May 9, 2013

So, I have just finished my yoga challenge. The challenge (not really a word I like) started off as simply: “Go to a Yoga Class Every day for 30 Days.” Not a 2-a-days class one day and take the next day off non-sense. So why did I do this? Well, Jill and I often like to come up with crazy idea’s to get us out of our comfort-zones, in order to push ourselves and evolve.

We also have a few cousins (Shout out to the Fletcher’s) who run a weight loss drink company and have created an entire community of people who support/motivate each other. They do  ‘challenges’ to help people motivate and lose weight. Jill and I have also spent the entire winter destroying our bodies while training for rock climbing and I had so many aches, pains, lingering finger injuries, etc… that I finally had to say enough is enough and take a break from hard climbing. Since I’ve worked my fitness level up so high I needed a release. Lastly, there is a studio that Jill does design work for, which also happens to be about a mile from my office, called Yoga Loft. They have a 30-Day for $30 dollar deal. All these factors made this challenge a very obvious decision for me.

I certainly do not have a regular yoga practice (or didn’t going into this). I tried to go to a class once a week for 8 years, mostly to counteract all the hard climbing and to prevent injury. So when I started, I already had a strength-base, but lacked (and still lack) any level of grace and flexibility in my shoulders (climbing) and hamstrings (cycling). As an afterthought I decided to do a little write-up for each day that I completed a yoga class. I posted these accounts on Facebook, just to record the up’s and down’s of this little trip…so here it is, I hope you all enjoy.

Day 1: First day of challenge….lets see how committed I am to this… I should try going to a yoga class every day for the next 30 days. I need to really psych myself up for this one.

Day 2: Good yoga class. If anyone wants to jump on board and come to a class or two, Jill and I can bring a few guests with us to our gym…who wants to come?

Day 3:  To date, I am the only member of the Challis Clan in the Challenge, but I remain hopeful more will join. If anyone wants to do the next 27 with me your more then welcome to…any takers? The first 2 days were both pretty hard level 2 classes and today’s will be just as hard, but made easier by the fact that today is NOT a climbing day. There is tons of snow, so I certainly didn’t ride my bike to work (I know I’m a wimp), so really day 3 will be an easy/rest day. That means I will have to make sure I raise the intensity by bringing up the corners of my mouth. (Smiling….if you didn’t get that). Happy Almost Snow Day!!!

Day 4:  Training session at the climbing gym this morning with a power lunch-time yoga class at ‘Yoga Loft‘ in Boulder (my fav place). Feeling great and crushing this challenge so far!!! I decided that if I finish all 30 days, I’m giving myself a “pizza party” (if you think those are only for 11-year-old baseball teams, then your just wrong).

Day 5 of 30 is in the history books!! I got an early start today, rode to Yoga Loft (my current riding ‘cold limit’ is 20 degrees, it was a few below that but the roads were dry, so I though ‘it would be stupid NOT to ride”), knocked out an hour long flow class, finished my ride to work….and here I am!!!

Day 6: went down without much of a fight and for the first time in my 8-or-so yoga years. I did a bind in extended side angle!!!

Day 7: They say that after 6 days of creating our world, Jesus rested. Are you kidding me??!! Have you seen that long lean body and those ripped abs? (as often are portrayed on made-for-TV-movies about the story of Jesus).

I believe that on the 7th day, Jesus did yoga.

Day 7 of 30 was celebrated with a flow class with the highlight of ‘flying pigeon’, perhaps a hint that the ‘dove’ that represents the holy spirit…may, in fact, just be a pigeon?

In other news Jill and I spent the morning sailing on Boulder Rez and it was Amazing. Challis Yoga Challenge Update signing off.

Day 8: “8 is great hah, hah, hah” says The Count from Sesame Street-fame, and today being Day 8 of 30, I have to agree. We had a hard bouldering session this morning. Jill crushed it with a new personal best, so I jumped in a ‘gentle yoga’ class early this evening knowing I would be sore and stiff from the morning’s workout (and I was).  I needed more of a restorative class to prep my body for the week ahead. Now all I have to do is finish making dinner, eat, shower and lounge around. Happy Sunday Night!!!

Day 9: Warmed up from our cold-front with a hot yoga class at Yoga Loft. I was so sore and my lower back was killing me, but the heat and the twisting got out ALL of the kinks. It makes me wonder if instead of a new trendy “cleanse-of-the-month”, hot yoga 3 times a week is a better prescription?!’ Tomorrow will be Day 10. I have never done more then 10 days of yoga in a row…after tomorrow I will be stepping into the void; a void I will welcome with open arms (mountain pose).

