Not Exactly Reaching the Next Level
*sigh*
Having admitted to being The Least Flexible Person on the Planet, I was determined to start stretching every day. And while I can say I’ve done so more in the past three weeks than probably the previous six months, I’ve missed a few days and still suffer from a general lack of enthusiasm for the endeavor.
It’s kind of like one of those good angel, bad angel deals, except on one shoulder the bad angel is being played by a 20-year-old Mike Tyson, and on the other the good angel is more akin to… Ben Stein.
Part of this is undoubtedly because it’s just not that fun for me. I mean, if I suddenly resolved to start playing water polo every day I’d no doubt end up feeling soggy, frustrated, and, well, in over my head.
So I’m looking for a life jacket. (Do yoga mats float?) Flexible people of the world, how do you work stretching into your life? What do you recommend? Is a yoga class the only way?
I have attended one yoga class in my life and felt pretty awkward. Still remember the instructor strolling along checking on people saying, “Good… good… good… Matt, let me help you.”
Should I get over it? Any advice you have would be appreciated; my loose approach is not getting results.
Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Update: Check it out! Why, working all this activity into the fabric of my everyday life has brought me ever closer to earning that patch. Recent highlights include a night of ping-pong dominance, a soccer victory for my Thursday team, a winning attitude for my Monday team, and escaping the vortex of a lazy Sunday to actually get to the gym. That took as much effort as anything I did there.
They’ve Got a Percentile for Everything: I was playing around on the Fitness Challenge site and discovered that I rank in the 89th percentile for “activity points” among logged participants in the greater Ann Arbor area in January. I bet the guy wrecking the curve is the one who was sporting a fine-mesh tank top while pushing a Precor to the limit the other day. Only serious fitness enthusiasts can get away with sporting a fine-mesh tank top.
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- The Results Are InIn the context of my challenge, the good thing about taking a fitness test designed for people roughly half my age was that it satisfied the half hour of daily activity I need to keep...
First, I just want to say I love your Resolution Solutions Blog. As a reader, I enjoy hearing what other people experience in their personal journeys.
One of the reasons I love yoga is that there is no competition. I take hatha yoga and it is all about just getting in touch with where your body is, how it is reacting and then accepting the sensations without judging them. Allow your feelings and thoughts to arise, but then allow them to subside…just be a witness. Try not to be attached to a particular result; accept yourself and your abilities without desiring they be something else at this time. Concentrate on the moment.
I still remember many years ago being chosen last for team sports in high school. I was awkward and shy…yoga, however, allows us to begin wherever we are and grow slowly from there. Getting the postures correct in yoga is important because like any other activity, you can harm yourself if you do it incorrectly. If you felt judged during your first class, perhaps you were expecting too much of yourself too quickly? Let judgement go…honor where you are at the moment.
I highly recommend giving it another try, maybe with a beginner’s class. Your flexibility will definitely increase, and with the right teacher so will your ability to relax and de-stress.
I’ll second that uber-hatred of stretching. It seriously ruins most mornings for me (i do it before getting ready every day). One thing i can say is that stretching has allowed me to not run and lift weights as much and still manage some form of arrogance while playing sports. If the natural green earth feeling isn’t making you overcome with motivation, just think of it in terms of efficiency. jump higher and become more agile without all the non-sense running and weight lifting
Thanks for the kind words and the thoughtful post, Jane. You are so right. I think I’m totally distracted by the results I want (and I do tend to be competitive). My previous discomfort was definitely more to do with me than the instructor. If I heed the gentle insistence of two of my good friends and get back into a class, I really need to focus on enjoying yoga for yoga itself and not worry about where I’m at or hope to get to. Thanks again!
That is a unique alchemy, Mike: turning less effort into greater arrogance! I think Jane might have the better mental attitude, but stretching each day no matter what is commendable. If only I could distract the dogs so they wouldn’t mess with me…
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