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.