A morning with MerryYoga
I'm not a fan of low-intensity workouts. Running has always been my form of exercise. It's a great mental escape and physical workout. I love the competitive nature of it, runner's highs, and the feeling of being sweaty, exhausted, and satisfied after a run. Given my criteria for a good workout, I never considered yoga. To me, yoga was sitting in a room and deep breathing with a bunch of stretching. It sounded like my personal hell.
So the other Saturday, my friend Chrismery invited me to a yoga class she called "The Balance Act." I did consider making up excuses as to why I couldn't go, but I had to show up, which was a big step. I was nervous before the class started. I was sure we would all laugh at my lack of flexibility and basic understanding of yoga. So I went and found a spot in the back of the room.
It was my personal hell. There's nothing inherently wrong with sweating in a yoga class, but I was caught off-guard. Minutes on end of hot yoga and other things I don't remember, aka literally holding stretches for minutes at a time. It took everything in me not to laugh because why do you think my body can do that? But I tried anyway. But then, something happened. At the end of the class, the instructor had us lie down for sound healing. I was present for about three minutes as she guided us, and then my mind completely left my body for a few minutes. This never happens to me. Ever. When I woke up, I felt a sense of calm that I hadn't felt in a while. It was just from those few minutes of not having 5,000 thoughts running through my mind.
I am not a yogi, but I learned a few things from this experience.
The Magic of Breathing
I’m very familiar with breathwork, mostly for meditation and helping with sleep. I never thought of it as something essential for yoga. Hear me out: this was my second time, so it's all almost new to me. But let's talk a bit about breathing—something we often overlook, right?
Those fifteen minutes of focusing on breath during yoga are like some sort of secret weapon. It's not just about clearing the mind and kicking anxiety to the curb; it's like every breath is a reminder of my own superstar potential. It's not just about inhaling and exhaling; it's about using your breath to guide you through each pose and keep you grounded in the moment. I walked out of that class with a fresh appreciation for those deep, soothing breaths.
Self-care for the soul
This was like a spa day for your soul. As soon as you sit on that mat, you are encouraged to leave your worries outside the mat, and—surprise, surprise!—it actually works! I had been doing mental gymnastics all week, and having this as an instruction caught me off guard. I followed, and it was like I took a break from those gymnastics for a bit. It felt really good.
Progress, Not Perfection
Alright, let's talk about my love-hate relationship with being perfect. When I went in, I was so scared I wouldn't be able to do any of the poses and the instructor would be disappointed in me. I put my best foot forward anyway, and I was quick to learn that this isn't about perfection. It's like a fun adventure, and you know what? It's totally fine not to have it all together! Chrismery always reminded us to listen to our bodies and do what feels good, and with that, it brought so much lightness into my day.
Get Ready to Sweat
Yoga is no walk in the park; it's a complete body workout that might catch you off guard. Even if you're not used to hitting the gym, expect to feel the intensity and embrace the challenge. I felt it, and I felt it hard! Be prepared to wobble a bit or take a breather—it's all part of the fun. It's not just about peaceful stretches; it's a journey of building strength, endurance, and, yes, sometimes working up a serious sweat.
You're Exactly Where You Belong
One of the most amazing things I learned is that it's all about embracing where you are on. So, if a pose feels tough or you need to take it easy, no biggie! You'll get there when you're good and ready. It's like a warm hug compared to other workouts where it feels like there's a right or wrong way. It's pretty darn reassuring, right? And what's great is, the instructor reminds you of this as well!
Unplug and Unwind
That last bit of the yoga class, which I recently learned is called Savasana, really caught me off guard! Our lives can be very non-stop sometimes, and we don't realize it. We think that just because we get eight hours of sleep at the end of the day, it's enough. We wake up and start again. This part of the yoga session taught me something different about switching off. You'll realize that sometimes the best way to recharge is to power down and tap into your inner peace, even if it's just for a few minutes. At that moment, it felt like the world had stood still for a second, and I felt absolutely amazing. Those few minutes were one of the best power-downs I've had in a really long time. I might even keep going to yoga!
