Why I Yoga

Hi,
It hasn't stopped raining here for the last 4 days. The winter 'blahs' have set in, making me feel as gray as the weather. Getting out of bed is nothing I look forward too, even though sleeping most nights is equally bad. The endless damp days start to affect my bones and my spirit, so I Yoga.

This is coming up on my third year of trying yoga to improve my body and mind. I hate it. It is slow, mechanical, frustrating and everything I am not... Which is all the more reason to do it. When people say 'I'm not flexible, I could never do Yoga', my favorite instructor, June, says 'that is why your definitely  SHOULD do Yoga'. She's right. June is right about a lot of things she repeats in her classes on a regular basis. Some of my favorite June-isms are 'if we rest, we rust' and 'use it, or lose it'. June is 63 years old and puts us all to shame. She looks about 40, thin and wiry but strong as hell and always smiling. I want to grow up to be June. Every time I take one of her classes I come out stronger and taller and in a great frame of mind...no matter where I started off in my day, it is always at a better place after a yoga class with June.

My yoga is mine. That's the good thing about it. I realize that I am not in anyone else's body, other than the one I live and breath in...so why worry about what the guy on the next mat over is able to accomplish. I do want I can with what I've got and that's all you can do in Yoga. Once you get your head wrapped around that concept, life is a whole lot more fun in Yoga class. I have been able to improve. Every so often I try a pose, that three years ago I would have said 'never' to, now I set myself up, and 'blink', the pose happens. Lots of  yoga poses may never transpire, but that doesn't mean you don't try and get there. The journey is the practice. You never really ever arrive at a destination. There is always further to go in your Yoga practice.... But if you never start the journey, how do you ever expect to get anywhere?

Bend, flex, twist, stretch, moan, groan, fall over, start again... It's all good for me. I still don't really like it but I am liking the results. I will never be as flexible as June,or as strong as Sam, or as lithe as Cheryl but that's okay. I can pop up into a perfect headstand in the middle of the room. I think that's pretty cool. I certainly couldn't do that before I started in with yoga. It doesn't get me any awards or free coupons but I do get the occasional applause in class. It keeps me coming back. Maybe I need to develop performance yoga? Wait, isn't that called "Cirque du Soliel"? Oh well.....

Nameste

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