This week I have a trial membership to a yoga studio that is VERY near my house. I've gone to two classes so far. After the first, I told KJ about it and she asked, "So can you stand it?!", and Willa and Wyatt have laughingly told each other, "Guess what? My mom does yoga." I thought that was a pretty generous assessment after only having done one class in the last year or more. I am so not good at yoga. I decided I should try it because I have completely neglected my flexibility since--oh, maybe high school. So here is what has happened so far.
I did the first class with a friend from church, and it was pretty nice, except that the next day I was sore in such deep places I wondered if a virus was coming on. Then I did another class today that nearly convinced me I should drop this whole idea. There are so many poses I know the names of but I just don't "get". Even when I was getting individualized attention about what to do I just looked at the leg they were talking about and wondered how in the world I was going to get it to move the way the teacher said. I was in the wrong place in the room to see everyone too, so it was especially hard to translate left/right spatial words with my motions. My spatial talent is VERY visual. So I would look at one person (sometimes getting corrected for not gazing in the right direction) and kind of see what they were doing and try to do it and then I'd later get a glimpse of someone else and find I was completely clueless. So I spent the whole hour being slightly frustrated with my body and rather impatient with the whole taking an hour to stretch in painful ways thing that made me understand exactly what Kirsta meant. Then at the end during the relaxation part the teacher said something that changed it for me.
Yoga teacher: "Now take that patience and peace and well-being you have collected from your practice of yoga today and let it wash over you."
My mind: "Patience? You gotta be kidding!"
Yoga teacher: silence.
My mind: "Peace? Ha!"
Yoga teacher: silence.
My mind: "Patience.....peace.....well-being......"
Yoga teacher: silence
My mind: "Patience....peace....well-being....I kind of like this....."
I'm thinking I'll go again tomorrow. And maybe I'll check out a book on yoga. I have questions about some of the poses, but I doubt any book will answer my burning question about why there are so many skinny blond girls who have decided to study Sanskrit and become flexibility queens in such a foreign way. It seems like I've seen them every place I've lived. Except maybe Utah. Do they even do yoga in Utah? I'm pretty sure Mormons can do it too.
I did the first class with a friend from church, and it was pretty nice, except that the next day I was sore in such deep places I wondered if a virus was coming on. Then I did another class today that nearly convinced me I should drop this whole idea. There are so many poses I know the names of but I just don't "get". Even when I was getting individualized attention about what to do I just looked at the leg they were talking about and wondered how in the world I was going to get it to move the way the teacher said. I was in the wrong place in the room to see everyone too, so it was especially hard to translate left/right spatial words with my motions. My spatial talent is VERY visual. So I would look at one person (sometimes getting corrected for not gazing in the right direction) and kind of see what they were doing and try to do it and then I'd later get a glimpse of someone else and find I was completely clueless. So I spent the whole hour being slightly frustrated with my body and rather impatient with the whole taking an hour to stretch in painful ways thing that made me understand exactly what Kirsta meant. Then at the end during the relaxation part the teacher said something that changed it for me.
Yoga teacher: "Now take that patience and peace and well-being you have collected from your practice of yoga today and let it wash over you."
My mind: "Patience? You gotta be kidding!"
Yoga teacher: silence.
My mind: "Peace? Ha!"
Yoga teacher: silence.
My mind: "Patience.....peace.....well-being......"
Yoga teacher: silence
My mind: "Patience....peace....well-being....I kind of like this....."
I'm thinking I'll go again tomorrow. And maybe I'll check out a book on yoga. I have questions about some of the poses, but I doubt any book will answer my burning question about why there are so many skinny blond girls who have decided to study Sanskrit and become flexibility queens in such a foreign way. It seems like I've seen them every place I've lived. Except maybe Utah. Do they even do yoga in Utah? I'm pretty sure Mormons can do it too.
Maybe if I did yoga with you in the room I'd like it. I could use more patience and peace...
ReplyDeleteOur RS in Alpine does beginning yoga 1 day every week. AND Elaine Kester hosts a more advanced class at her home that people like Shirley Adolphson go to. I haven't tried either one. My knees hurt even thinking of the Lotus position. I've been hoping that meditation will suffice. But after your blog, I am thinking of opening and even watching the beginning yoga video I bought years ago. Have fun! Hugs, Mom
ReplyDeleteI would love to see you do just one thing that was difficult for you! Just kidding. Sounds like me doing pilates...didn't get it, and didn;t stick with it. Hope you stick with yoga!
ReplyDeleteI would love to see you do just one thing that wasn't graceful! And mormon yoga? One of my buddies from BYU teaches yoga RIGHT IN HAPPY VALLEY. Imagine that.
ReplyDeleteI love yoga! I was apart of a WSU study of the benefits of Iyengar yoga on breast cancer patients taking Herceptin. After the 6 month study, I discovered I loved it so much I continued "practicing" and spent 3 hours a week or more in class. It's amazing and the benefits are wonderful. I still can't believe what I was able to make my 5'10" all legs body to do. I don't practice as much as I should, but your post has inspired me to join another class.
ReplyDelete