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Workout: Power Yoga: Flexibility
Author: chaos

I have to admit that I was getting somewhat fatigued around the time I was planning on doing the workout, but I managed to go ahead and get it in anyway. Really not much to say about it other than that I got it in… my breathing was decent for it. I continue to feel I’m making slow gains in flexibility, although my left knee did seem like it was a little bit worse than some other days recently. Not a whole lot, though, and I didn’t push it, so it should be fine. Just a quick note tonight, not sure what I’ll do tomorrow, but it’ll most likely be something.

Workout: Abs Conditioning: Balanceball
Author: chaos

It’s been quite a while since I’ve done this workout, for various reasons, but largely a relative lack of availability. Anyway, I decided to try it out again, and get a bit of a different take on the abs workout. It was a fairly normal workout, I suppose. It wasn’t as easy as I thought it might be, but it wasn’t terribly difficult, either. Certainly there were a few motions during which I felt considerably stronger than I had in the past. I like the oblique work during this workout… I feel it’s emphasized a little more than in the other workouts. Also, a couple of the motions really emphasize the deep lower abdominal area, which I don’t notice as much with the other workouts. Anyway, it was nice to get this workout in again, and I’ll probably start trying to get it in a little more often.

Workout: Power Yoga: Stamina
Author: chaos

Because I was really tired when I was getting to this workout, I decided to go ahead and just do a simple stamina workout. I felt that I was doing a pretty good job of integrating breath and movement during the workout, and that I should concentrate on that as one of the primary benefits of this particular workout. A rather peculiar thing, however, was that I couldn’t do tree pose. This is the second time in a row that I’ve had trouble with the pose, and I’m still perplexed by it. I wasn’t really having any other balance issues, but I completely could not balance in the pose. Perhaps it’s because the surface I’m on has so much give, but I don’t know. Whatever the case, it’s a bit perplexing, and hopefully I’ll gain some insight into the matter the next time I attempt the pose. Until then, though, workouts as usual. I might try and get a pilates abs workout in tomorrow, but we’ll see what happens.

Workout: Abs Conditioning: Yoga
Author: chaos

Another self-directed workout. This one didn’t go quite so well as the last, I don’t think. Not really in the physical aspects… actually, those might have been a bit better than last time, except for a short period where my breathing was a bit choppy. That was a bit odd, since one would think that without having an external reference, I could manage to successfully sync up my breath to my own actions. Apparently not, or at least not tonight. Alas. However, the more troublesome part of the workout was the mental aspect. In one sense, it was better, as I feel like I was able to focus a little bit more on my abs for parts of the workout, really enhancing the effect of the exercises. Unfortunately, during the rest of the workout I was highly distracted, and hardly present at all, really. I was hoping that my removing basically all the external stimuli in the area, I’d be able to really immerse myself into the workout, but that simply was not the case. Again, it gets back to the lack of mental discipline, and really demonstrates my need to work on that aspect of my practice and my life. However, for tonight just chalk up another failed attempt to truly concentrate on my practice, and move on to the next workout.

Workout: Power Yoga: Strength
Author: chaos

Ended up just crashing after work last night, and making up some much needed sleep. Anyway, this caused me to do my workout this morning instead of my usual late night routine. It went reasonably well, and did bring up a point of interest. My hamstrings were really tight again today. The last time this happened, I just assumed it was because I hadn’t been doing non-abs workouts often enough, but now I suspect that it may just be an effect of doing the workout in the morning. Which leads me to wonder if I would get more overall benefit from doing the workout in the morning, because then I’d be more stretched out during the rest of the day. Then again, that might not make any difference. Anyway. Other than that, it was a reasonable workout… crane pose and simple arm balance, while not amazing, were solid. My breathing seemed to be decent, and my mind wasn’t chattering as much as usual, definitely one of the benefits of a morning workout. Not sure what I’ll do tonight, possibly flexibility, or possibly even total body.

Workout: Abs Conditioning: Yoga
Author: chaos

Another late night self-directed workout. This one definitely went a little bit better than the last, although that may have just been because I was more fatigued. Whatever works. On the other hand, I’m not sure if my attention to form was as good as last time, so there’s a bit of a tradeoff. Overall, right now, I’d probably rather have the quieter mind, but ideally I could do both. One day, perhaps. I did get distracted by unexpected movement within the house during the workout, so that threw me off a bit. Oh well. A fairly medium workout overall, neither satisfying nor unsatisfying. I’ll probably aim for doing PY:Flexibility tomorrow before driving.

Workout: Power Yoga: Flexibility
Author: chaos

Another workout before driving on a Thursday night. Just a few notes… I was feeling pretty tired before the workout, and I think that may have helped keep my attention more on the workout. Which isn’t unusual, just another data point, really. Also, my hamstrings were a little bit sore, presumably from the strength workout yesterday morning. Apparently I can’t just push into them if they’re tight in the morning. So I either need to change my approach for morning workouts, or avoid them. I’ll probably figure that out when the situation comes up again, since it doesn’t happen too often. Going out of town for a wedding this weekend, so I’m not entirely certain how well I’m going to get yoga in. I’m probably just going to try for a daily abs workout, and consider it pretty good if I manage that.

