20 years of training yoga

 Right now I’m feeling reflective as I have a good time a serious milestone – 20 years of training yoga!

Hello associates, I hope you had a beautiful weekend. Ours was low-key and we noticed Riverdance, which was every little thing.

Whereas I used to be at scorching yoga final week, I noticed that I’ve been training yoga for TWENTY YEARS. It hit me fairly exhausting and I couldn’t imagine how a lot life I’ve been via since I used to be first launched to yoga. Strikes, deployments, infants, highs, and lows, yoga has been a reasonably constant a part of my life. I’ve cried throughout savasana, mastered sure poses, struggled with others, spent 90% of sure lessons in baby’s pose, and realized to actually be current and give attention to my breath.

It’s been twenty years of unrolling my mat, connecting with my breath, and flowing via sequences that problem and rework my thoughts and physique. It’s exhausting to imagine that 20 years have handed since I first found yoga, and whereas I can’t do any loopy tips and I’m not probably the most versatile bear, this apply has formed my life in numerous methods. So, in honor of this milestone, I wish to share with you a few of the classes I’ve realized, and the rewards I’ve reaped over the previous 20 years of training yoga.

(Maisey additionally needs me to let you know that in the present day is her birthday! OF COURSE she’s getting a doggy cake and birthday tune)

20 years of training yoga

My introduction to yoga:

My very top notch was a Rodney Yee yoga DVD I picked up at Goal on a whim. I used to be in faculty, feeling the stressors of a dramatic relationship and fixed homework deadlines, and figured I’d give it a whirl. Immediately, I used to be drawn in by the sense of calm it introduced me. I additionally cherished Rodney Yee’s clear, concise instruction and his means to information college students to a deeper understanding of their our bodies and the apply of yoga.

Trying again, this was the right technique to get began: it was zero stress (as a result of I used to be solo, at residence, in my mother’s lounge). I began to apply yoga frequently, principally earlier than mattress, and ultimately transitioned into studio lessons. Over the previous 20 years, I’ve taken a whole lot of yoga lessons in studios everywhere in the US, from California to Orlando and plenty of spots in between.

Kinds of yoga I’ve tried:

There are such a lot of various kinds of yoga on the market, and each affords a novel and difficult expertise.

Listed here are a couple of sorts of yoga and what makes them so particular:

Vinyasa Yoga:

Vinyasa yoga is a dynamic type of yoga that focuses on linking breath with motion. This flow-based apply is ideal for many who wish to get their coronary heart fee up and sweat it out on the mat. Lessons will be barely heat, or heated.

Restorative Yoga:

Should you’re in search of a extra enjoyable and restorative apply, restorative yoga is the best way to go. This light apply makes use of props and long-held poses to launch stress and promote deep leisure.

Yoga Nidra:

this can be a sort of yoga apply that’s sometimes called “yogic sleep”. Not like conventional yoga lessons, the place you progress via a collection of postures, in Yoga Nidra, you lay down in a snug place and are guided via a deep leisure and meditation. This apply is designed that can assist you enter a state of deep leisure, the place you’ll be able to launch stress, stress, and anxiousness. Yoga Nidra will be extremely highly effective, not just for bodily leisure, but additionally for psychological and emotional leisure. It’s an effective way to recharge your batteries, scale back stress and anxiousness, and enhance your total well-being. So, should you’re in search of a technique to chill out and unwind, I extremely suggest giving Yoga Nidra a attempt!

Ashtanga Yoga:

Ashtanga yoga is a conventional type of yoga that follows a set sequence of poses. This difficult apply is nice for many who wish to construct power, flexibility, and focus.

Bikram Yoga:

Should you’re a fan of scorching yoga, Bikram yoga is the final word problem. This intense apply is completed in a heated room and follows a selected sequence of 26 poses. That is what actually received me hooked on yoga, and I’d drive nearly two hours after we lived in Valdosta to take a Bikram class. My present favourite type is a mix of Vinyasa and Bikram, in a heated and humid room.

Yin Yoga:

Yin yoga is a slow-paced type of yoga that focuses on holding poses for longer intervals of time. This apply helps to enhance flexibility and improve circulation, making it excellent for many who wish to work on their mobility.

Hatha yoga:

this a conventional type of yoga that focuses on bodily postures (asanas), respiration strategies (pranayama), and meditation. The apply is designed to stability the physique and thoughts, and create a way of concord and interior peace. Hatha Yoga lessons usually transfer at a slower tempo than different types of yoga, permitting practitioners to give attention to the alignment of the postures and their breath. Hatha Yoga is a superb possibility for novices or anybody trying to enhance their bodily health, flexibility, and total well-being.

