Really excited about this YWA journey, and needing some relaxing workouts in a month where I went wild and committed to quite a few workout-related New Year resolutions! It’s worse than chocolate at Christmas!!!
I’ll be posting a weekly header post for the Yoga with Adriene’s 30day CENTER series, as a place where we can share any thoughts we might have about the joys or the struggles on this journey. A sort of ‘our very own YWA CENTER Club’. (Of course, do feel free to also post in the main channel, whatever feels good! 😉)
For me, this happens to be the third year doing the January Journeys.
The first one, I was excited like a kid, everything was a new experience and I was amazed by the ability of my body to adapt of what I was asking it to do.
Last year, my second year, I was doing the journey whilst being on the runner’s injury couch, as my foot (metatarsals) was still giving me some grief. But by then I knew how flexible these sessions were, and I could amend away and relax into it.
This year, I feel a bit more like a Yogi-YoungAdult. I know most of the positions by name now, I can do most of the easy to intermediate poses although the advanced poses like fish or crow are still far away out of reach. But regular yoga is a thing for me, and when I don’t do my Yoga, I feel the need for a good stretch.
So onwards and upwards with YWA’s CENTER and feel free to share your joys and struggles by reply!
Happy New Year, y'all! (Yes, I can do that, too... I lived in Texas for 3 months 😉)
I started my day, the new year, with some simple Pilates and a parkwalk 🥁! Yes, I finally, finally made it!!! These things take me a while as I am an introvert. This weekend was ideal, though, since I had two days to choose from... Now that the ice is broken, I'll be back on Saturday for a parkrun!
I am feeling overwhelmed today (already 🙈) and decided that TWO challenges is a bit too much. So, I'll be sticking with the align Pilates challenge - basically substituting Pilates for the yoga, so I am still going to follow along here 😎 If that's okay, of course!
Definitely ok. Yes, it’s too easy at the beginning of a year to commit to too many challenges. As I’ve mentioned before 😉💝🍫, they’re like a box of chocolates, too tempting to put down but much healthier if over-indulged!
I’ve signed up for this , never done yoga before so could be interesting 😆, trying to start the new year as I mean to go on, including running, walking, this & generally being more organised. Hope I succeed.
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to Getfitok
Day 1 (2nd Jan): 30 min practice and Adriene suggests it is the longest one! That’s good to know.
I do like the way she suggests that one could breathe seated in cobblers pose all the way through and that would be ok too! 😄🧘🏻 (I might have to resort to that later in the month 😉😄☺️)
The baby cobra 🐍 poses were something, as I could feel my abs as if I had done a days amount of abs work the day before. Very unusual. But I hadn’t done any abs work, I just went on an hours walk with my Nordic Walking Poles! So now I know it really had worked my abs and core!
Day 1. 2nd January done... with tweaks. I am afraid that downward dog is out of the question right now.
Felt the benefit of centering and breathing steadily. I am glad that I am able to get those deep belly breaths still...I am hoping it is going to work for me as I recover from the virus.
Well done everyone!
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to Oldfloss
I’m sure it will! And I do think yoga helps with so many things, as it focussed so much inwards and heightens the ability to listen to your body and then adjust your movements or positions or relaxations.,, 👍🏽💪
I've signed up, having enjoyed YWA January programmes previously, though never managed to do all the sessions on the assigned day. However I've also had to give up yoga as it was exacerbating arthritis and tendonitis pain in my hands and wrists, and triggering neck and shoulder problems. So I'll see what happens and make choices accordingly.
yeah, when I started I did with books, but proper yoga blocks are so much better, as I can put them half upright or flat, so have two heights.
Hubby also had a pair of grip handles which helped in the beginning. Not sure it will work for your hands, but it worked for me at times my wrists felt too painful when being bent and taking all my weight.
Unfortunately one of the issues is that I can't grip properly with my right hand, so handles can be a struggle for me. Appreciate the suggestion though. 😀🙏
I am very glad that I decided to only do one of these challenges as today's class felt a lot more like yoga... and it was just what I needed! Gentle. Slow. Rest.
And then I remembered another set of pre-Pilates exercises offered by Rachel at Radpilates via Instagram. Omg! They finally got the tension out of my shoulders that I had amazed there overnight! Not sure if you can watch this without being on Insta... instagram.com/tv/Cm5FmpHBLcy/
Day 3 of the Pilates challenge. The gentle Pilates sequence felt really good (after I turned my mental "this is not Pilates" thing off... 🤣 ). Mostly spine and shoulder mobility movements - just what I needed (as usual 😉).
I'll be doing some classical Pilates on the Reformer later this evening, so this slower pace helped me to unwind after the day...
Let's see if linking to the playlist comes without the huge preview of the individual videos... youtube.com/playlist?list=P...
Edit: Yes, that worked! Do note that Beth seems to be uploading the videos for Australian time or something - it's always way ahead - so tomorrow's video is already "out there"...
Day 3 done! Some new movements that I hadn’t seen her do before! I liked the bending, circular at the waist thingy.
