What I did this week

Monday - oldest still home, everyone else home too, spent the whole day with them.
Tuesday - free weights* and Pilates
Wednesday - therapy appt
Thursday - free weights* and Pilates
Friday - caught up on paperwork and phone calls
Saturday - family all day
Sunday - two yoga classes, the first one was 1 hour and 15 minutes and was an active/working class, the second was an hour and a half and was pure restoration/relaxation. The class times had changed. The relaxation one had been moved much later in the day. When I got there too early, I participated in the class that was starting and then stayed for my regular class. I am pleased with this time change, it is easier (on Sunday) to get to a later class.

*It was circuit/stations/intervals at free weights this week.

We set up 15 stations and did one minute at each with just a couple breaths between stations. We had a 2-3 minute break when we finished the first rotation and then did a second rotation.

We finished with yoga to stretch very worked muscles. The muscle fatigue was huge by the end of the hour. Instructor and I both had to dig deep for Pilates (same instructor, two classes are back to back). I had to dig deeper of course, but it says a lot she had fatigue.

By 4pm on Wednesday I knew what was really worked (my fatigue/soreness sets in about that time the next day) - it was mostly my glutes/butt. I am not sure I have ever felt glutes that way before this week's workout.

It took everything I had to go back on Thursday because I didn't think I had enough left to do the circuit again (on  Thursday we repeat what we did Tuesday, and then the next Tuesday it changes to something totally different).

I had to stay very focused and calm and pay attention to form, but did get through everything in free weights (Thursday).

Walking into Pilates (Thursday) the instructor said she was very fatigued also. That is the sign of a true workout because she is in very good shape.

Went to do kneeling leg raises (on knees, lean enough to one side to put hand on floor to our side and then work the opposite leg, yes, they are very hard) in Pilates (Thursday) and couldn't lift my leg. Had to lie on the floor for them. I struggle with kneeling leg raises any way, but in true fatigue (literally) could not do them. Leg would not lift.

Once upon a time I would not have been able to get through the circuit (happily). Once upon a time I would have been upset to have to greatly modify (not be able to do the full pose/exercise) when my leg wouldn't lift. Both of those responses would have been mental/ego. When I got out of my own mind, quieted my mind, learned to leave my ego at the door, everything got a lot easier.

Even when the workout is hard, everything is easier when I get out of my own way.

On the last of the circuits and at the end of pilates I was saying (in my mind) Jet on my inhale and Pilot on my exhale. I also use a simple in and out sometimes to focus on the breath and let go of the mental baggage.

BOOKS - finished Uncle Tom's Cabin this week. More information of this will pop up in a post later in the week. I only know one other person who has read this book and he read it for school (about 15 years older than I am). If you have read this book and have any thoughts - I am totally done with it now and would appreciate any comments.



PS -
The circuit idea is one that can be done easily at home. A large clock with a third hand to tick on the seconds is needed. A list of exercises that can be done in one spot (sit ups, push ups, lunges, arm work with weights, skipping rope) and utilize all body parts in turn is key.

Another way of looking at a slightly different version of this concept is tabatas. The body shock/tabata label (just below this post) will take you to related posts. I did go back and read some of those posts as I finished writing this one. I remembered being present in each of those stages. (I think there are also links on my side bar under the exercise title.)