After being dismissed from therapy, I continued swimming on occasion, have taken up 1-2 cycling classes a week, and was accepted into an intensive Therapeutics Yoga class at the Yoga Institute of Champaign Urbana. The librarian at my school has been telling me for the last two years that I needed to try it out and I always resisted for a few reasons. One is that in order to go, it is across town and would eat up about 2 hours of my evening when I factor in travel and practice time. Two I have a hard time paying for childcare on top of the class fee and time commitment. And finally, three, I already have a gym membership so paying for another class on top of this was something I just couldn't stomach.
Well, after paying for PT co-pays, it is actually cheaper for me to go to the Therapeutics class and it happens to be offered on Weds. evenings when my husband is already off of work and can take care of the kids.
Lois is the owner and yogi of the facility and is actually world renowned in her field. She met with me and criticized my participation in activities like running and other cardio endeavors, but still created an individualized program to target my pain and agreed to work with me.
I now attend the Weds. night session in which I attempt to complete all 15 poses, which I have yet to come close to doing. This is not like anything I have ever done before and despite feeling lost and helpless, I do walk away feeling much better...at least for a day or so. This session is quite unique in that she has 3-4 assistants running around helping with every pose and getting any prop that your pose requires. I had informed Lois that I had experience with more commercialized yoga, but nothing like what she practices. Here is what my Weds. have been looking like:
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| I begin with this pose and stay there for 5 mins. |
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| Next up is something like this for 2 minutes on each side. |
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| Lois does not approve of my athletic build and says that I am very tight. |
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| This is my most important pose as it specifically targets the hip. I am supposed to roll my femur in towards me. I try and try, but it never happens. |
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| Lois can't get over how tall I am, which I wouldn't say I am that tall. Apparently my legs are endless. |
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| Here is Lois correcting my form after she told me it was the worst *insert yoga name* she had ever seen. That comment stuck with me for an entire week.
Participating in this class is putting me outside of my comfort zone and I am trying to remain as open-minded as possible. In order to get the most benefit, however, I really need to be practicing these poses every day. Without all of these props, though, I don't find it possible to replicate the pose even in the slightest. I have gotten reprimanded as a result.
I am technically enrolled through Thanksgiving, so we shall see what comes of this. In the meantime, I will hit up Andy who I just saw in my neighborhood tonight as he was walking with his family. He seemed to be a little disappointed to hear I wasn't running at all, but I'm hopeful that some day I will. It just won't be for awhile.
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