Yoga Updates

I think CNY claimed some casualties who were too lazy to attend classes after a two-week break, more than half the class didn't show up! I don't blame them, I wasn't too sure if I could last thru the class either as I was still quite weak from my bout of fever and flu. I guess this is a common thing after having too much CNY cookies and mandarin oranges.

Anyhow, we did 5 sets of sun salutations and I felt much better this time around, I could notice increased flexbility and strength :) Irrena is a good instructor and has a really pleasant voice, especially the part where she makes us relax each body part as a warm down. I actually fell asleep either from over-exhaustion or feeling overly relaxed. She said that it was a good thing to reach that level. I should get her voice on tape so the next time I have insomnia - like now, I can just play back the tape and hopefully relax myself to sleep hehe. The whole class does appreciate her as she gives clear instructions and is very patient with our sometimes ridiculous questions.

This week i was exercising beside Honey. She cracked me up as she was stumbling all over her sticky mat which made this funny squeaking sound while we were trying to stand like storks on one leg. I was trying extremely hard to concentrate but gave in when the hopping began lol! She is so much fun, I think CNY also got to her and Lisa.

Some info on yoga - I was told that we have miniscule muscles that are stabilizers, these are the things that would prevent the Elvis shakes on hands and legs if exercised. Apparently stabilizer muscles cannot be trained by doing the general weights which only work the major muscle group, yoga on the other hand is able to exercise these group of muscles which enable better strength and stability. How fascinating. I still have a long way to go as my arm was shaking when I was doing the one-handed side balancing pose. I must try to remember the name of the poses!

Yoga

As part of my plan to lose weight and tone up for the year, I've taken up Yoga. Last year I just gave in to food, and it shows. The double chin has returned along with additions to the butt area :( Anyway, its gonna be tennis and yoga for now. Tennis thankfully has resumed now that it is starting to rain less. Having said that, tennis just got cancelled due to rain and Chinese New Year is coming up. *BIG SIGH* Anyway, I know I'll back to ideal weight in no time, since I've already put my mind into it.

I came across Yoga or at least the mention of it around 5 years ago. Mei Ling was going for classes in Canada then. I remember thinking that it had some spritual relations and wasn't really interested in finding out more. How I recently got re-introduced was thru Irrena who just finished an instructor's course and had to do a bit of industrial training. Anyhow I decided to give it a try since it was an indoor exercise and seemed to have strengthened her body. I got together a bunch of friends and we started classes. I have to say, after 3 classes I have a lot of respect for yoga. I also realized that years ago, my gym instructors actually incorporated yoga movements into exercises, so much for being judgemental.

It has been fun, its amazing how much you sweat from supposed "sissy" poses. Nothing sissy about yoga, takes very well worked muscles to actually be able to do the poses. Power yoga was a killer but I love it, look forward to the day I can go thru the whole class without groaning. Oh, its a great exercise to induce sleep too. Body tends to be so tired afterwards that you just naturally want to take a nap, even then I still sleep well at night after an afternoon nap.

I still can't bend fully, as in my head still doesnt touch my knees while my fingers reach the ground. Lets see my progress in a few months, I give myself 2. Funny how I always joked about how people look like they are all knotted up while doing yoga and here I am now trying my best to actually be properly knotted up!

Human nature I guess, we somehow try harder to push ourselves or to prove we can when the odds are against us. Its a good thing....at times