Yoga Me to Sleep

After picking up the girls this morning we head over to the zoo for a fun filled day of animals. The day starts off with a nice lunch in a huge pavilion followed by ice cream treats and a couple of special animal visitors. Who would have thought a snake would be the biggest hit. If it were me I would run away screaming like a little girl but all the kids loved it. 

Next stop, petting the stingrays at Stingray Beach. Note to self: next time pick up a map to take along with you at the front of the park. Seems a no brainer but we didn't and got lost, turning what should have been a small jaunt into a long trek. No worries though we used the opportunity to stop at some other exhibits along the way. 

A was like a kid in a candy store. Every two seconds she would run off squealing, "oh look it's a (insert random zoo animal)."  We ran into the camel rides along the way which I have to say was kind of a rip off. I mean five bucks a piece for one short, and I mean short trek around in a circle. Luckily they passed by the baby camels who came out to say hi which totally made it worth it for the girls anyway. 

While the girls were getting off we just happened to notice that oh hey there are the stingrays. Just about passed them up without realizing it. We head inside, slip a couple bucks to the ladies at the desk and come away with two halves of a small fish to feed to the stingrays. Gross I know, but it was worth a try. We head to the pool and A and I (B chickened out) put the fish in between two fingers and then dip our hands under the surface of the water. In no time flat stingrays are gliding over and swoop up to suck the fish right out of our fingers. Just imagine huge flappy mouths opening up and sucking up the fish like a vacuum. A little unnerving at first but worth the experience. 

We continue to lean over the pool and hold our hands in the water to pet the slimy backs as they pass by. At one point A jumped sky high because a stingray came up from behind her and bumped her hand when she wasn't expecting it. Funniest thing ever. As I laugh the same thing happens to me and I about take a dive into the pool. My turn to get laughed at :). 

Anyway the day is long filled with lots of walking in crazy heat that only gets hotter as the day goes by. By the time we leave I'm exhausted and ready for a shower. Then unfortunately it's off to work at the casino. 

Needless to say I just want to crash when I get home but again my body is aching from all the exertion today. I like how well the other yoga routine worked out so I think I will do another one tonight. 

Just gonna be lazy tonight and put up the pics from the post. I'm pretty sure I won't last to write about my experience as I will more than likely fall asleep half way through. So goodnight, see ya tomorrow. Wish me luck. 

Sleepy Time

My muscles have that nice achy soreness today, the kind where it hurts to walk down stairs or use your arms. Okay so maybe I wouldn't call it nice, but it's what happens after a good workout when you are out of shape.  As sore as I was I still managed to eke through the rest of my day wincing here and there.   

As I trudge up the stairs on my way to bed I think about what I tell my clients, "working out is great, but make sure you take care of your body afterwards to avoid injury. Get plenty of massage an do your stretching."  Yada yada yeah right, it's been a long day and I just want to go to bed. So I lay in bed my aching body keeping me awake and realize I still haven't done my pin for the day either. 

I pound my fists on the bed. "Argh, fine, I'll do it."  So I looked up my pins on stretching and found a good one that is supposed to help you sleep. As I begin to do the stretches, my body gradually relaxes and by the third stretch I'm falling asleep on the pillows. I can't tell you how hard it was to bring myself to write this blog afterwards. I think this set of stretches will be my new daily routine for the evening. 

Yoga Poses That Put You to Sleep

I've again used myself as the model in the demo pics as unflattering as they may be. If you want to see the original post in all its glory with a beautiful model you can find the link here. http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/the-yoga-poses-that-put-you-to-sleep

Pose #1: Reclined Spinal Twist

Start off laying on your back with your right knee pulled up towards your chest. 

Then rotate your leg across your body to the left and allow it fall to the side. You will notice your spine gently twists at the hips. Keep your shoulders flat. If you need to you can place pillows under your leg for support until you are flexible enough for your leg to rest on the floor. 

Rest like this for as long as you want, a minute or two is good.  Then switch sides and repeat with the other leg. 

Pose #2:  Reclined Big Toe Pose A&B

Laying on your back raise your right leg towards your head, leg straight, gently stretching out your hamstrings. Use a strap or towel if necessary to help you raise your leg without straining. The goal her is relaxation so don't go overboard. A light stretch will do. Breath into it and feel your body relaxing. 

Next you pull your rigt leg out to the side of your body, again using a strap if need be. Let your leg hang, feeling the stretch in your adductors. 

Once complete be sure to repeat on the other side. 

Pose #3:  Supported Bridge Pose

This one was a bit complicated as I didn't have a yoga block as the pin required. Instead I used two pillows and tucked them under my lower back bridging my hips up as you would in a standard yoga bridge pose. It was slightly painful at first, but as I relaxed into it and shifted the pillows until they were in a better spot I was able to let go and relax into the pose better. 

Pose #4:  Double Pigeon

Sit criss cross applesauce with one foot over the opposite thigh in a sort of half lotus pose. Use pillows to prop your torso up as you lean forward over your legs. If you are super flexy bendy like I used to be you won't need the pillows, just bend forward over your legs and rest. 

Repeat on the other leg. 

Pose #5:  Reclined Bound Angle

After the last pose which I may have snored my way through I was pretty far gone and ready for bed but I trudged on to this next pose. 

Place some pillows behind your back and lean back onto them with your legs crossed. I wasn't sure on how to strap my legs so I just let them rest criss crossed and it worked great. 

Now I think a great finale to this would be the corpse pose, but had I done that I most definitely would not have been awake as I write this now. 

That's all I have for now, yawn, wish...me...lu...zzzzz