Yoga into 2020 with YYoga at Home

I nerded(wait... that is past tense...). I am nerding out in the YYoga at Home Facebook group. In an attempt (that is working) to not waste a year membership to this online service, I decided to keep myself engaged by giving myself challenges. The first month I joined, I decided to make super fast videos of myself practicing each day until 2020. Along the way, I met a couple of new friends who joined me. We supported each other and shared the classes that we liked.

Here are some clips from my #yogainto2020 #yogaeveryday challenge.

I got to do yoga by the Christmas tree. Christian sometimes popped his little face in the camera or joined me on his mat. Sometimes he joined me on my mat and weaved himself or toys in and around me. Sometimes, I practiced at work in my office.

 

I downloaded the video for this one. I need to do this class again. 

 

This is the final video. I was sooooo done making videos at this point. Jonny was also happy to have me stop making videos. He would walk in the room - see the camera and walk back out. I get it, we live in a small space and if I am always making videos and he doesn't want to be in them.. then his space is smaller. They are fast forwarded though - so easy to just step over the camera... all good! The videos were fun but time consuming.  

1.5 Hours

This morning I got to take the 90 minute class at Hot Yoga 101. Wancy was our leader. I have never had her before. She is an awesome teacher. She walked around and gave many corrections. There was not cheating in this class. There were 31 students... 32 with me... in the class. It was HOT. I was happy to see a lot of familiar faces from my past. I like going back through my memories of the yogis that I recognized. There was the lady who rides her bike and talked to me about warts once, Lori's mom look-a-like who is a fierce yogi - her hair is a pony tail now. There is the bendy girl who always dyes her hair blonde and complains if it is not hot enough - who I said good morning to - but she didn't respond - nothing has changed there. I had an awesome old guy beside me. He killed it. I also got a smile from my new favourite yogi with the shoulder injury - she was way across the room - but smiled before we started. I am trying to spread the love - but this is a tough crowd. I will keep being me and trying to smile, say good morning, and be a positive connection in this morning community. That reminds me, I saw one of my Pure Barre friends in the park this weekend. She has one of those huge dogs - the kind that ... Emma's friend has - the one she used to meet in Mexico - the dog's name was Archie. (Emma's friend's one...) Ummmm.... then I got in the car all sweaty to drive to work... (showered but still sweating...) and I sat in traffic. It took me 90 minutes to get to work. Sad. Time to find a new place to work. I would love to work at the Arts Umbrella - I could just walk to Granville Island... or the Dance Centre... I could walk across the park... or??? Change is coming - enjoy today - I can move, I am healthy, I have an awesome mini-family.

Peace and Love!

I am NOT LOYAL

I am back at my original Bikram studio. Well, almost, the original studio was by Yuk Yuk's on Cambie and this studio is in City Square mall. I have been to it before but it was called Bikram Yoga Vancouver. Anyways, I felt disloyal leaving Bikram for a studio closer to my home. (Westcoast Hot Yoga in Yaletown) When that studio started changing all its classes to one hours, I got frustrated and went back to Bikram. When I went back to work after having Christian, I didn't have as much time. I had to get my workouts in the morning I had to leave Bikram 15 minutes early to get to work. I hated interrupting the class by leaving. Another new studio opened up by me (One Hour Hot) and I went there for a few years. They only had one hours. Ironic. I came back from Florida and that studio closed (with my membership...). I decided to try Bikram Yoga Delta, on the way to school. I just had to get up really early to get there for 6am. I also got some class passes for YYoga. There are two of them within walking distance of my home. They just don't have 6ams I can attend. I do love the space, variety, and walkability.

When I first left Bikram, I felt bad. I have come back and see and recognize some of the same students. I see how they have improved over the years. I feel like I am at home. At the same time, I am ok being not loyal. I have learned a lot from visiting other studios and teachers. I shouldn't feel bad for trying to make my practice and my journey fit into my work life and budget. We are all here for the same reason - to practice together and share our energy.

It is good to be back and I feel like I will always come back to this studio. This is my home base.

Pure Barre Yaletown

Pure Barre is like Yoga. Let me explain myself, because it is probably only like yoga to me. Back in the day, before I did my first Bikram yoga class in 2005, I thought that yoga was for hippies. What I am saying is, I am a hippie and I am proud. No really, I am saying that I had a preconceived notion of what yoga was and who it was for. It wasn't until I had a boyfriend who was a Bikram yogi that I had the motivation to try a class. He went to a class by himself, came back, and told me about it. I got stuck on the idea of him being surrounded by hot, half naked, sweaty chicks, and decided that this was something he needed to be escorted to. Eventually, the boy was gone but hot yoga was still mine. I love hot yoga.

