#19 Expectations

Since school has started back up I have been even busier than when it' summer with the kids. I have been unable to do four or five classes per week but do my best. 

When talking to people about hot yoga that have never done it before, they usually say I can't do yoga because I will look like a fool with all those people that take it all the time. I answer how do you think they started out? The instructors always say that you do what you can on your mat. Sure people look around every now and then and see what others are doing but for the most part you just worry about what you are doing. Your mat is your own environment and you just do what you can do. I am a prime example of that. I concentrate on improving what I can do week to week and don't worry about what others can do. There are many poses that I have been unable to do that others probably do on their first day. I work hard at doing new poses and a few with minor modifications but it makes me feel great and that is all that counts. 

My goal is to take another step up and take a class called power. This class works more of your upper body where Hatha works more of your lower body. They both work your core so it will be a great next step for me. I am nervous about taking this class as it will take many modifications for me but hey I stepped way out of my comfort zone the first day I walked into Spark Hot Yoga and took my first class, I know I can do this. 

Have an amazing day and keep smiling.

GO HAWKS!!!

Darin

#18 Improvements

It has been over a couple weeks since my last blog posting. The end of summer was upon us and I took my kids over camping for a week in Eastern Washington for one last summer hurrah. We always have so much fun boating, tubing, water balloon wars, putt putt golf, etc. I was super happy we did it again and can't wait to go again next year. The one thing that did suffer is me taking hot yoga classes. It is the first time since I started this adventure that I have gone more than two days without taking a class. Oh boy did I feel it when I took my first class when I came back. I had not taken a class in seven days and when I took my Hatha class with Brandy I sure could tell it had been awhile. I felt a bit stiff and was actually nervous about going. That feeling soon disappeared the second I set foot in the studio. I had a bigger smile on my face the moment class started as I felt like I was home. I know that I had never sweat that much in a class before. After class I could not wait to take my next class because of course I am addicted to hot yoga and I admit it. ha.

I took a Yin class next and it had been quite awhile since I had taken one. This class is so relaxing and just makes you feel amazing afterwards. There are many advance students that take Yin I am sure for the same reason. You really concentrate on your breathing and holding stretches. This class clears my head and resets me no matter what has been going on in my life. I highly recommend to anyone to take this class.

Today I took another Hatha class and i tried three new poses that I know for a fact three months ago when I started this amazing hot yoga adventure I could have never done. I accomplished all three of them and it felt amazing. Christiana is so supportive of everyone including myself and she loved that I did these. After class she said she wanted to scream out and announce to everyone what I had just accomplished. Her positive support has been so amazing and she makes me feel like I can do anything in this class. Because of this I keep trying new and harder poses. Now I can't wait to get back into class and see what new adventures I can accomplish. You might be able to tell just how excited I am.

If you have never tried hot yoga, please do so. YOGA ROCKS!!!  If I can do it, anyone can.

Have an amazingly positive happy day and keep smiling.

Namaste

Darin

PS. Here is a shout out to Carrie. Great to see you in class again. :)

#17 Charity Birthday Yoga for Canine's

Well I had my eye surgery last Tuesday and one of the very first questions I asked my doctor was when I could do hot yoga again? He laughed and said he also did hot yoga and understood why I asked that. I told me I had to wear a sweatband on my head to keep the sweat from running into my eye and also I couldn't put my head down because it would add additional pressure to the eyeball for two weeks. I told him I could handle that. Having a prosthetic leg I have to do several modifications anyway so adding even more was not that big of a deal. I was just happy to be able to do hot yoga even if it was not to my full ability. One new stretch Christiana had come up with in my last class before my surgery was almost the splits for me. She came over in the middle of class and asked if I could try something. With my residual leg forward on a small pillow and left leg all the way back behind me I was almost able to do the splits. I was so shocked and excited at the same time. I will keep working on it and will get all the way down soon because I am very close.

One of the yoga instructors I have been wanted to take her class was having a birthday party on Sunday. She teaches restorative Yin and I have wanted to try this class out. Spark Hot Yoga of Marysville was having her birthday class Sunday night and it was free. She was asking for a donation and all the money was going to the charity of her choice. The charity is called Canine for Independence. I thought I could do many things at one. I could finally have a chance to take her class, donate some money to a terrific charity, and have some cake on top of it. Can't get a hole lot better than that. :)

Christy and I

As are all the yoga instructors at Spark Hot Yoga, Christy has an amazing spark to her and is just a genuine and caring person. Plus how could you not love her shirt she was wearing?

