P90X Round 2, Day 27: Yoga X

Where did Phase 1 go? With the completion of Yoga today, Phase 1 is now in the books. That went extremely quickly. Now, I'm getting mentally (and physically) prepared to move on to Phase 2. I find this phase to be more difficult on days 1 and 3, and I'm really looking forward to challenging myself. I'm looking for improvements over Round 1.

I digress. I woke up early today (5:45am), perhaps in anticipation of completing Yoga prior to heading out for an early appointment today. Not exactly the best way to start, stressing out over the timing of the workout. Nevertheless, I managed to focus on the Tip of the Day (stay in the present moment) and the time passed quickly, pleasantly and productively. My body felt a bit tight in some places (hamstrings and calves) but the workout stretched everything out nicely. I saw a video the other day on YouTube where Tony was at some convention and had an audience member demonstrating some yoga moves. His downward dog looked terrific. I felt that I should concentrate more on what my body was doing during upward dog and downward dog. This resulted in a nicer stretch which I hadn't really noticed when doing yoga previously. My lesson: don't just do it, really think about what you're doing. Make sure the moves are meaningful and working parts of the body. (I'm turning into a Yoga fanboy).

Favourite move today: Crane. Only one toe tap, right near the beginning of assuming the pose. Then, really strong balance for the rest of the entire minute. Very satisfying.

Toughest move today: Prayer Twist(s). For some reason, I lost my balance on this move, on both sides. That's never happened before. I have no idea what's going on, but I now have incentive to focus more and improve. It always seems that some move is bedeviling me.

Tony line of the day: "Working in a small, little space, and everyone's sweating like hell. What does that tell you?" Indeed.

The weather here has turned nice, and I've decided to start riding my bike into work. Today was day 1 of cycling. Usually, that results in a lot of huffing and puffing and a really exhausted body; today: nothing. I am in mid-season form, thanks to P90X. The real test will be the ride home--all uphill. I intend to Bring It.

Next: Phase 2.

P90X Round 2, Day 24: Kenpo X

I take back everything I said about Wesley Idol in my last Kenpo post. I recently saw a series of really interesting videos about the making of P90X on YouTube and saw Wesley in his studio showing some moves to Tony. Wesley Idol is a pro. No wonder he's smirking during the Kenpo workout; he probably barely breaks a sweat doing it. Next time, I'll keep my opinions to myself. But then, I suppose, what's a blog for?

I love seeing how things are made, especially films. P90X is no exception. I find it really interesting seeing the story behind the story, the personalities, the stresses and pressures, the marketing decisions, the exercises that didn't make it into the final product, and the difficulties people had following the diet. Watching this series really made me appreciate how difficult it is to design a fitness program that works. Here's the link to the first video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b91m0S5adBc

Once you're there, the others in the series will pop up. I think there are 24 altogether. Well worth watching.

Back to Kenpo. Having seen those videos the other day, I was really intent on making this the best workout ever, so I became Johnny Intense. I still have difficulty on some of the side and back kicks because I don't have the greatest flexibility in my hips (although I am really trying to open up my hips during the warmup). Just do your best and forget the rest. Over time, I hope that my kicks improve.

Favourite move today: elbow sequence.

Toughest move today: side kicks with right leg extended.

Tony line of the day: "Wesley, he's Mr. Flex-and-Breathe." (warmup)

[Sorry, no more posts until Friday.]

P90X Round 2, Day 23: Core Synergistics

I've always felt that Recovery Week should be easier than regular weeks, and perhaps technically that's true, but it didn't feel easy doing Core Synergistics today. This workout always gives me a kick in the rear and I usually end up sweating like a dog afterwards. Today was no exception.

I've improved slightly in this workout since Round 1; however, it is still a very challenging set of exercises and there's not much time between exercises for break and recovery. I spent my time today really focussing on the Tip of the Day (engage) and tried to really push my core as hard as possible. I gave the Dreya Rolls another try (I've been avoiding them since Round 1, when I thought they would injure my neck) and managed to complete several of them, so there was another (minor) victory in my progress through the program.

Favourite move today: staggered hand push-ups. All day long.

Toughest move today: walking push-ups. These come fairly late in the program, by which time my core has been pretty much worn out. I only walked for 40 seconds. There's room for improvement.

