Kamikaze Yoga

Sunday morning I started yoga. What was I thinking!?

It took me three years to muster the nerve and sign on the dotted line. When I walked into the studio, they had my information on file from when I signed up for their newsletter three years ago--in another city. 

Those of you who've known me longest know that I came down with a back injury that prevents me from sitting for more than fifteen minutes at a time. I've been to doctors, chiropractors, surgeons, pain specialists, and physical therapists. Occasionally, I would get a little relief, but the pain would return a day or two later. I'm hoping yoga might take the edge off. 

Iko, Ready to Rumble
So far, so good. I enjoy yoga. I love the stretches and the strength building. And while I hate having to drive all the way into town to work out, I like that I can do it without getting trampled on by Kamikaze Iko.

Every time I stretch at home, Iko thinks I'm getting on the floor to play with him and he pounces on me with all his weight. He's such a sweetie, so it's hard to stay mad at him. If only he realized that body-slamming me with that 110 pound mountain of muscle is a little like doing ten rounds with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

That dog can bitch-slap me with one swing of his paw. I still have the last scar he gave me. Yoga at the studio is much, much safer. 

Has anyone out there tried yoga? Was it a good or bad experience?


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Contest: I think I mentioned this on Facebook, but I might as well mention it here too. Chain of Souls was nominated by Embrace the Shadows as a contender for best cover of the month.

I promised myself I would no longer put myself in competitions, but it's awfully nice to be nominated because someone else thought you were good. So take a look at the covers and vote for mine if you like it best.

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Workload: I have a tendency (by necessity) to work on things a month or more in advance. So anything you read was usually written weeks earlier. Occasionally, I'll slip in a newer post if it relates to something current (like this one), but most of the time I plan ahead.

I am losing that battle. I've slipped to being only one week ahead of time and that's just for one blog. That's cutting it too close. One emergency or an unplanned extra job could wipe me out and I'd have nothing.

That almost happened to me last week. I had Thursday's post ready but we had several thunderstorms go through and I decided to shut down my computer. Well, wouldn't you know it, Thursday came and I never had a chance to get back online.

Do you guys write more than one post at a time for future use? I need to get back to my two month buffer. It's nerve-wracking to live on the knife's edge.

Maybe I need more yoga. 

...nah.



Comments

Unknown saidā€¦
I love yoga. There was a series on one of the channels up here that was great. Every day we did different positions. One thing I did notice after one week of practice, I was a lot calmer. Things that would make me explode, I just shrugged off. The series was sixty-six episodes long but it's off air now. I wish they'd bring it back. I can't even find it on DVD.

Re: Blog posts. Yeah, I try to do a week in advance or at least have an outline.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Darke: It makes me feel more mellow too. I told Greg it's like getting a full body massage but you have to do all the work. :)
Jennifer Shirk saidā€¦
I do yoga but it's not my favorite, although I do feel great...afterwards. LOL

PS. Just voted for your cover!
Angelina Rain saidā€¦
Love that picture of Iko but I don't think he would make a great yoga partner. What is it with dog's thinking that if the human gets to their level it's because the human wants to play with them? Joey does the same thing except he's 51 pounds of bony dog.

When it comes to blogging, I live by the seat of my pants. That's why I rarely ever blog anymore. I need to start planning my posts and writing them ahead of time so I have something to post. I always leave it for the last minute and then I never have the time.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Jennifer: Thank you! I've reached an age where I'd rather not do any more regimented exercise, but it does help me relax and that's important too.

Angelina: Sadly, If Maria doesn't come down to Iko, Iko usually goes up to Maria. He's been known to leap into the air, pounce on the bed and put us in a half-Nelson. The dog should've been a wrestler.
Marguerite Butler saidā€¦
I love yoga. It's one of the few exercise regimes that doesn't make me feel exhausted afterward, just energized. Stay with it. I really think it pays off.