Here is a picture of my and my headband. Someone mentioned I could be the next Richard Simmons and sweating to the oldies. LOL   Uhhhhhh NO!!!

Keep smiling and have a super positive day.

Namaste

Darin

#16 Doubling Up!

I have done a few more things since my last blog that I had not done before. First of all I took another Hatha class from Brandy, who I just love her enthusiasm and great spirit. Because all of these yoga instructors have never had someone with a prosthetic take their classes before it is a learning curve for them also. At the end of class Brandy showed me a little bit of what I can expect when I attempt Power soon. YIKES!!! Am I really going to try power? YES I AM!!! I love that these instructors are challenging me to do new and sometimes scary poses in yoga. I just want to get better and to improve myself physically and mentally. Have I mentioned just how much I love yoga? ha ha ha

I then took another Hatha class from a brand new instructor to Spark Hot Yoga but definitely not new to teaching yoga. She is a great teacher and has been doing it around the puget sound area for awhile now. Plus she has great pirate jokes. ha ha. I think it is great for all of them to be exposed to me as much it is for me to try their classes. We all learn from this experience.

Since I had eye surgery today I thought I would double up last night and take two classes back to back from Christiana. I took a Hatha class first and then a Yin class right after that. I can really feel that I am sore today but a great sore. It just means I did something and I love it. During Hatha Christiana came over and said you are going to try something challenging our next Hatha class. It is where you balance on one leg, grab your foot.ankle and pull it up and behind you while putting your opposite arm out in front of you and learning out forward all at the same time. I said sure!! I am actually excited to try it my next class and to keep pushing myself. Speaking of pushing myself, during Yin she cam over and was thinking how I could pretty much do the splits and still support my residual leg without hurting it. She did it and then I duplicated it and came pretty darn close to doing the splits. Each time I try something new I get really excited. I love how they think outside the box for me and modify things to support what I can do. Just plain amazing!!! Christiana has been so amazing on my journey and I don;t think just how much she has meant to me. I think we met at a perfect time for this journey.

I have had some more people come up to me or wrote something about me on Facebook what an inspiration I am to everyone. It really makes me feel great inside that I can do that as that is pretty much the point of this blog. If I can do hot yoga, anyone can!! Please keep coming up and saying HI, that inspires me even more. BTW. Hello Carrie again. ha ha. I love these new friends I have met through hot yoga. Everyone is so kind and supportive and makes me feel so great inside.

Keep smiling and stay amazing!!

Namaste

Darin

#15 Trying out something new

I have only taken classes from Christiana with the exception of Janette, the owner of Spark Hot Yoga in Snohomish. Christiana had told me I needed to try other instructor's because I  each one has a little bit variation and I would learn something new from each one of them. I was a little nervous because Christiana knew me and my needs and variations for the classes, and I have a lot of them. :) She told me she would take the class with me as a student which made me feel a bit more at ease. We took a class led by Brandy. Once I met her I felt at ease with her as well. I have met more yoga instructor's at both locations and they all have the same thing in common. They are always smiling, super nice, and glow with enthusiasm and happiness. Brandy was no exception and after class I talked to her a bit more and she really has a beautiful soul.

Brandy and I

During class and I got all stretched out I got up and started working on my balance and core. I have really been concentrating on these two things during Hatha. This class is perfect for this. I know my left leg is getting stronger and my core and balance have improved so much since my adventure started. I just want to continue my improvement and want to take class everyday. I don't of course because as much as I love hot yoga a break every now and then is needed. The last twenty minutes of class is on the mat. She added a routine I have never done before which really works your abs, which I really liked. Yes Christiana you were right. There were many other things Brandy did which I have learned from.

 I went into a pose where my left leg is bent back behind and to my side. I put a pillow they have under my residual stump and then bend forward as far as I can. Well I thought I have never been able to touch my nose to the ground before and wondered if I could do it? Well the answer is yes and I hit it so hard I thought I gave myself a bloody nose. I am such a dork. ha ha. It just proves that I have made great improvements to my flexibility. I am still constantly losing weight each week, even thought it is slow but hey it is working. 

