my journey to namaste

We are going to go back here.

Way way, wayway back.

I grew up very much a tomboy. My best-of-friends when I was little were my two boy cousins that lived right down the street. I learned to throw a football, climb a tree, and hit a bike jump (or fly over the handle bars) as good as the rest of them.

I played sports just for fun, and for community and school teams.

I ended up playing competitive softball for 8 years and basketball for 10.

Senior year. We won the school's first girls basketball trophy in years. 

let's not talk about my hair. or lets do.

I have always enjoyed physical activity of all kinds, and always did something for fun--until (as we read about a few months ago), there came the time in my life where I needed to do something for actual exercise...not just "for fun".

While I was never a "runner", it seemed as the easiest form of exercise to start up, so I did.

And that was that.

I remember the first time I gave any thought to yoga. 

And I thought it was a joke! 

It was 2003 and I was working at Sam Goody in Rexburg Idaho, while Robby and I went to school. One of my favorite parts of the job, was always having new magazines to look through (I am a magazine addict!!) It was during a phase of my life where I paid too much attention to celebrities and their business, and it was when Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt were queen and king of my little celebrity world.

I read an article about how Jennifer (can I call her that, like we are friends?) kept in such perfect shape and she claimed it was all thanks to yoga.

ha!! 

Here I'd been pounding my body on the pavement for years, throwing every ball I could get my hands on, and looking for every way I could to drip with sweat....and I was nowhere close to looking like her......so she must be a big (non)fat liar. I most definitely shut the magazine and laughed. 

There was no way that simple "stretches" and chanting spells (so maybe I was still confused about what yoga was) could be that beneficial.

Over the next few years I heard more and more about yoga--all the promises, benefits, and magical powers it could give you. hoopla! Save it for the hippies.

Running was all I needed, I was sure of it.

silly girl. 

About three and half years ago, I decided to step in to a yoga class at our gym. Why not? I knew the teacher, and bonus--it was dark!! No one could see me making a fool of myself, while most definitely not getting a workout. I had to know what all this crazy talk was about.

note: not me.

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It was a fusion class--yoga, pilates, and thai chi all mushed together and choreographed to an awesome playlist. I left without loving it or hating it....but for some reason I went back. 

It might have actually been for the music.

But week after week, I found myself back, still not believing that it could do much for me, but still there. For the most part just going through the motions, not really getting it, but doing it anyway.

inhale, exhale, yeah yeah yeah.

But there I was, again and again. 

After about a year of this, something just clicked. 

I actually started to feel the poses, instead of just doing them. 

I dripped a few drops of sweat onto my mat, and woke up the next morning sore.

I started to crave this class--and I'd make sure to work my schedule around it. I needed it each week.

Another year went by of just this class, and while I enjoyed it very much, I needed more. 

I needed to be challenged, both physically and mentally.

I started going to Abbey's other yoga class. I'd heard it was hard. Crazy hard. But I had to try.

hahaha for sure not me.

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It was hard.

Bending and twisting every this way and that. 

YOU WANT ME TO PUT MY FOOT WHERE??? 

How are these things possible?? What is she doing? What is she doing?

Why is everyone breathing so loud and whos feet stink??

All of these crazy thoughts......

....yet I was drip drip dropping sweat into my eyes and flooding my mat below.

I loved it. 

How did it happen?

There's really no way to explain it--but if you've been there, you know. 

Yoga is more than silly poses and magic spells (ok, there are no magic spells, darn). 

Without totally getting cheese all over you as you read this, it teaches you about yourself. 

How strong you are. It makes you pay attention. At first just in class--each pose--how you feel and how much you hate it. How happy you are when you finally get it. 

But then you start to pay attention more in other areas of your life as well.

My running has changed. How I run. How I breathe. I breathe. 

I feel so much stronger--I am stronger. For the first time in my life, I have a muscle! (confetti drop!)

And the more I do it, the more I can listen to and actually hear what my body needs.

And mostly, my body needs more yoga.

My challenge to you this week, is a bit harder than in weeks past. I don't think that there are many people who can just jump right in to yoga and enjoy it from day one (give it time!), but I really believe that it can benefit everyone! No matter your age, shape, or size. (just ask this lady)

If yoga is something you've been wondering about anyway, here's my little push for you to try it out.

If you think it's for deodorant-less hippies, believe me when I tell you it's not. It's for you too. (deodorant optional)

The first thing you need to do is find a teacher that you will mesh well with. 

Had my first experience been with a teacher who had me start out with crazy breathing and energy talk I would have been outta there! That's just not me--I needed someone who didn't take themselves too seriously. So explore your options. 

Second, don't give up. It will take time--it took years to finally click with me. 

And just know it's hard--but it's hard for everyone. 

The best part is learning to deal with the hard.

When you really throw yourself into it, it will wring you out, in the best of best ways possible.

namaste.




ps come over and discuss your favorite and least  favorite poses on the facebook page!
pps. blogger temporarily deleted this post, and when it reposted all of your thoughtful comments were gone.....so sorry! I loved reading all your thoughts on yoga though--thank you for sharing!