Several years ago, I had a Peloton membership and I was doing yoga all the time (Denis was my favorite instructor). I loved it! But… apparently I have fragile and delicate wrists, and they got so sore I had to stop the yoga (I really need healthy wrists for my job!)
Last week when I mentioned my aching low back, Wendy recommended a Yoga With Adriene video. So I tried it- and I loved it! Yoga doesn’t have to include down dogs and planks, who knew? I CAN do yoga, after all!
Of course there were also runs and other workouts… thanks as always to Kim and Deborah for hosting the Weekly Rundown. Let’s get into it!
Monday
I started the day with a 4 mile run….
And then later on, got out my yoga mat. Wendy recommended a specific video, but while browsing through the choices, I found an Adriene video for hips and low back release. Yes, please!
It felt SO GOOD!!! At least, while I was doing it. Afterwards my back hurt again, but I’m not expecting miracles.
Tuesday
In the morning I did the Caroline Girvan dead bug workout and all my hip stability exercises. In the afternoon, I did the same yoga video for hips and low back.
Wednesday
8 mile run! I did this in a nearby park with a cross country trail. Part of this run was on the trail, and park on paved paths through the park. I really lucked out and it was cloudy- still super hot, but cloud cover really helped.
Later in the day I finally decided to do the video Wendy recommended, Yoga for Pelvic Floor. This was GREAT. The muscles of the pelvic floor are so, so important- they’re kind of like the core of our core. I’ll come back to this one- but I also want more focus on my hips and hamstrings.
Thursday
Leg day! First I did my hip stability exercises at home, then went to the gym where I focused on squats and hip thrusts.
Friday
3 mile run on very sore legs- those squats really kill me!
Later in the day I did Adriene’s yoga for low back and hamstrings- boy, my left hamstring is REALLY tight! I think it was this video that had some down dogs- I just did them on my fists, rather than putting my hands flat on the floor.
At night- high school football game!
The field was so wet, the band played their halftime show on the track. And- now that we’re state champions, we have some non-district games sprinkled into our schedule. For this game, a team from New Jersey came down, ranked seventh in the country- eek. We lost, but it was close! 21-14. It was humbling to be beaten (after being undefeated last season) but it won’t count against us in the standings.
Saturday
4 mile run before work!
Later in the day I went back to Adriene’s hips and low back release video. So good.
Sunday
On tap- sleeping in! Pancakes! Football! Hip stability exercises and more yoga. The yoga feels so, so good and I need it- I’m determined to keep up with it. My hip and hamstring felt good while running this week, but my low back is still bothering me. I’m hoping the yoga will help over time.
How was your week? Do you like yoga? Anyone else have “delicate” wrists?
39 Responses
I do yoga with Adriene every day. Half of it is Benji, and missing Mulder, and wanting a dog. Sigh. Anyway, she has a monthly calendar that I bookmark, so I don’t have to spend time looking for something, but then if I need something special (feet, legs, lower back) I will look for those. My back pain has decreased SO MUCH, though it still comes and goes. With your wrists, I wonder if you could do a search on her channel for ‘no wrist yoga’. She has some that are lots of standing poses, maybe that would be better for you. But using your fists instead of flat hands is a great option. When I first came down with Rheumatoid Arthritis, I couldn’t even do cat/cow because of my wrists (I could barely brush my hair because of my wrists) so I really get it. And your job is so physical.
I’ll definitely do that search- she seems like she really has something for everyone. I’m encouraged that you say your back pain has decreased! And yes.. I love Benji.
Oh wow, I definitely need to get back to Adriene yoga… and I had no idea she has a hamstring-focused session! Thanks for the tip, Jenny!
I absolutely have to try that one. My left hamstring is still a bit niggly… fine for running, but for how long? 😬
Yes, my left hamstring is also the niggly one! I’m hoping regular yoga will help.
My yoga instructor taught us to flex our hands when doing down dog etc, to avoid this problem, have you tried that? I don’t know how to explain it except you are gripping your mat, more on your fingertips, and this takes the pressure off your wrists, and is more comfortable (for me) than using fists. Might work!
Other people have mentioned something like this… I’m going to have to look it up. Fists really aren’t comfortable, or ideal. Thanks for the suggestion!
