Flexibility is not something to take for granted

If I had to pick one specific physical hindrance when it comes to my yoga practice, it would be my hamstrings.  I have always had a hard time touching my toes; it’s always been an uncomfortable position for me. Even when I took gymnastics {on and off for 10 years} I still had to work very hard to be flexible. I could do the splits on my left leg, but that was about it. Now that I have been working on my flexibility again, it has all come back to haunt me. My dad also has very tight hamstrings, and is not at all flexible. Even though he has been an athlete since before I was born {marathon runner, triathlete, Ironman competitor 7 times}, he has always been stiff. I didn’t really see the connection until about a month ago at Bikram Yoga class. We were beside one another practicing, when our instructor said, 

“Lisa, I’m sorry that you have inherited your dad’s tight hamstrings, but you’ll still loosen them up before he does.” 

It’s true, my dad bends his knees so far up during certain postures [anything involving touching toes], if you weren’t aware of his stiffness, you’d think he was joking around.

I was stretching at home, and tried to go into the splits on my left side. You know what? I’m not that far away from getting all the way down. Granted, those last few inches are the hardest, but I’m closer than I was. So my new goal is to be able to do the splits again.

Today was class 41 of my Bikram Yoga practice, day 6 in a row:

I went in the front row again. Today wasn’t as revolutionary or inspiring as yesterday. But, the class was just fine, I just felt a little more scattered and unbalanced. Every day is different. Tomorrow will be different.

The weather is still out-of-wack. There was more thunder last night, a rainbow, and a tornado that touched down an hour away. Tomorrow is my birthday; typically on my birthday it isn’t raining, but tomorrow it is suppose to rain. Two years ago we had a huge thunder/lightning storm on the night of my birthday. It was the most intense storm I have experienced, and it was beautiful. Aside from that, the last time I remember it raining on my birthday was my last day of 7^th grade. Rain aside, to celebrate my 25^th birthday, I plan to hit yoga in the morning, then I’m having a dinner with a group of friends, who I haven’t seen in too long.  

my new book that I cannot wait to start reading