Wednesday I was reading but I went out for a walk, 35 minutes or so.
Thursday I was reading but then I went over to the coffeeshop by the bay to meet Karen. We sat and talked for a couple hours, catching up. Then I walked home, kind of the long way around, by heading straight south by the city pool, across Franklin Field to the bikepath, and then west along the creek and north a couple blocks on Beld to home, which all took a bit less than half an hour. Then read more. Feeling kind of sore, but still no pain meds.
Today Jon and I walked to the Arboretum, up the drive to where the streets with houses go up the hill from Lake Wingra. We were going to come back via Martin St through the Town of Madison, but we got to talking about the Lost City and the wetlands, how the willow drive there shapes the lake like an earthen dam, and how much of our neighborhood was fill and how much of Wingra Creek was dredged, so we went back down the Arboretum Drive to the bike path and all the way down to Franky Field, looking at the creek level and the railroad elevations, which have been there longer than practically anything else. Then home, where we dragged out Mollenhoff's history of Madison (up to 1920) which has more of the story on the Lost City development, and drawings, and photos, and maps of all the parts of the downtown that were filled or leveled. This made us nearly late to the movie. We were out walking around for two hours.
There used to be a ridge between Wingra and Monona Bay along where Park St is now, but that was all sand and gravel and sacred Indian burials that got hauled away to fill in the wetlands. Interesting to see how the Wrong Side of the Tracks south of the capitol (north of the bay) was really pretty rough looking, in the photos, and the roads kind of disappeared in the industrial area around the old roundhouse, while the bay was still getting dredged and filled along the shore. The Park St railway underpass was not there and the street hardly distinguishable in aerial photos where it crossed the railroad tracks, from the classier campus area into the slums of the Bush. But our neighborhood, the Tree Streets, were already platted before John Nolen's model city plan of 1910. When the Vilas neighborhood and University Heights were the western suburbs, Lakeside Street was already a main drag. That map I have there used to be the whole south side of Madison.
the neighborhood: it's a mile from home to St Marys
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
New yoga class
Tuesday being library day, yesterday I walked over to Monroe St with library books & back again. Hour and a half, 45 minutes each way, including stop at coffee shop AND library, so I was moving faster than lately.
Later in the afternoon Jon and I walked over to a one-hour yoga class at the Chakra House on Lakeside. Pam down the block had recommended the Monday & Tuesday teacher, and would like us to come with her on Monday, but that one is right during our usual dinner time, and first I thought we should try it out. Jon of course is in fine shape for cardiovascular and strength, but extremely stiff, always has been, and this was the first yoga class he has ever taken. It's billed as "Yoga for Everyone" and the whole schedule there is drop-in sessions. I talked to the teacher Mary a bit before and after, and she's a PT, but even with only ten students she doesn't really have time for a lot of individual teaching.
Fortunately all that work with Susi for the last three some years had me just about up to speed for the actual Salute to the Sun. It was a lot more strenuous than my other yoga class, a lot of up and down and lunges and more than a few Downward Dogs, but okay. Also more Warrior 2, and Bridging, and a couple more stretches (one prone and one sitting). I need more arm & shoulder work anyway. My legs were sore from all the Warrior, and my lower back, today my shoulders are a little stiff but otherwise the usual. My left arm actually hurts WHILE I am reaching overhead, which is probably why I don't practice that.
Jon is apparently up for trying it again each week for a while, since he knows the amount of stiffness he has is very slow to work with, but of course the squats and strength moves were no problemo. (This morning he was pushing his car out the driveway and across the street so he could jumpstart it, and it's a small car, but still.) In the evening we talked a bit about finding him enough pillow or prop to sit on so that his knees can drop down and his back straighten up more when he sits cross-legged on the floor, which is something he has never been able to do anyway. In class I used one of the yoga blocks to sit on, as it is just about the right height for me and my sitting bones fit on it, although sometimes I use a folded blanket. (My hip mobility has improved quite a lot over the last couple years.) And then getting him padded enough to try sitting on his heels with folded legs -- a pad under his feet so they don't get smooshed uncomfortably flat, and then a pillow behind his knees. I use a small one there if I'm sitting that way for any length of time. The plan is to just practice sitting on the floor for a little while in the evenings, instead of always on the sofas. Half hour? fifteen minutes? ten minutes! five minutes! whatever. Use it or lose it.
