I read somewhere recently, in the local paper, that "learning to do something new" releases endorphins in the brain! Well, I believe it ... I love trying new things, and have noticed that the joy I used to feel at "accomplishing" a new task or a new sport has indeed waned over time. Thus the old saying, "I'll never do an Ironman" eventually gave way to, "Well, maybe just one," to "I want to do a different one." I am a glutton for new adventures and for learning ...
I've done "fitness yoga" for several years but felt like I reached a plateau with my ability to stretch and build core strength. A friend suggested I try Bikram Yoga which involves doing a series of 26 yoga poses in a heated environment. The class is 90 minutes long and the heat adds to the challenge, but I find myself really looking forward to the class ... well not so much the class actually as the way I feel afterwards. A big part of Bikram Yoga technique is the breathing ... pranyama breaths during warm up, six count inhalation/exhalation during the workout, and finally the quick cool down breaths (which I forget what they are called) but they remind me of blowing out candles on a cake.
What's funny is that during the class I'm really not very comfortable or happy due to the heat and the sweat dripping from every single surface of my (and all other yoga-ites') bodies. The sweat drips down into my eyes at times causing burning. There are small face towels we use to mop up the sweat, but at the end of class you could literally wring them out! So when I say to my friend that I am "really looking forward to class" what I actually mean is that I'm looking forward to the post-class effects.
I (and my husband) miss yoga when I don't do it, partly because of the calming effect. This, my husband is particularly thankful for. But I have also noticed a positive impact on my post run stretching routine. My flexibility has definitely improved to where I was many years ago ... basically folding in half at the hips ... I know there are some who say too much stretching for a runner is bad, but ever since I started Bikram I have to say that the left hip pain I used to feel during and after running is suspiciously absent. Just to keep me from getting too complacent and feeling TOO good, however, my plantar is back ... boo hoo ... but so far it is managable. Thank goodness for ice packs and night splints!
In addition to my regular yoga practice I've been pretty diligent about swimming and running three times a week ... biking is probably the sport I'm working the least at right now ... but as my IMCDA training season starts in January that will definitely change ... so I am enjoying doing "alternative" activities now, while I can.
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