At the moment I’m feeling reflective as I rejoice a significant milestone – 20 years of training yoga!
Hello pals, I hope you had a beautiful weekend. Ours was low-key and we noticed Riverdance, which was every thing.
Whereas I used to be at scorching yoga final week, I spotted that I’ve been training yoga for TWENTY YEARS. It hit me fairly exhausting and I couldn’t consider how a lot life I’ve been by since I used to be first launched to yoga. Strikes, deployments, infants, highs, and lows, yoga has been a reasonably constant a part of my life. I’ve cried throughout savasana, mastered sure poses, struggled with others, spent 90% of sure lessons in baby’s pose, and discovered to actually be current and concentrate on my breath.
It’s been 20 years of unrolling my mat, connecting with my breath, and flowing by sequences that problem and rework my thoughts and physique. It’s exhausting to consider that 20 years have handed since I first found yoga, and whereas I can’t do any loopy methods and I’m not probably the most versatile bear, this follow has formed my life in numerous methods. So, in honor of this milestone, I need to share with you a number of the classes I’ve discovered, and the rewards I’ve reaped over the previous 20 years of training yoga.
(Maisey additionally desires me to let you know that right now is her birthday! OF COURSE she’s getting a doggy cake and birthday tune)
20 years of training yoga
My introduction to yoga:
My very top quality was a Rodney Yee yoga DVD I picked up at Goal on a whim. I used to be in faculty, feeling the stressors of a dramatic relationship and fixed homework deadlines, and figured I’d give it a whirl. Immediately, I used to be drawn in by the sense of calm it introduced me. I additionally beloved Rodney Yee’s clear, concise instruction and his skill to information college students to a deeper understanding of their our bodies and the follow of yoga.
Wanting again, this was the right approach to get began: it was zero stress (as a result of I used to be solo, at residence, in my mother’s lounge). I began to follow yoga often, principally earlier than mattress, and finally transitioned into studio lessons. Over the previous 20 years, I’ve taken a whole lot of yoga lessons in studios everywhere in the US, from California to Orlando and plenty of spots in between.
Sorts of yoga I’ve tried:
There are such a lot of various kinds of yoga on the market, and each presents a novel and difficult expertise.
Listed here are a number of sorts of yoga and what makes them so particular:
Vinyasa Yoga:
Vinyasa yoga is a dynamic fashion of yoga that focuses on linking breath with motion. This flow-based follow is ideal for many who need to get their coronary heart fee up and sweat it out on the mat. Courses could be barely heat, or heated.
Restorative Yoga:
In case you’re on the lookout for a extra stress-free and restorative follow, restorative yoga is the best way to go. This light follow makes use of props and long-held poses to launch pressure and promote deep leisure.
Yoga Nidra:
it is a kind of yoga follow that’s also known as “yogic sleep”. In contrast to conventional yoga lessons, the place you progress by a sequence of postures, in Yoga Nidra, you lay down in a snug place and are guided by a deep leisure and meditation. This follow is designed that will help you enter a state of deep leisure, the place you may launch pressure, stress, and nervousness. Yoga Nidra could be extremely highly effective, not just for bodily leisure, but in addition for psychological and emotional leisure. It’s a good way to recharge your batteries, scale back stress and nervousness, and enhance your total well-being. So, in case you’re on the lookout for a approach to loosen up and unwind, I extremely suggest giving Yoga Nidra a strive!
Ashtanga Yoga:
Ashtanga yoga is a conventional fashion of yoga that follows a set sequence of poses. This difficult follow is nice for many who need to construct power, flexibility, and focus.
Bikram Yoga:
In case you’re a fan of scorching yoga, Bikram yoga is the final word problem. This intense follow is completed in a heated room and follows a particular sequence of 26 poses. That is what actually received me hooked on yoga, and I’d drive virtually two hours once we lived in Valdosta to take a Bikram class. My present favourite fashion is a mix of Vinyasa and Bikram, in a heated and humid room.
Yin Yoga:
Yin yoga is a slow-paced fashion of yoga that focuses on holding poses for longer durations of time. This follow helps to enhance flexibility and improve circulation, making it good for many who need to work on their mobility.
Hatha yoga:
this a conventional type of yoga that focuses on bodily postures (asanas), respiration strategies (pranayama), and meditation. The follow is designed to stability the physique and thoughts, and create a way of concord and inside peace. Hatha Yoga lessons usually transfer at a slower tempo than different types of yoga, permitting practitioners to concentrate on the alignment of the postures and their breath. Hatha Yoga is a superb choice for rookies or anybody trying to enhance their bodily health, flexibility, and total well-being.