Later in the afternoon Jon and I walked over to a one-hour yoga class at the Chakra House on Lakeside. Pam down the block had recommended the Monday & Tuesday teacher, and would like us to come with her on Monday, but that one is right during our usual dinner time, and first I thought we should try it out. Jon of course is in fine shape for cardiovascular and strength, but extremely stiff, always has been, and this was the first yoga class he has ever taken. It's billed as "Yoga for Everyone" and the whole schedule there is drop-in sessions. I talked to the teacher Mary a bit before and after, and she's a PT, but even with only ten students she doesn't really have time for a lot of individual teaching.
Fortunately all that work with Susi for the last three some years had me just about up to speed for the actual Salute to the Sun. It was a lot more strenuous than my other yoga class, a lot of up and down and lunges and more than a few Downward Dogs, but okay. Also more Warrior 2, and Bridging, and a couple more stretches (one prone and one sitting). I need more arm & shoulder work anyway. My legs were sore from all the Warrior, and my lower back, today my shoulders are a little stiff but otherwise the usual. My left arm actually hurts WHILE I am reaching overhead, which is probably why I don't practice that.
Jon is apparently up for trying it again each week for a while, since he knows the amount of stiffness he has is very slow to work with, but of course the squats and strength moves were no problemo. (This morning he was pushing his car out the driveway and across the street so he could jumpstart it, and it's a small car, but still.) In the evening we talked a bit about finding him enough pillow or prop to sit on so that his knees can drop down and his back straighten up more when he sits cross-legged on the floor, which is something he has never been able to do anyway. In class I used one of the yoga blocks to sit on, as it is just about the right height for me and my sitting bones fit on it, although sometimes I use a folded blanket. (My hip mobility has improved quite a lot over the last couple years.) And then getting him padded enough to try sitting on his heels with folded legs -- a pad under his feet so they don't get smooshed uncomfortably flat, and then a pillow behind his knees. I use a small one there if I'm sitting that way for any length of time. The plan is to just practice sitting on the floor for a little while in the evenings, instead of always on the sofas. Half hour? fifteen minutes? ten minutes! five minutes! whatever. Use it or lose it.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
More walks
Friday Jon and I walked through the zoo and around Vilas Park. About an hour and a half. I have been dragging these last several days, sleep a lot, still tired, swelled up hands and feet etc.
Saturday (Jon was out slashing and burning at Spring Green) I walked 72 minutes around the neighborhood. All the way over to Olin-Turville, where the big Polar Plunge event was being torn down, but there still was only the one trash container for the whole park. Stretched with a bit of yoga.
Today I was on my feet walking for an hour and 55 minutes, but some ten minutes or so of that was walking around Trader Joe's on Monroe St for groceries. Jon carried them back. Instead of going out to a park with a hiking trail we stayed in the neighborhood today, because everything is melting, the trails are sure to be slushy, and my boots are not holding up to water at all well anymore. The road through Vilas Park is still one of my favorite places, along Lake Wingra, solid white with snow cover. Slept nearly twelve hours, still tired.
Saturday (Jon was out slashing and burning at Spring Green) I walked 72 minutes around the neighborhood. All the way over to Olin-Turville, where the big Polar Plunge event was being torn down, but there still was only the one trash container for the whole park. Stretched with a bit of yoga.
Today I was on my feet walking for an hour and 55 minutes, but some ten minutes or so of that was walking around Trader Joe's on Monroe St for groceries. Jon carried them back. Instead of going out to a park with a hiking trail we stayed in the neighborhood today, because everything is melting, the trails are sure to be slushy, and my boots are not holding up to water at all well anymore. The road through Vilas Park is still one of my favorite places, along Lake Wingra, solid white with snow cover. Slept nearly twelve hours, still tired.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Walk walk
Wednesday, 67 minutes, around neighborhood.
Today, an hour and 25 minutes, around the neighborhood, and all the way to Vilas Ave along the bay. No pain meds, yay. A little stretching, a lot of lying on the floor, and I think my callouses are getting blisters.
