fab yoga class

My favourite class of the week to date

My Saturday morning yoga class is amazing..the instructor is an amazing young woman who just inspires me.

Before I get their I am my usual hyped up individual, always rushing round, chasing my tail, ( even if I do get up at stupid oclock ) and always on the go.....

that is until I get into my Yoga class and this morning was no exception.

Little bit of chat with the class members about the forthcoming yoga work shop before the class starts leaves us all feeling a little excited and curious.

But soon we are right into the class with a few slow deep breaths to begin our class and ease us into the practise....

I have noticed of late how much quicker I get into the moment...

. The instructor reminds us that it is our practise and not to compete with others in  the class...(one of my pet habits in the past...sure, I'm still very competitive, but I dont tend to watch others int he class now, I try to focus on what I am doing and just to compete with myself, improving my own practise )

This is really good advice as we are all different, with different body shapes, some more flexible than others, and all bringing to the class different issues, all of which can hamper or aid the practise.  What might be good for us to do on one day, may not be good on another day.....

So I always try to treat each practise with a fresh outlook...I do my best..I be he best I can be....

But as our instructor reminds us ( she refers to Ahimsa, one of the 5 Yamas, Non-violent/non harming, and that means to our selves also )...we also have to be kind to ourselves..if we need to take a break..that is ok.... we can resume when it is good for us..( that is not to say that we shouldnt push ourselves to try to be better..it means that it has to be balanced.....and the fact that we are present in the practise means we want to be the best we can ) 

It is an intense class with lots of asanas I havnt practised for a while, I feel invigorated, and strong, and somewhat stretched!!!!

The class ends all too soon... with 10 minutes savasana/meditation..and opportunity to relax my body and mind and to give thanx that i am able to take part in my yoga practise....

journal Adho mukha svanasana

6 a.m.
Another early start for me ( balance class at 9.30)
Not so much soreness this morning as I stepped out of bed 👌
(  not to say that I cant feel my aches )
This is good it reminds me that I have been working hard, I'm aware of my upper arms in particular, and the muscles in the arms, still feeling sore. ( oh yes and pain in the butt 😉 gluteus maximus )
( I remember in particular about 2 years ago, before taking up yoga, that I was experiencing a lot of discomfort in my wrists and elbows.  I remember being quite concerned about it, it was obvious for quite a few months and even just the simplest of every day actions, such as leaning on my elbow or carrying shopping would be very sore. I remember distinctly thinking 'Damn, I'm getting old!!' 👵  and I was not happy about it. ) ( not particularly the getting old side of it, although, to be fair, I'm not happy about that at all, but its inevitable!!!, it is more the ailments that are associated with getting old!  that I object to)
another excellent reason to be as healthy as possible...be the best you.... see previous blogs
I can truthfully say on a day to day basis I do NOT have pain in my wrists, yes, if I have been doing a lot more yoga which particularly uses arms/ wrists/shoulders etc I do experience discomfort, BUT, and for me this is the important bit, it is temporary and reminds me that I am working hard and getting stronger)
so back to this morning....

I put the soreness down to the increased amount of adho mukha svanasana, ( downward facing dog poses) both at home /classes. 
Probably one of the most widely recognised asanas ( moves/postures )
and a very good all in one posture which gives multiple benefits  ( to be revisited in future blogs)

 so continuing my day with some slow and deep inhale/exhale breaths ( see previous post )
before going through my sun salutations ( see previous post ) and now onto several repetitions of adho mukha svanasana to stretch out all those muscles...

onwards and upwards

😉

Body balance and body jam...Body exhausted

Good morning

So I am feeling motivated at the moment ( ok..and a little bit mad )

I have done classes every day this week and its fair to say I feel exhausted  ( in a good way..if thats possible )

one particular day....I had a fab body balance class

...and I thought ( ambitious little so and so...) that I could do the body jam which was running immediately after!!!!

Well...I have never done body jam before ...and it is quite fast...with lots of left and rights..and arms and legs!!!! 

Nothing wrong with that...I hear you say...

BUT anybody who knows me ..knows that I am going to struggle!!!!

dont know my right from left...co-ordination not fab..never done it before....already exhausted!!!

yep..u getting the picture.....

It was a disaster...lol

But ..I will try it again...once I've recovered!!!!

No pain ..no gain...right?

And this is the 5th day in succession that I have got to the gym!...

And I am feeling very motivated....

So must fly... Body balance awaits.....

What ever you're doing...have a fab one 

And remember

be the best you can...