Day 23 Question:
How long Western union money transfer does it take to increase hamstring flexibility?
Answer: More than 23 days. For me, anyway.
This up-and-down, start-and-stop stuff is driving me crazy. YesterdayI was full of energy, my practice was a breeze, I got yoga plus a ton of other stuff done. I was woman, hear me roar.
Today, I limped home, showered, then curled up on my bed in the fetal position while the anti-inflammatories took effect. And that’s it. I am crone, hear me whine.
I know I’m stronger and more flexible than I was a month ago. I know I have more endurance than I had a month ago. I know I need to stay focused on just doing the work, and not worrying about the result. But seriously, when will it stick for more than one day at a time?
Maybe this is the mental part of the challenge, staying with it despite inconsistent gains.
Hm. Short-term pain, few immediate rewards, long-term commitment required. That sounds a lot like writing. Focusing on publication, or good reviews, or making best-seller lists, or getting ever-increasing advances, is like doing yoga to look good. It’s not wrong, but it’s a by-product, not the point.
Sure, I want bigger advances for my books. I’d love to make the New York Times list one day, too. But long before that can ever happen, my job, my practice is to develop my voice, become more competent at my craft, build the strength, flexibility and consistency of my writing. Not to mention finishing the damn book.
So my mantra today: Breathe. Do the work. The rewards will come.
PS: this week I’ve written about 25 pages in my current work-in-progress. Yay!
Day 20 Consider Yourself Warned
I’ve reached that stage in an exercise program where my body has reached a plateau, neither improving (as far as I can tell) nor leaving me in a limp puddle of humiliation after a class.
Now, they tell me, it becomes a mental challenge.
NOW it becomes mentally challenging?? I don’t know what that means, exactly. From day one, it’s been a mental challenge to stay in posture when my hamstrings are screaming. It’s a mental challenge just to get to class every day. It’s a social situation, which automatically makes it mental challenging for me. And NOW it’s getting started??
I’m scared.
But I have noticed one thing, and maybe this is what they’re talking about. I’m pretty damn proud of myself. Yessiree, bob, I’ve made it 20 days in a row. Yup, lotta sweat. Lotta laundry.
And I’m not afraid to talk about it. To wear yoga clothes all day, every day, to be make-up free and proud, to casually practice postures while waiting in bank line-ups. (All part of the social challenge referenced above.)
“You run marathons,” I might comment at a cocktail party. “How nice for you. I,” pause for effect, “do yoga. Bikram yoga. The hot kind. Here, feel my abs. FEEL THEM!”
If I’ve had a glass of wine, it can quickly devolve into an anatomy lesson, a sort of reverse sexual assault. Which you’d think would make me popular at parties, but no. Apparently I do something weird with my eyes that frightens people.
Mental challenge, pshaw. It’s a mental challenge every day, just to be me. Bring it on, I say. BRING IT ON!
Day 15 A Blog-Post a Day…
I’ve decided I want to blog more. Since I’ve already been posting daily for my 30-Day Bikram Yoga Challenge, I figured I might as well add a blog challenge to it. All writing is good exercise. After all, writers write. Right? (Sorry, that was lame.)
So, I hereby commit to posting on this blog once a day for all of 2011. (Or until I don’t.)
I know it won’t be easy, but it might be fun, inspiring, awesome and wonderful. I’m going to make use of The DailyPost, and the community of other bloggers with similiar goals, to help me along the way, including asking for help when I need it and encouraging others when I can.
If you already read my blog, I hope you’ll encourage me with comments and likes, and good will along the way.