Friday.
I can’t remember a Friday when I have not had a glass of wine – oh yes I can, during the Primal Junction challenge – but before then I cant remember one I haven’t had a drink much less exercised.
Tonight is my first strong flow. Where the ultimate goal is to reach full splits.
As soon as Kristiarne told us this as we checked in for the class, Nisha and I exchanged a worried glance and raised eyebrows.
It’s the journey, Kristairne reassured us. Don’t worry.
As Nisha said, that’s going to be a long journey for us.
For me, who has only just learnt to touch my toes, whose hips still ache and knees inwardly bend at odd angles, it’s going to be a tough one.
Apparently the journey involves us using two blocks for support, which was fine until the class got so full we had to surrender one of our already claimed blocks to the later comers, or those who were not quick enough to snatch two.
I gave mine to Haydn. Probably a mistake in hindsight given his increased flexibility to begin with and his previous gymnastic experience.
His handstand walking at crossfit today made my attempt at kicking my legs overhead, much less walking, well, laughable. Plus he can sumo squat more than double his weight, so not sure why he needs a block to hold him up.
Anyway, I gave it to him. Odds are it won’t be the fact I am down to only one block that stops me from doing the splits. I have a better chance of splitting something.
I’m in the first row tonight. Nisha has dragged me here kicking and screaming so we can review our posture closer to the mirror. I’m not sure I like it. It’s too close. Especially if the destination is full splits, or as we are told ‘hanumanasana’ (hah-new-mahn-AHS-anna).
Before attempting this peek pose we were told a story of a monkey-faced king, Rama, of India whose wife, Sita, was abducted by an evil demon king of Sri Lanka, Ravana. Like any good war story a battle followed and according to Wikipedia Rama’s brother was severely injured and his life could only be saved by a magical herb that only grew, alas, on the Himalayas and was an impossible journey given the time required to bring the herb back to save Rama’s brother, Laksamana.
Enter the story’s hero, Hunuman, who was devoted to Rama and so took it upon himself to take the leap from India to the Himalayas, where unsure what herb to pick, he instead strapped the entire mountain on his back.
“It was the greatest leap ever taken. The speed of Hanuman’s jump pulled blossoms and flowers into the air after him and they fell like little stars on the waving treetops. The animals on the beach had never seen such a thing; they cheered Hanuman, then the air burned from his passage, and red clouds flamed over the sky . . .” (Ramayana, retold by William Buck).
Of course he made it back in time, saved Laksamana, rescued Rama and everyone lived happily ever after.
After I went through the motions, I am sure Laksamana, Rama and Sita were well glad they had someone with Hanuman’s flexibility, leg length and strength on their side instead of my own..
No block was required, because well, there was just no way I was getting anywhere close to leaping over my mat much less over a country or two.
I took a sneaky glance at Hadyn and noticed he was in full splits.
Without his block.
I really wanted to go home and have a glass of wine.
Saturday
I have never spent so much time in front of a mirror as I have since starting yoga.
It’s a bit confronting.
Not so much during the practice, but the time I spend in the room before is defiantly. I find myself staring at my own arms, wondering if they are any closer to Michelle Bridges.
Tonight, when I take a break from the scribble on my page and look up, catching a glance of my seated position, I almost think they do. But then I realize I have taken my glasses off and am probably looking at somebody else.
If anything my arms look a little too wide.
I’m prepping for the triple-header today.
My hips are a little cranky after last nights failed leap attempt. Fair to say the journey to find full splits might be over before it has really begun for me.
Laksamana must have had really long legs.
I’m also still recovering from my eating mishap yesterday when I ransacked cake and forgot my sugar free self. Maybe that is why my arms look too wide.
Today sees a few familiar faces, a few new ones. I’m back in my regular, almost comforting place waiting for Nisha who I know will want to change to be closer to the front, but with or without glasses I know my arms are not like Michelle Bridges just yet, and after my embarrassing attempt at ‘hanumanasana’ it’s safer in my corner.
After today’s triple-header I should be back on track to success.
Thank god.
