Yoga for All
I first “found” yoga as a sophomore in high school.
At the time I was a long distance runner, swimmer, and gymnast and thought yoga might complement these activities. I can still remember the first yoga class I attended with a cross-country teammate. Together, we went to a 26&2 (Bikram style) class in a yellow room that was 104° and incredibly humid. I was sweating immediately.
As we began the warm-up, it seemed like everyone around me knew the movements, shapes, and sequence except for me! I began to follow the people around me and listen closely to the instructor for the breathing and movement cues.
With time my fears around what I was doing and the shapes I was coming into began to fade. I started to connect more deeply with my breath, the thoughts surfacing, and developed an awareness of my body in space. It felt like an active meditation that was incredibly involved yet intuitive. I loved it.
After class, a hoard of sweaty yogis went outside to shower off in the hose and sip down as much water as possible. People were smiling and laughing, asking about each other‘s lives and families or suggesting a beach hangout that weekend. It was clear that this was a closely knit community built initially through yoga that now extended off the mat -
How beautiful!
I began going more regularly and saw the benefits that yoga had on my athletic performance and mental health. I slept more deeply, experienced fewer aches during my runs, and felt a sense of calmness ripple throughout my day.
The practice continued as I went to college, traveled, interned, and later graduated. My yoga practice has been my longest and most meaningful relationship and connects me back to myself consistently.
As a student and now yoga teacher of over four years, I believe wholeheartedly in the value and benefits of a yoga practice. Whether your practice is extremely active or something more restorative, there’s a deep need for time on the mat to help balance our often hectic lives. I advocate everyone to try and experience yoga and be open to the multitude of benefits that it offers.
At the time I was a long distance runner, swimmer, and gymnast and thought yoga might complement these activities. I can still remember the first yoga class I attended with a cross-country teammate. Together, we went to a 26&2 (Bikram style) class in a yellow room that was 104° and incredibly humid. I was sweating immediately.
As we began the warm-up, it seemed like everyone around me knew the movements, shapes, and sequence except for me! I began to follow the people around me and listen closely to the instructor for the breathing and movement cues.
With time my fears around what I was doing and the shapes I was coming into began to fade. I started to connect more deeply with my breath, the thoughts surfacing, and developed an awareness of my body in space. It felt like an active meditation that was incredibly involved yet intuitive. I loved it.
After class, a hoard of sweaty yogis went outside to shower off in the hose and sip down as much water as possible. People were smiling and laughing, asking about each other‘s lives and families or suggesting a beach hangout that weekend. It was clear that this was a closely knit community built initially through yoga that now extended off the mat -
How beautiful!
I began going more regularly and saw the benefits that yoga had on my athletic performance and mental health. I slept more deeply, experienced fewer aches during my runs, and felt a sense of calmness ripple throughout my day.
The practice continued as I went to college, traveled, interned, and later graduated. My yoga practice has been my longest and most meaningful relationship and connects me back to myself consistently.
As a student and now yoga teacher of over four years, I believe wholeheartedly in the value and benefits of a yoga practice. Whether your practice is extremely active or something more restorative, there’s a deep need for time on the mat to help balance our often hectic lives. I advocate everyone to try and experience yoga and be open to the multitude of benefits that it offers.