Today I’m feeling reflective as I rejoice a serious milestone – 20 years of working towards yoga!
Hi pals, I hope you had a beautiful weekend. Ours was low-key and we noticed Riverdance, which was every thing.
While I used to be at scorching yoga final week, I noticed that I’ve been working towards yoga for TWENTY YEARS. It hit me fairly onerous and I couldn’t consider how a lot life I’ve been by way of since I used to be first launched to yoga. Moves, deployments, infants, highs, and lows, yoga has been a reasonably constant a part of my life. I’ve cried throughout savasana, mastered sure poses, struggled with others, spent 90% of sure lessons in little one’s pose, and realized to actually be current and concentrate on my breath.
It’s been twenty years of unrolling my mat, connecting with my breath, and flowing by way of sequences that problem and remodel my thoughts and physique. It’s onerous to consider that 20 years have handed since I first found yoga, and whereas I can’t do any loopy tips and I’m not essentially the most versatile bear, this apply has formed my life in numerous methods. So, in honor of this milestone, I wish to share with you a number of the classes I’ve realized, and the rewards I’ve reaped over the previous 20 years of working towards yoga.
(Maisey additionally desires me to inform you that in the present day is her birthday! OF COURSE she’s getting a doggy cake and birthday track)
20 years of working towards yoga
My introduction to yoga:
My very top notch was a Rodney Yee yoga DVD I picked up at Target on a whim. I used to be in school, feeling the stressors of a dramatic relationship and fixed homework deadlines, and figured I’d give it a whirl. Instantly, I used to be drawn in by the sense of calm it introduced me. I additionally liked Rodney Yee’s clear, concise instruction and his capability to information college students to a deeper understanding of their our bodies and the apply of yoga.
Looking again, this was the right technique to get began: it was zero stress (as a result of I used to be solo, at house, in my mother’s front room). I began to apply yoga repeatedly, largely earlier than mattress, and finally transitioned into studio lessons. Over the previous 20 years, I’ve taken tons of of yoga lessons in studios all around the US, from California to Orlando and plenty of spots in between.
Types of yoga I’ve tried:
There are so many various kinds of yoga on the market, and every one presents a singular and difficult expertise.
Here are a couple of sorts of yoga and what makes them so particular:
Vinyasa Yoga:
Vinyasa yoga is a dynamic fashion of yoga that focuses on linking breath with motion. This flow-based apply is ideal for individuals who wish to get their coronary heart charge up and sweat it out on the mat. Classes will be barely heat, or heated.
Restorative Yoga:
If you’re searching for a extra stress-free and restorative apply, restorative yoga is the best way to go. This mild apply makes use of props and long-held poses to launch rigidity and promote deep rest.
Yoga Nidra:
this can be a sort of yoga apply that’s also known as “yogic sleep”. Unlike conventional yoga lessons, the place you progress by way of a sequence of postures, in Yoga Nidra, you lay down in a cushty place and are guided by way of a deep rest and meditation. This apply is designed that will help you enter a state of deep rest, the place you may launch rigidity, stress, and anxiousness. Yoga Nidra will be extremely highly effective, not just for bodily rest, but in addition for psychological and emotional rest. It’s an effective way to recharge your batteries, scale back stress and anxiousness, and enhance your general well-being. So, should you’re searching for a technique to chill out and unwind, I extremely suggest giving Yoga Nidra a strive!
Ashtanga Yoga:
Ashtanga yoga is a standard fashion of yoga that follows a set sequence of poses. This difficult apply is nice for individuals who wish to construct power, flexibility, and focus.
Bikram Yoga:
If you’re a fan of scorching yoga, Bikram yoga is the last word problem. This intense apply is finished in a heated room and follows a particular sequence of 26 poses. This is what actually received me hooked on yoga, and I’d drive virtually two hours after we lived in Valdosta to take a Bikram class. My present favourite fashion is a mix of Vinyasa and Bikram, in a heated and humid room.
Yin Yoga:
Yin yoga is a slow-paced fashion of yoga that focuses on holding poses for longer durations of time. This apply helps to enhance flexibility and improve circulation, making it good for individuals who wish to work on their mobility.
Hatha yoga:
this a standard type of yoga that focuses on bodily postures (asanas), respiration strategies (pranayama), and meditation. The apply is designed to steadiness the physique and thoughts, and create a way of concord and internal peace. Hatha Yoga lessons usually transfer at a slower tempo than different types of yoga, permitting practitioners to concentrate on the alignment of the postures and their breath. Hatha Yoga is a good possibility for rookies or anybody seeking to enhance their bodily health, flexibility, and general well-being.
