Ashtanga Yoga - Week 4

Another Saturday morning and another trip out into the cold, over to the gym for a session of Ashtanga Yoga. Next week will find me doing the same thing again.

When I got there Ella, our instructor, came over to say she was happy to see that I am staying with it, and that I seem very focused when I am doing it. She asked if I noticed any difference in myself since I started. I explained that I did, how fencing tightens up the hip area, and how I noticed the yoga making my hips feel looser and more "open". One day I will be able to fully explain the concept of "open hips". I also told her how it has been helping my shoulder which has a couple of small tears in the rotator cuff.

I did not tell her how I swear at her under my breath at times!

This past week at fencing practice, Fred, who is a fencing coach at York University and fences with us at Bladeworks Fencing Club, commented that I seem to have more range with my blade. Before I had great difficulty in blocking (parrying) an attack that came from below the waist. My shoulder would lock and hurt when I tried to hold my blade low and out (parry second) but Wednesday was doing this with ease.

Is yoga helping? Oh yeah!

Which is why I continue to go.