I think, as I get older, I am starting to get way Hippy-er. It could just be a general mellowing out, a better outlook on life as I get things straightened out and start moving in a happier more fulfilling direction. There is no cause for alarm. I haven’t started prancing around in flowy skirts, or participating in drum circles. It’s just the yoga.
I have fallen hard for the yoga. I loves me some yoga. I should also state for the record that I am very bad at yoga. Not only does my body not like to balance, stretch, or contort, but my mind is always wandering off like a small child into strangers vans- as soon as you tell it not to go there, it does. In fact I wrote the majority of this very blog post while attempting to fold myself into double pigeon.
I’ve found yoga to be useful for many reasons. The main one is just the fact that it is a gentle way to get my body in shape and feeling good. The feeling good part is way more important, and far harder, than the getting in shape part. After so many years of playing sports, from high school to the college level, this poor old body of mine has taken some hits. By the time I quit playing basketball in college, I was wearing a back brace, taping both my ankles and my arches, and getting regular stimm treatments on various parts of my body. My body was fed up with me, and it was starting to revolt. In yoga you are supposed to take notice of your body in a way that is far different from competitive sports. In competitive sports, it is often about pushing your body to the complete breaking point- How much can you lift? How fast can you sprint? How long can you grit your teeth and take the pain before you say uncle? I had college teammates that played with injuries far worse than mine (one that even went half a season on what we later found out was a broken foot), and it was seen as a badge of courage and toughness to take it to the limit.
It also helps get me out of the competitive mindset that I have with most physical activity. Whether it is basketball or beer pong, I have always felt the need to win. Playing at the college level means you are in constant competition. Naturally with other teams during games, but also with teammates during practice, when everyone is working hard for one of those starting spots. And sometimes against yourself. There isn’t really anything to compete about in yoga. In my first couple classes I found myself falling into those habits. How much lower than my neighbor could I lunge, etc? I kept telling myself that I could do better, mentally berating myself for being a beginner. This is something I am still working on, and I have taken to actually closing my eyes so I can’t see what other people are doing.
My doctor recently told me that I need to start doing yoga. I have yet to go to a class, but I’m thinking about it.