Savasana... Chaturanga... Pranayama... Do these words ring a bell? Up until a couple of months ago, their meaning wasn't something I was concerned with. When I attended my first yoga class in June, my expectations were at square one. I had a yoga mat from a store that I purchased on sale some odd years prior that I grabbed from my closet, I put on the most comfortable, form fitting exercise clothing I owned, and I drove across town to Wild Vinyasa Yoga Studio. Sheray Efaw (AKA WVYogaGirl) was offering a beginner's practice class that afternoon, and I figured it would be the perfect time to unroll my mat and try something new.
While Wild Vinyasa Yoga Studio is a powerhouse of amazing yoga classes, it is also an art space; Sheray offers a broad range of events, including "Meditate and Paint" workshops where participants take home a painting they've created. She offers essential oil and CBD educational workshops, and there's even a massage and Reiki therapist available to book. Sheray offers yoga classes indoors in her studio, in addition to outdoors at Audra State Park, Palatine Park, Jawbone Park, and other well-known parks in the area.
I had been searching for some type of new exercise, and yoga turned out to be the perfect choice for me. I've practiced meditation in my life off and on for a few years, but yoga was something I had not given a chance because I felt overwhelmed by the amount of knowledge required to retain upon learning how to practice. Within two months, though, I feel comfortable enough with it to practice by myself at home, and it has become a relaxation tool more than a form of exercise. Since practicing yoga, combined with some changes to my eating habits, sleeping patterns, and daily lifestyle of being more active, I've noticed weight loss, and I'm fitting into old clothing that didn't fit me before. After each yoga practice, I feel more energized, self-aware, and productive in my everyday life.
Practicing yoga is not only a form of physical exercise, but mental and emotional exercise. In each yoga practice, an intention is set, whether it be a word, a phrase, a mantra, a prayer, etc... something that strikes a chord for your purpose, whether it's life in general, or for that moment in time. For example, in my most recent class, my intention was, "I am determined," to remind myself that I am responsible for making my life the way I want it, and I cannot let my life be controlled by others around me.
Check out Wild Vinyasa, all of the classes and workshops, and try something new! I highly recommend yoga if you're looking for a natural, healthy way to improve your physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being.
I want to hear from you! Share with me your thoughts and experiences with yoga in the comments below.
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Until next time, hope you're Living23 like me.
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