Downward Facing Dad
As you may know, I work for the Y. Working down the hall from a weight room, treadmills, ellipticals and even group exercise classes, you’d think I’d be in fantastic shape.
Um, yeah, not so much.
I have been meaning to get back into the exercise thing but the past two weeks I’ve been fighting a cold and I finally went to the doctor to find out I have a sinus infection. (By the way, can I tell you how disappointed I was to find out my amoxicillin was in pill form rather than cherry-flavored syrup?)
After finally getting some relief for my poor sinuses, I decided to start out my exericse regime with a beginning yoga class. Our yoga instructor has been trying to get me to his class for months now and since it was his birthday yesterday I joined a handful of my staff and we all attended his class.
Now, I definitely had some preconceived notions about Yoga. I expected incense and all sorts of metaphysical mumbo jumbo while hearing how my chakras were being aligned. I also had a little fear of being the only guy in the class and not being able to get into any of the positions.
I was the only guy in the class. And let’s just say my groin and hips just can’t compete with those who are biologically predisposed to giving birth. And lets just say that if I knew I was going to be barefoot the entire time, I would have at least cut my toe nails.
But once I got over my insecurties, I gave it my all. I contorted and twisted and strained all while trying to remember to breathe (breathing is a big thing in Yoga). I did find out that my hamstrings are a good six inches shorter than I remember them being and my calves just don’t want to see my heels touch the ground while practicing “downward facing dog.” But I survived.
Or did I? Today, I awoke and as I got out of bed I quickly did an inventory where I was sore:
Right Calf? Yep.
Upper Abdominals? Yep.
Lower Abdominals? Yep, them too.
Hip Flexors? Affirmative.
Pectoral Muscles? Sadly, yes.
Okay, my whole body hurts.
But, hey, at least my chakras are aligned. You can’t put a price on that.
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I gotta try yoga. Not to jump on the bandwagon, but because people who do it say it makes them feel amazing.
I hope once you stretch out and don’t feel sore you stick with it. You could be the next male Madonna!
Comment by samantha jo campen — June 30, 2007 @ 8:43 am
My wife dragged me to a Yoga class once. Once. It was at a private studio, and it was exactly what you were afraid it as going to be. I suppose at a gym it would be different.
Comment by whit — June 30, 2007 @ 8:52 am
Man do some Yoga for me. I’d do it, but it sounds like it hurts.
Comment by Gidge — June 30, 2007 @ 9:07 am
Now the trick is to go back for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th classes. I myself always fizzle out. What do you suppose that says about my chakras?
Comment by ByJane — June 30, 2007 @ 11:54 am
Yoga is great. Where else is it socially acceptable to stare at young, lithe women wearing spandex and bending over?
Strip clubs, that’s where.
Comment by Rattling the Kettle — June 30, 2007 @ 1:27 pm
I used to be a trainer at the 92nd Street Y in NYC and what I remember clearly is that the Yoga room always smelled funny. And not funny ha-ha either. Ever since then I can’t convince myself to give it a try no matter how much I want to, or how much my friends ask me to go with them.
Comment by Keith — June 30, 2007 @ 5:02 pm
Perfect excuse for a pedicure! Right?
Comment by Deanna — July 2, 2007 @ 11:08 am
Yeah, I had that same reaction after doing yoga once with the youth group at our church (I was a youth leader at the time). The pain, oh the pain!
Plus the lady leading the yoga had us in a position with our feet spread way apart and we were supposed to get our head to touch the floor while still standing. In other words, our butts were really sticking up there.
I was evidently was doing something right because the leader said, “Everybody look at Emily, she’s doing great.”
Um, NO! Don’t have everybody look at Emily! Her butt is flying high and she doesn’t exactly want the youth group kids focusing on it!
Comment by Momma Em — July 2, 2007 @ 1:53 pm
[...] Since I have taken some steps to relieve my stress by attempting Yoga, we have decided that maybe the entire family could benefit from the soothing practice of breathing and tearing ligaments stretching. After weeks of practice Swee’Pea and TheMonk have become quite adept at this yoga thing. See for yourself: [...]
Pingback by Childs Play x2 — Because having one just wasn’t enough. » Aligning our chakras — September 3, 2007 @ 10:21 pm