Yoga and I were slow to get to know each other. She was always patiently waiting for me to get to my senses and accept her infinite love and support, but I was cautious, stubborn, and overall afraid. That finally changed at the end of last year, and I have to tell you: we're both so happy now.
Okay, enough with the maudlin story. Let me tell you how it all started. I first became acquainted with yoga when I was a teen in high school. I used to practice it in my dance class and I had a home DVD that I would pop in between my Tae Bo and Pilates tapes. Though I did appreciate and liked that it ultimately made me sweaty, I wanted quick, cardio-focused workouts, so I never committed. I was an athlete in high school, participating in sports like tennis, badminton, and water polo, and spending my summers as a local lifeguard and swim instructor. I was used to extremely fast-paced exercises that often made me feel like I was going to pass out. I figured that was the only way to be truly fit (and to be truly hardcore - obviously one of the main concerns of being a teenager).
When I moved to LA about 10 years ago (by this time about 80 lbs heavier than my healthy weight in high school), I'd regularly see the beautiful, sleek yogis in town going to class and carrying their mats and donning multi-colored leggings in every pattern and shade of the rainbow. It intimidated me. I didn't act like I even noticed, but I secretly wanted to be like them. Being well over 200 lbs at this point did not aid in my motivation to begin yoga. So I just gave up the hope that I would ever make it part of my daily lifestyle. In the next couple of years, I discovered the Instagram of Yoga Girl® Rachel Brathen and her personal posts, heart-wrenching life experiences, and regular impressive asanas (yoga poses) really got me interested. I joined her old yoga video website OneOEight® which allowed me to safely and comfortably begin my journey with yoga. I even got friends and family to do videos at home with me. But, I was still convinced that this was all I needed and "screw the in-person classes" and a few other excuses I can't seem to remember right now were involved in my determination to not go to a real yoga class.
But, I was still convinced that this was all I needed and "screw the in-person classes" and a few other excuses I can't seem to remember right now were involved in my determination to not go to a real yoga class.
Fast forward to October 2019. I was already deep into my first year of Ayurveda studies, had shed 40 lbs of the total 115 lbs I had gained since high school, and wanted to really commit my life to yoga and Ayurveda more. I quit my full time desk job and decided to invest all my time to school and finding positions in places that related to my life's purpose. Yoga was still something I sporadically practiced, maybe two to three times a month online, but I was not serious about it. I told myself that I would maybe complete yoga teacher training eventually, because I understood its deep intertwined connection to Ayurveda. It felt inevitable, yet still daunting and far off. I was in the car with my boyfriend Adam one day and complaining that I felt like I would never find a job in the realm of Ayurveda and right in that moment, as if we were the subjects of a bad, ironic movie, we passed a business that had the words "Yoga + Ayurveda". Adam simply pointed as my mouth dropped and I struggled to find any words (an uncommon occurrence, let me tell you).
I ended up emailing the teacher, and long story short, I am now working part time at the same studio and am officially beginning yoga teacher training in a week. Not only that, I go to in-person class four times a week! And, it changed everything. And, taught me a few things. First, it taught me that different studios are, well, different. The one I happened to find is a bit on the smaller side and offers smaller class sizes. Which is honestly perfect (and less daunting) for me. Second, it taught me the importance of having the yoga teacher there to help adjust or fix your asanas. This becomes crucial in being able to get the most benefit out of your practice, and to eventually advance your practice. Third, I learned that being part of a yoga class does not have to include any type of disconnected feeling or emotions. I have met several absolutely lovely people who consistently make me feel like I'm coming home when I go to class. It's been four months, and I already feel so many benefits from yoga. Not only have I lost weight, I've gained flexibility, my anxiety is better, and my posture has improved significantly as well. I no longer experience lower back pain and feel overall stronger. Not just that, the other day when I was examining my body in the mirror, I noticed that all of the cellulite from my legs had virtually disappeared. The most important thing is that this is the best I've physically felt since I was a fit, hardcore teen. I don't care about being hardcore anymore, but I do care about my health and well-being. And it's paying off! I'm excited to see what my future in yoga will bring, especially that training starts in a week. Stay tuned to an additional yoga post where I will go over its history, the science-confirmed health benefits of the practice, as well as detail some sure-to-be amazing stuff about my personal yoga teacher training. Namaste.
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