H2O

5Jan11, 7am: Hot yoga with Michael Lau

6Jan11, 7pm: Anusara mixed yoga with Ocean Liang

6Jan11, 8:30pm: Hatha yoga with Deva Biswas

7Jan11, 7am: Hot yoga with Martina Lee

I've been feeling less than grounded this week in all other aspects of my life, and I am happy to say that my daily practice of yoga has really helped me ground myself. When my day has either started out chaotic or progressed through annoying happenings or frustrating moments, either the morning yoga class that I already had or the evening class that I would look forward to has helped tremendously.

I tried a new class this week, Anusara, which I really liked a lot. The philosophies are very much in line with my reasons for doing yoga, yet I still got a profound work-out. Honestly, I've shied away from the chanting/meditation-type classes because at the end of the day, I STILL would need a work-out. I know that about myself. Although, this week, even the most basic class (Hatha) was a nice, intense work-out. I think it was because I tried it with a different teacher (Deva Biswas) whom I've had for Hot Yoga classes before, and also because I went into it with the intention of working hard. You get out of it what you put into it for sure, as in other aspects of life.

I've started doing something with my yoga classes that I'd like to apply to my daily tasks. Sometimes my teacher would start the class asking for an intention from us. For example, one time Michael Lau asked us to act like we were a beginner. He asked us to try to remember what it felt like to work on a posture for the very first time, and apply that to the class that day. I have also started doing that silently to myself at the start of each class. If you only have to work on "perfecting" one simple aspect of your task, it's not so daunting, even in the most challenging postures. For example, I have a hard time with sitting lotus, let alone any other posture that involves the lotus, even half. So, yesterday I decided that in the resting sitting positions, I would do them in half lotus (right side on Thursday, left side on Friday). That's all. And, I did it! I'd really like to do that with my daily tasks. Premeditate, tell myself what I'd like to get out of each task. I think that yoga is teaching me a lot about life.

So, clearly I'm not having too much trouble maintaining my habit of one fitness activity per day and trying something or someone new each week. Goal #1, I think you and I are on very good terms!!! I think that the "21 days to make or break a habit" idea definitely applies to me. I originally learned that from some of Dr. Wayne Dyer's books, I'm almost certain, but I know I've heard and applied it many times since.

So... that leaves me with personal health goals #2 and #3... what's going on?

Why is this so difficult for me now?

That's all... just four of those per day, and that means I'm drinking enough water for the level of activity I participate in and the climate in which I reside. I used to be able to do this easily. I could make excuses and say that it's harder here in HK because I can't drink the tap water, or something to the extent of convenience and cost, blah blah blah, but really I can get around all of those things. It seems like logging my fitness really helped for Goal #1, and so I'll log my H2O consumption now too. I just need to do it. I know I will feel better, period.