Brandy is substituting for Christiana on Friday at Hatha and I am looking forward to working with her again. There is also a sub for Hatha Sunday morning and I am looking forward to trying a new yoga instructor. I am stepping even more outside my comfort zone and it is feeling really good and all because of taking hot yoga classes.  YOGA ROCKS!!!

Have an amazing day and keep smiling.

Namaste

Darin

#14 Another accomplishment!

I have changed up my hot yoga schedule a bit in the past week. I missed my normal Hatha class on Friday because I took my sister and brother in law out crabbing. Our goal was to catch a bunch of crab for his retirement party on Sunday. We ended up catching 17 keepers for the party. Maddie went along with us also. I love being out on the water as much as I do hot yoga. Now if I can do hot yoga on a boat that would be amazing. Of course it would have to be really hot to be as hot as it is in the studio. :)

I did my usual Hatha class Sunday morning and really worked on some balance. I was feeling pretty good about some progress I had made. I also worked on stretching and felt I made a bit of headway on a couple of stretches also. I wanted to continue this on Monday so I switched it up a bit.

I picked up Maddie earlier than normal so that we could get to the studio and catch another Hatha class on Monday instead of the later Yin class. We got there about thirty minutes early and we were greeted by Jennifer the owner of Spark Hot Yoga of Marysville. I was happy to see her as she has always been very supportive of my hot yoga adventure and plus she always has a smile on her face.

Maddie, Jennifer and myself

Maddie got us all set up just before Christiana came into the studio. As always she had a smile from ear to ear. 

Class started and I was so excited to get started after feeling so good the day before and wanted it to continue. I really pushed myself balancing on my left leg with my prosthetic lef bent at a 90 and my right hand under that knee and my left arm straight up in the air. I thought I would push it a bit and try squating down with just my left knee for support. I did that a few times and after about the fifth time almost did not make it back up ans started going over. Luckily I pushed myself up against the wall with a loud thump and saved myself. Christiana came over and asked if I was ok and I told her what happened and she said it was good I pushed myself. I think that gave me determination for what was about to happen. The rest of the class was bent over at the waist and hands on the floor. I have never done this before since I received my prosthetic. I thought why not? I went for it and next thing I know I am standing straight legged and both of my hands are on the floor. I was grinning from ear to ear. Christiana came over to make sure I was in that position on purpose. ha ha ha. I told her I was but may not be able to get back up. LOL!!  She gave me a block for support and I was able to get back up. I did this a few times and I was so excited that I had done that. I know without yoga there would be no way I would ever be able to do this again. Like I have said, "YOGA ROCKS!!!" Now that I have accomplished this task I am going to work on tackling something new in class. Have I mentioned how much I love hot yoga? :)

Jennifer had shown me a picture earlier when we first arrived that Christiana had taken of me at a class last week and asked if she could use it on her facebook page. I of course agreed.to it. It is me without my leg on in the final savasana pose. This is the final pose of the two classes I have taken. It is very relaxing and clears the mind. If you look you can see all the stuff I need just to take off or use to do yoga. Also one leg. What is your excuse?

Savasana

Have an amazing day, keep smiling and stay positive

Namaste

Darin

#13 Benefit class

Last night was special for many reasons to me. There was a benefit class for Leela Yoga Studio destroyed by the Bothell fire in the Snohomish Spark Hot Yoga studio. I signed Maddie and I up for the Hatha class before the benefit class. Christiana had encouraged me to take a class from someone other than her to get a different perspective from another instructor. We were lucky and the owner of the Snohomish Hot Yoga Studio happen to be teaching our class. I met Janette and she is just as warm and kind as all other hot yoga students I have met. Everyone in the class was new to me as I was to them. I could tell they all knew each other from taking this class several times. As it has always been since the beginning they welcome me and made me feel very comfortable there. The new voice and philosophy that Janette had on Hatha was different but great. I felt a bit out of place being in a completely new environment and surrounding but quickly settled in. Having Maddie on the mat next to me really helped and soon forgot I was not in my normal class. As my first day of yoga, I was stepping out of my comfort zone again but felt so great that I did it. I truly believe since I have taken hot yoga my confidence level has risen. YOGA ROCKS!!!

