30 Day Yoga Challenge!

[SmartAleq]

I've been needing more exercise, I was doing a daily walk but the weather, my knee and the resident homeless population have all been conspiring to make this a less than fun experience so I started looking around for something else. Now basically EVERYONE in my life, my massage therapist, friends, doctor--have all recommended I take up yoga and for whatever reason I've been resistant to the notion. But after a major spell of grumpy body--just random ass aches and pains and feeling like general shit I decided to give it a whirl.

I am 100% not willing to go somewhere to spend money taking classes--I'm not in great shape, I hate having to change clothes and people, ugh. So online is the way to go for me. Those who know what they're talking about say that the main thing is finding an instructor whose voice you like so I watched a few videos and decided on this very nice lady named Adriene. She has a shitload of videos available, she's very kind and forgiving and she has a cattle dog named Benji who hangs out in the studio with her sometimes. Sold!

I did a few of her absolute beginner videos and noticed that my grumpy body was becoming much less grumpy--no headaches, no lower back pain, shoulders feeling really good. Okay then, decided to do a 30 day challenge, I'm doing this one here--link to playlist on YouTube.

I was feeling pretty good about myself right up until today, day 3, when I discovered that while I might be pretty flexible for my age my balance is absolutely for shit. Yikes. Okay then, humility achieved!

Anybody else wanna jump on board the yoga train so I don't feel quite so stupid about my dumb body and how poorly it's behaving these days? Don't need much, a mat is all and I picked one up for ten bucks at the Grocery Outlet. It really does feel good once you get over your embarrassment at how nonbendy you really are lol.

[JackieLikesVariety]

I really need yoga, at least, don't know about the challenge.

But I need to be more bendy no doubt so I will check out your link as soon as I get home.

🦒

😁

[Detroit Hoser]

Ima give it a shot, too.

[SmartAleq]

One of the things I like about this nice lady is that she always says, "The most important part is showing up" and that makes me feel really good. I might not be able to stand on one foot and twist myself into a pretzel but by gum, I did show up, mat and all!

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by SmartAleq

I discovered that while I might be pretty flexible for my age my balance is absolutely for shit. Yikes. Okay then, humility achieved!

well, damn! yoga is good - great, maybe - but you otter do some simple balance exercise. the older we get the less we need a fall.

hell, so should I.

[SmartAleq]

I can do simple balancing, what I CAN'T do is to stand with both feet together, then raise one leg, knee bent, foot flexed out, grab my shin with the same hand and turn my knee outward with my other hand outstretched to the front. That's gonna take some practice lol.

[Radical Edward]

I'm in. I used to do an hour of yoga every day, and I always felt great. Now I'm old. ;_;

[SmartAleq]

By the time you're as old as I am now I'll likely have been in the ground for as many years as you have currently--plus, I've never yet done an hour of yoga on ANY day so you're WAY ahead of me lol.

[JackieLikesVariety]

I try not to annoy people in their 90s by telling them I feel old. if I do, they hasten to tell me what they were doing at my age such as raising 15 children and working the farm and making all their clothes by hand and so forth.

but of course whatever age you are, you are as old as you've ever been.

I feel about 102.

[JackieLikesVariety]

I haven't started yet.

[SmartAleq]

Try the ten minute beginner video, it's short and eases you into the more challenging bits to come. If the ten minute one works, try one of the twenty minute beginner vids. Starting is always the hardest part, you feel like a goon but that does pass, thank goodness!

[Peeking Duck]

I’m out of town until tomorrow night, but I’m going to start the challenge on Monday. I’ve been meaning to get back into yoga for a while now, and doing it with you guys will be perfect!

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by SmartAleq

Try the ten minute beginner video, it's short and eases you into the more challenging bits to come. If the ten minute one works, try one of the twenty minute beginner vids. Starting is always the hardest part, you feel like a goon but that does pass, thank goodness!

I'll try that. Starting IS hard.

[hilarity n. suze]

Good for y'all for doing this!

When I was doing physical therapy I asked my PT, who treated a lot of older folks, if there was anything that made one person hold up better than others, and she said without hesitation, "yoga." Then she added, "Or Pilates."

Yoga is cheaper. And also, she said that first.

[SmartAleq]

Day 4 down for me, MUCH easier than day 3, which was a little challenging, balance wise. Day 4 is so good for the lower back and JUST what I needed today, been crocheting which tends to encourage me to turn into a shrimp, all curled up on myself with my back hunched. So much better now, and the dogs have now spent two days in a row being chill on their beds and not bugging me when I hit the floor for the bendy stretchies, good dogs!

[Radical Edward]

I'm going to start tomorrow. I've got to dig out my yoga mat tonight and fix a spot in a cat-free room so I won't be harassed while yogaing.

