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Mike's Daily Yoga Journal, 2006 / 2007 to daily summary daily practice page Spring-Summer 2007 |
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Mon, June 5, 2006 At Manny's tonight: Nora on how she could've never believed that I'd go this long without doing yoga. And I know what she means. It's been such an integral part of my life for the past quarter-century. Such a wonderfully empowering thing to do. Think of how it makes me feel -- remember the looseness, the suppleness, the delights of movement, of inhabiting my body, of being a physical person in the world . . . Got to get back to it. Tonight: 45 (35) mins. in the Collingwood parking lot. Beautiful 3/4 moon -- just perfect temp, no wind Vision: Every day, 2-3-4 times a day -- at least once By August 1 be Still at 187+ lbs. Lose 2 lbs. / week: 5 weeks -- mid-July: 177 lbs. Incorporate TWISTS Foot behind head sequence PLOW Goal: 60 mins / day --------------------------- Tired. CAUTION: ALWAYS! NO INJURIES ! ! ! Slow & Easy & Deliberate & Focused ! Get a couple of good bungee cords -- get adept at putting rug on & off car -- 2 seconds 4 good bungees Public Spaces:
Tues June 6 Tom's birthday! Two sessions outside in the a.m. -- at Vets for 20 mins, & the same at the park off Madison St -- probably 40 mins altogether
Wed June 7 Nada -- shoulda but didn't -- weakling!
Thurs June 8 A good session at 257 -- 45 mins -- cool but beautiful out -- perfect-- Grandma's birthday -- Happy No. 115 Grandma ! ! ! Clouds over moon and stars tonight -- long twilight -- well past 11 pm, still the hint of dusk in the sky -- shapes of clouds -- shape-shifters -- clouds eating stars -- beautiful! All poses, incl plough. Sit-ups & abdominals too - and a little karate -- a very nice beginning workout -- Inner thighs esp tight -- can feel the tug. Must be the gracilis tibial attachment. Gotta be careful, but am being, and it feels GREAT. Gotta strengthen the core -- loosen the legs -- increase flexibility in the back -- Oops -- all but headstand! Tomorrow. Ask Nora: Sat eve: do yoga together Living room -- clean out, move stuff, put down pads (Rules: No corrections! Not together yet. Parallel practices.)
Fri June 9 Skipped.
Sat June 10 In living room w/ NF, just as envisioned. Cleaned out furniture, parallel practices -- very nice, ~ 45 mins. Felt good -- still stiff, but slowly getting there.
Sun June 11 Skipped
Mon June 12 Twice -- once in a.m. at 1080 for ~ 20 mins, and again in eve w/ Brett at West Park, probably 40 mins, though not the full routine -- felt good, running, frisbee, stretching --
Tues June 13 -- Day 5 Just finished ~ 50 mins at West Park -- wonderful! Really starting to feel the effects already, on day 5 -- all the poses easier to do & visualize. Still a very long way to go -- still trying to be very gentle, though I was pushing it a bit tonight. Have to remember to do the full panoply:
A wonderful evening -- cool & calm, w/ dense but partial clouds -- a summer day -- park feels a bit spooky, but okay. Cops cruised the foot path, stopped, watched, but then mosied on. Feel the bit of an exhibitionist there, but what the hell, it is a wonderful space, and it's public an no one else uses it except to sleep and have sex. Tomorrow the big day. Glad I'm doing this. FINISHED: Week 1, Day 5 And feeling it already. Lumbar fascia (thoracolumbar) gets stiff after sitting -- have to be careful getting out of the chair or car -- a kind of low, dull groaning, dispersed pain -- top of hip (PSIS / SI joint) -- fades as I walk & do stuff -- doesn't bother me working, moving ladders, etc. But needs healing. Anyway it's the right path that I must stay on. Feeling buoyant -- No injuries! Slow & easy! Gentle, relax --
Wed June 14 (Day 6) Feeling good -- Sunshine at 1080 -- 50 mins -- on the grass -- very good session -- beat afterward -- sun too intense -- takes a lot out of you -- but intense and good!
