{Photo from my trip to the San Francisco Japanese Tea Garden last year}
Having grown up in a culture where things such as yoga and meditation aren't prevalent, I never thought I'd be so into something I had no exposure to for the *ahem* 29 years of my life. But I find myself mesmerized with this thing my darling friend Bella calls yoga.
I do admit I was drawn to it mostly because Miss Bella is the sweetest, most positive soul on this Earth who has the most amazing posture and grace. She is always so calm and simply radiates. So one day when I asked her how she got such amazing posture she said, "yoga!" Well, Miss Bella is not just any yogi, she's a body worker who also teaches teachers who teach yoga. So one could say she knows a thing or two about this stuff.
Miss Bella invited me to a yoga bootcamp last weekend and I must admit, being a beginner...ok strike that, being someone who's never attended a yoga class I was a whole lot nervous. But she reassured me I'd be fine. Being as I trust her completely, I agreed and showed up with yoga mat and yoga blocks (I didn't even know such a thing existed) in tow. Well, let's just say Bella put me through my paces, but I obviously enjoyed myself enough to go back today for more of that bendy, stretchy stuff.
I had a back injury when I was 18 which if I'm not careful, causes regular backpain I've learned to avoid. Mostly by not doing anything too strenuous or through muscle relaxers. I tend to baby my back and as a result I'm the least flexible person I know. Well, with the help of dear Miss Bella, that is changing!
Today, I woke up as usual, with a little bit of back discomfort, and stiffness. Usually it goes away within 30 minutes or so of moving around, but the fact I notice it every morning bothers me. I made some tea, quickly walked the doggie and headed to Los Gatos to Bella's studio for my Yin yoga lesson. Yin yoga is a mild form of yoga that is used to stretch the connective tissue. It helps to, as Miss Bella explained it, elongate the muscles which due to my desk job, seem to be well...not so elongated hence my lack of flexibility.
It's always a treat to see the pretty Bella and even more of a treat to listen to her. She has a soothing voice that can put me to sleep. But sleep I did not, instead I stretched to my hearts content. I even assumed a position I'd not been able to do in YEARS! You know the one, when you lie on your back and put your legs over your head when you're a kid because you think it's the funnest thing ever - when the lights are out and the Ninento isn't working that is. Uh huh, this not-so-flexible gal plowed! That's what the position is called "plow". Granted I didn't do it perfectly but I did it! And I'm going to practice it until I can do it! I wanna make my teacher proud.
Not only am I enjoying the benefits of flexibility, but with yoga comes meditation. I'm learning to be in the present, calm and center myself and become less reactive. Less reactive is a good thing for this type-A girl of Latin decent. All I do is react! But meditation teaches you to not react to such things as an itchy nose, and not fidget which comes in handy when I feel the sudden need to express myself in a not so pleasant manner when someone annoys me.
In short...welcome to my evolution.
Namaste
I am so happy that you're gaining your flexibility and I have to say that you're looking fabulous as of late! And all of the looks that you were getting on Saturday let you know that you were doing something right. I thought some of them might get whiplash. LOL!
Just don't get "too" skinny or I'll have to drop you as a friend. HA HA
Posted by: Andrea Oda | March 15, 2010 at 08:44 AM