[SmartAleq]

Good for you--although cat yoga seems like it would be easier than goat yoga and people pay money to do that!

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by SmartAleq

Good for you--although cat yoga seems like it would be easier than goat yoga and people pay money to do that!

goats are adorable but I don't want them walking on me, WTF!

[SmartAleq]

That's my thought as well--they only let young goats and very miniature ones come to play (can you imagine 75 lbs of Nubian goat landing on your back when you're trying to do a proper tabletop pose?) and I'm sure they wash their feets but yeah, it's weird. Google for videos, it's pretty funny to watch other people coping with it.

[Radical Edward]

Ok, did the 10 minute video. She's not my cup of tea, honestly. I don't want to appreciate stillness or accept where I am, and I definitely don't want to take time to think about how I feel today. However, the yoga itself is pretty great. I'll probably wind up back with the same Denise Austin videos I used to do.

I haven't decided if I should do it before or after work, but I'm leaning toward after. Maybe I can find a bedtime yoga video?

PS everyone look up puppy yoga for the best videos ever

[Rebo]

I might join you tomorrow. I bought a mat a while back but I quit - like I always do with exercise. Maybe with y'all's support I could get back into it. I'm really sore today from moving plants prior to the deep freeze that's coming. My main problem with doing yoga is my wrists trying to support my fat body during push-up like poses.

Good on y'all for starting!

[Metallic Squink]

I love yoga! I've been going to a hot yoga class once a week for decades and just recently decided I needed another day of yoga per week. I have to do hot yoga because I would barely be able to touch my toes without the benefit of the heat helping me warm up. Once thing I learned with the new (earlier) class is that balance poses at 6:00 AM are much harder than balance poses at 8:00 AM.

I love my yoga teacher. He's so mellow and gives great cues. Although I've been going forever, I still consider myself a beginner physically (there are a lot of poses that are still very challenging). What I like about yoga is that every pose has a continuum and if you can at least get the form right, you are getting a physical benefit. Getting deeper into the pose may (or may not) come with more practice.

I also love the meditative aspects. My Saturday morning class is basically brain bleach for the week.

Keep it up, Smarty! As we age, working on flexibility and balance are key to avoiding injuries.

[Metallic Squink]

Originally Posted by Rebo

I might join you tomorrow. I bought a mat a while back but I quit - like I always do with exercise. Maybe with y'all's support I could get back into it. I'm really sore today from moving plants prior to the deep freeze that's coming. My main problem with doing yoga is my wrists trying to support my fat body during push-up like poses.

Good on y'all for starting!

Hi Rebo! There are a ton of yoga poses that would be less taxing on your wrists. (And it's not because of your weight - there are a lot of reasons for wrist pain with yoga. And even with all my years of practice, I still cannot do a push-up. ) You may want to find a yoga instructor with your body type.

[Rebo]

Thanks, Squink! I'll look for other videos. I have lower back issues, and stretching helps a lot.

[Metallic Squink]

Originally Posted by Rebo

Thanks, Squink! I'll look for other videos. I have lower back issues, and stretching helps a lot.

I had lower back issues as well (I ended up having surgery). While I was recovering, I researched modifications to the poses to minimize back pain. Total game changer!

(I can talk about yoga all day, by the way. Just let me know if you have any other questions. ).

[Peeking Duck]

I completed Day 1 today, w00t! I wasn't able to keep up completely, but I did my best, sometimes taking wee breaks from poses, and sometimes modifying them a bit. I definitely enjoyed the first video, and I feel like I got almost a full body workout. If the video for Day 2 overwhelms me, I'm just going to go back to Day 1 until I feel ready to go on.

[SmartAleq]

Day 6 is core/abs. Oof! But in a very good way.

[JackieLikesVariety]

I haven't started. I looked up "puppy yoga" so it's not like I have done nothing.

[Radical Edward]

I have completed day 2, I did this video.

[Radical Edward]

Does it count if you don't follow a video? Last night I just did some poses by myself and set a timer for 12 minutes. I had been listening to a podcast and didn't want to pause it.

[SmartAleq]

Of course it counts!

[SmartAleq]

I'm gonna tell on myself--due to crazy ass weather related bullshit I have had no chill, no ease and no reasonable path to mindfulness at ALL so I skipped a few days, BUT it turns out I did myself a favor because Day 8 is a slow meditative practice and it was exactly what I needed right now. Lots of work with the hips and working in a squat, which is difficult for me due to the damage in the Murder Leg but my right side loves all of it and dragged the rest of me along. I was actually rather pleased at how well I managed to get into the postures, some I didn't think I could do at all (and a couple I couldn't--the shoulder damage precludes anything that requires me to balance all or most of my weight on one arm, just not gonna work) but all in all I'm pleased at my own progress.

