Except for the first time I have tried on plough (almost like a shoulder stand except with your legs at ninety degrees down from your torso and parallel to the floor), I have never failed doing it. Never did I expect me to not be able to do it during today's yoga session.
Despite taking deep breaths and trying to hoist my hips up, I have scarcely managed to only lift my legs up. In the end, I have to lie flat on the flooor to rest while the team members carry on with their plough and shoulder stand.
It should not be a mental hurdle as I have done it successfully before so I no longer am constrained by the fear of toppling over. If it is not a mental hurdle, then it is definitely a physical hurdle. This means that my stamina has deproved over the weeks. It looks like I have to train harder to keep in form.
Showing posts with label Yoga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yoga. Show all posts
November 22, 2009
November 14, 2009
Tortuous Yoga Session
Due to ill health recently, I have missed a couple of my weekly yoga sessions. As many of my classmates were fast learner, this yoga class had progressed faster than other yoga classes with more and more difficult positions. These positions were not only a test of stamina, flexibility and also concentration. Mind over matter was certainly not scientific fluff. On a day where there was alot of troubles of the mind, I was likely to give up maintaining a position over prolonged period of time. Moreover, some of the positions that required balancing over an extended period of time was simple with no test of stamina nor flexibility. Yet, to achieve the positions could require a huge amount of concentration.
After a very tortuous session, my muscles ached all over. I experienced difficulty in climbing down stairs. My legs were wobbly. When I breathed abit harder, my chest and stomach seemed to be in stitches. The good thing about yoga was that it allowed stretches of muscles that you did not know exist in the first place.
Hopefully, I would recover from these bouts of pain soon.
After a very tortuous session, my muscles ached all over. I experienced difficulty in climbing down stairs. My legs were wobbly. When I breathed abit harder, my chest and stomach seemed to be in stitches. The good thing about yoga was that it allowed stretches of muscles that you did not know exist in the first place.
Hopefully, I would recover from these bouts of pain soon.
April 25, 2009
Tough Session of Yoga
My teacher was going for his overseas vacation for the next 2 weeks. As usual, whenever we stopped for sometime, be it due to public holidays or because of our teacher's schedule, it would be a tough session. My teacher would cramp as many tough positions as possible so that we would sweat it all out first.
Mid-way through the session, my legs were weak from all the standing workouts. My arms started to shiver slightly when I continued to hold them horizontal straight and at shoulder level. By the end of the session, my whole body was laden with fatigue and all my limps felt heavy with each lift. Fortunately, I was not the only one completely exhausted from this session. My mum was also commenting about her exhaustion.
I would definitely be suffering from muscle aches from all over my body starting tomorrow. Sigh!
Mid-way through the session, my legs were weak from all the standing workouts. My arms started to shiver slightly when I continued to hold them horizontal straight and at shoulder level. By the end of the session, my whole body was laden with fatigue and all my limps felt heavy with each lift. Fortunately, I was not the only one completely exhausted from this session. My mum was also commenting about her exhaustion.
I would definitely be suffering from muscle aches from all over my body starting tomorrow. Sigh!
March 28, 2009
New Class, New Classmates
It is yet again a new yoga class. Each time with the start of a new class, there will be new and old faces.
The old faces represent friendships built through numerous sessions of sweat and panting of doing sun salutation together. We have seen one another wobble when we attempt the Tree. We have laughed together at ourselves when we dare not flip backwards during a plough. We sing together when we do breathing exercises together.
The new faces remind us of ourselves when we first stepped into the class more than a year ago. Filled with anticipation of taking up a new exercise regime and trepidation of the need to be flexible, we have braved through both mental and physical hurdles till now that we are more comfortable with our own bodies.
One of the new faces seemed abit nervous and asked us how long we have been taking lessons. When I told her I have been taking for about 1.5 years, she asked why I had not progressed to the next phase, ie a more advanced class. Trying to assure her, I told her I was not very good in my current stage to think beyond this. She seemed abit taken aback. I wondered if she thought she had gone into a wrong class where no one improved even after a year of practice.
