My First Yoga Experience

Happy Marvelous In My Monday!

Yesterday, I took my first yoga class. Like, EVER.

I went with an old friend whom I have not seen in the longest time. I have missed her so and it was amazing to get to see her once again. Reunited and it feels sooo good!

Anyways, like I said, I am a yoga newbie. I started practicing it in the privacy of my own home at night before I go to bed. I find it very relaxing and it calms my brain down after using any sort of technology that tends to fire my brain up.

I walked into the class, and I actually wasn't at all nervous. I don't get nervous very often because I have learned how to be comfortable in front of people. I didn't use to be that way, but it was something that has developed as I have gotten older.

The instructor was super nice and very informative. She knew I was a newbie and so she made sure I felt comfortable, grabbing my mat for me and giving me the supplies needed for the class if necessary.

Sorry for my half painted toes. ;)

I met some of the other yogis and we got to work. We did some basic moves, like the tree pose and the warrior poses. I felt really comfortable doing those. But then we moved on to the hard stuff.

Well, I suppose for seasoned yogis these poses aren't that hard. I'm sure to the seasoned ones they are quite easy! But I am so darn proud of myself, and I will tell you why...

We did the crow pose (also known as the crane pose), where you basically place your knees on your elbows and hold yourself without your feet on the ground. It takes a lot of upper body strength but guess what friends... I was the only one that could hold it for a long period of time!

Source

The instructor was very impressed and urged me to keep going. She told me to hold the crow pose from the side. So I basically did the same thing, but my legs were facing the left. And I held that for a long time. Then I did it from the right, and I held it again.

Side crane. (Source)

The class was focused on arm balances, which kind of killed me inside since I never thought I had good upper body strength, but I guess I was wrong. I was really impressed when I could do THIS and everyone in class was so impressed:

Pose Dedicated to the Sage. (Source)

I felt on top of the world, considering I never give myself enough credit for the strength I have developed and have never done 'serious' yoga before. For some people who are really good at yoga, this may seem trivial, but it wasn't for me.

All the other women there were in awe and applauded me. One even told me she has been practicing yoga for a few years and still can't do the crow pose. I don't think it is because she has a lack of strength, but some people's bodies are built differently. For example, I have really long and lean legs, so my bottom half is very light, therefore making it very easy for me to hold it up in the air with my upper body.

But beyond that--I am so proud of myself not even for the fact that I could hold the poses (I hope I don't seem like I am boasting!) but because this was my FIRST class and the intense strength training I have been doing has proved to me that it has all been worth it. A few months ago when I literally had NO upper or lower body strength, there is no way that I could do this. None.

Folks, I guess what it all comes down to is this: strength training is so beneficial. It helps you out with almost everything in life. It helps you mentally and physically and that is what I find to be the most rewarding.

I am definitely going back for more yoga. I really wanted to get involved with it anyways, so this is the perfect push and confidence booster that gets my butt to class (especially hot yoga!). I will incorporate yoga with my strength training and mobility work. I can't wait to make it routine!

Question: Have you ever tried yoga?

P.S. I am working on this one!

Peacock pose. (Source)

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