Namaste

The first time that I tried yoga was at a community center with my mom. I was in my 20s and I hated it. Hated it. It was a slow torture and someone farted. All I wished was that I had gotten my heart rate up, maybe sweated a little. It was the worst workout. Back then I was a gym rat. I lifted heavy weights, alternated between arm and leg days and did cardio and abs every day. It felt very necessary. I worked hard and I was always chasing a specific physique, which I never quite felt I achieved by the way. But I was going to die by dumbbell trying.

Then I had babies. It was hard to find the time to even get to the gym and the thought of a treadmill was cringe-worthy. As much as it pained me to admit, because that was so largely who I was, I was done with high-intensity workouts. Done. I stopped working out for years. I had found that with breastfeeding and diet, I could manage my weight just fine. Oh, and with a sprinkle of stress. Also I was exhausted.

Eventually I began wanting something I could do at home. I wouldn't have to leave (small kids and all) and I could do it before they woke up in the morning. Something low-intensity and slooooooow. I found yoga...again. At first, it was stretching and learning poses and postures; tuning into how my body moved. Breathing. It was soothing and calming. As my practice grew, I began to see the beautiful challenge. Using your body weight to hold poses and move in and out of postures, the core stability that's required and the balance that is needed...yoga is indeed a workout. In fact, I've never been in better shape in my entire life. Not only that, but I've gained focus and energy and strength. So much strength. Oh and the breath work. Inhaling and exhaling with each movement; it's brought such a calmness. And gratefulness for something as simple as my lungs. I don't have to think about it anymore. I just breathe deeply and evenly. Each posture is a practice of stillness and mindfulness. My posture and flexibility have improved. But it's sneaky. You don't really realize all this is happening until, years later, you look in the mirror and you're a yogi. I'm 40 years old and my lower back doesn't ache anymore. My spine is incredibly strong and my abdominal muscles can support all of my of body movements.

Yoga has more strongly connected me to my faith and spirituality. To goodness and the light inside myself. It's time for me and it's incredibly important and precious. It's peace in my mind, my heart and my body. Yoga basically saved my life.