A Love Letter to Yoga

At 57, my health pursuits have ebbed and flowed over time. I grew up as a tomboy, with a lot of my childhood days spent exterior driving my bike, operating, enjoying tennis and swimming. Later, I joined softball leagues and my highschool volleyball staff. Thoughts you, I used to be by no means “good” at sports activities, however I relished the sensation of transferring, attempting and enhancing. 

However as I grew older—bought married, had youngsters—my ardour for health took a again seat. Positive, I’d joined a couple of gyms over time to remain wholesome. I hopped on the treadmill, lifted weights and took some aerobics courses. I even tried a couple of yoga periods at our native YMCA, however I all the time felt like I used to be doing it “unsuitable.” I wasn’t a fitness center rat and didn’t get pleasure from train the place I felt like I used to be simply going by the motions. My “get-‘er-done” angle put health on my to-do record, retaining me comparatively wholesome however not sparking any ardour or long-term dedication.

Then alongside got here yoga. Or, as I wish to name it, yog-ahhhh—that feel-good exercise I do to revive physique, thoughts and spirit. 

A life out of steadiness

I impulsively began in August 2021, after staying at residence many of the yr as a result of pandemic. I felt pressured, I had cabin fever and I missed transferring my physique in methods I loved. My native yoga studio (shout out to Pink Solar Yoga in Winter Springs, Florida!) supplied a “30 Days for $30” particular, so I assumed I’d give it a strive. I’d pushed by the studio hundreds of occasions over the past 15 years however by no means ventured inside. Fairly frankly, I used to be a bit intimidated—not by the studio, however by my self-limiting beliefs that I had “tried and failed” at yoga earlier than, that I used to be too outdated, that I used to be out of practice, that I wasn’t versatile sufficient. Blah, blah, blah.

As an entrepreneur, I had the flexibleness (no pun meant) to set my very own schedule. But, over time, my days slowly advanced into “extra work, much less play,” with the road usually blurring between enterprise and private time. The pandemic solely exacerbated the scenario as we sheltered in place, noticed our communities in lockdown and watched journey take a nose-dive. It felt like there was nothing left to do however make money working from home. In order that’s precisely what I did. 

As stress, burnout and cabin fever gripped me, I knew I wanted extra steadiness in my life. I occurred to note Pink Solar’s “try-me” promotion and grabbed onto it like a lifeline.

I pushed my emotions of self-doubt apart as I lugged my outdated, dusty yoga mat to my first light yoga class. 

I used to be hooked that first week—and it’s solely remodeled my workday.

Yoga, you had me at namaste

My love affair with yoga started at my top notch, as I used to be greeted by the soothing sounds of wind chimes blowing within the breeze exterior the studio. I walked within the entrance door to find not a brightly lit fitness center foyer, however a peaceable, intimate zen-den. The delicate lighting, hushed voices and comfy sofa welcomed me like an outdated pal. The yoga teacher warmly greeted me and launched herself, inviting any questions.

I arrange my mat in the back of the room and, for the following 60 minutes, melted into self-care. The deep breaths stuffed me with perspective and contentment. The light motion felt as stress-free as a therapeutic massage. And the inward focus introduced mindfulness to my usually distracted monkey mind. 

Over the past seven months of the pandemic, I’ve found this studio has been my go-to supply for stress aid. And aside from quick, each day walks and occasional bike rides, yoga supplied common bodily exercise. I went from no yoga observe and no common train routine to constantly going to the studio three to 4 occasions every week since final August. On lots of the days I don’t attend in individual, I observe yoga at residence, both alone or with on-line courses.

Pivoting to a brand new workday routine

Throughout my 30-day promotional interval, I attempted quite a lot of courses, instructors, days and occasions. Whereas I loved each class and liked all of the instructors, I discovered that, for me, a late afternoon time slot labored greatest and allowed me to stay to an everyday routine. 

Previous to falling in love with yoga, I might recurrently work till 6 p.m. and steadily proceed after dinner. However since my yoga love affair started, I’ve modified my each day routine to cease working at 4 p.m. so I can attend the 4:30 p.m. courses Monday by Thursday. This additionally enforces a strict “stop-time” the place I flip off my work-focused thoughts and embrace this gradual, nice wind-down to my enterprise day. When left to my very own gadgets, I do yoga at residence once I really feel prefer it, with no predictable rhythm to my schedule. However having a selected class begin time forces me to indicate up and observe recurrently. And there’s one thing to be mentioned about ending the workday early, leaving your (residence) workplace and having one thing satisfying to sit up for. 

Plus, my new yoga observe reignited my dedication to (and keenness for) health—on my phrases, as a middle-aged girl. I don’t really feel the necessity to “do it proper.” The fabulous instructors guarantee everyone seems to be training safely, providing modifications for extra of a problem or to take it down a notch. As one among my yoga instructors factors out, “In the event you can breathe, you are able to do yoga.” It really is a observe for everybody—for folks of all ages and skills.

And the fixed reminders to not compete with our yoga neighbors at school—and even with ourselves—conveys self-acceptance and inclusion. The unofficial studio motto is to “do what you are able to do at this time” with out worrying about what you probably did yesterday or final month or 5 years in the past. As an alternative, rejoice what your physique can do, right here, proper now, on this second.

Yoga has turn into my treasured self-care observe that refreshes my physique, thoughts and spirit. And it’s simply as essential (if no more so) as operating a profitable freelance writing enterprise. In truth, it makes me higher at what I do, as I come again from every class feeling revitalized and able to sort out the following day anew. 

Picture by @sennnnnya/Twenty20