Goal Complete: Take a Yoga Class

It's not that I haven't done yoga before.

During my bouts of super health-y-ness (is that a word…healthfulness, health-ness…health...you get the point), I've done the waking up at 6am before anyone else to try and keep up with a slender and flexible woman doing the downward dog on TV. That typically ended in me sitting on the couch WATCHING a slender and flexible woman doing the downward dog while eating a bowl full of cereal.

I've also done the P90X yoga. Let me rephrase. I've also struggled clumsily through about 10 minutes of the P90X yoga thinking there's no way another human being can do this and not feel pain in every part of their body and why was this ever created.

I've also just worn yoga pants. Around the house.

But now, I've taken a REAL yoga class…in person at the Comer Center at work. A friend of mine suggested it out of the blue one morning and thought I'd give it a try so we went together.

I loved it!!

It wasn't necessarily a beginner class, but it was very realistic and with a relaxed teacher and environment. I actually enjoyed the poses and was able to do a lot of them. Downsides: I was having a lot of "stretching" pain near my incision scar, but I've had problems the last several years in general, so just need to note to be careful. Also, it really made me realize how weak my core has gotten. Before I had kids I really took a lot of pride in how strong my abs were and I was always the one to do the most sit-ups in gym class (Not you Nikki Bull…ME)! Alas, after 3 kids, it's just not the same.

*Sigh

But, I have a lot of belief that working hard and challenging your body will get results. I definitely want to keep up with the class. Have I gone back?

No.

But I will, I will.
For the love of downward dog I will!

Sigh of Relief

After 3 months, 2 ultrasounds, 1 cat scan and countless doctor visits later, today is the first time I feel relief in awhile. Oh, don't forget the approximate $1500 I owe out of pocket too.

Last night I got the results from my last ultrasound and my cyst is GONE!! I was hoping for it to be smaller, and then next steps would be another follow-up in 6-weeks until it eventually went away. Thankfully it went away during this round and I don't need to do the ovarian cancer test that the doctor was suggesting 6 weeks ago.

Huge sigh of relief here.

Whenever I receive a "clean bill of health" it definitely makes me stop and think about the fortunate things in my life. Health should be #1 and it's something that most often I take for granted.

Just this morning I saw someone pushing a child in a wheelchair to school. Think about what it's like to take care of someone in a wheelchair (I can't imagine) and then get out there and walk in the freezing cold, snow and icy streets. Who am I to complain about having to get my kids dressed and myself for the winter and get them out the door?

Then on the way to work I saw an elderly man who drove to his mailbox to get the mail. It makes sense with how far away it was from the farm house, and having to walk across the ice in the driveway. It seems like a petty thing when I complain about running out in the front in the cold to grab the mail.

There are countless times around town that I see people standing out in the nasty weather waiting at the bus stop. Mothers with their kids in strollers, elderly people carrying bags of groceries; as I drive by in my warm and comfortable car.

So today is one of those days where I am thankful I can walk, have a car, warm clothes, kids to take care of…and most of all…

HEALTH!