Like many other kids my age, I was constantly involved in sports growing up in the Soviet Union (now Russia). While in elementary and middle school, I participated in district chess contests and checkmate competitions, swam regularly in the 6th and 7th grades, and trained in handball a year later. The good thing, my parents never had to pay a penny for it. Money was never an issue for pursuing any of my hobbies or interests. In my junior and senior years, I had fun traveling, competing in field hockey tournaments across Russia and the former Soviet Republics, and making friends in that field. The Yoga word was not quite in my vocabulary yet.
So what about Yoga’s way of life?
It wasn’t until my late thirties, however, that I started to show interest in Yoga practice. This ancient practice is defined as a Hindu philosophy that teaches you how to control your body and mind so that you can become connected to the spirit of the universe. Because of its popularity, Hinduism (which believes in reincarnation) is still widely practiced in India.
As a graduate student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, I looked for ways to increase my body’s flexibility and calm my mind. This is how I ended up in an athletic club that offered various fitness classes one of them being Yoga. Okay, this girl in the picture to the left is not me. I can probably never achieve these heights all right – but it’s all about the journey, right?
My former athletic experience taught me to listen only to my coach. So I ignored the messages and aches my body was sending me during the exercise. Whatever the reason, I stayed healthy throughout my athletic career and have mostly positive memories of my fun athletic days thanks to good coaches. What struck me most during my first Yoga class was the advice to “listen to my body” while going through the flow and adjust my poses (forms) according to my skill and body type. And even how I appeared to be emotionally and physically at that particular moment in my training.
That was refreshing. Holy cow! Do you mean to be aware of how your body is, and read the signals it’s sending you during every practice so you can prevent injuries and get the most benefit out of the class? That was attractive but a complete novelty to me. I decided to give it a shot; it was a mental shift.
Practice rewards
As weeks and then years were passing by, I noticed and appreciated what Yoga was doing for me. The pain in my right shoulder from typing on my computer went away within the first month of practice, and I never had to see a doctor or a chiropractor about it. Also, I could have stretched my legs and hips more – although not by as much as I would have preferred. It is something I am still working on. To my surprise, eight years after I started practicing Yoga, I grew by ⅔ of an inch! It blew me away because this was the last thing I expected to happen at my “mature” age. And wait – I never exercised more than 3 times a week.
One more benefit I can attribute to Yoga, is the ability to lead a healthy and balanced life. It makes me more relaxed and yes – more open-minded about new chapters in my life. Just like a glass of good fine wine with my meal. For instance, it gave me the flexibility to pursue an exciting career in marketing without which I would not have the determination I possess today. Thanks to it, I became a better and more tolerant parent to my 30-year-old son who has been always seeking to talk to me about what’s going on in his life, even the most dramatic moments of it, and is prone to take my advice now even if I am not a stranger!
Imagined self on the inside and outside
Hopefully, you are or will be receiving the benefits you are looking for by practicing Yoga. Or any other athletic activity for that matter. And when I wear my favorite yoga clothes, I feel more at ease and my practice is more rewarding. I don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on Lululemon apparel to enjoy my practice as well as my lifestyle. Just take a look at the activewear that is comfy yet flirty and designed for your body. Stop wasting your money elsewhere and get our the recycled jogger pants and limited edition pants or beautiful and sexy tops for your practice and everyday life.
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