Walkover homework and other adventures

[flexagon]

I've just been putting in my time this week, at the gym and the yoga studio. Ah, dear little body and your molasses-like ways. Walkover homework is going okay though; my drop-backs are getting less fearful, and I managed to stand up from a backbend today (one arm leaving the ground at a time, alas; and when I tried to at least do the same on the other side I fell down). I've also suddenly gained the ability to do half hero pose in yoga class, mostly because I figured out it's about internal hip rotation rather than asking one's knee to do impossible things. Er, at least I think it is. Though in that case I'm not sure why it's considered good alignment for the top of the foot to be on the ground... why not the side of the foot?

Oh, and: I did a set of 10 pullups today for the first time in ages. At first I thought this was because of the "be a thinner flexagon" project -- a lighter object is just easier to lift -- but according to the scale I was only 1 pound lighter today than when I felt super-pudgy. I give up. My back muscles clearly follow their own rules. It's encouraging that they seem to like me again, though.

Comments

[nevers.livejournal.com]

ten pullups!!

[apfelsingail.livejournal.com]

....I want to be able to do ONE pull-up. :-)

Hey, do you have any book/site recommendations for strength training? I think I asked you about this a while ago but promptly lost your reply....

[flexagon]

...so do lat pulldowns, 3 sets of 10 three times a week with palms facing away from you. When you're doing 2/3 or 3/4 of your bodyweight, turn your palms in and try a pullup. I swear, it happens. :-)

And yeah -- go to stumptuous!
http://www.stumptuous.com/cms/index.php

She has a whole article all about Mistressing the Pullup, which goes into more detail than my method (but I like my method -- one sentence long, baby, and it worked for me).

I'll also send you my copy of A Woman's Book of Strength, which is good although I don't love it as much as niralth does. No arguing now, it's already in an addressed manila envelope.