I made it to the studio for the 10th consecutive day of hot yoga practice on Sunday. I was heading away for work on Sunday evening so went to the 3pm 90-minute class. It was great; a really hot and challenging class to finish my 10-day streak on.
I practiced next to a lady who fidgeted the whole class. She took no rest between postures because she was always faffing around and drinking water. I had to really dig deep to not get overly irritated by her constant movement. It was a good reminder to me that everyone is on their own yoga journey, she is on hers and me on mine.
Each class you can focus on being too hot, drinking water, wanting the door to be opened, finding other people irritating, fidgeting or wanting the posture to end; but they are ALL just distractions. The yoga comes to you when you can leave behind the distractions, through keeping your focus on yourself, your breathing, your moving meditation. Wanting for nothing.
My irritation at the lady’s distraction was my own distraction! Mad isn’t it!!??
Recognising this in the yoga studio and bringing your mind back to your own practice and breath, well, that’s where the yoga happens, and if you can extend that outside the studio, that is where you really reap the benefits of this amazing yoga life.
I talk about this yoga being my medicine, and it is so incredible for my mental health, my mental strength and resilience, for my compassion and kindness for others (most of the time) and for myself. You just have to say goodbye to the distractions to let all the benefits take hold.
I was going to be away on Monday through to Wednesday morning, so I packed my running stuff with the intention of using the hotel gym on Monday evening and Tuesday morning.
After work on Monday I told my colleague I couldn’t meet for drinks as I’d be going for a run, but when I got to my room I realised I hadn’t packed my trainers!! Despite all my good intentions I couldn’t run and as I only had the knee high boots I was wearing going to the gym wasn’t an option!
I did 30 minutes of yoga in my room before meeting colleagues so it was better than nothing.
On Tuesday I did 20 minutes of yoga before work and in the evening I was travelling so I logistically couldn’t do any more exercise.
By Wednesday when I had more time to exercise I was feeling super unwell. My chest was tight and my throat was horribly sore. I had to rest, I didn’t feel it was a good idea pushing myself through it.
On Thursday I had a full-on day at work leaving home at 7am and getting in at 10pm, which not only meant that I couldn’t exercise on Thursday but I would have to take Friday easy too, so on Friday I caught up with my Uni work; which was long overdue.
At the weekend we were celebrating Giles’ birthday with a family lunch and my intention was to wake up and go to yoga first, but I slept in to 10am and felt a lot better for it.
However on Saturday night I slept terribly! I went to bed at 11ish and was still awake at 3am, tossing and turning and finally got just 4 hours sleep. I wasn’t worried or anxious about anything, I don’t drink coffee in the evening so it wasn’t that, I just could not sleep. I tried EVERY trick in the book but nothing worked. It was really random.
After a pretty poor week of exercise I was intent on doing some exercise on Sunday but having had such little sleep wasn’t helpful. I decided to take a 90-minute Bikram class on Sunday afternoon. Despite it being a week since my last class, being sick and having had a terrible nights sleep I managed every posture and really enjoyed the class. It felt really good to be back at it.
On Monday this week I was travelling to Copenhagen at lunchtime so I got up and got ready for a run first thing, but when I looked outside it was chucking it down. So I sat in my running kit and worked for a few hours and when the rain eased I was out for a 6Km run. It wasn’t very easy, a few little short walking bits, and it took 39:45. Not too bad.
I packed my running kit for my trip to Copenhagen because I LOVE running around the lakes there when I visit and my plan was to go for a run both on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.
That did not happen!
So, on Monday night I did about 15 minutes yoga in my bijou room before meeting my colleague for dinner. We retired to bed at about 11pm and I set my alarm for 06:30 to get up and go running.
But yet again I had a HORRIFIC nights sleep, worse than horrific; it was a disaster.
I couldn’t get to sleep all night. I was still wide awake at 05:30!!! Not a wink before then.
Needless to say I didn’t run in the morning and had a pretty exhausting day at work. Less than 2 hours sleep, what the hell?
I didn’t run in the evening either, although I managed a little yoga in my room before dinner.
Thankfully on Tuesday night I slept for 9.5 hours but it didn’t come easy, I had to make an eye mask out of a pillow cover, used earplugs, meditate, not use my phone in bed, and use a sleep inducing podcast, but I got there in the end.
I slept later than I planned so I couldn’t run or do yoga, so my amazing intentions for Copenhagen running came to nothing.
I travelled home last night but didn’t get home until 10pm, so no exercise again. This week really isn’t exactly working out as I hoped, particularly as I am due to run a half marathon on Sunday!
I had therapy this morning before work and then had work to do. When I got in this evening I knew I should do some exercise but I really wasn’t feeling it.
I was debating going to yoga but with this half marathon on Sunday I thought a run would be more important. I finally put on my trainers, went out and found it so comfortable and enjoyable that I ran for 10Km. It felt amazing! I have no idea why but I hope the half feels that good!
