I was really tired when I came back from London this morning. The trains had been delayed (no change there) and it was getting on for 9.30am when I came back, so I'm afraid I didn't go for a run and jumped straight into the 'Gentle' DVD. I felt quite tight and not particularly warm, so the first part felt a bit awkward. Slowly though, my body started to open and ease and it really is just a great hour of stretching the whole body. There's a lovely arm movement in triangle pose which really highlights the tight areas. I will definitely try to run before doing this again as I think I'll benefit much more from having warm muscles.
I wanted to go for a run later on but was busy working and then just ran out of time - I'm about to head to another client this evening. So I had a bit of a jump about on my rebounder - something that was recommended by a participant at one of our running workshops but from which I haven't had much use yet. It's quite handy to get the circulation going if you just need a break from the pc for ten minutes. Apparently they use rebounders with astronauts when they return from space with wasted muscles. Generally, I'd rather get outside if I can but it's definitely a useful tool to have (if you can find the space - ours is propped up in the kitchen and does get in the way!).
I am seeing my London client early again tomorrow and have 'Yin' on the schedule, so hopefully I'll be feeling more energetic and can run first. Perhaps I'm having withdrawal symptoms from dairy!
Right, off I go back in the car. Hoping the roads are quieter as they usually thin out a bit during school holidays. Avocado salad when I get back and an early night!
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
Monday, 29 July 2013
Day 33 - Almost vegan
Strange to be doing Mountain Pose on a Monday. Did it this evening and it felt quite nice knowing that I could chill out afterwards. It made me so tired!
Slight problem in that I went swimming this afternoon and due to my reaction to chlorine, I was unable to do the Pranayama section because I still can't breathe through my left nostril. Unless I swim frequently and get used to the chlorine, it really messes me up. So I did one set of the breathing and moved onto the meditation. As I get close to the end of the first phase of the programme, this is one of the things I know I need to improve on. It's so easy to get caught up in the physical challenges and bypass the mental ones because they are, in fact, harder. I think I did more meditation at the beginning of the programme and it's tailed off somewhat so I need to really focus on this during phase two.
Today was also the beginning of my three day 'Vegan lifestyle'. I more or less followed it: I had almond milk on my breakfast (banana, apples, almonds, cashews) instead of yoghurt. I skipped the usual sprinkling of cheese over my salad this evening and used cider vinegar as a dressing instead of salad cream. I'm afraid I did have two coffees with cream in them (I tried coffee with almond milk and it was disgusting!). I expect I'll have more or less the same tomorrow and Wednesday - my diet is fairly simple anyway.
I get to try a new DVD tomorrow: 'Gentle'. I'm assuming this is along the same lines as 'Yin', i.e. relaxing and not too physically challenging. I'm going into London early so will probably run when I come back and then do Gentle.
Lots of photos posted yesterday of some of the group in fantastic poses. It appears that there is a headstand in the 'Balance' DVD. I can do headstands but not with my arms in the correct 'yoga' position so I'm a bit anxious about trying that! Balance is on Friday so I'll try and watch it through before then.
Well, up at 5am tomorrow so bed time for me! Goodnight!
Slight problem in that I went swimming this afternoon and due to my reaction to chlorine, I was unable to do the Pranayama section because I still can't breathe through my left nostril. Unless I swim frequently and get used to the chlorine, it really messes me up. So I did one set of the breathing and moved onto the meditation. As I get close to the end of the first phase of the programme, this is one of the things I know I need to improve on. It's so easy to get caught up in the physical challenges and bypass the mental ones because they are, in fact, harder. I think I did more meditation at the beginning of the programme and it's tailed off somewhat so I need to really focus on this during phase two.
Today was also the beginning of my three day 'Vegan lifestyle'. I more or less followed it: I had almond milk on my breakfast (banana, apples, almonds, cashews) instead of yoghurt. I skipped the usual sprinkling of cheese over my salad this evening and used cider vinegar as a dressing instead of salad cream. I'm afraid I did have two coffees with cream in them (I tried coffee with almond milk and it was disgusting!). I expect I'll have more or less the same tomorrow and Wednesday - my diet is fairly simple anyway.
