Ommmmm.....

When I first started doing yoga I was impatient, bored, and frustrated. Those are three words I'd never utter about yoga now. I get how people think yoga isn't hard because you are "just stretching" and if you aren't sweating you aren't getting a workout....I get the people who watched the clock wishing for it to end....I used to be one of those people. I don't know when the switch happened for me, but it did.

Today I can't imagine not practicing. I love how differentiated yoga is (it's the elementary school teacher in me ha ha) Everyone is on his/her own journey in yoga and each pose can be made to fit his/her ability. Having great instructors is key. You need instructors who will show you "options" for a pose and who will push you to try an extension.

The main focus in yoga is your breathing.....which is key for running. In addition here are some other benefits to runners: an increase in flexibility, strength, balance, focus, and energy as inversion poses recirculate the blood in your body. (No lie, I do a headstand when I'm tired and it perks me right up). Yoga is also an amazing workout for your core.

I've recently started practicing hot yoga. I never thought I'd enjoy it, but hot yoga has increased, not only my flexibility (since the room is so hot you can go deeper in poses) but my focus as I truly believe I focus more on each pose to avoid focusing on just how hot the room is. I'm still working on hydrating appropriately as I've had a few close calls where I was convinced I was going to pass out...it's all a part of my journey. If you're one of those people who says you don't sweat in yoga so it's not a workout (like I used to say) try a hot yoga class....you sweat just sitting there ha ha

If you haven't tried yoga yet, do it! I don't think you'll be disappointed...Just be open-minded and give it a chance. We live in a society where we want instant gratification and things to move quickly. We have our minds going a mile a minute and we try to multi-task all day long....let yoga be your escape from the craziness of life!
My advice is to read the class descriptions as there are many types of yoga....don't make the mistake I did. I took a Kundalini class without much research. I didn't read the part where it said wear white or light colored clothes-I showed up in black yoga pants and bright orange tank top ha ha I also must have missed the part of the description that basically says you are chanting mantras in Sanskrit and basically sit and move your arms and bow the entire class. I'm not knocking it...it's just not for me. Click the link if you want to learn more about Kundalini and imagine me there ha ha

Namaste!

Basketball is an endurance sport, and you have to learn to control your breath; that's the essence of yoga, too. So, I consciously began using yoga techniques in my practice and playing. I think yoga helped reduce the number and severity of injuries I suffered. As preventative medicine, it's unequaled.

Kareem Abdul Jabbar