Yoga For Mules
There's a reason Greg calls me, Mule. Oh, sure. I can lift, tote, and work all day without a break. But I'm also as stubborn as that proverbial beast of burden.
Two months ago, I would've bet cash money that yoga would be another failed attempt to relieve the pain in my knee and back. I was so wrong.
Yoga is not a miracle cure. It didn't give me instant mobility or relief, but I noticed improvement within two sessions. By the end of the week, I was sleeping all night--something I've not been able to do in FIVE years. My knee is also stronger and doesn't fatigue as quickly. It's still grinding bone on bone, but the muscles have grown so strong, they support the joint almost effortlessly.
I go 5-6 days a week. Only once did I miss a week when we had several catastrophes on the home front that required my attention.
I am a terrible student. That's no exaggeration. I really am bad. This is not for lack of trying, but because my brain is wired backward when it comes to body mechanics and I have no balance whatsoever.
I persevere because I've seen such dramatic improvement that drugs, surgeries, or therapy have not given me. Even when I don't want to go, I know it'll make me feel better if I do.
Despite how it looks, yoga is very difficult to do well. And as soon as you master one posture, there's always an advanced posture that will put that ego on the curb.
Probably the thing I like best about yoga is that for at least one hour, it's all about me. It's about my body and how far I want to push it. For sixty whole minutes I am the only person that matters. It wasn't until I started training that I realized how far down on the list I had put myself.
That's sad. We're always doing for others. How often do we think of ourselves first?
Try yoga if:
• You have injuries. There are no jarring moves. Every posture is done slowly and with control. You go as far as you feel you are able. No one judges you.
• You need alone time. Even though it's a group class, you really are alone with your thoughts and focus. In the beginning I used to notice how everyone else was doing. Now they all disappear when I concentrate on myself.
• You're not afraid to work hard. Yoga is a journey. Master one posture and there'll always be something new to challenge you. Me, I'd be happy if I can balance on one foot without falling over.
• You're under stress. Believe this from a dyed-in-the-wool, Type A personality. No matter how much stress I'm under, it literally dissolves when I spend an hour in practice.
Yoga has improved my posture, breathing, pain, and stress level. Oh, and I'm losing weight too.
So that's my testimony. Many of you have been with me through countless surgeries and physical therapies, but this is the only thing that truly helped. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It's not for everyone, but give it a full week of practice before you make a decision.
It changed my life.
What form of exercise do you like to do? How long have you been doing it?
Comments
My best stress relief now is jogging. I've been doing it forever it seems.
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Rula: I'm so glad to hear it helped your friend's husband. It gives me hope that in a year's time I'll be in a better place too.
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Melissa: I've never heard of Barre, but I like that combination.
I might've spared myself a lot of pain if I'd started earlier.
PS I've always wanted to learn Tai Chi, but there's no one local to teach it.
BTW you are not the only "Mule", every female I know, myself included, puts their needs and their health at the bottom of a very long list of taking care of things we consider more important. Namely our family members, our pets and our property usually come first and then when we are "forced" to do something for ourselves we finally do. If we are lucky we take care of ourselves before we do damage that cannot be helped or repaired.
Good for you that yoga is working where medical science did not 100%!
I cycle four or five times a week. It's funny because when hubby suggested we get bikes I asked him if he had rocks in his head. Now, several years later, I've worn out two sets of tires and his bike sits gathering dust.
You identify a few of the best things about practicing yoga. It is all about being in tune with your body - and your spirit - and your energy. It is so calming. And you don't lie when you say it is much more difficult than it looks! When a girlfriend first asked me to go to a yoga class with her, I balked. I figured I would humor her and sit in some 'peace-love-and-happiness' pose and count the minutes until the class was over. Boy, was I wrong! I realized quickly how much strength and balance yoga requires. It hooked me from that first class.
So glad you've had such a positive experience and results. :}
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Jackie: Doesn't it seem we spend all our time taking one test after another? It's frustrating. I hope you get some answers soon.
Greg introduced me to cycling too. This was back when he used to ride 100 mile marathons. --something I could never do. But it was fun until we moved South. Around here you only bike early-early in the morning, or the winter.
But this yoga is strictly strength and balance building. It calms you I think because you work so hard to complete the posture.
Yeah, I still smile when people tease me that it's all 'peace-love-and-happiness'.
You have to do it only once to cure that fallacy.
The first couple of sessions, my back wouldn't straighten out either. It would cramp on me as it adjusted to being placed flat. Like you, it shocked me. I had no idea my body was so misaligned.
If yoga isn't for you, I recommend Tai Chi. I love the fluid movements, and like Jim above said, it really does work.
I'm very happy to hear that you have achieved some relief, Maria. Congratulations.
-Jimmy
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Jimmy: Treadmill, eh? Are you a runner? I imagine it's always nice weather in California.
I run my treadmill in order to keep the middle age off of my belly and sides. Lol! :)
-Jimmy
I went from sleeping four hours a night to seven. I am in heaven.
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Raelyn: We need to start a yoga club where we keep track of each other. :)
Like you, I have a clothes caddy, LOL.