CHANGING-ROOM CHAT...Road Show... May 1st... Come on In and GREET THE DAY

[Oldfloss]

Good Morning, everyone !

Well here I am...

Yes, this IS the Changing Room... and we will be chatting, BUT... this is the Changing Room Chat Road on the move... and this month we are in... da dah...the YOGA studio.

This is absolutely so, so exciting!

I decided that I really needed to take myself in hand a tad. Mt yoga has been very bitty and bobby. My other routines are simply fine... and I really am working on my CORE.

But... I have not been consistent with my yoga.

Inspired by the example of my wonderful friend  Bluebirdrunner .. I decided to take the plunge... err, no... hit the mat... She works on her yoga every day. She looks great, is great and it has helped her through both injury and also some heavy stuff at times too.

Here is the link to this month with Adriene...

yogawithadriene.com/calendar/

Looking at the Calendar for this month on YWA... what did I read... you will never guess!

I read this:

“Set yourself up for greatness so you can be the awesome and amazing being that you are.

This practice starts off slow and steady - focusing the mind as you gently warm up the body....

( WHAT !!! This is my mantra... mine... and here it is, just waiting for me!)

...Stretch, strengthen, and balance the energetic systems of the body to relieve stress, tension, and anxiety. This yoga asks you to start where you are today - and check in with yourself - all parts! This full yoga practice uses the breath to cultivate a mindful awakening through the spine that will leave you with energy and feeling connected. “

Oh my goodness... is this session of chats meant to be, or what?

Now, I do know some of you are not HUGE Yoga fans.

healthunlocked.com/strength...

I am not a fanatical Yoga-ist, but I have used and have felt, incredible benefit from some of the yoga I have done... and my wake-up routine as many of you know, is a yoga based, early morning wake up from YWA.

Reading the blurb on the Calendar for this month. I decided I am going to have a go!!

Yoga has so much going for it.

Lots of benefits all mentioned in that post...maybe just take a peek...

The link is here to the Calendar for the month... and I shall post each day, saying how the session has gone for me.. you do not need to reply...unless you wish to, but...is anyone else up for this ?

If you don't feel you can commit to the whole month, maybe you could so some?

Are you already doing yoga regularly... and if so, how often and are you using a specific plan ?

I am hoping we may see BBR here as she is a great role model for Yoga with Adriene and  MissUnderstanding goes to a yoga class regularly... maybe they will have some advice or tips, or just share their thoughts. Maybe too, a new visitor  damienair will join us!

Let me know how things are going with everyone right now... this is Catch up time and it does not have to be about yoga!

The weather is improving... I think! The days getting longer and time for more exercise maybe!

Looking forward to seeing some of you here !

Oldfloss

PS

There are links too if you wish to do some Yoga with your children... and they are awesome... I shall be adding those in later!

PPS

Can you spot the snail in the picture... that is me!

[Annieapple]

🍏well I grabbed the blue cushion to have a quick chat while I finish my coffee… I normally do a bit of Pilates 🧘‍♀️ but will definitely find time to read the link. Maybe a bit of gentle breathing & stretching is what I need at the minute!

I did spot the snail 🐌 🤣 … time to go for my easy recovery run & sea air. Have a lovely day Oldfloss & thanks as ever for inspiring us ! Xx

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Annieapple]

Hello ! Well done to you! I love blue... although not much visible in the sky here, this morning

I think a fair few folk enjoy the Pilates... i struggle a bit, unless it is standing Pilates, lying flat is a real issue for me. But I do know a lot of people find it incredibly useful.

The yoga link is worth reading and I intend keeping to my plan, I think though, Yoga may be done later in the day!Well done on spotting the snail... I was very snail like running up the hill this morning and I did get a tad warm...which does make a change.

Enjoy your run and that wonderful sea air...bottle me a little please x Thank you for calling in! x

[Bluebirdrunner]

Hi Floss,

Yes, I spotted the snail too!🐌💚

That is a beautiful yoga studio, but even if you can't enjoy high ceilings and huge windows letting nature in, most of Adriene's yoga practices are in a lovely room with a view and her funny, quirky chat will make you smile as she welcomes you in.

I am currently on day 21 of a 30 day program DEDICATE, along with lexi6 as we enjoyed this January's 30 day plan FLOW so much we are re-doing her past ones again.

I do enjoy following her lead as she mindfully talks you through each move, giving options that help care for your mind and body.

I always feel better after a session, stretched and stronger, and have usually had a smile (or grimace) at her banter!

I definately recommend YWA and maybe one of the 30 day programs if you are a beginner as they build slowly, every day would be ideal, but as and when is fine too.

A stronger core, toned glutes, better balance, stronger arms and shoulders and all parts stretched correctly what is not to love!

🙏xxx

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Yeayayayay Here you are!!! I knew I could rely on you x

This is exactly what I wanted to read and I want others to read too.... from someone who does it and someone who knows exactly what it gives you, in return !

You have a real empathy with our forum friends !

Your explanation is so good... and as you know, you have already inspired me... I shall be Greeting this afternoon!

