I am now at the final stages of the yoga challenge! Two more classes to go tomorrow and I will have accomplished my goal. Overall I am not feeling much of a change… the major thing is when I laid out a couple of times in Frisbee I didn’t pull any muscles and my posture has improved. I am no skinner, my skinny jeans fit pretty much the same and I could still stand to lose a couple of lbs. Ah well, at least I have the sense of achievement.
In other exciting news I am now employed by UBC. I begin work on December 7th as the Marketing Communications Specialist for the International Student Initiative. I am really excited, the job sounds amazing, it is a year maternity contract and really I couldn’t have asked for a better opportunity. Never would have guessed things would have worked out THIS well!
Now that I am employed the next goals will be to learn how to snowboard, learn to not hate running… 10km is the goal (I am only good at running after things or away from things) and to get a decent apartment once my sublet is up. I feel like these may be ambitious but I feel more motivated to do things when I post them on my blog. Not sure I would have attempted to complete the yoga challenge if I didn’t post it.
On an interesting note, the singing yoga teacher made a reappearance today… he sang an original this time. While quite beautiful, it was a small class, so I am guessing he saw me unable to hold back my near giggles… must avoid this instructor! Sad part is he is a great teacher and has a great voice, but I am a small child.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Halfway mark
So keeping on top of attending yoga is hard enough, blogging about it is nearly impossible. Days 6-15, were a mix of flow, cycling and power yoga. I have reached the half way mark for the 30 dyas but I’m 3 classes behind. This MUST be rectified this week if I am going to enter the final stretch with any sanity.
I really wonder why I get involved with such challenges. Yes my posture is better and it gives me things to do in my unemployed state but I really don’t know what kind of fulfillment I will get from this. After talking with several other people today they all seem to feel that this was a good commitment and they can feel the difference… really I find it minimal. My body is still in some pain each day from some random move the previous day but I do have to admit I am getting better each class. I no longer worry that I might knock over my fellow yogi.
Today’s class was by far the hardest one to date. If I had taken this class a little earlier on I would have given up, but fortunately it was just a really good workout today.
In other news in life, I am due to give in and start temping. Enough faffing about and looking for employment that would be long-term, I need an income and I can look for a job on the side. I think I will properly settle into Vancouver upon employment… or that’s the hope. There have been a couple of longer-term options but I am waiting those out.
Random adventures as of late have been a night of clubbing with Krista, checking out the Aquarium with Ash and getting to know the volleyball crowd better. And in possibly the most exciting news I have purchased a guitar! Time to put some lyrics to songs and work on getting better. All is well in the land of rain and clouds.
I really wonder why I get involved with such challenges. Yes my posture is better and it gives me things to do in my unemployed state but I really don’t know what kind of fulfillment I will get from this. After talking with several other people today they all seem to feel that this was a good commitment and they can feel the difference… really I find it minimal. My body is still in some pain each day from some random move the previous day but I do have to admit I am getting better each class. I no longer worry that I might knock over my fellow yogi.
Today’s class was by far the hardest one to date. If I had taken this class a little earlier on I would have given up, but fortunately it was just a really good workout today.
In other news in life, I am due to give in and start temping. Enough faffing about and looking for employment that would be long-term, I need an income and I can look for a job on the side. I think I will properly settle into Vancouver upon employment… or that’s the hope. There have been a couple of longer-term options but I am waiting those out.
Random adventures as of late have been a night of clubbing with Krista, checking out the Aquarium with Ash and getting to know the volleyball crowd better. And in possibly the most exciting news I have purchased a guitar! Time to put some lyrics to songs and work on getting better. All is well in the land of rain and clouds.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Focus on the skinny jeans
Day 5: YHot
Definition: The room is heated to approximately 40ºC to facilitate safe, deep stretching, a detoxifying sweat and healthy glow. Sequencing is unique to each studio. All levels.
At the beginning of class the instructor tells you to find some kind of inspiration, to set a goal, find something that you will think of whenever you need to push yourself to continue. I would like to say that I have some really intriguing depth and I think of becoming an more enlightened being or finding my place in the world, or some other rather epic and totally unobtainable image but that simply isn’t the case. During today’s class (and I feel may become my reoccurring inspiration) my goal/image/ideal was thinking of my new skinny jeans and how much better I would look in them if I dropped a couple of lbs. In my defense I did purchase them to wear with long shirts and boots but it would be rather fun to be someone that was proportioned just a little differently.
