Day Three - Shaky arms!

I wasn't sure what mood I'd be in when I hit the mat this morning.  I'd set my alarm for 7.20am to do my session before my first client, but I was awake well before that due to: David's alarm going off at 7am (it has a mind of its own), David's snoring (which has a LIFE of its own) and our other beautiful and demanding cat, Cleo, who likes to sleep on my pillow (and sometimes on my head)

I also didn't get to bed until midnight.  A friend of ours had the official opening of his gym last night and it was a two hour drive away, so we returned late.  I then also did my meditation practice before going to sleep (which seems like it'll be a good option for me - I felt really relaxed afterwards and drifted off quickly).  At the gym, our friend Greg had laid on a great spread of healthy looking food but I wanted to wait and eat something later on so didn't try any.  He also offered us beer, champagne, Pimms or a non-alcoholic elderflower/mint leaf cocktail; I amazed myself by opting for the cocktail.  Offered beer and saying no?  That almost never happens!  Of course, it was ruined by the fact that we ended up leaving very late and had 'dinner' from a decidedly scuzzy Burger King - ah well!

Anyway, my 'yoga studio' was all ready for me again this morning (thanks David) and I felt more awake than yesterday.  I was really looking forward to "Strength" - although I was somewhat nervous after seeing the comments on facebook about how tough it is!

I must admit, I didn't complete ALL of the yogi push ups and my arms were quivering and verging on useless at some points but the leg work was fine.  I think I was watching the participants more because I found myself wondering what those marks are on the chest of one of the guys.  Are they scars or is it a tatoo?  I work as a movement therapist and running coach, so I'm also very interested in how people's bodies have adapted to yoga in different ways - and their movement in general.  I love that yoga is so accessible to all body types and that little adjustments can be made where needed.

I don't think I breathed properly today, so perhaps it was tougher than I thought.  When I don't breathe efficiently I also don't feel the mind/body connectedness so well.  Just shows they go hand in hand.

As someone on facebook recommended, I stopped the DVD just before the final stretch/relaxation and did HARDcore.  It felt better doing it this way.  I then went back to finish the first DVD.  I don't know if anyone else feels this, but sometimes yoga gives me such a release that I cry.  This is what happened at the end of today's session.  It's a great feeling - the tension leaves my body in my tears.  I'm happy to share this fact - I've worked for so long with different clients, many of whom have opened up their innermost feelings and had a little weep and I know what a good - neccessary - reaction it can be. 

I'm feeling a whole world beginning to open up around me and I'm only on Day Three.  Goodness knows what day 108 will bring - maybe I'll take off and fly!

DVDs have arrived!

I returned yesterday from a teaching trip to Scotland and this morning, as if it was 'meant to be' a card arrived through my door to say my yoga DVDs were at the Post Office ready to pick up.

The trip to Scotland, incidentally, was wonderful.  We (David and I) were in Edinburgh which is a beautiful city and full of relaxed, chilled, polite and friendly people.  We taught a barefoot running workshop on Saturday and our students were fabulous - keen to learn and unphased by the fact that every time we went outside to do practical work, it poured with rain. 

We spent most of our time up North talking to various people about running and very much hope to make it back up there for the Scottish Barefoot Run.

Anyway, back to the DVDs.  There are 12 of them in all, along with a calendar and a nutrition guide.  I'm instructed to take a 'before' photo, which I will dutifully do, and then hopefully there will be a visible transformation in my 'after' shot!  Day One involves the 'cross train' DVD, a HARDcore session (for amazing abs!) and ten minutes of meditation.  Meditation is the part of yoga that so many people gloss over or even leave out.  This is entirely the wrong approach, since the foundation of yoga (I've been reliably informed by an experienced teacher) is the meditation practice.  The poses were developed to enhance or facilitate the focus of the mind.  Within this 108 day programme, the meditation section increases gradually to thirty minutes per day.  I wasn't expecting this but recognize how important - vital - it will be to the whole process.  The instructions that came with the DVDs tell me to 'find a quiet, calm place in my house' for this - that could be a little tricky as my cats usually want to investigate the minute I lay my mat down and frequently end up lying on my chest when I'm stretching or twirling underneath me when I'm trying to concentrate on 'Downwards Dog'.  However, I will find space and some kind of routine so this becomes something that fits in smoothly...

There are other more general suggestions, such as taking a day out to help somebody else without expecting anything in return and also taking a day to 'de-clutter' the space in which I live.  One day to de-clutter might be pushing it (try one month solid) but I can see how this will all add to my journey. 

Now, I was thinking that Monday 1st July would be a great day to begin this journey, but I'm super keen to start so tomorrow looks like being my first day. 

I'd better finish that bottle of wine in the fridge then...:)

A New Journey

For some time, I've been feeling the need for a new focus, a new challenge.  I've played around with yoga for some years, most of the time feeling awkward, frustrated and wondering why I was trying to bend and stretch in all manner of strange positions when I could be out running or sweating through a killer step DVD.

Recently though, due to my barefoot running practice, I've begun to change my views on exercise, health and fitness and develop a deeper understanding of what it means to be healthy.  I've been teaching this same philosophy for years, i.e. that your mind is as important as your body, yet time and again, I ignore it in my own lifestyle.  Through connecting my bare feet with the earth, I'm becoming more in tune with myself, opening my eyes to a wider perspective and seeing new pathways opening up.

Going back to yoga, whilst I used to think of it as merely another form of physical exercise, I've now learnt more about its teachings and background and realize that the physical part of yoga is only one aspect of a complete system that becomes not just a series of exercises, but a way of life.  It's not about pushing through restrictions and forcing your body; on the contrary, the idea is for the mind and body to flow together in the same direction rather than one retaliating against the other.  It's a method of self-exploration - a path that keeps evolving, calmly and mindfully.

I think it's important to understand this before embarking on a yogic journey.  Only then does one begin to reap the rewards. 

Although I spend much of my time teaching movement, I'm not a yoga teacher.  My reason for beginning this blog is to share my experience as a student and it's a role I'm looking forward to, even if it's a little daunting.

My inspiration and instruction will come from a man called Travis Eliot.  I have a number of yoga DVDs and my most recent purchase was one developed by him called, "Yoga Short and Sweet".  It included four thirty minute yoga classes, three of which were taught by him and one taught by one of his colleagues.  I was dubious whether or not I would be able to feel the benefits of just a thirty minute session but the way that Travis teaches, coupled with the expert filming and unbelieveable music, left me feeling calm and serene!

I searched for more information on Travis and his other DVDs and came across his "Ultimate Yogi" box set.  This set of twelve DVDs is designed to take you through one hundred and eight days of yoga, from "cross training" to "meditation".  It also includes a nutrition guide, encouraging veganism, which suits me as I eat very little meat, fish or dairy.  Those who know me will wonder how I'll cope without beer - we shall see!

It is something I plan to commit to daily.  It's also something that I know will have quite a profound effect if I'm diligent and focused in my practice.  I'm hoping to gain some physical benefits (a fabulous body!) but ultimately I'm interested to see how it will influence me mentally on a daily basis and how it will affect my approach to all aspects of my life.  I'm not sure how it will fit in with my current exercise; I'm hoping to still do some running and swimming but will let go of the need to do those things if necessary.  I like the idea that it's a set time period and I imagine that, after one hundred and eight days, yoga will naturally remain a part of my daily routine.

I expect the DVDs to arrive in two to three weeks so I guess I'll check in again then...