I like working out. You know, picking really heavy things up until my arms shake. Or putting heavy things on my shoulders and squatting until I can’t walk for two days. Or standing on this machine where I run in place until I’m tired, going nowhere. Sounds funny right? That’s what all athletics or workouts are: doing something for no other reason than to better yourself. There are even funnier things than what I do. Like people flinging heavy ropes, or flipping heavy tires.
However; The most bizarre workout to me? Yoga. You stand in place, stretching your limbs to see how far you can go. It seemed odd.
Working out was always about power, strength, seeing how heavy I could lift or how far I could push.
Yoga never enticed me. More so – I realized it scared me. I was all about the power. I have strength, I have speed, I have balance, but seeing the way yoga goers stretched their body was terrifying. I can’t even touch my toes while standing straight legged. I confided in a friend how I wanted to try it but never had because I am strength, not flexibility. She reminded me that it isn’t about flexibility, it’s about breathing – and hey, I’ve been doing that since the day I was born!
Then I really thought about it. I am failing by not trying.
So now, here I am, day 6 of yoga. IT IS AMAZING. I feel great; my legs, back and neck have had less cramping, I have better controlled breathing during my power workouts, and I have had an increase in movement and flexibility.
It’s astounding how something so silly held me back from something so good for me and you better believe I will never do it again.
You cannot do yoga. Yoga is your natural state. What you can do are yoga exercises, which may reveal to you where you are resisting your natural state.
allisonebriggs 