If we're being up front about it, I originally thought yoga was another stamp of a stereotypical white girl and was skeptical because of it. As it slowly made more of an appearance in my life, my intrigue grew. My mom finally took me to a Zen class at her gym where I fell in love. Romantic love with a materialistic thing is real: I share it with my yoga mat. There's a lot of skepticism out there surrounding yoga, so allow me to persuade you into attempting just one class of your choosing.
Debunking the misconceptions and labels
Excusing the practice due to religious differences is not a valid reason for not giving yoga the chance it deserves. True, it is based on ancient Buddhist and Hindu religions, but yoga has developed into more than just a religious practice. Derived from mantras and rituals from more than 2,000 years ago, the practice teaches you to let go of selfish, worldly views to understand the inner you.
Yoga's purpose is not to draw attention to its religious background, but rather make you more aware of your personal feelings, needs, and physical abilities. Appreciate the history because it's important, but make the practice personal to you. I'm still not even comfortable with the repetition of "Ohms," so, don't feel pressured to take a huge jump outside of your comfort zone.
The general tongue says you have to be flexible to do yoga. There are so many types of classes and practices that you can choose from depending on your comfort level. The classes are not based on physical ability, but rather, mental ability. How comfortable are you in your own body to truly let yourself go? Wow, I sound like an instructor; not sure how I feel about that.
Practices range from beginner, basic poses to hot as hell yoga that really tests your sanity. But the best part about yoga is that it's for you and only you. There is no competition with flexibility or muscle endurance. You simply move at your pace within your comfort zone, if you so choose.
So far, I'm still considered a beginner and have only done two types of yoga: Zen and Vinyasa. I've lost my flexibility over the years, but these are more for clearing my mind and relaxing my body more than anything. The flexibility simply comes with it. Some classes focus more on breathing, and some more on connection to the inner you and connective tissues in your body. Pick a simple one and move up from there based on what you like and don't.
Benefits from the practice
Thoroughly learning about your inner-self has beneficial health effects too. You feel better, therefore, you look better, therefore, your confidence skyrockets. Although it's not like doing weights, you will still be sore and get that "natural high" from endorphins flooding your mind. It's a nice little pick-up when you feel dead and defeated by life. Plus, you get to brag about getting a good use out of your yoga pants while saying you did go to the gym today (Unless you're comfortable doing it from home. Brag about that sh*t. You're more dedicated than the majority, which is such a good thing.)
De-stressing. College students, really tune into this part. Everyone suffers from stress since it's inevitable in this fast-moving society, but only some really deal with it. Sleep works to some extent, as does eating, but yoga gives you a certain satisfaction while taking the stress off of your mind. Currently, I am only doing one 50 minute class each week, and it's all I need.
Wednesdays at 2 p.m. - I look forward to you. It's a time where I can focus on one thing only: balancing my breathing with the pose. I'm not worried about my chemistry exam or paper due later this week or if that boy will really text me. This is my designated time to not think and just do. (It also helps that I'm tied by $20 of my own money to this one class, so showing up makes it worth not spending the money on food.) I can't even express the satisfaction your body and mind experiences after completion of the class. It's like every emotional level is equal and you love everyone and everything.
Don't be afraid to try a new thing. If you hate it, try kickboxing or something with high stress because maybe that's your true calling. But if you're afraid to ask for help when stressed, then take my word for it. Yoga has impacted my mindset and I've only been doing it for half a year. And if you really don't trust me, Google some testimonials; I'm sure they're out there.
Above all, I've dropped the misconceptions and tags people put on yoga to learn more about myself and zen. It' a win-win situation.