I’m so glad you liked the video. I do love Adriene’s yoga videos. They’re not too long and hit all the high points. Plus, BENJI!!!! I have some gel pads called Yoga Jellies that I got on Amazon. They aren’t cheap but they work really well. I use them more at CrossFit for push-ups and things we do that require me to be on my hands than I do for yoga, lol.
Have a great week!
Hmm! I’ll look into those gel pads. I truly cannot put my hands down flat and put any weight on them, so it would be nice to figure something out.
I’m glad you had a great week of runs and fitness. Bummer about the football team losing. That is kind of crazy that they played a team from NJ! What a huge trip for HS students!
I did my last training run for my 10 mile yesterday. I wish the 10 mile race had been yesterday as the weather was perfect. It was around 45 when I started. I know that will sound cold but I was comfy in shorts and t-shirt once I warmed up. It will be warmer next weekend for the race but hopefully it won’t rain like last year!
My wrists also bothered me when I was doing lots of yoga. I haven’t done yoga in so long. I put go to a yoga class on my 25 for 25 list and still need to do that!
45 sounds good, as long as it’s not incredibly windy or raining. I hope you get decent weather next weekend- I imagine it will be a bit warmer.
I really missed yoga and it feels goo to be back. It would be nice to figure out the wrist issue though.
Nice job with the yoga! I am not a yoga person. I have tried it before, and even had a yoga teacher tell me that yoga might not be for me. I am very very inflexible. And also uncoordinated. But you know my hip has been giving me some trouble, I’m willing to try almost anything!
That yoga teacher is WRONG!!! Yoga can be for everyone. I have taught hundreds of people and flexibility and coordination is not a prerequisite. I’m sorry you had that experience! A good teacher should be able to work with your body and your physical boundaries.
Melissa, I’m also not very flexible! Some of the yoga poses are really too hard for me, and I’ve learned to modify them with a block so I’m not straining. That’s why I used to like Denis on Peloton- these women are WAY too flexible for me!
You make a good case for yoga! It always feels good when I do it, but I never stick with it regularly for some reason. Hey even if it doesn’t stick I think you’ve talked me into doing a few sessions. The worst that will happen is that I will feel good.
I had a Peloton membership very briefly and I remember that the yoga was legit.
Yes, try some yoga! You might love it… or not.
“Yoga doesn’t have to include down dogs and planks, who knew? I CAN do yoga, after all!” – um, I knew? I am so glad you’re doing yoga, Jenny. I have taught people who have had strokes and seniors and even people in wheelchairs. There is not just one way to do yoga! I think everyone can benefit from it and I hope you get all those benefits!
Yes, Nicole, I have been thinking about you! I agree with everything you say- yoga really is for everyone. With a few modifications, in some cases. But I’m really enjoying it.
How great that you’re able to add yoga back into your routine. I have the same wrist issue and do birddogs, etc. on my fists rather than my flat hands. It works well! It’s good to see you running consistently again. 🙂
I’m surprised you didn’t mention Baylor’s overtime win!
Debbie, I missed that Baylor game! Now that my son isn’t there, we decided not to pay for the expensive channel that allowed us to watch all the games- I have to settle for whatever is on the networks. I’m still rooting for them though- hopefully there will be more games on Fox coming up.
Gotta say, I am not a fan of yoga. Not surprising since I don’t like to stay still and be quiet for so long! That being said, I do have a 245 day streak on my stretching app. And, I dislike doing it everyday, even for 5 mins! I’m just not wired for that kind of thing. But it has taught me to appreciate downward dog pose! Hope yoga helps you!!
Well Lisa I totally get it because I don’t do much stretching. I do a mobility routine before running and that’s usually it. So we’ll see if adding yoga back helps me. Somehow I like yoga better than just a stretch routine.
I do remember how much you loved Denis! Do you miss him? He is doing some sleep meditations now too-just saying lol. Nice to go back to yoga after a break isn’t it?
Oh really??? I’ll bet those are good and I need them! Probably not enough to get Peloton again though.
I did a Denis meditation class recently. Not only did I remember your crush on him (ha ha!), but he does have a very calming voice. I am so hit and miss with yoga…I really like it, but I’m not disciplined about doing it consistently.
