Downward Facing Dog

I joined the gym for the first time in 10 years. I was having trouble fitting my workouts in after work and since Nubodys is strategically located next door to my office and we have a corporate rate there…well, it seemed a pretty easy sell. I could go on my lunch hour rather than sitting in our windowless lunch room watching the paint dry. My desire to be in the lunch room now that my SO has taken a new job elsewhere and my good friend is leaving for good this week has dwindled. Plus I am determined to whip my butt back into shape this year, no excuses.

At lunchtime, the gym has several different classes. I’ve tried all that they offered and here’s what I discovered: I love yoga. Love, love, LOVE IT. In fact, if I had to pick just one workout to do for the rest of my life, yoga would be it.

Some don’t feel yoga is a hard workout, but I beg to differ. Even the most basic of yoga moves strengthen your muscles and leave you stretched and flexed. After only a few classes my natural flexibility was back so that I could stretch forward and have my face land on my knees. After a few more classes, I could hold the full plank position for ten slow breaths.

Right now, I can do this:

And I’m thisclose to being able to do this (I can get into it, it's the getting out that's tricky):

However, this...well this will take awhile:

I have done yoga at home for a few years off and on, but I have to say I enjoy the class environment way more. Plus our yoga instructor plays these really restful tunes of lapping waves and soft music that leave you so relaxed I spend the rest of the afternoon in a zen-like state that few things can perforate.

So to celebrate my rediscovered love of all things bendy, I decided to treat myself to a new yoga mat and bag. I got the red one on the end with the fish on it.

Right now I am taking 2-3 classes per week. But since variety is the spice of life, and I like to confuse my muscles and keep them from growing complacent, I throw in 2 spin workouts per week and 2 mixed days where I do a cardio / weight circuit training thing.

I've decided to keep a little weight loss tracker at the bottom of the blog to help with the motivation. To date, while the poundage is fighting to stay where it is, I think I am starting to win the battle. At least I feel better, and that has to be a turn in the right direction.