Yo Go, Go, Go

Somehow I have never quite got around to practising yoga outside of the fab classes with JoYo. I often think about it but never quite find the momentum to throw out the yoga mat and get on with a practice. But on Saturday, following a 2hr 40m min cycle outing with the big boys and (one) girl from the Tri Club I found I had a sudden desire to chill out with an hour of yoga. I had the house to myself for half the practice as Mr Outdoors was out doing his weekly one-on-one yoga sesh with (none other than) JoYo and Lttle Miss Outdors was playing wth JoYo's daughter (or should that be Little Miss Yo?).

I decided I'd do the yoga session to some loud classical music and tried as best I could to proceed through as much of Primary A series as I could remember. I'm sure I missed quite a few poses (and I defintely overlooked the leg sticking out section and the frog jump thingy) but in all I managed 55 mins of fairly smooth flowing postures, including a sun salutation between every pose. By the end I was most defintiely chilled but mainly because I was completely knackered. When I lay down for a spot of relaxtion at the end of the session I thought about simply curling up on the TV room floor and having a nap! Ashtanga style yoga is definitely a fab workout.

I do wonder whether I'll ever be much good at yoga though. I can manage most of the poses but only to an approximate extent due to inflexible hips (in particular my right hip is affected by a big lump of scar tissue following a bad snowboarding fall some years ago). JoYo assures me things will get easier over time but then I see new comers in the class who can do all the poses straight off because they have more flexible hips. My only strength is my upper body which means I manage to keep going when others are starting to feel weak (and I can do a headstand while most others struggle to do so).

Still, I'll keep at it as I hate to give up on much. Also, since I've been attending regular weekly sessions I've not had a single injury from running. This is very unsual. It could be a coincidence but I don't think that's the case. And, I guess, with so much still to achieve even in the Primary A series yoga will always present a challenge to me. And if there's one thing do love, it's a challenge!

A Tuesday in the life of...

Tuesdays are busy. I don't just mean with work (every day is busy with work) but with exercise. In our house there is a timetable of days of being mum/step-dad and days for fitness. It's the only way it works for us.

So on Mondays and Wednesdays Mr Outdoors plays football, while I am mum. And on Tuesdays and Thursdays I do my fitness activities, while Mr Outdoors is step-dad. Friday evening and most of the weekend are for being together as a family (and for Mr Outdoors to see his kids).

But the problem is that because time is short for fitness both Mr Outdoors and I try to squeeze in as much as we can to our allotted evenings. Which is why on a Tuesday I go to a circuits class from 7pm to 8.15pm and then straight to a Tri Club swim session from 9pm to 10pm. This might actually be manageable if it wasn't for the Ashtanga yoga class I do on a Tuesday morning.

Ok, so most people think of yoga as an activity for girls and wimps but Ashtanga is not at all like that. It's a full-on 80 mins session of sun salutations, difficult postures and sweat. 

The fact that I have to walk (we only have one car and it's not always with me!) to the yoga class and back and then walk to collect my daughter from after-school childcare and then walk back again and then walk to the circuits class just adds to my feelings of total knackeredness by 10.15pm on a Tuesday evening. 

I do not even have the energy to luxuriate a little in post-exercise smugness.