This yoga session was challenging and infuriating at the same time.
I fell out of my adjustment in my half moon sideways pose, and could not correct it in time, which was quite annoying. My backward bend I loved, as I could feel myself pushing myself to go really far back. My forward bend was not so good. I can feel the stiffness in my upper back, so I can’t really straighten my legs as much as I want to. I will have to work on how to make my back less stiff in my next session.
Standing leg to knee pose was quite exhilarating, as I finally held the pose! Okay, so I only did it in the second pose, but it is such a great achievement! When I started, I could barely hold my foot up for 5 seconds! I’m really happy with this achievement.
I yawned during the Awkward pose, and did it without any fuss. I am really convinced that I yawn due to boredom and not for any other reason. I didn’t yawn for any other poses.
After that, my balance went off a bit. Standing bow pose was not good at all. I could only hold the pose for a few seconds, but I did push myself further. There was some progress in terms of the pose, but my balance was not good. Don’t know why. Balancing stick was no better. I made a point of locking out the knees and pointing the foot so hard that I could feel the cramp. But I didn’t feel that I was really pushing myself. I was more cross that I was losing my balance.
I had to stop during Standing Separate Leg Stretching pose. I was really enjoying the stretch....until I got cramp. I stayed in position until it was time, and then stood out the next pose. I was able to move into Triangle pose easily, but I was getting breathless from that pose on.
I had come to the class quite late, so all the prime estate had been taken. I was left with the Hades spot, the hottest spot in the room. Funny that, I usually like the mat next to Hades, as it I find my hips can reach the floor in Fixed Firm pose. It was just today that it seemed as if I needed to exert myself more. I didn’t really feel any hotter. I fell out of the second pose of Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee pose. I just couldn’t do it. I just ran out of puff. I was certainly not bored. I was blooming tired.
Then the pins and needles in my foot started. ARRRGGHHH..............
Tree pose was a bit difficult as my balance just went. Really frustrating.
So when breathlessness kicked in, so did laziness. I started to go into the poses about 10 seconds after everyone else. I knew that I could do it, but didn’t. With the exception of Camel pose, I went through the motions, and at one point even I was being cross with myself. I was getting really angry.
I think Sam noticed as well as she told me off for using a towel when doing wind removing poses. Well, actually, she didn’t specifically say it was me, but as I was the only one that was using a towel, so I guess that she was. She said not to use it as it can develop from a prop to a crutch. I agree, but it was rather slippery.
Why was I so bored and so apathetic in my poses?
It took a long time for me to deal with it. By the time I went into Head to Knee stretching pose, I stretched further than I ever did.
I felt the results of my efforts. I could feel my knees glowing from the standing head to knee pose. My lower back felt a bit tender from me pushing in my camel pose.
Well, there has been some progress. Tomorrow waits.
Monday, 30 November 2009
The Beginning 1-5/30
Five days ago, I had decided to do the 30 day Bikram challenge. After surfing for inspiration from others on how others dealt with finding the time to do so, I have now decided to keep a blog.
Since starting it, I have felt a few differences, but I think I will note down how my poses are the current moment.
Deep Breathing – Pranayama
I need to keep my knees locked out even more and keep my weight evenly between both feet.
Half Moon - Ardha Chandrasina
I am almost at 90 degrees in the sideways pose, and I need to loose the fear and stretch further back. In order to do this, I must lock my knees more.
Hands to Feet - Padahasthasana
The forward bending pose is a challenge for me to work on. I feel suffocated in this pose. My back feels really stiff in this pose and I cannot lock my knees. A lot to do!
Awkward Pose - Utkatasana
I need to push my buttocks out more when doing this pose. This is a challenging one!
Eagle Pose - Garurasana
As I suffer from pronated feet, this is difficult. I have to watch how I distribute the weight in my feet. I can’t tell my left from my right!
This is one of the most difficult poses for me. I can stretch my leg out whilst on one leg, but my muscles burn me so I have to do the pose for no more than 30 seconds. I will make it longer!
Standing Bow Pose - Dandayamana Dhanurasana
I am on my way to do vertical splits now. It is now a case of controlling myself mentally and push myself further.
Balancing Stick - Tuladandasana
This is another one that is more mental than physical for me.
Standing Separate Leg Stretching - Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Paschimotthanasana
I still cannot grab my ankles in this position. There is a long way to go, but I am happy with the progress.
