Finding myself in yoga
In the past few weeks, I have taken 12 yoga classes, including heated yoga, yin yoga, power yoga, and slow flow with deep stretches. I cannot even begin to describe how much more peaceful and “in tune” that I have become with myself.
I have been practicing yoga at home from youtube - shout out to SarahBethYoga - for a few months. I have also practiced some PiYo by Chalene Johnson (an inspiration in life, love, business, and fitness; subscribe to The Chalene Show in your podcast app!). I used to think yoga wasn’t for me and my workout style and that meditation really didn’t do anything beneficial because how could I even attempt to turn off my brain and my anxiety?! BUT, throughout this journey of improving my life, I have found that falling in love with yoga was the best exercise practice for my mind and my body.
Figuring out my “when” also helped tremendously. When I practice at home, I tend to schedule my yoga before bed but I would find myself either putting it off or rushing to gather all of my things for the next day (see previous blog post for daily routine) and not being able to completely empty my mind. My mental to-do list would not let me take a break. The classes that I have taken have been in the mornings, as early as 6 am (which surprisingly I LOVED) and as late at 11:30 am. I found that this allowed me to stay in this personal development mindset from the moment I wake up, to listening to podcasts on the way to yoga, and then remaining clear-headed throughout the practice. The only time I felt stressed was when I stayed in bed for too long and put myself behind schedule for leaving, which only happened once so thank God for that. After yoga, I then allow myself to have coffee and sit down with my planner, waiting until this moment to “turn on” my brain and think all things art and business.
Scheduling classes for myself encouraged me to sleep earlier in preparation for the next day and I looked forward to them and couldn’t wait until my next Savasana (the resting pose at the end of each yoga practice, my favorite). The Britni a few years ago would have been like, “whatever, I’ll just do some biking and weightlifting and leave it at that,” but look at me now.
We all need restoration though. Your body NEEDS it. Your muscles cannot rest if you do not allow them. And the stretching that yoga offers gives your joints so much support and improves the flexibility and helps you to avoid breaking bones and pulling muscles. It improves the centeredness of your body and helps you sleep better and strengthens your brain and your confidence and your self-worth. I could go on and on about the benefits, but you won’t know it until you try it.
Personally, I prefer power yoga followed by yin/restore yoga. Heated yoga was fun, but I am the prime victim of “heat headaches” and I had one develop not even halfway through the class and did not subside until I went to sleep that night. I also love when the instructor massages the lavender essential oil behind my neck and on the edge of my hairline, and I’m not even a fan of the lavender scent, but in that moment it is so beautiful. The feeling I get when I can go deeper into a pose than before or stay longer in a pose without falling *as much* is one of the most rewarding feelings I have ever felt during a workout. And the fact that I am still a beginner but I’m well on my way to moving to the next stage is more than exciting.
Yoga makes me feel good and gives me a chance to experience where my mind wanders during the practice. Yoga is an exercise for the mind, body, and soul (excuse the cliche there), but really. If you haven’t tried yoga or meditation, I urge you to just give it a chance. You don’t have to be good at it! There is no pressure and no judgment in these classes! And if you can, if your time, location, and budget allows for it, try to take a class. Classes are so much different than just doing yoga at home. Side note: Lift Yoga in Alpharetta offers 6am classes that are $5 each, so if you’re ballin’ on a budget, maybe check to see if a studio near you does something similar? Give yourself that experience, even if it is a beginners class or a yin class. I would suggest to definitely let a yin class be one of your first few classes because it isn’t the normal kind of flow yoga you would expect and it is so relaxing and fulfilling.
If this practice isn’t right for you, then don’t stick with it. Maybe try moving meditation or walking meditation. Chalene Johnson has a few moving meditation episodes on The Chalene Show that are full of inspirational quotes to exercise your mind while you move or meditate in stillness. Just be sure to mix in some restorative workouts. Don’t beat up your body every day; be nice to it and it’ll return the kindness. Your joints will thank you and so will your mind.
And I thank you for reading this far.
Love-