It's Saturday! And how did I improve myself today?  I ran!

Well, truthfully it was more a walk/run.  I am out of condition, and not in the right mindset to run with great oomph. My body feels heavy and sluggish.  My mind isn't really into it.

But a walk and run? That I can do! And I did, for about an hour and a half. Down the stairs, over and around Mosquito Creek, and up and down McKay Watershed.  On a beautiful sunny day!  It felt good. :)

And I must keep this up. I am prepaid and registered for the Seabreeze half marathon, on Saturday August 13th.  So that leaves me....just a little more than four months to train.

By then, I want to be:

• 10 to 15 pounds lighter
• Have at least three 2 hour runs under my belt
• Ran a sub 55 min Summerfast
• Attending yoga three times a week (lunch breaks!)
• Connecting with friends
• Reading a book
• Writing and reflecting
• Garden in full bloom

Yay!!! :)

A new beginning - a new 40 Days...

Each day, I strive to learn. And each day, I do something well.

Tuesday March 29th

• Being light-hearted, friendly and engaged in my interactions with strangers
• Started LoseIt

Wednesday March 30th.

• Went to a noon hour yoga class

Thursday March 31st

• Out for a walk
• dinner at Freshii

Friday April 1st

• early morning yoga - 7am, and it felt oh so good!  

Day 40 - Mission Accomplished!

Yoga Challenge complete!

The grand finale was an 11am yin class with Cameron.  I was fully present for this class, and it was devine.  

Day 39 - Yintastic

Still not feeling very well, but made it to a 7:15pm yin yoga class with Diana.

Interestingly, I've noticed a few trends on my yoga challenge.  There were the spurts when I did a ton of Kundalini classes.  That was highly energetic and a lot of fun, and the most athletically challenging, as those classes rock it out of you.  Then there was the steady stream of early morning yoga classes, when I was totally on my game, rising bright and early.  And let's not forget when I started to invite more vinyassa flow into my life, and gained better insight into the teacher style that I prefer in that genre.

And then lately - lots of yin.  Nice gentle, barely moving, deep stretching, totally chilled out yin yoga!

It's perfect when you are doing  a double header, or not feeling all that great, but truth is it has it's own amazing charm.  I especially like yin my body is a little sore, especially from skiing.  With that little bit of tenderness, you can really target the fascia and muscle release, and oohhhh yeahhhhhh, it's so good!  

Day 38 - Doing Yoga, for the sake of Doing Yoga

The yoga challenge is quickly coming to a close, so there is no messing around at this point. I need to get my classes in!  Hence the double header today, and the reason why I am doing yoga when I am feeling unwell.

I didn't feel very well.  Kind of naseous, tired and uneasy.  And yet I pulled myself out of my early evening, after work nap, to got my butt to yoga class.  This is not ideal, but I can't stop now.

Luckily the yoga on tap was an 8.30pm Yin class with Beverly.  I only listened to half of what she suggested, and more or less relaxed with a few stretches.

I am not a fan of doing yoga for the sake of doing yoga.  To really get something out it, you have be present, with focus, and desire.  

But a yogi on a challenge has to do what she has to do! 

Day 37 - Back on Track

All my double headers and self-discipline paid off, as I went away for the weekend, fell off the wagon, and yet my yoga challenge is still on track!  

After a four day absence, I was back to yoga.  This time for a 7am hatha class with Carina.

Once again, I found myself feeling good and meditative in Carina's calm energy.  She started the class  with a long meditation, and got right into it.  The class was challenging, but in a slow long holding sort of way, and it's just right for the early AM.

Day 36 - Nooner

I worked from home today, which enabled me to take a Friday nooner class.

12 noon hatha yoga with Colin.  He taught a New Year's Day class on January 1st, which was just awesome.  Super positive and energizing.  I've been looking forward to having a class with him ever since.  And again, he did a few things that stood out.  He had everyone sit close together at the start of class, and read a short passage from a wellness book that he is writing. Then he took us through a fairly vigorous flow, with funky twists and leg raising actions.

The most amazing part of class was at the very end, when he had us do three back bends.  I started off with bridge.  Then, without thinking about it too much, I went into full wheel, and held my whole outer body really high.  For me, this may be the pinnacle of asanas.  The strength and the incredible, deep stretch across the tightness of my chest, shoulders and arms is exhilarating and frightening at the same time.  I often doubt my ability to hold it, so I either don't go in very far, or I collapse early.

But not this time.  I raised my body high, my arms stretched straighter than they normally do, with my chest raised bravely into the sky, my pelvis and and hips thrust high into the air, and my thighs stretched long with solid strength.  And I held it.  And held it.  It felt amazing!  And then I did it again.

Wheel is a grand pose. When I come out of wheel, my entire body is buzzing.  I actually feel high.  It's incredible.

My hesitancy to go into wheel means that I often do bridge instead.  But I can see that with consistent practice, the postures are building my strength and confidence so that I can do these grand poses with ease.  Bridge, camel, and twists - these asanas work to open my front body, which helps me build up to a strong for wheel.   This can only get better.


I am also feeling a shift with crow. I've been holding it a bit longer.  Just a few seconds more, but it's a little more forward, I am starting to feel the balance.

Hmmm, this is making me think... I wonder what I could master if I really stick to it?  I am not just talking about yoga!