The Yoga Experience

I started practicing yoga about two years ago. I had long contemplated beginning the practice as the mental and physical discipline appealed to me, along with health benefits that have been well documented. I bought a couple of DVDs and began trying to practice on my own ... with limited success. Finally, about a year and a half ago, I began taking classes with an instructor. This was extremely useful and I learned very quickly that yoga practice can be as easy or as difficult as you want it to be.

A good friend and teacher who had started a Healthy Living Club in our school asked if I would be willing to lead yoga classes for teachers and students. I was astounded, as I was nothing but a novice, and not a very good one at that ... but, long story short ... I have been leading classes for six months. The kids and teachers who attend claim to like it very much. Last year we had a local television station come and film a class and interview a number of students and teachers in attendance (I avoided the cameras thankfully). We had over 50 students in class that day, and I can tell you that it's NOT easy leading that many in a yoga class.

Yoga, of course, is known at least partially for its descriptive and interesting pose names ... for example the pose Downward Facing Dog (Ahdo Mukha), Cobra, Double Pigeon, and of the course everybody's favorite, the "resting" pose (Svasana) which is also called the "corpse" pose.

Warrior I & II (and occasionally, when I'm feeling brave, Warrior III) poses are also quite popular with the students ... they are not physically demanding, but do teach balance and coordination.

I generally go through 10-15 minutes of good stretching after the beginning meditation. Then I'll do a few Sun Salutes, Warriors, or maybe some variations on parts of the Sun Salute sequence ... wrap up with some back poses ... bridges & back stretches and then finally the resting. All in all about 45 minutes ... which seems just about right.

Who'd of thought years ago that I'd end up leading a yoga class?? Not me that's for sure.