Yoga

I love yoga! I really never thought I'd be saying that. For a long time, I thought yoga was too slow for me. It didn't feel like a work-out unless I was sweating buckets at the gym. I went to a few yoga classes over the years, but for a long time, I didn't find one that was right for me.

Four or so years ago, I was staying with a friend who asked me if I wanted to try a yoga tape that belonged to his mother. The style of yoga on the tape was Kundalini yoga. It was different than any yoga I had ever tried, and after doing it, I felt amazing; warm, vibrant, happy, and energized.  I bought a tape for myself and continued doing Kundalini off and on at home for awhile before I noticed that a studio downtown was offering a Kundalini class. It was there that I took the first yoga class I loved, taught by the magnificent Jessica Ryan.  Jessica is an incredible teacher, and I have never felt so welcome or comfortable trying something so new to me.

After discovering the joys of Kundalini, I decided to give other yoga classes another chance. I have attended some great classes at The Yoga Loft, and have found classes there that are easy for me, right at my level, and a few classes that are pretty challenging (that is to say a little too challenging for me at this point!).

 I have also used yoga as a way to help me stretch out at home, especially when I am recovering from work injuries like pulled back muscles. In the photos here, I am doing a few of the variations of pigeon pose, a great stretch for the hips. When I pulled a muscle in my back, this pose was incredibly helpful for regaining my flexibility and decreasing my discomfort. As one of my goals for this year, I am going to attend a yoga class at least once per week.  As with many of my goals for the year, I may do it more than my goal. That's ok, as the idea is to set a goal that I can maintain for an entire year, and once a week certainly seems doable.