Yoga

One of Kovas' barefoot running pals was there

After last Friday's bike fitting, when we couldn't get me into a more aero position because my flexibility is so awful, I finally decided it was time to do something about it.  I'm like that.  Though I might be acutely aware of an issue for a long time, I usually decide to act on it as the result of a singular circumstance or event.  And when I do, I jump right on it.  I have a lot of things on my bucket list.  But my bucket list is also like a mystery grab bag - I never know what I am going to tackle until I get a hair up my ass about it.

Wednesday workouts currently call for core work.  But I thought it might be a good idea to substitute it with yoga instead.  I'll be the first to admit that I don't know much about yoga past a general understanding that it addresses flexibility issues and that many of the yoga postures would work my core anyway.  So the more I thought about it, the more it made sense.  My gym had a class scheduled for 5:30.  The schedule simply said "yoga" though, so I had no idea what that meant.  Was it a beginners class where I would be fine?  Or was it a more  advanced class whereby walking through the door is an acknowledgement that the attendee has a basic understanding of what is about to happen and knows the bare minimum as to not be a liability to the class?  A mystery.

But what's the worst thing that could happen?  I figured if I got there early enough I could claim the spot nearest the door and then make a quick and quiet egress if the shit hit the fan.  So I got there, claimed that spot and waited for the class to start.

Once we started, I quickly learned 3 things:

- Yoga is hard.
- If I had any lingering doubts that me being inflexible was just a big misunderstanding between me and my body, the proof is just too irrefutable to deny anymore.
- Yoga is awesome.

I knew it was going to be hard.  I've heard enough arguments between yoga enthusiasts and their detractors about the relative difficulty of yoga, and always sensed that the enthusiasts where right.  But you can't put a face to the pain until you meet that face.

As to the flexibility?  I was maxing out at about 50 or 60% extended compared to almost everyone in the room.  I was the only one who's knees started quivering when I tried to touch my toes.  And I was the only one who fell over during the one leg balancing postures.  I went down - hard and loud, to the soundtrack of a new-age flute solo dubbed over the sound of a bubbling brook.

But despite the challenges, I loved it.  It's enough of a core workout so I didn't miss a thing by substituting in the yoga.  And there is no way I would never have thought to move my body into most of the postures we used on my own.  Plus I liked the tempo of the class.  Over the hour, we started with a warm-up, then quickly moved into some really challenging stuff and then had a nice slow cool down where by then end we were just lying on our backs.

By the way, I'm sorry I'm using terms like "really challenging stuff".  All the postures have names, I just don't remember many of them.  I was too busy trying to inhale and exhale correctly, which I really couldn't do that well either.

Anjali Mudra

The one movement name I do remember is the Anjali Mudra, or the gesture of respect.  We'd come to this at the end of each series of postures.  Right away, I found it to be really powerful and cleansing.  Something about being in this position instantly revitalizes you and gets you ready for what's next.

This morning, I feel like I had a workout.  And I can't say that I feel this way after every "core" workout I've done.  So I'll definitely be going back.