i now understand the hype – celebrate yoga month

Posted: September 3, 2010 at 4:06 pm

September not only boasts the 30 Days of Self-Love here on Faith, Fitness, Fun, but also the celebration of yoga. It’s Yoga Month! You can even get FREE classes so check out www.yogamonth.org!

National Yoga Month Awareness Campaign to inspire a healthy lifestyle. Hundreds of event every September  [source=yogamonth.org]

I took part in some yoga today, just as I do every Friday. I even went out of my way today. Normally I go to the basic yoga class at my gym, but M wouldn’t allow it today. I got through 20 minutes of the class before I felt a tap tap tap on my shoulder. Someone had a bit of a ‘tude problem today and didn’t want to hang out in the childcare. I had to pack up my mat and head home with her. I wouldn’t allow that to stop me from downward dogging it! Thank goodness for resources like yogadownload.com. I tacked on another 20 minutes of free yoga with Baptiste Power Flow Yoga #3.

Instructor YogaDownload

May not have been ideal, but it worked. It felt so nice to stretch out my legs and lower back. My lower back needs all the help it can get with the growing bump.

IMGP6658

I admit that I found myself scrounging around for yoga options interesting. 6 months ago I would have scoffed at even taking the time to try yoga. I finally gave in and can no longer debate its benefits. It has only affirmed many of the things I believe and opened my horizons to new views of fitness.

You don’t have to sweat buckets to have a good workout. After my first class, I hurt! Holding moves and supporting your body weight definitely provide a challenge. I remember having to hold a deep chair pose for an interminable amount of time my first class. Talk about leg strength.

[source]

It really does stretch you out and improve other areas of fitness. My hamstrings always get tight. It annoys me greatly, yet nothing ever seemed to work. Until yoga. I still have a ways to go in flexibility, but I can notice a marked improvement since I took that first class. I also don’t have to deal with soreness all the time and have it affect my other workouts.

It revitalizes energy and positivity. I can’t imagine leaving yoga class feeling worse than when I came. I always end with a big smile on my face and a pure feeling of empowerment. Perhaps it lies in the extra time to reflect peacefully or really feeling the strength in my body. I don’t know for certain what yoga does, but it’s something magical that’s for certain.

[source]

Yoga draws me out of my comfort zone, which strengthens me in ways beyond physical fitness. I am not that great at it. I could improve by leaps and bounds, but it doesn’t matter. I don’t have to worry about any of that. My other workouts, when not pregnant, tend to be about pushing myself to new limits and seeing what I can achieve. Yoga, on the other hand, challenges me but at the same time allows me to just be. I know I can use that in my life, so I don’t foresee yoga going anywhere anytime soon.

  • Do you like yoga? If you haven’t tried it is there something holding you back?
  • What’s something that pushes you out of your comfort zone but helps you in some way?
  • I will still be posting the 30 Days messages on Saturday and Sunday so please keep an eye out and participate! They might not post until around 12 noon EST though as I don’t wake up to write on weekend mornings.

Have a great weekend all! For my US counterparts, enjoy the 3 days off and the start of college football! 😀

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43 Comments to “i now understand the hype – celebrate yoga month”
  1. i looooooooove yoga! i don’t do it nearly enough but i truly enjoy it!

    i’ve been doing this workout called Willpower and Grace and it totally kills me every time! i love it!

  2. Your bump is beautiful! You really are glowing! How far along are you?
    I love yoga. I started back in January and haven’t looked back. It makes me feel so good. I try to do it 1-2 times a week.

  3. I love yoga so much. I need to get into practicing it more consistently–it really calms me down!!

  4. I recently started loving yoga a few or maybe couple months ago. Now I love it so much. I haven’t taken a class but that is definitely on my To Do list.

