Yoga- the athletic activity of sororities, vegans, and people who don't take showers for like three days in a row.

I'm not gonna lie...these stereotypes are pretty accurate from my experience so far. But who says that's a bad thing?

Runners are slightly (okay probably way more than slightly) cocky people. Waking up earlier than everyone else to grind out a ten mile run gives you a sense of accomplishment and superiority over everyone else laying on their backs, still passed out from too many drinks the night before.

Walking by girls with their perfect ponytails and sweat-free athletic gear with yoga mats tucked inside of their Lululemon bags made me laugh. To me, they were such jokes. Is that the true definition of working hard? Athletics and accomplishment has always been about sweating and working yourself down to the last drop of energy. Not sitting still and looking pretty, for $20 a class. It's insane.

Those girls do look happy though.

I am not the most flexible person. In fact, my muscles are always super tight to the point that scraping (like using a roller but much more painful, LOL) has become my best friend. I can barely touch my toes without my knees bending. I'm the definition of inelastic.

In high school, my coaches pushed us to take time to stretch and provided us with opportunities to do yoga, but I didn't take it seriously. Listening to my body and being mindful about my running experiences didn't make sense with me.

Since my shift to college running, it's all starting to make sense. Training to this extent forces you to listen to your body and the mental game is tough. Running is 90% mental....10% physical. And that 90% gets me every time.

Going to my first yoga class was an experience. Jumping from down dog to chaturanga and back all while making sure to inhale and exhale in the right timing had me breathing hard. People were doing headstands while I was sweating, trying to deepen my shaking lunge in a warrior 1 position. Yoga was hard. It wasn't the calm, sweat-free time I expected.

But beneath the challenge and shock I experienced, I felt calm and one with myself. I was able to get into this mental space that I know I needed, and have been working on maintaining while I run. While remaining calm in yoga despite the pain of the poses, the mental practice I need is going to come to fruition, while working on my strength and flexibility.

I left yoga with a weight off my shoulders. Yoga gives me a break from my hectic day, and gives me a sense of gratitude, and desire to slow down. For being busy all the time, yoga is a saving grace. Mentally and physically, I feel rejuvenated.

I wasn't expecting to love yoga so much. But I am determined to get a headstand and stretch and become 'one' with myself. I'm so excited. I think my running will benefit, too.

To all the sorority girls, vegans, and people who don't shower twice a day (Let's be honest..it happens sometimes), keep doing what you're doing.

It may seem silly, but yoga isn't a joke. I get why those $20 are worth it every week. And hey, being happy all the time isn't such a bad thing either. Working on the looking good part while doing it....that's still to come.