While I enjoy hot yoga I don’t think it is one of my favorites. I don’t particularly enjoy the smell of the classroom, the squeaky noise my feet made today on the mat (they ran out of mat towels), the overwhelming warmth and generally the instructors are a little more out there. Today’s instructor was actually one of my favorite so far, she appeared to be totally balanced and normal. I think one of the reasons I notice this so much is because several people have informed me that hot yoga makes people go crazy… and really I would like to not do that.
Definition: The room is heated to approximately 40ºC to facilitate safe, deep stretching, a detoxifying sweat and healthy glow. Sequencing is unique to each studio. All levels.
At the beginning of class the instructor tells you to find some kind of inspiration, to set a goal, find something that you will think of whenever you need to push yourself to continue. I would like to say that I have some really intriguing depth and I think of becoming an more enlightened being or finding my place in the world, or some other rather epic and totally unobtainable image but that simply isn’t the case. During today’s class (and I feel may become my reoccurring inspiration) my goal/image/ideal was thinking of my new skinny jeans and how much better I would look in them if I dropped a couple of lbs. In my defense I did purchase them to wear with long shirts and boots but it would be rather fun to be someone that was proportioned just a little differently.
While I enjoy hot yoga I don’t think it is one of my favorites. I don’t particularly enjoy the smell of the classroom, the squeaky noise my feet made today on the mat (they ran out of mat towels), the overwhelming warmth and generally the instructors are a little more out there. Today’s instructor was actually one of my favorite so far, she appeared to be totally balanced and normal. I think one of the reasons I notice this so much is because several people have informed me that hot yoga makes people go crazy… and really I would like to not do that.
Yoga, Frisbe, Yoga, Volleyball, Yoga
Day 2: YRide
Definition: Conscious Cardio! An innovative cardiovascular workout that strengthens, lengthens and tones the body by integrating indoor cycling with yoga. All levels.
Quite possibly my favorite class, however I feel like it is somewhat cheating because the amount of yoga is fairly low. I like the idea of getting cardio in if I am going to commit to something for 30 days. However for a Monday this may not have been my idea choice of class. I basically did a pretty intense spin class, had to walk 40 minutes (quite quickly) to Frisbee, play for two hours of turf (so Frisbee with almost no breaks) and then walk home. I think next Monday will involve better planning.
Day 3: Missed class…oops (now I have to double up another day, apparently that still fits in the rules of the 30 day challenge)
In my defense I made an attempt to go but the class was full and I had volleyball to go to.
Day 4: Flow
Definition: An invigorating practice with a focus on core strength, breath awareness and key alignment principles. All levels.
This is what I picture when I think of yoga, it is a bit more mellow than the hot classes. There were about 40 or more people in the class and the bulk of people appear to know what they are doing. I still have to sneak looks around to find out what I should be doing next. I really hope no one looks at me to figure out if they are doing things properly. My movements are getting slightly more fluid but there is still a long way to go. So far the only results, not that I expect any this quickly, are constant pain… but at least that makes me feel like I’m doing something positive for my body.
Definition: Conscious Cardio! An innovative cardiovascular workout that strengthens, lengthens and tones the body by integrating indoor cycling with yoga. All levels.
Quite possibly my favorite class, however I feel like it is somewhat cheating because the amount of yoga is fairly low. I like the idea of getting cardio in if I am going to commit to something for 30 days. However for a Monday this may not have been my idea choice of class. I basically did a pretty intense spin class, had to walk 40 minutes (quite quickly) to Frisbee, play for two hours of turf (so Frisbee with almost no breaks) and then walk home. I think next Monday will involve better planning.
Day 3: Missed class…oops (now I have to double up another day, apparently that still fits in the rules of the 30 day challenge)
In my defense I made an attempt to go but the class was full and I had volleyball to go to.
Day 4: Flow
Definition: An invigorating practice with a focus on core strength, breath awareness and key alignment principles. All levels.
