Yoga Journey

At the beginning of this yoga journey I am pre diabetic, overweight, weak, stiff, 58 years old, have MS, and I’m a skeptic. However in the back of my mind I’m thinking and hoping that this is what I’ve been looking for. I think I’ve been looking for something “more?” for a long time. I’ve tried the soft forms of the martial arts such as Aikido (pre MS) and Tai Chi which did not accomplish the physical benefits or the connection I think I was looking for. I keep saying “I think” here because I’m not sure what that is – something your sure exists but can’t find. A feeling that you have the power over how your body functions. Your brain / mind can be more than what we are aware of.

For me I’ve discovered that yoga is that connection I’ve been looking for, a connection to myself. Yoga has proved to me that there is more. More than just food for my muscles, can I say, food for my mind. It’s kind of a stretch (ha) or a eye roller to say this but as I said in the first paragraph; I started as a skeptic. Closing in on seven years of regular practice and I feel there is so much more to learn. And I’m not talking just asanas – there is always another asana. I’ve had some incredibly peaceful practices that I would call blissful while contorting, stretching, straining muscles I never knew existed. And breathing yes breathing. For me the revealing of yoga is the breath. To maintain a consistent, audible, deep, slow breath throughout practice is the gateway.

It took years for me to understand this. Yoga is not a quick study it’s a lifetime journey. It reveals itself to you slowly. Its up to you to take it as far as you want or as far as you need. It can stay on the mat or move off. For me it came off. I’m a much calmer person than before yoga. I have six kids and they have all said that they have noticed the difference. I have given advice to my kids and afterwords I ask myself did you just say that. Sometimes it amazes me.

Wow! This is not where I thought my first blog about yoga would go. I thought I’d go in chronological order starting at my first Mysore class, after step by step on the Beginnings page. But the above came out; who knows where the next one will go.

I am no longer a skeptic.