How y'all doing?

[Radical Edward]

I have skipped a few days. It's cold as fuck and I have hardwood floors. I'll get back to it Tuesday after work, hopefully.

[Peeking Duck]

I did the Day 1 routine twice, and then COVID hit. I will get back to the challenge as soon as I shake the virus. My own, personal commitment is to complete 30 days' worth of sessions, but not over consecutive days. If I practice three or four days per week, I'll be happy.

And you know, after just two sessions, I built new muscle and felt more flexible!

[SmartAleq]

If nothing else, Peeky, hit a comfortable sit and do your breathing, that will help a lot with the 'rona since it likes to shut down your lungs. Breathe as deeply from your core as you possibly can to get the lower lobes of your lungs open and working. Also, get beddah most soonest!

[Radical Edward]

Hokay, did 14 minutes after work tonight. It really does a lot to get me relaxed and make my back hurt less. I don't remember why I quit.

Also get better soon Peeking Duck!

[Rebo]

I forgot all about this. I'll start tomorrow.

I got a steroid* shot in my back Dec 22 which has helped my right side a lot. Spoilered for TMI.

(I couldn't even wipe!)

*It's not a steroid but I can't remember what it really is, so it's just easier to say steroid.

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by Radical Edward

Hokay, did 14 minutes after work tonight. It really does a lot to get me relaxed and make my back hurt less. I don't remember why I quit.

I am puzzled by the same thing: I have known for years, literally, that I have less back pain if I stretch. and still I don't do it on the regular.

[SmartAleq]

When you have a lot of depression your brain does everything it can to stop you from doing anything to make you feel better. That's one of the shittiest parts of having depression, I think, your brain working against you to maintain a super crappy mental state. Bleah. No bueno!

[Radical Edward]

That's likely. The sneaky part about depression is how it gradually makes you not care about things you know you care about, that you did care about, that you want to care about. I know I like X, I know I should want to do X, but I don't.

PS, got off work early and did 15 minutes just now. Didn't follow a video again, just did a series I remembered.

[JackieLikesVariety]

fucking depression, man.

[JackieLikesVariety]

Originally Posted by Peeking Duck

I did the Day 1 routine twice, and then COVID hit. I will get back to the challenge as soon as I shake the virus. My own, personal commitment is to complete 30 days' worth of sessions, but not over consecutive days. If I practice three or four days per week, I'll be happy.

And you know, after just two sessions, I built new muscle and felt more flexible!

how are you feeling, @Peeking Duck ?

[Peeking Duck]

I'm hanging in there, and I woke up feeling slightly more energetic today! (I still got a strong, positive test result, though.) I'm going to attempt twenty minutes of housework today. Tomorrow...twenty minutes of yoga!

I'm glad you got the steroid shot, Rebo!

And yeah, fuck depression.

[thylacine]

We’re doing 10 minutes of meditation a day at the moment, you have me thinking about yoga, I’m strong and can walk forever but my mobility is shit

[SmartAleq]

I've been flaking off, would someone please kick my ass for me? Too much wrestling with plumbing and tools and whatnot I guess.

[Radical Edward]

*kicks ass*

I just finished 18 minutes of yoga while listening to a podcast. It occurs to me that I'll have to alter what poses I do after I have hand surgery next week, so I guess I'll be looking for a video of standing only poses. I'd hate to break my streak.

[Peeking Duck]

I've still got COVID and I'm in the middle of some sort of gut-related flare-up, so I have been modifying the shit out of my "practice". Sigh. I have real problems with working my core area. If I overdo it even a tiny little bit, I'll have severe belly pain for days (and nights, like wake-me-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night pain). I'm tired of it, but I don't know what to do about it.

What I have been doing, this past week or so, is working legs, arms, and working on balance. It's something, at least. And it's meditative. (Yay for your practice, thylacine!)

Ooh, Ed, I'm glad you're finally getting hand surgery! I soooooooo hope it goes swimmingly.

[thylacine]

We’re still meditating which surprises me. How go the Yoga Bears?

Smartie?

[Peeking Duck]

I'm still bustin' moves that I know won't bring me grief. (I'm not practicing daily, though.)

I finally remembered that I bought a yoga book in July! I had plans, even then, to get into it this winter. Anyway, I am finding it very helpful to read about the poses, and to study them statically (in addition to watching videos). This is the book that I have:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/006...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[Radical Edward]

I did miss several days because of the stitches in my hands. I could have done some standing poses, but was vaguely afraid I would lose my balance and try to catch myself with that hand and pop the stitches out and badness.

Anyway, I'm back on the wagon and up to 20 minutes.