Day 55

Week 7, Day 3 X3 Yoga done. Yoga today was quite nice. I feel better as I can do more things properly and have better form. I was happy to be able to palm the ground, but my balance poses still need a ton of work. There is always something to improve on. I am also happy to see my ability to hold poses longer. The last sun salutation, crescent/warrior 3/half moon/twisting half moon/standing splits/crescent, did not make me falter. I was able to stay up without touching my foot down, although I couldn't keep my leg parallel the entire time, I was able to keep it off the ground.

Yoga, as I have previously talked about, is very important. The reason I say this is pretty simple. We all need to stretch and become more flexible, but we don't usually do it correctly. What I mean is easy to see as I learn more. When I was in high school, we did all kinds of static stretching prior to a game. We never did or did very little dynamic stretching and that static stretching of cold muscles and joints is one of the main factors why we had groin and hamstring injuries. Dynamic stretching allows you to warm up the muscles and joints in preparation for using them especially for explosive movements.We never did static stretching at the end of a workout, practice or game which is when you should be doing it to promote elongation of the muscle and promoting growth. It's amazing that we didn't have more injuries and I just chalk that up to our youth and ability to adapt at that age. I do not have that ability anymore and as I get older I see the need for both dynamic and static stretching to not only promote muscle growth and flexibility, but to enhance my own personal quality of life.

The more I do yoga and stretching, the better my body becomes. This really shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. We all knew stretching was important, just not how important or vital it really is. I guess every day I do yoga, I will do some sort of yoga and stretching is a great thing post. Maybe I should change it up a bit. Not sure how or what to say.

I will say this. I am doing that 30 Day Plank challenge and today was the start of the 3rd week and I was supposed to do 2:30 today and tomorrow. It took me 2 tries 2 days ago and yesterday was a rest day. Today I only got 2:06 and my lower back and abs said enough. I did this after yoga and I might have been a little tired after all the vinyasas and upward and downward dog. I don't know if that is it or I just need more core work. I do know I need more core work and I can almost raise up from laying down to sitting up without using my arms at all. Not quite there, but getting close. I just may need to work a little more on my core to be able to handle the longer times. I am going to do another 1:30 plank today. I will then try to do my full 2:30 plank, but first thing instead of doing anything else first. If I can do the 2:30, then I will continue on with the schedule as is, if not I will start this week over and add 2 days of 2:30 before moving on. If that still continues to be a problem, then I will restart week 2 over and hopefully be able to advance from there. The core is key in the longer times and I do not feel completely spent in the arms and shoulders although I feel it, but core is what keeps you in that position. What I am doing would be in some eyes admitting defeat or a failure, but I look at it as understanding where my weaknesses are and trying and working to overcome them. Life is a struggle, so fight back with all you got. Who knows you may win your life back in the process.