Kundalini Yoga with Gurmukh

Upon Lynne’s arrival we immediately began chatting about everything under the moon (she arrived at night). As we worked our way back to the hotel we somehow slipped onto the subject of my running and how I had taken a lovely run that morning and also how my knee hated me for it in the evening. With mention of this my new co-worker for the week was down checking out my knee and asking where the pain was located. She showed me a stretch I could do with a roll of toilet paper that could potentially help the knee get stronger and heal. Ultimately this also means NO MORE RUNNING for not just a couple of weeks, but I’m going to try to stay of for a month of two. Like I’d already known all my life she said “running is one of the worst sports anyone can participate in… It’s very hard on the joints.” Tell me about it… For those jogging, running, sprinting and loving it – GO, GO, GO!!! I’ll root you on, but as now my body is saying I must stop. It’s certainly not the end of my world.

The following morning at the store we began discussing yoga. She’d mentioned she just purchased some DVD’s to help stay fit and active on the road. I told her I had been thinking about buying some and BOOM! There she was in action again. She pawned off to me her Kundalini Yoga with Gurmukh DVD to borrow the next few days and recommended some others. By the end of the day I was too exhausted from working and driving to our next location that I decided to wait until morning to give yoga with Gurmukh a test drive. And when morning came it was time. I felt like a caterpillar that had inched its way out of the bed and transformed into a butterfly free of tension and stress. Okay, I shouldn’t make it sound that easy. I actually felt like Gurmukh had set out on a mission to kill me. She kicked my butt! Kundalini focuses on breathing techniques helping to unlock energy and strengthen the body. My breathing was fine in the beginning as we warmed up into things, but as the DVD progressed I found my self working up a sweaty mess and struggling to control my breath. I was exhaling when I should have been inhaling and vice versa. A workout it was indeed. I will be purchasing this soon.

My alarm is set for 4:15 AM every morning and on occasion I do hit the snooze. Today was an exception. I woke up and prepared for another round. Yesterday, I was so whomped that I didn’t even make it the whole way through and with a taste of what was ahead I knew today I could. In the early morning hours I felt very relaxed and knew there would be minimal disturbances. Gurmukh’s soft voice instructed me through each movement, each breath, offering gentle words of encouragement… It was still tough though. I am using other parts of the body that were definitely not used running and I feel sore from working these muscles, but with time I am sure Gurmukh and I will become great friends. Once the workout is completed there is a soothing mediation at the end. I laid on the floor of my dark hotel room, eyes closed, letting myself slip away with an extremely relaxed state of mind. I have to say this is probably my favorite part of the video, because one deserves to zone out after such an incredible experiment with the body.

I’d recently purchased a new body scrub from Trader Joe’s with a grapefruit scent and to say the very least it is the perfect way to cap off any workout in my book!

P.S. I love grapefruit. It is so invigorating.

Adrienne