Sometimes yoga is falling down. Sometimes it is frustration because I don’t feel like holding down dog for another five counts. Sometimes it is my left leg on fire because I’ve been balancing on it for way too long.
But then yoga is growth. It is turning my frustration into gratefulness. It is peace. It is pushing myself.
And sometimes it is discovering you can do fun new poses! I was able to get into shoulder-pressing pose during class for the first time tonight!
I’ve been practicing yoga for one year (thanks to my original yoga buddy Ryan!). I’ve taken class at College Park Yoga at least once almost every week. I had dipped my toes into the practice with DVDs and classes at gyms, but one class at a real studio changed everything for me.
Ninety minutes sweating in a studio was intense. I left sore, stretched out and so much lighter. I was hooked.
The studio taught me a lot about form. Adjusting your form can make the pose.
Now thanks to my job at lululemon I am often hear about other local yoga studios and am able to try them out. I’ve fallen in love with Orlando Power Yoga and Guruv- two studios with hot power yoga that will push you harder than ever before!!
The new studios introduced me to poses that I had never heard of before. They’d encourage me to just try it and I was surprised when I could get into a lot of them (side crow anyone?!).
Now yoga still offers me the peaceful, refocusing retreat from the rest of my training– but it’s so much more! I’m having fun seeing what my body is capable of and setting goals.
I love yoga and can’t get enough.
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Yoga to me is peace, strength and confidence. I tried yoga on my own for awhile and then began practicing power yoga at a studio about 2 months ago. I love it..even when I don't necessarily feel like I'm great at it, I still love. It is just amazing to challenge yourself and to see just how hard you can push yourself mentally, physically and spiritually. Keep it up!
So I would love to get into Bikram, but it seems pretty advanced. I'm still at the yogadownload/free classes in Bryant Park level, so I don't know how I would be able to handle a full session… any transition tips?
-Patrice
I am trying to force myself to do one sun salutation every morning. It seems so simple—couldn't take longer than five minutes—but it feels so hard to muster the discipline! The rewards are obvious, though, as are the lessons in patience, discipline and self-respect.
not only do you inspire me but you also prove that i need to tell myself more often that i can DO THIS ONE DAY TOO! <3 you are incredible, falls and all
xoxoxo
I love your pics! And girl, you are freaking strong! I've never paid much attention to yoga & I'm currently doing Jillian Michaels' Yoga Meltdown – probably not really yoga – but I still really love it and work up a serious sweat!
Ashley, I just found your blog and love it. I'm a married "running" mom of 3 kids but it's fun to read about and remember the ups and downs of single life.
I have never loved yoga, but I am now inspired to try it again at a studio instead of a gym. Great tip!
http://milestorun.blogspot.com
You rock! It's so invigorating to discover a new ability like that.
I am SO not a yogi. I dream
- Sagan
Good upper body strength. Love the photos of your poses.
Yoga means mind-body connection. My most recent outdoor yoga was on a large rock in the Smoky Mountains. Plan to come to St Pete end of Sept for Energize Tampa Bay. (Check it out on Google or on FBook.) Lots of Yoga from local greats! And the Zumba bash can't suck!
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