Commit to Calm day 29

Exercise is a key element of physical and mental health. Tweaking my yoga routine made a big difference in balancing my workouts.

Since starting my Commitment to Calm, I’ve been trying to figure out what (if any) yoga routine works for me. I seek the physical and mental benefit of yoga any way I can get it. In the beginning, I simply did some stretching and it felt great. Over the past month, I’ve experimented with several aspects of my routine (time, location, etc.) and even created a space for yoga. This week, I figured out a way to balance my workouts with a new yoga routine.

Incorporating more stretching

On several occasions in the past month, I simply stretched. Actually, stretching is all I could muster on Day 1 of my commitment. Since then, I’ve stretched a few times before going to bed and really enjoyed it. Often my body feels sore by the end of the day. Whether it’s from my workout, hunching over the laptop, or the stress of the day, I can be physically (and mentally) wound tight by bedtime. These brief pauses for stretching felt good and relaxed me just in time for bed. Plus, it required very little effort in terms of time and energy and benefited my body and sleep. Is this disciplined yoga? No, but who cares. This isn’t about checking something off the list. It’s about being, not doing. It felt good and it worked for me.

I bend so I don’t break.

Anonymous

Although stretching before bed worked, I was motivated to try some actual yoga classes this month. I used the space I created and selected different classes from a subscription-based app. A few times I did a longer yoga class, between 45-60 minutes. Other than the one day when I really needed to listen to my body, I enjoyed the classes, but wasn’t entirely fired up about yoga. That’s been my challenge in regard to creating a yoga routine. I go through phases: sometimes I love it (my hot yoga phase), sometimes I won’t make time for it (my heavy weightlifting phase), and sometimes it’s just “meh.” I’m still trying to figure it out.

Finding the right balance

This month, I struggled to figure out the right mix of cardio, weights, and yoga. They each offer different benefits.

  • Cardio: I love the mental health benefit I get from a cardio workout. It keeps my anxiety in check and gives me a big energy boost. My go-to cardio is riding a spin bike or doing a step class (which I now do in my bedroom!). Plus, cardio is doctor recommended since my POTS diagnosis.
  • Weightlifting: A few years ago, I went on a macro diet and my coach convinced me to start lifting seriously. I’ve never looked back! It’s the only way I’ve been able to transform my body. Lifting makes me feel strong, and there’s a physical satisfaction only lifting weights can provide.
  • Yoga: I know I need to incorporate more flexibility training, and this is the best way to do it. I notice more and more how stiff and sore my muscles and joints feel, which always improves after stretching or yoga. Plus, I like the mental release from yoga and focus on breathing.

I experimented this month with balancing all three of these. First, I tried doing them on separate days. With a need to do cardio and weightlifting several times per week each, it was hard to fit it all in. Plus, yoga alone didn’t feel like enough of a workout. I know people who practice yoga regularly can be really fit and strong, but I haven’t figured that balance out. Perhaps I haven’t found the right at-home class yet.

The best workout routine is the one you can stick to.

Anonymous

Tweaking my routine

Then, this week I tried something new. I combined my cardio days with my yoga days, and it worked great! Twice this week I did 30 minutes of cardio followed by a 30-minute yoga class. My muscles were warmed up by the cardio, which benefited my yoga practice. I could go deeper with my stretches since I wasn’t starting with cold muscles. Yoga also felt more intense since my heartrate stayed elevated, and I continued to sweat. Cardio and yoga were a perfect match.

When I woke yesterday, I actually thought, “Oh yay! Yoga day.” I haven’t thought that way about yoga in a long time. So, maybe I’m onto something. Making this small change helped to balance my workouts and yoga routine. I will continue to practice in a way that works for me, tweaking my routine whenever I need to.   

What routine works for you? Leave me a comment!

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