Workout: Abs Conditioning: Yoga
Author: chaos

Some more self-directed workouts this weekend. Not quite intentionally, but since I forgot to bring the video with, that’s the way it goes. Today’s workout was okay, I think. There was a movie on while I was doing the workout, and it was rather distracting. But I think I did pretty well, overall. I’ve been doing this workout enough that it’s more or less automatic. Not entirely, but it doesn’t take much effort to do most of it right. Anyway. I’ll probably try and get another one in later tonight or early tomorrow, hopefully with less distraction.

Workout: Abs Conditioning: Yoga
Author: chaos

Just got in a quick workout before heading to the wedding. Don’t know if I’ll have a good time to do a workout tonight or in the morning before flying out, so I might just end up taking the day off. As long as I don’t let it cascade, it won’t be a problem, and I don’t really imagine I will, so it should be okay.

Workout: Power Yoga: Stamina
Author: chaos

Got in a short stamina workout this morning. I didn’t end up really having a good time yesterday, so I just went ahead and took the day off. Today’s workout was okay… I really felt like my breathing was a little off, though. Something about the pace of the workout makes it difficult to recover once breathing is off sync, too. I probably just wasn’t working on it in the right way. Legs were tight to start out with, but they loosened up a little more quickly than they have during some of the other morning workouts. Not really sure what factors might play into that. Anyway, I’ll probably try to get a slightly more strenuous workout in tonight, possibly abs pilates or something.

Workout: Abs Conditioning: Yoga
Author: chaos

Another morning abs workout. I’m not sure which is more surprising, that I went with abs, or that I actually got up and did a workout before work two days in a row. Self directed again, which was okay. I was still fairly tired this morning, although I’m not quite sure why, since I got (relatively) lots of sleep. I think maybe I’m fighting off a small cold. I think I improved my technique for one of the movements today, which is good. Small steps. I’ll probably try to switch back to an evening workout today, but we’ll see.

Workout: Power Yoga: Flexibility
Author: chaos

Yet another morning workout today. This is almost developing into a routine. The main problem being that I have to convince myself to get out of bed and do the workout before work. Which very nearly didn’t happen today. The other problem being that by the time I do convince myself to get up, I have to hurry and get the workout in so I can shower and get to work. I hate to say it, but if I want to do the workout in the morning, I really need to start getting up a little earlier so I don’t have to worry as much about getting finished and getting out the door.
Anyway, started out stiff again today, but warmed up fairly quickly. I think the more often I do these morning workouts, the more quickly my legs get stretched out. Whether this is an overall effect or not, I’m uncertain. Anyway, hard to say what I’ll do tonight or tomorrow morning, but I would like to get total body in one of these days.

Workout: Abs Conditioning: Yoga
Author: chaos

Yet once again convinced myself to get up and work out in the morning. Not as early as I might have liked, admittedly, but I didn’t talk myself out of the workout, either. Pretty standard abs fare, although I look forward to having direction for the workout again. My hamstrings were definitely a bit sore this morning, presumably from yesterday’s workout. Not entirely sure what’s up with that. Anyway, I should have my abs disc back today, so I’ll probably start getting pilates workouts in again, and hopefully manage to get a total body workout in one of these days.

Workout: Abs Conditioning: Yoga
Author: chaos

I have to admit that I was really expecting to get a more challenging workout in today. However, when I woke up, I was having a really difficult time convincing myself to get out of bed and do a workout. I eventually managed to convince myself, but this is the workout that I ended up going with. Not at all what I was envisioning coming into the weekend. It did bring to mind a question, though. I’m uncertain if it’s better to try and do a workout “no matter what”, or if in a situation where there’s really no drive to do a workout at all, maybe it’s better just to take the day off. I really have no answer to that at this time, and may not for a long time. For the moment, I’m trying to stick to the routine, just because it makes it harder for me to mentally justify slacking off later. Perhaps I’ll flip that philosophy at a later point, particularly if I keep lacking any motivation to get these workouts in.

Workout: Power Yoga: Stamina
Author: chaos

I’m still feeling quite unmotivated to actually get these workouts in. Which is rather unfortunate, because I certainly have more time available to me now than during the week. So in theory, I could be doing some of the longer workouts, or ones that are more strenuous, or both of those things. Instead, I’ve really gone back to the workouts that are the base level, just getting in the workout. Oh well. Hopefully I’ll break out of this fairly soon, and can get back to getting full workouts in. Although it may require a shift back to evening workouts. We’ll see, I guess.

