Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
I just got home from the HARDEST YOGA CLASS OF MY ENTIRE LIFE.
That’s a pretty bold statement, as I have been practicing for many years now with lots of different teachers. When we arrived at class around 10:45, one of the other instructors at the studio who was actually taking the class said, “you guys know he’s going to kill us today right?” She used to work with Kishan out in LA and knew his style of teaching, obviously, I sort of laughed it off but, seriously, there was no funny business today. We did straight asana from 11:00-2:50 and I did crazy things with my body that I have NEVER been able to do before. I was actually sweating so profusely in the middle of class that I had to get up, leave, wash my face in the bathroom, go borrow a towel from the studio and come back. That’s how intense it was.
Just when I thought the class should be over (at about 1:30), he launched us into his back bend series. That’s right—--we did 7 (!!!!!!!!!) bridge/full wheels in a row and stayed up for each one for 10 slow, long breathes. No joking, my quads were shaking and I was gritting my teeth. Savasana never has felt bettter.
So the verdict?
It was AMAZING! I did postures I’ve never been able to do before, go deeper into my back bends than ever before and meditate stronger than ever before. The whole time we were practicing I wanted to just shout in everyone’s face that always told me “yoga is not a strength workout” or poo-poo it as just simple “stretching”. I’d like to see THEM do some of the stuff we did! It relied on every single muscle of my body.
The whole weekend was phenomenal and I learned more than I ever thought possible. Now I cannot walk and tomorrow will FOR SURE be a rest day. I can’t believe that out in LA, Kishan normally teaches yoga classes that are 2 1/2-3 hours in length. A simple 1 1/2 hours will feel like nothing now!
Needless to say, when I got home around 2:15 I was STARVING MY FACE OFF and threw together a quick sunshine burger with provolone on a soft whole wheat bun—
I didn’t want to eat a too large of a meal for a number of reasons. First, I’m going to dinner very early at 5:00 with Sarah, a blog reader. We have to go super early because she has to babysit tonight! Secondly, when I am starving and make a huge meal my IBS almost always flairs up and I double over in pain. After eating a light (er) lunch, I feel great right now.
I’m going to walk Mikan and take the best hot shower of my life. Unfortunately, I am missing the final question and answer session with Kishan but I just don’t have enough time and am quite smelly right now! 😉
See you tonight!
polly
January 11, 2009 at 1:51 pmWAHOO!!!! Way to goooo, sweetie!!! Enjoy your time with Sarah and rest those weary quads! SEVEN wheel poses? WOWZA!!!!!! 🙂
VeggieGirl
January 11, 2009 at 1:55 pmYou continue to inspire me with the harder yoga practices!! 🙂
Katie
January 11, 2009 at 2:00 pmI totally feel you with the IBS thing!! I know exactly what you mean, unfortunantly. Definantly not fun. I love reading about your yoga experiences! I cant wait to hear how following that daily morning plan goes. I was the one that emailed you a week ago about blogging, i LOVE it!! thank you!! -Katie
junghwa
January 11, 2009 at 2:04 pmi love yoga too!!
Danielle
January 11, 2009 at 2:11 pmSounds like you had a great yoga filled weekend! Have fun at your dinner!
Sharon
January 11, 2009 at 2:12 pmWow, that is amazing with the yoga!
Heather McD (Heather Eats Almond Butter)
January 11, 2009 at 2:17 pmYoga not a strength workout – ha! I’d like to see those people do Chaturanga after Chaturanga and tell me their biceps aren’t burning! If they won’t try that, just tell them to look at Madonna’s arm muscles!
Sounds like an amazing class – I cannot imagine! Glad you refueled with a Sunshine burger. Love those! Have fun with Sarah tonight. 🙂
Erica
January 11, 2009 at 2:26 pmSounds like you had an amazing weekend! I’m so glad you were able to go and enjoy it! Good for you! Have a great dinner!
ashley (sweet & natural)
January 11, 2009 at 2:33 pmWow! That is a lot of yoga! Sounds very intense, but in a good way. Glad you enjoyed the experience so much.
Oh She Glows
January 11, 2009 at 2:36 pmI can’t get over how intense thse sessions have been! Congrats for making it through!! 🙂 Does anyone stop mid-way? Or are most people in your class at the intermediate/advanced level?
Angela
http://www.ohsheglows.com
TheSkinnyPlate
January 11, 2009 at 3:04 pmYour yoga sessions are pretty intense.
Lisa
January 11, 2009 at 3:16 pmOh WOW, I cannot believe that you did yoga for that long. Kudos! I found this great buns/thighs yoga class on demand, and that was only 40 min and my legs were shakingggg. Just found your blog, and it’s great. Looking forward to reading more!
lisa
Shelby
January 11, 2009 at 3:30 pmThis is so inspiring to me. I’ve only just started yoga a couple weeks ago and have only done 1 or 2 videos. They are pretty simple and since I used to do yoga a couple years ago I already know the poses. I guess it would be good to warm up my body but I’m ready to do more! Do you recommend any videos? Do you think I should keep at a beginners pace for a while until my body get used to it more? Your the expert now! haha
Beadie
January 11, 2009 at 4:04 pmSounds awesome!!
