Yoga – Workout or a Work IN?

Yoga happened for me after a running injury sidelined me for about six months.  My schedule lined up with a very athletic style class, and I loved it.  The thing is though, I thought every class had to be athletic-inspired and tough.  That was yoga to me.  I was looking for a workout and since I was depending on just yoga for my workout, I would easily be stressed or irritated if my favorite teacher was out or I had to miss class.

Going through 200 hour yoga teacher training changed yoga for me.  I still take and teach an active yoga class because I enjoy active movement; but I learned to ride my breath as I moved through the poses, finding my calm. I see the value in all styles of yoga now.  I can sweat it out in a hot class, savor the predictability of an Ashtanga class, and most importantly can enjoy slowing down with a restorative class or yin. The practice grounded me and centered me. I learned that yoga is not just a workout, it’s a Work-In.

Now I’m working on balance and have picked my running back up, as well as an occasional class or two. If you haven’t read Do Your Om Thing, Bending Yoga Tradition to Fit your Modern Life by Rebecca Pacheco, pick up a copy.  It’s a great read and was a great reminder to me to not depend on my yoga for all my fitness needs.  Toward the end of the book she has a section entitled Get Fierce About Fitness where she reminds that there is a place for all forms of fitness and if your yoga mat is your only form of fitness it can easily become a place of rushing, competing, obligation and overexertion.  Sound advice. So now I’m back to running some for that calorie burn and might pick up some weights, but most importantly I’m doing the yoga my body needs. Why?  Because I need balance in my life, and I like that my yoga now feels good just being Yoga.

See you on the mat,

Shena