Finding Yoga
“Yoga is not a work-out, it is a work-in. And this is the point of spiritual practice; to make us teachable; to open up our hearts and focus our awareness so that we can know what we already know and be who we already are.” -Rolf Gates
My first yoga class was such a joke. I think I was 11 and I could not sit still. I thought that I could do all the poses perfectly without even trying, and although I was much more flexible back then, I most definitely could not. The more I practice now, the more I realize that even slightest alterations make poses so much harder. Even the “simple” and “resting” posses require strength, focus, and patients.
I am now obsessed with yoga. I love it. I love the way it looks, the way it feels, the mental and physical strength it requires. I love the soreness in my shoulder and back the following day. I love that it is accepting of everyone and that nobody is born with magical yogi powers. I love that it is very much individual but at the same time build off of the energy of those surrounding you.
Often when I talk about yoga to people who don’t really practice it I get a mix of reasons why they prefer to exercise in other ways. That is totally fine, and I get it. However, the more I practice the more I realize how many different types of yoga classes there are. I like to do heated baptist, heated flow, or regular flow. Heated is not for everyone and some heated classes are way more intense than others. Anyway, what I am trying to say is that just because you took one yoga class and didn’t like it doesn’t mean yoga is not your thing. That is like trying one vegetable and saying you don’t like veggies, I have taken yoga classes that I have loved with my whole heart and others that I couldn’t wait to leave. I have been in classes where I literally just stayed in Savasana the entire class. For those of you who don’t know what that is, essentially I just laid down on my back for an hour while everyone around me flowed through different movements.
If you are really interested in yoga but needing some advice on how to start….I got you!
What do you need?
Yoga Mat
Yoga Towel (if you are doing a heated class)
Yoga Blocks
Yoga Strap
You pretty much just need a mat. Almost every studio that I have practiced at had yoga straps, blocks, bolsters and anything else you could need for people to borrow. I think that if your going to seriously give yoga a good try you should invest in a good mat. I like doing hot yoga, so I got a Yellow Willow yoga mat so I didn’t need a mat and a yoga towel. Plus I just think they have the most beautiful and colorful mats.
Where should you go?
That depends. I live in an area where there are a bunch of different studios all walking distance from my house. So I went around to a couple of them and tried out their new yogi special. I recommend taking advantage of these specials. DO NOT sign up for a special during a time when you are overly busy. Some will be one week of unlimited free yoga, others will be 30 days of yoga for $30. Before sighing up make sure, that you know you will be able to go to classes and really try it out! You probably won’t love every class you go to but try them all out, you may be surprised at which ones you vibe with.
My other piece of advice would be go in with an open mind. You definitely will find all walks of life when you go into a yoga studio. This is such a beautiful thing. There are only a few places I can think of where all walks of life come together to be one. Appreciate this. At least where I practice, there is a feeling of peace and love everywhere. The energy is unlike anything else I have experienced. People do not judge you. Nobody cares what you can or can’t do. It is a safe place where you do what serves you best.
Not ready for the studio yet?
That’s is totally fine!! There are many books and online teacher/classes you can do and many of them are free. I have a couple of books by Baron Baptist and Namaslay by Candace Moore is an awesome one! For youtube yogis I love Boho Beautiful and if you are looking for a workout, she definitely leaves me feeling sore. Yoga With Adriene is a wonderful place to start she has so many videos and they are very well done.
“Yoga is not just repetition of few postures - it is more about the exploration and discovery of the subtle energies of life.” -Amit Ray
Anyway, a lot has happened since that first yoga class. I have learned to LOVE YOGA. I even want to be a teacher one day! And to the people who think yoga is super easy, come to my class I will happily kick your butt. But seriously, it is as easy or as hard as you want to make it. I hope this post inspires some people to try yoga out or helps some people get a better understanding for what the practice truly is about.
The light and the teacher in me honors and thanks the light and the teacher in you. Namaste!
Love Always,
Casey