Thurs June 15 (Day 7) At West Park -- good 50-60 mins w/ Brett there half the time. Maybe 70 mins. Beautiful evening: cool, clear, few bugs, candles in the bandshell
Fri June 16 Skipped. Shittiest day in a long time -- deck job fell through, wrong FOF, Tim's call
Sat June 17 West Park in a.m. (noon) waiting for Brett -- hot in sun -- Brett late -- told him about my travails -- told Jared & Rosie at David's last night too -- anyway a decent session -- then again in evening in David's field -- perfect starry night -- candles, open sky -- absolutely lovely -- a very good session -- 40 mins + 50 mins
Sun June 18 1/2 hr. in the sun at Greenhills -- a good session -- plus 10 mins or more outside in lot at 257 after "An Inconvenient Truth" with Brett -- weights too -- pretty intense
Mon June 19 Skipped
Tues June 20 Skipped
Wed June 21 Around 90 mins altogether: ~ 35 mins during the day at 1080 on the rug, and around 60 mins in the eve watching "Six Feet Under" in the living room at 1080
Thurs June 22 Mom's Birthday -- Happy 78th Birthday Mom ! ! ! From 10:50 p.m. -12:20 a.m., with breaks, at 257. Weights. Very good -- really getting there
Fri June 23 About 30 mins at home in living room in evening -- pretty stiff and sore from the past two days of intense workout, but a good, gentle session -- just loosening things up -- I can really feel the difference: core is getting stronger; back and legs getting looser; splits getting easier.
Sat June 24 About 30 mins in living room before canoeing -- felt very good -- headstand w/ NF -- plus a little in the a.m. waiting for Brett for frisbee -- beautiful blue-sky day -- absolutely lovely
Sun June 25 At West Park, 9:30-10:20 or so -- through twilight -- a very good session. Actually starting to push it now, w/ forward & back bends, splits, headstand, plow & shoulderstand -- really doing a pretty thorough routine -- feels really good, esp. afterward. Going Tues 6/27 to Kait's yoga class, 7 pm, on Washtenaw Ave -- looking forward to it. Nora was really tickled by the yoga retreat idea -- place in Costa Rica on Guanacaste -- late Dec / early Jan 07. Six months to prepare -- will it be enough? I think so, if I really stick with it, every day do some . . .
Can't exactly remember (today being Thurs 6/29), but I'm pretty sure I spent an hour at 1080 -- so we'll call it that. I know I was getting ready to go to Kait's yoga class on Tues, so it must've been around that . . .
Tues June 27 At Continuity Yoga on Washtenaw Ave -- a good hour-long workout, but altogether too stiflingly hot & stagnant air -- sweated like a pig ! ! Some very good stretches, though . . .
A little on the grass at West Park after playing frisbee with Brett -- maybe 10 mins -- after playing frisbee on the grass & as it turns out getting eaten alive by chiggers or no-see-ems or some fucking little bugs that kept me awake all night scratching ! Still have tons of little bites, esp on my lower back -- what a pisser! Must watch where I sit on the grass from now on ! (Nora thinks I was poisoned and that's also why I couldn't sleep -- I was SO AWAKE -- hard to describe -- must've been bug toxins!)
Thurs June 29 30 mins at 1080 -- gentle but good -- shivavedbiballs
Fri June 30 50 mins at 1080 in evening -- good! Still a bit stiff from frisbee, plus all bit up by no-see-ems, plus worked roofing for 6 hours (always a drain) -- but a good, gentle session -- comprehensive -- all but headstand.
Sat July 1 Skipped (for no reason -- lazy!)
Sun July 2 20 mins at 1080 (I think)
Mon July 3 20 mins at 257 -- light but good, soft
Tues July 4 80 mins -- 4th of July at West Park! Fireworks about halfway through -- group of about 15-20 local folks -- a bit distracting but also nice -- West Park is NOT ideal -- I feel like I'm on stage, which in a literal sense I am. Not enough mental privacy -- not like David's . . . I have to find a better yoga spot. Where?
