I've recently decided to back off practicing 2 back to back Bikrams classes because I wasn't getting the desired affect for the time invested. Was I improving my practice enough to justify spending over 4 hours at a time, 3 days a week? Hmmnn....or was I driven for another reason...ego maybe, or trying to sweat off an extra pound or two?
I'm not going to lie, the Bikrams practice comes relatively easy for me. Bikrams yoga suites my strengths, I love the heat and I love to sweat. But that all changes around 12 noon! I've switched from a double morning class to only one noontime class and let me tell you....it the hardest thing I do all day! I get up at 4:00am, since I'm not training early, I get busy writing, cooking, cleaning, etc...by 10:00-11:00am I've been up 6-7 hours already and I start to get hungry and tired. Argh, now I'm in yoga from 12-1:30pm I don't get to eat my first real meal until 2:00pm!
But I know if I miss this last class the opportunity is gone for the day. Silly to flake out just because I don't "feel" like it...but it does cross my mind.
A couple of months ago I wrote a blogpost about recommitting to daily walks again. I challenged myself to walk everyday for 30 days...did I succeed? Well, I didn't do it everyday because, frankly, I was too tired from all of the other training I do! But I can honestly say that although I only completed about 75% of the commitment, what I did do was reestablish the habit of walking more regularly. And for that I am grateful. I still walk at least 3 days a week for 30-40 minutes.
Once a week I take one of those walks at a nearby highschool track that's a very popular spot in a neighborhood close to my yoga studio (I walk before yoga). There I see all kinds of people, young, old, thin, heavy, in shape, out of shape, etc., and in fact if I get there early I'll see at least 3 "bootcamp" type fitness programs going on with at least one dozen participants each! (no kettlebells though).
Mostly I see regular people though. The ones I'm mostly impressed with are the ones that have obvious challenges. I'm including three pictures of some of the ones I see almost eveytime I go. All three are elderly and it seems clear to me that this is probably the hardest thing they do everyday....but good for them! Heck if one woman can commit to walking even with a cane then how could I complain?
Being able to have a yoga practice, to be able to pay for it, have a car to drive to it, have friends to practice with, and have a nice big home cooked lunch afterwards with a big strong handsome husband waiting at home for me....even if it's past noontime, if that's hardest thing I do all day then how lucky am I?
8 comments:
It may may be a cross cultural thing, but I always get a bit puzzled by the instead of walking on a track. Why not just walk on the streets or in a park? What is it about walking around an oval? Why not just wander around the block?
"get up at 4:00am"
Jeez! That's hardstyle!
If I, due to some very special reason, must get up before 7:00 am, I hardly survive the day :)
Chris,
The reasons why I might chose the track over an outside trail.
Safety...you don't have to worry about cars, traffic, or the walk being interrupted by a red light.
Also because it's public you don't have to worry about weirdos walking up behind you on a trail....more of a problem for females.
A track is measured. You know exactly how far you have walked, 1/4 mile each go 'round.
There is usually bathrooms. This particular track is well kept and has 4 clean and convenient bathrooms.
Water. A track facility has water, sometimes at both ends of the track, more impportant in the summer months.
Convenient and safe parking.
A grassy area for other types of exercises. I used to take my bells with me a and do my workouts outside.
Are these enough reasons?
Oh, people watching is fun too!
juci,
yep, Mark and I are early birds! It will be interesting if we get used to sleeping in while on vacation.
The opposite for me is that if I'm invited to a party or to dinner after 6:00pm, I hardly survive!
Tracy,
Yes, you guys are apparently very early birds :)
As to the walking-on-a-track-stuff.
Your reasons are absolutely fine and valid, nevertheless I am with Chris :)
I used to be a runner, and I had run a lot of miserable hours round and round on the track. I mean it's OK as long as you run (walk) 3-4 rounds, but from 15-20 rounds upwards to me it was actually death by boredom.
I had plenty of time to watch the people there and to develop theories on this running-on-track-business all right :)
Anyway, eventually I decided that I'd better run in the park, in spite of the water, bathroom and weirdos issues. My idea being that I would rather use the bushes as bathroom and outrun the weirdos than risk a brain death on the track :)
Juci,
I can see you point when you have to go round 20 times! Lucky for me I only go round 8 times! Crazy that I lose count when only trying to count to eight...thank goodness for my timer!
I'll be going around the track at RKC and RKC ll Hungary plenty this next month...I love that it's held inside of a track!
Those folks have determination. Some get it early in life, some get it later.
I too prefer the track. I hate walking/running the streets or trails because I like to zone out. When I do trails and streets I feel I need to be alert and I don't get that "runner's high". When I do feel like the trails in the hills by my house I'll take my big 100lb German Shepherd...I can go with ease then.
Maribel,
ah...you have a sheperd? zowie! I always thought if I were to have a big dog that would be the one I wanted....until I heard they shed like crazy!
...but then I've never seen any dog hair on you! Must not be true!
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