Today, an hour and 25 minutes, around the neighborhood, and all the way to Vilas Ave along the bay. No pain meds, yay. A little stretching, a lot of lying on the floor, and I think my callouses are getting blisters.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Walk, walk, walk
Monday, Jon was off in Spring Green slashing & burning to restore prairie habitat. I read most of the day. In the afternoon I had a walk around the neighborhood, 45 minutes or so, while I was trying to reach Marcia on the phone. I went down Emerson over to the bay, around O'Sheridan, south to the bikepath along the creek and west back to Park St and home. Then I drove over the Marcia's for tea and chocolates and to catch up a bit since we hadn't seen each other in months. It snowed a bit, but temperature was mild, and I felt pretty good.
Yesterday was Tuesday and I had read a couple of novels from the library so I walked over to Monroe St to return them, through the zoo. Wind from the north but not too cold to walk into. I had a break at the library to read a bit of the New York Review of Books and then posted about it on Facebook right from the library. Managed to resist later books in the series by Kathy Reichs (source of teevee series Bones about forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan) because I am trying to read them in order. On the New Book Shelf though I had to pick up Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters because, you know, Jane Austen just didn't write enough books, and Colonel Brandon with a tentacle condition will certainly make the young lady's reservations about him all the more understandable. Walked back through the park, which is a bit longer way, so it was 45 minutes there and more like 50 back.
I did take a half a pain med yesterday, because I started out the day with the hurting all over thing from fingers to toes and everything in between. Today, much the same, but I expect I will get out for a walk, much the same.
Yesterday was Tuesday and I had read a couple of novels from the library so I walked over to Monroe St to return them, through the zoo. Wind from the north but not too cold to walk into. I had a break at the library to read a bit of the New York Review of Books and then posted about it on Facebook right from the library. Managed to resist later books in the series by Kathy Reichs (source of teevee series Bones about forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan) because I am trying to read them in order. On the New Book Shelf though I had to pick up Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters because, you know, Jane Austen just didn't write enough books, and Colonel Brandon with a tentacle condition will certainly make the young lady's reservations about him all the more understandable. Walked back through the park, which is a bit longer way, so it was 45 minutes there and more like 50 back.
I did take a half a pain med yesterday, because I started out the day with the hurting all over thing from fingers to toes and everything in between. Today, much the same, but I expect I will get out for a walk, much the same.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Sunday Park Inspections
Today we drove out to Mount Horeb to try the walking paths at Stewart County Park. But when we got there, I don't know if we had known this and forgotten it, the whole site was deep in mud from the dredging project for the lake. I started out the day feeling deep fatigue and sore all over, and was beginning to recover with a half a pain med, but didn't really want to go through that much mud.
Instead we went over to Blue Mounds State Park, a heavily-used park, and on a Sunday afternoon full of both skiers and snowshoers. We spent an hour following the pink-blazed hiking and snowshoe trail, only to work out that there were more trails so marked than appear on the actual map handed out and highlighted by the nice ranger stationed at the gate. After following for twenty minutes or so a marked snowshoe track that was not used enough by hikers, we decided dropping through the crust into knee-deep snow was not what we were equipped for (Jon didn't even have high boots), we finally got oriented, between the low afternoon sun, the ski trails we crossed, and the paved road we were expecting to cross that never seemed to be in the right place. It was a whole hour before we got back to the car, within about a quarter mile radius, through a very nice little wood full of snow-covered gneiss boulders. "Gneiss and Easy Trail", right.
Another time we might try that bike trail again, which in the winter is a hiking trail. Or we might wait until summer when we can use the big nature trails that are in the winter dedicated ski trails. There's also a nice trail from the east observation tower, down a very steep slope, and back up, that would be a strenuous couple miles through the snow, on a day when I was fresher, that we spent another twenty minutes looking at, although we didn't even climb the observation tower. The circuit of the paved parking lots at the top of Blue Mound gives excellent views for miles in all directions. Lots of snow damage to the trees out there, from the heavy snows last month. A gneiss boulder shelter. Gneiss fireplaces. Gneiss scenery! Probably a gigantic glacial drumlin? with lots of glacial till. Lots of trails, in short, when we want to get out of town, not too far.
