I’ve done yoga on and off since college, and my body usually tells me when it’s time for me to go back “on”. I can feel it in my neck, my hips, my back, and especially in my mind. My concentration becomes poor, my attention to detail goes out the window, and I find it hard to remember the things I need to do. I’ve been feeling like that lately, so I know it’s time to go back.

Yoga is great for me. If you’ve never gone, and you’re feeling stressed or stiff, you should give it a shot. I’d advise at least going to one or two formal classes until you get your positioning down. Don’t worry – the classes aren’t nearly as intimidating as you might think. Find a beginners or level 1 class, get there a few minutes early to get a good spot, and just relax! Don’t worry if you can’t bend as far as the instructor, or need to release your poses a few seconds early. Listen to your body and don’t push it further than it wants to go.

Your instructor will probably start with some variety of a sun salutation. The sun salutation is a series of poses meant to energize the body. The sequence includes some standing positions, some lunge type movements, and some low to the ground poses as well. It’s a great way to wake your body up and get ready for the deeper stretches that will come during the rest of the class.

My favorite part of yoga classes is always Shavasana, or the “Corpse Pose”. The last ten or so minutes of each class are spent laying on the floor in meditation. You’re encouraged to release your muscles, release your mind, and focus only on your breathing. For some women, this is the only time all week where they do not have to be concerned with their to-do lists. It’s great to be able to just BE. You might fall asleep – I do, if I’ve had a hard week – but you’ll awaken refreshed.

Once you feel comfortable with your poses, you can continue your practice at home. Practicing at home has some pros and cons. On the pro side, you don’t have to pay anything and can do it whenever you want. On the con side, you might be less motivated that you would if you were paying money to attend a class, or you might have distractions at home (kids, pets) which make it harder to relax. It’s really personal preference. I do better in a group setting.

Thank goodness for our local drop-in studio! I think I’ll go to a class tonight.

Namaste!