Why Yoga? Thoughts on my practice.

I first started practicing yoga in 2003 shortly after starting a job at Godaddy. It was my first experience in a call center and in a cubicle, two things I had avowed I would never allow myself to work in. Oddly I really enjoyed most of the work. It was dealing with websites which I had been fascinated with since first getting to University in 1995 and the action was non stop so there was no idle time. The days went by quickly and my income was increasing.

However despite my career progress I was still hitting a wall in feeling fulfilled. I was finding it difficult to stay in shape by just drinking beer and eating pizza. I took up running, and gyms, and jumped from diet to diet in an attempt to feel better and find happiness. Two problems arose from this: 1) my right knee was developing sharp and lasting pain, and 2) I found that dieting is not a permanent solution.

Yoga had been something that I had considered since school in Boulder but I had never taken the plunge and gone to a studio. It was mostly due to fear of the unknown; along with a multitude of irrational fears I was worried I would be laughed out of the studio because I couldn’t touch my toes.

I started by getting some books and videos from the library and doing some research online. These were very helpful and I began to lose some of my fear and insecurity. I also found that just doing some of the basic exercises was a really good workout. I didn’t have to do crazy bendy poses to get the heart rate up and a sweat going. I also learned about breath techniques and meditation. I began to experience more than just a physical euphoria and noticed that my mind was calming down a lot.

After a few weeks I finally worked up the courage and went to a studio class. The teacher was happy to have me there and assured me I would survive. I had to back out a few times and take child’s pose as things got really intense but in the end I had received quite the work out and my knee wasn’t in pain. I signed up for the unlimited package and started practicing 4 to 5 days a week. I was hooked.

A lot has happened to me in those 6 years. I have been to a lot of studios, some good, some bad. What I have discovered is that Yoga is an amazing way to get and stay in shape, but it is also a way to quiet the mind. When I practice I focus on three things: 1) the pose I am in, 2) my inhale, and 3) my exhale. For 60 to 90 minutes that is all I am focused on and when I am done and the rest of my world slowly creeps back in I am ready for it.

This is why I practice Yoga and why I want to teach it. Let me know what you think.

Posted: July 13th, 2009 under yoga.
Tags: exercise, health, yoga