Spring has arrived
by Texas Eagle on Flickr (Creative Commons License)
We are into the 2nd quarter of 2012. How have I done so far this year?
A major goal in my health progress was improving my balance. I practice some everyday. I can even practice when standing in line at the grocery store. Overall my balance is much improved. This adds to my confidence for riding again.
I have been working nearly daily on my yoga “Hero Pose” since early January. When I had kneeled and sat back into the pose my right knee, shin and ankle were so stiff that my right buttock was 4 inches above my heels. Working on this pose has definitely helped stretch and strengthen my weak right knee. I can now kneel and sit back to rest both my left and right buttocks onto my heels. This position is called “Thunderbolt Pose” or Vajrasana (Vajra = thunderbolt, Asana = pose). Maybe in another few months I will be able to do a proper Virasana pose (Hero Pose) with my buttocks on the floor between my legs.
My stamina and aerobic fitness is improving in the last month. This is mostly thanks to needing to mow our yard with a push mower. The self-propel aspect of the mower only mocks me by spinning one front wheel if the wheel is held up in the air. Starting and then pushing the non-self-propel mower works all sorts of muscles and makes for excellent interval training. When my heart beats too hard, I just stop the mower and walk off leaving the mower standing in the yard. This has prompted a couple of neighbors to come over to visit probably wondering about this somewhat odd behavior, if they can catch me before I head inside to sit in front of a fan.
by Mr. Juicebox on Flickr (Creative Commons License)
Twistur has had sore feet from Spring grass. Exercise is a recommended component to improving his health. I came up with a game to get in some jogging around the backyard for me and the horses. During an after Easter sale I bought a bunch of colored plastic eggs that were a penny apiece. I put them in the yard and then jog / walk from one to the other. Jogging between them as a minor goal makes the effort seem easier. I know that I just need to jog from Egg A to Egg B, then can rest. This is also a good game for the horses because they get a treat when we arrive at a goal egg. I can also jog around the eggs in circles or lay out a serpentine pattern. This makes things a bit more interesting and 10 minutes of trotting around the backyard goes fairly quickly. Twistur thinks it is great fun and enjoys trotting back and forth to get some treats. He shakes his head and has even been somewhat rambunctious. Haven’t tried it with Bangsi yet. Bangsi is more lazy, so might need a bit of encouragement to trot up with me.
Friday late afternoon we took a short trailer ride to a local trail parking at an area that unloads onto sand. We picked a trail path with few rocks. Twistur was eager to walk out fast on the sandy trail, but was ouchy over sandstone rocks. We met two curious Miniature donkeys through a fence. We enjoyed relaxing watching the sun head down while the donkeys and horses grazed. Once I get new hoof boots, then can start taking Twistur out with me again for hike / ride combos.
I’m eating a lot more fruit after read that the new Weight Watchers doesn’t count them towards the Points. I haven’t joined any program and not really doing any “counting”. The mowing exercise is probably the main reason for any weight loss. I’d gained 5 pounds past my former max weight, but have lost that extra bonus and down to just my former maximum. Now… if I can avoid temptations and keep doing what is working.
I’m not all good. 😉 My sweet tooth encouraged me to buy a 6 inch solid chocolate Easter rabbit on that 75% off post-Easter sale. I got one for my hubby too, so we could be naughty together.
Delicious chocolate bunny ears.
by SinoSplice on Flickr (Creative Commons License)