My First Yoga Class!

I've been interested in yoga since about 1966. It was on TV and looked interesting. Years later, in high school we would all play around in gym class and do the lotus pose (more or less). Now I am a first degree black belt in Korean Karate -- that's a lot of karate classes. I also took ballet when I was growing up -- for eight years. I've run, golfed, "body-for-lifed", kick boxed... overall I've been a pretty active person.... how is it, then that I have never taken a Yoga class.

I think I just never "saw myself there"... last week that changed. I went to my first class. In class I felt sad at one point; sad that I had waited so long. Now I was old and stiff, and with a few too many extra pounds. What I could have done when I was younger... shhh a voice inside said: you can do it now... you are here NOW.

And that is what I learned at my first yoga class. To be nicer and more gentle and accepting of myself... and others. I thought that I would be the only one in class with limitations... but I could actually do some things that others couldn't. We all have limitations, different strengths and weaknesses and it's all okay. I am...we are... not better, not worse, not to be judged in yoga or in life.

I couldn't push myself, because I seem to have some kind of injury, a possible hernia or groin pull of some kind... so I had to take it easy... which made me feel even older. But it was okay, the class was good, and for just "laying around on the floor," stretching and relaxing it was quite a workout.
~~Namaste