Dre and I are still going to yoga. We always at least make it to one Ashtanga primary series a week, and then usually another vinyasa class on top of that. It’s going pretty well and feels like a good way to work my muscles.
A few years ago I tried working out in a gym with weights, and the result was that my arms got fucking HUGE. And it wasn’t really attractive to me. Then I tried running stairs for six months last year. The result was that my ass got fucking HUGE from the glute muscle mass. My goal was to have my jeans fit better, not worse. Realistically, the issue is that I have a stocky, muscular body that’s awfully soft, but when given a chance turns into a little bulky hulk. Hence, yoga is a great choice because it stretches those bulky muscles out, and I can use all the lengthening I can get.
Andreas and I are perfectly opposite in our yoga practices: I’m the amazing gumby girl, and I can fold in half, and twist in two without blinking. Andreas, meanwhile grunts as he tries to reach his toes, but is the master of strength. While I quiver in fear over the idea of (gulp) putting any weight on my hands, he’s hanging out for 20 breaths at a time, happily heels over head. Between the two of us, we’re one decent yogi. Wonder twin deficiencies — unite!
The weirdest aspect for me about yoga is that I’m blind when I practice. I don’t wear my glasses or contacts and this weird thing happens: when I can’t see anybody, I assume nobody can see me. Our yoga teachers probably think I’m weird little woman, because my face is always totally vacant and I can never tell when they’re looking at me so I don’t ever give them any sort of cues that I’m listening. Whatever: it actually helps me sort of turn the focus internally when I can’t even see my mat.
Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
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Erin
March 5th, 2005 at 5:58 am
Here in Cambridge, I go to a few vinyasa classes a week, and I don’t wear my contacts or glasses either. Like you, I’m pretty blind, and I’ve found for months now that it helps turn my practice inward and not focus so much on what is going on around me, and if other people are making the poses, etc. I did it accidentally one day, and I’ve continued not wearing contacts/glasses.
nikki
March 5th, 2005 at 12:51 pm
Ooh, me too. I am strechy, strechy - but live in fear of my wrists. I could throw my wispy little yoga teacher across the room with my legs, though. There should be some wrist braces instead of those silly blocks and straps everyone seems to love.
tlc
March 5th, 2005 at 8:59 pm
Being blind while excercising in group atmosphere sounds genius. When I am again inspired to get physical (soon, I hope) I will take that under advisement.
Katherine
March 7th, 2005 at 6:47 am
oh that’s so funny! I do that too and have felt more than a little self-conscious at times wondering if people are smiling at me, etc. and it looks as though I’m blowing them off . . . but I do have a much more focused work out . . . only partly because I also can’t watch what others are up to . . .
dr. dave
March 8th, 2005 at 6:42 pm
A new yoga studio opens right near my office this week. A whole yoga studio! IN ALABAMA!
I’m very excited.
Lori-Lyn
March 9th, 2005 at 6:00 am
Oh…I recently started lifting weights and much to my horror, I was in the shower at the gym, reached around and realized that my already gigantic ass was even more gigantic. Everyone assured me that lifting weights would make me smaller, but so far, not so much.
I hadn’t thought about taking my contacts out for yoga, but it’s a great idea, a nice cue to the self to go inward.
fred heidrick
November 5th, 2005 at 11:26 pm
are you the same gumby_girl ….
doing a sholder stand, with super 6 pack abs ??? flexable, i can bairly sit let a lown do hatha.30 years meditation
peace and light
om mother life force
om goddess of avalon
only one life force
om fred heidrick
former resident cleveland ohio