Yoga, the trendiest way to get healthy aside from Kayla Itsines' bikini body guide or going vegan and gluten-free.
Growing up as an athlete, yoga had never appealed to me. It was slow and I felt if I was too impatient for softball, I must be too impatient for yoga. The jaw-dropping poses made me shiver due to my tight joints and lack of flexibility. There's no way I could ever get past a beginner stage.
Also, after taking an intercultural communication class, the realization that America stole and commodified yoga from its original state of a spiritual Hindu practice completely turned me off. It's similar to how Hispanics feel calling Chipotle "Mexican" food.
Sophomore year I tried out a stretching and relaxation class to bump up my credits. It's supposed to be similar to yin yoga, a style of yoga where it's slow and the poses are held to up to five minutes at a time. I found it incredibly relaxing, despite it being at 9 o'clock in the morning.
After this experience, I had never tried yoga again. My on and off relationship with the gym never stuck, but I was desperate to get back to my athletic self after returning home from the Netherlands.
After kicking myself for going against what I believe to be cultural exploitation, I signed up for a gentle flow yoga class at 1 p.m. Tuesday's and Thursday's to attempt to get back into shape.
And I fell in love. Seven weeks later and I've learned so much from the practice.
My mind is clear.
Years ago I was unofficially diagnosed with ADD by a therapist. I've always had trouble shutting up my mind, so I've looked for crutches. Yoga, on the other hand, clears my mind and isn't what I would consider a crutch. I wish I had performed yoga back in high school, but for now, I'll take it. It's the highlight of my day because I am rejuvenated after a 90-minute session.
My body has never felt better.
And I've actually lost weight. In addition to eating healthy, yoga has helped me lose weight (about 13 pounds), my flexibility has increased, and overall, my body feels great. Soreness was expected, but the newfound muscle definition is a welcomed, added bonus. However, this just means I have to go out and buy new clothes because I'm currently swimming in everything I own.
Teaching yourself isn't that hard.
After coming to terms with my class only being eight weeks long, I went to Target and purchased a beginner yoga kit complete with a mat, strap, block, and a DVD. Now, I can do yoga at home every day and practice what I've learned in class. Some days, I forget how to do a pose or may be a certain sequence, so I hop on the internet, and boy did I strike gold. There are yogis all over and they are willing to help you out for free. There are sites with plenty of free downloadable programs, quick videos to show a certain pose, and even safe stretching techniques. Everyone I know says it's difficult to do yoga without a teacher, but I disagree. Use the internet, I promise you'll figure it out eventually.
You sweat... a lot.
No matter what activity I participate in, I push myself. I have a competitive spirit, and most of the time, I enjoy testing my limits. Yoga lets me do just that, and because I push, I end up sweating more than anticipated. You'd think the relaxing practice wouldn't break a sweat, but on the contrary, it's remarkable to know how much work your body is putting into it. After my final meditation, I wipe the sweat off my face and take a good look in the mirror and realize how hard I actually went during that session. It's satisfying.
You see improvements on the mat, not the scale.
The other night I successfully touched my toes during a seated forward bend, something I could never do before. Even after having a 15-minute stretching session during basketball practice all of those years in high school, I was never able to touch my toes.
Furthermore, I'm close to successfully balancing in the crow position, and I can actually complete the scale, two poses I had no chance of doing seven weeks ago.
I'd much rather see my improvements on the mat through my flexibility, strength, and balance, rather than in the mirror or on the scale.
My snowboarding improved.
Believe it or not, I am kicking ass out there on the mountain. My joints have opened up more, and my mind is in a positive place where I feel determined enough to do pretty much anything. Balancing is not one of my fortes, so snowboarding has always been a great challenge for me. My loose knees and hips allow me to balance more and even hit boxes and jumps with more confidence. Thanks to yoga, I'm making the beginning terrain park (for the lack of a better phrase) my bitch.
I'm happier.
What's that line from Legally Blonde?
" Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands."
My god, Elle Woods, you are so right. I'm genuinely happier now that I've started yoga. I'm no longer in an abusive relationship with the gym and my body. I feel healthy and whole. I look forward to it every day, and when I haven't squeezed in a satisfying yoga session, my day doesn't feel complete.
With only two more weeks of yoga, I wish it would never end. Once I graduate and I have more time, I hope to attend classes at the local yoga studios to gain more knowledge. For now, I plan on keeping up the practice at home and using the internet as my aide.
But if there is one thing I've definitely learned from yoga, it's that the Hindus are definitely on to something, and it's something great.
