Pose of the Day

photo by acrojulie

#3 Garurasana - Eagle Pose

Benefits:
Improves the flexibility of the 12 major joints of the body — ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbow, and wrists

Flushes out kidneys

Brings blood to the reproductive organs

Improves sexual vitality and control

Helps prostate problems

Firms legs, arms, and abdomen

Helps tennis elbow

Relieves tension in neck and shoulders

Improves the function of the central nervous system, and the lymphatic system

Improves balance and grace of the body

This pose is a challenge for me. My shoulders are a bit tight and I can't seem to work around my biceps to have my palms touch. So I grab my fingers together and do the best I can.

Balance also comes in to play. I would have to say that at least 89% of the time I fall out of this posture due to my climpsy nature. Oh well such is life, I fall out of that too at times.

Updated workout schedule

photo by Fiona Ayerst

The Corepower Yoga near my home changed the Hot Yoga schedule on me so now I won't be able to practice it in the early morning.

I will try to practice it at another location in the evenings.

My plan is to alternate the Corepower Yoga (Vinyasa yoga in a heated room) and running (weight training) in the mornings and then the Hot Yoga (Bikram) in the evenings.

I enjoy Vinyasa but I love Bikram. I love the way you know what pose you will be doing.

Vinyasa (flow) yoga's poses are dependent on what the instructor feels like doing for that particular session. It totally keeps your body guessing what's next. Which is all good.

I look forward to practicing both types of yoga for the summer.

photo by Richard

I did 1 hour of circuit training this morning, running on the treadmill and 3 sets of 15 upper body workout.

My gym membership is up next month and I'll wait til the fall to renew.

Weight training will take a break for a minute. This summer, I will concentrate on yoga and running.

Bend it like Bikram

Camel pose photo by Leo Castillo

I've got three days of Hot Yoga (Bikram) under my belt and it's almost like I never stopped practicing. Sort of...

My first class (on Saturday) I did forget a few poses and I forgot what my body was capable of doing within those poses. But by the time I did Sunday's class and this morning's, I was in the flow and I was at where I left off 9 months ago.

I noticed the practice seemed lighter and a bit less constricted than previous experiences. Then it dawned on my that I'm practicing in a new and lighter body. Duh, that makes all the difference in the world.

I can't wait to see where the practice takes me. I have a feeling that I will be doing this for awhile. I love the practice so much, I'm very happy it's back in my life.

I thought on my yoga days (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday), I would talk about well...yoga. Each session I'll discuss a different poses, it's benefits and my experience with it.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday I continue to 'learn how to run' and weight training, although, I'm changing up the weight training a bit, but I'll discuss that tomorrow.

I also want to talk about the garden. We bought seeds and plants last weekend and I planted some wheatgrass. No more spending $2.50 for a shot. I'm drinking my own brew, yeah! More on the garden, later.

With the poses, I'm going to start at the beginning of the series until I cover all 26 poses, including two breathing exercises and then I'll choose a random pose in the series and discuss why I'm feeling that Pose for the Day.

Pose of the Day
1. Pranayama ( prāṇāyāma)"Standing deep breathing"

Benefits
Good for lungs and respiratory system
Helps with mental relaxation
Helps high blood pressure
Relieves irritability
Good for detoxification
Exercises nervous, respiratory and circulatory systems

photo and info by Quick Fit Yoga

Terilynn's thoughts:

This is a great breathing exercise to kick start the practice it creates heat in the belly (just in case the 95-100 degrees room wasn't enough).

You breathe in through your nose and let the breath hit the back of your throat until your inner Darth Vader invades. And the louder the better, you should hear the 'Darth Vader' sound in your throat as you inhale. It's pretty cool.

When you exhale the breath, you open your mouth and let the breath escape. I think it's called the "breath of fire." I have a image of me being Puff the Magic Dragon and spewing out fire. It's fun.

You do two sets of 10 breaths during a 90 minute class.

Free Unlimited Yoga!

photo by teapartystudio

Yeah!

Just when you thought I was doing too much physical activities (if that's such a thing) I have the opportunity to take free unlimited Hot Yoga. Score!
You are reading the posting of CorePower Yoga's newest stocker! How are ya'll doing? Nice to meet you.

All that is required of me is, twice a week I windexed the glass and mirrors, clean yoga mats, wipe counters, re-stock items that need re-stocking and take out the trash. For that commitment on my part I will receive unlimited yoga at any CorePower Yoga studio.

Heaven, heaven, heaven.

I have been practicing Hot Yoga (Bikram) off and on for about 2 years.
Mostly off because of funds, but it was something that indulged in every single day when I had the chance. I absolutely L-O-V-E it.

It has been the only workout (for me) where I did the same poses over and over and over again and I never got bored or burned out. With each session something different happened to challenge me and I always learned something new.

A bit of history about the practice.
photo by TegMaru

Bikram Choudhury in Toe Stand (Padangustasana )
Hot Yoga, or traditionally known as Bikram Yoga, is a style of yoga developed by Bikram Choudhury. It is practiced in a room heated to 100°F -105°F.

Classes are approximately 90 minutes and are guided by specific dialogue including 26 poses. This is a beginning yoga class where people of all levels, ages and body types practice together.

Lesson over.

You just don't know how happy this makes me. I am over the moon happy! Getting this opportunity to further my practice is so important to me. I will be the best stocker CorePower Yoga has ever seen! Okay, I'm being a bit dramatic but hey, who cares, I've got free yoga!

Here is my new workout schedule to add Hot Yoga into the mix.

Monday: Running, Weight training
Tuesday: Hot Yoga
Wednesday: Running, Weight training
Thursday: Hot Yoga
Friday: Running, Weight training
Saturday & Sunday: Hot Yoga.