I get to try a new DVD tomorrow: 'Gentle'. I'm assuming this is along the same lines as 'Yin', i.e. relaxing and not too physically challenging. I'm going into London early so will probably run when I come back and then do Gentle.
Lots of photos posted yesterday of some of the group in fantastic poses. It appears that there is a headstand in the 'Balance' DVD. I can do headstands but not with my arms in the correct 'yoga' position so I'm a bit anxious about trying that! Balance is on Friday so I'll try and watch it through before then.
Well, up at 5am tomorrow so bed time for me! Goodnight!
Day 32 - Time is flying!
Up quite early for 'Detox'. I'm really starting to like this one. It obviously 'squeezed' out some tension in me because I cried at the end during the final stretches and Shavasana. Pleased that this one stays in the rotation for the coming second phase.
I love the fact that the DVDs are not impossible. I can complete them all with a sense that I've had a good session and achieved something. However, there's so much room for improvement too that I can see myself continuing to gain from them for a long time to come.
There are plenty of examples in this particular DVD. The twisted side angle pose is awkward for me taking my arm over the top and reaching forwards. In the all fours position when Travis says, "Twist round and grab hold of your foot", my hand and foot are nowhere near each other so I settle for 'reaching' rather than 'grabbing'! The twisting half moon pose is practically impossible although I think I achieve a recognizable shape with the help of a block (not entirely sure what that shape is though...).
Spent the rest of the day with family, relaxing and chatting in the sun and eating lots of gorgeous food. I don't do this enough and I'd like to make more time to visit them. After all, for me, nothing is more important and I shouldn't let life get in the way so much.
Tomorrow I am supposed to 'live like a vegan' for three days. Coffee and milk/cream just go together, so that may remain I'm afraid, but other than that, no meat, fish and dairy for three days. The dairy is the struggle - I rarely eat meat and fish anyway and can easily do without...
...and that's all for now! :)
I love the fact that the DVDs are not impossible. I can complete them all with a sense that I've had a good session and achieved something. However, there's so much room for improvement too that I can see myself continuing to gain from them for a long time to come.
There are plenty of examples in this particular DVD. The twisted side angle pose is awkward for me taking my arm over the top and reaching forwards. In the all fours position when Travis says, "Twist round and grab hold of your foot", my hand and foot are nowhere near each other so I settle for 'reaching' rather than 'grabbing'! The twisting half moon pose is practically impossible although I think I achieve a recognizable shape with the help of a block (not entirely sure what that shape is though...).
Spent the rest of the day with family, relaxing and chatting in the sun and eating lots of gorgeous food. I don't do this enough and I'd like to make more time to visit them. After all, for me, nothing is more important and I shouldn't let life get in the way so much.
Tomorrow I am supposed to 'live like a vegan' for three days. Coffee and milk/cream just go together, so that may remain I'm afraid, but other than that, no meat, fish and dairy for three days. The dairy is the struggle - I rarely eat meat and fish anyway and can easily do without...
...and that's all for now! :)
Saturday, 27 July 2013
Day 31 - Sort of strong in 'Strength' today
Client this morning and came back home starving. I generally don't have breakfast before early clients. Decided to run and do yoga before eating though, so David and I quickly got changed and went for a little jaunt in the sunshine.
Doing a run before yoga is both good and bad. The good is that it warms me up so I'm much more flexible; the bad is that my hands are sweaty and keep slipping!
At the beginning of this class, Travis talks about how to tackle it and uses the story of a man who could perform miracles by almost watching himself from the outside, rather than experiencing everything he felt. I was completely baffled when I first heard the story because I couldn't understand Travis' accent - he kept talking about "hallowble". What the hell is hallowble? I thought. Is it even a word? Oh, it's the man's name in the story...still doesn't make sense though. Then I finally realized what he was saying: "Hollow Bowl". Ohhhh, now I get it!
