As we speak I’m feeling reflective as I have fun a serious milestone – 20 years of practising yoga!
Hello associates, I hope you had a beautiful weekend. Ours was low-key and we noticed Riverdance, which was every part.
Whereas I used to be at sizzling yoga final week, I noticed that I’ve been practising yoga for TWENTY YEARS. It hit me fairly arduous and I couldn’t consider how a lot life I’ve been by since I used to be first launched to yoga. Strikes, 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 baby’s pose, and realized to actually be current and deal with my breath.
It’s been twenty years of unrolling my mat, connecting with my breath, and flowing by sequences that problem and remodel my thoughts and physique. It’s arduous 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 practising yoga.
(Maisey additionally desires me to inform you that immediately is her birthday! OF COURSE she’s getting a doggy cake and birthday track)
20 years of practising yoga
My introduction to yoga:
My very first-class was a Rodney Yee yoga DVD I picked up at Goal on a whim. I used to be in faculty, feeling the stressors of a dramatic relationship and fixed homework deadlines, and figured I’d give it a whirl. Immediately, I used to be drawn in by the sense of calm it introduced me. I additionally beloved 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.
Wanting again, this was the proper solution to get began: it was zero stress (as a result of I used to be solo, at residence, in my mother’s front room). I began to apply yoga often, principally earlier than mattress, and ultimately transitioned into studio lessons. Over the previous 20 years, I’ve taken a whole lot of yoga lessons in studios everywhere in the US, from California to Orlando and plenty of spots in between.
Varieties of yoga I’ve tried:
There are such a lot of various kinds of yoga on the market, and every one gives a novel and difficult expertise.
Listed below are just a few kinds 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 many who wish to get their coronary heart fee up and sweat it out on the mat. Lessons will be barely heat, or heated.
Restorative Yoga:
Should you’re on the lookout for a extra stress-free and restorative apply, restorative yoga is the best way to go. This light apply makes use of props and long-held poses to launch stress and promote deep leisure.
Yoga Nidra:
this can be a kind of yoga apply that’s also known as “yogic sleep”. Not like conventional yoga lessons, the place you progress by a sequence of postures, in Yoga Nidra, you lay down in a cushty place and are guided by a deep leisure and meditation. This apply is designed that will help you enter a state of deep leisure, the place you may launch stress, stress, and nervousness. Yoga Nidra will be extremely highly effective, not just for bodily leisure, but in addition for psychological and emotional leisure. It’s a good way to recharge your batteries, scale back stress and nervousness, and enhance your total well-being. So, for those who’re on the lookout for a solution to calm down and unwind, I extremely suggest giving Yoga Nidra a strive!
Ashtanga Yoga:
Ashtanga yoga is a conventional fashion of yoga that follows a set sequence of poses. This difficult apply is nice for many who wish to construct energy, flexibility, and focus.
Bikram Yoga:
Should you’re a fan of sizzling yoga, Bikram yoga is the final word problem. This intense apply is completed in a heated room and follows a selected sequence of 26 poses. That is what actually obtained me hooked on yoga, and I’d drive nearly two hours once 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 intervals of time. This apply helps to enhance flexibility and enhance circulation, making it excellent for many who wish to work on their mobility.
Hatha yoga:
this a conventional type of yoga that focuses on bodily postures (asanas), respiration methods (pranayama), and meditation. The apply is designed to stability the physique and thoughts, and create a way of concord and interior peace. Hatha Yoga lessons sometimes transfer at a slower tempo than different types of yoga, permitting practitioners to deal with the alignment of the postures and their breath. Hatha Yoga is a superb choice for learners or anybody trying to enhance their bodily health, flexibility, and total well-being.
It doesn’t matter what kind of yoga you select, keep in mind to hearken to your physique and honor your limits. With common apply, you’ll be capable to discover your move and take your yoga apply to the following stage. I additionally suggest making an attempt out a wide range of types; you’ll discover those that talk to you and that you just get pleasure from essentially the most!
Advantages I’ve observed from practising yoga often:
Not solely does yoga assist to extend flexibility and energy, but it surely additionally has quite a few advantages to your total well-being.
Reduces stress and nervousness:
Yoga gives an area so that you can join along with your breath and quiet your thoughts, which will help to scale back stress and nervousness. As somebody who’s battled nervousness prior to now, I do know firsthand the advantages of incorporating yoga into your wellness routine. Yoga gives a secure area to attach along with your breath, launch stress out of your physique, and quiet your thoughts. By practising yoga often, you may be taught to handle stress and nervousness extra successfully, which might result in a extra balanced and fulfilling life. Moreover, sure yoga poses, resembling ahead folds and inversions, can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to calm the physique and scale back emotions of tension.
Improves flexibility and stability:
With common apply, yoga will help to extend flexibility, enhance stability, and doubtlessly stop accidents. That is particularly essential 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 superb talent to take care of as we age. Lots of the actions are useful and require core energy.
Strengthens the physique:
Many yoga poses require energy and stability, which will help to construct muscle and enhance muscular endurance. Plus, yoga is a low-impact type of train, making it nice for many 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 larger sense of mindfulness and self-awareness. This will help to enhance total temper and well-being.
Connects you to a neighborhood:
Working towards yoga often will help you to attach with like-minded people and construct a supportive neighborhood. This may be particularly essential for many who could really feel remoted or disconnected. One thing I realized throughout instructor coaching is that generally changes are the one bodily contact that some individuals obtain for your entire day. That was highly effective for me and a reminder of how a lot we’d like 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 instructing – I taught often once 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 be taught as a lot as I might about yoga.
Should you’re contemplating instructor coaching, listed below are a number of the wonderful issues you may expertise:
Deepen your apply:
Yoga instructor coaching is a chance to take your apply to the following stage. You’ll be taught new poses, refine your alignment, and enrich your understanding of the apply.
Study concerning the philosophy of yoga:
Yoga is greater than only a bodily apply. In instructor coaching, you’ll be taught concerning the historical past, philosophy, and religious points of yoga. I particularly loved studying the “Seven Religious Legal guidelines of Yoga” and studying about primordial meditation.
Share your love of yoga with others:
As an authorized 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.
Be a part of a supportive neighborhood:
Yoga instructor coaching is a good way to attach with like-minded people and construct a supportive neighborhood. You’ll be surrounded by others who share your ardour for yoga and who will help you all through your journey.
Problem your self:
Yoga instructor coaching is usually a difficult expertise, but it surely’s additionally extremely rewarding. You’ll push your self bodily, mentally, and emotionally, and are available out on the opposite aspect with new perspective and a stronger apply.
There ya have it, associates! 20 years of practising yoga has been an incredible journey stuffed with challenges, development, and transformation. By way of this apply, I’ve realized to attach with my breath, calm my thoughts, and hearken to my physique. I’ve gained energy, flexibility, and resilience, each on and off the mat. I’ve met unimaginable associates and had the chance to be taught from a number of the perfect lecturers. And most significantly, I’ve realized to domesticate a way of interior peace and well-being that, together with my religion, has carried me by life’s ups and downs.
Should you’re new to yoga or have been practising 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 usually do you apply? What’s your favourite fashion?
