This week marked a set of firsts for me for this 30-day yoga challenge:
- It was the first time I missed a class because I was running on Puerto Rican time
- It was the first time I doubled up on classes during the work week
On Tuesday I had an appointment with my hair stylists, so it became my rest day. But then Wednesday became a second rest day. When I was driving to the studio, I realized I wasn’t going to make it on time. When I realized I forgot my mat too, and sighed heavily and turned my car around.
Later, I described my unexpected rest day at home to my friend as “a relaxing night riddled with guilt and stress.” Go figure. I get a night to stay home by myself and the entire time I was trying to figure out which day I was going to double up on yoga classes.
I aimed to double up on Saturday, but felt uneasy leaving two classes of the challenge to the last day of the month. Plus, I want to make a pit stop at my friends birthday ultra-run before my first class… a birthday party and two yoga classes all before lunch? Ew. Too much.
But then, yesterday happened.
Day 23: Hatha 1
It was a bit odd that I kept thinking to myself, “Aw, this is the last time I take this class.” I mean, it’s not the last time I take this class ever. It’s not even the last time I take the class within the challenge (Saturday I’ll close out the challenge with a Hatha class). It’s just the last time I take this class on a Thursday night within the challenge. Aw… so happy to see I’m sentimental about the whole experience. 🙂
My practice went well. I even didn’t cough during Shavasana. Yippee!
I felt so good afterwards that I made a last minute decision to stay in studio and take the following class.
Day 24: Yin/Yang Yoga
The studio’s website describes this practice as “a unique blend of vigor and deep, still, stretches.” The class is essentially a two-part practice: the first half is a vigorous vinyasa flow sequence, while the second half is torture a series of yin postures. You remember how much I liked my first yin yoga class, right?
It’s a good thing I was too distracted the first half of the class to be worrying about the second. By the time the yin yoga came I was actually thankful to be able to sit still! Granted, it was in a pose, but I took our teachers instruction and always made sure I felt good. I think the first time I took yin yoga, I was pushing myself a bit too much and that’s why the entire class was so torturous. This time around I was able to focus on my breathing and relax my body into the pose.
What a difference one month of yoga does, right? 😉
I’m off to work, then my second to last day of yoga. It’s a power flow class and a higher level than what I am, so I have to remember to take the modifications and not kill myself. Wish me luck!
Happy Friday!