As you say, what is not to love... anything that gives our body and our mind, TLC and support... perfect!

Thank you so, so, much for this ! xx

[MissUnderstanding]

Thanks for the shout out! I’ve been to yoga this morning and it was great, I find it makes me ache in all sorts of places that I never know I had muscles. I’ve become much more flexible than I used to be…which was not at all. Now my flexibility is bad rather than terrible! That’s progress…

My top yoga tips are:

It doesn’t matter what you look like when you’re in the pose. If you can feel if where you’re supposed to, that’s right for you. My class this morning was absolutely full of different variations, which I love!

Don’t be afraid to double your mat up, or use cushions, blankets etc (carefully!!) so it’s more comfortable on your knees. Mine are really sensitive and I get bruises if I’m not careful. I’d like to treat myself to a thicker mat for the yoga I do at home.

It’s supposed to be enjoyable, so if a stretch or a strength pose hurts too much, back out of it. That’s absolutely fine. How long you can do it for might increase over time.

I enjoy yoga in a class and at home-often straight after a run as my cool down. Daily challenges don’t work so well for me but I’ll be looking out for recommendations for workouts to try! Have a fun month!

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Hello and thank you so much for heading here to share your experiences...

These tips are so useful and for me, the knee one and it would apply to my back too... are great!

I think anyone reading these tips would feel very encouraged. I know that I was delighted to find tweak-ability in some yoga routines... for areas which maybe are weak or sensitive...

It is as you say supposed to be enjoyable... I still feel that if you are not enjoying, then you won't maintain the sessions?

Thank you again.. I shall be reporting on how I find the sessions!

[ToothPickJafah 30D Graduate]

Hello Oldfloss! I’m here, a bit late, but I’m here to grab a wee cushion up the back and tuck into a croissant along with a cup of tea 🤗

I also spotted the wee snail 🐌

I try to do yoga every day, sometimes I do it twice, once in morning and again before bed. I get really stiff and sore after sitting/standing so I find I’m constantly stretching throughout the day. I’m doing shoulder and neck rolls as I type this in my kitchen!

I’ve also noticed that since I started practicing regularly, my lower back and hip pain has receded immensely and I’m much more mobile.

I do videos with Kassandra but mostly with Tim, they both have a collection of breath work (Pranayama) sessions and last night I did some yoga nidra practice before bed, it really helped me relax and get to sleep.

I love the way I feel after I’ve done a yoga session, much more limber and relaxed. When I’m feeling like I can’t get onto the mat, I do chair yoga instead and that is better than not doing any at all!

I find that I prefer sessions that have little talking and no music, it helps me relax and concentrate more. Tim has such a soothing voice that it’s always a please practicing with him! And I also prefer longer sessions, an hour is fab for me!

I went on YouTube to try and find more yoga instructors and found 2 new ones that I’m going to try out…Breathe and Flow, a husband and wife team, and Charlie Follows. I want to try some animal flow movements and looked up videos of those, and found lots! Charlie Follows has some pretty good yoga/animal flow videos that look challenging but I’m eager to try them in the near future.

Thank you, as always, for an informative and inspiring post! I’ve missed reading them.

Have a wonderful day my friend, bright blessings sent your way 🙏💜🥰

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to ToothPickJafah]

Hello. I'm late now! Cycle shed building!Glad you found your cushion and sorry snack.

Goodness.

You have been looking after yourself and trying so many things out...

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and all the names of the different sessions.

There is a wealth of ideas out there to suit all of us, I feel.

Chair yoga can be so relaxing!

I will be playing catch up with YWA...as some issues have impinged on the time I has for them.

But, I'll get them in.

Take care you and thank you x

[damienair]

Hello Oldfloss , I have been reawakening my running form and putting more time into it. I have also been on a bit of a weight loss journey. Over Covid times I gained the famous Covid stone and added an extra one on for good measure. So towards the end of October I decided to do something about it. My goal is to reach a healthy BMI of 25. I've lost 26 lbs in weight since then. I have 2 lbs to go to have lost 2 stone, and another 2 lbs to lose to reach my healthy BMI target. Current BMI is 25.9. Amazing how that extra weight loss has changed my running, obviously its easier without dragging the extra load. Personally I don't see it as it has been a 6 month journey and it has come off reasonable slowly. But then again it did go on over a 3.5 year period.

My running times at parkrun are improving. I got down to 26:40 last weekend. I'm running 4 days per week, walking and started Strength and Conditioning twice a week. Could hardly walk for a couple of days after the first sessions. 😀

namaste

[Oldfloss Administrator in reply to damienair]

Fantastic! Hello! I love that...'... ' re-awakening my running form'.

You have done so well... and getting back to where you wish to be, you seem well on the way.

You gained weight, I lost it ! Your park run times improving too and 26.40... that is excellent...

Your walking and other exercise is going to pay dividends... strength and conditioning sounds interesting too ? Especially if it zapped you! Not Yoga related, I assume

Thank you for sharing this... and good to know you are making real progress too.