I started seriously doing yoga in fall 2014, and I have come to notice a crazy difference. Before that, it was usually just if I was tensed or stiff or had trouble sleeping. After working with quite a few of Erica Vetra’s videos, I decided it was time to get back to frequently doing yoga. And it wasn’t easy, let me tell you. (Otherwise, why have a blog?)
Before I go any further, I will explain that I usually stick with sequences that are 20-35 minutes long- that way my muscles are WORKED but not to the point of uselessness, and I still have the mental focus needed. My goal was to do yoga every second day. At first, it was challenging. It was a bit wonky, doing yoga and getting into running, my muscles did not have the energy for both in one day. Then, I found my rhythm- alternating between running and yoga with both on Fridays, and Saturdays off. That worked for a good while, and then I went to visit M over the holidays. And honestly? It was the best thing for me. I like routine but I got too locked in. Heading to SLC for a week and a half was the perfect break. And when I got back, I was excited and ready to go back to yoga (and running, too, but that isn’t what this post is about).
By the beginning of February, I had found that if I went more than a day in between sequences, I felt stiff and tight in my legs, and my lower back. I never really understood what they meant about your lower back being tight until I started doing yoga and feeling the difference. Even if I can’t do yoga, I still take 10 minutes or so to stretch out. I do different poses a work (“normal” looking poses). I’m doing yoga about 6 days a week now, still just the 20-35 minutes but pretty much every day now. I sleep a lot better, I have more energy, and I feel more accomplished when I can feel the difference in my poses.
Katelynne just showed me a 30 day yoga challenge from doyouyoga and I did the first sequence last night. I had tried an intermediate sequence from Erica but after about 10 minutes it proved too much on top of my running. So, I decided to do the first day. It was relaxing, and I had a fantastic stretch. It was very calming (to the point of almost falling asleep). I would like to be able to do all 30 sequences, though not in 30 days. I like the balance it provides to my more strenuous sequences and running. The only downfall with this challenge is that there is no talking- I like that Erica keeps up the conversation so to speak during difficult poses, it takes your mind off of the fact that the pose is slowly killing you.
I’m proud that I am consistently working on my yoga, and happy with the differences that I am seeing in my life (physically and mentally). I hate hot yoga (me and heat are not friends), and I think that a lot of my motivation comes from the fact that I can do it at home- no excuses can be made. Yoga studios here are mostly hot yoga and/or an hour plus. I’ve found this way works for me, but there are a million other ways to do it.
Do you yoga?
Until tomorrow,
The Historian!
I had a yoga teacher that was cool with modifications! In fact, she usually gave us two options if there was a harder move!! I remember one time she gave us the option of happy baby or the wheel – both good moves, but happy baby was really good if you couldn’t quite get to the wheel yet.
Good yoga teachers should definitely be okay with modifications, since you can really hurt yourself doing yoga if you push too hard.
I think that’s so awesome that you’re really noticing a difference!! I much prefer yoga at home, but sometimes I do miss going to a class and having the teacher put me outside my yoga comfort zone for a while!
Do you find some teachers are more or less okay with modifications? I have had trouble with one thinking that students should always go further 🙁