Namaste

Nah-muh-stay. So this is what we say to each other at the end of our yoga class. It basically means "I bow to you" in Sanskrit. The image shown above is actually framed & displayed in the yoga studio.

I have always been interested in yoga & have played around with it a bit through books & the Wii but have never actually taken a class. Thank goodness my hip pain finally pushed me into action. I had been having right hip pain for atleast 6 months--I specifically remember having a lot of pain & stiffness during our trip to Washington DC for the 4th of July. After much research & asking people at work, I figured out that I my problem was all in my muscles. Basically, I was so tight in my hip flexor, my hamstring had tightened up & my leg would be stiff like a wooden plank until I had "walked it out". Basically, I looked like Frankenstein. Not to mention, the many sleepless nights I had because of pain. I always felt better when I would stretch at home but it would very quickly return to the stiffness & pain.

On the first night of class, we sat on the floor in the butterfly position. I could lay my left knee on the ground but my right knee was almost pressed into my chest--I absolutely could not move my knee down to the ground. We are now in week 5 & I've gained back almost all of my flexibility. Most importantly, I am almost now pain free & I'm not walking like this anymore:


Anyway, I've really enjoyed the fact that April has been in the class with me & I'm getting to spend time with my best friend EVERY week! This is super awesome to me. I absolutely love the fact that she is so in love with our class & how passionate she has become about what we are doing. She's just having so much fun at it & she's really good--so this has really inspired me. I wasn't feeling well so I didn't go to our 3rd class. Apparently, that's the week when she converted to Hinduism & became a yogi because when I came back to the 4th class, she was crazy good. She had somehow found her core along with her balance & strength. Mine is still hiding under a rock somewhere. Last week, our 6 ft tall spaghetti limbed instructor Kristy demonstrated a position called the Crow. She said it took her 2 years to be able to get into the position & so we shouldn't feel pressured to do it. I look to my left & April is in the crow!

Try this folks--squat down with your legs apart and put your hands on the ground in front of you (sort of like a frog). Press your knees to the back of your triceps and slowly lean forward until your feet come up OFF OF THE GROUND! You will look like this:


April was one of only 2 people in the class who could do this--and she's just had a baby 3 months ago. Holy jeebus. I still contend that this position is impossible when you are built like a toy top, like I am. I've got too much junk in the truck pulling me back down to be able to get in that crazy position. I keep trying though--so if you see me with broken forearms or wrists and I've said that I've had a bad fall-you'll know the real reason why.

Last night, when I thought I was going to fall over on my face during the bending tree pose, I look over at April who is in perfect position & in deep concentration. She sees me out of the corner of her eye, doesn't lose her pose & says "hater."

and she's right. Its enough to keep a girl motivated .