I have always been a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie.
Then one night, just a few years ago, I was running late and missed my Spin class.
I was already at the gym and the only other class left on the schedule was yoga.
Turns out, yoga isnt allOM-ing and chanting.
Actually, it wasn’t at all what I thought it would be like.
I always thought it was weird that people referred to yoga as their practice.
It sounded so pretentious.
But, it makes complete sense.
Theres no end game in yoga; no big race day, nothing specific youre training for.
Didnt stick Crow today?
Maybe next time!)
You donthaveto be anything to do yoga (except willing and open-minded).
So come to yogait will help you get there.
For the entire first year I did yoga, I wouldnevermodify my poses.
I always wanted to do the advanced moves.
To show that I didn’t need any of that stuff.
And it feels way better, especially on those days when everything just feels extra tight.
In most yoga classes, youll be moving, flowing or in a pose from start to finish.
Dont wait for the teacher to tell you to drink water or come into Childs Pose.
Just try not to conveniently take Childs Pose or a sip of watereverytime Wheel Pose rolls around.
Its not so bad.
(OK, maybe it is.
But being willing to fall down is ahugepart of yoga.
It means you really went for somethingsomething daring and maybe outside of your comfort zone.
Yoga is as much mental as it is physical, and theres a constant element of play.
I never considered the possibility that I could press up into the pose and actually stay there.
Once I shifted my visionand gave myself permission to fall, wiggle and shakemy entire practice shifted with it.
Falling out of a pose in yoga, is not failing.
For years, my fiance has encouraged me to stop freaking out over things I cant control.
Sometimes you have a bad run, a bad race, a bad yoga practicethats life.
And that’s OK.
If a pose feels easy, ask for a modification to make it more challenging.
(Actually wait, does that exist?)
There are high planks, low planks, deep lunges, backbends and tricky inversions.
Guarantee you’re free to’t do everything.
Again, TOTALLY OK.
Yoga is an amazing workout that will help boost your performance, mood and health.
It’s great as cross training and is amazing at clearing your mind.
But, you might also fall out of love with yoga at times as well.
Thats cool, too.
As I’ve learned, yoga is a growing, moving, changing practice.
