Yoga Love

Although my grandmother Shirlee had been practicing yoga for the last 15+ years in California, I never really thought it was a "exercise" for me. I was a cardio/weight junkie. From kicking it with Billy Blanks Tae Bo tapes (Pump it, you got to pump it, visualize), running (2 half marathons under my belt), and going to personal trainers (I popped a blood vessel in my eye doing a squat). I also liked "make you sweat" group classes, spinning, step class and even tried zumba. To me, yoga was a class you did after you ran 3 mile, yoga was "too relaxing"! Ha. Now I don't want you to read this and think I am an exercise junkie or super in shape or anything. I like being active almost as much as I like to eat so finding new forms of exercise helps in both of these areas. Back to yoga, almost 3 years ago I started taking a "Power Yoga" class at my gym. I had never been to a class that challenged me in so many ways, strength, balance and concentration. I was completely humbled. I thought I was strong, I couldn't hold up my own body weight in down dog position. I thought I was limber, I couldn't do a back bend that I remember doing everyday as a child. I thought I was balanced, standing on one foot looked like a tree in the wind. But for some reason I kept going and this great thing happened, I started getting better. I mean, they were small steps but yoga allowed me to see progress. Suddenly, going to the gym, wasn't about burning calories or blowing off some steam, it was about over coming these challenges. I knew why my grandmother had taken up this practice, I was just sad it took me this long to find it for myself. (Picture of two of my top 5 favorite people: My Grandmother and my Sister)