Yoga Crazyness.... Wonderful Crazyness!

So I have been busy with work and of course yoga classes. I did my 60 day challenge at Bliss Yoga Spa and managed to get 45 classes in! Not bad juggling a full time mortgage business and 2 kids a husband and 2 dogs... the number I did was actually a bit higher as I did some double classes per day. Im pretty proud of that truth be told, but I did find doing it to many days in a row made me too tired. However it could be the rest of my schedule catching up to me too... really I think I was getting too dehydrated. More water required to be sure, note to future self. I am sad that my paid credits at Bliss are currently up, but a friend has convinced me to try another place and type of yoga..Moksha in Southside Edmonton. Not bad, $40/month unlimited to try out the studio...so I am giving it a go. I must say the 1st class there was hard and sweat inducing (arent they all) ... only complaint was the smell in the room. Yowza it was awful! I am hoping the next classes I have will be in there larger room, so I do not have to go in that one room again but maybe it will not be so bad next time. Back to what is important however, is the class itself was awesome, hard and I really liked the instructor. There was a savasana thrown into the middle of the class that for me threw me off some but I gamely continued on... core series.. lol. Speaking to my friend after, Moksha seems to be a set series of moves- that are the same every class... the instructor does not do the class with us either (which takes some getting use too) but I am sure I will get the swing of things. The challenge we are trying is 30 classes in 30 days...or at least a good kick at it. I am excited.

What I am trying to learn is to shoot back into plank from standing... and it is not easy, not doing it the correct way I am finding out. Doing it the right way is supposed to stop you from impacting your shoulder joint as much.. which long term is a good thing. The concept seems simple ...the "how" it is supposed to be done or even seeing the ease at which your instructor shows the class... is all lost with the very real aspect of falling on ones face. And trust me, I have done that and it hurts like hell. For me it showed me that I need to build up more tricept space as well as be more ok squishing my knees into my belly (and no, that is my least favorite pose of all I find). The picture does not quite illustrate what we were shown in class, it was more of a knees to chest not to armpit but you get the general idea. For me, I am sticking to forward fold and walking one foot back at a time, but I am working on leaning forward more and bringing my gaze over the front of the mat...seems to be helping. One day I am sure I will be doing it with ease, but until that day I will continue to get stronger and more sure of myself... maybe one day wrestle with my inside brain in regards to the why of not liking being curled into a tight little ball (seriously I have a strong dislike for that pose...). On a plus note, it did get me to do my Chaturanga better as I am sure I was doing them incorrectly. So this I will share, as I know when I peek around in class I am not the only one, and really I wish the instructors would correct us more, as doing this pose incorrectly can lead to rotator cuff injuries... plus it is just damn hard when done correctly... but hard means good results. Actually I am finding the more I do it, what I am now hoping is correct, the better the whole flow seems, and the more connected and open I am starting to feel.

I pulled this off the internet, and found it super helpful so I am going to share it. (from www.MindBodyGreen.com)

Start from plank:

• Hands under elbows 
• Elbows under shoulders
• Abdominals and low ribs pulled in; core engaged
• Thighs pushing up
• Heels pushing back
• Hug all your muscles into the midline of the body
• Roll WAY forward on your toes (see pic below). Even more than you think you should. (This ensures you will lower down with your arms in a 90° angle.) I loved this part especially, it really helped me get more forward...also hoping it will eventually help with building strength to do the "shoot back to plank" move....
• Now begin to lower down until your arms form a 90° angle and stop just at that point.  

Do this while keeping the following in mind:

• Keep your core VERY engaged just as in plank—abdominals and ribs really pulled in
• HUG your elbows into the sides of your body
• Keep the tops of your shoulders pulled back away from your ears and pointing straight forward, not drooping down. 
• Imagine that you’re trying to make your clavicles SMILE. In other words, broaden through the chest. “Smile your clavicles”

The Goal for me one day is this... Yoga on the beach. I am going to have to visit my mom to do this...so it will mean so many good things all wrapped into one :)

Freestyle Fridays - We Did Headstands!