Instead we went over to Blue Mounds State Park, a heavily-used park, and on a Sunday afternoon full of both skiers and snowshoers. We spent an hour following the pink-blazed hiking and snowshoe trail, only to work out that there were more trails so marked than appear on the actual map handed out and highlighted by the nice ranger stationed at the gate. After following for twenty minutes or so a marked snowshoe track that was not used enough by hikers, we decided dropping through the crust into knee-deep snow was not what we were equipped for (Jon didn't even have high boots), we finally got oriented, between the low afternoon sun, the ski trails we crossed, and the paved road we were expecting to cross that never seemed to be in the right place. It was a whole hour before we got back to the car, within about a quarter mile radius, through a very nice little wood full of snow-covered gneiss boulders. "Gneiss and Easy Trail", right.
Another time we might try that bike trail again, which in the winter is a hiking trail. Or we might wait until summer when we can use the big nature trails that are in the winter dedicated ski trails. There's also a nice trail from the east observation tower, down a very steep slope, and back up, that would be a strenuous couple miles through the snow, on a day when I was fresher, that we spent another twenty minutes looking at, although we didn't even climb the observation tower. The circuit of the paved parking lots at the top of Blue Mound gives excellent views for miles in all directions. Lots of snow damage to the trees out there, from the heavy snows last month. A gneiss boulder shelter. Gneiss fireplaces. Gneiss scenery! Probably a gigantic glacial drumlin? with lots of glacial till. Lots of trails, in short, when we want to get out of town, not too far.
Yin Yoga
Saturday I walked over to Monroe St to return library books, 45 minutes. Then sat in the coffee shop for an hour or so to read. Then walked home again, through Vilas Park, 52 minutes. Lovely day, no pain meds, I was feeling pretty good.
One of the library books I was returning, which was terribly overdue, was Yin Yoga: Outline of a Quiet Practice. It had a lot of interesting material in it: the main idea being that just as muscle tissue can be trained by active (yang) exercise, connective tissue can be made more elastic by the slow stretching characteristic of many yoga practices. I had thought I might note some of the routines out of this book. But as usual, the positions were illustrated by an extremely flexible young person, and the sequences not particularly useful for working up to that condition. Some of them were, which I read with interest, but I am going to depend on Susi for more appropriate guidance. Still, it was cool to know some more of the names for positions we have already tried in class -- "Sleeping Swan" for that piriformus stretch that starts from hands & knees, for instance. The general practice outlines a great many positions that are held, with the muscles relaxed, for three to five minutes.
It is not really news to me that women in my post-industrial culture tend to lack upper-body strength, and lose bone mass there particularly if we don't take up weight-bearing exercise. The Chinese yin/yang analysis of this was an interesting take on it. The lower body tends to be heavier, closer to the ground, yin characteristics; so my walking program balances this tendency with (yang) movement. The upper body is lighter, more mobile, active, busy: yang characteristics. This can be balanced by strength training as well as flexibility, and yoga actually offers a lot of weight-bearing positions for the arms -- although in my class we are not anywhere near to balancing the entire body weight on the arms. Downward Dog is my best effort right now. The Plank (push-up) I can handle briefly, and Crocodile (with arms bent) is something I can look forward to. I might also look for more details on getting to a Tripod (legs extended to the side, weight on feet, with one arm also supporting the body weight).
One of the library books I was returning, which was terribly overdue, was Yin Yoga: Outline of a Quiet Practice. It had a lot of interesting material in it: the main idea being that just as muscle tissue can be trained by active (yang) exercise, connective tissue can be made more elastic by the slow stretching characteristic of many yoga practices. I had thought I might note some of the routines out of this book. But as usual, the positions were illustrated by an extremely flexible young person, and the sequences not particularly useful for working up to that condition. Some of them were, which I read with interest, but I am going to depend on Susi for more appropriate guidance. Still, it was cool to know some more of the names for positions we have already tried in class -- "Sleeping Swan" for that piriformus stretch that starts from hands & knees, for instance. The general practice outlines a great many positions that are held, with the muscles relaxed, for three to five minutes.
