Yoga for Beginners: Competitive Yoga, anyone?

This is my ‘fur son’ – Buddy – practicing yoga as it should be done.

 – Downward Facing Dog Pose –

Quiet, serene, balanced, and centered…while bathing in a wonderful ray of sun.

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A little over a year ago, I was determined to begin a ‘lifelong’ yoga practice.

That goal was my first mistake.

I needed to eliminate the word – lifelong – from my vocabulary when setting goals.

Now, I have adopted the phraseology of ….

Win right now.  Be successful today.

Quit making plans – Forever.

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And true-to-form, I had plenty of guilt about this decision to start yoga.

Several negative comments were made.

Some believed yoga is in direct contradiction to my Christian beliefs.

Others thought it was a colossal ‘waste of time’.

Needless to say, I did not subscribe to either notion.

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As you already know after reading my blog….I painstakingly research every single detail and decision in my life.

I  finally found a Yoga Studio / Center which looked wonderful online.

Ready to succumb to all things quiet and balanced, I was eager to begin learning how to perfect my breathing technique and buy my first pair of the ever popular yoga pants.

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No so fast.

I walked into class like a happy school girl ready to learn a new subject.

Wanting to ask a few rudimentary questions about class protocol…

I noticed – Not one person looked left or right.

No quiet chitchat or discreet greetings.

So I immediately thought I was breaking some ancient yoga-code.

Our yoga teacher began the class by yelling (You read that correctly.) that some ladies  – which she gladly named later –  “snuck in” without signing in for the class….which insinuated that they were trying to avoid paying.

And, she called out another lady to “sit up straight and stop being disrespectful” by not getting centered.  When the embarrassed lady explained that her lower back was hurting that day and needed the support of the wall, the instructor barked… to not talk back and  “Sit-up, Now.”

And near the end of the class, when a cell phone started ringing in the purse of one of the students –  in the next room…well, I won’t even write about that catastrophe of epic proportions.

This ‘beginner’ class moved swiftly from pose-to-pose like an aerobic class.

It felt like competitive calisthenics.

After we bowed our heads with our hands folded near our hearts and said our ‘Namastes’….I ran to my car and drove home as fast as I could without getting a traffic ticket.

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Okay. I admit.  I attended classes for a couple of months.

Why?  Because I questioned myself about being too sensitive… or not understanding yoga-lingo or etiquette… or thinking I just need to get use to the yoga regime.

To this day, I still think I might be mistaken about this particular teacher and studio, but….

 If I dreaded going to yoga and I was apprehensive about making the teacher mad – then sompin’ ain’t right for me, personally.

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Determined not to be Deterred….

And the fact that there are almost as many yoga centers as Starbuck’s in my hometown, I signed up for a 6-week Beginner’s course at another studio.

I absolutely loved my teacher. Her authentic kindness and good-natured spirit was a perfect match for what I thought yoga class would and should be.

She was a beautiful person in every way.

 And I loved my smiling classmates who asked me how my week was going as we rolled out our mats and set up our blocks..

And then….

My teacher moved back to South America.

And the studio moved away to a nearby town.

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Well.  Well. Well.

After agoraphobically practicing my Sun Salutation and a few other basic poses like Downward Facing Dog, Cat, Tree, Half Moon, and Child poses….in the privacy of my ‘Writing Room’ for months now, I have decided to sign up for classes in a brand new studio.

I do have a wonderful DVD for Yoga Beginners, but I am not getting better…I’m stuck and staying in the same stale place.

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So why share all of my yoga-adventures with you?

I want to give you something to think about this Monday morning.

If you are close to your annual physical examination, you might want to ask your general practitioner or internist if beginning a yoga practice just might be a healthy addition to your life.

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You don’t have to be a human pretzel to enjoy and benefit from yoga.

Here are just a few health benefits some people may experience through yoga:

Builds Muscle Strength

Improves Flexibility

Helps Posture & Spine

Increases Blood Flow

Drops Blood Pressure & Blood Sugar

Increases Focus and Relaxation

Boosts Immune & Digestive Systems

Increases Lung Function

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Last Thought for you today.

I read a fantastic timeline chronicling the evolution of Yoga circa 500 B.C. – Today.

The article is a beautiful accounting of how yoga is returning to its roots in America.

Here’s the ending quote which is my favorite:

‘Many studios are returning to a balanced stance.  “I think the spiritual pull of yoga will win out over the physical and Americans will once again use the poses as a preparation for conscious breathing and mediation, as it was intended centuries ago,” says Rosen.’

Look up the actual article.  It’s well worth your time.

Real Simple Magazine – May 2015 edition – written by N. Jamiyla Chisholm (page 44)

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Thank you for starting your week with me.

Namaste.

“The Spirit within me salutes the Spirit in you.”