One Year of Yoga

Today marks one year of having a regular yoga practice.

I had been trying to re-build a regular practice for some time with varying levels of success, then Covid happened and most things shut down, including my poor practice of yoga.

This pause was actually very good for me.  With the ceasing of travel in early-March 2020 and layoff in mid-April 2020, I needed time to decompress from 18 months of commuting out-of-state for work.

Just sleeping and eating at home made a huge difference in my well-being.

Then in mid-July 2020, gyms in Colorado were allowed to open with mask and capacity requirements.  Which helped me feel more comfortable going back into the studio... and I went back on July 20th.

Since then, I've been keeping a monthly status of my progress (because I'm an engineer).

In these 12 months, the numbers on the scale and tape measure have not changed significantly.  However, my energy and pain levels have both improved dramatically... and I am still wearing my mask.

Yoga Challenge

I was first introduced to the Original Hot Yoga method (formerly known as Bikram) about 20 years ago.  I immediately loved the style as it was challenging, accessible, predictable, and works every part of the body every time.

I practiced as much as I could but would take extended time off due to work schedules.  Unfortunately my practice has been more off than on over the last 10 years.

With that being said, I had been trying to re-establish a regular practice and having a difficult time due to my work/travel schedule for the last few years.

So with a layoff due to COVID last spring (Easter) and the limited re-opening of "gyms" in Colorado last summer (July 2020), I set out with renewed focus to restart a regular practice last summer.... Social Distanced and Masked.

Yes, Hot Yoga in a Mask!

I began with one class every 3-4 days and was able to work up to a steady-state of 4 classes per week when I accepted a work contract at the end of January 2021.  At the same time the annual Yoga Challenge was beginning.  It has been a long personal goal to participate in the 60-day Challenge.... the full challenge being to complete 60 classes in 60 days.

While I knew I wasn't ready for back-to-back classes for 60 days in a row, I felt confident that I could achieve 5 classes per week, for 9 weeks.

Well, during the Challenge I only achieved 5 twice, and my average was closer to 3 classes per week.  I missed a few days due to caution over a possible COVID exposure.  I also missed a week and a half due being snowed in and a few more days for other reasons.

So while the official challenge is now over, I am holding my 5 days/week goal for the next couple of months, and will continue to work toward 60 classes in 60 days... Hopefully next year!

Breakthroughs and Setbacks

The last couple of months my fitness routine has seen both breakthroughs and setbacks.

Breakthroughs in that my back bends have returned.  I can bend backward from many positions and am actually seeing the wall (or floor or ceiling) behind me. :-)

Setbacks in that my day job has gone into overdrive.  My client announced a re-organization and layoff in August.  Several of my points of contact were layed off, included the person I worked most with.  So in the ramp-up of "preparing to Go-Live" with software tool improvements, I've been mostly on my own.  Which means I have been working even more hours than usual during the Pre-Go-Live period.  Which also means that I have missed a lot of yoga classes in the last couple of months.

Prior to the layoff, I started seeing a Massage Therapist that Hubba's Coach recommended.  She has been working on my hip and been able to get into the Psoaz and Iliacus muscles which have been causing most of my pain.

When I do make it to class, I feel strong.  But I feel I will continue to miss classes for the next few weeks.

The Pain is Gone?

I was kind of surprised when I realized the other day that there is no longer any pain.  (!)  My right hip will cramp up during yoga class or a long car ride, but otherwise there is no pain.  :-)

It has been about 6 months since I restarted my yoga practice with consistent pain in most of the joints on the right side of my body.  I blame it on more than 3 years of being crammed in an airplane and driving a computer.

I knew it would take a while before I started feeling good and balanced.  I'm not fully balanced yet, but boy I feel I'm getting close.  :-)

Back on the Mat

The months of April and May were crazy busy.

I did not travel as I expected, but the day job was crazy enough with out it.  Most of my weekends involved shearing and my yoga studio was closed while they moved to a new location.  It all adds up to me having a 6-week absence from organized yoga.  :-(

The new studio is much closer to my house, which means it takes less time to get there, which in turn means it's easier to include it in my schedule.