It is not really news to me that women in my post-industrial culture tend to lack upper-body strength, and lose bone mass there particularly if we don't take up weight-bearing exercise. The Chinese yin/yang analysis of this was an interesting take on it. The lower body tends to be heavier, closer to the ground, yin characteristics; so my walking program balances this tendency with (yang) movement. The upper body is lighter, more mobile, active, busy: yang characteristics. This can be balanced by strength training as well as flexibility, and yoga actually offers a lot of weight-bearing positions for the arms -- although in my class we are not anywhere near to balancing the entire body weight on the arms. Downward Dog is my best effort right now. The Plank (push-up) I can handle briefly, and Crocodile (with arms bent) is something I can look forward to. I might also look for more details on getting to a Tripod (legs extended to the side, weight on feet, with one arm also supporting the body weight).
Friday, February 12, 2010
Is it Friday already?
Nice sunny afternoon, mild wind from the north, right around freezing. I walked the long way around the neighborhood this side of Park St: south on Beld to bike path to Olin Park, all the way out to the waterfront (ice fishermen and iceboats are the only launches this time of year) where the last trash cans in the park are left, to dispose of coffee cup. Across the footbridge to the end of Lakeside St, then around back to the bike path underpass under John Nolen, north on Colby to O'Sheridan, west on Lakeside and South Shore along the bay all the way to Lowell, then south and up the hill on Emerson. An hour and nine minutes on the watch. Lay on the floor for quite a while afterwards to stretch. But no pain meds today, so that was as good as it gets.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Thursday, two walks
First I had a walk with Jon around the neighborhood, east on the bikepath, under Olin Ave, around the O'Sheridan loop, west on Lakeside and along the bay. We were out around 45 minutes. Then 15 minutes of yoga stretching.
Today I had a bit of a headache again. Later I regretted taking my morning med as it only got worse.
Later we were coming back from a matinee, and it was a pretty nice day, so Jon let me off on Monroe St for another walk, in an attempt to burn off the excess medication. If that is indeed the problem, and not muscular tension in my neck and shoulders, which is another theory. I walked east on Woodrow St past Edgewood, then Edgewood Drive along Lake Wingra that is closed to traffic now. That leads right into Vilas Park and the usual path back home along the bikepath. A bit longer than the usual return from Monroe St, 53 minutes. Headache not quite so bad, but I'll be damned if I'll take the big morning pill tomorrow morning.
Today I had a bit of a headache again. Later I regretted taking my morning med as it only got worse.
Later we were coming back from a matinee, and it was a pretty nice day, so Jon let me off on Monroe St for another walk, in an attempt to burn off the excess medication. If that is indeed the problem, and not muscular tension in my neck and shoulders, which is another theory. I walked east on Woodrow St past Edgewood, then Edgewood Drive along Lake Wingra that is closed to traffic now. That leads right into Vilas Park and the usual path back home along the bikepath. A bit longer than the usual return from Monroe St, 53 minutes. Headache not quite so bad, but I'll be damned if I'll take the big morning pill tomorrow morning.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Yoga class today
As usual before I have to go out and do something, I slept poorly last night, but with Jon's help got out the door in plenty of time to get to class. With coffee in hand, so I didn't even fall asleep during the Savasana part at the end.
I forgot to note down the routine right away. It's always different. So let's see, it started as always with some stretching lying down, alternate arms and legs this time. Then we did the Warrior 1 pose and looked particularly at alignment for that. We usually do the Warrior 2 which has the back foot turned out a bit, and the hips turned somewhat sideways. But the Warrior 1 has the hips lined up facing forward, and toes too. Harder to balance, and Susi suggested we might need a slightly wider stance. Bending forward knee on exhale, keeping rear heel down, we did this a couple times on each side.
Then we spent quite some time on the Boat. Lying facedown (with towel to support forehead), lifting one leg then the other, then arms (by sides) and shoulders and all. Child's pose before and after. With knees spread for groin stretch.
Seems like we must have done more. All I can remember is the spine twist, lying down, with piriformus stretch. Shoulders on the floor with arms in a T position, lift as for Bridge with one leg, while the other side falls to turn hips sideways, then the bent leg comes over as far as possible to rest on the floor. Turn head the other way to extend twist to neck. Susi said I had that just about perfect, and I said I've been doing it a lot, which is more or less true. No more time then for Downward Dog, although I squeezed one in briefly just to show off, while then we got set up with our blankies and pillows for Savasana, the usual Corpse Pose with guided relaxation. No class for two weeks now until the next session starts. The person who talks all the time was fairly stifled for most of the class, which was a mercy.
