Discovering Yoga
I discovered my enthusiasm and love for yoga when I was going through a rough transition in my life, several years ago. Before that period, I had always been an avid runner, and loved any type of exercise that focused on cardio like running, skating, tennis, and kick boxing. I didn’t yet realize the power, and positive benefits of yoga. It seemed to me that yoga would be too slow for me.
I met my dear friend, and amazing yoga and pilates instructor, Kristin McGee at that time of my life. Kristin invited me to a class to try and witness the healing powers of yoga. It took me about two to three classes before I could really disconnect and put my worries aside and be in tune with my breathing, my mind, and my heart. After class I was ready to tackle a problem with clarity and focus. I found that yoga allowed me to challenge myself physically as I gained strength in my core, and the various muscle groups and joints in my body.
What Can Yoga Do For You?
Good for the bones: As a middle age female, maintaining bone strength and quality is very important. Yoga may be able to increase bone strength and bone density.
Core Strength: There are also moves like the “Tree pose” or “Warrior pose” which promote stretching, coordination, balance and help stabilize core, hip and leg muscles.
Joint Health: In addition to having positive effects on the mind, sleep and mood, yoga can benefit the musculoskeletal system. There have been studies also looking at how yoga can help with knee pain and stiffness as well as some types of arthritis like osteoarthritis, or degenerative arthritis when the cartilage in between the joints wears down over time. Yoga can reduce pain by having a positive impact on the fluid in the joint.
My First Peleton Yoga Experience
Live Streaming Yoga: While I would absolutely love to have the time to attend a physical class multiple times a week, I just can’t while being a working professional and a single mom. I am inspired every day by Kristin who incorporates yoga in her life. So with the new available online Peloton yoga classes, FITTING IT IN is much easier.
Start With The Basics: I was fortunate to take my first Peloton yoga beginner class right before Christmas and found it invigorating. It was helpful to really learn the movement sequences that are essential to this practice.
Importance of Proper Form: As I’ve gotten older, I have also noticed more aches and pains in my joints. Studying the poses with the right form, while strengthening my muscles and increasing joint flexibility, can help prevent future joint complications. Tools such as blocks, blankets and straps help me modify poses and avoid pushing my joints beyond a certain limit.
Back To Yoga Basics
While breathing and moving to Cat Steven’s, “Wild World” and the Beatles “In My Life” playing in the background, Kristin McGee helped me adjust my body to poses like:
- Cat-Cow and Cobra Pose
- Tree Pose (Vrksasana)
- Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)
- Downward-Facing Dog
- Plank/Side Plank
- Crescent Lunge (Anjaneyasana)
- Warrior I and Warrior 2 Pose (Virabhadrasana)
All of these poses can target muscle groups including the quadriceps, hamstrings, inner thighs, glutes, spinal muscles, forearms, shoulders, external obliques, abdominal and chest muscles.
The last Shavasana pose brought everything together and allowed me to meditate and be grateful for being present in the moment and for the upcoming New Year. Now that Peloton yoga can be streamed, I will definitely be fitting in my yoga multiple times a week.
GIVE IT A TRY! NAMASTE!!
Maggie
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