![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I got to the gym later than usual today, which means that there was a vinyasa yoga class about to start when I was done with my cardio, weights, and stretching. I decided to give it a try, which started with sitting on the floor with three other people while we awaited the instructor (he blamed the E train when he got there).
I lasted about five minutes. There were several problems. The simplest was that I was underdressed: the minimal outfit I wear for lifting weights is too light for lying on the floor focusing on my breath. That's fixable, if I want to do it again: bring long pants and a t-shirt. Second was that there was a spin class in another room at the same time, and they play their music very loud. Loud enough that I could feel it through the slightly raised floor of the room we were in (which, again, might not have been a problem for a class that hadn't had us lying flat on our backs). Third, the instructor started by having us breathe in and out, slowly, then explained that meditation isn't mystical, it's a technique, and like any technique you can improve with practice. This is in fact true. A minute later, he was talking about focusing on the moment as a way of finding our "true selves" and "peace beyond understanding." If you're selling mysticism, okay, but don't claim it's something else. Then he had us pull our legs close to our chest and wrap our arms around our calves, and told us to keep breathing slowly and deeply. Sorry, I can't give you both of those at once. And I was still cold. I grabbed my things and got up. He asked if it was something he said, and I just said "too cold": it was simplest, and I didn't want to disrupt the class for the other students.
I think I'm looking for a different kind of yoga, as well as a different instructor and slightly warmer clothes, if I pursue it again soon (I think I've taken two yoga classes in the six years I've been a member of this gym, not counting today; I took yoga weekly for a couple of semesters in high school, but that was to deal with the phys ed requirement).
( weight lifting details )
I lasted about five minutes. There were several problems. The simplest was that I was underdressed: the minimal outfit I wear for lifting weights is too light for lying on the floor focusing on my breath. That's fixable, if I want to do it again: bring long pants and a t-shirt. Second was that there was a spin class in another room at the same time, and they play their music very loud. Loud enough that I could feel it through the slightly raised floor of the room we were in (which, again, might not have been a problem for a class that hadn't had us lying flat on our backs). Third, the instructor started by having us breathe in and out, slowly, then explained that meditation isn't mystical, it's a technique, and like any technique you can improve with practice. This is in fact true. A minute later, he was talking about focusing on the moment as a way of finding our "true selves" and "peace beyond understanding." If you're selling mysticism, okay, but don't claim it's something else. Then he had us pull our legs close to our chest and wrap our arms around our calves, and told us to keep breathing slowly and deeply. Sorry, I can't give you both of those at once. And I was still cold. I grabbed my things and got up. He asked if it was something he said, and I just said "too cold": it was simplest, and I didn't want to disrupt the class for the other students.
I think I'm looking for a different kind of yoga, as well as a different instructor and slightly warmer clothes, if I pursue it again soon (I think I've taken two yoga classes in the six years I've been a member of this gym, not counting today; I took yoga weekly for a couple of semesters in high school, but that was to deal with the phys ed requirement).
( weight lifting details )
I got to the gym later than usual today, which means that there was a vinyasa yoga class about to start when I was done with my cardio, weights, and stretching. I decided to give it a try, which started with sitting on the floor with three other people while we awaited the instructor (he blamed the E train when he got there).
I lasted about five minutes. There were several problems. The simplest was that I was underdressed: the minimal outfit I wear for lifting weights is too light for lying on the floor focusing on my breath. That's fixable, if I want to do it again: bring long pants and a t-shirt. Second was that there was a spin class in another room at the same time, and they play their music very loud. Loud enough that I could feel it through the slightly raised floor of the room we were in (which, again, might not have been a problem for a class that hadn't had us lying flat on our backs). Third, the instructor started by having us breathe in and out, slowly, then explained that meditation isn't mystical, it's a technique, and like any technique you can improve with practice. This is in fact true. A minute later, he was talking about focusing on the moment as a way of finding our "true selves" and "peace beyond understanding." If you're selling mysticism, okay, but don't claim it's something else. Then he had us pull our legs close to our chest and wrap our arms around our calves, and told us to keep breathing slowly and deeply. Sorry, I can't give you both of those at once. And I was still cold. I grabbed my things and got up. He asked if it was something he said, and I just said "too cold": it was simplest, and I didn't want to disrupt the class for the other students.
I think I'm looking for a different kind of yoga, as well as a different instructor and slightly warmer clothes, if I pursue it again soon (I think I've taken two yoga classes in the six years I've been a member of this gym, not counting today; I took yoga weekly for a couple of semesters in high school, but that was to deal with the phys ed requirement).
( weight lifting details )
I lasted about five minutes. There were several problems. The simplest was that I was underdressed: the minimal outfit I wear for lifting weights is too light for lying on the floor focusing on my breath. That's fixable, if I want to do it again: bring long pants and a t-shirt. Second was that there was a spin class in another room at the same time, and they play their music very loud. Loud enough that I could feel it through the slightly raised floor of the room we were in (which, again, might not have been a problem for a class that hadn't had us lying flat on our backs). Third, the instructor started by having us breathe in and out, slowly, then explained that meditation isn't mystical, it's a technique, and like any technique you can improve with practice. This is in fact true. A minute later, he was talking about focusing on the moment as a way of finding our "true selves" and "peace beyond understanding." If you're selling mysticism, okay, but don't claim it's something else. Then he had us pull our legs close to our chest and wrap our arms around our calves, and told us to keep breathing slowly and deeply. Sorry, I can't give you both of those at once. And I was still cold. I grabbed my things and got up. He asked if it was something he said, and I just said "too cold": it was simplest, and I didn't want to disrupt the class for the other students.
