the dreary weather started getting to me this afternoon. I’ve had a lame week of workouts thanks to a minor trapeze related injury. Dance & zumba classes this week with limited movement in my right arm? Hilarious. Today I wanted to workout, something I would really love that also wouldn’t be hindered due to my painful deltoid.
Running? meh. Running is great when I’m really worked up and stressed out. My blah feeling wasn’t quite that
Group fitness class? meh. nothing was being offered at the nearby Crunches that sounded like a great idea to my arm.
Yoga? hmmmmmmm. Yes. A crummy mood, crummy weather, and crummy arm pains seemed like the perfect match for yoga. (note: because of the nature of my arm injury yoga is actually painless to do. I do not recommend doing workouts that aggravate a recent injury– healing is key).
I decided to try out a nearby studio Yoga Vida located at 99 University & 12th street. For first time students it is $10 for a week of unlimited yoga– what more can a gal ask for?
For years I proclaimed my hatred of Yoga loud and proud. I wasn’t against the practice of yoga for other people– you rubber band people with your well lubricated joints can downward dog all ya want. It didn’t seem like a good match for me– a gal with clicking joints, lots of thoughts, chronic jaw tension that isn’t even my thought, zero flexibility and is far from relaxed.
I have converted to the other side. First with “Sunrise Salutations” at Crunch, and today I admitted to myself “man, i love me some yoga” at Yoga Vida.
The class today, an open vinyasa class, was just what I needed. The instructor, Jessie, was knowledgeable, encouraging and incredibly helpful. I loved that she encouraged us to laugh and smile throughout, a reminder that this isn’t meant to be painful, it is meant to be an enjoyable, nourishing experience. With Jessie’s guidance I was really able to connect my breath with movement to make the most out of the poses and the class. The pace was perfect for me, a sorta beginner, and was the perfect combination of strength and relaxation
For me the sign of an amazing class is when I don’t look at my watch once. I was fully there, committed and focused the whole time. Most important is that I left there definitely feeling a million times better than I did when I arrived, and than I would have if I just sulked on my couch for that hour. Isn’t that the most important part of a workout, remembering that you should feel better leaving than you did arriving?
I am not quite sure exactly what has made my completely change my view on yoga– a handful of great classes, instructors I have really enjoyed, and the awareness that it is not a competition with other students. It is a good thing it has happened though because I can already see the changes my weekly yoga classes have made in my life– I feel far more relaxed and at ease recently, my posture and alignment in performance has benefitted, and I feel more grounded and stable than ever. If this all is in fact from the yoga (which I think it is, among other changes in my daily life), sign me up for more
I am excited to see what else Yoga Vida has to offer, they have already won me over with their affordability to students, convenient location, cleanliness, and the wonderful instructor I had today.
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