Sadly, I'm a blog-as-you-go gal which is why I had to let my blog go dormant when life got crazy. I've started it back up and I'm trying to commit to three posts a week. I'd love any suggestions as to programs where you load your posts in advance and it posts them for you at a designated time.
Cate Masters saidā€¦
I have been thinking I need to do yoga again, but never get to it. A class might be a good idea. My dog Lily does the same thing to me.
I used to post ahead for the week, but lately have been scrambling.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Marguerite: Blogger lets you schedule your posts ahead of time. Email me if you need the steps.


Cate: Even if yoga doesn't help my back problem, it's been great for stress relief. I don't have the inclination to stab people anymore. LOL!
Unknown saidā€¦
I love working out but I need something low impact too. I'm glad you're enjoying it.
Rula Sinara saidā€¦
I just started back into yoga this weekend too. I use giam video tapes and stay in my room (otherwise I'd have the same dog problem lol).

I do feel great after yoga, but I have to wear wrist supports because some of the poses put strain on my tendonitis.

Just voted for your very cool cover!
Stacy McKitrick saidā€¦
My blogs are pretty much written by the seat of my pants. I'm lucky to have the thing written the night before (which is my goal so I have it scheduled for a 6:00am post!). I'm sure it would make my life a whole lot easier if I planned my blogs, but procrastination always seems to win over easy!
Barbara Ann Wright saidā€¦
I'd like to try group yoga. I tried doing yoga while following a video, but the instructor went way too fast, and I got lost.
Dee Procrastinates saidā€¦
I used to love yoga. It always left me feeling good. I really should start it again.

Thanks for reminding me of that.

PS. Voted for your cover, too. :)
Raelyn Barclay saidā€¦
I've tried doing yoga via a televised series and the WII...Beastie Girl thinks it's playtime too, usually with one of the wee beasties helping her trip me up, LOL. I need to find something where I get out of the house.

Congrats on the cover nomination, I'll hop over there in a minute.

I'm trying really hard to build up my cushion again too. I had almost a month's worth for about a minute, LOL. Thursdays are easy for me to do a bunch of and schedule but that's because of the Tarot series.

Two months...my hero :D
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Clarissa: As we did 8 variations of stomach crunches, I kept thinking what you said about 'low impact'. I would laugh--but it hurt too much. :)

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Rula: I can't lock the door on poor Iko. He'd think he was being punished. That dog is so paranoid.

PS Thank you for voting!

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Stacy: I have too many deadlines so I have to have my posts pre-written. Fortunately, I know when most of my deadlines arrive, so I can plan around them.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Barbara: I can't do video either. Mostly because I need someone to shame me into doing better.

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Dee: Thanks for voting! Yoga has proven more of a challenge than when I did it twenty years ago. I think I can eventually do most of the moves--except for the ones that require kneeling.

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Raelyn: Much as I hate driving all the way into town, it forces me to actually do the work. If I were to do it at home, I know I'd cheat. That's why my exercise equipment looks so pristine.
Angela Brown saidā€¦
I've tried yoga.

Namaste.

Felt good and remeinded me just how out of shape I was and am. But it's a good thing. Very good for the body.

I don't stay ahead...well, maybe by a day or two, but that's it. I try to keep some things open in case I want to do an impromptu for something that pops up. I'm sure that isn't the best plan, but it follows my plotser-mostly-pantser-style.
Angela saidā€¦
I've never tried yoga, so I don't really have an opinion about it. But I'm glad it works for you.

As for living on the knife's edge. That's pretty much where I am constantly when it comes to blogging. I agree it can be stressful. Maybe I should start planning ahead like you do.
James Garcia Jr saidā€¦
Sadly, the only time I had multiple posts ready to go was when I visited my brother in Georgia last year because I knew I'd be gone. Since I only post on Monday's, I work on the post the week or weekend before. Sometimes I might write it during coffee breaks at work and e-mail it to myself. Not much help, am I, Maria? Good luck with the Yoga.