'Strength' was tough as usual. I decided to do most of the yogi push ups on my knees and really focus on elbows in, shoulders down. This felt very challenging but I could also do it - it's a better option for me at the moment as I think I compromise my technique doing a full push up. It does make me giggle when I'm holding one of the elbow planks and beginning to shake and Travis says something like, "...breathe, focus and realize it's not a big deal...". It is a big deal! It's tough!
I do prefer doing my sessions early in the morning. It's so quiet then, I can really get in the zone. It was around midday when I did the session today and we have the door and windows open because it's lovely and warm. Next door were obviously having a lunch party and were quite loud. Then my cat Bo came in and started to miaow at me. So, it feels more like a physical workout at this time of day rather than a genuine connection of mind, body and spirit. I guess I'll learn to tune out all the noise though and I enjoyed it anyway - I love moving my body in this way, it's so different from traditional endurance training.
Tomorrow is not relaxing 'Yin' but tie-yourself-in-twisted-knots 'Detox'. I'll have to do it early (7am on a Sunday - outrageous!) because we'll be heading out soon after. I've also realized that in the second phase I don't get to do 'Vitality' which I will really miss. Never mind, I'm sure to enjoy the new ones. I've been advised to watch the 'Balance' DVD before doing it so I'll try and do that later this week.
I might do hardCORE later, we'll see. Off to buy one more pressie to take up to my parent's tomorrow and might treat myself to an afternoon nap. Hope everyone's having a fab day!
Doing a run before yoga is both good and bad. The good is that it warms me up so I'm much more flexible; the bad is that my hands are sweaty and keep slipping!
At the beginning of this class, Travis talks about how to tackle it and uses the story of a man who could perform miracles by almost watching himself from the outside, rather than experiencing everything he felt. I was completely baffled when I first heard the story because I couldn't understand Travis' accent - he kept talking about "hallowble". What the hell is hallowble? I thought. Is it even a word? Oh, it's the man's name in the story...still doesn't make sense though. Then I finally realized what he was saying: "Hollow Bowl". Ohhhh, now I get it!
'Strength' was tough as usual. I decided to do most of the yogi push ups on my knees and really focus on elbows in, shoulders down. This felt very challenging but I could also do it - it's a better option for me at the moment as I think I compromise my technique doing a full push up. It does make me giggle when I'm holding one of the elbow planks and beginning to shake and Travis says something like, "...breathe, focus and realize it's not a big deal...". It is a big deal! It's tough!
I do prefer doing my sessions early in the morning. It's so quiet then, I can really get in the zone. It was around midday when I did the session today and we have the door and windows open because it's lovely and warm. Next door were obviously having a lunch party and were quite loud. Then my cat Bo came in and started to miaow at me. So, it feels more like a physical workout at this time of day rather than a genuine connection of mind, body and spirit. I guess I'll learn to tune out all the noise though and I enjoyed it anyway - I love moving my body in this way, it's so different from traditional endurance training.
Tomorrow is not relaxing 'Yin' but tie-yourself-in-twisted-knots 'Detox'. I'll have to do it early (7am on a Sunday - outrageous!) because we'll be heading out soon after. I've also realized that in the second phase I don't get to do 'Vitality' which I will really miss. Never mind, I'm sure to enjoy the new ones. I've been advised to watch the 'Balance' DVD before doing it so I'll try and do that later this week.
I might do hardCORE later, we'll see. Off to buy one more pressie to take up to my parent's tomorrow and might treat myself to an afternoon nap. Hope everyone's having a fab day!
Friday, 26 July 2013
Day 30 - The real reason people fall in 'Balance'
Up at 6.30am for 'Cardio'. Seems such a long time ago now! My early morning yoga sessions always seem to take on a surreal quality by the time I come to review them at the end of the day. It's as though they happened in another place or another time.
I do remember feeling quite strong and controlled though. Breathing was good. And for a split second, I felt that my mind and body were completely in unison; I was flowing through the movement with no effort at all. It was literally a second long, but I felt it! I'm wondering if eventually that sensation continues through an entire class. That would be very cool.
