Over a week now into my 30 day yoga challenge (committing to at least 15 minutes of yoga every day for 30 days), and more than a month since I began my new yoga practice at the St. Paul Yoga Center with a 6-pass Groupon, I can say that I feel..... much better. Much, much better. A subtle calmness has permeated most of my moments... especially in the last week or since I started the every day practice. While I haven't indeed practiced every single day as I had intended, I can definately sense a difference in my mood and in my body. I have a number of issues in my life that I'm dealing with and while I would normally be feeling down, defeated and sad, instead I feel more strong and hopeful than usual. Do I still have to deal with these challenges? Absolutely. Do I feel like their still insurmountable? Not so much anymore. I'm noticing my breath more in everyday life. Keeping my shoulders back and down, my posture feels sooo much better... Oh! and Chaturanga... while I still am lowering with knees bent and down, I'm more consistently able to lower myself, elbows pinned to my sides, gracefully and with strength! It feels so good. A smooth chaturanga transition to upward dog is in my near future, I think!
So, overall, I'm very satisfied with my progress so far. So many benefits are already becoming apparent for my life.
Peace and Namaste
Sharee
Yoga Journal:
(chaht-tour-ANG-ah don-DAHS-anna)
chaturanga = four limbs (chatur = four
anga = limb)
danda = staff (refers to the spine, the central "staff" or support of the body)
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Settling In
On Friday, I received two new videos that I ordered from Amazon.
Power Yoga for Every Body with Over 20 Workouts for All Levels of Students with (Barbara Benagh)
and
Element: Power Yoga with (Ashley Turner)
First I previewed the Element video first and REALLY think I'm going to like it, but right off the bat on Friday night, I knew I would not have the energy for it. So I popped the Power Yoga for Every Body one instead as it boasts over 20 workout options. My first impression was that of complete underwhelm. The gray drapping fabric background: energy sucking. I picked one of the intermediate options and begun anyway. I did about 5 minutes before I was bored to tears. The narration track is annoying and the cues seemed way off, missing detail and too late. Suddenly, I was feeling lethargic and ravenous, so I turned it off and went to Chipotle for dinner. Its gonna be awhile before I put that one in again....
I also received my new purple mat and blue yogarat hot yoga towel.
Yogarat Hot Yoga Microfiber Towel
Aurorae Yoga Mat, purple
I'm going to need to wash the mat before use because its too slippery and the towel is going to have to be reserved for the hot yoga room because wetting it just made it cold and distracting. The mat is essentially exactly the same as my thick-ish, dirty, old turquoise mat, just a lot less sticky since its brand new. I'm reserving judgement on these items for when they are more broken in. I'm also excited to use at some point, the Rosin Bag I ordered: Rosin Bag
Day 5 - 5 minutes, tired and hungry after work, wasn't inspired to continue :( (see above)
Day 6 - 30 minutes, video Yoga For Weight Loss for Beginners / practiced Half Moon Pose, really good, sweaty practice.
Day 7 - Recovery Day, no energy, thus no yoga. I drank too much the night before... eek.
Day 8 - 50 minutes, Step by Step Yoga Journal videos, Practice 1 and some of 2. I really like these, although I wish there was a complete practice somewhere in the 3 disc set that was at a beginner/intermediate level. The disc 1 practice ended after sun salutes and standing poses. Disc 2 has some added back bends and twists. I haven't seen disc 3 yet, but balancing poses and inversions are taught. I would like a little of all of it in a single workout that wasn't too advanced. Upward Facing Wheel Pose? I don't think I'm ready for that yet......
Peace and Namaste
Sharee
Power Yoga for Every Body with Over 20 Workouts for All Levels of Students with (Barbara Benagh)
and
Element: Power Yoga with (Ashley Turner)
First I previewed the Element video first and REALLY think I'm going to like it, but right off the bat on Friday night, I knew I would not have the energy for it. So I popped the Power Yoga for Every Body one instead as it boasts over 20 workout options. My first impression was that of complete underwhelm. The gray drapping fabric background: energy sucking. I picked one of the intermediate options and begun anyway. I did about 5 minutes before I was bored to tears. The narration track is annoying and the cues seemed way off, missing detail and too late. Suddenly, I was feeling lethargic and ravenous, so I turned it off and went to Chipotle for dinner. Its gonna be awhile before I put that one in again....
I also received my new purple mat and blue yogarat hot yoga towel.
