Yoga Queens update

[daner94]

I just want to whine. wahhh! I have not been able to go to yoga class in 2 weeks, life has been crazy. I could not wait to go to class after work today, but, I went to Orlando for the weekend and long story short, my flight was cancelled last nite and I flew home early this morning and came straight to work... and will not have time to go home and get clothes for it, nor do I think I will have the energy.

And I can't go for the next week, I will have company in town.

Boo hoo. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

How is everyone else doing?

Dana

[SandyM]

I was the one that started the thread, and I haven't been to a class yet!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif The one I was signed up for was cancelled, and to top it off, our brand new VCR is on the FRITZ! DH is so busy with school to check it out, and I am so not mechanically inclined. I just sit in front of the silly thing and pout. I hadn't done it enough to memorize it, but I do some stretching on my mat and pretent like I'm making progress, but I am so BUMMED!!!

Pardon my vent.........

[hlao23]

I'm starting my first class at noon! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[BevP]

Wow. I'm planning on my first yoga class tomorrow. Susie, congrats on that downward dog. I'm sure I won't be saying that for some time. I'm really looking forward to this. I need to increase my flexability.

[daner94]

BevP and hlao23, let us know how it went!

I keep telling myself that I know how to do the stretches, but I really like being in a classroom setting with my awesome instructor. I just need to get over it and do it at home!

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[KValley]

I've missed the last two weeks of my Wednesday night class - out-of-town- but so looking forward to this week. I've been incorporating yoga stretches into my pre and post-run stretching and feel so much better for it.

SusieO http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif YAY! Good for you. I love downward facing dog- I find such comfort and peace in this pose. THat sounds so zen, but I mean it- I love returning to down dog after a challenging vinyasa.

Namaste, queens!

Julie

[hlao23]

I really liked the class. I experienced some muscles that I didn't know existed - I may not be too happy about that tomorrow.

We didn't do anything called a downward dog. BTW - Congratulations SusieO! I don't think it's a strange thing to be excited about at all.

I understand now why people encourage you to go to a class rather than use a tape. A few days ago I attempted the second part of the DA Pilates tape (yoga session). Sun Salutation? Forget it! I couldn't even figure out what she was doing. I could do The Warrior but when we did it in class today I found out that my feet weren't far enough apart, nor in the appropriate position, etc. and I could tell a major difference when I moved to correct the position. Denise just wasn't very helpful in that way.

When I go to class Wed. I'll try to remember what type of Yoga we're doing. Has anyone else been told that they are practicing a specific type? She told us, I just don't remember.

[SusieO]

I know this is a strange thing to be excited about, but last week as I was following one of my yoga tapes I made it into downward dog pose with my heels on the ground! This is a significant accomplishment for someone who could not touch her toes, even in elementary school. I am more flexible now than I was as a child. Yoga is awesome!

[BeckyM]

I'm still going to Yoga, and I'm still really enjoying it. I go Monday nights, and this is probably about week eight or so. I've been having some hamstring problems, and they are gradually getting better -- I think the yoga is helping.

I also think my instructor is really neat. She recently got a book of Yoga Poems written by a woman who is a yoga master or something. She occasionally reads us a poem about a pose while we are in it. They're really pretty interesting. One of them even made me laugh last night. It was talking about the challenge of keeping the mind from wandering, and one of the lines was, "Can I have an ice cream sandwich after class?" I was the only one who chuckled out loud though.

Julie, I'm surprised you like downward-facing dog so much. That's one of my least favorite. I feel like all the blood is rushing to my head, and my wrists start hurting pretty quickly. Hopefully as I get better, I'll enjoy it more! I really like the balancing poses, like the Tree Pose. I also like forward bends.

Last week I did miss class, because I forgot to bring a sports bra. I had a white t-shirt for class, and all I had was the black bra I was wearing at work. Especially because there are guys in the class, I didn't feel comfortable wearing that combination. My husband said he thought I should have gone anyway, but I would have been incredibly self-conscious and uncomfortable! I was sorry I missed it and was glad to be back this week!