I won't go into details about my morning client, but she is doing very well and I'm very pleased. I also met with a new client this morning and look forward to helping her get back on track with her fitness after injury and life in general got in the way.
I have a schedule change coming up this weekend as I approach my first detox, so I have 'Strength' and 'hardCORE' tomorrow and then 'Detox' on Sunday instead of 'Yin'. I'm looking forward to trying the new DVDs in my second phase of 36 days: 'Balance', 'Flexibility' and 'Gentle'. The others in the facebook group seem to love the balance one, even though they talk a lot about falling over! I've been wondering whether to watch the DVDs first but I think I'll jump right in - I like the surprise and Travis' teaching is so easy to follow anyway. Speaking of Travis, the popular opinion in the group (as there's much discussion about this) is that he's quite easy on the eye :). His bottom is quite distracting apparently. Maybe that's why there's so much wobbling about during 'Balance'? ;).
And speaking of blokes doing yoga, David did the Karen Voight DVD again today! Very impressed. He's enjoying it too, although I don't know that I can see him committing to 108 days. We'll see though - it's certainly life-changing and you can't help but be drawn in (in a good way - that made it sound like a cult!).
Going out of London on Sunday and up to visit the family in the countryside. Bliss - looking forward to some fresh air, beautiful surroundings and seeing my family :).
I do remember feeling quite strong and controlled though. Breathing was good. And for a split second, I felt that my mind and body were completely in unison; I was flowing through the movement with no effort at all. It was literally a second long, but I felt it! I'm wondering if eventually that sensation continues through an entire class. That would be very cool.
I won't go into details about my morning client, but she is doing very well and I'm very pleased. I also met with a new client this morning and look forward to helping her get back on track with her fitness after injury and life in general got in the way.
I have a schedule change coming up this weekend as I approach my first detox, so I have 'Strength' and 'hardCORE' tomorrow and then 'Detox' on Sunday instead of 'Yin'. I'm looking forward to trying the new DVDs in my second phase of 36 days: 'Balance', 'Flexibility' and 'Gentle'. The others in the facebook group seem to love the balance one, even though they talk a lot about falling over! I've been wondering whether to watch the DVDs first but I think I'll jump right in - I like the surprise and Travis' teaching is so easy to follow anyway. Speaking of Travis, the popular opinion in the group (as there's much discussion about this) is that he's quite easy on the eye :). His bottom is quite distracting apparently. Maybe that's why there's so much wobbling about during 'Balance'? ;).
And speaking of blokes doing yoga, David did the Karen Voight DVD again today! Very impressed. He's enjoying it too, although I don't know that I can see him committing to 108 days. We'll see though - it's certainly life-changing and you can't help but be drawn in (in a good way - that made it sound like a cult!).
Going out of London on Sunday and up to visit the family in the countryside. Bliss - looking forward to some fresh air, beautiful surroundings and seeing my family :).
Thursday, 25 July 2013
Day 29 - David succumbs to the yoga bug
I soooo didn't want to get up this morning. If it had been anything else, I'd have stayed in bed the extra hour but I genuinely wanted to do some yoga and bonus! It's Cross Train day!
I actually felt sick when I began because I was so tired. I'd eaten late the night before and my stomach was letting me know it wasn't digested yet! However, just a few minutes into the session and that sensation subsided. I felt my body opening up more quickly and easily than it used to before this programme which felt really good. I realized that I usually dread the first cobra of the class because my back is normally quite stiff and something tweaks or twinges, but today there was no restriction. Smooth as you like! My balance is usually pretty good in CT, but today it was a little off. I suspect it was because I decided not to put my contact lenses in so trying to focus on a point in front of me when all I could see were blurry shapes was a little challenging.
One of the UY group had posted a great pic of herself doing side angle pose with her arms wrapped around her back and leg (difficult to explain - and to do!). I've actually not even tried to do this yet as my front leg is already feeling pretty challenged - I need that hand on the floor! Today I thought I'd try it though...no 'wow' moment I'm afraid, my hands were miles off! In fact, I double checked the tv screen because I thought, "This can't be right, my arms must be in the wrong position". But no, they're just too inflexible or too short - or both! I was quite pleased that I could take my hand off the floor and not fall over though, so that was something!
