Today was super hot weather …. I am really so ready for Autumn. I don’t enjoy the heat unless I am by a pool or the sea and it’s just been so stifling today!! I woke up in a sweaty mess this morning and after visiting my friends cat to feed him while she is out of town, I went to a hot vinyasa flow yoga class. You know…..to get more hot.
I haven’t done one of these classes in ages, literally months, and I felt a bit anxious as I don’t have the best upper body strength. I have a weak right shoulder from breaking my collar bone 20 years ago and as the hot flow involves a lot of chataranga and downward facing dog postures, which rely on good shoulder strength, I normally really struggle with it all. Hence the avoidance!
I really enjoyed the class and I found most of it surprisingly easy, even my upper body strength was good. I think the sun salutations last week prepared me for it physically and I think if I kept up both the salutations and vinyasa classes I would really begin to see some change in my body, strength and flexibility. My chataranga is still not perfect but it’s a lot better than it used to be. Then I managed to bind and stand up in Bird of Paradise pose which is such an achievement for me. I couldn’t straighten my top leg, but I could stand up on both sides and I am chuffed to bits with that!
After class I spent some time with the teacher working on my headstand, and managed to do a few which felt incredible. The last headstand I did was in April when I was in India and I had wanted to keep that practice up but haven’t. If I can try and do one after class a few times a week that will really help, I just have to keep at it to improve. I went home and napped on the sofa under the skylight for a while and although I was due to run later in the day I couldn’t find the energy.
I have realised today that I stopped meditating and I haven’t done any sun salutations since Friday which isn’t exactly ideal. So now I have acknowledged this I will get back to it starting tomorrow, although I have a really long working day so will not beat myself up too much if I can’t get it all done first thing.
I will have to try and do my run tomorrow night though to make up for not going today. After my long run on Saturday I don’t know that running is that high up my list of things I want to do, so motivating myself to do that is going to be a challenge all of its own.
This afternoon I made some raw vegan chocolates and vegan chocolate and banana ice cream. So have had a great weekend of looking after myself, listening to what my body wants and looking after my inner child. I have also realised by reading back over my blog that I am often comparing where I am now to the physical ability I had before, such as when I trained for the marathon, or before I put on weight from the medication I took for my mental health and at other times in my past. It made me think that I need to stop looking at what I achieved before so much and just be grateful for the achievements I am making each day to build my happiness and health.
So, today I am grateful for my Bird of Paradise pose, for doing a headstand and for making yummy raw chocolates.