Day 10: Just finished a great class, and while its very ‘un-yogie’ of me to be amused sitting strong and comfortable though a class while I watch others around me suffering, it still brings smile to my face (even more-so because that was my SECOND workout of the day moohahha).

I wished that mid-class, I could say to them “ride the snake” or maybe “pain is weakness leaving the body” but I just smiled to myself and kept moving and breathing. A good lesson in life: the pain/suffering or whatever your going though will end. Accept it. Accept your feelings and “ride the snake”

Day 11: It would seem that all my power of movement is gone, but endurance remains. I made it though my 11th class, but I felt super weak. I’m sure this is all part of the process and I might just need to eat more (food energy). I will try to fuel up and rest because tomorrow morning is a power climbing workout and the days keep on rolling, so I will too! Carry on my Wayward son….that’s a random Kansas quote to close out the day…

Day 12: Just finished my class for the day, and for the first time during this process, I felt great! There was no pain, I felt strong and limber…perhaps I have hit my stride? I know it’s probably not going to happen, but it would be great if every class going forward was this nice. The class was taught by a teacher I never had before. Perhaps she was more gentle or maybe I just became more bad ass?

For me, Yoga Loft is totally the best yoga studio in Boulder. Ohm Time is very snooty and commercial gyms have sub-par teachers and classes; nothing for the ‘serious’ practitioner. I suppose that I would be called serious at this point. GO YOGA!!! At the end of all this I will have a pizza party. I think for anyone to be invited, you have to come with me to a class. Go to your first class and I will invite you. Happy Day Chica’s and Chico’s.

Day 13 & 14:: Howdy Team, day 13 and 14 are done and done. Did a hot yoga class for 13 and I twisted and sweated out all of my worries. I didn’t get online because my brain needed to unplug as I had listened to the Boston Manhunt CNN live feed all day! I almost didn’t make it today for day 14 (running late for class) but made it…rocked it. Thats all you get today because I am sleepy. Happy Saturday.

Day 15: HALF WAY and man was today a great one! Woke up super early to watch the final races of the Americas Cup 2012/13 season (last race on the AC45’s) and it was action-packed great racing. Loads of exciting lead changes (whew) one heck of a race. Between races, I made myself breakfast,
and headed into the foothills. All alone in the beautiful snowy mountains with the sun shining (almost got the car stuck in a snow bank) was loads of fun. Came home and made a great lunch, then hit up the gym for a little 3 hour workout, during of which I knocked out my 15th DAY!

I have to say that everything feels great on my body; even my aching lower back that has been bothering me off and on for months. My mind is at ease and I once again feel in-sync with the world. Now all I have to do is finish heating up the leftover ribs I made yesterday, take a shower and relax. Happy Sunday Night!!!

Day 16 & 17: Yesterday I did a Hot Fusion yoga class. It involved lots of sweating, some chanting, Ohm’ing and a bit of live music. Very nice. I have sorted out how to rock these ‘hot’ classes (note: I don’t really like the hot classes but if they are at a convenient time I will attend, which seems like a lot lately).

• Step 1: Be totally hydrated before the class, your pee should be clear.
• Step 2: Have a sizeable snack about 1 1/2 hours before.
• Step 3: Have a small snack (pudding snack pack for me) 30 mins before the class. Follow these steps and you will rock the hot classes; I don’t even need a water bottle (though I like to have one).

To quote a guy in the locker room: that was a pretty dude-heavy class

I would say it was a 1 guy for every 4 chica’s (note: guys…if you’re single and don’t know where to meet girls….the ratio is normally 1-to-20). Power Lunch Time Yoga…now I can tackle my afternoon at work.

Doing this much yoga feels a tad excessive, but if you’ve never done a class or if you have done a class or two, and not been super amped about it, I think you should try again and hit up a class at Yoga Loft. Best yoga classes I’ve ever been to, plus they have about 7 classes everyday, so it works for anyone’s schedule. Anyway, if you want to know more feel free to send me a msg.

Day 18: Yin Yoga. I think it would be worth the CIA’s time to try using Yin Yoga to break al-qaeda suspects under ‘interrogation’ (used loosely because the US claims to no longer use torture. Note: I am all for the torture of a few to save the masses).

Very ‘special’ poses held for much longer then you might like sums it up. You just need to let your body surrender to gravity & keep breathing into the pose. That’s where the magic happens. Thus far, is seems like ‘magic’ is really the feeling that you would relate to being sick, but my hips and shoulders feel very open and soft…yin yoga is indeed very special.

