Day 64 - 76

I've been doing secret trainings.  Or perhaps just been lazy about doing proper yoga.

BUT. I've been at least doing forward bends daily.

Let me show you the results of the forward bends.

Seated forward bend (paschimottanasana) : http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/477
Not exactly the same yet - but at least near:

Standing forward bend: http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/478
& just touching my toes (palms on the floor)

Next on the list would be to improve the triangle poses I guess
Revolved Triangle pose: http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/692
Extended Hand to big toe pose: http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/2473
I can never get my leg to extend properly / straighten properly.

Day 44 - 63

Lots of stretching and forward bends, for the marathon mainly.

After the marathon, i could barely move, so again it was forward bends and warrior poses.
I think I managed to finish the marathon only because of the Yoga sessions.

Day 43

Hot Yoga session at Fitness First Fusionopolis after a 50 min jog on the treadmill.

I realised today yoga after a jog might be a bad idea. Throughout the session I couldn't really balance, legs felt very weak (thighs kept wobbling and it was very hard to maintain poses.) Perhaps it was due to the lack of dinner as well.

This teacher was a little different.

Did some new poses & realise lots of work to be done.

1. Full Boat pose (Paripurna Navasana):
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/489
Abs were weak and I was wobbling / trembling throughout ..

2. Dolphin pose
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/2462
My neck is weak ...

3. Bow Pose (Dhanurasana)
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/875
The teacher made us rock/roll around in this pose. It was very difficult.

4. One Legged King Pigeon pose (Eka Pada Rajakapotasana)
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/863
Good stretch for the hips. (leading to groin ache the next day)

5. Lord of the Dance pose (Natarajasana)
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/936
I managed to actually balance for this, but have lots of problems looking graceful..

6. Fish Pose (Matsyasana)
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/786
Alot of people can't seem to do this. Waist no strength? I was ok though. I think i'm ok with waist raising or backbending, but have problems with my hamstring stretch and forward bends.

7. Plow Pose (Halasana)
http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/479
It was nearing the end of the class and I couldn't really reach my legs over my head.

I know now why classes are useful. You are forced to do the poses the teacher makes you do, forcing you to challenge yourself and step out of your comfort zone of always doing the same poses you practise. You're forced to try harder when you see other students around you achieve the poses.

Day 34 - 42

Days 34 - 42 were probably mainly recovery days.
The hot yoga session left me with sore thighs/groins.

Managed daily downward facing dogs and forward bends.

I can touch my toes properly now. (horizontally & vertically). it does take regular practice to maintain..

Day 33

Went to the trial hot yoga class at Pure Yoga with Kelly & Julius.

it was crazy!
but we didn't faint. only sat out one pose. I think?

it was so warm inside I don't really remember how long i was down.

But the instructor was right, it's very mental. It's whether you chose the easy way out to lie down and wait out the rest of the lesson or just hold on and do another 2 more poses before the class ends.

After I came home - i tried to read up on it. and it seems like there is alot of negative comments on it, about how it's a boot camp and the instructors are so fierce etc.. and there are more harms and benefits etc. hmmmm .. but the detox part is true, my skin is really super smooth after that :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bikram_Yoga

Day 32

& February begins (CNY day2)

with lots of eating I think I only managed a forward bend and plank pose.

Day 27 - 31

& so January ends with the Chinese New Year holiday.

I've been practising mainly
1. Forward bend
2. Downward Facing dog http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/491
3. Plank pose: http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/470
4. Cobra Pose : http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/471

for the past few days due to the holiday eating, outings and work.

I think I can keep up the touch my toes portion now, still takes a bit of effort, but usually after warming up and doing all the poses I can stretch abit further at the end of it.