A Lovely Practice

I went to yoga class this morning. It was excellent. It was not a "flow" class but was asanas that emphasized opening the shoulders and stretching the hamstrings. It was not like a class I typically go to, but it was EXACTLY what I needed. It's a nice reminder that inspiration can easily be found by showing up.

I believe yoga is for everyone regardless of their body type. I can tell you I've practiced when I was much heavier and found it to be an opportunity to move my body and remind myself to feel good in my body. I won't lie, there have been times when I felt too (fill in the blank) to show up to yoga in my yoga outfit. I'm sure this feeling is not unique. If you struggle with these feelings let me encourage you to practice anyway. 

I took a yoga hiatus for part of September and October. I was traveling a ton and getting ready for my wedding and just didn't make the time for my practice. That happens sometimes. Any practice will sometimes be placed on hold, or put on "delay". I have to say I've never regretted going to a yoga class, and this morning was no exception.

And So It Begins

There was a time when I chose yoga as my exercise routine and nothing more. Though, I noticed I always felt better after yoga instead of feeling depleted.

In the mid-2000s I began working out with a personal trainer at my fitness center. I was an overweight woman in my late 40s. The trainer I was paired with was nothing like me. He was a young, physically fit, personal trainer, aspiring to work with athletes. This was my first personal training experience and it was monitored by physicians associated with the fitness center. I placed my trust in the program. 

Spoiler alert: I got injured. When my trainer set the weights for me on the weight machines I was confident that I "was supposed" to be able to manage it. When he instructed me to hold the plank pose for what seemed like forever, I held my body in the plank position. The only problem was I was using the wrong muscles. I was using my back for strength to accomplish the weighted leg extensions. I was using my back to hold the plank position. I pushed through until I was hurt so badly that I couldn't walk without lower back pain. 

I put my personal training on hold while I went to physical therapy. 

The therapist worked with me to first establish my breath before performing any position. She worked with me to identify that the muscles I was supposed to use had never engaged. Physical therapy gave me a better understanding of breath with movement. She taught me how to recognize which muscles I was using and she showed me how to engage the correct muscles.  

Once I went through physical therapy I gravitated to yoga as my primary exercise. I found I got many of the benefits from yoga that I had gained from my physical therapist.

Over the last ten years, I have returned to yoga over and over. Even if I was not on the mat, I was able to practice controlled breathing to get through some of life's surprises. I became a "regular" yoga student at several yoga studios. I learned (and keep learning) that yoga is accessible to me at every stage of my life and fitness level. 

I started Yoga Teacher Training in late 2020 and earned the 200-Hour YTT Certification in May 2021.  

My body is stronger than before and my stamina has increased. I'm still learning every time I roll out my mat. My goal for each practice is to accept where I am each day, but more importantly, to embrace it. 

I am beginning to accept one-on-one students. I can meet you "where you are" in your yoga practice.

Reach out to me if you'd like to try a yoga class. The first yoga class is free.

Send me an email: Kimberly.is.thinking (at) Gmail (dot) com