Why I Yoga

I’m not one for group classes at the gym, my style has been referred to as “meathead” training.  I don’t necessarily agree with that, but I like to train by myself and use free weights and a  limited amount of machines.  I stay away from High Intensity Training, and power movements.  Like most the gym for me is about being therapeutic.  So it’s more important for me to go everyday than attempting a workout that I view has a higher risk for an injury then what I currently do.  

 

Yoga began to intrigue me, the more I would learn about it, and how its not only a workout but it helps center a busy mind.  I have a hard time sitting still and my flexibility  may be better than that of a bowling ball.  So for yoga something that can help me calm my mind, and maybe get me to touch my toes, I was in.  

 

My home gym offers two or three yoga classes a week depending on the month plus some pop ones in the summer time, and I try to hit them all.   I don’t like to stretch and its not something I do on the daily, but for 45 to 75 mins a class it gets me to do so.  And that is the main reason why I yoga.  

 

I’ve heard that it can help with stress relief, but I’m so tightly whined up I don’t see it helping with stress relief.  But it might be since I am getting slightly more flexible and I feel my tightness and tension on the body does stem from stress.  While I never look stressed out, I do a good job of keeping that locked in, but on the inside I tend to cling to stress, and have a hard time letting go of stressful thoughts, scenarios. And other things that never happen to happen in life.   But in my mind they will!

 

So maybe with continuing to practicing yoga and centering the mind (I have not yet been able to do that) it will come.  The focuses breathing and emptying your mind of thoughts are very much  challenge for me, that I have yet to be able to do.  

 

Before I had started going to yoga, I was very self-conscience of what others would think.  Like I said I’m not flexible and I knew none of the movements or poses.  But I sucked it up and went to my first class.  No one looked at me funny or commented on anything I was doing (right or wrong).  Everyone including myself was focused on their own practice.    So again a scenario I worked up in my mind that preventing me from trying something new, never happen.  I was glad I took that first step, the hardest step… showing up. 

 

I’ve lucked out at where I practice yoga, not many folks show up on the regular so it allowed me to get some one on one class time with some great yoga instructors.  This helped me get better and learning proper form and technique.  I do encourage you when you are starting off to allow your instructor to give some hands on feedback, this will help you feel the correct posture.  I do not like being touched, but I also like to be the best at what I do, so I am glad I allowed the hands on instruction.

 

What are your thoughts on Yoga?  Have any good feedback or advice to share?  Please send me a message or start a discussion below.  Someone like you is think the same thing, however they are waiting on YOU to start the discussion.