My big, strong wrists (not to mention my giant feet)

I have been meaning to write about this for the past week, and something always comes up that seems more interesting to write about. Well, today, as I sit here playing with my new iPod Speakers/Docking Station, with its nifty remote control and nice (albeit slightly tinny) sound, and schlumping slightly on my sofa in order to de-intensify the tightness in my lumbar area, and, obviously, NOT at Shala X, where I should be practicing, I realize I might as well talk about something completely frivolous and possibly vanity-driven: my wrists.

Quite simply: they be huge. For me. For a little person. And while we're at it, my feet as well. I used to have small, delicate wrists, and medium-ish feet. After the babies, my feet grew about a half a size. But after three solid years of daily yoga - my feet have grown another size and a half. My toes are spread WIDE. And my feet resemble small shovels. Nice for balance. But getting into my cute little sandals from my more fashionista days is another story, and it's not pretty. Nobody needs to see two toes sticking out over the edge of a strappy sandal.

But back to my wrists...There was a time when I could wrap my thumb and middle finger around my wrist and get a good overlap. Old wives' tales say that this indicates a small frame, which I kind of always suspected, since I am a mere 5'1" tall (on a good day, with a compassionate nurse taking my measurement and giving me the extra half inch for being such a nice, nice patient). About 15 years ago, I broke my left wrist in two places, walking up the stairs in Grand Central Station (I used my hand to break my fall). That wasn't a really GREAT sign as far as future osteoporosis goes, and it wasn't a great sign for my muscular strength in general. But I didn't think about that much.

At the time, I wore an all stainless bracelet Movado watch, which was known at the time for its thinness. So I am pretty sure that I wore it pretty close to my skin. But I don't remember it being tight. Quite the opposite - I remember it having SOME give.

Fast forward a few years to my breast cancer diagnosis. As an added bonus, I got treated to a bone-mineral-density test, where they measured the density of the bones in my hips, ankles and wrists. Turned out that my bone density was heading into the not-so-good range, and that chemo would only make it worse...so I began taking a yearly infusion of a drug called Zometa, which is supposed to build up bone. It was during this whole fiasco that I made the transition from runner/biker/skater-girl to Yoga Chickie.

And now fast forward to this week. My Movado had been sitting in a drawer for many years by now. But it was time for my current everyday watch to get some much needed repairs. So, relinquising my current watch to a jeweler, I pulled the Movado out of its drawer and went to put it on.

Shockingly: I had trouble getting it closed. It is TIGHT. I can't imagine that it was this tight when I used to wear it daily. Now, I KNOW I have not gained weight since 15 years ago. Quite the contrary - my weight is back to its lower range. All of my clothes are either comfortable, loose or impossibly loose.

But not my Movado.

The only conclusion I can draw is that 40 or 50 vinyasas a day has actually built up the muscle in my forearms. But I still wonder: is this POSSIBLE? Can a woman actually pack on muscle in her forearms??? Perhaps it is easier for me to do so because my estrogen levels are below detectable?

Have any of the girls out there noticed a gain in wrist size or shoe size after years of yoga?

YC

P.S. Yes, I am going to practice a bit later. I just needed some chillin' time. Last night, after teaching at Yahoo Hot Jobs, my dearest friends took me to Amber for dinner. You downtowners probably wouldn't know it. But it's cool, hip atmosphere makes us Upper East Siders FEEL like we're venturing downtown. And no, we don't wear mom jeans.