After our class and lots of water and cooling down many people started showing up for the charity class. The class that was being taught was called Yoga Nidra. I had never heard of this before and had actually called and talked to Janette earlier in the day. This class was about finding your inner piece and learning how to go there if you need it during the day or right before bed. There were about twenty people or more in the class. It was truly an amazing class and really made me feel relaxed. The class was free and they were asking for donations. Once the total was added up before the class Janette announced Spark Hot Yoga Studio was going to match the money raised. They also raffled off three items just for donating. The owners of Leela Yoga Studio were there in the class and it became quite emotional. After the class there was even more love and kindness you could just feel. I want to thank Janette from the Snohomish Spark Hot Yoga Studio for putting this event on. If you have a desire to donate I am sure you can contact Janette and I am sure she or someone who works there how to donate.

On the way home I was a little sad because I had intended to take some pictures of everything but just got caught up in the moment and forget. Darn it. I wish everyone could have been there because it was a very special night for everyone involved. Maddie even told me she really enjoyed herself. I am so happy that she is really loving going to hot yoga with me and joining in on my adventure. Love the special time with her doing something I am so passionate about.

Continue to be awesome,positive. amazing and keep smiling

Darin

#12 PMA- Positive Mental Attitude

I have had a tough time doing Hatha the past couple of Sunday's and it really kinda bothered me. I have been having amazing Friday night Hatha classes and just could not figure out what was going on Sunday's? I remembered way back in my memory vault to a PE teacher (Mr Dunbar) I had in 7th grade who use to always preach PMA. Today I thought to myself going into class today I was going to think very positive and change this around. I took a little extra time stretching and loosening up before I really got into my core and balance positions. I rocked it today!!   I just kept telling myself I can do it and actually mentally did them before I even attempted them and did them successfully. Christiana always preaches being positive and doing your own thing to your abilities. I really took this all to heart today. 

Since I have started this hot yoga adventure I have felt more confident daily and just seem to be happier. My body feels better and I just am a better person in my opinion. I wish I would have started hot yoga years ago. If I had only known the result of doing this I probably would have started this while I use to play a lot of sports. Who knows what would have happened? NFL? MLS? I could have been a superstar? ha ha ha. Ok OK so I may be getting a bit carried away. I just can't stress enough how amazing this journey has made me feel and I am beyond exited to see where it takes me. If you have not tried hot yoga, please put down your Pokemon Go or your TV remote or whatever else you use an excuse and get out there and try it. I promise you that you will be a better person. No more excuses. I am going to do a post soon on all the excuses that I have discussed with other before or after class.

Today I had one fellow yoga person come up and introduce herself to me. Hi Carrie :) I love that people who read my blog are coming up and saying hi. It motivates me even more to do hot yoga and to continue to write these blogs. If I can inspire more people to do hot yoga then I have achieved part of my goal for writing these blogs. Everyone I have met in class has been so nice and positive. Random strangers in class help put my blocks away that we use sometimes without even asking. Everyone smiles and is so kind.  Thank you to everyone I have not had a chance to thank. I appreciate people saying hello and saying they love reading my blog. 

Keep smiling and stay positive

Namaste

Darin

#11 What a great night at hot yoga!!

Tonight was an amazing night at yoga for more than one reason. First of all I had the amazing opportunity to do Hatha with my oldest daughter Maddie. What a special treat it was to look over next to me and see her attempting all the poses. What an amazing bonding time to see her so excited to share in something I have come to love and make part of my life. Yoga is not just an act, but also an attitude and a way of life. Yoga brings me pleasure in making me feel better and just being a happier and better person. If can bring that to my daughter as well, I am truly blessed and could not be more proud of her. Christiana worked with her a bit before class to give her some pre-help so to speak. Being the amazing spirit she is of course she added a fun pose at the end of the help session. I know I keep preaching what an amazing light of hope and sunshine she is but she proves it day in and day out. Everyone that meets her will testify to what I keep saying.



Christiana also told me she took some photos of the two of us during our session and as soon as I get them from her I will post them on my next blog.

There is also a second reason I thought tonight was a great night to do hot yoga. Have you ever played a sport or done something that you knew you were just "ON"? Well tonight was that for me. I felt great and did really great on the things I have been working on and I was actually smiling from ear to ear because of it. I also did some new things tonight and I felt so good doing them. For example while balancing only on my left leg I was able to rotate my prosthetic leg out to the right almost 90 degrees while it was bent and my hands up over my head and hold it for about 15 seconds. This may seem easy for all of you with two legs but let me tell you with only one it's not such an easy task. I hope you can feel the excitement and enthusiasm through my words. In fact I am smiling and feeling so amazing just typing what I did. Ya me!!

