say Mu!

I’m trying this new approach to Yoga, rather than watching videos (which technically I still do) I’m actually taking control of the “workout” and doing it at my own pace. They just frustrate me when they tell me to breathe in, especially when they say to do it twice in a row (I’m looking at you Rodney Yee) and confuse me enough that I get all out of sync. I’m starting with a simple Sun Salutation (I’ve managed to get the whole family in on my efforts each evening so far, thats a great thing!) and then move towards holding poses longer or adding in some other more challenging moves. In the long run I’m not sure where I’ll go with it, I just found out that this is more of a Hatha Yoga thing but I think I’m probably more of an Ashtanga Vinyasa kind of guy. I did find some great posts with animations and the like but the gist of a Sun Salutation is this:

1. Mountain Pose (?) – Standing upright.
2. Bring arms over head – as I tell the kids while we’re doing it, “Point at the moon!”
3. Forward bend  - “Touch your toes!”
4. Step right foot back to a lunge – try to touch your heel to the floor, lift your head to look in front of you.
5. Left Foot back to plank pose – “Stiff like a board!”
6. Push Up Position – Basically we’ve just done half of a pushup.
7. Upward dog – try to look up at the moon!
8. Push back to downward dog – lift your butt, heels on the floor, spread your toes, soften your face (this is the bread and butter of yoga for me so far)
9. Right foot forward to a lunge – see above.
10. Forward Bend
11. Up to Mountain pose.

As I lead these family yoga sessions I try to emphasize slowness right now, breathing if I think of it or I’m talking to my wife. I’ll do it a couple of times which is a decent de-stresser. I’m not sure it will have the same impact of doing 20 pushups mid-day to wake myself up currently has but I might try it. The pushup trick is great though.

Thats my little bit of fitness talk today, the real fun is in the DIY/House Projects i’m still glowing from… thats a different post.