Of Yoga, Gymball and Dumbells

We had so much fun at the yoga session today, as usual. Apart from the regular exercising, someone, somehow will make us laugh with their antics, or even unability to do certain poses. And eversince a few months ago, when yoga was being questioned and banned in certain states, we as a group still continues with our regular exercise, as we know really well that nothing is wrong with our sessions, plus Dr D is now introducing a few more varieties to the class, so as not to seem to be too much into yoga'ism and create controversies, although nothing is wrong with our previous practice other than stretching and twisting our limbs to near impossible postures.

Gymball Exercise

The gymball tones all the muscles in the body, improves flexibility, and also great for stretching and warm up activities and different muscle workout. The round shell of a sphere is an unstable surface, so when you lie, sit or lean on it, you must continually rebalance yourself. These subtle steadying adjustments help isolate and activate the deepest muscle layers in the core. Whether you are conscious of it or not, your abs are working overtime whenever you are on the ball. To learn more you can read it here.

Dumbells Exercise

Dumbells are wonderful fitness training tools because they can be used to strengthen nearly every muscle in your body. This is one exercise that is great in strengthening your neck, back and shoulder muscles.

Thus, to me, everything always, always have a blessing in disguise. And everything happens for a reason. With the recent controversy of Yoga exercise, now we even have more fun playing with the ball and the dumbells! Its heavier to carry your stuff to the class now, but hey, no pain, no gain......Lol!

Yoga Lessons

It was a busy morning today, but the yoga session, after 2 weeks absence, was good. Yeah, one was that goner case, then last week, 'ponteng'. In fact, I wonder if any of them also forgot like I did two weeks ago? I will not raise the question, though.

I never realised it before, but it seems that Dr D will instruct us to do between 12 - 15 poses per session for the whole 1 and half hour there. I only started to count it today. Let me see, if I remember the poses. I wanted to write all the diffrerent poses he taught us in a notebook, but never did get to get around it. Once you're home, there's just no time to write it down. Ok la... I admit, actually, it just slips my mind. Especially everytime after the session, a few of us will go for our second breakfast, or brunch, and catch up on sizzling girly stuff. Hahaha..!

After the warm up session of 15 minutes, which I described in my earlier entry, we were asked to lie down and rest for about 2 minutes, as it was quite a vigorous exercise non-stop. Then start all the other poses. Some of the poses we did as illustrated below. Each of these poses will be repeated at least twice or more, and sometimes longer than the first time.

This is actually 3 different poses that we did, suppose to be good for your back, and.... another one I cannot remember.

From the two pictures above, we started with a pose like the upper one, then move our hands to the side on the floor, then on to the third pose as in the lower picture.

We sat like this to concerntrate on breathing. 4 counts of breathe in, 16 counts of 'hold' and 8 counts of breathe out.

Well, those are some of the poses I can remember and find the pictures online for today's lesson. Soon I will have to make a point to write or draw out all the poses that we learn. Dr D stressed that we're supposed to practice them at home everyday, but till today I am yet to 'put it in practice'. Soon.......!

Yoga

Breath in and bring you hands up and stretch to the back.
Breath out and bend down and hold your ankle.
Stretch your right foot to the back.
Strecth your left foot to the back.
Knee down, chest down, chin down.
Do the cobra.
Do the mountain.
Bring your right foot to the front.
Bring your left foot to the front.
Stand up and stretch your hands up to the back.
Bring your hands to you chest.

That's the weekly routine that Dr D will start us with at the yoga class every friday morning. I had just joined the group about 5 months ago, not long after I moved to this neighbourhood. There's about 11 ladies and 1 man in the class. The warm up session lasts about 15 minutes. The speed will depend on what Dr D instruct us. Sometimes he'll tell us its gonna be slow and will gain speed and will slow down again towards the end. It all depends on what pose he'll give us later on during the 1 and half hour session.

For the first few classes when I first joined, I would have body aches for the whole weekend. Doing the solat could be painful too. Over time it eases, unless Dr D gave us a very hard pose. Last friday, we did the cobra for 1-2 minutes per pose, and I am having pain in my ribs till about yesterday. Ouch...!

It was a fun class, actually. But to get ready to go could be a really trying time. Getting out of your comfort zone to do workouts, doesn't seem to be a great idea. But once you start with the session, you would start to enjoy and glad you made it to the class. Some ladies in the class has been coming to this yoga for more than 4 years now! Wow...even during ramadhan. I still can't imagine how or whether I would turn up during puasa next month.

I decided to take up Yoga as part of my exercise routine due to the fact that physically, yoga is considered to improve:
1. muscle flexibility
2. tendon strength
3. stamina
4. health and internal functioning of the body

The other thing I need to improve on is to try to do yoga at home everyday for 5-30 minutes. Not once..hahaha...have I been disciplined enough to at least practise some of the poses at home. I need to visualize doing it! And do it!