Tony line of the day: "When I say 'Engage', I don't mean go out and get engaged" (warmup)

P90X Round 2, Day 22: Yoga X

Sorry for the missed posts, but I've been away from the computer for a few days. During the roaring silence, I managed to complete Legs & Back and Kenpo X.

Yoga was the start of the Phase 1 Recovery Week. I really look forward to Yoga because it always seems to come at a time when my body could most use it. The start of Recovery Week is no exception, following the pounding I've been taking during weeks 1-3.

I've noticed some changes in my flexibility over the past few Yoga sessions. I'm able to hold poses longer and have been really focussing on form, balance and breathing. This time, I was able to touch my knee to my head with both my right and left knees prior to the right-angle pose with grab. Being able to make contact with my right knee was a first; previously, I was only able to make contact with my left knee (and that was only last week). Baby steps, but personally significant nevertheless.

Favourite move today: right angle post with grab

Toughest move today: half-moon on left leg

Tony line of the day: "I recommend using the blocks here...if you don't have them, use your cat or dog."

P90X Round 2, Day 18: Yoga X

(Start of rant) Recently, I've noticed a number of postings on P90X sites from people complaining about Yoga being too long, too difficult, too boring, too (fill in the blank). While I understand that Yoga moves at a much different pace from the other workouts and is 50% longer, I can't quite grasp why people have so much difficulty coming to terms with Yoga as an essential component of the P90X program. People seem to buy into every other aspect of P90X: pushups are good for you, pullups are good for you, ab crunches are good for you, lunges are good for you, cardio is good for you...why not stretching, breathing and calming your mind? P90X is a complete body wellness program. Complete body includes the mind. (End of rant.)

Now that I've had a chance to take a deep breath, I will report that Yoga was wonderful (again) today. I can't believe how quickly the time passed. Again, I was able to complete some moves that, until now, I had not been able to do: I got my left knee to contact my forehead prior to the right angle pose with hand grab; I could contact the floor with my feet both singly and together in plough, and I think I stretched farther than ever during the seated hamstring stretches. Buoyant with optimism, perhaps I'll give Wheel a try.

Favourite move today: Crane. Only touched the floor once with my toe during the entire minute.

Toughest move today: Half-moon on right leg. Shaky, and difficult to hold my balance.

Tony line of the day: "Don't bite your toes...arrummph!"

P90X Round 2, Day 17: Ab Ripper X

It was a great ab workout today. I felt really strong throughout each exercise and was pushing hard to Bring It. It was probably one of the best ARX workouts ever. I was so energetic, that it felt like I just burned through the entire workout.

Favourite move today: heels to heaven. Legs straight, very little sway, real good crunch on the abs.

Hardest move today: backward bicycles. For some reason, I'm far less coordinated cycling my legs backwards than forwards. I felt this one in my hip flexors and thighs.

Tony line of the day: "We're almost done...makes me sad."

P90X Round 2, Day 17: Shoulders and Arms

This is a tough workout. For the last few weeks, I've been trying to improve over the numbers posted in P90X Round 1. Recently, I've tried changing resistance bands (increasing the tension), which resulted in fewer repetitions but more intensity, especially during the last few moves of each exercise. Today, I stuck with that approach, but my numbers seemed to hold steady from last week, only improving in a few exercises. It's almost as though I've hit a bit of a wall on this workout, as though my body is incapable of doing more.

There will be good days and there will be bad days. "Do your best and forget the rest". That was my motto today. Not to say that the workout was bad; I'm just competitive with myself to see some improvement week after week. Sometimes that's in very small increments, say, even a couple of reps more than last week. Today, that was difficult to achieve.

Favourite move today: side tri rises: 27 each side, both rounds. I love this exercise. At the end, all I can do is collapse on the floor.

Hardest move today: flip-grip twist tricep kickbacks. I find this very tough using the bands. When the bands get to maximum extension, it's really difficult to maintain an isometric hold with arms fully extended. I increased the difficulty by making a loop in the band on the floor and stepping on the loop. I must be crazy.

Tony line of the day: "Use the weight of your head. Mine weighs 600 lbs. Ain't a damn thing inside." (warm-up)

Later today: Ab Ripper X