Some back pain, want for exercise and interest in a new way to get fit led me to try yoga the other day. Even though I've done specific poses and tried aspects of the activity before, I had never done a full routine of any kind. I searched YouTube for some beginner videos, rolled out my yoga mat and simply remained open to something new.
I was in for more than I had bargained for.
Not to sound too cheesy or cliche, but what I experienced during my hour yoga session was eye-opening. I felt like a new person! It was crazy how good I felt during and after from simply moving my body, stretching and breathing. Afterwards, I felt calm, happy and well-rested.
I'll admit that I sort of freaked out about it. I couldn't stop thinking about how great I felt and how easy it was. I immediately planned to stick with it. And I have!
Yoga is easy. It can be quick, if you want or need it to be. And you don't have to be an expert. The best part about the practice is that you can do it most anywhere and you don't have to be perfect. There's no competition. There's no shame. Stretch as far as you can. Balance as you're able. Don't do something if it hurts. It's very personal and just for you.
Easier still is finding places to teach you yoga. I went to YouTube where there are hundreds of options to choose from. But online resources like Pinterest also have good examples of poses and techniques. Plus, you can take classes at your local gym. Personally, I like the comfort of my home and the freedom to choose what and how long I can do something.
If you're interested, I used three different videos that first time. I did Yoga with Adriene, Yoga Vidya and Tara Stiles. All three had great beginner videos. My favorite was Tara because she had a super calm voice and she provided me with a challenging session. Please check any of them out if you want to do some yoga.
It was exciting getting to try something new. And as new things sometimes are, yoga was better than I expected. I look forward to continuing with it and seeing how far I can go.
