Yoga Day 2

So, I went to yoga again. It was a lot different this time. I felt so much more comfortable because it wasn't a totally new place. I also had an easier time as far as the workout itself! I never felt dizzy or nauseous like I had yesterday. I felt pretty focused and motivated. I think I actually had a little bit of fun because I saw myself overcoming things I could NOT do yesterday. I also noticed I was able to focus on my breathing better, which kept me calmer and more focused on the positions - rather than panicked and totally unable to balance.

The people (teachers, owner, students...) at the studio are so nice too. The owner even remembered that I came for the 4:30 class yesterday. And the teacher remembered me too. Also, I met two people right before class today. The guy that I met had his last day of undergraduate college today so he was really excited. The lady was so sweet, asking how I was feeling after doing one day of it and asking what I think will get better and how it'll help me. They're so welcoming. It's fun! Vern, the owner, said the goal of the studio is to make Yoga the funnest part of the day. I like that. I can handle that :)

I bought myself a yoga mat today too. I told myself I'd hold off on that for a while to make sure I was really committing to this, but I'm so excited, and I REALLY wanna stick with it. (I hope I can afford it!)

Tomorrow Isabell (a friend from work) is joining me. I'm excited about having a friend with me!


On a deeper level:
I think our generation of Christ-followers has mostly grown away from silly rules and restrictions of associating with other religious practices, but still some might think it's odd that I practice yoga (yes, it is typically a religious practice... from India!). Here's my take, in brief - God has gifted people with the wisdom and knowledge of how to care for the body. For some reason, God gave yoga's founding fathers an amazing insight to the body; how wind is drawn and released, how muscles are built by contracting and relaxing, how minds are stabilized through rest. What these people have missed is that God created the body to be restored through these amazing processes and is, therefore, worthy of ALL praise and adoration. But because they've missed this point, should I avoid yoga completely? I say no - in actuality, the physical elements of yoga (the exercise part) honor God by proclaiming His product (the body) is a. worth taking care of and b. made in a way that could not have been done by anything/anyone other than a divide, all powerful, and creative being like Himself. For that, PrAiSe GoD!!!

Plus - what a GREAT place to show the love of God; a place where many are open to spirituality!

So... I press on - through the sweat, through the hurts (uh huh!), through the 90 minutes per day - toward a healthy body and better understand of God's complex creativity.

"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another."
- Walter Elliott