I began practicing yoga back in August. I wasn’t looking for much out of it except an alternative form of exercise; something for my “off” days. Like every first-time student, I was terrified. Yoga can be so intimidating for someone who's never been to a class. My first time, however, was nothing like I had expected it to be. Everyone was friendly, the instructor was warm and inviting, and the poses weren’t too extreme. Despite this pleasant surprise, however, I did not like yoga at all. My flexibility was non-existent, so every pose was difficult. I did not understand the concept of controlling your breathing, so when the poses got too hard, I started exhaling heavily like an exhausted mule. Not to mention I had an extreme case of impostor syndrome--you know, when you’re not sure you should be doing something because you don’t fit in with everyone who does it (I am not actually sure impostor syndrome exists, but I used to have this feeling frequently). Anyways, even though yoga sucked, I forced myself to stick with it and keep practicing.
I would attend two or three classes a week over the next three months. As time passed, I began to feel strong, super in-tune with my body, and in control. Not only does yoga strengthen the body, the mind and heart grow as well. In January I began practicing daily; I would rise in the morning looking forward to my practice, and on days when I was too busy for it I felt upset, like a chunk of my day went missing. I kept going back to yoga because it awakened the fire inside of me and made me feel strong. Yes, the fire. The one in your core that stimulates and enlightens the rest of the body and soul. I began to feel alive during, before, and after practice. Yoga went from a form exercise to a personal challenge for myself; it became an activity that I grew to be passionate about.
Every day when I step onto the mat I feel the fire over again. My body awakens, my mind clears, and my soul is ablaze. Although it has only been 10 months, I feel yoga is what I have been looking for this entire time. In the future, I plan to become a yoga instructor so I can share this feeling with everyone in the world...or at least the yogis of the world.
So my advice for anyone thinking of quitting the new hobby that he or she picked up recently: don’t stop just yet. Challenge yourself, push yourself to new limits, and climb to the top of your mountain of fears. You just may find what you have been looking for at the top.
