Yoga 101 #19

As most of you know by now I have rediscovered the joy of working out. I go to the gym a minimum of 3-4 days per week. While there I run for about 20 to 30 minutes on the treadmill. After my cardio is finished I then hit the weights. Then I do a short ab workout.

Several years ago Shawn and I joined a Pilate's class at the gym where we went to school. I loved it. However, when we moved I had a hard time finding a good class so I stopped doing Pilate's. Well three weeks ago I found the most amazing Pilate's video. I have now been doing that video 3-4 days a week as well. It's great because it is broken up into four 10 minute workouts. Two ab workouts, one upper body and one lower body. I love it and I can already tell a difference in my ab area! Wahoo!!

Well tonight I decided to try something totally new and different for me. One of my friends joined a Yoga class a few weeks ago and asked me to go with her. Tonight was my first class and I loved it! However, it was a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. It is hard to sit or stand in a certain pose. It doesn't sound like it would be, but trust me when I tell you it is. The class was a beginner two level, although I'm not totally sure what that means and lasted for an hour and a half.

I don't think my body has gotten that good of stretch in well,... ever. It felt really good to stretch my muscles and my body to that length. It was also extremely relaxing and peaceful. Our teacher has the most wonderful relaxing voice ever. Just listening to him talk was making me relax and feel sleepy. We did a wide variety of poses and stretches from the triangle, to the mountain, to the Samarie, to the tree pose to the famous down ward dog.

Overall I think I did really well. There was one point where I almost did crack up laughing because the lady in front of me passed gas. I know it happens and probably happens a lot when your body is stretching and straining to keep a pose, but for whatever reason tonight it cracked me up. Luckily, I only giggled a little to myself so I don't think anyone else in the class heard anything. Oh, and there was one time when I almost face planted. That tree position is kinda tricky and I'm known for not having the greatest balance anyways. Lets just say instead of a strong sturdy tree. I was more of a strong tree swaying in the wind. And, for the record, I didn't fall over, I caught myself. The best part of the class was the last ten minutes when we got to lay down, work on our breathing and just relax. The teacher dimmed the lights and turn the heat on really high. I loved it! I love being all warm and cozy like that. We rested like that for ten minutes before class was over. I'm telling you, if we would have rested there two more minutes I would have been sound asleep.

It was a great class and I can't wait to go back again. I think I'm just going to go ahead and get the monthly pass instead of the day pass, I enjoyed it that much.

Do any of you practise Yoga? Do you enjoy it?

(Hey, this was a short post for me :) )