Wed July 5 I N J U R Y ! ! ! Messed up my lower left back at the pool (40 mins) -- felt it right after doing headstand -- not severe but still pretty bad -- very sore all day Thurs (pretty sore, esp after sitting for a while). Must be more careful and mindful ! ! ! Still, a good session in the sun -- after which I played frisbee with Brett, but couldn't throw well because of my wrenched back -- still, good to exercise -- really wiped me out on Thurs -- combo of sore back and fatigue from exercise.
Thurs July 6 Skipped -- back still a bit wrenched, but feeling 80-90% better by Friday morning. Good to give it a rest - - - Down to 179-180 lbs & dropping -- feeling much better
Fri July 7 30 mins at 1080
Sat July 8 Skipped.
Sun July 9 Skipped.
Mon July 10 30 mins at Materka's Miller house in the morning -- very nice, but awfully tired.
Tues July 11 Skipped.
Wed July 12 Went w/ Brett to Yoga Spa on Stadium Blvd -- instructor "Anna" -- a beautiful space, a good workout / session. Have to go back, if things work out.
Thurs July 13 Skipped.
Fri July 14 30 mins at 1080 -- tired.
Sat July 15 40 mins at 1080 -- good.
Sun July 16 Can't remember.
Mon July 17 can't remember -- probably ~50 mins at 257
Tues July 18 Transformative Day! Skipped.
Wed July 19 Skipped
Thurs July 20 Around 90 mins at Vet's Park in the late afternoon (30 mins), at 257 parking lot in late eve (60) -- excellent!
Fri July 21 Around 50 mins in late eve at 1080 -- very good.
Sat July 22 50 mins at David's. Need minimum 8 candles to do it at David's -- the thought of little critters crossing my path makes me too nervous. Still, an absolutely beautiful evening -- cool & crisp, all stars, calm, no clouds -- frogs croaking in the distance -- a lovely workout. A vision: an 8x8 platform at David's, treated 2x6 base, plywood top, stained & sealed -- all-season yoga platform, up off the grass a foot or so. Have to ask him -- would be grand! Another vision: take photos in various asanas, as a way to judge and improve -- plus it'd be kind of fun posting them here -- Also: for photo section below: scan & post the most inspiring photos found elsewhere for various asanas -- e.g., Marcia in Jess Stearns's book, other books lying about. Would be fun to have a whole photo gallery of optimal poses. Can't let this journal, or such an envisioned photo gallery, etc, detract from the main purpose and intent, which must remain directed inward. Got to keep things in balance & perspective.
Sun July 23 About 20 mins at the pool, Tim swimming (after playing lots!) -- Nora came over and did a little too. Not much but splits, forward bends, backward bends. Decent.
Mon July 24 After Manny's, at midnight, about 50 mins, a lovely evening, 257 lot, warm & breezy, stars poking through the haze, lots of flying lights up there -- Been neglecting inversions! SS, Plough, Headstand! The triad I have to work on: SHOULDERSTAND, PLOUGH, HEADSTAND ! ! ! Plus foot-behind-head and Padmasana -- often tend to forget those. Feeling right now, sitting at my desk afterward (1:30 a.m.): invigorated, refreshed, empowered, loose. At 10:30 I felt completely exhausted. Amazing the cycles we go through.
Tues July 25 Skipped.
Wed July 26 At David's, on his living room floor, ~ 40 mins, talking w/ David & Jared -- after traipsing through the soybean fields and scrubbing my legs down good to get rid of all the poison ivy that probably lodged there. A delightful hike and evening. A good session -- no inversions but otherwise pretty thorough --
Thurs July 27 At home, 50 mins on living room rug -- a good session, but no inversions (again!) -- got to get back to inversions! Heading off tomorrow morning for the overnight canoe trip with Tim -- psyched!
Fri July 28 Skipped -- too much to do to prep for camping, exhausted working w/ Fred
Sat July 29 Skipped -- camping -- too many mosquitos! -- would've loved to do an hour or so at the picnic / campgrounds, but the bugs were ferocious (stories: bug spray actually shoe protector / ejected from Campground No. 1 / coffee stolen by raccoon!)
Sun July 30 Skipped -- finished canoe trip by early afternoon, put everything away, worked w/ Fred for 4 hours till after 7 pm, exhausted.