Quick shower and off to my client. Surprise when I got back - David doing yoga! He's been saying he wants to try it and in fact, he did some last night too so I was amazed to see him back on his mat again so quickly. Think he likes it! He's not really done much yoga before so although he's pretty flexible, I suggested he start with Karen Voight's "Yoga Focus". There's no spiritual element to it but it's quite a nice intro for someone who has some experience with yoga and good body awareness. It's only 25 minutes too so good for someone with a short attention span!
Little run and some tree climbing later and later still, hardCORE. Not so much work done today - oh well, tomorrow!
I actually felt sick when I began because I was so tired. I'd eaten late the night before and my stomach was letting me know it wasn't digested yet! However, just a few minutes into the session and that sensation subsided. I felt my body opening up more quickly and easily than it used to before this programme which felt really good. I realized that I usually dread the first cobra of the class because my back is normally quite stiff and something tweaks or twinges, but today there was no restriction. Smooth as you like! My balance is usually pretty good in CT, but today it was a little off. I suspect it was because I decided not to put my contact lenses in so trying to focus on a point in front of me when all I could see were blurry shapes was a little challenging.
One of the UY group had posted a great pic of herself doing side angle pose with her arms wrapped around her back and leg (difficult to explain - and to do!). I've actually not even tried to do this yet as my front leg is already feeling pretty challenged - I need that hand on the floor! Today I thought I'd try it though...no 'wow' moment I'm afraid, my hands were miles off! In fact, I double checked the tv screen because I thought, "This can't be right, my arms must be in the wrong position". But no, they're just too inflexible or too short - or both! I was quite pleased that I could take my hand off the floor and not fall over though, so that was something!
Quick shower and off to my client. Surprise when I got back - David doing yoga! He's been saying he wants to try it and in fact, he did some last night too so I was amazed to see him back on his mat again so quickly. Think he likes it! He's not really done much yoga before so although he's pretty flexible, I suggested he start with Karen Voight's "Yoga Focus". There's no spiritual element to it but it's quite a nice intro for someone who has some experience with yoga and good body awareness. It's only 25 minutes too so good for someone with a short attention span!
Little run and some tree climbing later and later still, hardCORE. Not so much work done today - oh well, tomorrow!
Day 28 - Long way to go with Mountain Pose!
Ah, Mountain Pose. Still haven't got to grips with this. Today I tried to modify it a bit by just changing how I moved my arms slightly so that my shoulders felt safer. I'd been up since 5am and into London and back so again, just standing still was quite uncomfortable - my feet were sore! On the whole, it was better today though, so I think by the end of the programme I might have begun to enjoy it.
I also did Pranayama Meditation. It took me a while to get into it - mainly because I felt guilty hogging the lounge and kept wondering if I should cut it short. However, I did manage to sink into it and was able to sit upright - comfortably - for longer. I couldn't choose just one 'person' or 'group' for the dedication today so I 'showered the light' between three - I hope they felt it!
Went swimming later on. My neck is easing now so it felt quite good. Lot's of people in the pool as it's school holidays but David and I managed to grab a lane and we have a system when we lane swim, so it worked out well.
Didn't get home from my last client until 10.30pm and up at 4.50am tomorrow for 'Cross Train' :).
I also did Pranayama Meditation. It took me a while to get into it - mainly because I felt guilty hogging the lounge and kept wondering if I should cut it short. However, I did manage to sink into it and was able to sit upright - comfortably - for longer. I couldn't choose just one 'person' or 'group' for the dedication today so I 'showered the light' between three - I hope they felt it!
Went swimming later on. My neck is easing now so it felt quite good. Lot's of people in the pool as it's school holidays but David and I managed to grab a lane and we have a system when we lane swim, so it worked out well.
Didn't get home from my last client until 10.30pm and up at 4.50am tomorrow for 'Cross Train' :).
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