Friday, October 14, 2011

14 Classes Completed!!

I rocked out class 13 and 14 within the past 24 hours. SO happy to have a reprieve till 4pm tomorrow. Things are happening to my body. I will share. I feel with the halfway mark coming up tomorrow, it's a good time to explore the changes I see happening and see if it stays, gets better or worse...and how it's different from day 1.

A little compare and contrast for your reading pleasure...

First, I must say, I love practicing in the morning in regards to where my heads at. It is a HUGE difference from the evening classes where I'm trying to wind down from a busy day and already thinking about what I have to do the following. In the morning, I roll out of bed, drink some coconut water and get right into it. I have nothing on my mind except the dialogue and focusing on my breath. I feel more calm because I haven't started my day yet, I barely talk to anyone in the morning so it's basically an extension of my sleep...except my heart is beating out of my chest, so an active sleep I suppose. Ha?

Second,  I have noticed I'm falling into a bad habit which I have never really done before. I find myself crouching down to the ground in between poses during standing series. It's distracting and wastes energy yet I feel it's helping me recover from pose to pose. Bending at the waist is known to be a restorative posture so I think I have that in my head. I don't remember doing this prior to the challenge, so I'm chalking it up to be that I'm tired, because I am. I am going to concentrate on this part of my practice the most for the remainder of the challenge.

Third, I'm losing weight. People are telling me how I'm looking thin. I didn't really think that this challenge would be in any way like marathon training however it seems to be. I'm constantly hungry but still my metabolism is working super fast and it seems to be burning at a rate that is making me lose. I also notice that my energy level is low, which I am assuming is from my diet as Bikram usually GIVES me energy. I need to be mindful of eating protein. I have to add calories, not necessarily "carb-load" like marathon training (which I have been hearing is kind of not necessary) but protein, protein, protein. I will take on Popeye's mantra, "I'm strong to the finish, when I eat me spinach"

Fourth, I am noticing that I can't stop smiling. I am mindful of all the beautiful things and people in my life. Yea, days may come and go that suck at work or boys are stupid, but in the grand picture I am finding myself grateful, and therefore happier with life.

Fifth. My hips hurt. I have always had inflexible hips. I figured it was from years of soccer playing and running. I partially tore my ACL in grad school playing soccer, and while it wasn't necessary, or bad enough, to need surgery, it still limited me from playing soccer or sports involving pivoting. I took up running after my injury and my knee was fine, for the most part. It wasn't until I started yoga that I noticed how so not flexible I am. While I'm slowing gaining in the flexibility, it seems since I'm concentrating on different postures and really pushing myself, I am hurting in other areas. I'm hoping its a "good" pain and that it's just new muscles/joints waking up from a 27 year slumber.

Sixth, not really a comparison, but a THANK YOU. So many people have come forward to donate and motivate me through the 30 days and it's freaking AWESOME! The quote comes to mind, "It takes a village..." because it truly does. It's that collective energy for the yoga but also the community coming together to raise dolla bills for a thoughtful and necessary reason.

I lead tomorrow at 4...happy weekend and na-mas-freakin'-te!!!! :)

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