Cocoon

Power yoga, an hour long, last night. I am far from mastering the poses, but where I am is still amazing for me. Those strrrrretches.... my back is so much more flexible, I can bend so much further than I could when I started. And the way I feel in the days after class, as I can see the results, the lengthening of my body and the leanness and definition in my core that hasn't been there for years. The cycling/cardio has been burning calories and building muscle, but this yoga is the other piece of the puzzle for me, the other half of my weekly physical work.

Another step forward, more growth in the past two years of changes for me... Dave and I were talking about it in the car on the way to the lake this weekend - it has been a little over one year since we've been back together, and that year has been a rebuilding for me and for us. But I can't discount the downhills and the valleys that brought me to that low point in my life- and made me realize some things about myself, and about where I wanted to be... as a wife, a mother and a woman, and to start listening to God and what He wants for my life, instead of just what I think is best for me.

I had to be in that valley, and realize some things about myself and about the relationships I wanted, in order to begin this uphill climb - to say goodbye to some of those comfort zones of my life, to find the strength in myself to learn how to break some patterns - patterns that were easy, but not healthy - emotionally, physically or otherwise. Rebuilding and strengthening my relationship with my spouse, but also rebuilding my relationship within myself - how I deal with me, and finding more of "me"- which in turn improves my relationships with those I love the most.

And now I'm opening up and concentrating on my physical self with this new mindset, and it feels awesome. Exercise for me over the past several years has primarily been me and a book on a cardio machine at the gym or walking outside on the trail near our home. Taking that step to join a class was a turning point - out of my comfort zone, not caring if I look stupid while doing lunges or jumping jacks or whatever as we plow through the obstacle course portion of our cross training class on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Watching my endurance increase each week, as I am able to keep up with the instructor, turn up the resistance on the bike, peddle faster, harder and longer. It feels awesome, and makes me want to do even more - and, it helps me make much better food choices, knowing that I don't want to undo all of the work I've accomplished.

More changes in my life, coming very soon, another comfort zone going by the wayside... more on that in the next couple of days. Time to get up and get ready for Jace's Field Day, which was NOT yesterday, it is actually today! (Oops!)