Prior to ever
having attended my first yoga class, my perception of the discipline was
limited. I equated it with relaxation and unorthodox practice. The former impression was a result of
pop culture equating it with meditation, accomplishing the principle of Zen.
The latter was a notion I understood as a result of my father’s tone. Our
household was devoutly Catholic and the spiritual teachings of yoga deviated
from this. Despite my dad’s cautionary innuendo, I remained curious. Being in the
point in my life described in Low-Fat can Make You Fat, I was
ever-focused on calorie consumption and burn. And for the time being, the only
physical activities I did were focused on said burn.
Early Spring 2002,
I found myself with shin splints and the cardio I had relied on so heavily to
curb my weight gain was no longer an option. Not wanting to merely lift weights
(the counterpart to my cardio), I decided to finally allow my body to relax and
went to yoga.
This regimen was
not what I was expecting AT ALL. Every muscle in my body shook as I struggled
to balance, hold still, and maintain the proposed positions. My heart pounded
through my chest, sweat dripped down my nose onto my towel (I didn’t yoga mats
existed) as it felt like my every
weakness came to the forefront. As intimidated as I was, still shaking after
class, I resolved to go back, to get stronger and somehow conquer this
defencelessness I felt.
Little did I know
that particular Monday night in March 2002 marked the beginning of a lifelong
yogic process. There would never
be a general feeling of doneness. I soon began to understand yoga as being
analogous to life. The asanas (postures) of yoga would instil me with feelings
ranging from challenge to solace, from accomplishment and strength to momentary
defeat. Moreover, what I had pushed aside or thought no longer mattered,
whether it be physical injury or emotional distress, would invariably surface
as I attempted to attain greater depth in a given posture. My mat would act as
a place where I could work through these sensations and become more resilient.
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Twitter @YogaPace
Stay tuned for
more entries on Yoga. I will touch on the physiological and mental benefits,
research, and some more personal experiences as well!
