Yoga, Anyone? Yoga, EVERYONE!

It seems like lately, everywhere I go, at work and at play, people are excited about finding yoga.  From my co-workers, who once believed fast and furious was the only way to spend time at the gym, to my students and friends, who once thought the same, yoga is finding it’s way into the bodies, hearts and minds of those that once passed it over.  In fact, in a magazine article recently left for me at the gym, Judith Warner writes that while back in the 70s woman of middle-age ran off to find themselves “in new relationships, dropping out of family life…” today’s woman of middle age is fleeing to yoga..While woman of the 70s wrote books like Passages by Gail Sheehy, today’s woman writes books like Poser: My life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses.”

There is no question that practicing yoga helps us learn how to be present, making each and every moment more meaningful and attain “a more superior, evolved state of being,” as Clarie Dederer who authored the above mentioned yoga book states.  Yoga has always been touted for it’s emotional and spiritual impact.  Yoga, however, is also a fantastic workout and no two yoga classes and no two yoga instructors are the same!

For those that think yoga is too slow and easy, I dare them to do the 1 and 1/2 hour (maybe a little longer) P90x yoga video with Tony Horton.  The first time I did it, with Kyle, a couple of years ago, I was dying about 15 minutes in.  I did revisit it, every Thursday for quite some time and though it got more and more do-able, it never became easy and I never did perfect many of those poses.  While my winter work schedule does not allow me to have as much time for my personal workouts, I do continue to practice yoga when I can and it’s often part of my client’s routines.

Yoga can be as gentle as a baby’s butt or as athletic and extreme as a boot-camp class.  From restorative yoga to hot yoga to power yoga and even Yogalates (yoga/Pilates blend, created by Jonathan Urla of NYC)  there IS something for everyone.  One thing it never is though, is competitive.  While we always want to push ourselves to be the best we can, in yoga we never want to push ourselves someplace our body doesn’t want to be.  Keep in mind, one of the guiding principles of yoga is do no harm.

For more about yoga, click the link on my homepage and read my friend Charlene’s article.  If you are local, come out to class at Tamarac Fitness Center Tuesday night’s at 7 for a blend of yoga and Pilates (sometimes one, sometimes the other, sometimes both).

Off to train with my clients.  You can probably guess what we’ll be doing!  Have a fabulous Friday and remember in all you do, do no harm.  Namaste.