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Downward Facing Diva

If you would have asked me 1 year ago, "Do you want to go to yoga?" I would have laughed, and thought to myself "That's not a workout! If I'm going to spend an hour at the gym, I may as well spend in lifting weights or running!"

Boy was I wrong. And how I have changed my thinking!

I label this post "downward facing diva" - because I feel like I have transformed into my own personal various of a "yoga diva". Better known as a "yogi" over the past few months.

I started yoga because I had a revelation that it's quite pathetic that I can run 20 miles, but I cannot touch my toes. Yoga helped me do that, and much more!

I will share that I wasn't feeling so "yoga diva status" at my 1st bikram flow class approximately 3 weeks ago. Where I found myself outside the studio, at the corner of a busy intersection in town, lying on the cement in a sports bra and yoga pants dry-heaving!

Not my finest moment.

And let me tell you...I left that class thinking "Why didn't I try this place before buying a Groupon!? I have to do 10 more of these?!"

But something kept me coming back. The instructor told me that it will get easier, so I tried again.

Here are a few things that yoga has taught me:

  • You don't have to deadlift and lunge with 50 pounds to be strong. In fact, I feel the strongest I ever have from holding Warrior 3 for 1 minute.
  • I've learned about foundation. In order to get to "c", you must start with a and then b. I'm not always "a fan" of that, and prefer to skip to step "c".
  • Heat is something I've never enjoyed, but bikram has taught me to embrace it. To be "okay" with being overheated. My 1st class, I nearly had a panic attack over how hot I was. Now I've learned to take a deep breath, and move through it.
  • Savasana (laying flat on the ground in stillness) is just as challenging as "plank pose". It requires stillness, focus, and calm. Which isn't always my strongest trait.
  • Take care of my body even when you're not on the mat. I have to make myself to drink tons of water, and take in enough calories on the daysI do bikram in the evening- or else my blood pressure gets low and I feel like crud!
  • Mindlfulness. You have to be mindful of what you put in your body before class, you have to be mindful of those around you, you have to be mindful of finding your inner "calm".







Comments

Lisa's Yarns said…
I am glad that you are enjoying yoga! As you know, I've been doing lots of yoga lately too and I just love it. I can definitely tell that I am getting more toned in my arms, shoulders, and back. It's definitely a different kind of workout but I really enjoy it and my HRM has shown me that I burn more calories than I thought I would.

Most of the classes I go to are heated but not as hot as what you are doing, probably. I think the temp in the room is usually around 95-98. I did do one hot yoga class and I liked it but haven't made time to go back as it's at a time that doesn't work super well for my schedule.

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