Tomorrow starts the middle section of our Yoga Journey.
So by now I’m well into the habit of daily yoga. My mat is staying rolled out, but it’s now not in our workout corner in the living room but rather beside my indoor rower in our guest bedroom.
I’ve taken to the room during 2 months in late autumn, as we didn’t have any central heating at that time, and this smaller room was easier to heat with a portable heater. And I like it, with only downside being that the room is not big enough to allow hubby to join me doing yoga, as he did last year.
But he hasn’t desired this as much, as he is doing daily more strenuous weights sessions downstairs.
So all good.
Which means, onwards and upwards with YWA’s CENTER and feel free to share your joys and struggles by reply!
Day 8 of my Pilates challenge. I wanted to do a pre-Pilates and beginner Mat sequence earlier and had so much fun with the Mat exercises that I ended up doing all 34.
Then I got an email from the Pilates challenge I had originally signed up for (apparently, I haven't unsubscribed after all...). And I just had to try that class as it's with Magic Circle ⭕️, so I did! It was a tad bit fast on the transitions - and I was glad I could stop the video. Still Magic Circle is so much fun!
In case anybody wants to check it out, here's the class (apparently, you can do it without a Magic Circle... be forewarned, though, you might want one afterwards 🤣): youtube.com/watch?v=HPlr5aJ...
(I am counting my challenge a bit differently - started at day 1 of January 😉. That's why I am posting already...)
Well day 8 of Center was comfortingly within reach! I’d had a short 3k run beforehand, the first since I was laid low by a cough, and day 8 was a perfect stretch, cool down and relax. I loved it. I can see getting really into daily yoga and already find myself working out how to continue while we are away over the weekend in Ludlow. Great start to the day!
I've started doing "snuggle meditations" when I can't sleep or don't have to get up right away. I just enjoy being in bed, feel the comfort of the blanket etc. It's been super helpful with insomnia because I tend to relax enough to fall (back) asleep!
Day 9 of my Pilates challenge. I started my day with a pre-Pilates, beginning Mat routine, which felt so good, I might have to figure out how to change my schedule so I can do it every morning! Then this evening I went to the Pilates studio for their open gym and worked on a bunch of exercises that I tend to "fudge" during classes...
On my walk home, I started listening to In Praise of Walking by Shane O'Mara. What a perfect way to walk! Thanks for the reco, CBDB !
Well having watched the video earlier in the day, and watching what she did…I’m pleased to announce that I managed all the warrior poses without a safety net! 😂
Ok…I did wobble, and I worry that the wobbling puts a strain on my knees…
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to LottieMW
Day 10 of my Pilates challenge: Reformer class! I was pleasantly surprised that a couple of things just fell into place - my body just knew what to do 🥳 That was a very nice feeling!
DAY 10 ENERGY - pre lunchtime yoga session. I feel exhausted now!🥵 I like knocking on heavens door. 😃 And I do like the step backs, which I think are also new! 👍🏽💪
I almost left this one yesterday intending to double up today as I felt tired and thought it sounded a bit energetic. But I didn't and it was ok , I loved the end where she encourages to have a bit of fun.
Day 11 of my Pilates challenge. After meditating this morning, I did a pre-Pilates and beginner Mat routine that woke up my spine and body. Though apparently not enough to remember to post until late this afternoon 😉
Corazon Day 9 done... super. Getting much stronger in many ways and now I have valid alternatives to cobra and downward dog, things are flowing well. I am loving this CBDB .. so glad you got us all going! xxx
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to Oldfloss
Day 12 of my Pilates challenge returned to Day 1... I was going to do the Bar workout released today by Trifecta Pilates - and realized I needed something gentle instead... So unwind I did 😊
Due to a slight hiccup I had to cut short this after 8 minutes…so repeated the next day. I found the cross legged leaning forward hard on my hips, and the tree poses were a complete no-no!
Day 12: Unwind I couldn’t see your post CBDB , so I’ve stuck mine in here, or it would be out of synch…
I defo welcomed this fairly gentle session after Sunday’s 5 mile run. Stuck to basic crescent lunges, with my ironing board 😉…admit I didn’t do too many hip circles either! 😬
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to LottieMW
Day 13 of my Pilates challenge. I had a Private today 🥳 It consisted of Pilates exercises to target some of my postural habits that I want to undo - and I ended up with a list of things to try during Open Gym starting on Monday 😎
January YWA is my annual pilgrimage into yoga. I was feeling stronger and more flexible after day 10 and 11, then day 12 day hit and those leg circles and stretches left me unbalanced, wobbly and giggling again! I do enjoy Adriene and Benji and would love to find a way to keep going after the end of January. I suspect keeping connected on here and on Strava will help. X
DAY 13 TRUST - I really liked this one. I was organising an event for ca 60 attendees yesterday, so was on my feet all day. So needed some practice to work out any stresses in my feet, back and neck. And this was just great , as well as gentle enough.
Successes: I could step from lunge directly into one legged tree pose.
Challenges: for warrior 3 I definitely still needed one hand on a shelf to stabilise myself.
I loved today's session, partly I suspect because I actually managed to do it the morning (at last), I'm definitely a morning person 😄I really liked the balances especially when stepping off my mat makes it so much easier
I took Monday off…so here I am today (ish) Loved that we started In child’s pose, in fact no cross legged seats at all! (So that’s defo a win for me!)
I’ve decided that I don’t like the plank to cobra flow…I’ve got a colicky right elbow which is defo unhappy with this! Kept toes on the ground for the tree poses…needed much assistance from my trusty ironing board 😂
Day 14 of my Pilates challenge was, well, magical ✨
I started off with Ju-Ju's Magic Plan from the Bridge to 10K forum and then went off to the Magic Mat All Level Pilates class at the studio. And we used the magic circle!
It was a lot of fun and quite challenging as using the magic circle targets muscles differently than just doing mat... For me those muscles tend to be the ones I have trouble targeting (those hamstrings...), so I plan on incorporating the magic circle more when I practice at home.
Day 14 STRETCH - this was a great one. I left out my post-row stretch routine and went right into this 20 min stretchy Yoga session after a 40 minute row. Perfect for stretching after a leg-based workout.
I loved this one too! I’ve saved it as a favourite! I noticed the difference between my hips…my slightly sciatic left hip was not as eager to do a full half pigeon pose as my right. However I couldn’t touch my right foot, although I could on the left. This is the same for post run stretches, where I struggle to stretch my right quad!
CBDBAdministratorGraduate Gold in reply to LottieMW
I do see slow progress year to year. So maybe another year and you might be able to touch your right foot?
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