My Healthy Life

How are you supposed to feel after yoga? February 8, 2013

Today marked Day 5 of my “20 Classes in 30 Days Yoga Challenge” and I have started noticing changes in my body.

For starters, my favorite pair of workout shorts are so loose on me its time to retire them. I tied the draw strings on them about a year ago and never untied them. Now, they almost fall right off of me. It’s going to be sad to get rid of them, but it is one for the win column.

Another change I’ve noticed is how brave I’m getting at trying to get into inversions and more advanced poses. Plus, I’m much more flexible than I was four months ago. Today, I went to a power hour class with Caitlin. I love her classes because her energy is amazing and she’s very helpful in giving variations to certain poses they men have a hard time getting in because of flexibility. After class she mentioned that from her observation, my hips are really tight and that’s normal for a guy.

One thing I pay close attention to after class is how I feel.

On Tuesday after class, I mentioned that I felt awesome and had a clear mind. Mentally, that’s been a common thing. I always feel very focused and have a clear mind. As a matter of fact, that’s how I felt today mentally.

It seems that the other side of the spectrum (physical), changes from class to class.

I am usually drained after class and that’s usual. I’m not always the best doing the proper things when it comes to recovery (i.e. fill your body with protien and water). Today, I noticed that I had a little more energy, but my body ached and I felt light on my feet. Other days, I have felt tired, sore, weak, and sometimes feel nothing. I did some research online and most people are about the same in that it varies from class to class.

Today’s class was only 60 minutes as opposed to the 75 minutes most classes are. I started out with the hour classes and then switched to the 75 minute classes. Today was the first 60 minute class I’ve attended in three months and it was much easier. I didn’t realize how that extra 15 minutes made that much of a difference.

I’ve decided to keep a log of how I feel physically after class to see the differences from day to day.

I mentioned earlier that my favorite pair of workout shorts no longer fit. Here are comparison pictures from today and my first day of this challenge.

Day five of yoga challenge.

3 months ago.

Notice any changes?

The deeper truth is, that he who in every least thing is wholly honest with the spirit of Life, finds Life supporting him in all things, and gains admittance to the treasure house of Life, the spiritual universe.

Remember how yesterday I talked about learning to let go in my blog post? After our classes at Twin Power Yoga, the teacher usually reads a passage from a sutra. Today, Caitlin red a passage about that very topic. It was like it was perfectly written for what has been going on in my life lately. It’s amazing how that works sometimes. 

Until next time, namaste!