I asked Maddie after class if she is still enjoying it and she said she is loving it. I am so darn happy for her. I really enjoyed watching her and actually not being able to do some of the poses because that means it is challenging her and gives her something to strive to complete. I think we all need this in our lives

Keep smiling, stay positive and have an amazing weekend.

Namaste

Darin

#10 Father and Daughter Yoga

My tenth blog. YAAA!!! I think I should give myself a prize of some sort right? HA HA  Well I have not given up on yoga in the slightest if that is what you were thinking why I have not blogged in about a week. It has just been a crazy week and I have not had time to just sit down and write something. I have been doing my four times a week routine and still loving it as much if not more than ever.

I have really been seeing some amazing improvements in my flexibility and balance. There is one particular stretch where that is called butterfly where you bend both knee's and put your feet together in front of you and you bend strait over them and try to put your head on the floor in front of you. Well I would do both feet if I had them both. haha. Christiana sometimes even jokes and says unless you only have one foot then just bend that. I love her attitude. Well I have put a block in front of me this whole time and just on Friday I was able to put my forehead on it. Woo hoo!!! It made me smile because I know each time I go I am improving.

This past Wednesday my daughter Maddie asked me if she could go. I was so excited, you have no idea. Of course I jumped at the opportunity to take her. I call the owner of Spark Hot Yoga and made sure it was ok for her to go. She said to just keep and eye on her and make sure her sweat glands have developed enough for her to sweat because after all it is hot yoga. ha ha She absolutely loved it and asked to go with me to another class. This first class was Yin and a great way to start out. I am going to take her tomorrow to Hatha and see what she can do in there. Of course she is a kid and we all know how flexible and balanced kids can be. I figure this will help her with her recovering from her injured should also.

There other bonus from this class was a big surprise. When Maddie and I were walking out of the studio Christiana mentioned she wasnted me to meet someone. Her mother and grandfather were in the front area and she introduced them to me. I thanked her mom for raising such an amazing person. Of course she gave me a very large smile, just like her daughter always has on her face.

I will update my blog after we take that class and let everyone know what she thinks of it. So has told me over and over how much fun she had. I am so excited that we can do something else together that we both enjoy.

Stay positive and keep smiling

Namatse


Darin

#9

Well it has been about five days since my last blog but it doesn't mean I havn't been doing yoga. I took a Hatha class last Sunday morning and I was still a bit sore from my amazing birthday yoga. I had actually slightly pulled a hip flexer on my birthday yoga class. I did not realize it till Saturday afternoon. When I went in on Sunday I told Christiana about it and she worked with me before and during class to make sure I worked it out. By that afternoon I had forgot I even had a problem with it. Have I mentioned just how much I love hot yoga? ha

I was suppose to take a Yin class on Monday night but for the first time since I have started hot yoga I missed a class. You ask what possibly could keep me from missing a class? Was I sick? Nope, Was I out of town? Nope. It was a date that actually kept me from taking my normal Monday class. For those of you that are single out there you get it. haha

Well today is Wednesday and there was no way I was missing another class. Today was a Yin class and it is just so relaxing and you get to relax more. I have been trying to thinking of a name today and I just couldn't think of it. Then in the middle of the session while I was concentrating on my breathing the name popped into my head. Woo hoo!! See hot yoga is not only great for your body but also your mind. Today was great because besides me there was just one other regular tonight. Christiana asked us what we wanted to work on since it was just the two of us. It was almost like having a one on one session or private lesson. haha. We really worked on stretching out the hips tonight and that felt great. It is truly amazing how stiff your hips get from sitting at a desk all day. I think I may have mentioned this before but not sure, I LOVE HOT YOGA!!!  LOL!!

Well I will keep this one short. I am hoping to update the format of the blog in the next couple of weeks to have my background story and possibly some other improvements to this blog. I am enjoying writing it and I hope you are enjoying taking my adventure with me. Let me know if you do.

Stay positive and have a great night.

Darin

#8 Birthday yoga

How fitting this is my eighth post and today also happens to be my birthday on the 8th of July. Ya I am a dork. Never said I wasn't. LOL  There was no way I was missing yoga on my birthday. Thanks to my mom who has a really bad back but she came over and watched the twins for me so I could make it. Yaaa for mom's!!