Yes, and I managed to hold the planks but the repeated planks - down dogs - planks circuits I fear I manage in much smaller motion. Rather switching between a flatter down dog and a steeper down dog! 🤣🤣
But compared to what I could do 2 years ago, it’s a major achievement!
Day 4 of my Pilates challenge. I debated whether I wanted to move with Beth or do my own routine - and opted for my own routine. It consists of pre-pilates exercises followed by the first 8 mat exercises (up to and including Spine Stretch) plus Seal and Push-Up. This is such a great way to wake up my body, especially my spine! I kept thinking of the stories of Joe Pilates observing cats on the Isle of Man 🐈⬛
It might be that my January challenge has evolved some more: At least some Pilates sequence every day... It might be a video class through Beth's Trifect Pilates or my own sequence or a class in the studio or all of the above...
Well I woke up this morning and could feel that I've been working my abs 😄💪I think its her slowly rolling back from sitting to lying that getting me. My issue is doing no proper S&F during December... Anyway I enjoyed today's session, those first side stretches were interesting, not done those before.
Finding the dogs and planks hard on my arms and wrists…get all tired and wobbly…prefer the actual transitions to the holds!
Got my trusty pillow for my knees…so far, holding out!
Admit to feeling a little emotional at the end in shavasana 🥹
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to LottieMW
🧡❤️🧡 well done!
I just felt too full to enjoy this flow. I had to do it after dinner, never a good idea! So only once shavasana came around, I could finally not worry about feeling full. 😏🤰🥗🍗🧆
Day 4 (or is this 3) SHIFT - did this after dinner. Not a good idea! My stomach felt too full to really enjoy all that folding and stomach stretching! Shavasana felt great, though!
I do like how this time around she incorporates new movements, like the one at the beginning, lying on your side.
Day 4 ROOT : managed to do this one in the morning. That feels so much better than doing it in the evening.
Liked the slow build up to my wobbly tree pose.
For a moment there, I thought she was heading to crow but phew … not yet!
I have to admit, when squatting down, I have a block to sit on. I’m not quite there yet going to the floor with a squat, as my knees are not there yet. But when I started yoga 2 years ago, I couldn’t reach the block at all. So all good. Slowly but steadily .
I did all the days so far and have done them in the morning and it sets me up for the day... I do what I can... I am enjoying what I can do... Thank you
I have to play catch up tomorrow... had to take down Christmas decorations today... all boxed ready for the loft in the long house... that will have to wait... Mr OF and I have not got the strength for climbing and lifting yet I missed it today, but did some gentle deep breathing when I sat down for a rest!
Well done everyone else though!
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to Oldfloss
oh is it the 6th already! We are always late with putting Xmas decorations down … now where did we put the Easter decorations? 🤣🤣🤣
Day 5 of my Pilates challenge, which has now evolved to a daily Pilates practice, not following an offered challenge (because I realized that I am already doing enough IF I am consistent, so that's what my challenge is about: Stick to my plans!).
Today I started with the Slow Build offered by RAD Pilates via Patreon (so, yea, it's a paid subscription; I've worked with Rachel before, so I was glad to support her!). I am now in my fourth year of Pilates practice - and I've finally learned the different ways of breathing! It's amazing how that seemed to have opened up my perpetually stopped up nose, too...
(If you want to check it out see the top link at linktr.ee/radpilates and Rachel also posts quite a few videos on her Instagram page at instagram.com/radpilates/ and apparently she also has a YouTube channel - see the linktree... I gotta check that one out 🙃)
I actually made the premier at 6am today 😄 it was purely accidental, having woken up at 5:45 I thought why not.I find the more I do yoga the more I note the little directions that help get the most from the postures. Today it was "pressing into the ball joint of the toe" to keep the knee hugging in when doing a lunge - twist. I also love the description of feeling "like you are trying to rip your mat apart"
I followed on from today's session with catching up with yesterdays, so an hours yoga to start my day 🧘♀️
DAY 5 HUG - was fortuitous. As I had been a bit grumpy this morning, having had to recently spend a fortune on bras and missing my old comfortable (loosened ones as they were now at least 4 years old! 🫣😱) and suddenly bursting out that I hate my large boobs. 👙🤣😏
So hugging myself was a great way to start the day.
All positions were surprisingly doable, except the yogi squat.
I do like how she slows everything down in this series (although I could have done with shorter planks and longer lying, crossbody stretches at the end 🤣)
I gave up with second lot of one legged dog/plank…substituted child’s pose for some arm relief!
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to LottieMW
yeah, it’s pretty hard on the arms. Strangely now I would be ready to do the plankathon, as I can now hold a plank for at least 30 seconds. (I couldn’t just a year ago). But mountain climbers and the like are still almost impossible.
Day 6 of my Pilates challenge: I did RAD Pilates' "Slow Build: Pre Pilates" video. There were a few movements and a lot of info (a bit too much, imo). It was fun, though, to play around with my pelvis - not as a bowl but as a pelvis! "Imagine your pelvis as a pelvis" was maybe the key thing Rachel said in the video.