This is what I picture when I think of yoga, it is a bit more mellow than the hot classes. There were about 40 or more people in the class and the bulk of people appear to know what they are doing. I still have to sneak looks around to find out what I should be doing next. I really hope no one looks at me to figure out if they are doing things properly. My movements are getting slightly more fluid but there is still a long way to go. So far the only results, not that I expect any this quickly, are constant pain… but at least that makes me feel like I’m doing something positive for my body.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
30 Day Challenge!!!
With every new move I like to take the first little while to try out big things in my new city of residence. Current location is Vancouver, BC (my third move this year and hopefully the last for a while) and the newest endeavor is yoga. I just finished a two-week trial pass where I tried hot, regular and cycling yoga. I was surprised by how challenging I found it, possibly because of my inability to relax, my kankle (fat ankle) and the somewhat ridiculous music at times.
The highlight… that might not be the right thing to call it… how about most memorable moment so far was ending a hot yoga class with the instructor singing us Lenard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” While the instructor had quite a lovely voice it was such a strange experience for me that needless to say there was no relaxing during that five minutes, just trying to stop myself from a fit of giggles. My maturity level astounds me at times.
So the yoga place I go to has started a 30 day challenge for the month of November, basically you do some form of yoga every day. As I am currently unemployed and it isn’t a big Frisbee season so I have decided to attempt it. I’ll do my best to keep a record of my yoga experience every couple of days, this will also help my friends monitor if I have actually gone crazy or if I start to head in that direction.
Day 1: Power Yoga
Definition: An energetic and challenging flow class heated to 32ºC Power that integrates the breath with movement to build flexibility, strength and core stability. Beginners will be challenged; all levels.
Please note that I am definitely a beginner and it lived up to the definition. The instructor was clearly very advanced (as they should be) and was doing handstands, weird jumpy things and a lot of very cool looking things that at this point I feel no need to attempt. I am not the most graceful of people, despite the fact that I play sports I can be quite clumsy in ‘real life.’ I have yet to fall over or knock someone over, but I am sure it is only a matter of time.
Workout wise I thought it was pretty good, I broke a sweat and totally felt it in my legs. However, this could be the repercussions of a night out last night in Everett, WA, USA where I carried one of the girls half way through the city on my back and then somehow ended up rolling around in a heap of grass, leaving our hotel in quite a state. Sorry… tangent. The best part so far is that it is really helpful for strengthen my ankles. Since recently rolling one of them and having a reoccurring injury the hope is this will help sort it out.
The highlight… that might not be the right thing to call it… how about most memorable moment so far was ending a hot yoga class with the instructor singing us Lenard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” While the instructor had quite a lovely voice it was such a strange experience for me that needless to say there was no relaxing during that five minutes, just trying to stop myself from a fit of giggles. My maturity level astounds me at times.
So the yoga place I go to has started a 30 day challenge for the month of November, basically you do some form of yoga every day. As I am currently unemployed and it isn’t a big Frisbee season so I have decided to attempt it. I’ll do my best to keep a record of my yoga experience every couple of days, this will also help my friends monitor if I have actually gone crazy or if I start to head in that direction.
Day 1: Power Yoga
Definition: An energetic and challenging flow class heated to 32ºC Power that integrates the breath with movement to build flexibility, strength and core stability. Beginners will be challenged; all levels.
Please note that I am definitely a beginner and it lived up to the definition. The instructor was clearly very advanced (as they should be) and was doing handstands, weird jumpy things and a lot of very cool looking things that at this point I feel no need to attempt. I am not the most graceful of people, despite the fact that I play sports I can be quite clumsy in ‘real life.’ I have yet to fall over or knock someone over, but I am sure it is only a matter of time.
Workout wise I thought it was pretty good, I broke a sweat and totally felt it in my legs. However, this could be the repercussions of a night out last night in Everett, WA, USA where I carried one of the girls half way through the city on my back and then somehow ended up rolling around in a heap of grass, leaving our hotel in quite a state. Sorry… tangent. The best part so far is that it is really helpful for strengthen my ankles. Since recently rolling one of them and having a reoccurring injury the hope is this will help sort it out.
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