Well, actually, my teacher would teach different positions each series. To cater for beginners and those who have some experiences with yoga, he would have both easy and difficult positions in each class. To the experienced, the easy positions would help warm us up to prepare us for the more difficult positions. It also served as a refreshment course for us to perfect our positions. To the beginners, the easy positions would build confidence. For the difficult positions, it would stretch the experienced further. To the beginners, it would be a challenge which would motivate them to strive beyond their comfort zones.
In addition, teacher never stops anyone who wants to take a rest if a certain position is beyond his or her current stamina. His mantra is that you will know your body best. There is no point in stretching your body to a breaking point and straining yourself and putting you off yoga. As much as we should try to stretch, we must never use up every ounce of strength in the stretch. We must at all time retain one-tenth of our strength so that when our body is about to give way, we can use this remaining strength to bring our body back to the original position rather than suffer a fall.
Despite a year into yoga, I still feel like a very beginner even in the simplest breathing exercise. No worries, I will continue with my practice. :-)
The old faces represent friendships built through numerous sessions of sweat and panting of doing sun salutation together. We have seen one another wobble when we attempt the Tree. We have laughed together at ourselves when we dare not flip backwards during a plough. We sing together when we do breathing exercises together.
The new faces remind us of ourselves when we first stepped into the class more than a year ago. Filled with anticipation of taking up a new exercise regime and trepidation of the need to be flexible, we have braved through both mental and physical hurdles till now that we are more comfortable with our own bodies.
One of the new faces seemed abit nervous and asked us how long we have been taking lessons. When I told her I have been taking for about 1.5 years, she asked why I had not progressed to the next phase, ie a more advanced class. Trying to assure her, I told her I was not very good in my current stage to think beyond this. She seemed abit taken aback. I wondered if she thought she had gone into a wrong class where no one improved even after a year of practice.
Well, actually, my teacher would teach different positions each series. To cater for beginners and those who have some experiences with yoga, he would have both easy and difficult positions in each class. To the experienced, the easy positions would help warm us up to prepare us for the more difficult positions. It also served as a refreshment course for us to perfect our positions. To the beginners, the easy positions would build confidence. For the difficult positions, it would stretch the experienced further. To the beginners, it would be a challenge which would motivate them to strive beyond their comfort zones.
In addition, teacher never stops anyone who wants to take a rest if a certain position is beyond his or her current stamina. His mantra is that you will know your body best. There is no point in stretching your body to a breaking point and straining yourself and putting you off yoga. As much as we should try to stretch, we must never use up every ounce of strength in the stretch. We must at all time retain one-tenth of our strength so that when our body is about to give way, we can use this remaining strength to bring our body back to the original position rather than suffer a fall.
Despite a year into yoga, I still feel like a very beginner even in the simplest breathing exercise. No worries, I will continue with my practice. :-)
March 24, 2008
Relaxation and Strength Building
Depending on the different poses, Yogic exercise can promote either relaxation or strength building. Some apparently simple stretches can command a lot of strength and concentration especially to maintain in the same position while continuing normal breathing.
For those having insomnia, perhaps you can try the following exercises the next time you have difficulty sleeping.
This is a Table pose. It is supposed to promote relaxation through the tensing and subsequent release of tension.
For building of strength, one can do the Sun Salutation. Doing 21 cycles (one-time of right leg first and one-time of left leg first combined is considered one cycle) is believed to have the same effect as jogging for 10 km.
For those having insomnia, perhaps you can try the following exercises the next time you have difficulty sleeping.
This is a Table pose. It is supposed to promote relaxation through the tensing and subsequent release of tension.
The Tension Releaser exercise will release built-up tension.