No matter what sort of yoga you select, bear in mind to hearken to your physique and honor your limits. With common apply, you’ll be capable to discover your movement and take your yoga apply to the following stage. I additionally suggest making an attempt out quite a lot of kinds; you’ll discover those that talk to you and that you simply get pleasure from essentially the most!
Benefits I’ve seen from working towards yoga repeatedly:
Not solely does yoga assist to extend flexibility and power, nevertheless it additionally has quite a few advantages in your general well-being.
Reduces stress and anxiousness:
Yoga gives an area so that you can join along with your breath and quiet your thoughts, which might help to scale back stress and anxiousness. As somebody who’s battled anxiousness prior to now, I do know firsthand the advantages of incorporating yoga into your wellness routine. Yoga gives a protected area to attach along with your breath, launch rigidity out of your physique, and quiet your thoughts. By working towards yoga repeatedly, you may study to handle stress and anxiousness extra successfully, which may result in a extra balanced and fulfilling life. Additionally, sure yoga poses, reminiscent of ahead folds and inversions, can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to calm the physique and scale back emotions of hysteria.
Improves flexibility and steadiness:
With common apply, yoga might help to extend flexibility, enhance steadiness, and probably stop accidents. This is very necessary as we age and our our bodies turn out to be much less limber. It additionally includes getting on and off the mat, which is a good ability to take care of as we age. Many of the actions are useful and require core power.
Strengthens the physique:
Many yoga poses require power and stability, which might help to construct muscle and improve muscular endurance. Plus, yoga is a low-impact type of train, making it nice for individuals who wish to keep away from high-impact exercises.
Promotes mindfulness and self-awareness:
By focusing in your breath and physique throughout yoga apply, you may develop a higher sense of mindfulness and self-awareness. This might help to enhance general temper and well-being.
Connects you to a group:
Practicing yoga repeatedly might help you to attach with like-minded people and construct a supportive group. This will be particularly necessary for individuals who might really feel remoted or disconnected. Something I realized throughout instructor coaching is that typically changes are the one bodily contact that some folks obtain for the complete day. That was highly effective for me and a reminder of how a lot we want connection and human contact to thrive.
My expertise with yoga instructor coaching:
Selfishly, I did yoga instructor coaching only for me. I by no means actually had the intention of educating – I taught repeatedly after we lived in Valdosta however have solely subbed right here and there since then – however wished to to deepen my very own private apply and study as a lot as I may about yoga.
If you’re contemplating instructor coaching, listed below are a number of the superb issues you may expertise:
Deepen your apply:
Yoga instructor coaching is a chance to take your apply to the following stage. You’ll study new poses, refine your alignment, and enrich your understanding of the apply.
Learn in regards to the philosophy of yoga:
Yoga is greater than only a bodily apply. In instructor coaching, you’ll study in regards to the historical past, philosophy, and non secular facets of yoga. I particularly loved studying the “Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga” and studying about primordial meditation.
Share your love of yoga with others:
As a licensed yoga instructor, you’ll have the chance to share your love of yoga with others and assist them to find the transformative energy of the apply.
Join a supportive group:
Yoga instructor coaching is an effective way to attach with like-minded people and construct a supportive group. You’ll be surrounded by others who share your ardour for yoga and who will help you all through your journey.
Challenge your self:
Yoga instructor coaching could be a difficult expertise, nevertheless it’s additionally extremely rewarding. You’ll push your self bodily, mentally, and emotionally, and are available out on the opposite facet with new perspective and a stronger apply.
There ya have it, pals! 20 years of working towards yoga has been an incredible journey full of challenges, development, and transformation. Through this apply, I’ve realized to attach with my breath, calm my thoughts, and hearken to my physique. I’ve gained power, flexibility, and resilience, each on and off the mat. I’ve met unimaginable pals and had the chance to study from a number of the easiest academics. And most significantly, I’ve realized to domesticate a way of internal peace and well-being that, together with my religion, has carried me by way of life’s ups and downs.
If you’re new to yoga or have been working towards for some time, I encourage you to remain dedicated to your apply, and permit it to information you by yourself journey of development and transformation. <3
Are you a yoga fan or not a lot? How typically do you apply? What’s your favourite fashion?