Days 74-80

After a couple days of not writing, I started feeling like catching up was too big of a project for the time I had at any given moment.  I just kept putting it off and not finding the time to do it.  Well, that only made it worse!  What can I say about the last seven days and the six classes I took?  Not a whole lot.  There were moments of giggling, super concentration, pain, sweat, exhaustion, accomplishment, day dreaming, camaraderie, and a zombie sleep deprived moment where I tried to do Tortoise Pose at the top of my mat with my legs in Fixed Firm Pose.  I'm still feeling like I've made big improvements in Half Moon Pose, and keep working on it every day.  I love the way it feels when I lift my ribcage up right at the end and drop down more.  The stretch is amazing, now if only I can figure out how to keep my knees locked at the same time.  I've been able to lock my knees out in Hands to Feet Pose a few times.  My right knee is still painful at times and my right quadriceps were really swollen and sore.  I think they probably have something to do with each other.  I had a massage on Saturday.  Two hours.  She worked on the area around my scapula, mostly trapezius, for 45 minutes.  She also concentrated on my quadriceps, IT band and TFL.  It was much needed but took a lot out of my body.  We worked through a ton of trigger points.  Then I had Korean food and had a gluten reaction.  I didn't make it to class on Saturday.  I've been choosing to stay up super late when I know I shouldn't be.  Now, I have a sinus infection and can't sleep through the night because of it.  I haven't had a good night's sleep since Thursday!  I've also been getting migraines, which are probably from a combination of messing up my sleep schedule, not getting enough sleep, needing an adjustment, this sinus infection, and possibly not drinking enough water.  I've been dealing with a bit of stress as well, which is why I think I'm not sleeping well.  But, I am changing that.  I have to go to class before work tomorrow and friday, so I have to have to have to go to bed at a decent hour.  If I can just get my sinuses to let me sleep more than 2 hours in a row, I will be golden.

Day 73

I again didn't make it to class in the morning before work. After work, I made potato leek soup (the recipe happens to be on my other blog) but I couldn't eat it until after class. My hands smelled like onion and leek during class. That's better than garlic. I had horrible cramps and didn't want to do anything. Laying on my stomach hurts and makes me want to throw up when I'm on my period. Add spine strengthening poses to the mix, and I'm miserable. On my first couple days of my period, tightening my abdominal muscles and rounding down both make the cramps worse. Between this and me knee I barely did anything. The teacher encouraged me to do the stomach down poses, but I skipped Locust Pose and Floor Bow. I was okay with taking it easy in class but I'm ready for my knee to figure out what it's doing and feel better already!

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Day 72

Monday was Karma Yoga Day. That means that BYA donates $1 for every body in every class to an orgnaization. This month it went to a relief fund for northern Japan. It was also a classmates 365th class in 365 days. She's had to do a lot of catching up in the last month and has been doing doubles and triples most days. She did 3 on Saturday, 4 on Sunday and five on Monday! Three other yoga buddies did 4 or 5 classes along with her on Monday. I had been planning on going to the 9:30 class but my body decided that sleep was more important. I made it to the last class instead and I'm glad I did! The energy was amazing and it felt good to cheer them along in my head. A teacher took some pictures of her in her final class. Since I was nearby I used the risk of being in the background as a motivator to watch my form and try not to fidget. I can't remember much about the class but I fel reasonably focused. I'm still being careful with my knee but the pain is less accute. I'm writing this post while stretching my quads, gluts and TFLs. I mean to stretch more often, but it just doesn't happen.

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Day 71

I didn't sweat nearly as much as I did yesterday, but it wasn't as awesome of a class. Stuff's going on in my back and I really need an adjustment. Between that and my knee, class was on the painful side. I did what I could with me knee still acting up. I'm just biding my time and taking it easy while it figures itself out. I had a really hard time concentrating because of a few stressful things that were making camp in my mind. I accepted that fact and did the best I could. I don't have high hopes for class tonight but you never know!

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Day 69 and Day 70

Day 69 - Pause

When I woke up at 8am, I knew there was no way I'd make it through the day if I went to yoga.  Changing my schedule, shitty sleep, and the time change caught up to me all at once.  I went back to bed.  I had plans for right after work, so I couldn't do the 6:30pm class instead.  I think it was the right decision.

Day 70

Class felt pretty good, even with my knee still mysteriously hurting.  I was able to do a little more and I did some poses part way, avoiding the parts that would hurt my knee.  Sometimes there is a sharp pain and sometimes it just feels irritated and sore.  It still hurts when I go down stairs or ride my bike.  I took the bus to class today.  I don't really like taking the bus.  I prefer to ride.  One of my classmates pushed me up in Full Locust Pose.  What that means, is that our arms overlapped and she just kept bringing her arms up even though mine was in the way.  I didn't expect it on the first set, so I felt it in my shoulder.  For the second set, I was prepared.  I felt stretching in the front of my chest and I felt my rhomboids and trapezius contract tighter between my scapula.  It was pretty intense.

Day 68

I am exhausted.  I had slightly better sleep last night, just not enough of it.  It was a gorgeous day and it made me really appreciate the fact that I ride my bike to BYA everyday.  Class was okay.  My knee is still being weird so I took it easy.  I forgot to do my laundry yesterday due to late onset yoga brain.  I had to scramble this morning to find the old shorts and sports bra that I used for my first few classes.  The shorts are now loose instead of tight.  The bra was roomy and felt like I was going to fall out the top when I leaned over.  My body has changed so much in just a few months.  Last week, I had gained a pound and then a few days later, lost two.  I stressed out a lot over this and after talking with a friend, I decided to abstain from weighing myself until April.  I'm worried that I'll weigh myself April first and I will be down even more and then I will super freak out.  The reasoning behind not weighing myself is that numbers are arbitrary, I like doing yoga and don't want to stop, and that I am eating and feel pretty healthy.  I've been crazy hungry since starting morning classes again, but also super tired.  It's like I can't get enough food in me.  I'll eat something, feel full, and then feel hungry again an hour later and need to find something else to eat.  I'm hoping this is a sign that my body is saying it needs more fuel and it will use that fuel to stay healthy and not lose anymore fat weight.  If April first comes and I've lost more weight, I'm not exactly sure what I'll decide.  For now, I'm trying to find a few pairs of pants in my drawer that don't fall off me.

Day 67

I did it!  I woke up and got out of bed and ate breakfast and went to yoga.  I've had pretty rough sleep for the past few nights and I felt like I barely slept at all last night.  I did not want to drag myself out of bed, but I knew that I'd be disappointed with myself if I made that choice.  Class was good, despite needing to sit out of certain poses because of my right knee.  I felt good about the poses I could do and about listening to the needs of my body and backing off.  I had a funny conversation about smells after class.  Sometimes all I could smell was sweat and human smells from everyone around me and the carpet.  I've also smelled grape bubblegum, elmer's glue, fava bean flour, garlic (it was on my hands), soap from my skin, and my own boy odor.  I am so exhausted right now, but it's time for me to get ready for work.  I'm hoping I'll pass out early tonight after a good dinner and feel rested in the morning, when I get up to do this all over again!