Yoga is becoming an exercise in futility

I signed up for an eight week Yoga class that meets at 7:30 am on Saturday was the 2nd class. I am really trying to have an open mind about this. The first class went really well I felt. I had some trouble with some of the poses, but was able to modify. Today was a different story. I got so frustrated in one part. There is a chunk of yoga where you are on your hands and knees. I have arthritis in both of my knees, with my right being worse than my left.  Because of this I have a really hard time kneeling. I can kneel on both for a short period of time, but I am unable to kneel just on my right knee without PAIN. Today the instructor had us do the hand and knee balance (you can see the move here) and this is where I just started to get frustrated. I did try since we have the mat and we are on a padded floor. I slowly raised my right arm and left leg, and then quickly put it back down. The right knee was having none of it. I was able to slightly do the move on the other side but the left knee was not very happy. Another pose that 'should' be easy is child's pose and I never feel comfortable or that I am getting a good stretch. I think I may have to research and see what other modifications I can do if I am going to finish out this class.

Any suggestions or ideas?? I would love to hear from you! 

FMM: Friend Making Monday

Kenlie over at All the Weigh has a feature on Mondays called Friend Making Monday. Below are my answers to today's getting to know you questions!

1) What is one of your favorite ways to spend a Saturday? I love to go out to dinner and see a movie. There is just something about seeing a movie in the theater that makes it better. I think it is that I can get lost in the story and not be distracted like I get at home when we watch a movie. 

2) List your top three favorite TV shows.  I do not really watch TV. As of last week we have gotten rid of Direct TV and now only have an antenna and local channels. I will probably catch the new Who do you think you are online and when the next season of True Blood is out on DVD we will get that. 

3) Would you rather be in pictures or take them? I want to be the one taking the pictures. No desire to be in them. I rarely feel like I look good. I am trying to change that and take more pictures for my blog. 

4) Why do you blog? I first started journaling online with Livejournal. I started to write about parts of my life and find people who are interested in reading and are interesting people. I have met some great people on LJ as well as on FB and blogger. My blog is a journal for only one aspect of life. It helps me to be accountable and I love knowing others are reading. 

5) Share five websites that you visit regularly…There are 4 sites I have set to open when I log in. They are Livejournal, gmail, facebook, and blogger. I then will usually go to CNN or Yahoo News. 

6) If you could have lunch with one person from your Twitter list who would it be? I do not use twitter. 

7) List a few of your favorite snacks. I like snacks WAY too much. My big one that I eat on an almost daily basis is Wasabi Seaweed. It is so crunchy and yummy! I also like chocolate. 

8 ) Do you have a pet? If so, what kind? I am owned by 4 cats. Mr Melodie Man, Dustbunnie, Serendipity and Strife. 

9) Which three material possessions would you struggle to live without? Internet, Computer, and Car

10) What’s your favorite drink?  Diet Coke! 

11) Do you enjoy cooking? I finding cooking meals hard, but I very much enjoy baking. 

12) Do you have children? No and I do not plan to have any. 

13) What are your favorite hobbies? Reading and playing games. I have about 50 different card games. 

14) Would you consider yourself to be shy or outgoing? Very much outgoing. I strike up conversations with strangers on a daily basis it seems.

15) If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change? I would like to be more adventurous. I am outgoing but I do not go out much if that makes sense. 

16) Who is your favorite actor/actress? I do not have any real favorites. I know some that I really can not stand though.. Tom Cruise and Jim Carey. 

17) What’s the coolest thing you’ve done this week?  Stuck out the Yoga class on Saturday. I even plan to go back! 

18) Do you live near your family or far from them? My mom and brother live in town, but I am about 4 hours from my Dad. Everyone else is miles away. 

19) List three of your talents. I am a really good problem solver. I love to just figure something out. This also goes in hand with my talent for bargain hunting. I was even on TV for using coupons before extreme couponing was 'cool'.  I did not take it to the extreme the people on the show do though.  My 3rd talent is the ability to strike up a conversation with just about anyone. 

20) What is your greatest attribute? That I can see the positive in most things. I am always looking for the good in people and the world. I have been accused of being a Polyanna but I wear that title with pride. 

Hello again, Hello.

Wow it has been over a month since I have posted. I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year! The past month has been filled with ups and downs. Some things up more than I like because of how down some things were.

In December I got my test results back and I need a follow up mammogram in 6 months just in case. He does not think there is a problem though. I had the MRI for the fibroid and my doctor seems to want to get me in for surgery earlier. I am going to be looking to get a 2nd opinion. One of my big problems is trying to find money for the deductible for 2 years in a row. I know I do not need things done right now, but soon probably.

Also in December I went and picked up my 100 hour shirt from the Y. It is my new favorite work out shirt. I am really glad it is not WHITE. Since you can do this multiple times I signed up in January to work toward a 2nd shirt. It took me 7.5 months to get the 1st shirt. I am aiming to get this shirt in less time.  I would love to be done in 6 months, but I thinking aiming for mid-July will be better.

The bad thing about December is that the only time I really went to the Y was to pick up my shirt. I did do a couple of work outs, but nothing like 4-5 times a week that I have done in the past. I admit that I really missed the workouts.

Fast food was my friend during the month of December as well as usual holiday treats. January I have rededicated myself to little to no fast food. My body and my wallet will thank me.

I weighed in on Friday January 6th and my starting weight for this year is 280. I am up 15 lbs from my lowest weight last year of 265. I am still 48 lbs lower than my starting weight last year. I am going to count this as a win. I am feeling good and I really have made a habit of working out. For the first week of January I have had   3.5 hours of exercise. LM and I went to the Y 4 mornings at 5:30am. Each time I did 30 minutes on the elliptical. I also had about 45 minutes of Pilates and 45 minutes of Yoga. I signed up for what I thought was going to be a Pilates class on Saturdays at 7:30am. The book had it listed as Pilates, but they decided to change it to Yoga. I went for the first time on 1/7. It is an 8 week course. I decided I am going to give a the class a chance. It helps that a friend from Tai Chi is taking the class and I like the instructor. Last time I took a Yoga class was in about 2004 and it did not go well. The teacher could not modify for a big girl and did not make the class feel welcoming. This time will be different.

I still have the same goal (resolution) this year as I did last year: To be more active. I also have added that I want to be more adventurous. We shall see how that goes. Branch out from my normal dinner and a movie on date night. I would love to hear some ideas of things I should try.

I hope everyone has a great New Year and you and yours are healthy and happy. What are some things you have planned for the new year?