Let me start off by saying that I have gone upside down in only, including this, a total of 3 classes. The first time I could not even get upside down at the end of a hot flow class - although I really tried...banging my head into the wall as my arms collapsed. Upon which I quickly got up to make sure nobody was paying attention to my crazy tumble! My excuse being that I was tired with all the push ups the lady had us do in class and the plethora of other poses as well. Either way, that class where my arms gave out, made me bound and determined to do a headstand/arm stand; any type of 'stand' so that I was upside down! Figuring maybe I just was not strong enough yet and needed to really start working that little bit harder in class. So I registered for my first upside down class and it was too awesome! I went to YogaLife on the Southside here, Brittany was the teacher - and I love it! It was a non-heated class and I was happy for this to start my upside down journey....as I was not worried about slipping in the rivers of sweat that tend to happen in the hot class, while I was trying to get up. And get up I did! Like the picture to the R :) and I was super impressed with myself. Now, did I still need the wall, oh you bet ya, however I was just so happy I got upside down that it didn't matter. Baby steps I figured are key so I keep hitting my head or nose to a minimum.

Now this Fridays Freestyle class with Sean at Bliss Yoga Spa was great as well - for one I was not expecting it. Sean's classes are usually such a challenge that I was prepped for wanting to die part way though class... lol, but that is death in a good way. He challenges you so much, that you will be damned if you cant do it in one Fridays class, in the next Friday you will do it! (case and point, his lunge, hands down, plank, grab the big toe with the hand closest to the foot, lift up said foot - hold, and then continue onto side plank - of course hold - while holding your toe out and staying up! Oh and remembering to breath while your arm shakes and you are trying for balance as well) It is a love-hate kinda relationship and I would not trade it. That same side plank-toe grab- I can do now, when I couldn't at first, I just can not extend my foot all the way out yet, I need to be more 'bendy'.

     However he surprised me and a few other ladies in class as well with what we learned next! 

Crow, one legged Crow (and nope, cant do that yet), Crow to push-up (not there either, kissed my mat actually on this one and nose is still sore today to remind me at least I tried), then Crow to headstand (one on forearms and one using hands on the mat). I got into the headstand only once where I felt totally balanced. No pressure on my head or arms, it was all even and felt like I was floating, abit upside down... and I love it! Doing the movements required to get oneself upside down, I have found that I need to be stronger and more flexible. My core for sure needs to harness some more strength! Damn belly yet another reason to chalk up to why I do not want it anymore! I guess there is more than one reason why we do all those floor ab routines every class and I am going to have to dig into that part even more now.  Crow I am going to have to work on more as well, I think I am to squished up (yes that is my technical word), and I need to lengthen my spine more with my knees higher up on my triceps . Feeling the back of my arms today where they are slightly tender due to my knees pushing on them, I realize it is to close to my elbows (in my brain anyhow). Either way, this is only the beginning of learning how to get all these upside down things to be effortless - or at least to look effortless (Sean totally made it look effortless in class - granted he is the teacher yes, but I am bound and determined to get there one day).

I forget I have not been doing yoga all that long but I so love the challenge and how it makes me feel. Makes you accept yourself and work through your challenges, accepting your limitations (and they change daily- depending on so many things that could be going on). Its about learning to "be in the moment", to just Breathe ... sounds simple right? At times it is but at more so than not you have to work through it....  I am defiantly in my element, even if I am only in the beginning of learning it - I am so loving the journey so far and this is my journey - so I am doing it right. Right for me that is :)

My First Post (For my Yoga Journey Blog)

Figured I would start this for myself. I thought about doing a written journal however I am on the computer so much for work, that an online blog makes more sense to me. Feel free to tag along if you wish to read :) 

Collecting dust in my basement was my first mat and dvd purchase, which was made years ago and by that it was probably 5 years ago! Ha, but at least it was a start of some sort. My real journey did not start till a few months ago and it has rapidly increased since then. Onwards and upwards!

  Starting in a friends basement with a group yoga class and private teacher it was here my journey started in ernest..after that one class I was hooked. Two times per week at first, in that basement with some like minded ladies attempting to touch our toes! Which I must sadly admit I could not do when I first started, ha, Ill be honest I have not been able to touch my feet ever! Not for lack of being in shape, more so that prior I always thought stretching was a waste of time. Even when I was running and working out like a fiend .... I just always had other things to do besides stretching. A point my mother use to make fun of all the time, the fact I could not touch my toes.... well now, new Chapter "I Can!" and I am learning to do so much more. Yoga is not all about stretching, it is about strength, calmness and unity and understanding of oneself. I know I will learn more about this as I move forward, but currently it is what I am getting from the Practice of Yoga for now... this I know will grow into more.

