My yoga journey so far...

For a while now, I have felt a nudge to start doing yoga.  Not yoga with a DVD at home, but actually getting myself to a yoga studio and learning how to do it correctly.  After visiting my girls in Utah, all 3 of whom do yoga, I felt the push even more.  After I did a little research, I found a studio here in town, with a beginner's class, and taught by a woman I was slightly acquainted with.

Now, I am not some young, flexible woman.  I am middle aged, and stiff (much stiffer it turns out than I realized until I started really learning yoga) and I'm not the skinniest person in town.   I was pretty apprehensive about starting, but also knew that if I didn't do it now, it might not ever happen.  So I summoned my courage, talked to Teresa and signed up for the class.  It was an introduction to Ashtanga Yoga.  Once a week for 4 weeks.  I could do four weeks, right?

After the first day, (or I should say, the morning after the first day), I wasn't sure I would ever walk normally again.  My hamstrings were SORE!  My arms were SORE!  My back got SORE because I was walking weirdly bc of my sore hamstrings!  It was rough.  Luckily, by the next class, my body felt a little bit back to normal, and I went again, and again, and again.  I made it through all 4 classes and lived to tell about it.

Suffice to say, I really love doing yoga.  I love how I feel when I do it, I love how it makes my body feel after I'm done - sort of a combination of soreness and a feeling I've really accomplished something.  And savasana!  Love it!  I love it even more now that I can lay there and not wonder when it will be time to get up because it is such a foreign feeling to be laying on the floor, concentrating on breathing and relaxing my body and letting all thoughts leave my mind as soon as they enter!  Aren't I supposed to be doing something during that time?  Yes, concentrating on breathing and relaxing and letting all thoughts leave my mind as soon as they enter!  Wonderful!!

Many poses are beyond my ability!  Marichyasana?  I may get that next year, if I'm really lucky.  Full lotus?  I'm getting there, but not quite yet. Even my downward dog is usually lacking.  But, a major breakthrough occured last week, and I have to share my acheivement with you!  

I can do a headstand.  

I had been trying for a few weeks, and although both Teresa and Joanna said I would just "pop right up" when I am ready, I didn't believe them.  I'm pretty sure telling your students something just to make them not feel like a loser is NOT the yogi way!  :) but I still didn't believe them.

I was determined to keep trying though, and inbetween yard work 2 Saturdays ago I kept trying.  I used the wall, and what do you know.  I got myself up, and I wasn't using the wall for balance once I got up.  Then I decided I would try without the wall, and guess what?  I "popped right up" (pop is being used pretty loosely), but I got up and could stay up!  I was so excited!!!  I made Kristin and Trevor both watch while I did one later that day! (I could tell they were both surprised and impressed!) And here's the other part, I can still do it!

So, I am pretty sure I will not post any more pictures of yoga poses by yours truly (well, maybe Marichyasana, if I ever get it), but indulge me while I share the following photo with you!  (And in case you are wondering, yes, I love my crazy yoga pants!!!)

Namaste...

The BIG fall

I always knew it was in my future.  About every woman I know over 50 suffers a big fall.  It usually involves her head, and there is usually much bruising involved.  Once, in 2011, I joked with Dawn as I stumbled getting onto an escalator at the airport, that I was not having my big fall before I was 50.  "Does everyone have to have a big fall?" she wondered.  I assured her that, yes, every woman does.

 Well, I didn't waste much time after turning 50 to check it off my list.  

Last week, while we were on Spring Break, we went to Utah to see the girls.  We were excited!!  Kristin and Trev went on Monday with some friends, and we followed on Wed.  Grandpa, aka John, was so excited he woke up before 4 am that morning and we were out the door by a little after 4:30!  :)  Just like a kid at Christmas.  

When we got there, Kristin wasn't feeling great, so we tried to figure out what was wrong with her.  After a good nap, a lot of blankets and some gatorade, she seemed to be doing better.  Trev and John went with Brandon and Talmage to a Jazz game.  The vacation had begun!

After the game, Trev was not feeling great.  We attributed it to a very large ice cream cone at the game, and figured after he threw up that was probably the end of it.  

Sadly, this was not the case.  He continued to get sick throughout the night, all night!!  

As I got up to help him during one of his bouts of vomiting, I got turned around (it was dark, I was in an unfamiliar bedroom) and tripped over the suitcase and CRASHED into the closet door which happened to be open and hit my head on the corner of said door!  I was in so much pain!!!  I crouched on the floor, simulaneously crying and laughing because it hurt so bad, but at the same time was so funny to replay in my head.  (It took most of the rest of the night to not burst out in giggles when I thought about it, even though it still REALLY hurt!  John got me some ice (in a bag with a hole in it, unbeknownst to him, more humor!) and I spent the night propped up on the couch after I decided I probably shouldn't be laying down with a head injury.  Did I have a concussion?  I did wonder about that, but didn't have any signs of confusion, nausea or any other symptoms.  (Thank you high school sports meetings for helping me learn WAY more about concussions than I care to know.)  Luckily I didn't need stitches, as I probably would have had to drive myself, as Trev continued to be sick all night, and needed one of us there to help him!  ;)

So, there you have it...the story of my BIG fall!  You can see by the picture diary the progression of my injury!  Not pretty!  My sister predicted that people who don't know me (i.e. store clerks) wouldn't make eye contact with me once they saw my eye, and she was right.  Some were pretty darn uncomfortable to have to wait on me.  My Seminary students were equally grossed out and impressed when I showed up Monday looking like I had been in a fight.  Not easy to impress 17 year olds, but I think I will not try to do that again.  

A sad byproduct of this whole affair is that Benson, who hadn't been the most social person while we were there, decided at one point to be my friend and came and we were getting along swimmingly until he saw my eye, then he was done! :(  Easy come, easy go!)  Carter was also very skeptical of me, and Talmage couldn't decide if he should be sad for me, or if I was telling the truth that my eye didn't really hurt.  Tanner seemed to be the only one who took it in stride!  :)

And if you are wondering why I have a black eye when the lump from the fall is on my forehead, one of my students said its because the skin is so close to the skull and there is nowhere for the blood to go so it pools around the eye.  There is your anatomy lesson for the day.

I suspect by the middle of next week my face will be back to normal, but for now, I will continue to track its progression and document my BIG fall.

The day after it happened

4 days later

10 days later (see, its getting better)