Set up my mat far away from the clock.
I used to practice in the back of studio, right near the clock, so that I always knew how close I was to being done. Moving to the front of the room has been so liberating. I'm always so concentrated on time, and to let go for an hour is a true luxury.
Last night I forgot about the minutes and concentrated on the movements. I had no clock to look at and I positioned myself in a way so that I couldn't really look around the room and compare myself to the other students. So in a way, the rule sort of perpetuated another rule, which is to stop paying so much attention to what everyone else is doing. I was amazed at how much better and smoother my practice was. I left the class feeling limber and lighter.
Lately my stress is eating me alive. Chomp chomp chomp. I spend so much time worrying about not sleeping enough that I am consistently getting less than seven hours. Why can't I just let go and fall asleep?
My first few years here, I was perpetually worried about running out of time. I took cabs everywhere because I was convinced that the subway would take too long. I was always rushing and exasperated and miserable. It wasn't until I was at least 25 that I was able to pinpoint that this bizarre fear was holding me back. I thought I'd really gotten past this phobia but recently it's crept up on me again and I'm figuring out how to fight it.
So much to work on. (I will not follow that sentence with "so little time"!)
One more rule: Don't ridicule your body for what it can't do. Celebrate it for what it can.
"One more rule: Don't ridicule your body for what it can't do. Celebrate it for what it can" TRUTH!!! Keep up the GREAT works <3
ReplyDeleteGREAT post, and amen to your rules! you are such an inspiration. i used to be a cardio freak and just told myself to go to the gym 4-5x/week, and would spend an hour-an hour and a half on the elliptical or arctrainer. i hit my first goal weight, but once i finally got a grip and got over my phobia of classes and started working in body pump classes 2x/week and now spin (RPM, les mills) 5x/week, i'm starting to see a real difference and i actually enjoy working out.
ReplyDeletei wish i had tried spin sooner! i'm completely addicted and have worked out every day for the past 5 weeks. i was never a morning person, but now i'm roostering every monday and friday, and going saturday and sunday mornings to challenging/amazing/inspiring classes. and spin shoes/clips are now at the top of my wishlist. thank you for being such a wonderful inspiration, and keep up the good work!
Wow, candlelight yoga, such an incredible concept!! it is so true that clock watching is never a healthy thing but thats even more true when it comes to excercise.
ReplyDeleteWhen it becomes more about "getting through a workout" than about doing something good for your body, it's time to evaluate what is important.
Hopefully i can get back to spinning soon, but i think it will be at least a month or so, in the meantime, i will keep as flexible as I can.
Namaste!!
focus less on what you haven't done and more on what you HAVE done.
ReplyDeleteFor the past year I've been reading all about SoulCyle from you and had been dying to try it but we didn't have it in LA yet. FINALLY this past Saturday I was able to go to a class at the Brentwood location that just opened up and LOVED it! The class was even better than I had imagined reading it from you. I realize this post wasn't about SoulCycle but I've been wanting to comment and tell you that I've fallen in love/ obsessed with SoulCycle and probably would have never tried it without reading it from you this past year. You inspire me to be more active during the week!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Great post - you have quickly become one of my favorite bloggers because you keep it REAL! (Something that I think a lot of blogs forget to do!) I actually feel lazy after reading some of your posts (and I mean that in a good way - you have so many positive things going on!) I'll have to try your yoga trick as I also watch the clock instead of watching my form!
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