I'm feeling pretty good today, and no pain meds. But I haven't had a walk yet.
I forgot to note down the routine right away. It's always different. So let's see, it started as always with some stretching lying down, alternate arms and legs this time. Then we did the Warrior 1 pose and looked particularly at alignment for that. We usually do the Warrior 2 which has the back foot turned out a bit, and the hips turned somewhat sideways. But the Warrior 1 has the hips lined up facing forward, and toes too. Harder to balance, and Susi suggested we might need a slightly wider stance. Bending forward knee on exhale, keeping rear heel down, we did this a couple times on each side.
Then we spent quite some time on the Boat. Lying facedown (with towel to support forehead), lifting one leg then the other, then arms (by sides) and shoulders and all. Child's pose before and after. With knees spread for groin stretch.
Seems like we must have done more. All I can remember is the spine twist, lying down, with piriformus stretch. Shoulders on the floor with arms in a T position, lift as for Bridge with one leg, while the other side falls to turn hips sideways, then the bent leg comes over as far as possible to rest on the floor. Turn head the other way to extend twist to neck. Susi said I had that just about perfect, and I said I've been doing it a lot, which is more or less true. No more time then for Downward Dog, although I squeezed one in briefly just to show off, while then we got set up with our blankies and pillows for Savasana, the usual Corpse Pose with guided relaxation. No class for two weeks now until the next session starts. The person who talks all the time was fairly stifled for most of the class, which was a mercy.
I'm feeling pretty good today, and no pain meds. But I haven't had a walk yet.
Monday and Tuesday
Monday I had a headache, and didn't go out at all. I read a lot.
Tuesday I still had the headache but decided I had to go out and just walk it off. It is possibly a side effect of medications, yadda yadda. Well actually as long as this is my journal I suppose I can go into some detail about that. Just about a month ago the doctor doubled my bupropion (wellbutrin) dosage, which I had cut back to a point where it was really not having much effect, but at the higher dosage I find I start getting headaches, which is not at all typical for me, most particularly if I have not had my three to five mile walk every single day which I suppose is burning off the medication in a desirable sort of way. Usually if I skip a day of the med, the headache will go away, but this is one of those drugs you are most particularly not supposed to skip, in case of seizures. No fooling. Anyway, I still have some of the lower dosage pills, so I compromised with a lower-dose day and a long walk and it did the trick, as usual. Also the regulation 12-oz coffee, which makes it all more complicated of course (but I had coffee the day before and the headache had not abated).
It was snowing nicely. Including a brief stop at the coffee shop, I was out for 53 minutes, east on the bike path, under Olin Ave, drop coffee cup in Montessori school trash, around the O'Sheridan loop where I walked partly in the street. The north wind off the bay was making drifts on the north-south sidewalks. Then west on Lakeside, to avoid the wind, and home.
I lay on the floor for quite some time, and stretched my arms a bit. Shoulders still bad.
In this photo you can see the snow just beginning to melt on my hat after I came in. This is my Hat Number One that I made in the late seventies at Bluejacket, Oklahoma out of my grandma Alice's scrapbag when she taught me to crochet. It is both double- and single-crochet with two yarns on the hook. Very warm, and I can't get lost in the snow in this.
Tuesday I still had the headache but decided I had to go out and just walk it off. It is possibly a side effect of medications, yadda yadda. Well actually as long as this is my journal I suppose I can go into some detail about that. Just about a month ago the doctor doubled my bupropion (wellbutrin) dosage, which I had cut back to a point where it was really not having much effect, but at the higher dosage I find I start getting headaches, which is not at all typical for me, most particularly if I have not had my three to five mile walk every single day which I suppose is burning off the medication in a desirable sort of way. Usually if I skip a day of the med, the headache will go away, but this is one of those drugs you are most particularly not supposed to skip, in case of seizures. No fooling. Anyway, I still have some of the lower dosage pills, so I compromised with a lower-dose day and a long walk and it did the trick, as usual. Also the regulation 12-oz coffee, which makes it all more complicated of course (but I had coffee the day before and the headache had not abated).