If I continue the daily ritual, with a Thursday double and either a double or triple next Saturday then I should be far enough in front for the final weekend when I will also be away, and actually pass the challenge.
Knowing I would be starving by 11:30 I ate yoghurt with my paleo Primal Junction muesli, and washed it down with a long black before I came.
Not sure it was the best idea to have dairy before yoga, but I’ve been craving it lately and didn’t have time to cook eggs.
I also made a smoothie, spinach, banana, berry and chia seeds, although again I failed by putting it in the freezer and it’s not yet ready to drink.
I’m a little tired, maybe ill have a nap in meditation….
Sunday
I’m back baby! Back on track!!
I’m pretty chuffed with myself for making it back from so far behind.
I might even be ahead!!!
Mind you, I’m paying for it.
My legs are sore, my hips ache, I have a bruise on my butt that I think is from crossfit and hurts every time I rock and roll my way up to seated position, and my shoulders burn through my vinyasa flow.
And I’m exhausted.
It’s my 10th class for the week.
10 classes in 7 days.
Of course there was a Yin through in, and mediation yesterday, but either way that is a lot of airtime, dedication, flexing, stretching and sweating I have left on the mat this week.
So much so I have caught up. Am not a follower but back with the pack, a real challenger.
Thank goodness, if I was putting my hips through this for nothing I would be well pissed.
The mat placement etiquette seems to have been lost a little today. I thought about trying a different position but it’s a little bit creative, not straight lines, all higgledy piggledy and I couldn’t quite find the right area for Nisha and I to set up somewhere new.
Nisha is hung over. She is getting ready to sweat out all the bad boy toxins she consumed last night.
Me, I had one glass of red wine and it was enough to send me to sleep. I didn’t even make my eyelids stay open for the last ten minutes of Carlton versus Essendon.
See, exhausted.
My body hurts and my entire being was cursing when the alarm went off this morning.
It’s Sunday! Rest Day!! Are you mad woman!!?? Shut that thing off!!!??
Sorry scary Stacey, you will have to stop poking me with your pitchfork because I am getting up.
My thought process before class today.
I really had to sumo slam the negative Stacey down, the one who was responsible for me eating cake. She had Friday, she was not having Sunday too!
It’s been a tough week.
Nisha felt like this week one. I am sure others did also. Tired, struggling, a little overwhelmed because maybe this entire challenge thing was taken bit too easily, with a little bit too much self confidence.
Week 1 challengers were all feeling like that while I was away for work, drinking wine, eating steak and sleeping in.
But now it’s my turn.
Maybe some others are feeling like me this week. Maybe not, maybe everyone else is great as they are already well on their way in week two, and they prepared themselves.
Today Nisha said she defiantly felt stronger than she did before starting the challenge – which is great. She looks stronger, and I know she can touch her toes now. Her leap to the Himalayas was longer than mine, and she thought I was the flexible one.
I just feel like I have lost more sweat than my body weight, and are more tired than I normally am. My arms are no closer to Michelle Bridges and my thighs area still causing me grief. So much grief I need to visit Lulu this week for some more suitable clothing.
Cleary I am also complaining more than I normally would. Or perhaps I always complain a lot and have not realised it…
Hopefully it’s not just me, that other challenger goers are having a mid mental breakdown too. That other challengers are surprised at how much they hurt, how much they sweat, how stiff they can be and how tired at the end of a day.
On the positive – I am also surprised at much I like yoga.
How important it is for me to keep my fingers pointed at the roof, that my legs are in the right position. How hard I try to keep my elbows in during forward plank before going through my flow routine. How happy I was when Kacey mentioned I had good alignment in my vinyasa flow.
So while I am complaining (a fair bit) I am enjoying this challenge and my introduction to yoga. If I wasn’t I would have thrown in the mat by now and just moved on. Eaten more cake and not thought about it again.
But I really do like it, which means I really do want to succeed at this challenge.
So back to the mat ill go tomorrow. And the next day, and the day after that…
It’s one small step for mankind, one giant ‘hanumanasana’ leap for those of us in the challenge.
The Primal Fear 