Progress Check

Summer is in full swing - dare I say it is half over? Noooo! - and my routines are solidly in place, so it is time for a progress check.

I have fully committed to a Level 2/3 warm yoga class once a week at the studio I actually pay for. I have also attended yoga at 24 Hour Fitness sporadically, but I find myself getting irritated with some of the teachers there.  Maybe I am too high on my horse and need to be humbled (from a lunge position, elongate the spine, clasp hands behind the back, then fold forward bringing chest to thigh: Humble Warrior) or maybe I am right, who's to say? But when a teacher gives unclear directions how to get into a difficult pose, or actually leads students through a flow with unsafe alignment for the spine or knees, I get a bit indignant and it does hamper my practice. Granted, I know enough to modify for myself and maintain safe postures and alignment, but I see otherwise fit people struggling, and I think: He could be more successful in that pose if he'd gotten into it differently or She could totally do this if she had been properly warmed up. And then I feel like just leaving the class and doing my own practice, and inviting those people to follow me. Pretty arrogant, I know, but that's what education brings, I guess. Sometimes ignorance really is bliss.

My own teaching continues with weekly Yoga in the Park sessions. I love the feel of the breeze and warm late afternoon sun on my body while doing yoga, and it is a blessing that others allow me to guide them as they enjoy it with me. I have had two people at each session, so it is rather intimate and personalized, which is nice! I get in a little bit of my own workout as I teach, but those 75 minute warm classes at the studio are where I really push my limits.

Walking and running have found their place in my schedule as well, usually alternating with yoga days, but sometimes occurring on a yoga day if it is a lighter workout - a walk as opposed to a run. And per my new yoga teacher's advice, I follow each walk/run with about 20 minutes of yoga to re-stretch those hamstrings and quads that I've just totally abused. Overall, it feels like a well-rounded workout when I am done, whether the bouts of exercise take place at 9 AM and 7 PM or all together in one 90-minute hurrah. I take a rest day once or twice a week, but often I will be enticed into a leisurely walk or bike ride with the family, so I don't feel too much guilt about taking it easy now and then.

One element that is missing is scheduling walks with friends. Last summer, that was a cornerstone of my multi-workout days, but this summer it has been tough to schedule. My one friend with two small kids now has to figure out how to bring both kids when only the younger still fits in a stroller. I also have other obligations - my stepson's drop off and pick up schedule, and a few hours a week that I am putting in on a summer curriculum design team - so any chunks of free time feel precious and few. I haven't yet been willing to risk adding something to the agenda that might cause a conflict or a time-crunch.

All this exercise is great for my strength and energy, but I'm not experiencing any weight loss, so I am starting a low-carb eating plan two days a week. There was an article in Prevention magazine about this plan, and it sounded very reasonable! So I started it this week, and I felt great, and it wasn't hard to manage. No carbs (or low carbs, anyhow) means no alcohol or sweets, so two days a week these temptations are off-limits. Carbs or not, I take in plenty of extra calories from alcohol and the occasion piece of chocolate or licorice that even if I ate moderate carbs the rest of the day, I would probably lose weight just cutting out those diet-destroyers!

I am still a work in progress, but I am feeling great about where I am right now.  My new goal is to be able to do the challenging poses in my warm yoga class that I currently cannot quite do.  My teacher said I have the strength (yeah!) but I need to work on flexibility in my hips and quads. So if you see me in the park after a run doing Dancer pose or King Pigeon, don't make fun - I am on a mission. I also know I need more core strength, but that's a topic for a whole 'nother day!

I am a work in progress

After nearly two months away from yoga, I cannot expect to be at my peak of performance. I also cannot expect to look like the yoga instructor (ever - not just after a hiatus!). I cannot even expect my body to fit right back into the feel of yoga without some protesting. This is all easy to know intellectually, but making this part of my emotional knowledge is more challenging. To be honest, one of the reasons I haven't been doing much yoga is that I know how it taps into my emotional body and I have been afraid to go there. I am holding so much in the knots and tight spaces in my body that I know once I start to loosen up in twists and openers I will be sobbing on the mat. I have wanted to deal with some of my pent up emotions first before prostrating myself on the mat.
But it is time.
I gave myself permission to not stress about getting to yoga, or doing any real workouts, for the last six weeks or so, because life was so busy and stressful and I just had to get through. I had to prioritize other things that had real deadlines, but now that those tasks have been accomplished, and the deadlines are past, I am committed to getting back to what I know makes me feel good.
So I have gained some weight and gotten a bit rusty and creaky. So what? Life happens.
I cannot judge myself against the younger woman who looks the way I want to look: she has probably had plenty of free time to devote to fitness (and rest), whereas I have had many obstacles in my way.  I also cannot give up hope that I will achieve my goal someday (not the goal of looking like someone twenty years younger - that would be foolish - but the goal of feeling fitter, slimmer, and generally more like the version of me I know is under there).
I have to just be okay that I am a work in progress. I am not there yet, but I am on my way. And in the meantime, I am happy to be feeling good, happy to be making steps, and grateful to be back on the mat.

Long time, no sleep.

