My Bad January 22, 2008
Posted by KG in Yoga.add a comment
Even an internal, unexpressed sense of smug superiority is toxic.
It’s the third week of January, which means that many are still sticking to their New Year’s resolutions. That in turn means that the gym is much, much more crowded than usual, putting lockers at a premium and at times drastically increasing my urge to deliver unwanted screeds on gym etiquette. Thus far I’ve resisted, but the negativity remains. So:
To the twenty or so new faces who showed up to my Tuesday night yoga class, an apology. The class was crowded and warm, and many of you were having trouble following along. The lack of space meant we couldn’t do the regular routine, and I came out of class grumbling under my breath about “January gym-goers,” commenting to one fellow class member about how I suspected none of you would be able to keep it up.
That was tremendously unfair. Who am I to project haughty disdain? Nobody, that’s who. And of course, I forget: one year ago, I was one of those January gym-goers trying out something new. And (obvs) something clicked for me.
If you all stick to it — or even if 10% of you do? Awesome. The world will be a better place, or at the very least my cheapskate corporate gym may invest a little more in its yoga program.
Consider this a blog version of pranayama. Out with the toxins, in with the fresh air.
Headstanding August 16, 2007
Posted by KG in Blog, Wedding, Yoga.1 comment so far
The last few weeks have been spent working 60+ hours a week. On your passports, American Traveling Public. And outside of that, on wedding things, packing things, cleaning things… basically, I have been unable to blog substantially for a while. That is not to say that there haven’t been blog-worthy things going on. But when you spend most of the day on your feet answering the question “Is this acceptable?” (document being waved in your face) and short evenings trying to catch up on correspondence, blogging goes to the backburner.
I hope to change this soon, perhaps very soon. Sunday, I leave for Seattle. To see my sweetie for the first time in 3 months, and then marry her. (oh, and to work on your passports more. You’re very welcome, America.)
Completely unrelated: I managed sirsasana with zero wall assistance (as in no kickoffs, no wall support, straight from sitting on my heels to inversion) for the first time Tuesday. It was awesome.
Shriiiiinking July 24, 2007
Posted by KG in Running, Wedding, Yoga, fitness.1 comment so far
Well, that was unexpected. About a week after my near-breakdown over groomly fashions, I found a tie, a vest, and a pair of shoes. The searching was difficult, but it got done, aided significantly by the input of my lovely parents. Deep sigh!
That just leaves a tuxedo shirt and perhaps a cufflink/button cover set, which will be pretty easy. Especially now that I have some new revelations as to my recent, err, shrinkage: it turns out the dress shirt size I’ve been for years is now too large — off on the neck by almost a full inch. Thank goodness I caught this now.
I’ve noted the start of a few of my recent (does 9-10 months count as recent?) lifestyle changes here on this blog — the running, the yoga, that sort of thing. I’ve been fairly cognizant of the physical effects of the new regime, but having a salesman tell me I was looking at the incorrect neck size was a little startling. Waist? Sure, I expect that size to change. But not my neck! I’ve been the same neck size as my father since I’ve been wearing dress shirts, and this is a very surprising turn of events. My neck didn’t feel like it was shrinking
Moreover: neither did my feet. I mentioned having found shoes for the wedding. It was a difficult-ish search, especially with a lovely saleswoman trying to upsell me on a pair of amazing, beautiful, and fabulously expensive shoes that I couldn’t justify buying (yet). The more sensible option won out, but when trying the shoe on I was told my size was one notch smaller than I remember it — a full size smaller than I think I’ve been for a long time. Huh? Does significant weight loss mean your feet get smaller? This I never, ever knew. And wasn’t feeling, apparently, as my shoes were fitting just fine. Now: they feel way too big for me. That’s probably psychosomatic, right? And my watch has been feeling a bit looser than usual…
Some people may like the idea of shrinking down, but I tell you, this is kind of weird.
While We’re On the Subject of Self-Flaggelation April 14, 2007
Posted by KG in Yoga.1 comment so far
Like most addictions, it seems yoga is one of diminishing returns. I’m on month four of a twice weekly yoga regimen, and surprise surprise, I’m seeing progress. Nothing amazing, but the moves are feeling much more natural and less forced. And as I progress, part of me becomes less satisfied. The newfound flexibility isn’t enough — I want more: challenging positions, backbends, balances, crazy inversions. This feeling isn’t particularly a healthy one for me to have. Here’s an activity that requires patience, persistence, and calm. I’m attacking it in a typical type-A way and practically begging to skip steps and get from “beginner” to “amazing.” How does that jive?
Today’s class was a good example. My ambiguously accented Saturday AM teacher started putting us through moves she said were in preparation for handstands. That was surprising and exciting; never mind all these slack armed new kids, we were going up on our hands today! (Four months in and I’m thinking of others as new; if that isn’t the single best example of unadulterated arrogance…) Of course, my teacher is just that, a teacher, and she knew as well as I did that this was not the best group of people to push into handstands. I’d misheard; she’d said “headstand” (bo-ring!). I was instantly irritated at the “new kids” in the class, especially the woman I’d never seen who kept repeating “I can’t do that.” Because clearly, the yoga class was just for me, and all the other students were just background.
Wow, reading back on that last paragraph I realize I’m even more of a jerk than I thought I was.
Luckily, for all my deficits in patience and calm, I’ve got dogged persistence down pat. So maybe it’s time to start trying to straighten my legs a bit more, get my wrists closer to the ground, hold the hip openers past the point of comfort. And start being more charitable in my thoughts to others. Everyone has to start somewhere.
