Yoga and Workout Goals

[mythicalgirl]

I did my yoga practice when I got up this morning, making the third day in a row I've done some sort of yoga.  I still feel like a baby at this sometimes. Especially when trying to do 15 sun salutations and failing.  I don't have the strength or stamina yet to do that many - although I did 5 sun salutation A and 5 sun salutation B this morning, which is more than I've ever done in a single practice before.  So YAY Me! 

The goals state getting to the gym three times a week for regular workouts and doing yoga twice a week.  This past week I only made one of my regular workouts but I went to two yoga classes and did a home practice today.  I could call it even but I really want to get my gym schedule turned into a habit, which means going when I say I will. 

The two yoga classes I'm going to are both hatha based classes.  One is more of a vinyasa flow class, very ashtanga, while the other has some flow but is more gentle.  Basically on Thursday evening I sweat my ass off and on Friday at noon I don't.  I love both classes. 

The Friday class with M- lets me decompress and recenter in the middle of my day.  It would be great to have this class every day as I have a hard time finding my center and taking a moment for myself during my normal workday.  M- is always introducing new asanas and is great at modifications and alternate poses.  For example I can't do plow.  I know lots of people love plow pose but it is a strain to get my legs over my head (I'm short but not a small girl) and when I do it feels like I can't breathe - too much weight on my heart and lungs.  So I do bridge pose instead, getting the same benefits without the feeling of suffocation.  I use blocks with a lot of standing poses so I can move deeper into the pose without putting strain on my bad knees.  I also sit on the block in some seated postures.  The strap is used for king fisher and boat as I can't comfortably grab my foot without hurting my knee.  I also use the strap for some arm work when I can't interlace my hands due to tight shoulders. 

During the Thursday evening class with K- I still use the props (blocks and strap) when needed as the most important thing is not to hurt myself.  Both K- and M- tell the class that where you are is where you should be, leave the ego at the door, etc.  It is not a competition.  Although I do find myself pushing myself a bit more in the class with K-.  Hers is a much more physically challenging class and I love testing myself in there.  I know my limits though so no plow, no shoulder stand, etc.  Use modifications when needed, take a break when I have to, use props.  But if I didn't push myself I wouldn't do things like flipping the table (downward dog over into a backbend, then back to downward dog) and seriously I love that move!  I also seriously love that I can do it because a year ago there would be no way and now while it isn't effortless it feels almost natural.  So cool. 

I plan to gradually work my way up to doing a practice every day.  Although that means getting up earlier in the morning before work and, well, I really love my sleep.  Mornings and mythicalgirl don't really mix that well.  All I can do is try, right?