Archive for the ‘Tri training’ Category

Use yoga to stop the clock!

Slow the signs of aging and feel younger with a simple yoga regimen. These are huge claims, but as someone who has had, shall we say, an undulating habit of practice, there’s nothing like the feeling of a body fresh from the mat.  And the various positive effects last throughout the day.  Without a doubt a regular practice has effects that extend far beyond just the hours following….

Eight years ago, when Sharon Gothard Weisman turned 40, backaches, dark undereye circles, forgetfulness, and fatigue made her feel more like 60. In the hope of finding anti-aging relief, Weisman took a yoga class. An hour later, she felt more relaxed than she had in years. She’s been doing yoga three times a week since and says, “I have more energy, strength, and flexibility than most women half my age.”She recently ran into an old high school friend who asked, “Don’t you get older like the rest of us?”

Many women try yoga for stress reduction, but they stick with it because it makes them feel–and look–younger, says Larry Payne, PhD, a yoga director at Loyola Marymount University and coauthor of Yoga Rx. Unlike traditional exercise, yoga blends anti-aging moves that improve circulation, balance, flexibility, and strength with meditative techniques such as deep breathing. “My students call yoga a natural face-lift,” he says. “It cleanses, relaxes, and restores.”
Read more of the advantages of yoga….

It’ll be Canada Day and this time just a fun, shorty-sprint Tri with a few cheater options.  It’s the first in our area and in an effort to make it accessible and have it take off for years to come, it’s been made as appealing as possible to draw participants.  In an effort to do our part to support the event, we have signed up.

The only hitch to this event is that, after a comfortable pool swim in our local hot springs, the rest is all up-hill trails.  We have to make our way up to our local ski hill, where we finish at our local Canada Day festivities.  All hot, sweaty-stinky.

Pass the beer!  It’s actually included in my registation fee… and I get a t-shirt… and a burger.  Like I said, a fun event.

I’ve got to get in the habit of practice though.  With the consistent training for these events and this includes a half marathon the second weekend in August, I can feel everything shortening.  My flexibility is lacking badly.

Despite our busy day, I’d like to get in a half hour today.  Even if it’s just a long series of Sun Salutations.  I needs my yoga!!

We were planning to get a practice in this morning before leaving for the campground.  I don’t think it’s going to happen.  We’ve both been hit with work bits to get in and I have to get to town to make sure we aren’t bouncing cheques as we’re trudging our way around the course over the weekend.

It’d be tough to come home all exhilerated only to be sucked into the overdraft abyss….

So much to do… not to mention all of the packing.  Husband has been sick, so prep has and will continue to be done singlehandedly by… me.  Am I complaining?  Yeah.  A little.

The stress comes in trying to get to the campground near the event before the crowds.  First come, first serve.  Due to sickness, Husband has some catch-up on work before he leaves and will join us this afternoon.  Kids and I will set up camp… assuming we are one of the first to come and therefore first served.  Otherwise we’ll have to find a place along the highway shoulder nearby.
I will have to trust old bod’ to kick it into gear when it’s needed Sunday although we will certainly try to find a place to get in a rejuvenating practice over the weekend before the race.  An early morning at the campsite… in the woods.  That would be a lovely thing.

But, we are ready.  Oh, yes.  Hmmmm….. ready-ish, perhaps.

This morning’s practice was a good one.  Forty minutes of lengthening lovliness… Sure, there was battle from “Age of Empires” screaming from the office computer beyond… too loud not to be noticed, but hey, when you’re in the flow, it’s all good.

As we stood in Mountain Pose at the beginning of practice, I stated to husband, “Here’s the deal.  You’re on the own for Sun Salutations A and B.  At your own pace.  Five of ‘A’, and then if you need, follow me for ‘B’.  But I won’t be cueing.  Again, you’re on your own here.  Yeah?”

“I’ll follow you.”

And so he did.  But I left it up to him as I really wanted to enjoy my practice today and not interrupt my own flow to speak.  To cue.  While I have now had a little experience in leading a group and speaking my way through, I still haven’t got a good handle on maintaining my own breath and flow while doing so.