Yogarat Hot Yoga Microfiber Towel
Aurorae Yoga Mat, purple
I'm going to need to wash the mat before use because its too slippery and the towel is going to have to be reserved for the hot yoga room because wetting it just made it cold and distracting. The mat is essentially exactly the same as my thick-ish, dirty, old turquoise mat, just a lot less sticky since its brand new. I'm reserving judgement on these items for when they are more broken in. I'm also excited to use at some point, the Rosin Bag I ordered: Rosin Bag
Day 5 - 5 minutes, tired and hungry after work, wasn't inspired to continue :( (see above)
Day 6 - 30 minutes, video Yoga For Weight Loss for Beginners / practiced Half Moon Pose, really good, sweaty practice.
Day 7 - Recovery Day, no energy, thus no yoga. I drank too much the night before... eek.
Day 8 - 50 minutes, Step by Step Yoga Journal videos, Practice 1 and some of 2. I really like these, although I wish there was a complete practice somewhere in the 3 disc set that was at a beginner/intermediate level. The disc 1 practice ended after sun salutes and standing poses. Disc 2 has some added back bends and twists. I haven't seen disc 3 yet, but balancing poses and inversions are taught. I would like a little of all of it in a single workout that wasn't too advanced. Upward Facing Wheel Pose? I don't think I'm ready for that yet......
Peace and Namaste
Sharee
Thursday, October 20, 2011
30 Day Yoga Challenge
Let me just start off by saying that I am no good at blogging. I'm not a good writer... interesting thoughts elude me when I'm staring at a blank screen. I think its the A.D.D in me. Anyway.. I think I can make sure to go ahead and add that to my list of future yoga practice intentions ;) Part of my job as a photographer is to keep my photography blog updated, current and interesting, but I never seem to be in the mood to blog. hmmmmm ... someday I will definately meditate on that.
About a month ago, I purchased a Groupon for a 6 session punch card to the Saint Paul Yoga Center and started going once a week. Let me just start off by saying that I've practiced yoga in the past (and loved it from the start), but somewhere along the way, fell off the blissful yoga wagon. I know that yoga is good for my body, mind and soul, and I've been craving it for awhile now. The groupon was JUST what I needed to get my jiggly butt off the couch, let me tell you. I've since exhausted the 6 class Groupon and have also incorporated Corepower Yoga (CP) into the schedule.... I think it will be good to keep up both... SPYC for Iyengar-type alignment and ensuring that I have good body awareness and am doing the yoga as properly as I can.... and CP for the pure sweaty workout aspect. I like the sweating and getting a good workout, but I also really appreciate the awareness and peacefullness of the regular (and more traditionally spiritual) classes at SPYC. I think in the future, I'll also try on Ashtanga and perhaps Jivamukti or Anusara type classes as well. Not to mention home practice. .....
Which brings me to the title of the first post of my new yoga blog... The 30 Day Yoga Challenge.
Intention: I will practice yoga for at least 15 minutes every single day for 30 days.
So far, up to day 4 is complete.
Day 1 (10/17/11) - Video, Beginning Vinyasa Power Yoga, PM
Day 2 (10/18/11) - Corepower C1 Class, 7:30pm
Day 3 (10/19/11) - Video, Vinyasa Flow Yoga, Instructional Version, Seane Corn, PM
Day 4 (10/20/11) (today) - Self Practice, 16 minutes, AM
Do there you have it. I'm on my way to enlightenment! How 'bout that!
Namaste
About a month ago, I purchased a Groupon for a 6 session punch card to the Saint Paul Yoga Center and started going once a week. Let me just start off by saying that I've practiced yoga in the past (and loved it from the start), but somewhere along the way, fell off the blissful yoga wagon. I know that yoga is good for my body, mind and soul, and I've been craving it for awhile now. The groupon was JUST what I needed to get my jiggly butt off the couch, let me tell you. I've since exhausted the 6 class Groupon and have also incorporated Corepower Yoga (CP) into the schedule.... I think it will be good to keep up both... SPYC for Iyengar-type alignment and ensuring that I have good body awareness and am doing the yoga as properly as I can.... and CP for the pure sweaty workout aspect. I like the sweating and getting a good workout, but I also really appreciate the awareness and peacefullness of the regular (and more traditionally spiritual) classes at SPYC. I think in the future, I'll also try on Ashtanga and perhaps Jivamukti or Anusara type classes as well. Not to mention home practice. .....
Which brings me to the title of the first post of my new yoga blog... The 30 Day Yoga Challenge.
Intention: I will practice yoga for at least 15 minutes every single day for 30 days.
So far, up to day 4 is complete.
Day 1 (10/17/11) - Video, Beginning Vinyasa Power Yoga, PM
Day 2 (10/18/11) - Corepower C1 Class, 7:30pm
Day 3 (10/19/11) - Video, Vinyasa Flow Yoga, Instructional Version, Seane Corn, PM
Day 4 (10/20/11) (today) - Self Practice, 16 minutes, AM
Do there you have it. I'm on my way to enlightenment! How 'bout that!
Namaste
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)