Ahh, sleep.  My old friend, it has been too long. I mean serious sleep - deep, restful, no alarms anticipated, no interruptions - just the joy of waking slightly to roll over into the deep pillows and know I have nothing else to do but sleep some more.
Sleep my friend, I have missed you.
But now, with summer vacation officially here, and my days mostly open and unscheduled, I can re-acquaint myself with you. These past few days, I have enjoyed late morning sleep, when my body wakes me naturally at 6 but I do not allow myself to respond, setting my mental alarm for 8.  It is a reverse alarm approach - I am not allowed to get up before a certain time, rather than not being allowed sleep past that time. It is an approach that erases all the stress associated with a morning schedule.
I have not yet enjoyed any naps, as the first few days of summer break have been busy with errands, Father's Day, family visits, and fun. But today, between the hours of now and later, there is nothing that I "must" do, so I may enjoy a mid-day snooze, if the breeze entices me and there seems to be a soft spot of sunlight to lay in. Either way, it will be a choice - a delicious decision to drift for a while, or a conscious choice to keep moving about my day.  Today, there will be no overwhelming, heavy-body gravity pull towards the pillow that dictates the rest of my day. Today, I may want a nap, but I will not need a nap. That is a world of difference.
What's more, the allotment of at least 8 hours of sleep per night that I have required of myself the last few days has restored my energy and my motivation for exercise.  My body is starting to wake up, literally and metaphorically. Deeper rest has led to a resurgence of vitality.  I actually ran/walked for an hour yesterday and led a one-on-one yoga session. And then walked around the fair for three hours. No nap.
Today, a 75 minute heated yoga class actually seemed appealing. It was hard, but felt good. I made it through without dropping into child's pose.  I liked it enough to look forward to going again. No more excuses, no more bargaining with myself. Just restorative sleep, followed by authentic vigor and desire for activity.
Now that's the way it should be.

Bay to Break-a-Leg!

Countdown to Bay to Breakers 2013 has begun. I have three weeks - actually, two weeks and four days - until the B2B 12k, and it has been three months since I have run a 5k! Needless to say, I will not be running the whole thing. I would, however, like to run/walk it with some dignity. I will be walking with my guy and his brother, so I'm gonna say I could have finished faster but I wanted to stay with them. Yeah, that will be my alibi. Anyhow, I did a 30 minute run/walk this afternoon, so at least I am trying to get back in some shape.  I suppose my competitive running days are over (such as they ever were).  I will probably never beat any of my previous PRs again. But at least I am out there doing it!

A Flexible Old Friend

Despite the sluggish start to my school-year exercise schedule, the one constant has been yoga.   When my legs feel too heavy to drag myself out for a walk (Jog? What? Ha!) I can still convince myself to go to yoga. After all, it's just a lot of stretching and lying on a mat. I can do that! Well, that mindset convinces me to get to the gym, anyhow.  And once I'm there, and I start reaching to the sky, swan diving to the floor, pushing back into down dog, plank, reverse push up, and doing it all again and again - I've actually worked up a sweat and need those deep ujjayi breaths!
My goal since September has been to make it to yoga class twice a week. Some weeks I've done better than that, and even practiced at home, but other weeks I'm thrilled if I made it to class once. Yoga is like riding a bike - even when I haven't practiced in a while, my body remembers just what to do like it was yesterday. Or maybe yoga is like an old friend, always there when I need it, no hard feelings. I take comfort in my unconditional relationship with yoga even when I've let some distance grow. It is comforting to know my friend is there, waiting for me with welcome, and I look forward to visiting soon.

Hiatus Schmiatus - It's December!

So, my fitness blog has been on a hiatus, because my fitness routine took a bit of a hiatus.  The vigor with which I charged towards fitness over the summer disintegrated very quickly after the start of school. Oh, I had good intentions. "I'll get back to it after I get used to getting up so early." "I won't have to work this late once I have my lesson plans together."  Funny how none of it ever gets easier. The 5:45 alarm is still unwelcome, the piles of papers to grade seems to grow as soon as it shrinks - the challenges embedded in daily life remain the same, and it is time to realize that I must work within that reality. All I can control is my reaction to the demands of my life, and all I can do is get creative with how to squeeze in the healthy habits that I dream about during my daily power nap.
It's December, but I think I am ready for a new year's resolution.

Fitness and Weight Loss Plan - Weeks 7, 8 and 9? Did I really let that much time slip by?

Have I really not written in twenty-one days? I promise that I didn’t take three weeks off from working out! No, I’ve just had a shift in focus, which is natural and expected, and haven't sat down to reflect and write much lately. End of summer, stepson back to his mom’s house, starting to think about school again.  It has changed my workout schedule, though, even though my time has been very flexible this past week, and I am worried that once my schedule changes for real, when I go back to work next week, all this great summer resolve will disappear.
I signed up for five more sessions with Revelle.  At least she will help keep me on track one day a week.  I had to say goodbye to Monday Buddha Barre last week - I used up the last of my ten pre-paid sessions, and I won’t be free in the mid-day anymore starting next week. That timing was just about perfect!  I can still try to make Wednesday evening Buddha Barre, but that is so much tougher.  I really love the workout it gives me, so I’ll probably find myself craving it before long, but maybe it is okay to take a break while I get back into the swing of working full time.
I made myself a promise - if I lose those next five stubborn pounds - taking me down from 145 to 140 - I get to buy myself a pair of Lululemon yoga pants!  For anyone who knows Lululemon, you know what a treat that is! Perhaps I will go shopping (window, that is) today and pick out a pair or two that I really want. Might help my motivation!