Yoga Core Day 1 – 19/02/2013

The journey towards Yoga enlightenment begins as I rocked up to the Life and Balance studio located in Glebe. Got there nice and early to try and get familiar with the surrounding and sort out any admin nonsense that popped up. I was glad I did as I found out that the Yoga class we had booked didn't have enough attendees to run the class? (Would have been nice to get a head ups?)

Anyway the receptionist apologised and booked Asa and I into a Core Yoga course that starts the following week on Mondays in the city. That didn't really help me though as I was dressed and ready to roll now! So I asked what options were for now and she suggested that we do a Core Pilates class that was on in half an hour as it would be a good introduction to core yoga course. I thought that was the plan, just take baby steps as this was all foreign to me but it still keeps me on track for my 10 week project! (Best of all they didn't charge us for it due to the cancellation of the Yoga class)

The Yoga studio was super narrow and I was waaaaay at the back stuck between two veteran mothers and Asa was opposite me. The instructor seemed pretty cool and she asked before starting the class if anyone had any previous injuries and this where I would usually shout out that I have a dodgy knee (old rugby ACL injury) but how much actual stress could it possible put on my knee?

It didn't take long for the class to get into bendy mode as we lay on our backs while pushing our pelvis’s towards the roof all while trying to concentrate on breathing correctly (at this point was already starting feel it). I was surprised that even though the movements seem to be small and seemed to be low intensive, by just trying to isolate certain muscle groups I was struggling to hold and maintain the different positions. The two Mums however had their breathing down pat which I could see was making a HUGE difference in their ability to control their movement which was a stark contrast to me as I was flailing for most periods of the class and seemed to be short of breathe for some reason which disturbed the rhythm of the exercises.(Work to be done!)

The class put me through my paces for an hour and by the end of it I could feel the burn not just in my abs and through my butt and thighs but in also my ego, I have been told that Yoga Core is more difficult so if I’m struggling now then I definitely have a long way to go to be the Yoda of Yoga.

Lesson learned:

• ·         Don’t be at the back.... Struggled to see especially with no specs on.
• ·         Place yourself near veterans.… great examples.
• ·         Bring your own Yoga mat… It’s an absolute shit fight if you don’t have your own!
• ·         Bring Knee strap next time!... Some positions require you to put weight on the patella part of the knee.

Interesting Points:     

• ·         Vanessa (A&E Scheduler) was at the same class as me and is a Pilates pro!
• ·         Spoke to a Yoga instructor during the week who tried to explain some of the differences between different types Yoga, a whole new world.
• ·         Beside the initial pain the knee and body felt good and limber for the next couple of days.
• ·         There was only one other guy in the class and we were both struggling the most :)