Power Yoga Rant

Power Yoga, whoever invented this monster was certifiably insane. :) And Thank You. The routine I follow are advanced moves in which have been really helping me on my lower abdomen and core muscles, a location that helps with my lower back.

When I went from Beginners (Yes, I have been doing the beginners for a while) to the Power Yoga I was like, I got this! Ha! Too funny Brenda, I think someone slipped you something. Which just for future reference I do drink occasionally but it is rare and far between and not much at all. I am not opposed to drinking I just don't do it often.

Anyway, a new pose I have learned that kicks my butt is Warrior III.

http://www.yogabasics.com/asana/warrior-iii/

Helps balance, memory and concentration, and tones the body. :)

Getting into this pose after the stretching and the workout they put you through is hard. I mean, it's tough enough for me to maintain my balance with my leg back, staring at the floor with my fingertips barely touching, let alone dare try lifting my hands! Talk about a life threatening moment as I swayed towards my yoga buddy. Granted, it is funny as heck, but AHHHHH, that's what I want to say about that.

UPDATE: Amazingly enough, I have been doing this for longer then five days and I must say I have noticed improvements. My leg muscle are tightening up and I feel more control over my stance and more confident to raise my hands out. Keeping my leg high is hard and I still feel the want to shake and lean my body, but slowly I am getting there.

To everyone that does yoga, y'all are amazing and I give you props. Keep it up. Yoga is hard than it looks but very rewarding.

I would also like to say that doing it with a buddy can be, not only, challenging (especially if the two of you keep giggling) but so much fun. It really helps having that support when you want to drop out of pose. They are a cheering squad and a motivation that I know I need and I am grateful to have. Cross your fingers we continue to do this.

-Brenda

A Change For The Better Day 15

Everyone needs a Cheat Day (or days)

Okay, so i have been a very bad person. I skipped a couple of days! I know. . . I need to start my sister a little piggy bank because she has earned 75 Cents. :( I can't be perfect. Not to mention when you have people over (like my sister) you kind of use that as a great excuse not to do YOGA. And I did.

I thought it was a great excuse, but apparently it wasn't. Oh well, it happens. It's like breaking your diet once every so often. You just have to work twice as hard on the other days if you do that. Right? Anyone on my side?

Anyway, so after she left I just picked up right where I left off, with a little resistance. I mean, I hadn't done it for three days so getting up and shoving myself back into a the little routine I had been trying to establish was a pain in the butt.

Note to shelf and everyone out there: If you are going to cheat make sure you have already established a good routine so that it is just as easy to jump back in to.

And another day done! On to the Next!!

-Brenda Franklin

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A change for the Better Day 8

Day 8

Oh my Gosh, I’m in shock. Kind of beaming with pride for doing Yoga longer than a week, but at the same time it is an uphill battle. Each day I have to continue to push myself to do it. To get dressed, put in the DVD and start it up. It’s hard. But once I am sitting on that mat starting my breathing I’m in the zone. Not to mention Shawn, my husband, rewards me with affection. Okay, I get affection either way, but it is nice.

So do that. Do your Yoga and then treat yourself. Give yourself a little reward every now and then. Ten extra minutes to be lazy watching TV or a scoop of ice cream. I know it’s bad for you. But I didn’t say anything about starting my diet portion yet, so eat away!! Right now I’m just trying to train myself to do Yoga once a day. So spoiling myself is nice for the time being.

Oh! Here are a couple of poses, what they are, and how they help. And you haven't noticed Yoga has a lot of weird words. Well, I will break is down a little when I talk about the poses.

Asana = Pose or posture. This word is always at the end of each kind of stretch you do so get used to it now. 

My favorite pose is the Cat Cow Pose

Cat (Marjari) Pose (Asana)

Cat pose = Marjariasana

Cow (Bitil) Pose (Asana)

Cow Pose = Bitilasana

Inhale during Cow pose and exhale during Cat pose.

What this does is it:

flexes out the spine

strengths the wrists and shoulders

improves digestion

helps with blood circulation

Great blogs to follow for more information:

http://yogabycandace.com/yoga-poses/ (But go at your own pass. this person is a Pro.)

http://www.artofliving.org/yoga/yoga-poses/cat-stretch-marjariasana

http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/How-Do-Cat-Cow-Pose-26662589

A Change for the better--Day Three

 Ah! I skipped one! Where’s day two?

Well, don’t worry, you didn’t skip one. I just didn’t write one. J I figured you don’t need to know what I do every day. Changes should be spaced, not a new one every day. Soon I will run out of things to talk about. Then what? I will start to ramble on about nonsensical things like whether its human nature for a guy not to throw his clothes on the floor when he is feet away from the hamper or whether if I leave my hair frizzy as I go into town how many horrified looks I will get. . . yeah. You see my point?

Anyway, day three!

I have been using Element, YOGA for Beginners. I recommend this DVD for anyone that is just getting started. I looked up some of the advance poses and trust me, she's being kind and keeping it relaxing compared to some poses out there. Though I haven't experienced all of her works I do know this is easy enough for me to do.

Even though it’s an hour long it doesn’t feel like it. Time doesn’t just fly by, it’s kind of irrelevant as you are focusing on your breathing, while trying not to stare at the TV to figure out what you are doing. Yeah, anyone who has done Yoga knows exactly what I mean. She had me turn to face away and I was trying to look over my shoulder to figure out what I was doing. . . . Maybe that is why I lose my balance a bit? But that’s neither here nor there.

She helps you focus on your breathing and trying to relax. So when you do this go into a quiet room and have some you time or bring a buddy. I do this in my bedroom and lock the door so as to tell people. “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!” I might actually make a sign to clue in my husband, but he is starting to understand that nine is my time and my time alone. I know, it’s only been three days. I still very happy with myself.

Continue following my posts to read up on the different poses and the language behind Yoga. Find out what are my favorite and least favorite poses.

-Brenda Franklin

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A Change For The Better--Day 1

Day one:

This may be called day one but it really is day two going back to talk about my day one. That makes sense, right? J Well, you know what I mean.

So far it’s easy going. I don’t want to go too fast or hard, not that I am lazy, but I need to move slow to adjust to a new routine. Let’s not just up and change your life overnight. No. That ain’t happening. I still want to text my friends and family, call people, play games, be on social medias, read, WRITE, and manage the home. . . Okay, most of these things probably could be managed a bit better and shortened time wise and honestly, by the sounds of my life, it does feel like I could use more movement. So this is what I decided. YOGA!

No, laughing. I’m serious. Yoga.  I know some people might say start with adjusting your diet but I can’t do it. I don’t even eat like a regular person so managing my meals is too daunting of a task. I don’t feel in control of it. So I figure the easiest thing I can do is add an hour of Yoga into my mourning routine.

The great thing about Yoga, that I have heard and read, is that it helps to reduce stress, helps with sleep, regulates breathing, helps you to become healthier, and I also read it was good for your sex life. No joke. So if you’re in a slump sexually and are overall stressed, this should do the trick. Wink. Wink.

So now my schedule looks like this: wake up before eight, have coffee and a small snack and then by nine I am ready to do yoga. Granted, I look kind of funny doing yoga and trying not to fall over, but oddly enough it is soothingly and kind of energizing.

I will let you know more about how I am doing in Yoga next time.

-Brenda Franklin

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