The second I walked in Spark Hot Yoga Christiana started singing me happy birthday. As always she made me feel very special. I asked her to take a picture of me in some of my new yoga clothing I bought myself for my birthday. Of course being the positive spark as always she added a flare to another photo. I should hire her as my photographer. Well just ask her to do it for me as she is very creative. Here is the normal and the "flare" photo.

Well today was a Hatha yoga class day. I was hoping for a much better day than I had on Wednesday. I was right!! Today was so amazing that I kept smiling in the middle of the session. I keep feeling better and better each time I go in there and almost never want to leave. This class really works on my core and balance which I love. Today I was able to hold my prosthetic leg out in front of me and slowly bend down on my good left leg, hold it for about ten seconds and come back up without the use of my prosthetic leg. I will admit that when I do it, I have the wall behind me just in case I need some support. I also do not use my crutches when doing this move. Ya me!! I keep feeling stronger and stronger each class. I can really feel my balance getting better, my core getting better, my flexibility getting better, and my mind getting better. How could someone not love all the positive things that come from hot yoga? After class she told me that I had a great session and saw me do something she has never seen me do before. I of course asked what and she could not remember and I laughed because I do not recollect either. She is constantly coming up with new ideas for me to strengthen different parts of my body or help me build balance or whatever it may be. She is a lot more wiser than her actual age. 

I would also like to add that nobody has ever judged me or made me feel different at all. In fact I have never felt so much support and positive people before I came to yoga in one place. Please please please get out and try it. I promise you that you will feel better as I do. 

Stay positive and have and amazing weekend. 

Darin 

#7 Two week anniversary.

Well today marks the two week anniversary since I stepped outside my comfort zone and took a plunge into the world of hot yoga. Today marks the eights class I have taken in two weeks.Here is a picture of me just before I went in that day.



Who knew that walking into Spark Hot Yoga would change me so much in such a short period of time. I even told Christiana that I felt like it has been forever since I have been in the yoga studio, it has actually only been three days. She old me she knows how I feel. I am currently taking classes four days a week and now I think I am going to add a fifth class but still only four days a week. There was a lady that took the Hatha class in front of my Yin class tonight and she decided to stay for the Yin class. She said it feels really good to take it afterwords. In two weeks I am going to take back to back classes. The only reason I do not start next week is because a dental appointment is going to get in my way. ha.  I spoke to Brooke yesterday and she is beyond happy for me that I am so invested in hot yoga. She said that it was a good thing she did not take Meth and get me addicted to that. ha ha ha. We both had a good laugh over that one.

Today's class was completely different than any of the other Yin classes she has taught. I am guessing over the entire hour there were maybe one or two things that were the same as the last time I took it. I love that she continues to mix it up and challenge me and the rest of the students. I was having a tough time about half way through the class and just had a lot of things on my mind. Usually hot yoga makes everything go away and I am just concentrate on my breathing and holding poses. Christiana noticed this and came over and told me to just lay back on my mat and relax. I love that you can do that at any time. I did this for about ten minutes and it really helped and I got back into the yoga groove. I am feeling some of the new poses and stretches already tonight, which I love because it's a great sore. Looking forward to my next Hatha class on Friday.

Stay positive and be the best person you can be.

Darin

PS. Yoga is amazing!!! What's your excuse?

''

#6 with pictures!!

I stayed up a wee bit to late last night but I knew no matter what I was not going to miss my yoga class this morning. Today was a Hatha class with Christiana and I really like this class for it's own reason because it really builds on my core and strength. I was surprised just how full this class was today, which is awesome because that just means that many more people receiving the benefits of hot yoga.

I have been asked for pictures to be added to this blog so I took some pictures of Christiana and myself because I took the the class today. I know I keep saying how amazing of a yoga instructor she is, but I will never stop saying it because she truly is. 

WOO HOO!!! It worked!! I am sure you can tell what a wonderful spirit she has just by these pictures.

As always she mixed it up and add some more poses today. Some I could do, others I just have to modify or do my own things I need to work on while the rest of the class does them. Every now and then I will look around and just be in awe how amazing some people are holding those crazy poses. While doing your poses she reminds you to remember your breathing and trying to pull your belly button to your spine. I can tell from taking all these classes so far, that I can feel my improvement in balance and strength. I just feel so much better each and every time and I can't wait to get mack to my next class and improve even more. She worked with me on one particular move and I can tell it is really going to improve some flexibility.

