Pre-Natal Yoga

I haven't exactly moved past the sickness-stage, but I've decided that I've just got to ignore it and get back to exercising. So...step one? Pre-natal yoga.

I attended a class yesterday at Ocean Earth Wind Fire that was taught by Denise.

I have to admit, I enjoyed it thoroughly!  There were only 4 of us (in addition to the teacher), and I didn't feel too out of place at only 15 weeks.  The other women were at 28, 26, and 18 weeks, so a bit of variety there.  We started the class discussing our birthing plans, and honestly?  I'm glad I was already thinking of doing natural child birth because, not surprisingly, there was a strong push toward the more holistic paths.  There were 2 of us that said we were considering natural hospital births, and that almost came across as involving too much intervention when others were discussing home births, birthing centers, and doulas.  I honestly don't know the exact decision I will make, but I did feel a little pressure during this discussion, which, might have been somewhat uncomfortable.  I do plan on watching the documentary "The Business of Being Born" after everyone's comments, though.

As for the actual class?  I was surprised!  We still did almost identical poses to any other class I've been to!  I thought that inversions were supposed to be bad, but I guess that's just standing on your head type of inversions.  We still certainly were doing downward dogs and such.  For most poses, the instructor was giving modifications for people having balance issues, or their bellies were in the way.  I did not have these problems yet.  Also, there were plenty of blocks or bolster pillows available to help support in whatever position you needed them.  My only difficulty was feeling weak after too much of a break!  I had to come out of a few poses just because my muscles were shaking or would cramp up.

Awkward moment #2?  Having an instructor tell a room full of women to do a few kegels while in a pose.  I just don't normally consider this a community activity?  Ah, well.  Necessary.

And finally?  During corpse pose at the end, I swear I felt the Lion for the first time!  Which totally defeated the point of the "relaxation pose".  My mind was NOT clear.  As soon as I felt the flutter across my abdomen, I became entirely focused on that feeling.  Well, I suppose I can sacrifice a little relaxation for that moment.   

What is Exercise?

I can't even convey how upset I was when I injured my left knee.  And then my right knee.  And I saw my dreams of 125 pounds at my wedding and a 10 mile race on May 2nd go up in smoke.  And then an amazing thing happened.  I just realized that these goals are not impossible to reach.

In my head, I had taken a month off from exercise.  March 9th-April 9th.  Nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  In my mind, I saw the pounds piling back on, and my newly toned muscles withering away.  I continued to eat rationally, and maintained my love affair with CalorieCount.com     And....the weight continued to come off.  Probably 8 pounds since "I haven't exercised."  But the reality is, I have.

I always say that walking my dog doesn't count as exercise.  This might be true if I had a purse dog (no offense to those of you that do) that only required a traipse around the yard.  But the "non-exercise" of walking my dog is about 4 miles a day.  What else didn't I count?  Home renovations.  We're not talking about sewing some pillows or slapping up a coat of paint, either.  (Both of which I really enjoy doing, but didn't happen this month.)  I dug foundations.  Moved dirt.  Planted flowers and a garden.  Dug up fence posts.  Lots of HEAVY lifting.

Throw in that I was still even doing an occasional aerobics class or yoga video, and you realize that I was completely deluding myself.  I might not have been getting my miles in on the treadmill, but I was EXERCISING.  This morning I went to the gym for my first "serious" run, and ran a 5k in pretty decent time, without much pain.  So now the challenge is...do I still try and train for the 10 mile race?  Chris votes that I don't.  He thinks my knees won't hold up, and I'll be limping at the wedding.  A friend that is an avid runner thinks I can do it, as long as I get in 2 long runs before then, and just plan on walking when necessary.

The question is:  When is it too much of a challenge? 

Now THAT's How to Instruct a Class

After the Yoga fiasco, I was really starting to question my local YMCA.  Don't get me wrong, I still would have loved the equipment, access to the pool, and the like.  However, classes were not sounding so appealing.  Well, strike that thought!  Today I went to a Cardio Fusion class that was just wonderful.  Here's what the instructor did right:

1)  Started promptly and made the class aware of what equipment they needed (2 sets of weights and a mat).
2)  Gave 3 levels for every exercise we did.  For most, I did the most difficult without stress, but my knees can't handle lunges yet.  She noticed, asked if I was having trouble with my back or my knees, and made a suggestion.
3)  Was friendly, but not overly talkative.  The class revolved around the work-out.
4)  Had a silly "woo" noise, which initially I found a little annoying, but it kept me entertained.
5)  Looked the part.  Great, toned body.  Not excessively thin.  Cute workout attire.  Now, I don't base entirely on looks.  I had a wonderful arms and abs instructor once that appeared overweight.  But it does help you believe that they know what they're doing.  Also, can't stand the anorexic looking ones.  Although, honestly, they're rarely the instructors.  There was one woman in class today, and she just couldn't keep up!  EAT something!  You'll have more energy!
6)  Adequately stretched before and after the class, but didn't waste time.
7)  Invited us to join the following (abs) class.  Of course, I had to go to work, so that wasn't gonna happen, but I wish!