-Jimmy
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Angela Brown: I am being reminded how out of shape I am! :) The only thing I could do well was the military-style push ups. Still have my upper body strength.

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Angela Felsted: Look at that. Two Angelas in a row. :)

The only bad thing about writing posts ahead of time is that sometimes a topic is already talked to death so my choice is either to delete the post before it airs or leave it for some future day in the future.

Jimmy: I used to email my posts from work too! It was much easier because I was sharper and more awake at work. LOL.
Nadja Notariani saidā€¦
When we lived in Virginia, I had joined a gym that offered yoga. I signed up thinking it would be fairly easy...uhhmmm, no. Yoga was much more intense than I had anticipated. It was strength/fitness yoga, not meditative. Which are you doing? I have practiced some of the cleasing breath yoga exercises and found them relaxing.

Right now, I'm doing Gillian's Ripped in 90 (or Ripped in 30...er, whichever it is...lol) with a friend. I had been on straight strength training for about two months, and I need to burn a bit of fat and get my cardio in better shape.

It's so funny you mention your dog, as my shepherd, Zutchka gets wild when I do sit ups or push ups...or heaven forbid, burpees! He acts like something is wrong...sniffing my face and trying to lick me. Sometimes he cries/whines until I'm finished or tries to stand right over me. Ha! I guess he doesn't want me to work too hard...:}
LD Masterson saidā€¦
I've only tried yoga a couple times but I failed meditation. Couldn't get my mind out of gear. Maybe I should try again.

You've probably already figured out I'm a last minute blogger. I rarely know what I'm going to blog about until it's time to post.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Nadja: It's a LOT harder than it looks. LOL! I'm going for strength building and flexibility. I'm hoping I can release some of the knots hitting my sciatic nerve.

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Linda: Ironically, the workout is so intense that I become totally relaxed by the time it's over. Anything that can get me to stress less is a good thing.
Jenny Schwartz saidā€¦
Poor old Iko. So misunderstood. He's helping!

With blogging I belong to the school of "I wish I had a safety net of posts" but I mostly don't. Sometimes I manage to get a bit ahead with reviews, but right now ... must read and review something for Saturday!
Shelley Munro saidā€¦
I hope yoga works for you, Maria. I've tried yoga and hated it. I felt like a clumsy elephant!!
I can imagine Iko would pack a punch. Bella is half his size and can squeeze the air out of me.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Jenny: To be fair, I may pre-write my posts, but I usually leave editing for the day before just in case I get new information or want to reword something. This is why I set the scheduling calendar a year ahead so it doesn't publish prematurely.

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Shelley: LOL. I have the WORST balance of anyone you'll ever meet. The worst!

I'd like to blame it on age, but I was like this in my youth too. It's embarrassing. But I do get better with practice.
Mike Keyton saidā€¦
Good luck with the yoga. I tried it once at home and nearly ruptured myself. But then I'm an idiot who constructs shelves before reading the instructions.

Ref blogs, at best they're only conceived about two days in advance, and by Wednesday I'm sweating when rummaging up my sleeve, and finding nothing there. I lack your awesome organisation : )
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Mike: You really do have to ease into it slowly. It looks deceptively easy until you try to do the poses.
I try to do my posts a week ahead of time. I usually do them on Saturday or Sunday.
Good luck with the yoga.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Susan: Sunday is my best day for writing extra posts too. It's so much quieter on the net. I'm not tempted to let my eyes wander. :)
Sarah Ahiers saidā€¦
have you ever tried accupunture for your back? Just curious. And now, i've never done Yoga, though i kind of want to. I have, however, experienced the assumption that all dogs seem to have: that if you're on the floor, it's play time.
I tend to write my posts one week in advance, on sundays. Sometimes i get behind, though, and sometimes i get ahead, which is always nice
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Sarah: I went to my last doc looking for acupuncture, but he's trying a couple of other things before we go to needles. Time will tell.