Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot

Last night was my first (Moksha) hot yoga class of the year and let me tell you, it was H.O.T. Most girls were glistening in their Lululemon attire but I was the odd man out. I was wearing Lululemon but I was not glistening. Sadly I have come to realize my genetics make me sweat more than the average human and wearing grey definitely did not help matters.  Moving past my sweaty problems the 60 minute class was amazing.

Tree Pose

During my practice I found it difficult to focus on calm breathing while trying to hold a pose with the proper form, an example of this: Tree Pose. I would manage to hold my pose for a few seconds then slowly lose my balance and almost topple over. This was very humbling and a reminder that continuous practice will eventually pay off. The class was difficult at times but it provided me with the calm, clear mind I needed to start a busy week.

 

Moksha Yoga is a series of 40 different poses done in a room heated to about 40°C or 100°F. If you want to learn more about this type of yoga or are interested in taking classes here is a link to a great local studio:

http://st-catharines.mokshayoga.ca/

Another Day, Another Downward Facing Dog

I have always struggled to commit to my home practice and I don't know why.  It seems easier to get up early, travel to the closest yoga studio and practice with an instructor for 90 minutes than stay home and commit to the same thing.  Maybe it's because I've made a commitment and feel the need to follow through or maybe being at home reminds me that I not only have to practice yoga but accomplish 100 other things.  The good news is last night I was productive and managed to squeeze in 45 minutes before bed.  

There was nothing stunning about my practice; there were no acrobatics, handstands or arm balances but hopefully as I continue this blog my posts can include some of these small victories (I will include photos of my progress).  I tried to focus on matching my breath with my movement and stuck with some of the essential positions, one of them being Downward Facing Dog.

This pose looks quite simple but can come back to ‘bite’ you the next day as it works your arms and shoulders.  There are also a number of different health benefits attached to each pose. For the benefits of Downward Facing Dog check out this link from the Yoga Journal:

http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/491

Needless to say the first attempt at my home practice was a success and I look forward to where it leads me.  Monday I'm headed to a Moksha Yoga studio. It should be a blast so expect a blog update following class.

Why Yoga?

In my last two years of university I found myself stressed out to the point of no return.  The gym wasn't working and running wasn't as fun as it used to be.  I felt like I needed something new and different. I wanted something that was going to not only challenge me but help me relax.  Then I went to my first yoga class.  It was phenomenal, to say the least.  There were so many different components I needed to focus on simultaneously that I didn't have a chance to be stressed. It was an hour of sheer concentration on matching my breath with my movement, at that moment I was hooked.

There are so many things that I love about practicing yoga but there are also obstacles.  Some poses seem impossible to master even with continuous practice and sometimes during savasana your mind can’t stop racing for a single second. Sooner or later if you constantly make an honest effort you’ll start seeing results.  That’s the beauty in it; you get out of yoga what you put into it and this is why I want to blog about my practice.  Anyone can start a blog about yoga and there are hundreds of professional blogs written and updated by yogi’s who have been practicing yoga even before I was born but I want this blog to be relatable to every individual whether they are a seasoned or even a not so seasoned yoga student.