I am also a yoga student.
I put off taking my first class. My excuses: my family couldn't possibly live without me for 1 hour and 15 minutes on a Sunday morning and my back hurt too much. Hello! Isn't yoga all about making the body feel better? The truth be told, I was afraid. Afraid it would hurt. Afraid I wouldn't be able to do it. Afraid my classmates, or worse, the teacher would laugh at me. Afraid I would pass gas and embarrass myself. Then, I found out I was pregnant. Then, I found out I wasn't pregnant. I was on an emotional roller coaster. So, I set aside my fears and went to my first class. I'll share all of those details another time but to make a long story short, I found just what my body and mind needed. The pregnancy ended up being ectopic and I had emergency surgery just 2 days after my first class. Again, I was on that roller coaster this time with exercise restriction. It took me another month or so but I went back to that class. Four and half years later, my patient teacher is now my mentor and a very dear friend. She has taught me that I can do anything I put my mind to -- with the right props of course.
So to my current students, thank you for facing any fears you might have had and coming to class anyway. To my friends and acquaintances that always say they are coming but never do, what is stopping you? And to the casual reader that never intends to spend a single second on the mat, please find another activity that you can love. One that will treat you well, nourishing your body, mind, and spirit. Run, walk, bike, swim, lift weights, learn karate, the possibilities are endless.
Namaste!