Day 19: On Day 19 I did a classic “Power Lunch Time Class”; sort of a catch-all for all levels, it was fine. I was feeling good/strong and all that jazz.

Day 20: Just finished and I am worked! Mentally more then physically…I’m so tired of being in class, that even little things about the other students, whom are now my family, are driving me crazy. Things like overly heavy breathing; one girl wears sun glasses (inside); small stupid little things. Did you know there are only 66 major poses (with a few hundred variations) in yoga? I feel like I have done all of them 1000’s of times. I hit a physical wall on day 11/12, now at day 20 I have hit a mental wall. 10 more days to go! Thank god that tomorrow is another day. Saturday morning the wife and I will go for a sail and then we’ll just take on the world per usual.

Day 21 & 22: I am a little behind in posting. Day 21 was great, I had a bit of a fit/mental breakdown on Day 20, but the following day I was able to make yoga a very fun and playful class (jump switches). I just had a good time. Day 22 was a very active day, sailing, climbing and I hit up a gentle yoga class at movement (the climbing gym where we work out). I frequent this class and it’s taught by this Indian Chica named Kelly. She’s an amazing teacher and it was just want I needed after a long active weekend.

Day 23: I am starting to think that yoga will always be hard. I will never have the crazy-flexibly needed to do the hardest poses. I will never have any level of grace. But I am very fit and very strong and that seems to be enough. Really, just the will and motivation to get out there and do it is probably enough.

Yesterday was Day 23 (whew!) finally on the downward slope of this challenge. So there is a HUGE difference in a level 1 and level 2 Vinyasa Flow Class, and I did a Level 2. I got through the class well enough, but it was hard (see: sweat-equity) I normally can do ‘side crow’, but I was so sweaty I kept sliding off myself (gross, right!). I am home sick today but I will still have to drag myself out to some-odd-class, so close… I can’t stop now!

Day 24:: ” 20 – 20 – 20 – 4 hours agooooooooo….I wanna be sedated” (nearest pop reference to the number 24 that I could think of).

Today I did an “Alignment Yoga” class…the thing about these classes are that they focus on one body part (shoulders was today’s focus) and you pretty much work those muscles over and over (and over) again to build up the strength + muscle memory needed to do the postures correctly. I did have one moment of weakness in the dreaded ‘dolphin pose,’ which looks nothing like a dolphin (silly yoggie’s, where do they come up with these names!).

Other then that I think the strength, flexibility, endurance I’ve built up from more then just the past 23 days carried through to the finish line, while the others in the class — for lack of a better word — ‘suffered’.

Oh and another thing, I used to tell guys that 50% of the reason to go to yoga was because of the ‘yoga booties’ all around you…well the past couple classes have been more guys then normal so I am done telling dudes that; peace out chica’s and chicos

Day 25: Yoga was hot…..sweaty…….what else is there to say?

Day 26: “The Shake Up.” One of the interesting things about yoga is that it seems to always be changing; from an entire community all the way down to a single individual. I will quote myself from Day 25 “what else is there to say.” Well, today’s class was no ordinary class and there is a lot to say!

If you’ve ‘liked’ the Yoga Loft Facebook page, then you would have seen a short post this morning, that today’s lunch class was going to be a ‘little different’. And it was in an amazing and unexpected way. All too often in a class, you are more or less on your own; whether there are 3 other students or 50. And when we turn to this internal-space, it’s easy to forget that yoga is a community of people and we do it for a fun chance to be playful (think adult tumbler class).

I was afraid that I was going to have to do 100 ‘sun salutations’ or something, but the class started pretty normal and then made a great transition to some partner yoga. (side-note about partner yoga: there are plenty of workshops, mainly for couples to do partner yoga but there is something special about doing it with a total or near-total stranger).

We then moved to what I would call a 5-minute dance party…the idea…put on some dance music and..well…you dance, no form, no instruction, you just dance…(while the idea is very simple… at first it wasn’t so simple but then I thought… I will only look as silly as everyone else). After the dance party was a bit more partner yoga and a short cool down to corpse pose.

A great class, a great ‘shake up‘, for which I was very much in need of after 25 days (roughly 30 hours) of pretty straight up traditional yoga classes. Mucho Thanks

Day 27: Get Unplugged! All day we have our computers, i-pods, i-phone, other misc ‘i’ things, TV, radio and maybe even a second phone. All these things that make your life ‘easier’ cause you all sorts of stress (case in point: How do you feel if you cannot check your facebook account 15 times a day…be honest?).