I should write some about how it was when I first started, between those basement classes and my first hot class. Toni Nicholls was the lady who nurtured my beginning love for yoga. It was her classes that put those first hooks in me and there has been no looking back since then. I loved that there was no judgement, only positive energy, always helpful! It was a nice change from my usual pace to the day with life and work. As I started to gain confidence I decided to try my first hot class. I spoke to my sister about it, as she had done some classes before but it did not really prepare me for the actual class. I decided to try the studio right by my house... close by so I could not chicken out, or "find something else to do"; which lets face it, when you work full time, have two young kids etc... there are lots of "something elses to do". I was not sure what to have with me but figured the clothes for class, my mat and water would be a good place to start. I packed up my bag and headed out to "Bliss Yoga Spa for the 6pm Blissful Hot Flow Class", nervous but confident I was gonna do a class. The ladies at the front were super awesome and showed me around and told me to put the top of my towel on the center of the dot in class... of which when I went into class I did just that but stayed to the back of the room (I was still kinda chicken, I mean really, there was no way I was going to the front!) I proceeded to lay down in savasana head towards the mirror. OK, so far so good. Laying there I kept thinking, holy cow this is hot... but ok breath, this is what it is supposed to be right? 'Hot Yoga".... well the instructor comes into class and begins to speak to us and have us go through some initial movements ... as class progresses I realize I have forgotten but really I did not even think to bring - a towel! Not to wipe my dripping face, although that would have been great at the time too, but a towel for my mat. Not only am I trying to get use to the blasting heat (which is what I thought it was at the beginning) but trying to stay on my mat, stay still in the poses & not fall over... it was tough. Downward Dog when ones hands and feet keep slipping makes for a really tough class! So slipping and sweat dripping into my eyes I thought "I am not going to make it though this class". Besides looking around and seeing all the ladies, shorts and sports bras, effortlessly going through the poses... and me, sweat dripping of the end of my nose, slipping plus I am sure I was breathing so loud everyone could hear.. ha...Needless to say I was going into Childs Pose a lot in that first class, trying to catch my breath and talk myself into staying in the class - it was SO hot! However I always fell back in with the class after my brief breathers in the childs poses... and I did finish the class! Yeah, and I was so happy I finished! I still remember that feeling, which got even better when that cold towel was placed in my hand at the end. THAT was a life saver and something I still look forward to after the Friday 6pm Blissful Glow Flow Class. After changing and driving home, I was sitting on the couch, drinking tonnes of water and thinking about the class... I felt awesome! lighter, more free in mind, body and calm ... I felt total "Zen" ... well my version of it and I smiled.

And that was it, totally and 110% hooked to Yoga! That first hot class at Bliss with Sean teaching, the same class I thought at times I was not going to make it another 5 minutes; had me hooked! And I have never looked back. I love my wed/sat classes with Toni and I love my weekly classes at the hot yoga studios. I have been going to Bliss and YogaLife on the Southside 5-6x/week and I would not have life any other way! I am going to do this journal in an effort to teach myself how I feel about yoga and everything about it, to be able to look back and see my path, and where and how I grow. It will not all be happy I am sure, but this is not about that, it is about acceptance of myself and working within my mind and body, with its daily changes and learning how to smile despite anything, to just breath, slow down and be in the moment. I no longer die of heat in the hot class but look forward to how that same heat makes me feel and how it allows me to deepen my practice at my own pace. I have a new teal Jade mat that my wonderful husband got me for Christmas which I would not trade for anything. I still love my sat classes with Toni, she is a breath of fresh air... there are so many positive things about that girl that I could have an entry just on that... so for now I will just simply state: I love her as my teacher (and friend).  My excitement currently is that I am doing some power upside down classes and I made it to a forearm stand! I still smile about it when I think on it! Granted it was against the wall but I know I will get there one of these days..... this is my journey, and I am lovin' every moment of it....