Comfort and Fitness

Let's talk comfort and fitness and how the two must go hand-in-hand.

For my own fitness, I go to yoga classes and I strength train.

I've been strength training regularly since my Air Force days, beginning 2005. It's something I feel more comfortable with every day. I mean, I got certified in it I enjoy it so much.

Yoga, I feel, is still relatively new to me. I've done it off and on for the past few years. It is something I enjoy but never really knew much about. Lately, I've been trying to incorporate it at least three times a week in my fitness journey. I've been going to Kula Yoga as they offer all of their classes free to active duty and veterans! How awesome is that?!

Anyway, what I've learned recently is that I truly don't know what I'm doing in yoga and that I really should take their beginner yoga class. That's on the agenda for tomorrow.

What I do know is that you should always listen to your body when it comes to attempting a workout movement. Try new things, definitely, but if it hurts in a I-feel-like-I'm-going-to-pull-or-strain-something- type of way then back off from it.

I always try to do the yoga poses the instructors direct us to but there are poses that simply hurt too much. Like the Supta Virasana pose. This pose causes me too much discomfort in so many different places that I HAVE to listen to my body.

So many people hear the phrase, "No Pain, No Gain" without realizing it's simply just not true. Pain means something is wrong and if you don't stop now you could injure yourself. Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather be injury free. So, I listen to my body. If something seems and feels off, it most likely is. Listen to that! 

While there might be benefits from doing certain movements and poses - not just with yoga but with all forms of exercise - sometimes the dangers of them are more important. This would be a contraindication. It just depends on what's going on with you and your body.

So, my point here?

Know yourself.

Know your body.

Listen to your body.

Push yourself.

Be reasonable.

In the meantime, I'll be over here wondering if anyone else's nose gets in the way of child's pose.

Maybe I'm just doing it wrong and this is why I'm going to the beginner's class on Monday.

Have a beautiful week, my friends!

Nicole