Yoga is like Pure Barre in the way that I had a preconceived notion about who practices Pure Barre and what it is. I feel bad that I thought that all yogis were hippies, just like I feel bad that I thought that Pure Barre students were all people who wanted to be ballet dancers but never really went for it. Oh that sounds so bad. Anyone can dance, just like those who never really went for it are still dancers. I am embarrassed by my thoughts because that is not what I promote. I don't think that I am better than anyone else, in fact it is the opposite. As for the workout, I thought it would be more like ballet, but it is ALL workout.

I am a real dancer. If I want a ballet workout I will just to go Harbour and take class. These were some of the thoughts in my head. My mind started to change when Jonathon sent me a link to an article about the creators of barre workouts. I don't have the article anymore. The important part is that it was originally created by an injured dancer as part of her recovery. Again, it is a partner that is motivating me to try this type of workout. Jonathon always informs me when another studio appears near our home. He then tells me that one day I will teach that. We will have our studio and I will get to teach all the classes I like. (And have choreographic workshops... super excited about the future. The present is not bad either.)

Here is my experience. I started off with a one week pass. $20 for one week. That is good. I went everyday. I had a couple of weeks off and got school started and then I had a $79 month pass. Somehow, I was able to attend 38 classes over the last few months. At first, I was put off by the students in the class. No one smiled. I smiled. I tried. I sweat. I said good morning to everyone, even if they didn't acknowledge me. I gave them the benefit of the doubt - it is 6am... maybe you don't have your hearing aides in? Eventually, people greeted me back and there was more of a happy feeling in my heart. Now that I am not there, I miss them.

All of the teachers are lovely. I did mostly 6am's, so I am seeing these instructors first thing in the morning. I know not all of them are morning people and that some of them probably wished they were still in bed. Regardless of the time, they were all very awesome. I did have a favourite, I won't name names, but once there were only two of us at the 6am class and she taught super fast so the student that always leaves early to get to work, could get both sides done. Then, she gave me a really good stretch. Who doesn't love that?

The studio is great. It has everything you need and it is right across the street from me. I love getting up and walking to my workout. I like to see my city in the morning, as opposed to just driving straight to work and working out there.

I guess the thing I am missing here is, did it work? I am not much for weighing and measuring, but I feel stronger and leaner. There are old muscles that I haven't worked or stretched in a while. However, there isn't that much cardio. I think Pure Barre is a good addition to your workout repertoire. I did enjoy going everyday, to learn how it works, I would suggest that for anyone just starting. As you learn the exercises and technique, I think you should also branch out and get a hot yoga, a run, or spin class in there. OH... and go and visit Harbour and dance, dance, dance!

Tues. Aug. 6, 2019: GMB Day 2: Skill Combination

I had a few days off when Biggy and I went and met G and J up at the shabin. I noticed there that my back had stopped hurting. Was it the awesome stretches from the active recovery day? I am not sure but I am going to keep going with this program. It is the thing for me for sure.

 

Maybe I like the way this program is laid out because it falls in line with the way that I teach my dance classes. I introduce movements, teach some combos, and allow time for exploration and play. 

I really enjoy the prepare section - my old back really needs that stretching in the morning. I felt great and ready to play because of the proper preparation. 

Thursday, August 1, 2019: GMB Trial

My right hip flexor was hurting and then it moved to my right lower back spot. I thought I would try something new. I got this free trial for five days of GMB Fitness. I wasn't going to start till after camping - but hopefully it will last until I resume upon our return. I thought it would be good to try and add some of these moves into my class warm-up this year. I also read good reviews about it being a good workout to prevent injuries and since I am always moving from one injury to another... well, you know, I thought this might be a good new one for me.

Today's workout was fairly easy for me. I did the Banzai Frogger and the Bear Twists. The workout took 29 minutes. I like how it is laid out. I used my watch to time the 30 and 60 second sets.

Wednesday, July 24, 2019: Skate & 21 Day Fix Extreme: Plyo Fix Extreme

I love my morning family skates. I am trying to enjoy them because just as fast as Biggy has picked up his skating and gotten into it, I know he will not want to skate with his mom and dad one day. He will be a nighty and we will be too old to keep up anyways. So, I may be missing ballet at Harbour, but ballet at Harbour will always be there (I hope). Morning family skates won't.

I did nose bonks trying to slide, shuv-its, and rode 30 times off the Terry before I slammed. Biggy tried manuals. Cakes is not doing too good. His dogs are barking. His shoes were discontinued and he is having a hard time finding ones that make his feet happy. 

As my right hip flexor was ailing from the kicks and leg lifts in Insanity Max 30, I decided to try 21 Day Fix Extreme for a bit. I know it is day one of the real times, but it seems way easier than Shaun T. I am enjoying the "rest." It is nice to see Autumn again too - although, I am not too fond of bearded pointing dude. It is also nice to see Donald there in the back. We will see how it goes. I am enjoying my non-commitment summer.