I’ve grown an obsession. No, it’s not my obsession with Youtube videos on Korean skin care. No, it’s not my sugar free, dairy free, gluten free chocolate tort that I can’t stop eating. I’d rate those as 3’s on the obsession scale. No, what I'm talking about is a full blown, solid 8.
It’s yoga. It’s been growing on me for about the last 6 months….at a steady pace. To understand my exercise context, you have to know I’ve never embraced exercise except in a utilitarian way (at least past age 18). I know I have to do it, I get in and get out as quick as possible, and with as much bang for the buck as possible. Running has been my possible exception, but I only did that in brief spurts, and more as a way to spend time with a super good looking male roommate in collage, and later to spend alone time with John (we trained for a 10k together). Now I still run once a week with my friend Becca but it’s purely so we can socialize and we run so slow that I’m pretty sure speed walkers could blow by us. I've not been overcome with any runner's high.
I’ve done yoga before, and quite honestly was always annoyed by it. Annoyed by the “down dog” (what a horrid name), annoyed by the long shavasana at the end of the class (who doesn’t feel like it is a real possibility you will fall asleep and wake up drooling in a room by yourself?) Annoyed by instructors who said things like, “make space between the back of your teeth” (WTF does that even mean??) It was either too hippy dippy for me, too easy, or too hard and pretzel-esq. Always annoying with yoga….taking a class with a human pretzel in front of you. I know you are suppose to be in your “own zone”, but it’s REALLY hard to ignore Cirque de Soleil going on right in front of you. Yoga attracts a LOT Of pretzels.
Anyway, those are the reasons up until now that I’ve basically steered clear except for the occasional class. Plus it’s an hour on the books which really translates to at least 1.5-2.0 hours of time when you factor in time to get to the class, park, and get back. That’s a lot of time.
So now what’s different? Well, probably nothing really. I would argue the yoga studio is better, the teachers are better, and for whatever reason it all makes perfect sense to me now. I can’t honestly say if anything really is “better”—or I’ve just grown a better attitude and now am welcoming what I need. Dare I say, I’m welcoming in peace and love? Yuck, sounds very yogi, but it might be true.
Reasons I love it. It feels restorative, but is still a workout. I go in, and I don’t feel completely rung out at the end of an hour. I feel peaceful, mindful and if I’m lucky there are enough planks and chatarangas to make me feel like I got to work on my triceps. I still get antsy at the ends of class and do the shavasana for the minimum time….I completely ignore the, “stay as long as you want, take this time for yourself” deal. We do the namaste, I take a moment of gratitude, and I’m up and out of there. Got. To. Bounce. Things to do, mindful time over. BUT…..the fact that I can actually relax and enjoy those last 5 minutes at all, is a huge improvement for me.
So now that I’m a devotee, and going to class a solid 3, more often 4 times a week, I am realizing that even though I had a lot of Hard Tail athletic clothes before this obsession, I’m wanting more. I’m getting tired of my rotation of stuff, and so we’ve ordered some new styles (can’t wait, they are on the way), and I’m SO excited. Sampling for your viewing pleasure to your left. I know it’s not a fashion
show, but still, shouldn’t a yogi always look good? I did also buy some Pure Toes, because sometimes I take the detox class in the hot studio (98 degrees of sweaty heat). I hate the feel of yoga towels over my mat, so I need something on my feet to keep them a little less slippery while doing the dogs. These do the trick perfectly!
Signed, ME {lv}
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