Yoga 101

Yesterday, after a day spent with friends and loved ones, I went to my first ever yoga class.

I have always been interested in yoga. I have even tried doing some basic poses (gleaned from many many magazines over the years) and incorporated them to my fitness (running) routine. But like any newcomer to a certain practice, sport, or situation, I had my apprehensions about actually going to yoga class.

What should I bring with me? How should I dress? What do I do? Will it require me to let go of convictions regarding my faith? Will the people stare? What will the teacher be like? These were only some of the thoughts going through my mind as I took a cab that would take me to the yoga studio my friend introduced me to. I had chosen to try Hot Yoga.

When I arrived at the studio, almost immediately, I told the receptionist that I was a first-timer, not just in the studio, but in yoga. Almost as soon as I had changed into what I deemed as comfy yoga-clothes, our instructor, Dinah, took me aside to give me an “orientation.” While the one and only tip I had brought with me was “Look in front and listen to the teacher,” Dinah offered me this other little, but equally important piece of advice: “If given a choice between keeping your pose and breathing, I’d rather you choose the latter.” Yes, breathing (through the nose) was very, very important in yoga.

photo from yogaplus.ph

Dinah (whom I would later find out is part owner of the studio) was firm, but also very encouraging and not pushy AT ALL. I liked that she was also discreet in how she would approach those whom she wanted to correct in their postures. Her voice was relaxing enough, but it didn’t put you to sleep. And even in a heated room (36-37 degrees), she was capable of giving her wannabe yogis little “treats” without sacrificing the practice.

My favorite poses were the sets that focused on me lifting my kneecap and contracting my thighs. According to Dinah, this was really helpful to runners as it strengthens the leg muscles, so “Yay!”

photo from yogaplus.ph

Mostly, I’m surprised at how, although the poses were challenging, in the end, I felt so relaxed, in spite of the heat. And I also liked that nobody was in competition with anyone, but each individual has to push himself too. (That’s one of the reasons why I run.) Indeed, you are your own teacher in the practice of yoga.

I was also glad that there was no chanting or anything that required me to let go of my beliefs, my faith. Instead, our instructor would just say positive and practical phrases, phrases that we often repeat to ourselves anyway when we want to relax, to get a better perspective of the world we live and breathe in. I felt both glad and relieved.

The letting go of the cares of the day and the cares of tomorrow, the focusing on the present, on the breathing was very holistic. I guess I know now why my friend practiced yoga. Soon enough, our class would be over, and I didn’t even notice that I had already been sweating it out and doing stretching and compression poses for 90 minutes. We all lay on our yoga mats for a few more relaxing breaths, then it was done.

Coming home, I realized that even after that 90-minute session, I was still mindful of my breath. Indeed, it felt like my regular breathing had become deeper, that my lungs were able to hold in and release more air than usual. It felt strange, to be mindful of my breathing that way, but it also felt good. Like I had just come from a good, hard massage.

All in all, I came out of that one session a better person, I think. Just a little bit better, but yes, better.

I am grateful.

When not writing, Shing (as she prefers to be called) engages the rest of her free time in long worship runs *yay*, is a full-time college English instructor, and is a part-time graduate student at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. She is a Runners’ Runner contributor and  has been a Runners’ Runner member since the site’s dry-run (pardon the pun) at Dusit’s DFit Run in February 2010.

Tagged as: cross training, yoga