I is for . . .

As part of the DDW alphabet challenge I am now up to the letter I and I was struggling to think of what to blip. I've been following another challenge on Facebook called the 30/30 squat challenge. The aim is you squat for 30 minutes a day, ideally flat footed with your bum as low as possible. It's a natural position for humans which children can easily attain but as adults from a western world (especially those of us who wear heels) it can be a bit more difficult. I have been practicing in snippets for over a week. At first I was so inflexible I has to use the wall against my back for support as I kept wanting to fall backwards. This felt to much like cheating and made me feel sad and incapable. I could manage it fine in heels just not with flat feet. I have had a few evenings with my feet in a flat position but I have had to hold into chair or table legs in front of me to stay balanced ( again this feels like cheating hence my reluctance to officially start the challenge). Finally after about a week of prep I have started the challenge properly but to keep my hips and core muscles working, and to avoid holding on to anything I have decided to follow a tip from others and raise my heels using paper (research articles for my thesis in this case!) I've been assured that as long as I manage to total 30 minutes each day I can reduce the paper pile pretty quickly and my feet will be flat on the floor. I'm calling this day 3 of the challenge due to all the practice I have had. At my age I am thinking that movement and flexibility is something I need to start investing in under the premiss of use it or lose it. I am already staring to feel the benefits and after each 5 minute session I do a yoga cat and dog pose and my legs and hips feel great. I've never been someone who could give Debbie McGee a run for her money but I am hoping that sticking to this for another 27 days will give me a new lease if life. The aim is by day 30 to manage the whole 30 minutes in one "sitting". 10 mins done so far today! So, I is for inflexibility!