I have loved yoga for many years, since my mid 20’s I suppose, and have always been astounded at the benefits that come with a regular practice. However, over the past few (4 to be exact) years, I have really fallen short. Any movements for balance and flexibility have really gone by the wayside, to the point where I’ve had no practice at all. Juggling a busy schedule at work, meant limited time for exercise and I chose to prioritize my weightlifting. Occasionally I would try to fit in a HIIT or cardio type workout, but would always long for time for yoga, but it was so few and far between that any yoga I managed was utterly disheartening, frustrating, and felt fruitless. Looking back, this caused me to stop enjoying yoga, the infrequency of my practice had led to so much difficulty that it felt hopeless to try and regain my passion for it.
So, I encourage you to find time for a practice that brings you back to yourself, that brings “flexibility” into your life and that has real health benefits on so many levels.
I have always been quite flexible and strong in poses, and yet now when I try yoga it is grueling and reminds me of just how stiff and uncoordinated I have become. Yuck - who wants that? I had nearly given up on ever getting back into a yoga routine, and certainly had written myself off as someone who was beyond the ability to be flexible, but something came over me again that whispered - “yoga is good, it is good for your mind, body and spirit, just start somewhere - with no judgment and no frustration:” So this year, I endeavored again to incorporate yoga back into my life. Rather than making it complicated and feeling like I needed to pick up where I was years ago, I chose a routine that I used to enjoy back in the day (I thought it was too easy and too short! Oh at the misconception lol). It was a 35 minute YIN yoga with an instructor I love (Brihony Smyth).
Now my current work schedule is 3 days a week, but my day starts very early. Trying to fit in a lifting session at 4:30 in the morning was important for me to stay on track because I was always too busy and tired to fit it in after work. However, I began to notice that my weight lifting efforts that early in the morning had begun to cause more stress than joy, I couldn’t lift as heavy as I needed and I was not seeing much return on my efforts. So with some internal resistance and with a little fear, I decided to exchange those workouts for my YIN yoga! I was proud of myself because often it's scary to change your workouts with no guarantee that it will work, and in my mind I was saying, “this isn’t enough”, but after week one, I was happy with my decision, I felt a better sense of calm and recovery in my body, less stress and a feeling that I had made the right choice - and truthfully, even though it was tough to get started again - I do love yoga.
Oh, we fickle people....
Week 2 ½ however, was a different story. I was frustrated with how hard the poses were, how inflexible I was, and did not feel like I had improved whatsoever. But upon complaining and wanting to give up, one of my children shared some words of wisdom. “Mom it has taken you many years without yoga to become so stiff, don’t you think it might take awhile to get flexible again - in the scheme of things - what is 2 weeks?” Wow - out of the mouth of babes! So I continued (still with some frustration) with a new sense of the fact that results won’t happen tomorrow, but in true yoga rhythm, they will happen - slowly and as my body and mind are ready. Opening up to that and enjoying each practice is part of the yoga journey. So within a few weeks I had become more flexible, able to hold poses with more strength and move from pose to pose with more fluidity. I then began practicing 4 or 5 times a week because the joy had returned! My hips, low back and shoulders feel so much better. Now I am always reminding my clients on the importance of movement in their life, choosing something they like and can actually faithfully commit to and I frequently tout the benefits of yoga.
One day I had a client tell me that she had signed up for Adrienne’s 30 day free yoga (a New Year’s gift). My client admitted it was hard and she wasn’t great at it, but she really felt it helped and I was so happy for her and proud of her for reaching outside of her comfort zone. She sent me the link to the free sessions and one morning I decided (in my mind as a sort of “support” to my client) try one. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was gentle, time efficient and effective!! I am not up to speed on the day I am meant to be on, but that doesn’t really matter. In usual yoga fashion, I grow with each practice - physically, emotionally, mentally and even spiritually. Yoga has the ability to bring about a mind-body connection that is profound that truly affects so many aspects of your life in positive ways. So, I encourage you to find time for a practice that brings you back to yourself, that brings “flexibility” into your life and that has real health benefits on so many levels. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0et6I930LaU is the link to Adrienne’s 30 days. I apologize it is half way through the month, but I am sure that she offers classes you can sign up for beyond this freebie. Also, the instructor I have so loved for years is on https://www.yogawithbriohny.com/.
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