I think I'm falling in love with Yoga

Now that I have a "plan" on what I'm going to do about my work circumstances...I need to start doing something to take away the frustration and rejuvenate my burnt out self.  Though not the main reason for starting yoga last week, it has helped me ease out some of the tension I've been feeling for the past couple of years.

As you can probably tell, I'm fried.  If you've known for me for a long time....know that I'm totally fried, more than I ever have been :(  So enough...do something, right?!

Yoga was something I wanted to do for my health.  I literally need to get my fat butt moving and gyms do not work for me. I've tried taking a couple of aerobic classes in the past and I find that I get angry at the instructors who say. "5 more".....then follow it up with..."can you feel that?  let's do 5 more."  Rather than focusing on what's going on physically, I realize I start concentrating on how much I hate the instructor.  Totally makes me lose focus and makes working out less fun.

Working out with my more fit friends is also frustrating cuz I can't keep up.  Though they are super nice and encouraging, I know I'm just holding back their workouts.  So again - not fun!

I decided to do something alone and had a free week to try out yoga.  Low and behold...I think I may have found something that will work for me.  In fact, I think I may LOVE yoga! 

Don't get me wrong...yoga is HARD....but the calming voice of the instructor and the insistence to listen to your body and take breaks (or modify moves) as needed is great.  I can take a breather, drink some water and get back into it.  I've also discovered that I have pretty good balance...so some of the poses aren't impossible.  My weakness is the lack of strength in my wrists and ankles.  But that should get better.  I don't buy into the spiritual aspect of yoga, but I like the quietness and stillness you have when working out.

Here are some of the moves I've done and how I'm doing.  Enjoy picturing me trying to position myself like this - ha!

This is a pose that I'm in A LOT.  At first, it's a pretty simple pose, but when you add a bunch of downward dogs, planks, stand up, etc. in a continuous motion, it gets harder and harder to do!

Though I have great balance, this move is deceivingly difficult to hold.  It starts to eat at your ankles and your start having trouble balancing.  Silly move....looks so simple.

This is another pose that looks soooo easy.  However, as your exhale and let your body release further into the fold, you slowly start to feel the burn on the outer edge.  The longer you hold it, the more you start to sweat.

Totally a move I enjoy the first couple of times.  I'm pretty flexible and this doesn't put too much pressure on one ankle. 

Oh the reverse warrior.  My oh my!  Totally manageable until the 10th time and your legs in the lunge position start to quiver and your stretched out side starts to burn.

Do NOT get me started.  I have no upper body strength.  After all the downward dogs, planks, etc....I have almost no strength to try and do this one right.  At the moment, I modify this move and put some weight on a bended knee.  I will one day be able to get to this point in the workout to do this move full out.

Dancer's pose....yikes!  For some reason, I have a hard time reaching back for my leg without a wall to hold onto.  It's kinda weird.  I fake it by balancing with my leg out and arm out (which is a different move), but I get some of the effect of this move.  It's weird that I can balance this out decently but that I have a hard time grabbing my foot.  I will conquer this move too someday!