When something clicks

If any of you follow me on Twitter, you’ll know that I’ve been getting into yoga recently. I’ve done yoga a handful of times before, but it’s never become anything of a habit for me. A couple months ago, I found out that one of my coworkers does yoga regularly at a studio in Cambridge. She sent me a Groupon and I decided to buy one of the passes on sale so that I could check the place out, and maybe find a form of exercise that I actually enjoy.

Well, I did just that! I fell in love right away. The first class I took was sweaty (it’s hot yoga–the room is usually heated to 95 degrees Fahrenheit), extremely difficult (my coworker said that day happened to be more intense than usual as far as practice goes), and immensely rewarding. My body was shaking, I was surrounded by a puddle of sweat, and I realized that this was something I could get behind.

Since then, I’ve gone to probably 8 classes. I try to go two to three times a week, sometimes on weekends and somtimes before work. So far, I still love it. I love feeling almost every muscle in my body at work, and I love the mindfulness required of me. I have to pay attention to how every part of me feels, and how my breathing helps to move me through the poses. I have become much more mindful of my body outside of class. My posture is improving, I feel more confident about the way my body looks and moves, and I feel much more grounded in the world around me.

This all may sound stereotypical and like a bunch of hooplah, but yoga has given me an awareness of and appreciation for my body that I have never experiencced before.

Last night’s class was another turning point for me. Something within me just clicked. I could hold poses longer and my form was better. I felt rooted into my mat and found myself modifying less. My body felt stronger than it ever had before and I was filled with a combination of joy, pride, and love for myself. I know I still have a long way to go, and that perfection is unattainable, but this is a big step in the right direction. I can’t wait to see my body continue to progress and hope that my mind follows suit.