I hope everyone who is having difficulty getting to class has success soon! I really enjoy having a real live instructor who will observe my postures and help me do them correctly. I also find a lot of peace from being in a room with a bunch of other people all quietly doing yoga. It definitely is more inspiring to me than a tape, though tapes are helpful inbetween classes.

Namaste (I love that!)

Becky

[BlueMoose]

I have done yoga in the past with tapes and I just love it! But with a 3 year old And an 8 month old I just can't find the time! I would love to get started again. I have some of the Yoga Zone tapes and I really like them. Has anyone else tried them? I have their power yoga tape which I have not even tried yet. I know it would do me a world of good if I could get started again!

Feeling stressed,
Chrisi

By the way, how many times a week do all of you do yoga?

[This message has been edited by BlueMoose (edited 06-06-2001).]

[KValley]

Originally posted by BeckyM:

Julie, I'm surprised you like downward-facing dog so much. That's one of my least favorite. I feel like all the blood is rushing to my head, and my wrists start hurting pretty quickly. Hopefully as I get better, I'll enjoy it more! I really like the balancing poses, like the Tree Pose. I also like forward bends.


Becky (BTW, I love your black bra story! I agree, I never would have been able to focus wondering if everyone was rolling their eyes over my choice of clothing!)

It bothers me that you find the down-dog so uncomfortable, so I played around a bit with it today at the gym. If I kept my upper body centered, the weight was evenly distributed and I felt no wrist strain, but leaning too far forward did put stress on my wrists. Try getting your tailbone as high in the air as possible before dropping your heels. This will bring your core further back into your legs.

One of my Rodney Yee tapes has me holding down dog for several minutes. Rodney breaks in gently a few times to remind me to let my legs bear the weight. It takes concentrated, deliberate focus to bring my legs fully into this effort, but it works.

The blood rushing into your head is one I don't know how to address http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

Tree is just about my favorite pose- I feel so tall, strong, centered. It's very peaceful for me...

[daner94]

BeckyM-
My wrists also hurt while doing downward dog (and upward dog, and anything where my weight is on my wrists.) I just turn them facing outward instead of facing forward and that helps alot. My instructor said it was okay to do that.

Dana

[Tiger]

Like BlueMoose I'm also wondering how often yoga is supposed to be practiced. When I see classes offered for once a week I just wonder if that's enough to get noticable benefits from.

[BeckyM]

Julie & Dana,

Thanks for your tips on downward facing dog. Maybe part of my problem is that I've had tight, sore hamstrings for a while, so I'm not as able to get my weight back on my legs more while in the pose. I'll try doing that more though, and I'll try turning my wrists the other way -- hopefully I'll find a way that's more comfortable for me.

Becky

[BevP]

Well, I didn't make it to yoga this week. Getting ready for vacation next week has made the to-do list longer. But just watch me when I get back. I'll be there. Not sure if I'm telling ya'll or myself but there it is.

[Leslie w]

Chrisi, as I recall you asked about the Yoga Zone tapes. I have the Strength and Endurance tape and love it. But I don't think it's for beginners. I just received the Flexibility and Tone tape which I'm looking forward to trying. They have a video for just about everyone, from beginners to pregnancy.

There have been questions about how often yoga should be done before you start noticing results. If you're only taking one class a week I'd definitely recommend buying a couple of videos and doing them at home. David Swenson has a great short forms Ashtanga video that I like because there's a 15 min, 30 min and 45 min practice. I try to practice at least 3 times a week. I noticed results in a month after seriously practicing. I've been at it for 6 months now and that's the longest I've ever stuck to any activity - except when I ran for 10 years.

BTW Chrisi, I have 2 young ones at home too and the only time I can practice is when they're napping and when they go to bed. My 3 year old is starting to show and interest in yoga but can't follow directions very well yet so I'm not even going to attempt to teach it to her until she's a little older.

[This message has been edited by Leslie w (edited 06-07-2001).]

[BlueMoose]

Leslie,
Unfortunately, my kids aren't good nappers...bummer! But I think I'm going to make my DH start taking them outside for an hour a couple times a week so I can focus.

Did you know that there is a yoga tape for kids out? I haven't really looked at it. I saw it about 2 years ago when my DD was still way too little. Maybe I'll check it out.

Chrisi http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif