The Ice is Thin, Come On Dive In

I don't remember if I mentioned it here, but I finally joined a gym about three weeks ago.  I mostly did it because it's getting colder out and I won't be able to run outside every day like I'm used to.  Also, I was really interested in starting up yoga again.  I had noticed when running how tight the muscles in my hips and legs were getting.  I got to the point I couldn't bend over and touch the ground any more.  I felt like my stride was different because I was so inflexible.

My new gym offers yoga classes.  I tend to prefer Hatha yoga because of the focus on breathing and meditation that helps me chill out after stressful days/weeks.  I started going to these classes three weeks ago and I could feel the difference right away.

First of all, I was sore as hell after that first class.  It wasn't even a hard class, but I hadn't been working anything but my running muscles for almost a year now, so this yoga has been awesome in getting me to strengthen up the rest of my body.

Secondly, I could notice that I sit differently when my hips are looser.  It's more comfortable.  I have better posture.  I'm no where near as flexible as I used to be, but I remember how I was able to pull such long hours at my computer without hurting.

Finally, I'm sleeping better.  I didn't realize how my hips were so tight that I had a hard time laying flat against the mattress.  My legs would want to fall further away, but my muscles wouldn't let them go, so I would wake up with them hurting from the strain all night.  Right away I noticed how much more comfortable I was when in bed.

Awesome!  I've even starting going to yoga twice a week in the hope of gaining more flexibility over the next few months.  I hadn't realized how much I had missed it.  :)