Mon July 31 40 mins in afternoon at 1080 -- very nice: needed it! Inversions too, the whole routine, but gentle -- felt very good. Heading to Muskoka on Wed w/ Nora -- looking forward to many hours on Doug's deck.
Tues Aug 1 Skipped
Wed Aug 2 Skipped
Thurs Aug 3 Nora's Birthday! Up in Muskoka, after an 8 hour drive -- on Doug's dock, about 50 mins -- very good session, a bit stiff, but disorienting afterward to be on a floating dock -- felt almost seasick afterward -- balance & equilibrium upset -- not a good feeling -- gotta be on solid ground.
Fri Aug 4 Gets fuzzy, didn't record it, but I know I skipped two days in eight. So we'll say skipped.
Sat Aug 5 A couple of nights I practiced on Doug's deck with Nora reading nearby, for about 40 mins each. Good sessions -- esp after all the floor work
Sun Aug 6 A couple of nights too on the big flat rock overlooking the bay -- a beautiful full moon reflected on the lake, sounds of nighttime, warm gentle breeze or complete stillness - absolutely lovely -- about 40 mins each
Mon Aug 7 Skipped, we'll say.
Tues Aug 8 On Doug's deck, 40 mins
Wed Aug 9 Our last night, on the rock, 40 mins -- perfect out; plus a little during the day in the sun on the rock
Thurs Aug 10 Returned home -- skipped (lazy)
Fri Aug 11 About 40 mins in Collingwood lot -- lovely evening, worked at Fred's all day ripping up the floor, tired & stiff but a good session -- feeling it, slowly
Sat Aug 12 Skipped (ate too late, dinner w/ Tim)
Sun Aug 13 Great 70 min session at 257 -- ABI (all but inversions) -- felt tight before, great now. Clear crisp evening, music in the surrounding trees and lawns, cicadas, crickets, cadences of late summer. A noisy night: music, voices, cars, dogs, sounds of a late summer Sunday night -- wonderful. Lots of time on splits, forward bends, core situps. Weights too -- a really good workout. TEN WEEK SUMMING UP: Made good progress so far! Not as far as I'd like to be in 10 weeks, but well on my way -- most of all it feels very good to be somewhat back in control of my body again. 45 days of yoga in 70 days. Average of 4.5 days of every 7 -- not bad! That's 64% of days, or almost 2/3. Got to get it up to 3 of every 4 days. Average time per session: 45 minutes! That's good! Should bring it up to 50 or 60. Only a handful of multiple-session days: probably 5 or 6. Got to up that number! Better to do several times a day -- the more frequent the better. Number of times skipped four days or more in a row: 0 Number of times skipped three days: 1 Number of times skipped two days: 4 Number of times skipped one day: 14 Try to indicate reason why days skipped. Figure out the pattern. Then work against it. (Commonest answer: laziness)
Mon Aug 14 Skipped (laziness)
Tues Aug 15 50 mins at David's field -- what a wondrous night! So many thoughts under that canopy of stars -- a crystal clear, cool, moonless night, maybe 58 degrees, stars in profusion, Milky Way clear across the sky -- floods of ideas and insights in an excellent session, me in my underwear, a bit chilled but gloriously embraced by the cool night air, the session perhaps marred by a certain nervousness about wandering critters who can't see or ignore the candles surrounding me and my rug -- though of course I always have my sword at the ready -- an eBay special, Chinese mockup, actually a good, solid, sharp stainless steel blade with an excellent sheath. Always kept at the corner of the rug, its handle peeking out of the white cloth bag at rug's edge (maybe that's illegal? I doubt it). Hey, this is America -- you have to protect your damn self here. Lots of ideas and insights under that canopy of stars, especially my mortality, how brief my time here on this Earth, the rarity of life in the galaxy -- maybe half a dozen Earth-like planets in the whole Milky Way, places where LIFE absolutely thrives -- just a mere handful among the billions of stars -- About how miraculous life is -- rare and precious and wondrous -- and here I am, with my vertebral column stretching up toward the heavens, the product of, what? 300 million years of evolution -- And here I stand, conscious of it all, conscious of how the Universe came into being, how stars and planets formed, life evolved over millions of years, under the most improbable of conditions -- Liquid Water on a planet warmed just so by a solitary star?!? What an utterly improbable thing, liquid H20 . . . and the profusion of life that followed, with ebbs and flows, mass extinctions and recoveries, over hundreds of millions of years, until primates evolved into us . . . And time passes ever onward, relentlessly, over vast spans, and I will die very soon in the grand scheme of things -- MY LIFE just the blink of an eye. How much longer will I live? Maybe to 60? That's a dozen years. A dozen! Then some kind of awful lung cancer, decline, and death. 