Yoga is a mentality, not just movement

As far back as I can remember I have always lived in a fast-paced manner. After I finished one activity I was quickly on to the next one to keep me occupied and feeling busy. As a matter of fact, before I was even done the original activity I would mentally already be concerned with the next two, or ten things I had to do. So I was never really in the moment at all, I was always, just going through the motions to complete whatever task I had to do, because that’s life, right? Even the sports I fell in love with and played for hours every day, trained for hours every week, were fast-paced and competitive. Soccer and hockey literally consumed me and the high I got on game day was irreplaceable, I used to wish I could pass the feeling on so those who didn’t play could feel it. I used to even feel guilty when I sat down for too much time in the day, or watched T.V. when it wasn’t for night relaxation before bed because it felt counter-productive. Sometimes I still do. It wasn’t until I went to Jamaica for the first time that I realized how fast paced I lived my life. At first it was hard for me to adjust to taking my time, even in the simple things like walking to a destination. I reflected to myself how funny it was that I wasn’t even aware that I’m always rushing, but before the end of the trip I felt an overwhelming calmness from adjusting to a flow-like-way of living. I lost that flow after I returned home but I often thought back to it to appreciate that calmness in my life. It took me a while to open my eyes and see that I could achieve that serenity no matter where in the world I was if I started to take my time. Just because I was moving a million miles a minute does not mean I was being more productive. If I practiced consciously moving slower through daily activities, such as making breakfast and walking on campus that would be a good place to start. I would drift in and out of these states where I was trying to move slower and allow myself to focus on one thing at a time. Then I would just forget about this conscious decision and divert right back to the rushing racehorse version of myself. Rushing in the a.m. to be ready to leave, rushing to fit the gym and yoga in, rushing to drive everywhere I went even though I wasn’t late. All I was doing to myself was creating anxiety in places that there was none, and living in that anxiety every single day.

Then I met yoga. Well we had met previously a few times and at the end of those hot classes I had felt reborn with an indescribable calmness bubble that I felt protected me. Nothing could touch me, divert me or hurt me. But yoga wasn’t a priority in my life because I still had this deep rooted mental disposition that it wasn’t as productive compared to other forms of activity, so I never truly committed to my practice. But on this third time that I met yoga again, at PYC Mississauga, I fell in love. A love so powerful that it will be a life-long affair. Here are some of the reasons hot yoga has guided me through my self-transformation and  continues to do every single day. I know the heat isn’t comfortable for everyone and I know yoga has all these stereotypes surrounding it like it’s too slow, boring, easy and an activity for moms to do. I challenge you to go to a hot yoga studio one day and try a power yoga class, I guarantee you’ll drop your biases by the end. Every athlete and every female + male friend I have encouraged to attend with me left the class saying “that was very challenging for me”, and if you don’t love a challenge it’s time to start learning to love those.

1.       Yoga teaches us that deep breathing is a powerful self healing tool

When we’re on the go we may not realize how shallow  our breathing is, especially since it happens unconsciously. When I learned to tune into my breath and consciously choose to make them deep and strong through my practice I experienced how breathing can transform our personal state of peace, within seconds. Of course, you have to be spiritually open and relaxed to allow this peace to overwhelm you, but I promise you’ll feel it.

2.       Yoga teaches us that slowness is not counter-productive.

The deep-flow classes, or even the power yoga classes where you’re required to hold poses for extended amounts of time are the most challenging for me. The sweat drips immediately, I feel the burn and at the end I feel the most relaxed because in the slowness I find strength. We hold a lot of tension in our hips, especially as athletes, so this style of class focuses on hip openers as well which leaves you feeling flexible and fabulous.

3.       Yoga shows you how powerful and detoxifying it is to sweat.

Of course, in this post I’m mostly referring to the hot classes where you’re dripping by the end. At first the sweating and heat of the room can be so uncomfortable that is may be unbearable until you get used to it. But I can’t think of a feeling that is more beautiful than the cleansing of your bodies toxins through deep twisting in your own sweat. I’ve had some stomach issues for the last little while and yoga has tremendously helped me so far, I can imagine what other health ailments yoga could improve as well.

4.       Yoga teaches us to tune into our bodies.

Some days you’re powerful in your poses, capable of holding all the balances, flexible as a pool noodle and a champion yogi. Other days you fall out of tree pose, downward dog doesn’t feel like a resting pose and you don’t feel like you’ll make it to the end of class. That’s okay! Yoga reminds us that our bodies are our guides and the messages they are sending us are for us to follow. Our body knows what our body needs, and yoga isn’t about fighting against what you need in your practice. Doing what you need to on that specific day to flow through your practice and showing yourself self-love the entire time is all you need to bring to your mat.

5.       Yoga reminds you that the discomfort eases if you soldier through it.

Some poses are so uncomfortable to hold that you feel like your body just can’t do it for another breath. But then you do it, and you realize your mind was just limiting you. You realize that more times than not, the longer you hold the pose, the more you can relax into it. That is the most beautiful realization.

6.       Yoga teaches us to find strength in surrender.

We spend so much our lives trying to remain in control, thinking that we will bring us the peace in our lives that we desire. We’re just blind to the fact that trying to force leaves us feeling depleted of energy. Yoga reminds us to surrender to our mats, to let the Earth hold us up through our flow. Letting go of that need to control every little outcome in our lives is truly how you manifest serenity.

7.       Yoga brings you into the present moment.

Similarly, to the post-game high I got from sports, yoga provides a similar floating feeling that I would connect to the in-moment concentration. When you are tuning in to your breath and bringing consciousness to your poses there isn’t time to worry about the fight you had with your significant other, or your list of chores to do tomorrow. Yoga provides you with the opportunity to feel the joy of living in the moment, and take that with you when you leave your mat.

8.       Yoga teaches you that your only competition is you.

Sure, sometimes you look around the class at an advanced yogi and think “wow I wish I could do that.” But yoga is a constant reminder that you are your only real competition. As you start to commit to your practice you feel yourself improving in different ways. For me it’s my increased range of motion and ability to maintain increased depth for longer periods of time in my poses, compared to when I began. It's equally the change I feel in my ability to pause and breath through stressful situations in my daily life and then questioning how I can overcome the challenge. It feels great to embrace those changes in your body and mind.

The most beautiful point of all is that there is so much more than yoga teaches you beyond this point. There is something new I learn every time I hit my mat and every time I tune into my breath. I think what I love the most is that yoga isn't an activity of movement I participate in for an hour, it's a self-empowering mentality I'll strive to live through in every moment of every day. I hope one day you can try and experience this freedom for yourself.