Yoga For All

When I was 25 I joined a local gym. It was small and I was highly intimidated by the weight room, so I comfortably did not push myself into doing anything more rigorous than walking on the treadmill. 

I had no previous free weight experience nor were there trainers present to walk me around the floor, as is common in most facilities today. Most months I donated my membership fee to pay their rent and made excuses not to go.  Several months into my 'membership donations', a co-worker of mine joined and said she was going to start taking the yoga classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays… did I want to join her? 

My experience with yoga was nil, my interest was even less.  I said yes because I was disgusted with myself for wasting my money at that gym.  What ensued became a lifelong joy for body movement and a desire to watch my form become stronger and lither than ever in my life. 

I was a high school softball and volleyball player, albeit, mediocre at best, I did have some concept of physical fitness.  With biweekly yoga, I strived to enter postures I had never considered possible with this body.  I became lengthened and lean inadvertently.  I had an eagerness to not miss class because my body felt ALIVE after savasana. 

I slept better, I had less contempt for the irritating aspects and people in my life and I found some purpose in the commitment. I knew others would as well.  I continued to practice yoga at many different facilities, online, with friends, with strangers, and by myself. 

Teaching yoga was a natural segue connecting me to both my career as a massage therapist and group fitness instructor.  I already had a deep understanding of kinesiology, muscle structure, and movement as a healing mechanism. The inclination to instruct was an easy cross-over.

Yoga may look like exercise, meditation, spirituality, an escape, or a simple pleasure.  However, you interpret body movement as yours.  The byproduct of moving your perfect body is joy.