It's Only A Paper Rose

Back when I first started doing power yoga, I would occasionally feel a bit salty toward the people putting extra pushups and handstands and whatnot in their flows. Like, okay, I get it, you're in mad good shape, no need to show off in front of the rest of us poor schlubs who're having a hard enough time just getting through the class as cued.

Now, I must admit shamefacedly, I've become one of the extra-pushup-ers - having experienced firsthand just how quickly your body breaks down unnecessary muscle tissue, I find myself looking for every opportunity to convince it how much I need these biceps. Suddenly the gym-bro culture of obsession over wicked gainz (and potentially losing said gainz) makes a lot more sense.

Related, I went rock climbing Friday and a friend introduced me to the pull-up machine as well as finger curls. It was a bit strange - I'm used to doing weights in a cardio-heavy environment, so just standing there curling my fingers up and down felt like I wasn't doing anything - right up until suddenly I couldn't close my hand anymore. (Oops.) Needless to say, over the weekend I was *sore*. But training to failure gets results - one of my students Monday commented "You're looking really strong!" (I smiled and thanked her and totally did not say "For how much I hurt, I had *better*!") I went climbing again last night and was amazed at the improvement in grip strength, and today I did nearly my whole Sculpt class with 5-lb weights (as opposed to my usual mix of 3- and 5-pounders). I can hold handstands with good form for several seconds at a time. Yesterday I carried a 54-pound box of firelogs up three flights of stairs and into the living room and was barely winded. I don't know how long it'll last, but I'll be damned if it doesn't feel *good*, being so physically capable.