Notes by Nectar

I had my usual session with Trevor on Sunday morning. I started with a 5-minute warm-up on the bike and then moved over to the treadmill.

I did the alternating run/walk for 13 minutes:

• 1 min at 5 km/h
• 2 min at 7 km/h
• 1 min at 5 km/h
• 2 min at 7 km/h
• And so on for 13 minutes

Then I did the following circuit

• Deadlifts (with the weighted bar) x 20
• Forward bend row x 20
• Shoulder press x 20
• Push-ups x 20
• Dumbbell punches (with 3-kg weights) x 20
• Combined squat/reverse lunges x 20 (10 on each side)
• Mountain climbers x 20 (10 on each side)

I did 3 minutes on the bike after that and repeated the circuit. After the second circuit I did 3 minutes on the treadmill. And then I did some stretching and I was done.

I had a yoga class on Tuesday morning. My teacher seems intent on forcing me back into positions I could do in December, before my long sabbatical from yoga. After my class I went to meet Chandra, the yoga teacher who had organised the yoga retreat I went on in Jamaica (more about that later). She was organising a full moon yoga class that evening but when she originally told me about it I already had plans and couldn’t go. While we were at Tom & Serg, my two friends who I was supposed to meet that evening cancelled, so it looked like I was free after all!

The class was held at the Dubai Garden Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road at 8pm. I don’t know why I was surprised that it was outdoors – being full moon yoga and all – but it had been really humid the last few days and being indoors appealed to me! There were six of us in total, including Chandra. I already knew one of the other people as he had been on the yoga retreat too. We introduced ourselves and then began the class. It was a fairly gentle class but as it was so hot we were all sweating in no time. Instead of doing Surya Namaskar we did the Chandra Namaskar (or Moon Salutation) which was totally new to me. I found it surprisingly relaxing. We did a couple of rounds at a normal pace but then slowed it down so that we spent more time in each pose, getting a deeper pose. We did a few more poses after that, again taking it quite slowly, and then the class was over. I got home just before 9.30, had some dinner and could barely keep my eyes open. So that was two yoga classes on Tuesday!

I had another session with Trevor on Wednesday. I started with a 5-minute warm-up on the bike and then moved to the treadmill:

• 1 min at 5 km/h
• 2 min at 7 km/h and 2% incline
• 1 min at 5 km/h
• 2 min at 7 km/h and 4% incline
• 1 min at 5 km/h
• 2 min at 7 km/h and 6% incline
• 1 min at 5 km/h
• 2 min at 7 km/h and 8% incline
• 1 min at 5 km/h

Well, that’s what I was supposed to do. I couldn’t get past the 4% incline so just stuck to that instead of going up to 6% and 8%. It was much tougher than it sounds and I was totally out of breath by the end of it.

I then did the following circuit:

• Deadlifts (with 10-lb weights) x 20
• Sumo squats (with 10-lb weights) x 20
• Combined curtsey lunge/shoulder press (3-kg weights) x 20
• Abdominal in and outs x 20
• Combined squat/kick x 20 (10 on each side)
• Treadmill x 3 min (1 min at 5km/h, 2 min at 7 km/h)

I did that twice and then did some stretches and was done.

I didn’t work out over the weekend at all. I did dance for about 2 hours at a nightclub on Friday night though so I’m sure that counts for something!

Low point of the week? I had a very heavy weekend – there was lots of wine and vodka involved!

High point of the week? In the full moon yoga class I noticed that I found some things easier than when I’d last tried them in Jamaica. Also, my legs are definitely stronger than they used to be.

Weight loss? None.

Read more updates here.