Workout: Abs Conditioning: Yoga
Author: chaos

Had a short lapse in yoga over the last few days. Monday I overslept, so I had a bit of an excuse. Tuesday, though, I simply couldn’t motivate to get out of bed. Really, that’s independent of the yoga, it’s just that if I’m doing yoga in the morning, and I don’t get up until the last possible moment, it’s difficult to get the workout in. I also had trouble getting up today, but finally managed to convince myself to do so in time to get a short workout in. It was fairly decent. I’m definitely beginning to be more in touch with my body… I can feel exactly which muscles I’m working, a lot of the time. Which is nice, because then I can target my workouts more effectively. Anyway. I’m going to try to get back on track, possibly by switching back to evening workouts, although that has some problems of its own. So I guess we’ll see what happens, but I’m going to try to keep getting in a workout a day, however that’s best accomplished.

Workout: Abs Conditioning: Yoga
Author: chaos

Ended up pretty much just taking the last week off from yoga. In reality, I pretty much took the last week off from life in general. Which is undoubtedly not a good thing, but… well, whatever. It’s certainly not atypical when I have things that should be getting done, so it’s not a surprise, at any rate.
I went to this workout today because I was hoping that it would get me in a good mindset for some meditation. That didn’t really work out, either, but that’s simply because I wasn’t ready, I don’t think. Many things in life simply can’t be done until the person is ready to do them, and apparently I’m still not ready. Either that, or I’m approaching it the wrong way, which is certainly possible. Something I’m going to have to continue working on. Anyway, I guess I’m perhaps getting a little more into normal patterns, although I still feel rather out of sorts, so who knows. I do intend to get back into the yoga routine after this week off, though, so that should be a good thing, at least. So until the next workout, hopefully tomorrow…

Workout: Power Yoga: Flexibility
Author: chaos

Back to it with a flexibility workout. I seem to like this workout quite a bit as a coming back workout, or at least that’s my impression. It’s not as strenuous as Strength or Total Body, it has a fast pace to it, but it’s not really lightweight like Stamina. The only problem that I see with it is the tendency I have to try to stretch too much, but it’s hard to blame that on the workout.
Anyway. Today’s workout was okay. I was having trouble balancing in the transitional standing poses again. I think that I’m simply not concentrating enough as I try to keep up with the video. I should be able to do both, of course, with little difficulty. But my focus has certainly been deteriorating somewhat lately, so it’s fairly believable that I’m simply not staying with the workout. After initially straining into the stretches somewhat, which I believe is what often makes me sore the next day, I manage to start trying to stretch without overextending. I’ll probably have a better idea tomorrow of how well that actually went, though. I did feel like I was doing a better job of extending the spine while not straining my hamstrings during the forward bends, though, so that was good. Anyway, it’s looking for now like I’m pretty much back to normal operations, so I’ll quite probably get another workout in tomorrow.

Workout: Power Yoga: Stamina
Author: chaos

I’m just staying up way too late lately. Tonight I just went with the shortest thing I had available, pretty much, with a preference to active workout over abs workout. It wasn’t bad… my balance was somewhat better overall, I think largely because I was paying more attention to it. My problems with tree pose continued, though. I really would like to know what’s up with that. My hamstrings were a bit tender from yesterday, but not too badly. I tried to warm them up and stretch them out a bit without overdoing anything. Anyway, I’m going to get little enough sleep as it is, so I’m going to wrap this and go crash.

Workout: Abs Conditioning: Pilates
Author: chaos

Yet another late night. I really need to stop doing this to myself. Anyway, I managed to convince mlee to do this workout as well, so that was cool. It went quite surprisingly well… either my abs have gotten stronger in the time since I last did this workout, or they’re just really rested, so it feels easier. Or perhaps some of both. Whatever the case, this is certainly the easiest time I’ve had with this workout yet. I didn’t feel that my form was perfect, but it seemed pretty decent overall. If this workout goes as well the next couple of times I do it, I’ll have to consider doing the full workout, instead of the modified version. Anyway, that’s all for now. Not sure what’ll happen with the workout tomorrow, but hopefully I’ll manage to get one in.

Workout: Abs Conditioning: Pilates
Author: chaos

Went for another pilates abs workout today. This was definitely a little tougher than the one the other day, suggesting that perhaps the large break between the previous workouts was a good part of the reason for my relative success then. On the other hand, this was a relatively short break between repetitions of this workout, so perhaps I just didn’t give myself enough time to recuperate. Either way, it was still a good workout. I think that my form for the rockers continues to improve, although it’s still not perfect. It’s just a very unnatural motion for me, and perhaps in general. Anyway. My timing for workouts has gotten off a bit in the last few days, but hopefully I’ll return to the evening schedule either tonight or tomorrow night, preferably by getting a second workout in on one of the days instead of just losing another workout.

Workout: Power Yoga: Flexibility
Author: chaos

Quick flexibility workout. I should probably do strength again one of these days, but I really haven’t felt like it lately. I should definitely do total body at some point, but haven’t felt like I’ve had the time. That might change this week, when I’m going to attempt to get a decent amount of sleep while still getting the workout in. But, who knows. We’ll see if I can actually manage that. The workout today felt decent… I seemed to be a little bit tight, but I think that I continue to get a better idea of extending without straining tight muscles and tendons. Anyway. I’m going to try to get an abs workout in tonight before going to sleep, possibly with a little bit of meditation thrown in, depending on how much time I have.