For building of strength, one can do the Sun Salutation. Doing 21 cycles (one-time of right leg first and one-time of left leg first combined is considered one cycle) is believed to have the same effect as jogging for 10 km. Before you try these exercises, please seek your doctor’s advice. Moreover, please practice in the guidance of a qualified yoga teacher and get your breathing and position right before attempting to practise on your own.
January 19, 2008
Yoga – Better Appreciation
When I first enrolled in yoga lessons, I entered the classroom with trepidation and unease. I can almost rank myself as an idiot when it comes to any sports. Moreover, when it comes to flexibility, I will definitely flunk big-time. A lot of apprehension floats through my mind – what if I hurt myself or what if I become the laughingstock of my class.
Fortunately, the coach shares a lot of his own experiences and encouragement during the lessons. The apprehension gradually recedes and replaces by enjoyment. I start to fear not able to achieve certain poses but rather focus more on improving myself at my own pace. This is the beginning of my appreciation of yoga practices. I begin to look forward to attending classes.
I enjoy myself so that I sign up for the classes again after the first series end. I am not progressing to the intermediate but rather continuing with elementary. I guess I better improve more on my elementary before trying to attain more difficult poses. Moreover, going to the class weekly will instill more discipline for regular practices than if I were to do it on my own at home.
Indeed, on those times when we have to stop classes for public holidays, I never practice except to do the chant pose. I do chant pose more to ease digestion after a heavy meal while I watch the television. Furthermore, if I never do any other exercise, yoga is at least a form of exercise. According to my coach, if you do sun salutation or kneeling sun salutation consecutively for about 20 sets, it is as good as running 10 kilometers. It may sound incredulous. However, if you try the sun salutation, I am sure you will believe him. Usually, doing it slowly in a series of 3 sets (2 sets of left-leg once and right-leg once), I will be perspiring profusely and panting rapidly as if I have been on the treadmill for 15 minutes.
In the first lesson of the second series, I become more confident as I am more aware of the different poses. This is also when I can focus on perfecting each pose and synchronizing with the breathing to achieve the exercising of the different muscles. In the first series of the class, I was more often preoccupied with following the coach for each pose than to really think through and enjoy the stretches. Hence, it is not surprising that at the end of the first lesson, I find myself aching all over from the stretching of the muscles that we normally hardly notice, especially my triceps because of the kneeling sun salutation. The aches are more widespread than the first series of lessons.
Yet, I think my improvement in flexibility is still at a baby step stage until I have the time to practice more frequently. Nevertheless, I look forward to my Saturday morning workout and stretch even though it remains the minimum that I practise for the time being.
Fortunately, the coach shares a lot of his own experiences and encouragement during the lessons. The apprehension gradually recedes and replaces by enjoyment. I start to fear not able to achieve certain poses but rather focus more on improving myself at my own pace. This is the beginning of my appreciation of yoga practices. I begin to look forward to attending classes.
I enjoy myself so that I sign up for the classes again after the first series end. I am not progressing to the intermediate but rather continuing with elementary. I guess I better improve more on my elementary before trying to attain more difficult poses. Moreover, going to the class weekly will instill more discipline for regular practices than if I were to do it on my own at home.
Indeed, on those times when we have to stop classes for public holidays, I never practice except to do the chant pose. I do chant pose more to ease digestion after a heavy meal while I watch the television. Furthermore, if I never do any other exercise, yoga is at least a form of exercise. According to my coach, if you do sun salutation or kneeling sun salutation consecutively for about 20 sets, it is as good as running 10 kilometers. It may sound incredulous. However, if you try the sun salutation, I am sure you will believe him. Usually, doing it slowly in a series of 3 sets (2 sets of left-leg once and right-leg once), I will be perspiring profusely and panting rapidly as if I have been on the treadmill for 15 minutes.