Triangle Pose - Trikanasana
I need to push my hips out further in this one. I suffer from aching arms in this position and is the main reason why I do fall out of posture and rest.
Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee - Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Janushirasana
I seem to be resting with this position. I need to push my forehead down and straighten my knee more.
Tree Pose - Tadasana
This pose is difficult for me. It is also a mental exercise. When I do this posture at home in a non heated environment, I can hold my foot against my leg without support. At a Bikram class, this is not the case.
Toe stand - Padangustasana
I hope to get there!
Dead Body Pose - Savasana
I have learnt now to keep my body still. Now the next task is keeping the mind still too!
Wind Removing Pose - Pavanamuktasana
I do not feel that I am really challenging myself with this pose. Something to work on.
Cobra Pose - Bhujangasana
I have curled up from the floor and it is quite high, but again I do not feel that I am challenging myself.
Locust Pose - Salabhasana
I do not feel that I am challenging myself in this pose at the moment.
Full Locust Pose - Poorna Salabhasana
This is challenging! Sometimes I can do both, but sometimes I can’t do any at all! It is more of a mental challenge for me and something to work on.
Bow Pose - Dhanurasana
I need to kick out more to form a circle. I do not feel that I am pushing myself at all. This is one of my strongest poses and I feel quite lazy about this. Not good.
Fixed Firm Pose - Supta Vajrasana
I cannot sit on my buttocks with this pose. This is a definite challenge.
Half Tortoise Pose - Ardha Kurmasana
I cannot sit on my heels, nor can I place my forehead on the floor before my hands. I really need to work on this.
Camel Pose - Ustrasana
I used to hate this. Now I love it, but I know that I must really push myself to the limit with this one.
Rabbit Pose - Sasangasana
Not my favourite pose. I can’t really get a full back stretch with this one. I also feel quite suffocated with this. I do not find this a comfortable pose.
Head to Knee and Stretching Pose - Janushirasana and Paschimotthanasana
This is definitely a challenge for me! It isn’t so much the stretched leg, but the bent leg which needs to be kept on the floor. Painful as it is, it is a pose that I look forward to work on.
Spine Twisting Pose - Ardha Matsyendrasana
I have difficulty in resting my hip on the mat. I need to work on this.
Blowing in Firm Pose - Kapalbhati in Vajrasana
I like this one and feel a really good stomach workout. I do make an effort to make my blowing as powerful as I can get.
Since starting the challenge, I have felt a few differences. I have listed how I feel about my postures at the moment and have found that the real problem with me is boredom. I know that I can do the poses, but I will simply go through the motions. In my fifth class, I even caught myself yawning during the standing postures, which are the most difficult postures for me. I certainly was not tired from lack of sleep or even affected by the heat.
In that class, the fact that I did yawn made me very reflective. Was I pushing myself to the limit? I was most definitely not. That worried me. What was the purpose of my being in the class in the first place? Keeping this in mind, not once did I flake out or drop out of any postures due to fatigue. I was going to complete all of my poses, whether my mental inner self liked it or not.
I had been getting pins and needles in my feet since Awkward pose, which was making my feet feel very heavy. It went away after Camel pose. It had affected my standing head to knee pose and I could only hold my position for only 30 seconds in the first pose. Nevertheless, I stuck it out. It was hard.
I did push in my standing bow pose. I never REALLY kicked before in my final posture. I always hung on in there. I never really pushed and I know that I should be able to do a standing split pose very soon. Now I know that it possible. I think it is now just my mind blocking me. I would have become challenged to push myself in every pose, even though I may have discomfort in other parts of my body.
It is definitely a more mental challenge for me.
Since starting it, I have felt a few differences, but I think I will note down how my poses are the current moment.
Deep Breathing – Pranayama
I need to keep my knees locked out even more and keep my weight evenly between both feet.
Half Moon - Ardha Chandrasina
I am almost at 90 degrees in the sideways pose, and I need to loose the fear and stretch further back. In order to do this, I must lock my knees more.
Hands to Feet - Padahasthasana
The forward bending pose is a challenge for me to work on. I feel suffocated in this pose. My back feels really stiff in this pose and I cannot lock my knees. A lot to do!
Awkward Pose - Utkatasana
I need to push my buttocks out more when doing this pose. This is a challenging one!