Yes, Denis’s voice is very calming! I can picture him being great for meditation.
I did yoga too! Lol, we cannot share the running, but we have Adriene! Adriene (and Nicole) finally got me doing yoga consistently, so even when I’m injured at least now I”m doing something. I need to find some hip stability exercises, I think my hip is a big part of why my knee hurts.
Football nights! I had a boyfriend who played high school and university football, but that was many, many years ago. It’s been all baseball all the time the past couple of decades.
Yes, we have common ground with Adriene! This really seems to be helping me, so I’ll stick with it. At least, I say that now… but if I fix my issues and am pain-free I”ll probably let it slide. Not ideal. but I know myself well!
That’s great you had such a good experience with yoga! Yay for alternative ways of moving that can help problematic body parts.
Good work with the squats – the soreness is a sort of reward, haha. And you’re doing such good consistent work with the hip stability exercises and so much else. I’ve tried proper yoga once in Italy, one of our friends there is a yoga instructor. It was quite hard!
Yoga can be really hard! I’m not doing any of the hard things like balance poses though. Next time I’m super sore, I’ll tell myself it’s a “reward.”
I’ve been doing yoga at least once weekly for the past year+, and really enjoy it! I think it helps me be less sore after my runs and has maybe improved my flexibility a bit but I’m still not very flexible. I use the Nike Training Club app for my yoga classes and I love the options they have, and they’re free!
Speaking of, I should probably do some yoga today because I’m kind of stiff from my weekend — I spent most of 8 hours yesterday on my feet volunteering at an aid station for a 100 mile race, and then slept in my car overnight, which isn’t the most comfortable sleeping option! But it was a really fun experience and I got to escape to the pines for a bit!
Eesh- that does sound hard on your body (but- really fun!) Yes, you might want to do some yoga after that.
Jenny, if I was to give myself one demerit for the last 6 months it would be lack of stretching. When I was doing yoga daily it made SUCH a difference and then I got lazy and stopped. BUT, last week I realized my yoga passes expire soon and I have an hour+ yoga class tonight (VinYin) and another on the calendar for Wednesday. I need to get back into my groove.
I also need to get back into going to the gym and Pilates because I can do short Pilates videos at home and they feel great. Why do I delay? I don’t know. I really need to buckle down, but this is definitely my current life Achilles heel. But at least I know I’ll be walking daily in October!
I’m so glad yoga felt so good for you and I bet with consistent practice you’ll notice a lot of release in tight spots. I found it took about a month before I started to notice big changes. Now I just need to get back on that proverbial horse again 😉 I really like Charlie Follows as well!
Yes, I’m going to commit to doing it for a stretch of time- I don’t expect everything to be fixed all at once. But I totally know that feeling of doing something for a while, feeling the benefits, and then inexplicably stopping. Why do we do this??? I hope you enjoy your upcoming yoga classes!
Yoga is the answer to everything, I think. It helps me with both my mental and physical health.
I like 2Birds Yoga on YouTube, too. Not as chatty as Adriene, but occasionally has a naughty dog. SaraBeth Yoga is good at some beginner stuff, too.
Adrienne does such a great yoga program. I never really noticed if I had particular strong or weak wrists, but I can understand you needing to take care of yours.
Our football team was away this week and got crushed. The band didn’t go so I didn’t really follow along with it. We’ve got our homecoming game this week, so we will see how that goes. I’m just excited for the band LOL. The Hurricanes are playing USF so that will be something, too.
I do yoga WAY too infrequently. I don’t know why I avoid it, because I enjoy it when I do it. My wrists are very easily achey, too. Planks and push ups are tough — and I cannot do any exercises that expect me to hold a barbell while putting weight on my hands! OUCH!
My wrists complain sometimes. I cannot do rows with weights from a plank. Nope. I have to be flat on one hand and row with the other and then switch- like no alternating.
My workouts have been fine. I’m walking daily vs running every other. I am hoping Coach can dry needle my glute soon – my SI joint is acting up or something. You know I am in pain if I am begging for dry needling bc I hate it.
yoga is definitely a good complement to running, I should do more of it too. I like the glow method for strengthening those small muscles for stability.
I really resist doing yoga, but when I get over that hump and do it, it always feels good!