Back to Bikram's

After the third straight day of Bikram's yoga, I am feeling happy and stretched and strong... if a little stiff. This week, the man and I are going for 5 days in a row, a feat we've never attempted because we thought we would be completely worn out and unable to do consecutive classes. The workout is complete and strenuous. but surprisingly, I feel stronger each time I go back. It's counterintuitive, but the less time between classes, the better. I'm surprised; I thought the instructors were just trying to sell me class passes.

Since I am doing this for the week (and intend to go back to 3 classes a week after these 5 days - it's costly), and since I have had a slight twinge of pain in my right ankle when running, I am not running this week. It's the first week since February when I haven't kept up the running, and I am shocked to find that I miss it.

One thing that I have learned so far from Project Resolution is that I am getting much better at following through with things, and my stick-with-it-ness has developed a lot over these past few months. I guess I'm making a habit of making habits. It's starting to be really fun to see how long I can stick with things. Running? I love it, want to do it more frequently. The budgeting? I'm becoming something on the spendy side of a miser. The soda? Not a real problem anymore. Work writing? If I'm really struggling, I just set my timer for 15 minutes and write.. I can do ANYTHING for 15 minutes, I've proven it to myself time and time again when running for 15 minutes straight, then 20, then 25, then 28... 30... What usually happens at the end of 15 minutes of forced writing is that I find I don't want to stop because I am in the middle of a thought that I am loathe to drop. So I write for a bit longer, then save the file for expansion the next day. And I feel good.

The problem is less of going than of starting. But knowing that I can endure is helpful. It makes it easier to start, because I know the end will be in sight as soon as I do. It sounds so simple in words. But in practice, well... these things just take practice.

Image from Sydney Morning Herald.