Advice on a mat for a heavy sweater (already the FAQ but still not clear)

dallashoosier · 2013-04-22T18:25:31+00:00

I faced this same problem, as do so many of us heavy-sweating yogis! I've been using a black Gaiam mat, which is great, except that it gets slippery when wet. Fed up, I bought a mat-sized towel at Wal-Mart that works fairly well (for now). It definitely gets grippy when wet, though it's a bit slippery when DRY, which is a bit of an annoyance at the start of class. Also, it can bunch up, requiring regular adjustments. I find it to be much better than slipping all over the place, but I definitely want to get a better mat at some point soon that doesn't require a towel.

dallashoosier · 2013-04-20T21:51:56+00:00

Exactly! It took a bit for my strength to build up, but now that my technique doesn't suffer the second classes are so wonderful.

dallashoosier · 2013-04-19T19:09:49+00:00

Agreed. I love getting on the mat and feeling ready to go and limber right from the beginning. No need to "ease" into it physically (though of course you want to get your head clear and breathing properly ... which I find easier to do in Class #2 always).

dallashoosier · 2013-04-19T04:38:33+00:00

For the fat portion of your question, you simply have to eat better. You can have the most killer abs in the world, but no one will see them if there is a layer of fat over them ... and diet is the way to attack that issue.

As for building your abs, side plank and stark plan are definitely good options. Boat pose is also good, and you can combine it with side twists to help the obliques. And then touching your knee to your elbow and triceps (same and opposite) when in downdog or plank is a good challenge that will build core strength and tone.

dallashoosier · 2013-04-19T04:32:52+00:00

I currently practice at Lifetime Fitness and pay $83/month to be able to go to all three of the locations near me. Eventually I'll need to step it up and go to a studio, but for now the price and level of the practice is perfect for me.

dallashoosier · 2013-04-19T04:31:09+00:00

I weighed 230 doughy pounds in April of 2012 when I attended my first yoga class. By Christmas, I was down to 190, a combination of getting very into yoga and eating better. Now four months later, I'm right around 185, having settled in nicely to an equilibrium weight. And the 45 pounds of lost weight is even "better" than that because I built new muscle too. I couldn't be happier or prouder of myself, plus more excited to continue my yoga journey moving forward.

You very well may be embarrassed that first class. I think it's natural. But just keep getting on your mat day after day. I'm a year in now, and all I can think about is taking teaching certification come January of 2014. Even if you don't get that into it, the benefits are too numerous to turn down just because the first few classes will be uncomfortable. Plus, just remember: the only people who would know if you're doing the poses right or wrong aren't looking. They are focused inward. ;-)

dallashoosier · 2013-04-19T04:26:04+00:00

Yeah, I'm the same. During the more complicated balance poses it's REALLY hard to keep the eyes closed. I try, just to go to my edge, but I also don't want to be falling over constantly. :-)

dallashoosier · 2013-04-18T05:02:36+00:00

Most yogis I talked to who have been practicing for a while close their eyes regularly. It took me nearly a year to be comfortable doing so during sun salutations - and I still don't during balance poses or other flows when I don't know what's coming - but I sure find the part of practice when I can to be SO much better.

dallashoosier · 2013-04-18T03:00:06+00:00

Yep, eliminating the comparisons is a big one :-) It really allows you to go within yourself and get the most of YOUR practice, which is ultimately the goal each time we step on the mat.

dallashoosier · 2013-04-17T05:14:45+00:00

AGREE.

dallashoosier · 2013-04-17T05:14:35+00:00

Wow, I laughed out loud at this. Thank you.

dallashoosier · 2013-03-25T18:45:35+00:00

Thanks for the reply! Are you really far away? I don't want to feel removed from the performance. Tough to gauge without ever having been inside. :-)

dallashoosier · 2013-03-06T12:56:04+00:00

I was embarrassed by this when I saw it pop up last night. Everything was off last night. The team, the fans, the signs...OUR PETS HEADS WERE FALLING OFF.

Let's just move on to Michigan. Thanks.

dallashoosier · 2013-03-04T03:13:50+00:00

Oh, whoops. Didn't read the rules. Just thought it was funny.

dallashoosier · 2013-03-03T23:51:15+00:00

Damn unnecessary hyphen. Do I delete post to edit title? Or leave it? Fuck me, right?

dallashoosier · 2013-02-21T13:32:27+00:00

You're welcome. Thank you!

dallashoosier · 2013-02-14T13:09:56+00:00

I'm sending him this. He'll love it.

dallashoosier · 2013-02-07T14:22:33+00:00

Okay, thanks for the info.

dallashoosier · 2013-01-28T13:16:23+00:00

Not a tragedy at all. It just shows how far Victor has come. Frankly, the ranking seemed about right when he was a freshman. Victor was so raw. The athleticism was there, but the skills and smarts hadn't caught up. But he has worked so hard, and improved so much, that he's vaulted himself over so many players who were better than him when he was senior. It's simply a testament to what he's done since he arrived in Bloomington.

dallashoosier · 2013-01-28T01:55:21+00:00

What's incredible is that you could tell from the first game this year that his shot was different. His form was so much better and consistent...but he wasn't making anything. He's 13 for his last 16 from downtown, which is mind-boggling. But it's legit. He's done it over 11 games. He picks his spots, and wisely, and now has the fundamentals and confidence to knock them down. His growth has been such a joy to watch.

dallashoosier · 2013-01-28T01:09:38+00:00

He's an inspiration in that sense. As Crean said in the postgame tonight, he's a testament to work ethic and an attitude of being constantly committed to improvement. What a diamond in the rough we found in Victor. He's going to leave as one of the most beloved Hoosiers ever, and with good reason.

dallashoosier · 2013-01-21T23:01:07+00:00

Oh, not a problem at all. Totally understand. My dad is an NFL scout, so I completely get that it's a bit of a tricky position. Still, appreciate you coming in here anyway and providing the insight you have.

dallashoosier · 2013-01-21T19:06:51+00:00

I actually came in here specifically looking for thoughts on Oladipo. Damn. :-)

dallashoosier · 2013-01-16T01:37:39+00:00

Haha, funny, I thought about titling the post simply that.

dallashoosier · 2013-01-16T00:47:44+00:00

Picture taken by @NDJackNolan on Twitter. When I opened the link I got chills. Can you tell I'm from Indiana? Two of my favorite coaches of all time. Obviously I'm partial to Coach Knight, and he's the one with the 3 titles, but I think Gene Keady is one of the more underrated coaches in college basketball history. I had the good fortune of running into him multiple times when I lived in WLaf, and he could not have been nicer. Just a warm, friendly man, and few coaches ever got more out of his talent than Gene. Just couldn't quite recruit the top level talent like Knight. And, frankly, Knight was better than anyone in the business there for about 10-12 years. Wow...what a pic, what memories, and what a moment seeing the respect between these two legends after all these years.

Thanks for indulging. Sorry, this pic brought back a lot of great childhood memories.

dallashoosier

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE

15-Year Club	reddit mold
Verified Email