Just Plain...Fantastic.

Sunday. 8:00AM. Beautiful Spring day in the capital city. I'm in the hot room. I took yesterday off, reluctantly. I worked until 3:15, and making the trip home to retrieve the car to drive the 10 minutes to the studio was a bit of a stretch. However, it would have been a different story if I were doing the 30 Day Challenge. I would have made the extra effort to show up for class.

Today's practice was just plain...fantastic. Did I touch my forehead at last during Standing Head to Knee? Nope. Did I hold Standing Bow Pulling the whole time? Nope. Was my Half Moon a true half moon? Nope. And the list goes on. So why, you may ask, was my practice fantastic? Well, it's because I felt that I had given it my 110% effort today. I yoga-tried, not just yoga-did. I felt great. The room was hot, but not stifling or unbearable or crippling. The class had fantastic energy. Sure, the joints and limbs were not at their most flexible this time of the day, but at the end of the 90 minutes, nothing can describe the feeling of accomplishment and how much our bodies are thanking us all for giving it the workout it so terribly needs to function the way it was created for. Lungs expanded, muscles stretched, joints moved, monkey minds controlled with meditation, what could be a better way to start the day?

It is my practice. On my terms. In my time. Namaste.

Good night, Mommy. I love you.

Hot Rants

A few of us have been venting (no pun intended) about how hot it has been at our studio. A couple of teachers do open the doors from time to time to cool the room down a tinge and believe me, a few seconds of this does help us a lot. The fans don't really help much. It has been so hot lately that I have been tempted by monkey mind to retrieve that water bottle from the change room.

Today I practiced at 6:00AM. It was really nice to have a chit-chat in the change room with the other ladies before class. So the hot topic of the morning was the hot room. It was raining outside, and one of the ladies commented how the rain increases the humidity. Oh boy, here we go. When Pranayama breathing started, I started feeling this very hot draft from the ceiling. I started to feel a bit anxious. I took it easy as I want to finish strong. After a few breaths, the hot sensation started to fade. Relief.

My Floor Series has been at its strongest today compared to what it has been during the last few practices. What kick-started it was the Cobra Pose. I made up my mind to give it 100%. After that, everything fell into place. I had a little anxious moment in Camel, but after focusing on my breath, I was able to hold it a little longer. Relief.

Today the hot room was just right. The doors weren't opened, the fans were turned on and off, but the temperature was just right. All is well. Relief.

Good night, Mommy. I love you.

2011 May 25 = Second Coming

Not of Christ, but of this yogini. Didn't feel like going to the 9:00AM, and was ready to chill out at home on a gloomy day like today, but lo behold! The hot room beckons. Or more so, it was that million dollar feeling AFTERWARDS that got me going. Luckily for me, there was an 11:00AM class. It is usually quieter, but lo and behold again! It was quite a busy class! And a very hot one to boot! I thought I was going to strike this one out as a write-off yet again. But surprisingly, although I took it really easy, I was happy to finish strong. My Sit-ups were strong, with strong exhales.

Thank goodness, teacher J. kept opening the doors to let those cool drafts waft in. She said she didn't want to fry her students! There is no shame in opening the doors, teachers.

Good night, Mommy. I love you.

Today was (Sort of) a Write-Off

I say this with a double-meaning. Today's practice...sucked. All the more so because I was so pumped, so looking forward for today. I was up front, I was wearing a favourite outfit, I have my Yogitoes. I didn't have to rush at all. I had an amazing start. Pranayama was strong, the Standing Series was strong. Until I got to Toe Stand.

I always rock at Toe Stand. I can balance well, holding the posture properly, no flat tires. But today, well, my feet quit before it was due. I had my two minute Savasana. Usually I start the Floor Series strong, and finish strong. But today, well, the heat got to me. Big time. The arms started to feel heavy, like I was carrying a ton of bricks. I looked at my face. It was red. I was hot, very, very hot. The fans were going, but the doors were kept shut the whole time. It would have been nice to have some cool drafts wafting in from time to time. I was very tempted to leave the room. But instead I hung on, and I tried to do at least a set of each of the postures, but I was so drained that I couldn't even finish ONE set at all.

