#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.