Diving into Astanga...again
So I did make it to yoga yesterday. I honestly am not sure if I really would have made it, were it not for accidentally booking myself for the class online. The website for the studio is very different from when I last visited it, oh, 5 months ago, and so I wasn't entirely sure what I was doing. The next thing you know, I was signed up for the Astanga class from 9:30-11:00. Even though it had been so long since I had last attempted anything slightly resembling yoga, I clearly thought that a one and a half hour class was a fantastic idea. Jump right back in, all or nothing! Go big or go home! I ate too many cookies yesterday!
So I put on my now baggy yoga pants (losing 10 pounds will do that to you, I suppose), a yoga tank, a fleece jacket, and made my way down to the studio. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by the unique scent of the yoga studio. It's like a mixture of a light incense and a hint of floral. Immediately, I was overcome with feelings of nostalgia. I mean, the last time I had entered this studio I had no job and no plans. I began thinking about how different things are now and how far we have come. And then the class started.
I have not come so far in my yoga skills. Mostly because I have not given the time of day to my yoga skills since school started. I threw myself in with reckless abandon, determined to not be outdone by the seasoned yoga-ers in the class. I must say, for having not done yoga for so long, I did pretty well. I'm not as flexible as I was last summer, but I sure as heck have a good sense of balance. And I'm stubbornly determined to do well at everything. I kept up really well with most of them, and was still able to do many of the more "complicated" or "advanced" poses. I was surprised to find that I did not sweat near as much this time as I have in the past. I was actually even a little disappointed about that. Weird, I know.
Skip to this morning. I am incredibly le ouch le sore. I'm no idiot - I know that Astanga yoga is endurance and strength building. I expected to be a little sore today. I did not expect enough though - I am a lot sore. But it's the good kind of sore. The kind of sore that I haven't been in ages. I am reminded of muscles that I had forgotten existed. That's always good.
I don't think I'll be working out today - I'll let my muscles recover. I'm often more sore 2 days after the actual workout, but I think I might see if I can make it back to yoga again tomorrow.
So I put on my now baggy yoga pants (losing 10 pounds will do that to you, I suppose), a yoga tank, a fleece jacket, and made my way down to the studio. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by the unique scent of the yoga studio. It's like a mixture of a light incense and a hint of floral. Immediately, I was overcome with feelings of nostalgia. I mean, the last time I had entered this studio I had no job and no plans. I began thinking about how different things are now and how far we have come. And then the class started.
I have not come so far in my yoga skills. Mostly because I have not given the time of day to my yoga skills since school started. I threw myself in with reckless abandon, determined to not be outdone by the seasoned yoga-ers in the class. I must say, for having not done yoga for so long, I did pretty well. I'm not as flexible as I was last summer, but I sure as heck have a good sense of balance. And I'm stubbornly determined to do well at everything. I kept up really well with most of them, and was still able to do many of the more "complicated" or "advanced" poses. I was surprised to find that I did not sweat near as much this time as I have in the past. I was actually even a little disappointed about that. Weird, I know.
Skip to this morning. I am incredibly le ouch le sore. I'm no idiot - I know that Astanga yoga is endurance and strength building. I expected to be a little sore today. I did not expect enough though - I am a lot sore. But it's the good kind of sore. The kind of sore that I haven't been in ages. I am reminded of muscles that I had forgotten existed. That's always good.
I don't think I'll be working out today - I'll let my muscles recover. I'm often more sore 2 days after the actual workout, but I think I might see if I can make it back to yoga again tomorrow.
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