By Sarah Corneau
What can a Yoga pose do for you? Well, for starters, it can make you laugh. Yes, if the name of the pose makes you crack a smile, just try getting into some of the poses! The Five Pointed Star, Goddess, Lizard, Downward Facing Dog – some of the easier forms, but fun none the less! Maybe they just feel great or maybe they are extremely hard and make you laugh out of pure exhaustion; either way, a pose can make you laugh.
A yoga pose can also challenge you, help you become aware of the different parts of your body, help you rid yourself of stress and, most importantly, remind you to breath and just be present. Of course I love the challenge and the stretching, but what I am finding has been most therapeutic is the fact that when I open that door, sit on that mat and begin my movements, I am making decisions that are best and most appropriate for me. Think about your day and the decisions you make. Most of them are based on what is best for your family, for your company, for your kids. This is life and that is okay; better than okay, actually and I am grateful for all of those things. However, for that one hour, I get to think about myself and what is best for just me. It is a time to be silent, to overcome, to be strong and to reflect and/or prepare for the day.
In an effort to continue down this path of an active, healthy lifestyle, I have incorporated some additional workouts into my week, in addition to my three day a week runs. Yoga is one of them and it has been amazing. A few weeks ago, I brought the kids to the gym with me. They are always asking me where it is and what I do there so I figured, why not! They played in the child care room while I took my class and when I finished, I took them to the bar for a fruit smoothie. After having that hour to myself, getting to sit there with them in that environment, nice and relaxed, really completed my yoga experience. As promised, I then took them on an official tour of the gym and explained the different things I did there. Now four weeks into it, the kids come with me once a week and we all look forward to it!
~ Namaste ~
im a big fitness enthusiast too, so i love reading your blog. maybe you’ll like mine too
keep going!
Thank you so much! That is really great to hear! To support both my desire to continue this healthy, active lifestyle for myself and my family and to support a fellow blogger, I will definitely check out your blog.
Until next time, stay healthy, strong, happy and keep blogging!
How did you get that photo of me? –:)
Maybe we will all look like that with a little Yoga in our lives!
I was just talking with friends over the weekend about starting yoga to releive stress that I have from every day life! just reading this one must be a sign I need to start! =)
Jocelyn, it has been a great release (or escape may be a better word)! Between the quiet, attention to detail, use of your strength and the feeling of a good long stretch, I highly recommend it! Gentle Yoga is a great way to ease into it and then, before you know it, you will be joining power or athletic Yoga!