Anyway, I'm just pleased.  And wish the class was every day.  And, am AMAZED that after 3 weeks of not working out (aside from walking the dog many miles most days, which I don't count), I still flew through the class no sweat (ok, there was sweat, but it was a breeze).  Can't wait til I can actually RUN again, but for now?  Happy.

The Ideal Yoga Class

I'm pretty open minded.  I don't necessarily believe that there is ONE right way to conduct a yoga class.  That said, there are two very distinct ways that one should not.  One of which I experienced yesterday.  And have consequently dropped both classes.

The WRONG ways to teach yoga:

1)  Yesterday's class was entitled "Yoga with Meditation".  Ok...I'd prefer it to focus on the physical nature, but I'm not completely opposed to some of the new-age spirituality.  The class, though?  5 minutes of poses, and 55 minutes of "meditation".  The meditation involved the elderly woman lecturing us on how we needed to drink water and how wonderful silence was.  As she talked.  Without stopping to breath.  For 55 minutes.  Furthermore, she enlightened us with such gems as, "Some people think meditation's complicated, but it's really just acknowledging that you're part of the universe"...mmm...little over-simplified perhaps?  Or, when asked how to prevent your foot from falling asleep when sitting on it for so long, the instructor told the student that it was her body telling her she was tired and needed to nap.  Finally, during the 5 minutes of exclusively sun-salutations, the instructor never managed to once go straight from up- to down-dog.  Just saying.

2)  Denise Austin.  No one wants to hear her peppy little cheerleader voice when they're trying to get deep into a pose.  The only person who likes her videos is a male friend who offered to take them off my hands.  And I'm not sure he's a yogi.

Anyone want a dog?

Kidding.  She's becoming such a sweet, wonderful, cuddle-bug.  However, that sweet, wonderful, cuddle-bug and her pit bull friend took out my good knee on Friday.  Since I was still not walking particularly well, as my left knee was sore from overuse, I was taking Harper to the dog park every evening.  She has a habit of treating me as "home base".  She'll race around the yard, chasing her buddies, then return to me at full speed.  Protection?  Checking in?  Who knows....  Either way, she and her friend came barreling towards me, and collided with my RIGHT knee.  A few witnesses heard it pop.  It was not pleasant.  I have not seen a doctor, and am hobbling around all right.  I have self-prescribed ice, ibuprofen, a knee brace, and rest.  And to think I thought my LEFT knee hurt...oh this is worse, folks.  MUCH worse.  As a response, since the weight is creeping back after 2 weeks of inactivity, and to have a PRAYER of running 10 miles in a month and 1/2, I have signed up for 2 yoga classes and a cardio class that start this week at the Y.  The cardio class isn't until Friday, so we'll see how mobile I am by then.  Regardless, I believe running is OUT for the foreseeable future.      

Swimming

Oh swimming. How I have missed you. Obviously, since I have now gotten to the gym at 5:30 am TWO days in a row without dragging my feet. Too much. It helps that Harper whines about 5 to go out anyway, so I can walk her, put her back in her crate, and take off. The ridiculously early time is so that Chris can still get ready for work puppy-free after I get home.

I swam competitively during the summers, water polo in high school, some in college, and some in law school, but then continued to swim a bit just for exercise. "Back in the day" about 8 years ago (man, time flies), I worked at a daycare at a gym. Almost every day after work, I would throw on my suit and swim a mile. And think nothing of it. Now, being a daycare provider really is one of the MOST physically demanding jobs out there. Don't be deceived by cute little faces. You are running around, playing games, lifting little bodies, etc... So to still want to swim 72 laps every day is a little bit nuts.

HOWEVER, the last time I seriously swam was with water polo in law school, so...3.5 years? So getting back into it has been ROUGH. I've only been doing about 30 laps at a pop, and oh, I'm feeling it. Fortunately, I can still barely squeeze into the old racing suits, but had to get a new cap and goggles. Highly recommend the Speedo Women's Vanquisher. They're great, though a PAIN IN THE BUTT to change the nose piece. It does not just "snap in", Speedo. They do work like a dream, though. Here's to using them every day for a long time to come!