S-T-R-E-T-C-H
/Four years of yoga down the drain. That's what I feel like. For four years I attended a local yoga class 2-3x/week and loved it. I would not describe myself as a naturally flexible person but I made real headway, able to twist myself into some pretzel like shapes, hold some challenging balance poses, and head-to-knee pose with hands flat on the floor was pretty much a no-brainer.
Then I got serious about running.
And added weight training.
And because I was exercising two hours a day, most days, I could not see clear to find a way to keep yoga in my life more than once a week, at best. Now I'm paying the price.
Even a moderate bend at the waist produces screaming in my super tight hamstrings. I dangle my fingers toward the floor and am amazed I was once able to touch it. I did a yoga tape the other day--my easy "old lady" one--and was instantly frustrated (and embarrassed) at how the "easy" poses had now become challenging. Even a seated head-to-knee pose isn't happening. I fling my arms out and grasp my toes and hang on for dear life, grimacing against the pain as I fight to keep my legs straight. Lowering my head to my knees? Fuggedaboutit!
Aside from that, I just don't feel good. My body hurts, everything is sore. I find myself bending my knees to reach down and pick something up versus just swooping down and grabbing it. I feel like I've lost an important connection with myself.
So there's nothing for it but to dive back in. I've started doing the "old lady" 30-minute yoga tapes at least once a day, and am dragging my mat around the house, stretching in 5-10 minute increments as my schedule allows. It's only been a couple of days and already I'm feeling better. Looser.
Hear that floor? I'm coming for ya!
