Until this week, it had been about 4 months since I’d done yoga. I’ve gone trail running a few times and I’ve gone to the Pilates classes at work. (Can I just say how much I don’t like Pilates? I’ve tried a few classes and . . . man. While it IS challenging, I feel like it’s not a complete workout the way yoga is.) But it’s not the same. Yoga is just my thing, man. Nothing else makes my body feel as good as yoga does. And I didn’t make any official New Years Resolutions (other than taking better care of my car), and still don’t intend to but I have been wanting to get in shape again. Not because everyone starts working out again in January, but blah blah blah moving blah blah blah holidays blah blah blah freezing ass cold weather and here we are.
I’ve been wanting to find a good studio, but do you know how frustrating it is to try and find a good instructor? In a new (to me) city? Hell, it was hard for me in an old (to me) city. And with my current work schedule of leaving between 5 and 6:30 every day and a dog whose bladder reaches its limit at about 5:15, class after work was out of the question. Class before work seemed doable, but I hadn’t really looked into it. I just didn’t feel like paying $100/month for yoga classes. I know that’s selfish but I got to go to Paul’s class for free in exchange for a few hours of bookkeeping every week. THAT was a good deal!
Enter technology. We finally got cable television and actual not-stealing-from-landlady internet last week. So while it’s brought some not-so-nice things into our lives (“I’m Pregnant and Homeless”- REAL SHOW and The Dish [really, Topanga?]) it’s also allowed me to download tons of yoga podcasts off the internet. I was skeptical that I could follow an audio class but decided I had nothing to lose.
And it’s great! I did a super easy 25 minute class yesterday and today’s was more challenging. And I even liked the instructor. While she does dip into the part of yoga I’m not crazy about (the spirituality, seriously, that’s not where I want my spirituality from, don’t tell me how to feel) she does have excellent aligning tips. I want to do a few more classes of hers before I go recommending them. I also downloaded 3 different podcasts, so I’ll probably be never getting around to writing a full review later.
I’m not used to 6am yoga (I’m up past my new bedtime, btw) and getting gradually sorer throughout the day. But I like it. So it’s only Day 2 but I’m planning to do between 30 and 90 minutes of podcasted yoga every weekday morning. I’m off on the weekends (plus that’s when I like to take Ike trail running).
Oh, this also helps me achieve one of my life list goals, which is to do the splits. I found a podcast that spends 30 minutes getting you ready for the splits. Yes sir!!