It doesn’t matter what kind of yoga you select, keep in mind to hearken to your physique and honor your limits. With common follow, you’ll be capable to discover your movement and take your yoga follow to the following stage. I additionally suggest attempting out a wide range of kinds; you’ll discover those that talk to you and that you just get pleasure from probably the most!
Advantages I’ve observed from training yoga often:
Not solely does yoga assist to extend flexibility and power, nevertheless it additionally has quite a few advantages on your total well-being.
Reduces stress and nervousness:
Yoga gives an area so that you can join along with your breath and quiet your thoughts, which might help to cut back stress and nervousness. As somebody who’s battled nervousness up to now, I do know firsthand the advantages of incorporating yoga into your wellness routine. Yoga gives a secure area to attach along with your breath, launch pressure out of your physique, and quiet your thoughts. By training yoga often, you may study to handle stress and nervousness extra successfully, which may result in a extra balanced and fulfilling life. Moreover, sure yoga poses, akin to ahead folds and inversions, can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to calm the physique and scale back emotions of tension.
Improves flexibility and stability:
With common follow, yoga might help to extend flexibility, enhance stability, and probably stop accidents. That is particularly necessary as we age and our our bodies turn into much less limber. It additionally includes getting on and off the mat, which is a superb ability to keep up as we age. Most of the actions are purposeful and require core power.
Strengthens the physique:
Many yoga poses require power and stability, which might help to construct muscle and improve muscular endurance. Plus, yoga is a low-impact type of train, making it nice for many who need to keep away from high-impact exercises.
Promotes mindfulness and self-awareness:
By focusing in your breath and physique throughout yoga follow, you may develop a larger sense of mindfulness and self-awareness. This might help to enhance total temper and well-being.
Connects you to a neighborhood:
Training yoga often might help you to attach with like-minded people and construct a supportive neighborhood. This may be particularly necessary for many who might really feel remoted or disconnected. One thing I discovered throughout instructor coaching is that typically changes are the one bodily contact that some individuals obtain for all the day. That was highly effective for me and a reminder of how a lot we want connection and human contact to thrive.
My expertise with yoga instructor coaching:
Selfishly, I did yoga teacher training just for me. I by no means actually had the intention of instructing – I taught often once we lived in Valdosta however have solely subbed right here and there since then – however needed to to deepen my very own private follow and study as a lot as I may about yoga.
In case you’re contemplating instructor coaching, listed here are a number of the superb issues you may expertise:
Deepen your follow:
Yoga instructor coaching is a chance to take your follow to the following stage. You’ll study new poses, refine your alignment, and enrich your understanding of the follow.
Be taught in regards to the philosophy of yoga:
Yoga is greater than only a bodily follow. In instructor coaching, you’ll study in regards to the historical past, philosophy, and non secular elements of yoga. I particularly loved studying the “Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga” and studying about primordial meditation.
Share your love of yoga with others:
As a licensed yoga instructor, you’ll have the chance to share your love of yoga with others and assist them to find the transformative energy of the follow.
Be part of a supportive neighborhood:
Yoga instructor coaching is a good way to attach with like-minded people and construct a supportive neighborhood. You’ll be surrounded by others who share your ardour for yoga and who will help you all through your journey.
Problem your self:
Yoga instructor coaching is usually a difficult expertise, nevertheless it’s additionally extremely rewarding. You’ll push your self bodily, mentally, and emotionally, and are available out on the opposite facet with new perspective and a stronger follow.
There ya have it, pals! 20 years of training yoga has been a tremendous journey stuffed with challenges, development, and transformation. By means of this follow, I’ve discovered to attach with my breath, calm my thoughts, and hearken to my physique. I’ve gained power, flexibility, and resilience, each on and off the mat. I’ve met unbelievable pals and had the chance to study from a number of the highest lecturers. And most significantly, I’ve discovered to domesticate a way of inside peace and well-being that, together with my religion, has carried me by life’s ups and downs.
In case you’re new to yoga or have been training for some time, I encourage you to remain dedicated to your follow, and permit it to information you by yourself journey of development and transformation. <3
Are you a yoga fan or not a lot? How usually do you follow? What’s your favourite fashion?