It doesn’t matter what sort of yoga you select, bear in mind to take heed to your physique and honor your limits. With common apply, you’ll be capable of discover your circulate and take your yoga apply to the following stage. I additionally suggest attempting out quite a lot of kinds; you’ll discover those that talk to you and that you just take pleasure in probably the most!

Advantages I’ve seen from training yoga frequently:

Not solely does yoga assist to extend flexibility and power, but it surely additionally has quite a few advantages on your total well-being.

Reduces stress and anxiousness:

Yoga offers an area so that you can join together with your breath and quiet your thoughts, which might help to scale back stress and anxiousness. As somebody who’s battled anxiousness prior to now, I do know firsthand the advantages of incorporating yoga into your wellness routine. Yoga offers a protected house to attach together with your breath, launch stress out of your physique, and quiet your thoughts. By training yoga frequently, you’ll be able to be taught to handle stress and anxiousness extra successfully, which may result in a extra balanced and fulfilling life. Moreover, sure yoga poses, equivalent to ahead folds and inversions, can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to calm the physique and scale back emotions of tension.

Improves flexibility and stability:

With common apply, yoga might help to extend flexibility, enhance stability, and probably forestall accidents. That is particularly vital as we age and our our bodies develop into much less limber. It additionally entails getting on and off the mat, which is a superb talent to take care of as we age. Lots of the actions are purposeful and require core power.

Strengthens the physique:

Many yoga poses require power and stability, which might help to construct muscle and improve muscular endurance. Plus, yoga is a low-impact type of train, making it nice for many who wish to keep away from high-impact exercises.

Promotes mindfulness and self-awareness:

By focusing in your breath and physique throughout yoga apply, you’ll be able to develop a higher sense of mindfulness and self-awareness. This might help to enhance total temper and well-being.

Connects you to a group:

Practising yoga frequently might help you to attach with like-minded people and construct a supportive group. This may be particularly vital for many who could really feel remoted or disconnected. One thing I realized throughout instructor coaching is that generally changes are the one bodily contact that some individuals obtain for your entire day. That was highly effective for me and a reminder of how a lot we’d like connection and human contact to thrive.

My expertise with yoga instructor coaching:

Selfishly, I did yoga teacher training just for me. I by no means actually had the intention of educating – I taught frequently after we lived in Valdosta however have solely subbed right here and there since then – however wished to to deepen my very own private apply and be taught as a lot as I may about yoga.

Should you’re contemplating instructor coaching, listed below are a few of the superb issues you’ll be able to expertise:

Deepen your apply:

Yoga instructor coaching is a chance to take your apply to the following stage. You’ll be taught new poses, refine your alignment, and enrich your understanding of the apply.

Study concerning the philosophy of yoga:

Yoga is greater than only a bodily apply. In instructor coaching, you’ll be taught concerning the historical past, philosophy, and religious elements of yoga. I particularly loved studying the “Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga” and studying about primordial meditation.

Share your love of yoga with others:

As an authorized yoga instructor, you’ll have the chance to share your love of yoga with others and assist them to find the transformative energy of the apply.

Be part of a supportive group:

Yoga instructor coaching is an effective way to attach with like-minded people and construct a supportive group. You’ll be surrounded by others who share your ardour for yoga and who will assist you all through your journey.

Problem your self:

Yoga instructor coaching generally is a difficult expertise, but it surely’s additionally extremely rewarding. You’ll push your self bodily, mentally, and emotionally, and are available out on the opposite facet with new perspective and a stronger apply.

There ya have it, associates! 20 years of training yoga has been an incredible journey crammed with challenges, progress, and transformation. By this apply, I’ve realized to attach with my breath, calm my thoughts, and take heed to my physique. I’ve gained power, flexibility, and resilience, each on and off the mat. I’ve met unimaginable associates and had the chance to be taught from a few of the absolute best lecturers. And most significantly, I’ve realized to domesticate a way of interior peace and well-being that, together with my religion, has carried me via life’s ups and downs.

Should you’re new to yoga or have been training for some time, I encourage you to remain dedicated to your apply, and permit it to information you by yourself journey of progress and transformation. <3

Are you a yoga fan or not a lot? How usually do you apply? What’s your favourite type?