So this morning I came into work early (as usual around 7am), and I am sitting there with two huge screens, streaming music online, talking to an office in Turkey, texting with a friend in Boulder and suddenly it all felt like too much…so I unplugged.

I checked the schedule for Yoga Loft… 9:15am… PERFECT. Most people were probably just starting their day while I was already in full-swing. All I had to do was breathe, move and live in the moment. I suggest you try turning off your phone or TV for the weekend. Don’t even read a newspaper, rather go for a walk, feel the sun on your face, hold the hand of a loved one and most importantly; LIVE.

Day 28: La Dura Dura This morning, since I am near the end of my challenge, I decided to see just how far down the rabbit-hole I could go. I went to a level 2/3 class. What I expected was a team of Boulder’s Eliite Yoga crew doing finger tip hand stands while chanting. Needless to say, I was a bit afraid. Turns out it was a very small crew of normal, everyday people, who happen to have a slightly more regimented yoga practice.

Since everyone knew what they were doing, the class had a very calm and easy flow. The small class gave the teacher plenty of time for all the small/fine-tuning adjustments you just don’t get in an easier class, because large demos and basic postures are the focus. Besides a few flexibility issues, I did quite well (thanks to my freakish strength). And while I don’t like to pick favorites, the teacher that does these classes is totally my favorite; dishing out lots of tough love. All-in-all, it was very fun, playful, and challenging AND a great way to start the day. I would recommend it to any yogi looking for a good time.

Now my Saturday can carry on, next on the docket is pancakes, sausage, fresh OJ then the wife and I will go for a sail and run MOB drills with a bright orange life-vest so when it gets warmer we can take friends out and rescue them when they fall overboard… moohaha

Day 29: A little sick still & feeling so-so, but still went to my class.
Wow, what a long way I have come. Today was the first day I touched my heels in camel pose and really opened up my chest. My practice is starting to get very solid.

Today I attended a Flow Class done in a slightly different way. After a nice warm up and a few flow series’, we got into some harder poses and just got a chance to explore and play in them. I would love if there was a class dedicated to advancing practice levels, to actually spend a good chunk of time within only a few postures, and learn how to move from one level to the next (with the teacher’s help of course).

It’s very nice to feel light and strong, feeling at ease, my whole body feels great all the aches and pains have been gone for weeks now and I just feel warm and supple. (chanting) Yoga, yoga, yoga

Day 30 OF 30: I have literally worn out my yoga mat. It was certainly not new when I started, but there are several worn spots where my hands and feet normally are placed on each side of the mat.

I chanted and flowed into my final day and decided to get it done early. Over the weekend, one of the Yoga Loft teaches said to me “be careful or yoga will get into your blood” and as of right now, I am not sure whether the challenge is over or whether it has only begun.

Stay tuned for blog posts and new Challenges… The next will be “How many days in a row can I ride to and from work” (will really be an ongoing thing as I try to break my record until winter…. to be started in the next week or so; Have a great week everyone.

…

Day 31 OF 30: Wow…wait a min….I know what you’re thinking. Wasn’t this over? Well my friends, I have broken through to the other side. I now feel like Yoga Loft is a second home of sorts, and the thought of NOT going to a yoga class was too much of a bummer.

It has definitely gotten in my blood (as I was warned just a few short days ago). While tomorrow will break my streak (due to travel plans), it certainly doesn’t have to be the end of doing daily yoga. That, my friends, will carry on. I am sleeping so well; literally no aches and pains and my mind is at ease….this might be a life changer right here. Have a great day everyone.

Day 32 OF 30: I woke up this morning moving a little slower, but my mind was racing with all the tasks I have to do today. I knew today would be the last consecutive class I would be able to do, so I got up nice and early, had some toast with peanut butter and honey with my morning coffee, got my things together and went to a 7:30 Heat Fusion Class. It was simply amazing. It ended up being just wanted I needed to bring my body up to speed for the day and slow my mind down; just breathing and living in the moment.

Today’s society is so caught up on the planning for the future and not forgiving yourself or not being able to get past..the past. I believe that if we can live in the present moment, more happiness will come into our lives. I always strive to live in each posture thinking of nothing else (because there is so much going on I cannot possibly think about anything else). Its an amazing way to really push out all of your other thoughts (while getting crazy fit at the same time). Climbing also does this for me, having to concentrate so hard with everything you have you can’t possibly think of menial day-to-day things.

FIN

Tags: challenges, yoga