Week 9 - game on!

What an exciting week! My first mixed scrimmage on Friday makes me feel nervous and more beginner than ever. I seriously hope to be in the best possible shape and state of mind to really give it all, I want to feel exhausted and happy - no matter if our team wins or not. It's gonna be quite a challenge to team up with a bunch of strangers in ½ hour but there is something that unifies us: the game. Of course I saw some of the girls earlier in Hamina but it was only a quick shout out about who's in what team. There has also been some discussion in Facebook but that hardly personalizes anyone, I can only say it seems we have a bunch of great dudettes there :).

Sadly I won't be able participate on our practice on Sunday 'cause I'm spending Saturday and Sunday in Turku for work. We're attending a fair so there's gonna be a lot of standing and talking to people. I hope that's gonna be a lot fun too, I just don't really like missing out on Sundays practices this much. It's only the second during this time but it seems I might have to skip again on Father's Day, 11th November.

Monday
Running 40
Yoga 60

Tuesday
PRD off skates practice 60 (pick a rule discussion)
PRD on skate practice 60

Wednesday
PRD on skate practice 2 hours

Thursday
stretching 30

Friday
SCREAMmage! scrimmage

Saturday
day off

Sunday
day off

Yesterday I skipped BODYPUMP, I had to stay late at work and I'm a little worried about my lower back and buttocks AGAIN. I feel the muscles attach to each other again, stretching is painful and no matter how much I stretch it does not ease off. This is something I will have to work as long as I skate, it's not just temporary trouble. I stretch the most painful part 2-3 times a day for 10 deep breathes and then again 3 deep breathes on both sides and I just have to keep doing it.

Yesterday in yoga class I also opened my hips which don't open nearly as much as they should. One should be able to open your legs fully to the sides keeping your hips facing forward while opening your legs. It feels like there's a part that is made of steel that keeps me from improving this movement, it keeps my legs from opening more from one certain point. I haven't succeeded to get my legs more open the whole time I've been practicing this. Well after the yoga lesson while others had a moment of meditation in silence and eyes closed I lied on my back and lifted my feet up facing the ceiling and a little by little opened them more. I felt again the part that feels like the end of the movement, steel, but took a deep breathe and tried to keep going. It hurt and I heard a little snap from the right side but then the pain eased and I really opened more than I have the whole time I've been doing hip exercises! I did not want to get up from my position. The actual exit from the position was hellish again, I felt the same snap again when my legs reached the steel part again and had to clamber quite awkwardly away from the position. This achievement was possible thanks to the yoga class and the hot room it is held in. I would never have the courage to do it in a cold room like the ones we have at home.