Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Yoga

I went to my very first yoga class at the Y yesterday. I was impressed, and feel certain I will go again. I have to admit, I've never done yoga before, but thought I should take a class to broaden my horizons. I thought I would be doing a lot of just sitting there while listening to music. However I was delightfully mistaken. The instructor had us do several interesting poses, and some of them I couldn't even do or hold for very long as it worked muscles I obviously haven't worked in a while.

I got there right at 5:15, when the class started, and the instructor had already begun. I wasn't sure whether or not to go in, because the lights were dimmed and I didn't want to interrupt. However, I was really looking forward to trying out yoga, so I sucked it up and went in, I'm glad I did. I wasn't sure what the proper protocol is for yoga, but I looked around and saw that everyone had their shoes and socks off. So, I took mine off as well. Luckily the teacher must have recognized I had no idea what to do, so she set up a station for me with a yoga mat, blankets, a pillow looking thing, a block, a belt, and another hanging belt strapped to a bolt in the wall. There was relaxing music playing, and the female instructor talked just how you would imagine a yoga instructor to. It was in a soft, breathy, overly-calm sounding tone. I found it amusing. She would tell the class what pose to do next, and I would have to look around to make sure I was doing it right. Some of my favorite poses where the Supported Shoulder Stand (which I did very well if I might say so myself!), the camel pose, the dolphin pose, Four Limb Staff Pose, Chair Pose, Cat Flow, and my most favorite pose was the Hanging Child Pose. I couldn't find a picture of the Hanging Child Pose, but I'll try to describe it. There were yoga belts hanging off the wall, and we were asked to take one of our blankets and use it as a apron across our hip area. Then we rested our hips in the belt, lifted our feet onto the wall, got into Child Pose, and hung upside down like that in the belts. It was interesting, different, and enjoyable. Where else am I going to get to hang upside down off a wall in my life? The only pose I couldn't do all that well was the Hero Pose and Reclining Hero Pose. It hurt my toes. I have weird feet, I think that's why.

At the end of the class we layed back with our hands extended "heart center" and relaxed. The teacher explained in that breathy voice of hers that these last few moments were ours. Then she came around and put eye pillows over our closed eyes. After we got back into sitting position we placed our hands together at the heart charka, closed our eyes, and bowed our heads and the instructor said "Namaste" to which everyone else responded back, "Namaste." I later learned that Namaste represents the belief that there is a divine spark within everyone and it is located in the heart chakra. One article I read said that "the gesture is an acknowledgment of the soul in one by the soul in another." Another interpretation of Namaste is "The God in me greets the God in you. The Spirit in me meets the same Spirit in you." I think that's beautiful. I also think that yoga will be added as a more relaxing part of my workout routine.

It was great!

6 comments:

Boom said...

Leslie, this sounds fantastic. What a wonderful way to encourage others to do something like this. I wish I belonged to the Y instead of paying a fortune for my small unmanned workout room at the club! Keep up the good work!

Lauren said...

Oh I LOVE yoga! Seriously, at first I was like, "this is a little weird, and is it really helping?" But, after going consistently and getting better at the poses and working on the breathing and using my muscles, I really felt stronger and had better posture and felt more toned! How's that for a long sentence. Ha. Anyway, sounds like the Y membership was a good investment! :-)

Lauren said...

P.S. It REALLY relieves stress... I am amazed how calm I feel after I leave!

Hannah S said...

Yes, I love it too! I use it to relax, my muscles and/or my mind. Plus I used it a lot in my acting days....before performances or auditions. Fun stuff! I am glad you have found a love for it!

Necha said...

Yay! I am taking a yoga class too! I started way back when I wasn't getting out of the house AT ALL because Maggie was still very small and we didn't take her out. So I started going insane and had to think of some way to get out of the house that wasn't my weekly 10:00pm trip to the grocery store. I love yoga! It saved me from becoming a mean tired stressed out mama...not to mention the great work out and mental centering!! Whoo hooo! I am glad you are taking yoga!

Necha said...

Also-my instructor said that namaste means "The light in me sees the light in you" but I like "The God in me sees the God in you" better!