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First yoga class in 3-1/2 weeks
Jan. 9th, 2012 01:59 pmand as always, it prompted the thought "I have _got_ to start putting lotion on these feet".
No, despite the forced contemplation of my nether appendages, I really like yoga. It's the thing that really makes me want to lose weight - not because of any problems with the class (the instructor is really nice at suggesting alternate poses for those of us who can't get into the standard ones) - but because I really want to be better at it. I long for the day when there is less 'me' in the middle of the poses. Although I've decided I probably never will be able to touch my toes - my back just doesn't seem to be that flexible.
I continually amaze myself at what I can do, though, and how well I can manage some things. There are some much younger and more flexible women in the class, and - not to say this in at all a negative sense - I am encouraged to see the things they can't do, and I can. When the absolute best person in class loses her balance in the middle of a pose, I am reassured - she is as human as I, and if I keep working at it, maybe I can get closer to where she is. We are all a little bit different, and the thing is not to fret about the things I can't do well, but enjoy the things I'm good at. And find new stuff to be good at.
Hope I remember that tonight, when my muscles point out that they haven't done this in a while. That's one of the most depressing things about getting older, I think - I seem to lose whatever strength or conditioning I have gained so quickly, and it takes forever to get it back. Well, I'm determined to swim tonight, which usually makes me feel nice and stretched out (the time spent after in the hot tub helps too) - we'll see if that helps at all.
No, despite the forced contemplation of my nether appendages, I really like yoga. It's the thing that really makes me want to lose weight - not because of any problems with the class (the instructor is really nice at suggesting alternate poses for those of us who can't get into the standard ones) - but because I really want to be better at it. I long for the day when there is less 'me' in the middle of the poses. Although I've decided I probably never will be able to touch my toes - my back just doesn't seem to be that flexible.
I continually amaze myself at what I can do, though, and how well I can manage some things. There are some much younger and more flexible women in the class, and - not to say this in at all a negative sense - I am encouraged to see the things they can't do, and I can. When the absolute best person in class loses her balance in the middle of a pose, I am reassured - she is as human as I, and if I keep working at it, maybe I can get closer to where she is. We are all a little bit different, and the thing is not to fret about the things I can't do well, but enjoy the things I'm good at. And find new stuff to be good at.
Hope I remember that tonight, when my muscles point out that they haven't done this in a while. That's one of the most depressing things about getting older, I think - I seem to lose whatever strength or conditioning I have gained so quickly, and it takes forever to get it back. Well, I'm determined to swim tonight, which usually makes me feel nice and stretched out (the time spent after in the hot tub helps too) - we'll see if that helps at all.