Abs are a killer! Is there much requirement to weight bear on wrists? Mine are getting there and thinking of trying some yoga again. Abs would be a good start!
Day 6 Fan - phew. The session was hard enough, but then I decided to do one that was even harder! See my separate post at healthunlocked.com/strength...
Day 7 of my Pilates challenge: Studio time! I had class in the Pilates studio today: Magic Mat, All Level... It was a lot of fun with a few instances where I really got a move that we usually do on the Reformer that we did on the Mat today (hello Short Box series!).
Although I miss being able to relate to what you all are doing with Adrienne, I am noticing that this was the right choice for me. It feels like I am turbo-charging my Pilates practice, which feels very good 😊
Well, and we enjoy reading of your Pilates journey! Practicing apart but never alone.
It’s kind of similar what hubby and I just did this noon: we each went on our own walks, he fast on a 9k and me slow on a 3k, and we came back to a warm house, made us some hot tea and chatted about our own walking experiences. We were apart but never alone 😊😃👏👍🏽
Hello.. although a session behind, I am loving it and finding it so useful Really helpful too supporting my comeback from Covid.
I managed to do Root yesterday, AND nearly a mile long walk with small runner in training, their dog and my daughter : ) It was over their fields behind where they live, where I usually run, so extra enjoyable!
I loved Root... as I am really into trees.... I have a fantastic book called Think Like a Tree... it is amazing!
Today, later than usual, I did HUG... bliss... a few too many downward dogs for my still slightly blocked head.... but I am able to tweak a lot... the breathing is really so relaxing and calming.
So glad you posted about this CBDB ... I might have missed it !
Happy Yoga sessions people! x
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to Oldfloss
I’ve been doing this following your recommendation and enjoyed it although I can’t do it all by any means. Day 7 today was hard though. Can’t do it fast enough to do anything like a flow! Yesterday was ok although my abs are feeling it today. I’ll definitely stick with it but it makes me realise how much I can’t do. I sort of thought that the fact that have stuck with the running would mean my all round fitness was not too bad. Not so! Hopeless upper body strength and really tight ham strings!
yes, I do find the fast flows also quite difficult and I like the slower sessions better. But the nice thing about a home practice is that one can adapt more easily to one’s need.
So for instance, in these flows, if it goes too fast, I also sometimes find myself just leaving out the cobra and moving directly from low lunge to down dog, ready to go into next warrior.
So I’m with you. And what also helps is getting to know her flows, and it is easier then.
Great that you’re sticking with it. For me, it really helped with upper body strength. So I’m sure it will improve yours as well, little by little.
Well done! And hope you are enjoying it! 👍🏽👏💪🏃🏽♀️
It’s good to know that I’m not the only one finding the fast stuff hard! Sometimes I genuinely don’t understand how anyone could keep up. I’ve been missing things out but not on purpose. Maybe I’d feel more in control if I was choosing to do that so I might give it a go which feels more like an intentional choice and less like desperate flailing around! I’d be very pleased if I could improve my upper body strength so I’ll stick with it. Thanks for the encouragement!
I’m further hampered by not knowing right from left…so when she says do something with your right hand/foot/whatever…I waste time by worrying have I gone the correct way…and I know it doesn’t matter because she’ll do the other side…but it bothers me 🤷🏻♀️
I gave up during the flows on day 5 (plus my arms were aching) and just went into child’s pose for a while 😂
As Adriene says “find what feels good” 🙌🏼👍🏼
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to LottieMW
I'm not sure many of us can keep up with her 😂I've learnt that some of her moves just don't work for me. I simply cannot step from down dog to a lunge position, I now know if I try I end up with a sore knee so I do a bit of a double step or a shuffle instead.
After a while you will start to learn how she joins up her sequences so can guess what's likely to come next which helps a lot.
I'm just so pleased to read these comments. Was definitely thinking that other people were just flowing along with adrienne and now I don't feel so alone. Maybe I'm not the only one thinking "you can have plank or downward dog or maybe plank, little rest, downward dog, but no way can one simply be followed by the other". I love it but I keep on wondering whether there isn't a special dispensation for slightly overweight 68 year olds.
Here, my pictures attached are from Jan 2021, so 2 years ago. I needed quite a few “comfort blankets” to feel comfortable doing yoga and my helpers were props (and hubby who did the first 30 days with me). My yoga mat is the purple one and I really needed every prop I could lay my hands on. 🤣🤣 (hubby is fit and thin and all he needed was a mat. He could even do a crow the first time he tried! But I can do a cobblers pose so much better! 😊🤣)
I was and am still overweight (Hypothyroid) but over the months I could put away one prop after the other.
Currently, the only props I regular use are my yoga blocks and a blanket. But the plethora of props helped me feel safe at the beginning.
So if you can figure out what makes you feel supported, physically (props) or mentally, it probably will help your enjoyment.
But from all of us here, we think we’re collectively and individually awesome!!
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Well done you!