BridgetP
January 11, 2009 at 4:12 pmWow, I just read through your weekend posts and it sounds like you had an amazing yoga-weekend! I just had my first good experience with yoga yesterday morning and loved it – thanks for inspiring me to give yoga another chance 🙂
emily
January 11, 2009 at 4:12 pmthat sounds like a pretty amazing workout! I really really want to get into yoga but I feel like such a spaz whenever I go to a class. I need to just suck it up and make a fool of myself. Just of curiosity Jenna, did you read the yogi article in last month’s Self?
Erin
January 11, 2009 at 4:31 pmYoga is so much more than simple stretching… The people who have said that are sadly mistaken. I have taken long classes but yours seems like the Olympics of yoga. Good job! I bet you feel so accomplished:-)
HangryPants
January 11, 2009 at 4:48 pmI am both happy for you and envious of you at the same time! I’ve always always wanted to go to one of the yoga retreats at weekend at my studio! I am glad you had an amazing time and thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.
Meg
January 11, 2009 at 5:10 pmI am so glad your yoga workshop was so awesome! Enjoy dinner with your blog reader!
alicia
January 11, 2009 at 5:13 pmGoodness. 75 mins is long enough for me, I can’t believe that you managed to practice for so long. Good job, Jenna!
It sounds like a wonderful experience. I hope to sign up for a yoga workshop when one of the visiting yogis visit my city. Yoga is like my favourite exercise right now. Thanks for sharing about your experience.:)
K
January 11, 2009 at 5:24 pmHoly cow – that sounds intense!! Glad you loved it though 🙂
Have fun with Sarah tonight!
Joy
January 11, 2009 at 6:21 pmmm i love sunshine burgers!
do you have the recipe for those “power” cookies you’ve made? not the breakfast cookie but you made real cookies once with protein powder i think? i don’t see it anywhere on the site but maybe i’m blind 🙂
jenna
January 11, 2009 at 7:33 pmJoy,
Hmmmm I’ve never made an actual baked good with protein powder but I think you might be referring to the cookies I make out of the cookbook “eat drink and be vegan” by Dreena Burton. I highly recommend this cookbook! She’s great! Unfortunately I can’t release the recipe because of copyright issues but it is worth it to check out the book on amazon 🙂
Sarah
January 11, 2009 at 7:16 pmHey girlie! I love reading your blog and just wanted to comment on your comment where you said that yoga is a strength workout. Which most ppl blow off and claim it isn’t (myself included)….
That being said, I wholeheartedly belive in including yoga as a part of a balanced training/health program, but it does NOT replace weight lifting in my opinion. Body weight exercises are great, but the human body – BONES – benefit from lifting true weights.
Thats just my opinion – take it for what it is. Do I think somebody is healthy or training great b/c they do 6 sessions of Bikram Yoga weekly?? NO. You still need a mix of low and intense cardio sessions, yoga, as well as weight lifting in your life 🙂
I hope I didn’t offend you.
jenna
January 11, 2009 at 7:30 pmSarah,
Please refer to this article. 🙂 An actual clinical study by doctors was done and proved that, yes, yoga works your body and muscles just as effectively (actually more so) than lifting weights and that a steady yoga practice is really all you need in terms of your fitness regime. Of course you can choose to believe the study or disregard it but, but the facts are nonetheless still present.
http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/739?page=1
Emily
January 11, 2009 at 7:21 pmHello again ~
I love hearing about your yoga – especially these recent posts. You inspired me to go for 90 minutes yesterday. I recounted your story to Andy (my partner) too, and he found it really inspiring also. Maybe tonight we’ll wind up doing a class together 🙂
Thanks Jenna!
Emily.
Sarah
January 11, 2009 at 9:10 pmThanks for the article Jenna! That was eye opening, guess I need to keep reading right!? I was particularly impressed by the increased lung function. My lungs are not the best but I’ve definitly improved by adding high intensity interval training (HIIT) to my regime. Maybe I need to make more of an effort to go to my Bikram classes 2x weekly…its SO expensive though!
My dad used to do Tai Chi for YEARS. and recently started up again after his second hip replacement surgery (he’s 57). He also has been doing yoga for seniors (lol – gentle yoga b/c of his hips). Interesting, guess I will at least hound him to keep up with his yoga practice & walking if he is going to ignore my push to get a gym membership to lift weights!
Thank you! (oh I was also intrigued by Kath at Kath Eats – she mentioned how she was doing more and more yoga recently and definately noticed her arms becoming more defined and different GOOD changes to her body since increasing her yoga practice)
I love adding more “food for thought” to my reading/learning!