You guys will do whatever it takes to keep a guy on the straight and narrow. Looking back at my one and only backblast (VQ on 11/14), it was late just like this one. A little headlocking and friendly ribbing may just be the encouragement some of us need. I know I do. So without further ado, see below for Bird’s yoga inspired Q – it actually did happen Wacker!
0510 – Q posts with computer, yoga mats, speaker and phone in tow in preparation for said event. Borrowed yoga mats courtesy of Bayou Yoga studio, which if I’m not doing some craziness with you guys ITG is where I might be otherwise on an early morning. Oh who am I kidding, if I don’t show I’m probably still in bed at 5:15! Actually, I do enjoy the yoga, although I’m not sure if my illicit affair is with the yoga studio or F3 – depends on who you ask I guess.
Shortly after distributing yoga mats and various props arrive the following members of PAX: Shooter, The Pelican, Steve, and Zoolander.
0515 – Chilly morning, albeit not as bad as the forecasted high 30 temps. The combination of cold temps, yoga, and those of you who aren’t so flexible could have been a recipe for disaster! Cold temps abated with a quick warm up consisting of high knees, butt kicks, side straddle hops, seal jacks, torso twists, windmills, mountain climbers, and merkins (10 each IC).
0520 – Just to ensure all the sensitive areas were good and warm, PAX took a quick run to the tunnel – gotta remember a headlamp next time for the spooky, dark forest in the turn northward. Eventually, the light of the tunnel approaches and PAX regroups with a plank a ten count merkins in cadence before the return run.
0530 – PAX regroups on stage where yoga mats are spread. Shooter was the only one who got the memo about bringing a mat, but it was some sort of blanket from south of the border – not your typical yoga attire. Speaking of which, thankfully there were no yoga pants to be seen either.
After circling up for the upcoming spiritual experience, Q reminds PAX that yoga should be done with intention, gratitude, and purpose. One of the nice thing about the practice is that it allows the space for thinking about those things. Did I mention I’m grateful for the PAX? I am.
First yoga series consisted of:
- Child’s pose
- Table, right-arm up, twist under, breath
- Table, left arm up, twist under, breath
- Bird dog, right arm out, left leg up, knee to elbow five times
- Bird dog, left arm out, right leg up, knee to elbow five times
- Table to bear pose to down dog
- 10 Down dog pushups (aka Carolina Dry Docks)
- Repeat 1x
Second yoga series consisted of:
- Two rounds of sun salutation A (i.e., forward fold, halfway left, plank to chataranga, up dog, down dog, jump or step to hands)
Third yoga series consisted of:
- Sun Salutation A
- Right leg up to runners lunge
- Rise to crescent
- Twisting crescent
- Hands to hear center and bend forward to hook elbows on knee (twisting lunge)
- Open arms
- Twisting crescent
- Crescent
- Repeat 1x
Fourth yoga series consisted of:
- Sun Salutation A
- Right leg up to runners lunge
- Warrior 1
- Warrior 2
- Reverse warrior
- Right angle pose (bind encouraged)
- There was a bunch of stuff I had planned after that that I forgot that will save for next time
- Warrior 2
- Warrior 1
- Repeat 1X
Fifth yoga series consisted of:
Honestly gents, it’s been so long since the Q (it actually did happen Wacker) that I’ve gotten a little fuzzy on what happened next, but there was some yogi squat action, lizard lunging, and flying into configurations inspired by birds of sorted varieties. Zoolander covered a few of them. I can’t even remember if we did a little meditating at the end or did a shavasana, but I do recall some focused breathing – cool are in through the nostrils, arm air out through the nostrils – and the obligatory namaste. For those of you who’ve gotten this far, a little Wikipedia explaining a shavasana – if we didn’t do it last time, we will the next time.
Shavasana (Sanskrit: शवासन; IAST: śavāsana), Corpse Pose, or Mrtasana,[1] is an asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise, often used for relaxation at the end of a session. It is the usual pose for the practice of yoga nidra meditation. Shavasana is intended to rejuvenate the body, mind, and spirit. In the pose, the breath deepens, and the stress of the day is released. The yogi forgets all other thoughts and surrenders any psychological effort. While in Savasana, yogis slip into blissful neutrality and reflect on the practice.[7] Comfort is essential in the pose; the slightest point of discomfort can be endlessly distracting. Shavasana is a good way to reduce stress and tension.[8]
Namaste ended the practice and brought the PAX back from oblivion into the present moment. Following a few quick announcements (last week was a busy one!), Steve led us in prayer.
A quick afterthought…yoga isn’t something you do as a one off. Like anything, to get good at it and realize the benefits, one has to practice. PAX performed admirably considering yoga isn’t in the regular lineup of F3 beatdowns. Looking forward to rotating this in on occasion and adding flexibility to the list of qualities that describe such a fine group of men.
Glad to be with you all,
Bird
