.  I had a half hour break (with 12 mins of meditation thrown in) and then did hardCORE.  Felt pretty good.

I'm generally run down, so for my final two weeks I'm going to focus on just looking after myself and getting plenty of sleep.  The day after my 108 Sun Salutations, we're doing a group run so I need to have some energy for quick hamstring recovery!

Everyone in the facebook group is behind me on my 'final stretch'.  Lots of encouragement which is lovely.  Not long to go!