    What put me off of it forever was b/c I started w/ Pilates and I’m not a fan at all! I thought they were one and the same. Oops. 🙂

  5. I do like yoga, but I usually just wing it at home. I’ve never taken a class because I can’t find one near me! The times or locations either don’t work with my work schedule, or they are too expensive. My therapist has recommended that I try yoga to help quiet the anxious thoughts that just fill my head sometimes. For now, I just sit quietly with my legs crossed and calm myself that way 🙂

  6. 12 years ago i walked into my 1st yoga class. I was a cardio girl, a party girl, an impatient girl, i was trying to get “long and lean”. I already was but I thought I needed more and it seemed to be something new to try. So glad I did. Fell in love w/ it, it changed my life, 6 mos later I was in Costa Rica in the amazon for a month getting my first 200 Hrs Teacher Credential.

    Then I had a natural childbirth and amazing pregnancy thanks in part to all yoga has given me. Not counting the morning sickness of course 🙂

    Then last year, I got my 500 Hr teacher credential. Yoga has given me more gifts than the physical. I can stand on my elbow with my legs behind my head. That’s not hard. What’s hard is being mindful, present, and accepting limitations and life as it come. I have a big Yoga Faq’s post on my site about all of this 🙂

    love that youre lovin’ it!

  7. Carolyn says:

    I love yoga! No better time than yoga month to start practicing more regularly, right? It really helps me mind, body and spirit! I’m not sure why I slacked off. Thanks for the motivation!

  8. Kim says:

    I LOVE yoga!! I personally prefer more flowy and challenging yoga though. But it is such an amazing workout! I did an hour on Wednesday and I’m still sore from that session! I’m just sorry I waited so long before trying it out!

    • Tina says:

      I like flowy too. The class I take normally is a bit more like that with the exception of some poses being held for longer periods. I love the feeling after it too. I was amazed how sore you can get from it!

  9. i’ve only done yoga a handful of times, but i can definitely see why people love it. yogadownload looks really interesting, i’ll have to check it out!

  10. Kimberly says:

    I love yoga so much that I am almost done with my 200hr. teacher training!! Woohoo!! I go to Arizona the end of this month for a week long retreat. Yoga has helped me in so many ways that I can’t even begin to describe 🙂

  11. homecookedem says:

    I am so in love with yoga!! I do my prenatal yoga DVD once a week. It always makes me feel soooooo good and I love how the instructor tries to really connect the mamas to the baby in their belly.

  12. Hi there! Thanks for checking out my blog (:
    You are gorgeous! I love that black tank top on you.
    I like yoga a lot… I just never end up doing it! I took yoga as a “PE” credit in college and it was amazing- I felt so great and my body felt wonderful the day after class. I think that was the last time I have done it, unfortunately- that was over a year ago!
    I would love to get back into it.

    • ohh, I just read your about me section!! Maybe your baby will be born on my bday?! January 16th here! holllla!
      I love chic lit, too! I have a feeling we would be wonderful friends 🙂

      • Tina says:

        Yoga for the “PE” credit in college sounds perfect! What a great way to relax and get out tension…and get credit. LOL

        I wish I had more time to read these days. I love my books. 🙂

  13. I love yoga! I typically get into it more when the weather gets colder.

  14. Yoga is one of my new favorite things. I love that it is simple yet something that I can always get better at. I am definitely not good at the challenge and balancing poses but I love that I can do my own modifications and it is something that I strive for. I love how I feel in Savasana after a really challenging class. Good for the body and the soul!!

  15. janetha says:

    AH you are the cutest pregnant gal EVER! love the photo. i have never tried yoga.. i NEED to, i am not sure what is holding me back!

  16. Today I went to yoga for the first time in two years! It was so great. It was hard, but so relaxing too. My only problem is that my hands and feet slide all over the place 🙁

    • Tina says:

      If you go to Averie’s blog (she has a comment a few above you) she has a great FAQ section about yoga on her site. I’m pretty sure she talked about hands/feet slipping in it. I always just use a towel to wipe my hands and feet down as much as possible but I’m sure there are better tips.