On a side note I have lost just over five pounds since I have started yoga 11 days ago. Ya me!!

Super excited and looking forward to my next class.

Keep smiling and be awesome!!!

Darin

#5

Well even though I have my kids for the next week I am not going to let that stop me from making it to Spark Hot Yoga and take a class tonight. I took a Hatha class tonight which really works on my core and balance. I really need that as I still am figuring out how to balance with one leg. I love have Christiana mixes it up and adds new poses each class so it is not the exact same thing every time. Of course there is also some poses that are the same. This class the heat is cranked up to 105 degrees. People ask me how I could passably do yoga in that kind of heat when I am not even a fan of heat. Once I get in there I am concentrating on my poses, balance, and breathing. I truly do not even think about the heat till I walk back out into the lobby and think it is cold out here. ha ha ha. It's probably 70 degrees. LOL. My main focus tonight was to work on my core and balance and spent quite a bit of time standing on only my left foot, eyes closed and arm out in front of me. Of course I have a wall right behind me so I can lean back at any time. I spent the last twenty minutes of the class on the floor without my prosthetic leg on doing my own thing till the class came down to the mat for the last ten minutes or so and then I could do what they are doing. This class really works up a sweat for me and my shirt is very much evidence of this. I love it!!!  I am going to feel this one in the morning and I love it. Just means I did something tonight. Woo Hoo!!

I wanted to say Happy Birthday to Christiana today!! She truly is a great yoga instructor and has an amazing soul and such positive energy emitting from her.

I am going to attempt to add some pictures to my blog this weekend. I just need to do some more research. I want to document my adventure with pictures as well with words.

Stay positive and have an amazing day.

Darin

#4

Today I was sitting at work and all I could think about doing was a yoga class. For the first time in about two years I did not have the kids on a Thursday. I thought what a perfect opportunity to take a class. I went to their webpage and unfortunately there were no classes tonight that fit my schedule. I went to their anyway to commit for the next three months. I purchased a three month unlimited membership which is on sale till July 1st. Hard to believe that is tomorrow. I figured this way I could go as many times as I wanted without having to worry about how many I had left. I am hoping I can get in a class tomorrow after I pick up the kids. I mean after all it has almost been 24 hours since I took a class. ha ha ha. Ya I have it bad but a good bad.

I was thinking today of the benefits so far of yoga. Here are the ones that I can think of that I can tell already. Because it's hot yoga you need to drink lots of water. I noticed since I have started I am drink a lot more water, even on days I am not taking a class. Because it is hot yoga and you sweat a lot during the class you need to stay hydrated. This must begin way before class and afterwards I feel like I can drink two gallons. My body just feels better from all the poses that I am stretching in. I am even doing little stretches throughout the day which is also a great thing because I sit at a desk most of teh day for work. If work or even outside work gets a little stressful I find myself doing the breathing exercises we concentrate during class. It really helps relief the strss and makes me feel better. It does not even take that long. I seem to be even happier than I normally am during the day. I know for a fact that yoga is helping with that because when I leave the class I have such a mental high and I feel amazing.You may even see me driving down the road dancing to music, try not to laugh too hard. LOL  The last thing I can think of is since I started this journey I have started to lose some weight which I know I need to do. Hard to believe all the amazing benefits from simply stepping out of my comfort zone and starting yoga. What an amazing experience so far and I truly can't wait to see where this journey takes me.

I am hoping some of the local people with at least come and join me for a class and experience what I am feeling. Even if you are not local go find a yoga place and give it a try. I was contacted by an old co-worker that I have not seen in about 16 years and asked if I would come down to her neck of the woods and take a class with her. Of course I said YES!! I ahve also talked to a co-worker who is giong to come and join me on the 11th of July for the basic Yin class which I love. Hopefully more of you will experience the amazing benefits of yoga.

Have an amazing and positive day

Darin

#3

I took my fifth hot yoga class today. I took a Yin hot yoga class which is very relaxing and calming and gets all the stress out. I had an eye doctor appointment today and because they were going to dilate both my eyes I had to ask for help. My great friend Kristen picked me up and dropped me off at the doctor appointment. My mom picked me up from my appointment and dropped me off at yoga class and a co-worker Glen was able to drive me home. The point to all of this is that I was going to get to my hot yoga class no matter how much coordination it took. I love hot yoga and it does my body and soul good. I had found out that I need another eye surgery at my appointment so going to yoga was such an amazing stress reliever. When I am in there I forget about everyone else going on and just concentrate on my breathing and what position I am trying to hold. Thank you yoga.

