So it turns out I have a dodgy knee. I knew this because it occasionally gives ways on me when I'm walking, sometimes painlessly, sometimes with a great deal of pain. Sometimes I even get the pain when it's doing it's expected thing of supporting the rest of my leg. Lucky aren't I?
Anyway, because of this, both my physio and pilates instructor have given me a range of leg exercises and stretches to do. I am doing them. They help, a bit. At least the pain comes less frequently when I do the exercises regularly. Unfortunately it means that I cannot return to running. The last time I tried a run - a very short one that was basic interval training - my knee then seized up and wouldn't bend for a week. That hurt. That hurt a hell of a lot.
I miss running. I like the feeling of it, the way when you run you can't think about anything except how your breath feels and how your feet feel, and fall, and it's so bloody hard everything else gets shoved out of your head. I don't get that from walking. When I walk, even when I walk fast, it is usually a magnifier for my rage, and it is not a calming activity.
But, back to the point. Leg exercises and pilates. Pilates is wonderful. It's hard work, but it's making my torso muscles work in a way they haven't ever done before. I can feel the difference between them now and when I started it 6 weeks ago. I hope it will make me stronger and slimmer and I hope that it will kick start my dreams of getting a visible six pack (though I guess I'd better stop eating cake and lose at least another stone and a half before that becomes even the merest glimmer of a possibility).
Back to the point, again. I haven't done any form of yoga in about a year. I bought a yoga mat about 18 months ago, intending to use it outside in the summer, and failed to do so this year. I now use it, rolled up, for one set of my leg exercises. Having started doing this, I remembered how I used to do sun salutations and how I found them enjoyable. So I looked up various guides for doing them and found this one:
Image found here.
So I just tried it again and discovered a couple of things.
The mountain pose, the lunge and the cobra all feel pretty good for my back and legs.
The whole thing made me feel more open and relaxed.
I'm now going to add it in to my regular stretches/leg exercises. I'm hoping to do 2 sun salutations a day. If I set my goals too high I'll be put off and won't do them. But two full sets, so two lunges per leg, I can manage.
I also want to try meditating again, but I'm scared.. I know it will be good for me, it will clam me down, make me focused, but I'm scared of the silence in the meditation session. I prefer to be busy and full of distractions. We'll see what I manage.
Anyway, because of this, both my physio and pilates instructor have given me a range of leg exercises and stretches to do. I am doing them. They help, a bit. At least the pain comes less frequently when I do the exercises regularly. Unfortunately it means that I cannot return to running. The last time I tried a run - a very short one that was basic interval training - my knee then seized up and wouldn't bend for a week. That hurt. That hurt a hell of a lot.
I miss running. I like the feeling of it, the way when you run you can't think about anything except how your breath feels and how your feet feel, and fall, and it's so bloody hard everything else gets shoved out of your head. I don't get that from walking. When I walk, even when I walk fast, it is usually a magnifier for my rage, and it is not a calming activity.
But, back to the point. Leg exercises and pilates. Pilates is wonderful. It's hard work, but it's making my torso muscles work in a way they haven't ever done before. I can feel the difference between them now and when I started it 6 weeks ago. I hope it will make me stronger and slimmer and I hope that it will kick start my dreams of getting a visible six pack (though I guess I'd better stop eating cake and lose at least another stone and a half before that becomes even the merest glimmer of a possibility).
Back to the point, again. I haven't done any form of yoga in about a year. I bought a yoga mat about 18 months ago, intending to use it outside in the summer, and failed to do so this year. I now use it, rolled up, for one set of my leg exercises. Having started doing this, I remembered how I used to do sun salutations and how I found them enjoyable. So I looked up various guides for doing them and found this one:
So I just tried it again and discovered a couple of things.
The mountain pose, the lunge and the cobra all feel pretty good for my back and legs.
The whole thing made me feel more open and relaxed.
I'm now going to add it in to my regular stretches/leg exercises. I'm hoping to do 2 sun salutations a day. If I set my goals too high I'll be put off and won't do them. But two full sets, so two lunges per leg, I can manage.
I also want to try meditating again, but I'm scared.. I know it will be good for me, it will clam me down, make me focused, but I'm scared of the silence in the meditation session. I prefer to be busy and full of distractions. We'll see what I manage.
2 comments:
Sorry about your bum knee. But kudos for doing your yoga again.
You are a better woman than I.
Welp, I've done it twice so far and I think I might be able to manage it. Really have to make the effort to start the exercises though.
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