Yes! What is yoga? Why do we need it? What are the benefits? Why is it so boring??
Yoga is an ancient practice that combines physical postures, breath control, meditation, and ethical principles to promote overall well-being. It enhances flexibility, strength, and balance while reducing stress and improving mental clarity. Originating in India thousands of years ago, yoga encourages mindfulness and self-awareness, fostering a deeper connection between the body, mind, and spirit. Practiced by millions worldwide, it offers a holistic approach to health, accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels.
That is what google has to say about yoga. The following is my personal experience....
KAREN AND YOGA
'Asana', a body posture.
Before deciding that yoga wasn't for me, I had tried various styles with different instructors and never really enjoyed it. So, how did I resolve this issue? I became a licensed yoga instructor. Like in most continuing ed fitness classes, we introduced ourselves and shared "why we are here".
In true Karen form, always making friends with my truth (insert sarcastic comment), I properly introduced myself to the room of bright-eyed, yoga-looking folk with whom I would be spending the next 48 hours. What was I hoping to learn this particular weekend? Welllll I didn't hold back when explaining that I didn't really like yoga and blah blah blah was most likely all they heard. Their faces. Like I had just slapped them all individually.
As luck would have it, I did make a few friends that weekend and walked away with a better understanding of all things yoga. Mostly, that we are all yogis (one who practices yoga) and that it is a practice. It's an ongoing learning process. There are over 2000 different yoga forms. Yoga can be very mindful and meditative or high energy and constantly moving.
Yoga can be restful or energizing and also exhausting.
Still not convinced you need yoga in your life? Neither was I, so I made it my own.
MY YOGA
I've not answered my own question yet....why is yoga so boring? I was and continue to be determined to find ways to keep people mentally returning to their yoga practice. The practice of clearing your mind so you can concentrate on your breathing and/or poses is not as easy as it may seem. Go ahead, try it! Clear your mind for 10 seconds. If you start drifting into your grocery list or your shoe laces, start over. For me, this is my biggest struggle with yoga. My solution?? So glad you asked! Breathing is the answer. Breath work, called Pranayama in Sanskrit, is actually an important part of yoga. When teaching a class, I strongly encourage audible breathing. Most are a bit shy about participating at first. Many who take a yoga class are very serious, but I just can't. If you lose your pose and tip over, I will probably giggle. Farting in the back of the room?? This happens frequently......I may or may not keep it together. Audible breathing becomes second nature and if you "get it wrong", so what?? It's your practice.
I have mandated yoga with me for my competitors when close to their contest date as a way to drop cortisol. I will occasionally throw in some poses after a training session. If you have a body part giving you trouble, I probably have a yoga fix.
Do I still find yoga boring?? Sometimes, yes. That's okay though, I do it anyway because I've learned that although I live a very exciting and fun-filled life (no sarcasm), it's okay and necessary at times to back off a bit, slow down and breathe.
May you find even a sliver of time this holiday season to breathe. Namaste.
Love and light--
Karen
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