Today I just didn’t want to even try.  And it sure felt good.

Which brings me to an email I received this morning from Heather, about to take on leading a class herself, and how I designed the practice for the class I led this winter.  In the spirit of honesty, and as I sheepishly explained to Heather, I really didn’t design much outside of my own practice.  I pretty much just modified what I have been doing in my living room/bedroom/basement/playroom for the last eight years.  I know my practice and its variations like the back of my hand and this is what I felt comfortable presenting to a group.

Understand, Heather, and everyone else, I am not a teacher, certified or otherwise.  But I sure love my yoga and with enough disclaimers to save my crazy ass, I was able to lead a class.  Perhaps I will pursue certification and work on my teaching chops more formally in future, but as it is, I have enough on my plate.  And that goes ditto for taking on another class.

I love my practice.  I used to love it alone.  Now I am enjoying it with hubby.  But leading a group… hmmmmmm….

In the grind that is daily life, along with the added grind that is triathlon training, not only regular yoga practice gets overlooked, but as a result so does maintaining my practice blog. Well, I was pleasantly nudged this morning with the reminder that people are reading….  I shall try to keep on the posting stick.
As per above, practice, until this week has fallen by the wayside. However, yesterday, Hubby felt a need for lengthening and got me up off the couch for a 35 minute session. As I peruse the last several posts, it seems Hubby can take the credit for any semblance of yoga that is getting done. As was the case yesterday.

And thankfully he did. With regular training over these past many weeks, particularly the amount of running I’m doing… Muscles. Shortening. Badly!

Oh Boy! Feel those hamstrings!

I focused on the trusty and reliable sun salutations.  Starting slow and easy, we built heat and gradually… oh, so very gradually, the backs of my legs gave up a little of their tension.  Even as the flow became more vigourous, I didn’t push.  I listen to my muscles.  This day they were definitely scolding- OK, maybe it was more like nagging- “Sure, nurture the the cardio, the endurance, all the glamour of the distance work.  But we’ll show you!  Oh, yes.  Just try to touch your toes!  Ha!  That’ll teach you to ignore the stretch, the lengthen, the cleansing breath… the quiet.  With you it’s all about ‘how far’… you forget about ‘how deep’. “
We are 5 days and counting until event. Yoga is scheduled twice more between then and now in attempt to make ammends. Before Sunday. Whistling dixie, no doubt… but every little stretch- and cleansing ujjayi breath- has to help!

Three kids. Now, I know there are those of you out there who manage a regular practice, family, preparing well-balanced meals all while representing NATO and vacuming your living room. I am not one of these.

I blog. I homeschool. I take pictures. I write some. I cook meals. Oh… and none of these on the same day.  Oh no. My head would surely explode… much to the entertainment of said kids.

I squeeze in yoga practice quarterly. It seems, at best. And now, I have taken on a shorty sprint triathlon bearing down mid-June. Wha- how?!?

And on top of it all I want to resume- no, institute- a regular yoga practice. I enjoy it, dammit. My body responds well to it. However, despite these facts that should make for easy prioritization- no go. Despite all of the reasons I have for pursuing an active and regular practice I am also quite attached to the excuse that I don’t have a viable space in this, our little Rocky Mountain cottage house, in which to achieve this noble goal. The reasons for this again come down to prioritization- or keeping yoga space effectively tidy of kids toys, dog hair and old popcorn kernels. It seems hard pressed to happen.

But it will! It must! This nearly 40 year old sack o’ bones needs it in order to make it through this coming event.

Here’s to the power of a blog to assist!

Well, after a couple of months of inactivity- yogic and otherwise- I managed to teach a class at the behest of neighbor teacher who was unable to make it herself, in addition to attending one of hers later in the week.

I’m also back into running. So its a triathlon. So its less than two months away. Just, so…

Running is a good start. The bike and swim training will begin next week. Baby steps.

I would also love to make sure that a regular yoga practise is made a priority as well… to keep my long idle muscles from becoming seized, inflamed, downright angry masses of under-appreciated tissue.

A great week for physical activity, despite the nasty early-March type weather.