I really do believe in that expression “better late than never,” so even though I promised myself that I would incorporate a yoga practice into my crazy schedule back in December, I figured I was still OK and definitely within the 6-month rule on New Years resolutions. OK, so my friend Miriam and her haranguing had something to do with it, but what the hell. Off I went to the Yoga Loft – my local “Om Away From Home.” (Sorry, that really is their tagline).
I met our instructor, an incredibly lithe and fit looking woman in her late forties. I introduced myself and told her that I am a runner and that I want to increase my flexibility and core strength. I should have recognized that evil glint in her eye. “Oh, what luck!” she said. “I know just the moves we’ll do today.”
Everything went just peachy as we moved through a series of gentle stretches. I kept a close eye on our teacher and found I could easily follow along without any assistance. We did some familiar IT band stretches (perfect for me) and I began to feel comfortable. “OK, I can do this.” Then, Yoga-born reality came crashing down on me. The Evil Lunges arrived.
The low lunge was fine, as was the balancing low lunge. But when we got to the prayer twist, groin stretch and toes up lunge I was stunned by how difficult these moves were for me. The really hard piece was when the instructor assisted me and shifted the positioning of my hips, opening up the groin. It felt good in a painful sort of way. But I had no idea how all of these years of running (and not enough stretching) has really decreased my flexibility.
“And slowly exhale, releasing tension through the back and the hips…” Yeah, right. I found myself praying for the arrival of the Child Pose.
But despite the discomfort, after an hour of Yoga I found that the extreme anxiety and tension I had held as I entered the Yoga Loft was completely gone and I felt incredibly relaxed. Our instructor ended our session with Tibetan bells and a group Om.
The following several days I was incredibly sore, especially my quads, calfs and lower back. I didn’t feel injured, just really worked, and my runs for a few subsequent several days were slower than normal. Nonetheless, I felt really good. Maybe it’s just the fact that I’ve started something I’ve wanted to do for a really long time, or maybe it’s the extension of the muscles that have been tight and tense for even longer.
Regardless, I am hooked on Yoga. Like running, it’s both emotional and physical, requiring a level of focus that takes you out of your present mood and shifts you into another place. This mental approach feels natural to me - especially the integration of breath, which helps to calm the mind in any situation, whether running, working, or engaging with other people.
If you’re interested in a Yoga practice, I suggest an excellent book by Sage Rountree of Chapel Hill, North Carolina called The Athletes Guide to Yoga. It’s a beautiful book that deals quite a bit with the mental / emotional part of yoga and specifically focuses on moves for those of us who are physically active. I’m just sorry I waited this long to begin.
Namaste.
