Yoga in the Prairie

Monday night my mom and I went to a local yoga studio for what was our first ever yoga class. I'd done some yoga DVDs at home, but usually found myself getting confused or not sure if I was doing it correctly. Needless to say I was excited to have an instructor provide hands on help. My mom was really nervous and barely talked during the car ride over. When we pulled up the studio was dark so we thought that maybe they were closed or that the instructor wasn't there yet so we just waited in the car a bit. The sky was threatening to rain and anyone who knows me knows I love rain so I took that as a good sign.

Once we saw people coming out of the studio we gathered up our gear and headed on in. We were welcomed by the instructor who also happens to be a regular customer of mine at the coffee shop. She showed us the cubbies where we could put our things and where the mats and props were if we needed to use them.

We set up our mats and waited for the other yogis to arrive. Including my mom and I there were six of us. The atmosphere was really laid back and fun. We could shout out any questions we had about the poses and many of us almost tipped over at least once. One thing I wasn't prepared for was how physically tiring it was. I knew it wasn't easy, but I was starting to get out of breath and my hands were shaking from having to hold myself up for so long in downward dog! The class time was dedicated to twists, which the instructor said were neutralizing poses, so if we were feeling hyper or down, it'd bring us back to center.

The class ended with us relaxing on our backs and the instructor came around with lavender oil on her hands and just held them above our faces for a little bit so we could get some aromatherapy action. That part of class was so soothing! We said farewell to the instructor and the other students and walked out into the rain feeling a little more uplifted.

I really enjoyed myself and look forward to going back next Monday. The concept I like most about yoga is that one can always get better. Even if you're like me and struggle with each pose, it's nice knowing that if I keep up with it and practice someday those poses won't be such a struggle. That's an exciting thought :). Namaste!

Anxious

Have you ever had that feeling where you felt like you were in a blue funk, but had no idea why? Or felt unreasonably nervous about going to the grocery store? If so, then you'll know what I'm talking about.

This isn't one of my typical food or music posts, but I'm curious if other people feel like I do.

Lately I've just felt, for lack of a better word, out of it. I can't put my finger on one thing that's making me feel this way, but all I know is that it's frustrating to deal with. I feel bored, yet I want to go do something and even though I want to do something I have no motivation to do so.

Recently, I've also started up some of my old uncontrollable anxious habits. I'll yawn as if I'm trying to catch my breath, tighten my chest to push the air out of my lungs, and cough for no reason. They're all really annoying and happen on their own. A quick Google search told me I'm experiencing symptoms of anxiety, but what am I anxious about? Sure I've got things on my mind just like everyone else, find new job, cope with current job, move out, find love, lose weight, you know, average things. Unfortunately, I can't put my finger on what is behind my nervous habits.

There's a strong history of mental health problems on my mom's side, but I've always felt that my dad's calmness and stability was somehow passed down to my brother and I and that would protect me from some of that nasty stuff from my mom's side. Might be wishful thinking, but I feel that I may have gotten some of those mental issues. I know that medication can be helpful for some, but I don't want that for myself. I've always been of the holistic healing mindset and think that the practice of mind over matter would be more beneficial for me. Don't misunderstand though, I'm not talking waving my arms around and chanting kind of healing, I'll totally go to the doctor if I've got something wrong with me (if I had insurance), but I'd rather try and help heal myself without medication.

So I ask you, when you're feeling stressed, sad, anxious, nervous, jittery, what do you do to calm yourself?

I'll keep you all posted on my progress and what I come across that helps me. <3
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