It was snowing nicely. Including a brief stop at the coffee shop, I was out for 53 minutes, east on the bike path, under Olin Ave, drop coffee cup in Montessori school trash, around the O'Sheridan loop where I walked partly in the street. The north wind off the bay was making drifts on the north-south sidewalks. Then west on Lakeside, to avoid the wind, and home.
I lay on the floor for quite some time, and stretched my arms a bit. Shoulders still bad.
In this photo you can see the snow just beginning to melt on my hat after I came in. This is my Hat Number One that I made in the late seventies at Bluejacket, Oklahoma out of my grandma Alice's scrapbag when she taught me to crochet. It is both double- and single-crochet with two yarns on the hook. Very warm, and I can't get lost in the snow in this.
Sunday in the Arboretum
Sunday we had a nice long walk in the Arboretum, an hour and some 40 minutes, although some of that was spent stopping and looking at the map. We came in at the Martin St trail head for the hiking and ski trail. Last year we came in that way in the snow, and walked through the woods to the head of Natural Avenue, but we had only been back once since then. This time we went over the same territory we had covered in the leaves, through the Lost City Forest. The trail was a bit rough (for skiing) but pretty reasonable for boots with yaktrax, with a foot or so of snow cover. We headed in past the new teal ponds and north through Gallistel Woods, crossed the road, and then down past the Indian Mounds to Lake Wingra and the big spring, where watercress was still green in the water. The area where they had been cutting brush in the fall was all cleared up. It's interesting getting the lay of the land in different seasons.
We came back through the parking lot and around a different loop of the woods trail. It looked entirely different in the snow of course, but there's a stone building from the CCC days in the forest. I got entirely turned around looking for signposts coming back through the hollow around the stone building. We had missed out on the Sunday afternoon guided tours the staff was running from the Visitor Center, but they looked to be moving pretty slowly. We came around the other side of a field we had hiked in by, saw some turkeys in the cedar trees, and then got all the way down along Curtis Prairie past where they are cutting alder trees out to the big new settling ponds we inspected last fall, for the runoff from the Beltline Highway. A lot of trails were closed off there, just where we had come through the pine forest last fall, but we found our way back to the loop trail and our car at the trail head. My feet were pretty sore, partly from the roughness of the trail where people have been walking (and skiing) in all kinds of melting and freezing conditions. Otherwise feeling pretty good, but that may be because I'm on drugs.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Saturday
Today I walked over to Monroe St, through the zoo, first to the public library, about 45 minutes. to pick up some books on hold. Annoyed with noise from stadium. I sat and read a couple articles from the current Yoga Journal there. Then up the street to Trader Joe's briefly, no more coffee, and off again down to Vilas Park. Another 45 minutes maybe home again, as I was back in just about two hours altogether. Just about 30 degrees, wind from the north, pleasant enough -- other than the stuff I carry around with me.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Walking around
Today it was right around freezing, wind from the east and south, with a flurry of snow when we started out. Jon and I walked west to the bikepath, past the new dam on Wingra, and then through the zoo, around the rest of Vilas Park, and back home along the bikepath. Out for an hour and a half. I had to lie down for a little stretching when we got back. My arms are sore, like somebody punched me in the left arm, probably just from all that stretching in yoga class. But then I'm pretty much sore all over.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Walked today
It was actually kind of nice today, wind from the south and temperature pushing freezing. I went out walking over all around Vilas Park, up to the bear mound circle on Vilas Ave and then stopped at Karen's for tea, 47 minutes to get over there. Then home for the mile or so along the bay which was 24 minutes.
Still feeling kind of sore all over. I don't know if I want to keep up this exercise journal unless it gets either shorter or more interesting.
Still feeling kind of sore all over. I don't know if I want to keep up this exercise journal unless it gets either shorter or more interesting.
Yoga class
Wednesday the 3rd was yoga class, at the Dean West Clinic which is a whole five minutes closer to home than then Edgewood building we have been going to for the last couple years. We're back in the gym, which is kind of chilly and has wood floors instead of industrial carpeting.
We did a lot of shoulder mobility stuff, and high time too. We always start with breathing and centering, then stretching. Table Pose, tiger rolls, Child's Pose, then bending elbow-to-alternate knee and extending to Songbird pose. Did this on each side, with Child's pose between.
