“Deep inhale and exhale. Hold for three breaths and then push back into Adho Mukha Svanasana,” the instructor stated calmly. “Easier said than done,” I mumbled with the limited amount of breath I had left. “What was Adkdfjhsfhofh srfgtgreag-ana… anyways?” Ugh. I groaned and pushed back into what I would later learn was called downward facing dog. Wasn’t yoga supposed to be relaxing? Some 45 minutes and a sore back later, I rushed out of class. Never again. Ever. I hated yoga! It hurt, it was definitely not relaxing, and being the athlete that I am, it wasn’t even a good workout. Not to mention I looked like an idiot. I stretched regularly. Why did I need an hour-long stretch class? It was a complete waste of time.

Looking back, it’s pretty funny how things in your life come full circle. Although I once hated yoga, now I would consider myself a yogi. If you would have told me that I would be practicing yoga (willingly) a few years ago, I would have laughed in your face. To be honest, I only actually started practicing last year as a suggestion for a good workout. (If you don’t think yoga is a good workout, I recommend trying Bikram yoga and then re-visit that thought.) I ended up not only getting an amazing workout, but honestly, yoga has humbled me. I have gained so much more than just a new pastime. Yoga has truly opened me up to a world of self-reflection and contemplation… in addition to some pretty toned triceps. Most important though, yoga has taught me so much about dealing with life. It is astonishing how closely the practice of yoga actually parallels life. When I realized this, it dawned on me that yoga isn’t even about the postures. Yoga is the inward journey to yourself.

Here is a list of important lessons I’ve learned as a beginner yogi:

1. Breathe.
2. The pose doesn’t begin until you want to get out of it.
3. The poses you tend to avoid are the ones you usually need the most.
4. Do the best you can in each and every pose, and when a pose is over, let it go.
5. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Laughter is necessary to survival.
6. Most of all: Be present. Right now is the only moment you ever really have.

I may have learned these lessons on the mat, but they are all applicable to everyday life. Yoga is practice for reality.

If you are new and would like to try yoga, or if you want to dust off your mat like me, check out @Regulargirlfitness on Instagram for a video of a flow, or sequence, to try. Don’t forget to drop me a line and let me know how it goes!

Namaste.