2018: the same distance as between now and 1994. That was the insight tonight, though it's not a new one: my lungs are really in need of healing. They could really really stand some very very serious healing. Or else I'm going to die of a horrible disease at a pretty damn young age. And I can't even quit smoking. Situation seems pretty desperate. Then I thought: what about something like a "Breath Quest"? Out to Colorado or Arizona, into a canyon or mountain where there's a river or lake and a yoga school, where I can go focus on healing my lungs for 30 days and 30 nights, taught and guided partly by a teacher of breath and yoga, but mostly me out there in nature, every day, hiking, swimming, working out, breathing, focusing my energies, focusing on cleansing my lungs of toxins and incipient tumors and marshalling my immune system to create the conditions under which my lung tissue can seriously heal. To bring the universal chi into my lungs and heal them. That would be the goal. My acupuncture treatments, Alison said, seemed to show that my healing powers are strong. My goal would to be guided by a teacher of yoga and breath, with most of my time spent alone, working out and breathing, focused on purging myself of 30 years of accumulated crud in my lungs. Eat, sleep, shower at the yoga school. Get instruction in the morning and evening, and have afternoons and nights to self-directed, solitary, focused sessions of yoga, karate, pilates, and weight-work. The coming months might be one of those rare moments in my life where such a thing would be possible. Then I thought: what about first incorporating such a practice into everyday life here in Ann Arbor? What about the Yoga space up the street? It's a lovely space, and I thought Anna the instructor said it was open most every day if I want to just come and practice -- And that could be my new healing space -- I think I can do lessons and open-door practice for $50 a month. That'd be grand! I'll go tomorrow. And that would be in preparation for a 30-day healing trip into the mountains. Maybe this late fall or winter. Depending on how things pan out. Can I afford to do something like that? Maybe $2,500 bucks, I figure. Maybe less. Can't afford more. Got to fish around on the Web for cool-looking schools; draft a letter to the school directors explaining my situation and goals. Then really plan it and do it.
Wed Aug 16 David's again, another 50 mins or so -- absolutely lovely. God I love those stars. So peaceful, majestic, mysterious -- really such a treat. Great session, too. Got to do shoulderstand EVERY day -- and plough. Keys to lots of things: neck, spine, belly, breath. Plus looking up at my feet against the stars, dimly illuminated by the candles -- incredible. So many flying machines up there. A dozen blinking lights at a time sometimes. Always a few low-flying noisemakers. Wonder what they make of my candles. If anything. Also lots of core work: on my back with legs in the air, gut crunches, etc. Getting stronger. Didn't go to the yoga space today. Will tomorrow.
Thurs Aug 17 Skipped (lazy)
Fri Aug 18 Skipped (same)
Sat Aug 19 About 30 mins at home -- felt tight but good
Sun Aug 20 Skipped (lazy -- did Mex-Am galleys instead)
Mon Aug 21 A good session -- about 60 mins in 257 lot -- took some photos of the candles & rug, maybe they'll turn out -- always a bit leery of skunks, though -- and other wandering critters. Cuts down on the relaxation. And makes doing the more vulnerable asanas a bit unsettling. But a very good session all the same. Got to get my tripod & good camera out & prepped. I think I know where that stuff is. Balance poses are very difficult after going through forward & backward bends. Why? Got to get a handle on that --
Tues Aug 22 Skipped (lazy again!)