In the first lesson of the second series, I become more confident as I am more aware of the different poses. This is also when I can focus on perfecting each pose and synchronizing with the breathing to achieve the exercising of the different muscles. In the first series of the class, I was more often preoccupied with following the coach for each pose than to really think through and enjoy the stretches. Hence, it is not surprising that at the end of the first lesson, I find myself aching all over from the stretching of the muscles that we normally hardly notice, especially my triceps because of the kneeling sun salutation. The aches are more widespread than the first series of lessons.
Yet, I think my improvement in flexibility is still at a baby step stage until I have the time to practice more frequently. Nevertheless, I look forward to my Saturday morning workout and stretch even though it remains the minimum that I practise for the time being.
December 02, 2007
Sweaty Palms and Feet in the Way
I used to have sweaty palms and feet. I have nearly forgotten about their existence as they have ceased to interfere with my daily lifestyle. It used to bother me slightly when I was in school when there was heavy duty writing from all the notes-taking. However, with yoga, the inconvenience of sweaty palms and feet plagued me once again.
Many yoga poses aim to train one’s strength and concentration. This often requires the practioner to stay in a particular pose for at least a couple of minutes to fully stretch muscles that are often neglected. Maintaining balance in some poses is already difficult. Moreover, while enduring the stretches in those muscles, sweating is inevitable. With more well-developed sweat glands than the average person, it makes steadying myself in such positions an uphill task. Sometimes, after gaining balance in a certain pose, I will start to sweat mere seconds later. My arms and legs will become slippery and start pulling me in outward direction. While trying to prevent myself from slipping further, I will start to lose my concentration and fidget and sway.
Greater strength has to be exerted to steady myself in a particular position. Hence, this makes it more tiring. Hence, I need to use 9-ounce of strength for a 3-ounce-strength position. Thus, even for very simple poses, I will be breathing hard as if I have jogged for miles.
I wonder if I will ever outgrow sweaty palms and feet?
Many yoga poses aim to train one’s strength and concentration. This often requires the practioner to stay in a particular pose for at least a couple of minutes to fully stretch muscles that are often neglected. Maintaining balance in some poses is already difficult. Moreover, while enduring the stretches in those muscles, sweating is inevitable. With more well-developed sweat glands than the average person, it makes steadying myself in such positions an uphill task. Sometimes, after gaining balance in a certain pose, I will start to sweat mere seconds later. My arms and legs will become slippery and start pulling me in outward direction. While trying to prevent myself from slipping further, I will start to lose my concentration and fidget and sway.
Greater strength has to be exerted to steady myself in a particular position. Hence, this makes it more tiring. Hence, I need to use 9-ounce of strength for a 3-ounce-strength position. Thus, even for very simple poses, I will be breathing hard as if I have jogged for miles.
I wonder if I will ever outgrow sweaty palms and feet?
October 20, 2007
Yoga Philosophy
This was the second lesson and the instructor did not only go more indepth to the different postures, he also applied the philosophy of yoga to that of life. Attending yoga lessons was not only a cleansing of the body but also that of the soul and mind.
Breathing and Stress Management
A simple breathing exercise could help us focus our minds and release pent-up emotions so that we could maintain our calm and be more effective. How often do we allow our emotions to override our rationality and make a wrong decision? How often do we allow our emotions to disrupt our days? If we can manage our emotions better, we will be able to minimise the damages that we do unto others and ourselves.
Getting the Postures Right
In our focus on getting the postures, we often compromise our breathing or our muscles stretches. While deceiving others, we are also deceiving ourselves. If we cannot attain a certain posture this week, it does not mean that we will not be able to attain it next week or the week after. The most important lesson was to maintain our inner wellness through our controlled breathing. The purpose of yoga will be defeated if we do not take care of our breathing in an attempt to perform a certain posture. This can be extended to our daily lives. Sometimes, we attempt to show others how capable or successful we are but we forget that our personal development and happiness are more important.
According to the instructor, if we practise yoga on a prolonged basis, we would be able to apply the principles of yoga to our daily lives.
