I love yoga. It has done amazing things for my mind and body and I crave a regular practice, not only for the physical benefits, but for the mental and spiritual benefits. It took me a long time to discover the joy of a regular yoga practice. In my 20’s it was just go go go- no way did I have time for a 20 minute “stretching routine”. In my 30’s, after several injuries, I grudgingly began stretching for a few minutes after each workout (unknowingly, I was doing some yoga poses). And then… I met Adriene, and by “met” I mean I stumbled across her channel, Yoga With Adriene, on YouTube. I started doing yoga on a more regular basis and quickly began feeling more flexible. At first my legs and hips were incredibly tight and I couldn’t even touch my toes or sit cross legged. One of the things I love about Adriene is that she makes yoga accessible for everyone, all levels and abilities. She really taught me how to “find what feels good” and make the moves and poses my own. She’s great at explaining how to move and what you should be feeling, what to stretch, what to relax, and how to modify if needed. And she makes me laugh 😀 Of course the fact that her dog Benji joins her for most of her videos is a plus too. Somehow seeing that adorable dog chilling out next to Adriene makes the practice even more relaxing and enjoyable.
Yoga became a daily practice for me when I did one of her 30 day challenges a few years ago. There are several 30 Day Challenges on her channel and they’re a great way to get into practicing yoga daily. Each day she builds on to what you’ve already learned and by the end the changes can be just amazing. I really saw my flexibility, strength, and balance improve dramatically. And somewhere along the line I discovered the spiritual aspect of yoga. I’m not sure that’s anything anyone can truly “teach” someone else. You sort of have to discover it on your own, although a bit of guidance certainly can help. The first time I was doing a deep hip opener and suddenly burst into tears it was like, Whoa! Where did that come from?! They say emotions are stored in the hips, and I must admit, I’m a believer. Many of the emotions (and epiphanies) I’ve felt during yoga can’t really be put into words- it’s just too hard to describe. But if you keep practicing, and keep an open mind, you may be surprised at what comes up. That’s the awesome thing about practicing yoga at home. It doesn’t matter how you look, or if you end up sobbing with gratitude at the end of practice- it’s just you, and maybe a a pet or two, and they don’t judge 😉
And speaking of pets, my cats love doing yoga with me (I’m pretty sure cats invented yoga anyway lol). Calcifer’s great at making sure I hold a solid plank. He lays on the mat right underneath me, so if I fall out I’ll smoosh him! He demonstrates Down Cat (more often known as Down Dog ) beautifully and has even sat on my hips as I’m in Bridge pose (weighted Bridge anyone?). And when I’m in Tree pose he sits right under me, so if I fall out I’ll step on him. So far I’ve never fallen out of a balancing pose when Calcifer’s been there to “spot” me.
Ginko prefers to stay off the mat and practice his savasana safely out from underfoot 😉
Yoga has many proven benefits including:
- Stress reduction
- Anxiety relief
- Helps manage depression
- Decreases lower back pain (and I can attest to this!)
- Improves quality of life for those with chronic conditions or acute illnesses
- Stimulates brain function
- Helps prevent heart disease
Check out this article from Medical News Today for more details about the research backed benefits of yoga.
I know I’ve benefited immensely by maintaining a regular yoga practice. I’m calmer and more centered. I’m able to keep my back pain under control. I’m stronger and more flexible, and I can breath deeper and more fully. I’m more aware of my body and my balance has greatly improved.
Do yourself a favor and look into yoga on YouTube. Adriene’s great and has something for everyone, from absolute beginner to advanced yogi, 10 minute quickies to hour long total body stretches. And if she’s not just right for you there are tons of other choices and styles of yoga and yoga instructors. Some of my other favorite channels include The Yoga Ranger Studio, Yoga with Kassandra, and SarahBethYoga.
See you on the mat!
~Michelle
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