I think I'm looking for a different kind of yoga, as well as a different instructor and slightly warmer clothes, if I pursue it again soon (I think I've taken two yoga classes in the six years I've been a member of this gym, not counting today; I took yoga weekly for a couple of semesters in high school, but that was to deal with the phys ed requirement).
( weight lifting details )
When I got to the subway this morning, I reached into my pocket for my 30-day Metrocard, and it wasn't there. Since I was already well behind my usual schedule, I decided to use a pay-per-ride card and deal with the problem later.
I got home and looked in all the sensible places, and a few not-entirely-sensible ones, without result. I am not happy.
I have called the MTA's refund hotline and left a message; someone is supposed to call me back tomorrow, and I'll get a pro-rated credit to the credit card I bought it with.
The real problem is that I've lost not only the farecard, but the handy little plastic holder I had it in. When they introduced the cards, the MTA handed out some free holders, to encourage people to start using cards instead of tokens. After that, they offered them for sale at the Transit Museum shops for about $1.50. Then they stopped, completely. I don't know why.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cattitude and I have used up half a dozen of the holders (over time, the glue connecting the two sides wears off, and then bits of the thin, transparent plastic that's one side of the holder break off, and eventually it won't hold the card anymore.
The holder I just lost, I found on eBay a few months ago. There aren't many there, though: none at all right now. The fallback is to keep my Metrocard in my wallet, which is less convenient, because I have to reach into my pocket, take out my wallet, and then take the card out of a pocket in my wallet.
I cling to the hope that it got knocked behind some piece of furniture, and will keep my eye open for either replacements or plausible substitutes.
I got home and looked in all the sensible places, and a few not-entirely-sensible ones, without result. I am not happy.
I have called the MTA's refund hotline and left a message; someone is supposed to call me back tomorrow, and I'll get a pro-rated credit to the credit card I bought it with.
The real problem is that I've lost not only the farecard, but the handy little plastic holder I had it in. When they introduced the cards, the MTA handed out some free holders, to encourage people to start using cards instead of tokens. After that, they offered them for sale at the Transit Museum shops for about $1.50. Then they stopped, completely. I don't know why.
cattitude and I have used up half a dozen of the holders (over time, the glue connecting the two sides wears off, and then bits of the thin, transparent plastic that's one side of the holder break off, and eventually it won't hold the card anymore.The holder I just lost, I found on eBay a few months ago. There aren't many there, though: none at all right now. The fallback is to keep my Metrocard in my wallet, which is less convenient, because I have to reach into my pocket, take out my wallet, and then take the card out of a pocket in my wallet.
I cling to the hope that it got knocked behind some piece of furniture, and will keep my eye open for either replacements or plausible substitutes.
Tags:
When I got to the subway this morning, I reached into my pocket for my 30-day Metrocard, and it wasn't there. Since I was already well behind my usual schedule, I decided to use a pay-per-ride card and deal with the problem later.
I got home and looked in all the sensible places, and a few not-entirely-sensible ones, without result. I am not happy.
I have called the MTA's refund hotline and left a message; someone is supposed to call me back tomorrow, and I'll get a pro-rated credit to the credit card I bought it with.
The real problem is that I've lost not only the farecard, but the handy little plastic holder I had it in. When they introduced the cards, the MTA handed out some free holders, to encourage people to start using cards instead of tokens. After that, they offered them for sale at the Transit Museum shops for about $1.50. Then they stopped, completely. I don't know why.cattitude and I have used up half a dozen of the holders (over time, the glue connecting the two sides wears off, and then bits of the thin, transparent plastic that's one side of the holder break off, and eventually it won't hold the card anymore.
The holder I just lost, I found on eBay a few months ago. There aren't many there, though: none at all right now. The fallback is to keep my Metrocard in my wallet, which is less convenient, because I have to reach into my pocket, take out my wallet, and then take the card out of a pocket in my wallet.
I cling to the hope that it got knocked behind some piece of furniture, and will keep my eye open for either replacements or plausible substitutes.
I got home and looked in all the sensible places, and a few not-entirely-sensible ones, without result. I am not happy.
I have called the MTA's refund hotline and left a message; someone is supposed to call me back tomorrow, and I'll get a pro-rated credit to the credit card I bought it with.
The real problem is that I've lost not only the farecard, but the handy little plastic holder I had it in. When they introduced the cards, the MTA handed out some free holders, to encourage people to start using cards instead of tokens. After that, they offered them for sale at the Transit Museum shops for about $1.50. Then they stopped, completely. I don't know why.
cattitude and I have used up half a dozen of the holders (over time, the glue connecting the two sides wears off, and then bits of the thin, transparent plastic that's one side of the holder break off, and eventually it won't hold the card anymore.The holder I just lost, I found on eBay a few months ago. There aren't many there, though: none at all right now. The fallback is to keep my Metrocard in my wallet, which is less convenient, because I have to reach into my pocket, take out my wallet, and then take the card out of a pocket in my wallet.
I cling to the hope that it got knocked behind some piece of furniture, and will keep my eye open for either replacements or plausible substitutes.
Tags:
.