Saturday, February 11, 2012

Yoga - Boring or Beneficial?

The other day a friend of mine asked me why I bothered going to yoga class.  She said that any time she had tried yoga, she found it to be boring and futile.  She felt it was far preferable to go to a zumba or kettlebells workout class.  Much more fun apparently, and  you burn off calories and lose weight.

I could see her point to a degree. I mean, who doesn't want to burn off calories and keep trim and fit?  However, I know, from experience that yoga can do this too.  I have often found myself sweating the calories away when trying to hold a pose.  Okay, I may have to breathe gently into the posture, but every minute, calories are still being burnt.  In fact, I lost 17lbs in my first year of doing yoga, because yoga actually made me more aware of the rubbish I was allowing into my body.So, it has helped me to lose weight and it has definitely helped my flexibility.  I could not bend without back pain before and now I can touch my toes! I have since put 7lbs back on but I haven't been devoting as much time to my practice as I want to. However, I am still more aware than I was before I took up yoga!

Yes, yoga may seem boring at first.  I thought this when I first tried a class many years ago.  The problem back then was that I associated stillness with boredom.  When I started yoga again in my forties, I had a totally different experience.  The stillness that we practice in meditation, relaxation and the actual asanas/postures helps me to connect to something within me that I didn't know was even there.  It makes me slow down and connect to my inner self. Every body part we take our mind to in relaxation makes me grateful to be alive.  It helps me to accept the body I have and even more, the person  I am.

I haven't always felt like this so discovering yoga properly has been a fantastic thing for me. Sure, I would still like to be slimmer, more relaxed, more sanguine.  But hey, I can still strive for these things but not be devastated and depressed when I don't acquire them.

What do others think?

6 comments:

  1. Amen sister!!! I lost 10 pounds and you are so right on about being more mindful about food choices. Like you I feel so blessed to have found yoga in my life -- and so blessed to connect with you across the miles.

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    1. Yes. It's wonderful to be able to connect this way. And I know that you know what I mean!

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  2. I find that yoga is definitely an active, mindful process. As you mentioned, however, it isn't for everyone. And we certainly approach the whole meditative state of mind in a different manner in our younger years. I would love to be able to start taking yoga classes, as I think it is so helpful to have input from instructors. For now, I'm still using DVDs at home, and when I stick with it regularly, I find my quality of life is brightened. Same goes for regular meditation - it complements my whole life in myriad ways.

    Lovely post, Claire!

    - Dawn

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    1. Couldn't agree more Dawn. I go to class once or twice a week when I can and the rest of the time I use DVDs. I particularly like Esther Eckart's yogatic dvds.

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  3. Good food for thought. I happen to find yoga the perfect opportunity to slow down and go deep within, actually aligning body, mind and spirit. I think a lot of people avoid slowing down and going within, mostly because it means they have to be with all of themselves, even parts they don't like. I view it as an opportunity to change something I don't like. We all have aspects about ourselves we want to change, thats just part of life. Its the judgement and avoidance of change that leads to lasting discomfort.

    I find recreational drumming to be another path to transformation. When I'm with a group and creating music I am aligning my thoughts and my actions along with my voice, which happens to be expressing through the music. Very similar to yoga, just a different form.

    I am reminded of how much I miss yoga. Its not the same for me to do it at home...I like to be guided in the class. Time to get back at it.

    In Rhythm & Harmony,
    Melinda

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    1. I think it's true that many of us avoid slowing down and going within. We are scared to be with those parts we don't like, as you say. The drumming sounds interesting! I do know what you mean about the guidance in a class. I try to attend class once or twice a week and use a dvd at home on the other days. I do prefer going to class though!

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