Susi discussed shoulder alignment and core bracing, and standing with the belt held in front we stretched arms. This is a thing where you are supposed to be using the muscles between your shoulder blades, which I am pretty much not, using all chest and front shoulder muscles. We did a kind of military press type move to stretch arms overhead, with tension on the belt held with hands shoulder-width apart, more or less. I was having a bad day for pain all over, and started feeling kind of faint. We did another stretch standing close to the wall, with arms extended overhead against the wall, another way to explore range of motion. Then we tried holding the belt behind, to raise it, which extends shoulder and back. Much discussion of postural alignment.
Then we spent a while on the Warrior 2 Pose, with discussion of arm position modifications that we need cause none of us are all that flexible. I am not the only one who can place feet for a wider stance to get a better stretch in the legs. After that we lay down on our backs for Knee-down Twists, and then our 15 minutes of Shavasana.
I wore my houseshoes again, and was sorry later when the parking lots turned out to be slushy and they got wet right through and tracked all over the grocery store and then the kitchen.
No walking.
We did a lot of shoulder mobility stuff, and high time too. We always start with breathing and centering, then stretching. Table Pose, tiger rolls, Child's Pose, then bending elbow-to-alternate knee and extending to Songbird pose. Did this on each side, with Child's pose between.
Susi discussed shoulder alignment and core bracing, and standing with the belt held in front we stretched arms. This is a thing where you are supposed to be using the muscles between your shoulder blades, which I am pretty much not, using all chest and front shoulder muscles. We did a kind of military press type move to stretch arms overhead, with tension on the belt held with hands shoulder-width apart, more or less. I was having a bad day for pain all over, and started feeling kind of faint. We did another stretch standing close to the wall, with arms extended overhead against the wall, another way to explore range of motion. Then we tried holding the belt behind, to raise it, which extends shoulder and back. Much discussion of postural alignment.
Then we spent a while on the Warrior 2 Pose, with discussion of arm position modifications that we need cause none of us are all that flexible. I am not the only one who can place feet for a wider stance to get a better stretch in the legs. After that we lay down on our backs for Knee-down Twists, and then our 15 minutes of Shavasana.
I wore my houseshoes again, and was sorry later when the parking lots turned out to be slushy and they got wet right through and tracked all over the grocery store and then the kitchen.
No walking.
Missed another
Monday the first of February it was still cold. I didn't go out. I stayed inside and read all day.
Tuesday the cold broke, it got up in the twenties and snowed a bit, and I went out to walk around for 58 minutes. Over to Olin Park, then back up Lakeside with the O'Sheridan loop.
Tuesday the cold broke, it got up in the twenties and snowed a bit, and I went out to walk around for 58 minutes. Over to Olin Park, then back up Lakeside with the O'Sheridan loop.
Missed one
The end of January: Thursday the 28th, it was effing cold again, but I went out and walked around (I forget where) for 27 minutes. Friday it was still cold, so after Jon & I went to a movie at Hilldale we walked around the mall for 42 minutes.
Saturday it was still cold. I mean this was the week when I actually put out some frostpainting to freeze on the deck, because it didn't get over twenty degrees even during the day. I stayed inside and read all day. Jon was out amongst it, slashing and burning at Spring Green with a bonfire to keep the crew warm.
Sunday (still cold) we went out to walk around anyway. After fueling up at the coffeeshop for a half hour or so, We walked down the bikepath to Olin Turville Park, then across the causeway to circle the bay. Wind was more or less from the north, and of course there are parts of that walk that are pretty exposed. Such conditions do encourage one to move along pretty fast. It's more or less four miles around the bay, we were gone a couple hours, never did figure out exactly how long.
Saturday it was still cold. I mean this was the week when I actually put out some frostpainting to freeze on the deck, because it didn't get over twenty degrees even during the day. I stayed inside and read all day. Jon was out amongst it, slashing and burning at Spring Green with a bonfire to keep the crew warm.
Sunday (still cold) we went out to walk around anyway. After fueling up at the coffeeshop for a half hour or so, We walked down the bikepath to Olin Turville Park, then across the causeway to circle the bay. Wind was more or less from the north, and of course there are parts of that walk that are pretty exposed. Such conditions do encourage one to move along pretty fast. It's more or less four miles around the bay, we were gone a couple hours, never did figure out exactly how long.
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