Yoga

For years I toyed with the idea of actually taking up yoga. Friends were taking it, and spoke quite highly of it. Books kept coming across my path about it. And for a while it seemed as though everywhere I went I was seeing something that was reminding me to jump in.

Did I? No.

So why not?

Oh, I had a whole list of reasons not to begin. There was the time I enrolled in an exercise class and found myself humiliated by not being able to keep up and feeling as though I ‘looked like a fool’. My limited flexibility. The exercises looked too hard. And where would I ever find the time? This was just a few of the ‘good’ reasons I came up with.

As the years drifted by, occasionally I would still have the urge to give yoga a try. A few times I even took a small step toward beginning. I rented some yoga DVD’s, bought a couple of yoga DVDs and a yoga book.

Each time I began, without fail, I would do it for a few days and then become so sore that I would quite. I would then once again resigning myself to the self-defeating thought that possibly I just wasn’t cut out to do yoga.

Sound familiar?

Finally, one day while I was irritated over the discomfort in my lower back I said ‘You know, Donice, I think it’s time to take another look at yoga.’ Oh, sure the naysayers in my minds balked right away. But I didn’t listen them because I knew I had only a handful of choices on how to deal with the pain I was experiencing. And the only one that was really appealing to me was yoga.

But what yoga format would be best?

I decided I would pull out my Ananda Yoga, Yoga to Awaken the Chakras, DVD that I had used while taking a class. Yes it had been a bit advanced for me but I liked the idea of doing yoga and clearing my chakras at the same time. So I set about finding it. But could I? NO! It was nowhere to be found!

Frustrated that my morning was slipping away from me, I wondered what I would do. Then I recalled a book that my dear sister-in-law had given me many years ago that had yoga poses in it. I had used it once or twice and then shelved it.

As I ran upstairs to collect the book I wondered if I should do it with or without music. I decided to do it with and that my Maharishi Gandharva Veda, Rain Melody, CD would compliment my yoga session nicely.

Back down stairs I unrolled my purple yoga mat, laid the book titled, complete guide to pilates, yoga, meditation & stress relief, next to the mat, turned on the CD and began.

As I looked at the various yoga positions, I decided I would be very gentle with myself. I chose only poses that I knew I could easily do and then gingerly stretched into them. Trusting that my body would let me know when the stretch was complete, I proceed through my customized workout.

Once the workout was completed I took an assessment of my mind and body.

How did I feel?

‘Ah’, I sighed. It was the most blissful experience I had ever had with yoga.

I was hooked!

Since then I have gradually incorporated a few more poses, an invocation, affirmations and connections with Spirit. And my flexibility has increased (No, I can’t do the lotus flower, yet ☻).

Yoga has enriched my days. Providing additional grounding, which in turn allows me to be a better version of me! Yeah! Isn’t that what we all want? To be the best we can possibly be?

So, what would I say to anyone thinking of beginning yoga?

Do it! And if you haven’t found a yoga format yet that resonates with you, keep looking. It’s out there.

Much love to you ~


~Donice