Does Yoga Work?

But Doesn’t Yoga Work?

Heather — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:29:31 +0000

Hi everyone, sorry for dropping off the blog for so long! Due to the everyday pressures of life, I was not able to sustain the diet of 1800 calories in order to finish my 30-day challenge for the site. I have continued to do yoga, and my body feels great, but I don’t think that my figure has changed in any substantial way. I would like to re-set and try the 30-day challenge again, but I need a time when I have no travel plans and can dedicate the necessary time to feeding myself. An 1800-calorie per day diet is completely doable, but only when I can plan every single meal. So stay tuned; I will be back shortly!

Day 41

Heather — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 08:03:32 +0000

I haven’t been able to do yoga in two days because of an insanely busy work schedule; and I miss it like crazy! I feel like there is a giant hole in my life, and the worst part is: I probably won’t have time until tomorrow at the earliest! I can’t go on like this … Continue reading »

Day 39

Heather — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:42:27 +0000

My sacrum moved in the night last night – twice. Two large adjustments that both surprised me and brought an odd sense of relief. I didn’t realize how kinked up my back was – I knew I had issues but I never thought it was so rigid and warped. After 39 days straight (minus a total of 3 days here and there), I feel like my bones are resettling and I am looser, and stronger, and taller.

It’s kind of addicting.

Day 35

Heather — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:20:52 +0000

I continue to do yoga every day, even though I have stopped with the photos! It is getting easier and feels better each day. I am now able to touch my heels during downward-facing dog!! Those of you who do yoga know what a big deal this is. (It’s a big, big deal!)

Anyway, I will do photos soon but I am not sure I have lost any weight. My back feels better though. Much better.

Day 14

Heather — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 04:39:57 +0000

Recipe of the day: TBD

Yoga practice: x

How I feel: Better today that yesterday. I am going to explore holding all of my poses for 90 seconds today and see how it goes.

Today’s photos:

Day 12

Heather — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:03:23 +0000

Weight: 137 (Direct cause and effect after eating too much for three days. It will come off.)

Calories: 1720 – FINALLY.

Recipe of the day: TBD

Yoga practice: Today was not a good day for yoga. I was distracted, and did not feel like spending the time. I was stiff and sore and a little frustrated. So I reset my timer to 90 second intervals, and held poses for much longer than normal, during which time I read a book (Mistborn book 2). I know it’s an anti-yoga thing to do; I know that I am supposed to feel each stretch and breath and focus, but I just couldn’t do it today. So I did what I could, and got a lot of great long stretches. I find that when I am distracted by a book, it doesn’t hurt so much! Tomorrow if I still have trouble, I am going to use a podcast from my iPad – it’s the ace up my sleeve.

Measurements: 37 hips, 21.25 thigh, 10.00 upper arm, 32.5 one inch below belly button (back to normal), 27.25 waist

How I feel: My back and hips are sore, as if I haven’t been sweating and grunting and stretching so darn much. I thought for sure I would reach body nirvana by now. It’s been 11 days!! I did some deep lunges yesterday, and really felt them in my hips tonight. Do other people get sore from yoga? What is happening to my muscles anyway?

No photos today. I am not sure they would show progress anyway, considering that I have gained three pounds!

Day 11

Heather — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:47:35 +0000

Weight: 136.5 (oops – look what happens when I fall off the wagon for three days! How am I going to show the benefits of yoga if I gain weight?? I still have 19 days to go, and no PMS in sight. I can do it!)

Calories: 2200 – still not meeting my goal. I may need to cut out sugar completely.

Recipe of the day: TBD

Yoga practice: A little mix of everything, and I even did a few shoulder stands. My arms are feeling strong, and I focused a lot on downward-facing-dog. My heels are nowhere near the ground today, I don’t understand how they touched that one day!

Measurements: 37.5 hips, 21.25 thigh, 10.00 upper arm, 33.5 one inch below belly button (I think I have measuring issues, or I have really put on some inches!), 27.5 waist

How I feel: Sore and stiff, which is unexpected. My right shoulder is pretty kinked up, and my hips were very stiff when I first started yoga tonight. They loosened up quickly, and I had some nice relief-pops.

Today’s photos:

Day 1 vs Day 10

Heather — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 05:10:10 +0000

Day 10

Heather — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 04:45:47 +0000

Weight: 134

Calories: I was really naughty.

Recipe of the day: Creme Brulee. If you’re going to be bad, eat something good.

Yoga practice: I tried to do some of the moves featured in the The Key Muscles of Yoga: Scientific Keys, Volume I. I like this book and its companion, Volume II, because of the drawings that show exactly which muscles are being stretched during each move.

Measurements: I didn’t measure today – what a lazy Sunday!

How I feel: Stretched out and fairly healthy. I have noticed that the right side of my back seems shorter than the left, and that when I do a bridge pose (head and feet on floor, pelvis stretched towards sky), my left ribcage sticks up approximately 1.5 inches above my left. I can correct this with my hands, but it feels like a giant twist in my spine. Any ideas how to correct this, or moves I can focus on? I would really appreciate it!

Today’s photos:

Day 9

Heather — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 14:55:13 +0000

Weight: 134

Calories: Uncounted; more than 2000 calories

Recipe of the day: Mango Ginger Curried Soup

Yoga practice: Much better today! I did 60 minutes and had a great savasana at the end. I did a mixture of all the yoga I know, focusing on my hips and back.

Measurements: 37.00 hips, 20.5 thigh, 10.00 upper arm, 32.25 one inch below belly button (minus 1 inch – goodbye PMS bloat!), 27.25 waist

How I feel: Better today. Much better.

No photos today!