I can't even begin to describe how grateful I am that they were able to find a new location.  I was heartbroken over the thought that they might have to close... but only positive thoughts here...  They are open, they are closer to home, and they are still wonderful.  :-)

I also started a secondary yoga practice.  A friend of mine is planning to open a studio in another nearby town and has been offering classes at a community arts center.  She teaches a Vinyasa Flow which I hadn't done before.  I'm enjoying it quite a lot and I love being able to support my friend as she begins a new venture.

Yoga Still

I was thinking as I published my last post about my yoga practice that I have been saying that my pain continues to improve.  But I haven't really shared what that means.

When I re-started my yoga practice at the beginning of February, I had continual pain in my shoulder, wrist, thumb, hip, back and knee... all on the right side.  As I began this month, I only had occasional pain in my hip/back as well as an aching in my wrist/thumb and ankle.

The wrist/thumb is due primarily to my excessive computer use and a fondness for knitting.  The ankle is due to old recreational basketball and soccer injuries.  The back/hip is due to a work-related injury when I was in high school.  As my flexibility and strength continue to improve, I expect these will too.

It's only been a few months and a compound of injuries plus too many hours of being crammed in an airplane and driving a computer is just going to take more time to repair.  That being said, I had an amazing transition earlier this month... I somehow went from feeling fatigued as class neared the end to feeling more energized.  It's really quite an amazing feeling.  :-)

I also realized when I was doing all of my garden preparations this last month that while my back and hip still hurt after a full day of physical labor, I am recovering much more quickly.  I think that must mean I am becoming more fit.  :-)

Yay for yoga!

Refining My Yoga Practice

Over the last month I have been focused on refining my new yoga practice.

I love the ritual of Bikram Yoga.  It's the same every time, but it's different within that structure.

The order is the same.  The postures are the same but how I am able to perform them is different for each class.  I think this sameness is a useful tool for gauging how I'm improving.

It's dependent upon how I slept, whether I'm properly hydrated or nourished and how well I am able to leave my "stuff at the door."  That being said, I have experienced a lot of improvement in my postures over the last month.

I have seen that some foods (bacon) are not good for yoga day.  Much like when I was a regular runner and learned that something with green chile (one of the world's most divine foods, right behind chocolate) is probably not the best choice for a pre-workout meal either.  ;-)

My pain, strength, flexibility and mental calmness continue to improve and my class days are pretty well set now.  Although, I missed both classes last week.  :-/  That's something to focus on for April, I suppose.  ;-)

Flexibility, Calmness and Strength

I restarted yoga earlier this month with the goal of increasing my flexibility, mental calmness and physical strength.

I have practiced yoga regularly in the past but it's been pretty much non-existent for the preceding 3 years or so.  As a result I've gained weight and pain and lost flexibility and strength.

Usually when I restart something as intense as Bikram Yoga it's pretty rough, but my first class went remarkably well.  I think it's because I made sure I was well hydrated for a few days before as well as prepared my mind to be focused on the moment.  I had decided that if I needed to sit down I would, but my goal was to remain standing (and breathing) throughout the entire standing series.  I did.  I was very surprised and proud of myself.  :-)

My second and third classes were quite wobbly but I was able to experience improvement in many of the postures.  There's nothing quite like instant gratification, right?

I am really liking this studio.  Between the instructors, students, location and decor this studio has a great vibe; very welcoming and comforting.   Always a nice thing when you're starting out.  :-)

Behind making the time and actually going to the classes, I think the hardest part about restarting yoga has been leaving my stuff at the door.  It's been taking me about half the class to get into the zone of just focusing on my breath and posture and not thinking about the stuff that happened that day or still needs to happen or whatever.  Leaving the stuff behind has definitely been the most challenging.

So now that it's been a few weeks, I'm feeling great.  My pain, flexibility, strength and peacefulness are all improving.  Hubba says I look different.  I'm not so sure about that, but it's nice that he thinks so.  ;-)