Welcome to the first in my new series, Yoga Monday. This post also appears on my other blog, Yoga Emergence, along with a number of other articles about yoga and teaching yoga.
A couple of days ago, I offered a free Introduction to Yoga
class in order to provide an opportunity for all those folks whose new
year's resolution list includes "Take up yoga!" As expected for the
first week of January, there was a great turnout, so many people, in
fact, that we ran out of props for the first time ever. I'm offering
this class again on January 18 (more info here) so if you are in the area, please consider attending!
The
folks who attended this special class had a wide range of experiences
with yoga, including several who had never tried it, but also more than a
few who had years of experience. Some were looking for a new teacher
or, in a couple of cases, were just in town for the holidays and away
from their regular class, so dropping in for a visit. It was an
interesting mix of people and I enjoyed talking to the new folks about
what brought them to the study of yoga.
It
is often the case that the issue that brings us to yoga is not the one
that keeps us there. In my own case, I was gradually introduced to the
practice through the efforts of a couple of fitness instructors who
were, themselves, taking yoga lessons and trying the moves out during
the stretching sessions at the end of class. I liked those parts of
their classes a lot and tried out an actual yoga class, a free "Intro to
Yoga" session offered by the local hospital. I liked it a lot, too, but
didn't think I had time to add another "work-out routine" to my already
busy schedule.
Even
though I was not yet 40, I had a lot of aches and pains, particularly
in my low back, and I finally consulted a chiropractor who advised
doing what I recognized as a move that we had practiced in that intro
class--a simple reclining twist. A light bulb went off. I realized that
yoga was more than just another form of exercise. Here was a method that
might actually make me feel better.
And,
so, I sought out a teacher, which wasn't easy in those days and in that
place (the late 1980s in Indianapolis) but I found her and commenced
upon the more organized portion of my yoga journey. It was to be many
years before my study and practice helped me to fully deal with my lower
back pain, but I quickly learned that yoga made me feel better in many
ways--not just physically, but emotionally and, even, spiritually.
If
you practice yoga, what brought you to the practice? If you've
practiced for awhile, have your reasons changed? I would be interested
in hearing your story!
Namaste.
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