This year, my first full year in retirement, I have decided to do some things differently. I posted yesterday about pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone regarding sleep.
I felt that I should move out of my comfort zone in other respects. My normal spheres of activity consist of sitting, preferably at a desk, and using my brain.
I love sitting. Yesterday I even sat to do some deadheading, carting a kitchen stool around the garden with me.
I've never been a great one for using my hands, athough I have the greatest respect for people who do. And I've certainly had plenty of chances to see them in action recently. We've had a constant stream of
workmen processing through the house for the last three months. Builders, fitters, electricians, floor-layers, plasterers. They have taken out walls, doors, floors and ceilings. Then re-bricking, re-plastering, and breaking things inadvertently, thus causing more workmen to come. I admire their energy and zeal for getting their hands dirty and lifting heavy weights, but could never, even in my younger days, have hoped to do any such thing.
In my career, I sat at a desk and pondered over intellectual problems. I was required to read a lot (albeit company law and tax regulations, largely), and write reports, memos and minutes.
I have also been doing a lot of reading since retirement, so when thinking about the
U3A, I felt the need to join a different group. Steer clear of my comfort zones, which are sitting, reading and writing. Such opportunities exist, in that there are several reading groups and four creative writing groups in my locality.
In the interests of pushing myself and striking a balance, I decided on
Yoga.
Thirty-five years ago, I joined a yoga evening class, and all I can remember of it is that I couldn't do any of the poses. I also remember being so relaxed in the lying on the floor part that I fell asleep.
I explained to the leader of the U3A Yoga class, when discussing my proposed visit for a trial session, that I had been spectacularly useless at my previous attempt. "I just lay on the floor doing the breathing," I said. I didn't mention the falling asleep.
She was completely non-judgemental, and yesterday I went along for the first session of the new term.
We spent nearly the whole session just lying on the floor doing the breathing (great! I can do that!) And I didn't fall asleep! Maybe that was because it was morning, not eight-o'clock at night after a full day's work. We then moved on to
The Warrior Pose.
It looks simple, but try it. I wobbled, and thought I would fall over, despite having both feet on the ground. "Good," I thought. If I think I'm going to fall over, this means I need to do this, and I need to improve. So, good for pushing boundaries, and good for balance, all round.
I didn't ache this morning, or feel stiff. I recognized two people I knew slightly at the class, so had a nice chat. Sociable, then, as well as stretching.
Hope I can keep it up!