I was so relieved to leave that hot room. My mat was soaked so much that there were little puddles around it. I've never sweated so much until today. I think I must not have hydrated enough. Or maybe I just had an OFF day. Maybe, maybe...So why the "sort of a write-off"? In my books it was. But in yoga, no. I was there, I practiced. I sweated, I de-toxified. I stretched. Only good things happened, despite the discomforts.

So that was today. No practice tomorrow. But there's Wednesday...

Good night, Mommy. I love you.

All Better Now

I have a 60 Day Challenge sticker sheet on the board at my yoga studio. I completed my 35 days, was feeling great and gungho, then all of a sudden my body suddenly crashed. I got stricken with a cold which totally drained me of energy. I didn't feel well enough to go to my beloved 6:00AM classes. What really grounded me was a 3:45PM class last Sunday. It was brutal. It was so hot and crowded, that I sat out a set of each of the Floor Series postures. After that class, I took a couple of days off. All the while, even when I was feeling crappy, I totally missed my practice. It felt like missing my husband when he's away, or my daughter when she's at a sleepover. I couldn't wait for my day off, when I can take it easy and practice at 9:00AM. During this time, I could feel my body slowly getting better. I felt well enough to go to the 6:00AM class last Friday. It was so nice to be back and see my early morning yoga peeps again.

This weekend is a long one, being the Victoria Day long weekend. Three straight days off means an extra three straight days of practice. Woohoo! I am giddy with excitement. I was very pleased with my practice yesterday and today especially in that albeit a slow start I finished strong during the latter part of the Floor Series. My Sit-ups were executed well with very strong exhales, and I managed to bring my elbows down beside my calf muscles during the Stretching Pose. I am slowly getting back to my normal self. I do appreciate the times when I take it easy though, and having a reason to do so :)

Good night, Mommy. I love you.

Patience and Pacing

By "pacing" I meant taking your time, not the nervous back and forth walking. It's like long-distance running where you should not expel all your energy from the get-go. It's all about having a strong finish.

This was what my practice today was like. I am still nursing a sore throat, which was a little worse compared to yesterday. When Pranayama breathing started, I could not give it my all. I felt tired. There were a lot of bodies in the room. It was hot. I was thankful to be at the back, by the door. I was sweating from the get-go. I had doubts about my staying power. I had thought about why I even showed up today. I should have stayed home and rested. I was buoyed by my strong practice yesterday that I had assumed it would be the same today. How many times have I blogged about no practices being the same, day in and day out?

There were three newbies in class today. Teacher N. advised them to take it easy, and to pace themselves. I took those words to heart. I'm not a newbie, but since I am not 100% well, I thought better to focus on the integrity of the form for each posture, and worry about depth later.

By the time the last lap was to be run, I still had lots of energy left. I noticed that the sore throat was kept at bay the whole time. Even without my water bottle (still) close at hand. Patience and pacing surely paid off today.

Good night, Mommy. I love you.

English Bulldog Determination

My mind was in a turmoil this morning. I was nursing a sore throat yesterday, and smart brain was telling me to skip class today and rest. I knew that the 6:00AM will not be happening. 9:00AM, maybe. As the morning dragged on, I thought of skipping the 9:00AM and maybe going for the 1:45PM. I drove the kid to school, arrived home and enjoyed my morning coffee. I looked at the clock and it was 8:15. I was feeling fine, my yoga bag is packed, so why not go for the 9:00AM? Get it done, then I have the rest of the day to enjoy.

The English Bulldog won. I did not want to skip practice today. I knew that if I did, I will miss it terribly. I am so glad I went ahead and just did it. I had a strong class. I had chosen a very good spot in the room. The room was just the right temperature, hot yes, but not stifling. The sore throat was practically nonexistent by the end of class. I did have to clear it a few times, but not too much that it was distracting. The 9:00AM really suited my body today. If I had gone to the 6:00AM, I'm pretty sure I'd feel totally the opposite.

Teacher C. this morning said that yoga is all about the breath, and that it is more mental than physical. How true, especially today. I did listen to my body, I did not force the issue. I knew that a later morning practice would be better suited for it today. When class ended, I was feeling much, much better. I don't know, I'm pretty sure that it's one of the best remedies for any discomfort.

Good night, Mommy. I love you.