Next Up: Mastering The Crow
July 05, 2007
Today my abs hurt. As well as my hamstrings. And somehow, my elbow does, too. Had I known the other night’s yoga class would affect me this much, I might not have taken it.
I’ve never really practiced yoga before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I didn’t even bother showing up with a mat – I just assumed fanatics had them because they were a cool accessory, not because they were necessary – and so I used the for-public mat and tried not to focus on all the germs that were undoubtedly teeming across the rubber surface. Besides, I had other things to focus on, like not falling over. For the fourth time.
When I entered the studio, I felt confident about my flexibility and ability to balance – after all, I’ve taken either dance or gymnastics since I was four years old. When I left the studio, I only felt confident about my ability to do Downward Facing Dog. But even then it was simply because I knew I had to hold the pose for only a few seconds before flattening my body against the floor, which I masqueraded as an actual yoga pose. I didn't fool anyone, though I certainly tried.
Week two of Operation: Exercise is going swimmingly. And by that I mean I may be drowning. Between yoga, belly dancing, Latin dancing and hip-hop, it is kind of upsetting to me to discover how uncoordinated and weak I have become in the last ten years. My freshman year of college I was in the gym so often that I could leg press more than 700 pounds – no, I'm being totally serious, y'all – and now I can barely stand to support my upper body weight while holding a squat for sixty seconds.
It has occurred to me that I'm living a little in the past and that trying to attain what I had so many years ago may be impossible, but that hasn't stopped me yet. It feels great to know that I'm at least making an effort, at least trying. And I'm having fun in the process. It hasn't stopped me from dancing at clubs yet either, and I suppose that's the important part. Though I'll admit that my confidence is increased by 600% simply because everyone there is already drunk and can barely remember their dates' names, much less how I'm dancing.
I figure that if I can keep up with my current schedule, I may be able to do more than The Corpse by the end of six weeks' time. And I'll look good doing it, too.
Comments
I feel confident that I too can master "The Corpse". Anything else seems to require balance of which I have none, nata, nill, zilch, negative.
Posted by: Katie | July 5, 2007 03:06 PM
Meh, no worries. I used to be a gymnast for 10 years before quitting at age 15 after breaking my arm on bars. Then I took up jazz and hip hop dancing till I was 19. I started yoga at 22 when I kept seeing a beginner's drop in class taking place at my gym and figured hey, how hard can it be? It's beginners! It was a bit of a shock to my system too, but now I absolutely LOVE it, and I do find that my previous training in gymnastics and dance is helpful. Yoga just takes a few classes to get the hang of - do the modified poses until you feel ready for the full version. The good thing about yoga is that part of it is to focus inward so really nobody is looking at you - they are looking at themselves in the mirror! After my first few months of doing yoga regularly I began to notice a surge in my flexibility and balance and I felt more energetic - and would start finding myself doing yoga stretches at work to relieve tension. I hope you end up enjoying it as much as I do :)
Posted by: Laura | July 5, 2007 04:56 PM
I think what you are doing is wonderful. You may not totally get back to being 19, but you'll fell better getting there. You're inspiring me. You're my hero Ferris!!!!
~Jef
Posted by: Edge | July 5, 2007 05:34 PM
Where are you taking all of these fun classes? I'm jealous! I really am...
Posted by: Mel | July 5, 2007 07:32 PM
Those classes are adventurous.
Corpse pose? LOL. That means that I am a pro at the stone pose, in swimming pool ^^
Posted by: PRETTY IN THE CITY | July 5, 2007 09:26 PM
Yoga classes take a little time to get used to...but I know you can do it!
Posted by: Ki | July 6, 2007 02:23 AM
Now that I know you belly dance I want a youtube vid posted. I bet you dance like this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEHVw_vcp-A
Posted by: Edge | July 6, 2007 06:51 AM
Ahh the Corpse pose is my fav! That and the Small Child (I think that's what it's called.) You are totally motivating me to do yoga again! Have you tried Pilates, though? I always like it better than yoga.
Posted by: Laurel | July 6, 2007 12:44 PM
haha. I love that corpse pose... I am good at that one too!
Posted by: EDDDDOOOOOOO | July 6, 2007 03:11 PM
Hey! You know when I first took Yoga I was so sore and amazed at just how hard it is to maintain a pose on all-fours. But you'll get it! I need to start up operation exercise again. I may or may not be wearing my size 6 jeans and size 8 jeans right now instead of my size 2s, but I will neither confirm nor deny this.
Posted by: Julianna | July 7, 2007 09:09 AM
Ah, yoga, how I am frightened of you. Good for you! Jes. It's on my list of things to do: Die doing yoga; I'm working up to it. ; )
Posted by: kerrianne | July 8, 2007 06:05 PM
I think I could probably master the corpse pose. I'm still impressed that you're even trying. One day, when I get up the self-control to try . . .
Posted by: Lia | July 9, 2007 10:44 AM
When you feel good from exercise, it makes everything else in your life better too. /hugs
Posted by: Seraphine | July 11, 2007 12:44 AM
I miss your post T_T
Posted by: PRETTY IN THE CITY | July 11, 2007 03:51 AM
Good for you for keeping up with this. That's a lot of dancing!
Posted by: my life is brilliant | July 11, 2007 07:26 PM
Good for you for keeping up with this. That's a lot of dancing!
Posted by: my life is brilliant | July 11, 2007 07:30 PM
Rock on with your bad self!!
And remember - there's always pole dancing!
Posted by: Courtney | July 12, 2007 06:53 PM
I've tried yoga before (at my mother's insistence) and hated it. The problem wasn't getting into the poses, but holding them FOREVER. I got bored very easily.
Posted by: thethinker | July 13, 2007 01:32 AM
Hmm.. Yoga.. I can't sit for that long..let alone in some of those positions -Also It's probable that I would doze off in the middle while everyone would be thinking "Wow she's really into it"
Posted by: MsRebecca | July 13, 2007 05:54 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JES!!!!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | July 13, 2007 10:43 AM
Hey, happy birthday! Also, I have not tried yoga in years, but I feel quite confident I would suck at it.
Posted by: guinness girl | July 13, 2007 04:18 PM
LOL... I took yoga at the YMCA for a while, and the Corpse was my favorite too! Possibly because the class was on Saturday mornings, and as I stumbled into the class I was usually so tired, it was easy to nearly fall asleep as I became The Corpse! All yoga positions should be more like that!
Posted by: AngelNicki | July 14, 2007 09:34 PM