The start of the new week and Oscar going back to work after a week off had me thinking that things needed to change. I was getting into a rut. Dishes were beginning to be left over night to deal with the next day, clothes sat in the laundry basket waiting to be folded for a couple of days. I knew I was heading back down a path of least resistance and not some where I wanted to return to. So, I decided to use the day to mark the new direction I have been working on recently that I want my life to take by starting a new exercise regime.
I pulled out the Yoga for Dummies Dvd I bought eons ago... unwrapped it and opened it for the first time. Phew that was hard work, perhaps I should stop now, cant push it too hard on the first day... no? Oh, ok. Right, you can do this girl. Push DVD into the xbox thingy( yes guys Thingy is a technical term), kick my shoes off and push the coffee table out of the way.. This is going to get messy.
That Dvd kicked my proverbial butt. A couple of the poses I couldnt even hold for the 6 breaths I was meant to be doing. But the lass was so supportive, telling me what a wonderful job I was doing, I didnt want to disappoint her so I pushed on, =oP. Over time I am sure that supportive smiling voice will start to sound terribly condescending, but for now I am happy to continue to push, stretch and reach higher with each breath just to hear those, "wow, you did really well" comments.
At the end I did in fact feel better and so much more relaxed.. once I stopped panting and gasping for breath that is. Later last night I started to feel those familiar achy muscles. You know the ones that say to you man, what are you doing to me? The body aches in protest of the extra work its been put through. Call it the athlete in me, but I like that feeling. To me its a comforting pain. It means I did good that day.
During the 30 minute "Basic" workout I stretched, pulled and panted my body through only 12 positions. Forced my body to relax. At the beginning the positions made me realize just how tensed up I was always holding my body. Pushing my shoulders into the "relaxed" positions actually was painful and really spelt out how much damage I was doing to my body and therefore my soul.
Simple basic poses showed me just how inflexible I had become over the years. Simple breathing pattern had me perplexed and really having to constantly concentrate on getting right. As the session went on I started to feel different though. Bones in my back were starting to click and feel good with each movement. More than once my neck and shoulders started to naturally set into their place. I even felt my neck click back into place each time I stretched it.
On the very last position I actually felt more relaxed and centred than I can remember being for a very long time. I can honestly say that other than my constant companions nose constantly being stuck in my face while I was upside down and on the floor it was almost a spiritual thing.
One day I will actually be able to stretch down and place my hands on the floor. I may even be able to hold the side lung position for 4 breaths in stead of 3 by the end of this week. My goal is not to lose weight but to strengthen and heal my body so I am not pushing myself too hard as I am still recovering from a bruised rib. Which means some positions are a little painful on one side. I also know I need to start sometime and there is always a reason or an excuse to put off getting started. I can already come up with 3 excuses to not try again today but I wont listen to them, cause I now know the only person standing in the way of my goal of living a simple, healthier life in mind and body is me.
☺
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