namaste, shug pies!

so, i got up the nerve to try yoga tonight.

let it be known that i HATE trying new workouts.

wait, i HATE working out.

i HATE the feeling of dread.

that i need to "drag" myself to the gym.

i hate the data collection - pounds lost/gained, calories burned, minutes i was on the treadmill, etc.

i already have to keep craploads of data because of my diabetes. that's enough.

but - 

i have to do something.

my flexibility, posture, muscle strength/tone, endurance ... they all SUCK.
i used to go for long, brisk walks on a regular basis.
then one day, i woke up, and realized that sitting in an office chair was ruining my spine and hip flexors. not to mention that my job was stressin' me the eff out! and where was i finding any joy?
hmmm... good question.

life is too short for that shit, y'all!

i found acupuncture and i have viewed my body and my health very differently than i ever did before.
eastern medicine and outlook on life is so different than the way western culture views it.

i thought yoga might be something i can get behind because it's about restoring your body and your mind. it's not a punishment for eating too much cake. it's utilizing your own body in your workout and journey to become a healthier you. i was listening as the instructor said things that i have heard before in acupuncture. 

"we are caught up in this guilt, this idea that we have to be busy and productive all the time. we don't know how to unwind {in a healthy way}. we just go, go, go. there should be no guilt found in doing nothing. in rest. in getting 9 hours of sleep if that's how much your body needs.

and, y'all know i love me some acupuncture!
{you can read posts about my AWESOME experiences in acupuncture here}

so, i got me a little yoga mat from target, showed up, walked in, expecting some tree huggin' and some size 0 chicks burnin' incense and shit.

nope.

it was cool.
the instructor was very calming, and friendly, and there were women of various ages and sizes.

i paid my money, and went into the studio {this was a small studio with only one room}, took off my shoes, socks and hoodie, and rolled out my mat.

the hardest thing i did all night?

getting started.

it hurts like a moFO for me to sit like this:

 

the instructor was trying to teach us how to maintain our breathing, and we were supposed to be focusing on our intent - why were we there, and what did we hope to accomplish?

all i was thinkin about was holy shit balls, my  hips hurt.

i asked, "umm, if we are in so much pain that we can't find our intent, should we switch to something more comfortable?" {i just wanted to make sure i wasn't defeating the purpose, Nahmean? Like in acupuncture, if the pressure or discomfort is so great that you can't relax, she takes the needle out because it's counterproductive.}

unfortunately, this is not how they roll in yoga - I just had to put a yoga block under my ass like a 90 year old so that I could get past the pain.

after that, i was fine.

of course, i couldn't do all of the poses fully.

but, i could do a lot more than i thought!

we did lots of things - with the focus being on the breathing, letting go of stress, and maintaining balance. it's almost like you are so focused on the breathing, that you don't worry that your arms are shaking from exertion.

here are a couple of the things we did: 

and this:

and these:

about 20 minutes in, i started to break a sweat. 

but i was enjoying it.

it was gettin' my muscle tone on, and it was just satisfying that i could do the poses without tipping over sideways.

i was feeling quite accomplished.

then, shit got a little more intense.

we did this sequence, and i ain't gone lie, y'all.

my heart rate was UP. and i was sweatin' like it was my job.

the instructor told me i was doing an awesome job.
i'm not sure how i looked, but i felt like this:



the best part was at the end, when we did our relaxation/cool down.
{i'm sure there's a more official name for this, but i don't know what it is.}
our instructor gave us each these awesome cold wet cloths that had been soaking in something that smelled heavenly to put over our eyes while we were relaxing.
{the instructor did come by during this part and push my feet closer to my crotch and told me that this would help open up my hips - the reason i can't sit indian style/criss cross applesauce, whatever you wanna call it}

 the whole workout, you continue to breath in the same pattern, and that was the part that took some getting used to. but it really keeps you focused, and you really feel like you are accomplishing something.
i loved that it felt like my whole body was getting a workout, and not just specific muscle groups.

the verdict:

i think i will actually stick to this because it's like a workout that's a reward instead of self-inflicted punishment.
{it's exactly how i feel about acupuncture - which totally changed my life!}
it doesn't tear your body up like a lot of impact sports and running.
it helps you sleep better.
it sort of rebuilds the foundation of "you".

i'm excited, y'all!!

i may have come home and enjoyed me a lil chocolate & diet coke.
but - the chocolate was dark, and the diet coke was caffeine free.
i'm choosing to celebrate the positive, and be proud of my baby steps.