Wed Aug 23 -- Day No. 50! Great session -- 60 mins in 257 lot -- from 10:50 to 11:50 pm -- threatened rain earlier, but cleared up. Smelled skunk early, but it went away. Candles seem to do the trick. Feeling very strong on most asanas -- splits and forward bends coming along well, as are backbends (cobra, locust, bow, boat). Feeling strong with these poses. Still skimping on inversions, I think because I feel uneasy doing them outside with critters potentially scurrying up and biting me in the nose. Pretty vulnerable doing shoulderstand / headstand / plough. Still, I ought to get over it and just do it. Next day (Thurs 1 pm) stopped in at the Yoga Spa on West Stadium, kind of weird but no one was there even though the door was open -- walked all through, couldn't find a soul. Left a note on the computer keyboard asking them to call me. We'll see.
Went for another few weeks or so, joined the Y, did some there, but then lost interest and let it slide from mid-Sept or so - - - don't exactly know why. Self-destruction? Whatever the case, a long winter break . . . .
Thurs May 3, 2007 Starting again. Fast-walked for 30 mins in Bird Hill Park and felt kinda sore afterward -- shows the lousy shape I'm in. Woke up the next a.m. with slight soreness in my glutes, calves, quads -- on my way!
Fri May 4 Another fast walk in Bird Hills in the a.m. -- 20 mins - then again, slowly, with NF in the afternoon. Can definitely feel it. Boy do I miss exercise. Gotta do it every single day -- if it's raining, then the Y. Cannot miss a single day. Pleasant fatigue.
Sat May 5 52 mins fast-walk in Bird Hills in afternoon (4-5); felt great; walked across Huron River Drive to Barton Dam & along the southern lakeshore before heading back; baby goslings at the far end of the trail along the lake; invigorating. Sleeping much better.
Sun May 6 Met Greg near the Sandusky River and walked a good chunk of the afternoon -- slow, but steady. Really nice to see Greg . . . followed by a long deep sleep. Sweet! Mige said no to my breath quest idea, but I've got to follow up and find something . . . maybe Vermont? SUNDAY WEEKLY WEIGHT: 193 (been here for most of the past year -- since November anyway)
Mon May 7 Worked 8 hours building Judith's fence, with sun shining and temp in the low 80s. Wow. Sweated up a storm, felt like basic training -- sort of felt like I did the first day of football practice back in August 1973: completely spent. Went to sleep at 9 pm, woke up feeling pretty good, but fairly stiff back. I was in better shape five years ago, that's for sure. According to the scales I lost 6 or 7 pounds, which is impossible, but I didn't eat much, and doubtless lost something. Trying to go down from my current high of 193 -- appalling, and about 18-20 lbs. higher than I should be. 175 is just about right -- 173 even better. Got to get down to that by early July. That's the goal, anyway. Plus really start up with yoga again.
Tues May 8 Worked another 8 hours on Judith's fence, in the rain. Wow. Sore doesn't begin to describe it. Feels really good to be using my body again, though. Gotta keep it up.
Wed May 9 I'm confused, because I worked 2 days on, took Thurs off (went to EMU) and worked again Friday & Saturday. I think I delivered materials on Monday, and worked Tues & Wed -- Wed in the rain. Oh well.
Thurs May 10 Took the day off, did microfilm (USDS) at EMU, went to the Union picnic, sat with Nation and Homel, went to Arts Subcmte meeting -- needed the rest. Ate little.
Fri May 11 Eight hours on Judith's fence -- pinched muscles in neck really bugging me -- hard to sleep -- gotta get acupuncture -- Eating only when I'm hungry, really trying to lose weight. We'll see. Meanwhile the fence-building is just the ticket -- feels both very difficult and very necessary.
Sat May 12 About 5 hours on Judith's fence, then home to NF -- nice.
