I have always been drawn to group fitness and game to try any form of fad workout that crossed my path. The days of step classes, aerobics, cycling, and Zumba were all fun but they were surface workouts and I somehow found myself moving on to the next new thing. That was until I received a call from my dear friend TK inviting me to a hot yoga class. I had no idea what I was signing up for and I was totally fine with that.
1:00pm – TK calls and invites me to a 7:15 pm class that night.
My response: YES.
1:07pm – TK calls again, don’t eat anything after 2:00; you don’t want to be full before class.
My response: OK.
1:15pm – TK calls yet again, be sure to hydrate because you’re going to sweat a lot so bring a towel and change of clothes.
My response: ABSOLUTELY.
At no point did I ever consider not going. For those of you familiar with the set sequence, I was in dancer pose on the right and I remember saying to myself, “I love this practice and it’s something I want to do for the rest of my life.” Case in point, my yoga practice has continued all these years and my love for it has only deepened. I’ve had the privilege to practice in different states and countries around the world.
Yoga is more than physical practice, it’s a mental, spiritual, emotional and physical alignment for my entire being. You can find me on my mat when I am anxious, sad, happy, scared, tired and/or overwhelmed. My mat is my home, my sanctuary, my safe space. This is why one of my biggest pet peeves is stepping on someone’s yoga mat. It’s a WORK OUT and a WORK IN for me. Something inside of my mind and body transforms during practice and I leave feeling yoga stoned for a lack of a better term. It’s part of me forever and I am beyond grateful.
Author: Pramod Chaudhary
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Added from user profile.
