When it comes to fitness and exercise, I like to try new things. If there’s a new workout, I’m generally game to give it a go. Except when it comes to Yoga.
I’ll admit I’ve been fairly close-minded about yoga in the past. And for good reason. When I was hugely pregnant with twins, I thought it would be a good idea to take prenatal yoga.
Wrong.
I did NOT look like this in prenatal yoga!
While the other moms with their tiny little baby bumps were hanging out in tree pose and other various pretzel like formations, I was trying to maintain some center of gravity with my 5 foot in circumference beast of a belly. After an hour of this torture we were told to ‘relax’ and ‘shut our minds off’ in order to ‘get in touch with our spirits. It wasn’t good.
I don’t shut my mind off. And when I’m told to do so, it only kicks up into high gear. I can’t handle it. The (and I apologize if I offend) ‘airy-fairy’ stuff makes me twitch.
And for nine years since that terrible experience, I’ve almost always been able to come up with some sort of excuse when been invited to try classes or tag along with a friend.
This avoidance technique has worked well for me up until now.
But on a recent getaway with fellow wordbitches Leanne and Trish and our adopted Texan, Kelly, it became clear that I may need to rethink my stance on this stretching thing.
After a particularly wild whitewater rafting trip, the four of us sat in a circle on the floor and attempted to stretch out our sore muscles. And I say attempted because while Leanne and Kelly were doing all sorts of pretzel like maneuvers, and saying things like, “feel that? Just feel the stretch through your hip flexor.” I was saying things like, “Oh my, God. I can’t feel my toes.” And. “I don’t think the body is really supposed to bend like that.”
To which Leanne, in her backward bent dog like child warrior pose asked, “Elena, do you not stretch at ALL? It feels so good.”
Uh huh.
Evidently I need to add some stretching to my workout regime. It’s not that I don’t stretch at all. I have been known to pull my heel up and swing my arms around while I’m waiting for swim club to start or my running partner to show up. But, and here’s my dirty little secret. I don’t stretch.
Ssh. Don’t tell anyone. But I don’t really stretch after a half marathon or a big event. I know, I know. It’s not good. I could hurt myself. I need to treat my body better. yada yada yada.
So, in an attempt to broaden my mind and treat my body better, I’m going to sign up for some yoga classes with a friend. I figure, I’ll need moral support for this. Plus, JM Randolph has assured me there is yoga out there that isn’t all about meditation, and becoming one with myself. But if it starts getting ‘airy fairy’ I’m outta there.
I might be able to handle this kinda of yoga.
I don’t do yoga, probably for similar reasons as you mention. But I do stretch… mostly because if I don’t I’m practically a cripple the next morning. But I go to a gym where my trainer guides us through stretches by saying “ok, do some stretches or some shit and talk about your periods”.
I am more likely to ROLL my muscles. This basically involves sitting on a piece of PVC and rolling it along your muscles … or rather rolling your body along the pipe. And it’s supposed to hurt. I actually kind of love it in a way that I kind of love working out. Weird, I know.
Oh Heather,
I swear that’s how I got started on the no stretching train. I was at a gym where it was kind of discouraged. BUT, my body is starting to revolt.
I’m a HUGE fan of rolling. In fact, I think it’s my way of compensating for the lack of stretching. Have you heard of the stick? http://www.thestick.ca ? It’s bliss!!
If you like rolling, you’ll LOVE the stick.
Yes! I love the stick! It hurts good
That’s the most awesome diaper commercial ever. You already know how I feel about the yoga (thanks for the pingback). If you hate the airy-fairy stuff, stick with hot yoga of any type. I’m impressed that you can do a half marathon without stretching. My hamstrings in their normal state are angry, angry rocks.
I figure I’ll try and tune out during the airy fairy stuff and work on my mental to-do list.
My quads are typically fairly angry with me. I’m getting better, but it’s a work in progress. A HUGE work in progress.
thanks for the comment and of course the insight into your yoga world.
My mother swore by yoga but whenever I’ve tried it, I just couldn’t take it. My muscles never seemed to adjust and I got tired of falling over all the time. Although I love Pilates.
I’ve done pilates before, years ago. I did like the constant movement of it. I might have to give it another shot if this yoga plan doesn’t pan out.
I tried yoga for a couple of months, just because. I did enjoy it, actually. It became a personal challenge to get into all those poses and hold them. Definitely not easy, because I don’t stretch either. But, my interest ran its course and I went back to running. I’m type A and I work better with something that really, really pushes me. Yoga was too quiet for me. Perhaps later in life when and if I ever slow down.
That’s my big fear, that yoga’s too quiet for me. I’m a runner/swimmer/cyclist and I like to be pushed too. Give me a goal…I’ll meet it. Maybe I just need to put a goal on this yoga thing. Of course, I could end up looking like a pretzel if I push too hard.
Elena, you should try Jililan Michael’s power yoga or there are some MTV yogas out there (I know, MTV?).
I can’t do them because I like traditional, slow, meditative yoga and these are what I call ‘speed yoga’. My daughter (20 and convinced she is ADD, which she’s not) love, love, loves them.
That commercial cracked me up. I wonder if the baby understood everyone was following him/her and if they just let the baby do whatever it wanted.
Pingback: Twisty Pretzel Arms and Other Progress « Elena Aitken – Don't forget to breathe
Pingback: Somewhere Over The…Unifying Om « Elena Aitken – Don't forget to breathe