Mother's Day. Woke up slow & easy with NF, then canoeing from Barton Dam to Gallup -- very nice afternoon -- neck / arm really killing me. SUNDAY WEEKLY WEIGHT: 189 Lost 4 pounds this week. Sounds about right -- I busted ass, and ate very little. Gotta continue, down to 175 / 173 over the next 7 weeks (by the 4th of July . . . ) This past week really was like basic training. Pushed my body to its limits of endurance for physical labor -- digging 18 holes 40" deep, roots, rocks, old posts, installing everything just so -- a real challenge. Weathered it without injury, at least. Thank you. FIRST YOGA SESSION OF THE SEASON! Sun just going down, 8:30-9:10 or so, cool, maybe 60 degrees, at the Vets overlook. Rug, water, sweats, t-shirt. Really nice session -- around 40 mins, relaxed, easy but focused, felt really nice, great afterward. Met Dawn & Lee -- homeless shelter, lunch (12-1) or dinner (5:30-6:30) -- in their car, watching me -- a nice chat afterward -- good people. Down on their luck. Interesting. Then got gussied up with water holster, iPod, etc, walked behind K-Mart & back through Vets -- felt good. Tired -- neck killing me -- a constant nag -- but body feels like it's on the journey, at least. Glimmers of the physical person I once was and can be again.
Mon May 14 Arm & shoulder absolutely killing me -- slept very poorly last night, had a post-apocalyptic dream where I couldn't get away from whatever it was that was haunting me -- doubtless my arm. So called Alison and got an "emergency acupuncture" session tonight at 5 pm. In the a.m. worked at Judith's for about 4-5 hours doing final cleanup around the fence perimeter, and felt totally exhausted by about noon. Had to go home and sleep -- and did, for 2-1/2 hours -- till it was time to go to Alison's. Then home, dinner, and Manny's with NF. Now back in my office, my back really sore but temporarily (I hope) -- gonna crash now and hopefully get up early and walk for an hour or so to loosen up before finishing up at Judith's and rebuilding my roof rack (which broke pulling the canoe off). Anyway no yoga tonight -- sleep is what I need.
Tues May 15 - Fri May 18 The most amazing physiological reaction to Alison's acupuncture -- an intense soreness on my right forearm, posterior (flexors) -- the soreness migrating out of the neck / shoulder / upper arm and into the forearm, wherefrom, presumably, it dissipates. Had a second acupuncture session today (Fri) -- and right now my right forearm is intensifying in pain, after diminishing since yesterday. Ebbing & flowing, coming & going; also going into my triceps right now. Here's the timeline, with 0-hour being 5 pm Monday: 0-24 hours: not much of anything 24-48 hours: intensifying pain in a square spot about 2" wide x 4" long on my posterior right forearm, just distal to the wrist, and diminishing soreness in my neck & shoulder; sleeping better by Wed night, but still on my back with my right arm over my head 48-72 hours: gradually diminishing forearm pain By the 72-hour mark it seems to have run most of its course. Absolutely amazing -- a very profound physiological reaction to a bunch of needles stuck in my back & shoulders. Forearm pain very intense. Slept most of Tuesday; felt pretty out of sorts most of the day. Tired, low energy, kind of dazed. Felt better Wed, pretty much fine by Thurs, though still a bit out of it. And now it will all run its course again: 0-hour = 5 pm Friday. Very powerful medicine -- I never would have believed it. No yoga, but walked 6 miles to NF's on Wed am after the brakes went out in the Honda and I handed the keys to John. Ron today: "Mike we dodged a bullet . . ." $118. Unbelievable. Not yet ready to go to Vermont. Lost my first 5 pounds. It feels like 5 pounds. Five pounds is what it feels like. It feels good. Like not enough, but very good. Now for the next five. Swapped massages yesterday with Betzabe, and give one tomorrow to Anna. Yay!
Sun May 20 SUNDAY WEEKLY WEIGHT: 187 So I'm down 6 lbs. from my longtime high of 193. Yeah. Feels like 6 lbs. Gotta keep at it -- I'm still at least 10-12 lbs. more than what I should be. Discipline, determination -- can't let that empty stomach feeling lead me to gorge myself, or even snack -- drink some tea, drink some water, take a walk -- anything except go up to the Marathon Station and buy those little cookies and a pint of milk -- keep that gut mostly empty, eat only when you're actually hungry. Not sure about the VT trip yet -- still puzzling. Will figure it out soon. Played frisbee with Brett in the evening -- very nice. Got some good running in, good talks with ol' Brettster -- he's really something, that Brett. Did a little stretching, too -- not enough to constitute a yoga session, but felt good all the same. Arm still bugging me a little, but vastly improved from a week ago, when it was just about intolerable. That acupuncture is absolutely amazing.
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