  17. Penny Lane says:

    I LOVE yoga! My first yoga was MTV Yoga which is quite good and I still do it today, but since I get bored so easily with workout DVD’s I do it once every few weeks. I have never had problem with flexability until doing the Insanity program and Now the only thing I can do to stretch out is Yoga. I am unable to go as deep, but I hope with more classes I will regain my flexability.

    Thanks for the heads up on the Yogamonth! I posted on Intrinsic Beauty:) Look forward to tomorrow.

  18. That’s the best website!
    And I was definitely hesitant about yoga too… but I started doing it at a time where my life was crazy and stressful and it REALLY helped. Plus, my flexibility drastically improved!!

  19. andi says:

    look at the bump! you look wonderful, my dear. I love yoga but can’t seem to make it to a class as often as I would like. I am on the hunt for a good yoga DVD to do at home, though! I don’t feel comfortable enough yet to rely on podcasts. 🙁

    • Tina says:

      I did one of the video ones on yogadownload. I can’t do the podcasts yet either. I don’t know all the poses well enough plus I’m a VERY visual person.

  20. I love yoga. I fell in love in January with hot yoga but I have been doing a lot of yoga from YogaDownload at home because of schduleissues.. and it’s also SUPER expensive to go to hot yoga class here so at home yoga is the best 🙂

  21. Your bump is so beautiful! You look absolutely glowing in that pic, so gorgeous! I do like yoga but it took me a while to get there as I found it quite tough to begin with. I love yoga download as quicker sessions fit in with my life really well. I couldn’t imagine life without yoga for runners now x

    • Tina says:

      I like the idea of doing shorter sessions more frequently. I’ve thought about trying to do a few sun salutation series each day to stretch myself out but then never end up committing to it. I always feel like I need that yoga stretch so bad by Friday.

  22. Lee says:

    You look so cute!

    I have been to a few yoga classes. I am really inflexible though and I get more frustrated than anything. I know that if I keep going, it’ll help with that, but I just never do. Although I told a friend I’d go with him and his wife next Tuesday. So, we’ll see.

  23. it’s been a while since i’ve gotten myself on the mat, but i do love yoga. especially restorative!

  24. Tina, you look great!!! I love yoga, but I am not disciplined with doing it. I used to do it everyday for about 20 minutes. I really need to get back at it again. It feels so good afterwards! Have a great weekend! Enjoy the weather!

  25. Heather says:

    I have dabbled in it at home but never in a class setting, I am too chicken and dont want to pay the money. I know it would benefit me though…maybe one day.

  26. Oh you just look adorable! Such a cute bump:)

    I like yoga but I tend to get a bit bored if it goes for too long. Like I couldn’t do an hour of it. Which is why I often pick pilates……although there are quite a few pilates moves that you can’t do while pregnant (anything on your back that involves lifting your legs) since it can cut oxygen off to the baby!

    • Tina says:

      They do a short pilates section in my yoga class I take at the gym. I either lay on the mat and rest during that time or sit off to the side for that 10 mins and read. LOL Sometimes its uncomfortable laying there!

  27. Heather says:

    Hey silly, I forgive you! You’ve been a little busy & really my blog is just my rambling so I don’t expect folks to keep up 😉 Love ya & all you are doing to motivate & inspire!!!!

    Now pass the dang candy corn! hahaha

  28. You are beautiful! I need to do more yoga! Something to work on!!

    • Tina says:

      Thank you! And I’m always working on yoga too. Flexibility is by far my weakest point. When I get back to my more serious workouts to lose the baby weight, I know I’m going to have to add in as much yoga as my body will allow to help stretch it out. It really does help. Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend. 🙂

  29. Ela says:

    Brief post – company coming, crazy busy, love you, am so grateful.
    love
    Ela

    http://ulteriorharmony.blogspot.com/2010/09/reflections-on-self-love-4-trusting-our.html

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