Day 47 (Legs/Back) Dogging it...

Felt really tired and not into it this morning.  Also, it was difficult to perform some of the exercises in a different environment.  For instance, the walls at this condo are covered in some type of glossy paint that makes it difficult to hold traction on wall squats.  Plus, the temp pull up bar sucks...the ceilings are only 7 ft so if I stand, the pull up bar is at about eye level.  Then I had to switch between working out on a rug which slid on the floor or working out on the floor and sliding in my own sweat.  I couldn't focus, I couldn't keep balance on a lot of things I had been improving on...etc., etc.

I thought back about my posts on this workout and I've always bitched about it.  It is just a rough one for me unless everything around me is going perfectly.

At least I got through it.  I think I accomplished something at least and I know that I will do this again every resistance week.  

Day 46 (Yoga) on the beach...

Well, in a condo on the beach.

Completed my first real workout while on vacation.  Mel was busy out getting donuts while I completed Yoga X.

I tried a new expensive real rubber Yoga mat I got last week.  This is the second Yoga mat I've used.  I've also used an area rug and just on a regular rug.  I can't seem to keep my hands from slipping in downward dog no matter what surface I use...until today.  After giving up on the rubber mat, I ended up doing the whole routine on a very short pile/no pile area rug that was in the room.  It was perfect and I'm going to have to find one like this when I return to Indiana.

I am getting way better at the asanas.  WAY better.  My knees are much, much stronger than they were when I started.  I once again got all the way through the Right Angle Pose and Grab with no problem.

I learned a trick they don't really talk about for the next move, Prayer Twist from Runners Pose.  I saw Tony steady himself with one of his hands while putting the other forearm on the knee to start Prayer Twist.  This is much easier than taking both hands off the ground at the same time.  So you first pull up one hand (the arm that will end up on bottom) and then pull up the other one.  By doing this, I was able to get into the pose fully on one side...the second side was wobbly and I kept falling out.  But even getting one side for the full allotted time is a HUGE improvement.  I still can't look up while doing it, but that will come later.  At least I can hold the position and not fall.

Warrior 3 on my first side was still a failure.  I kept trying to stay in it but couldn't.  But I was able to stay in standing splits and get both half moon and twisting half moon for the most part.  The cool thing was Warrior 3 on the second side...I actually got it and completed standing splits, half moon and twisting half moon without falling out.  Twisting is easier for some reason. 

Once I did all of this, I once again suffered from "two steps forward, one step back" syndrome.  I had burnt out my legs and didn't have what I needed to do the balance postures on my legs.  I just kept falling out.  I was able to do crane more easily than ever though.  I think it may be the harder surface I was working on today.

By the way, I tried using something as a block.  I actually found it harder to maintain balance than just using my fingers or hands on the floor.