Eagle Pose - Garurasana
As I suffer from pronated feet, this is difficult. I have to watch how I distribute the weight in my feet. I can’t tell my left from my right!
This is one of the most difficult poses for me. I can stretch my leg out whilst on one leg, but my muscles burn me so I have to do the pose for no more than 30 seconds. I will make it longer!
Standing Bow Pose - Dandayamana Dhanurasana
I am on my way to do vertical splits now. It is now a case of controlling myself mentally and push myself further.
Balancing Stick - Tuladandasana
This is another one that is more mental than physical for me.
Standing Separate Leg Stretching - Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Paschimotthanasana
I still cannot grab my ankles in this position. There is a long way to go, but I am happy with the progress.
Triangle Pose - Trikanasana
I need to push my hips out further in this one. I suffer from aching arms in this position and is the main reason why I do fall out of posture and rest.
Standing Separate Leg Head to Knee - Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Janushirasana
I seem to be resting with this position. I need to push my forehead down and straighten my knee more.
Tree Pose - Tadasana
This pose is difficult for me. It is also a mental exercise. When I do this posture at home in a non heated environment, I can hold my foot against my leg without support. At a Bikram class, this is not the case.
Toe stand - Padangustasana
I hope to get there!
Dead Body Pose - Savasana
I have learnt now to keep my body still. Now the next task is keeping the mind still too!
Wind Removing Pose - Pavanamuktasana
I do not feel that I am really challenging myself with this pose. Something to work on.
Cobra Pose - Bhujangasana
I have curled up from the floor and it is quite high, but again I do not feel that I am challenging myself.
Locust Pose - Salabhasana
I do not feel that I am challenging myself in this pose at the moment.
Full Locust Pose - Poorna Salabhasana
This is challenging! Sometimes I can do both, but sometimes I can’t do any at all! It is more of a mental challenge for me and something to work on.
Bow Pose - Dhanurasana
I need to kick out more to form a circle. I do not feel that I am pushing myself at all. This is one of my strongest poses and I feel quite lazy about this. Not good.
Fixed Firm Pose - Supta Vajrasana
I cannot sit on my buttocks with this pose. This is a definite challenge.
Half Tortoise Pose - Ardha Kurmasana
I cannot sit on my heels, nor can I place my forehead on the floor before my hands. I really need to work on this.
Camel Pose - Ustrasana
I used to hate this. Now I love it, but I know that I must really push myself to the limit with this one.
Rabbit Pose - Sasangasana
Not my favourite pose. I can’t really get a full back stretch with this one. I also feel quite suffocated with this. I do not find this a comfortable pose.
Head to Knee and Stretching Pose - Janushirasana and Paschimotthanasana
This is definitely a challenge for me! It isn’t so much the stretched leg, but the bent leg which needs to be kept on the floor. Painful as it is, it is a pose that I look forward to work on.
Spine Twisting Pose - Ardha Matsyendrasana
I have difficulty in resting my hip on the mat. I need to work on this.
Blowing in Firm Pose - Kapalbhati in Vajrasana
I like this one and feel a really good stomach workout. I do make an effort to make my blowing as powerful as I can get.
Since starting the challenge, I have felt a few differences. I have listed how I feel about my postures at the moment and have found that the real problem with me is boredom. I know that I can do the poses, but I will simply go through the motions. In my fifth class, I even caught myself yawning during the standing postures, which are the most difficult postures for me. I certainly was not tired from lack of sleep or even affected by the heat.
In that class, the fact that I did yawn made me very reflective. Was I pushing myself to the limit? I was most definitely not. That worried me. What was the purpose of my being in the class in the first place? Keeping this in mind, not once did I flake out or drop out of any postures due to fatigue. I was going to complete all of my poses, whether my mental inner self liked it or not.
I had been getting pins and needles in my feet since Awkward pose, which was making my feet feel very heavy. It went away after Camel pose. It had affected my standing head to knee pose and I could only hold my position for only 30 seconds in the first pose. Nevertheless, I stuck it out. It was hard.
I did push in my standing bow pose. I never REALLY kicked before in my final posture. I always hung on in there. I never really pushed and I know that I should be able to do a standing split pose very soon. Now I know that it possible. I think it is now just my mind blocking me. I would have become challenged to push myself in every pose, even though I may have discomfort in other parts of my body.
It is definitely a more mental challenge for me.
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