I spoke with Brooke today who got me started on this amazing adventure. I was telling her that I was so sore after my second class that even my right foot was sore. I don't have a right foot. ha ha  I had to forgot to mention that little tid bit and just had to share it.

I noticed a few things in my class today. The first thing I noticed was that when Christiana said what positions we were going into, I knew most of them and was prepared to get into them. Of course there are a few that I physically can't get into because I am missing my right leg after all so it's hard to bend or pull on something that is not there. ha ha. She and I have spoke many times about modification and that is just what I do. I do my own thing during those time and it feels good to be able to know what and how to work on something. The second thing I noticed today was some improvements I have been doing since day one. I was really surprised how my muscles are getting stretched out and I am able to flex them just a bit more than from the beginning. I am super happy with my progress. As always Christiana is such a positive person and always has this amazing spirit coming deep within her. I am so happy that Jen from Spark Hot Yoga hired her, at least I think she did? haha  It really doesn't matter as long as she was there to meet me on my first day and help me along my journey into yoga.

I wish I could express more just how amazing I feel doing hot yoga. It makes me feel so good and even more positive than I could ever explain. It energizes me!!!

When the class is done I almost feel sad and do not want it to end, but I know there will be a next time soon. I spoke to my kids about doing kids yoga classes and they are super excited to try them this summer. I think it is a great experience for the entire family.

Till the next day of hot yoga.

Keep smiling and stay positive.

Darin

#2

Since that first day of yoga I have taken three more classes. That makes a total of four in six days. You might say I am addicted to it. I feel so good already and I seriously can't wait to get back in there.

The second and third class I took were a steup up from Yin and the class is called Hatha. Hatha is more about strengthening your core and helping you get a better balance. The temperature is much hotter in this class and you really work up a sweat. I am not a fan of heat whatsoever but it does not seem to bother me at all. I think because I am concentrating on my breathing and balance so much I do not even think about it. I sure worked up a sweat in this class. Once again all the other students and of course Christiana are so supportive and make me fell so welcome.

I am very sore the next day after each class but it's a good sore because it meant I did something. I can feel myself feeling less sore each time I go and then she introduces me to a new pose that stretches out muscles I had no idea I even had. Jen the owner posted something on Facebook that went something like there is a gentleman missing a leg and has a prosthetic doing yoga, what is your excuse? I loved that. Get out and try this, it truly will change your life. I can't wait till I can get to the next class hopefully tomorrow. I will update this blog after my next class.

#1

It all started when I started seeing this amazing and very positive woman named Brooke. She told me she had done yoga for many years and said it made her feel so refreshed and just overall better. We ended up not dating anymore but she had put a bug in my ear to try it. On the week anniversary of when she had told me she was going to miss me, I stepped way out of my comfort zone and went in and took my first class. As soo as I walked in an instructor named Christiana asked me in a very excited voice if I was going to try yoga? I said I was going to give it a try. She said she had never worked with someone with a prosthetic leg before but was very excited to give it a try. She said we would learn together. She said there was a perfect class for me to start out on in a half hour. I said lets go for it. She gave me a high five and just could not wait to get started. I could not have felt more welcome or comfortable. This was a prefect beginning for something I had never tried before. There was a lady named Tanya who had just got engaged that had just finished the previous class. She was very interested in me and asked me quite a few questions and was excited for me to try it out. She said she worked in a bank and that she had several customers that had handicaps also and was excited to see how it worked out for me. I needed a chair to get down and back up from the ground. Christiana said they did not have one but that the owner of Spark Hot Yoga in Marysville lived close by and could bring one down. She showed up with her great daughters in a matter of minutes.

I walked into the yoga studio and was imediatly overtaken by this calming feeling. Luckily for me there was only two other students in the class with me today and Christiana could spend extra time with me modifying some of the yoga moves. She was just amazing. I left that class feeling so much better and was sad when the class was over. I could not wait to get back to the class in a couple of days. I loved the warm and supportive feeling I felt in there from not only the staff but the other yoga participants.