Breathing and Stress Management
A simple breathing exercise could help us focus our minds and release pent-up emotions so that we could maintain our calm and be more effective. How often do we allow our emotions to override our rationality and make a wrong decision? How often do we allow our emotions to disrupt our days? If we can manage our emotions better, we will be able to minimise the damages that we do unto others and ourselves.
Getting the Postures Right
In our focus on getting the postures, we often compromise our breathing or our muscles stretches. While deceiving others, we are also deceiving ourselves. If we cannot attain a certain posture this week, it does not mean that we will not be able to attain it next week or the week after. The most important lesson was to maintain our inner wellness through our controlled breathing. The purpose of yoga will be defeated if we do not take care of our breathing in an attempt to perform a certain posture. This can be extended to our daily lives. Sometimes, we attempt to show others how capable or successful we are but we forget that our personal development and happiness are more important.
According to the instructor, if we practise yoga on a prolonged basis, we would be able to apply the principles of yoga to our daily lives.
October 06, 2007
First Class of Yoga
I have not been so nervous for a long time.
Will I be the only one who cannot follow the instructions of the teacher?
I am very inflexible even when I was in school. Quoting a guy friend who used to have flexibility issues, “I can sit but cannot reach”. He is a guy. He can afford not to pass his sit-and-reach. Who has heard of girls failing? I did not fail but I barely passed.
Will I injure myself?
I may not be super frail or fragile but I am super clumsy and blur. Sometimes, I know I am injuring myself but I will react a moment too slow to stop the injury, so I always end up with serious injury. Moreover, my recovery speed is slower than normal, even my GP cannot believe what I always take ages to recover from the common ailments.
Will my classmates laugh at me? Will the teachers scold me? Will the teacher disallow me from joining the class because I don’t have a yoga mat?
I have thousand and one questions on how the session will be.
When I stepped into the class, I was one of the early few. The trainer appeared friendly. People started streaming in slowly. Most of my classmates were young teenagers. When almost everyone was in, the class started.
The teacher was patient in explaining about breathing techniques and the sequences of each poise. Yet, for someone who was foraging into yoga for the first time, no matter how detailed he had explained, it was difficult to put together the poise. Of course, my arch and stretches were not as beautiful or effortless as the trainer. In fact, in a couple of posies, I ended up feeling slightly twisted and locked.
One hour flew past. I seemed to have barely started before it was the end of the class. I will try to practise at home to be more ready for the next session.
First thing first, I will go and get myself a mat so that I can at least be ‘equipment-ready’ for next class.
Will I be the only one who cannot follow the instructions of the teacher?
I am very inflexible even when I was in school. Quoting a guy friend who used to have flexibility issues, “I can sit but cannot reach”. He is a guy. He can afford not to pass his sit-and-reach. Who has heard of girls failing? I did not fail but I barely passed.
Will I injure myself?
I may not be super frail or fragile but I am super clumsy and blur. Sometimes, I know I am injuring myself but I will react a moment too slow to stop the injury, so I always end up with serious injury. Moreover, my recovery speed is slower than normal, even my GP cannot believe what I always take ages to recover from the common ailments.
Will my classmates laugh at me? Will the teachers scold me? Will the teacher disallow me from joining the class because I don’t have a yoga mat?
I have thousand and one questions on how the session will be.
When I stepped into the class, I was one of the early few. The trainer appeared friendly. People started streaming in slowly. Most of my classmates were young teenagers. When almost everyone was in, the class started.
The teacher was patient in explaining about breathing techniques and the sequences of each poise. Yet, for someone who was foraging into yoga for the first time, no matter how detailed he had explained, it was difficult to put together the poise. Of course, my arch and stretches were not as beautiful or effortless as the trainer. In fact, in a couple of posies, I ended up feeling slightly twisted and locked.
One hour flew past. I seemed to have barely started before it was the end of the class. I will try to practise at home to be more ready for the next session.
First thing first, I will go and get myself a mat so that I can at least be ‘equipment-ready’ for next class.
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