THANK Yoga, tight hips and challenge day 21

Yoga Challenge – Day #21

[t gellenbeck]

We [hubby, baby & I] started the day with a 3 mile jog and a little yoga/stretching/playing at the park. Later, an old friend from high school extended an invitation to try a new yoga studio, THANK. My sister-in-law joined us too.

Wish I could say that is me… but it is off the website 🙂 I think its Josie, the owner!

I had high hopes going into it. My friend used to go to Harbor yoga studio when she worked in Dublin, so I knew we had the same preference of yoga styles. I’m quickly finding out that every studio and every instructor do things a bit differently and its important to find a style that fits you.

Thank was AMAZING!

The class was a Vinyasa all levels class so you can modify poses and sequences as needed. The instructor, Melissa, had a funny sense of humor and did a great job of giving ideas for modifications or more advanced options. She came and personally helped me on two different poses, which is always appreciated. I used to dislike “getting picked on,” but I now realize they are only trying to help and I enjoy it 🙂

It wasn’t a heated class [at check-in they stated they don’t turn on the heat during the summer] but it was plenty warm and I broke into a sweaty mess. A nice change from the last few slower classes I attended at POGA and Balanced yoga. We did a lot of back bends and I got to try a few poses I haven’t tackled in a while including dancer, wild thing and jump throughs.

Thank is located in the Short North on Fifth Ave, just off North High St and is definitely worth checking out!

Tight Hips

Two times in the last week (once at POGA and once tonight at THANK) I was graciously given attention from the instructors during pigeon pose. Pigeon pose is a hip opener and I apparently have tight hips, common among distance runners, but nothing I can’t work on! One way to modify is to use a block, which Melissa placed under me.

I hope to blog more about hips, their relationship with running ~ including injury prevention~ and good yoga stretches in the future. For now, practice your pigeon, lizard and any other pose you like for opening those hips. And check out these articles;

#independencearmy

Today’s pose is more of a movement – it is jump through [downward dog to seated].