As a fitness studio owner whose gym specializes in butt-kicking workouts like P90X and Insanity, I can speak firsthand about the power of yoga. I’ve been practicing yoga myself for 7 years, having come to it in complete chronic pain. I had been dealing with daily headaches for a while, and had found no relief despite preventative medications, painkillers, anti-seizure IV infusions, Botox for migraine, and even surgeries. A coworker recommended I try yoga, as it was offered in my corporate workplace during lunch hour, so I did. At that time, I was open to just about anything that could ease the pain.
What I discovered in my first class was that my preconceived notions of yoga were completely incorrect. I had imagined a voodoo, tree hugging instructor, and a class where we did toe touches and backbends and Oms. Instead, it was freakin’ hard. It was a workout. Balancing and stretching, strength and breathing. By the end of the 60 minutes, my body was tired, in the best of ways, and feeling refreshed. And the best part? It was the first time I had been distracted long enough to forget about my headache pain. And for that reason alone, I went back a second time.
It’s interesting now, when folks see photos or videos of me doing crazy arm balances and they find it so impressive. They say things like, “I could never do that!” or “And that’s why I don’t go to yoga. Sheesh!” What they don’t see is the years and the diligence it has taken me to gain the strength, the flexibility, and the focus to do these postures.
That, my friends, directly correlates to the fitness journey as a whole.
Often, people see things demonstrated on TV, or by a fitness professional on Instagram, and they think, “No way I could do that!” What hardly EVER gets shared is the falling, the face planting, and the practice it’s taken to become stronger.
Yoga has taught me to slow down and to embrace the journey. It has taught me that pushing myself with heavy weights and high intensity cardio 24/7 does not always mean taking care of my body. It has taught me how to focus, literally, and that balancing on one leg (much like balancing your life) is easier with steady breathing and a level head.
I teach 9 classes per week, and the classes I teach, as I mentioned earlier, are much higher in intensity than a yoga class. We do squats, lunges, jumps, push-ups, and everything in between. But here’s the thing… I can tell who in the room does yoga and who doesn’t not.
When we do a one-legged deadlift, my yogis keep their eyes focused on something in front of them, breathe steadily, and have great form. My non-yogis struggle and huff and puff, forcing themselves through the movement.
When we do a 2-minute wall squat, my yogis close their eyes and breathe in through their nose and out through their nose, and let their minds go somewhere else. They make it the full 2 minutes. My non-yogis take several breaks, complain, yell, and sometimes give in before the time is up.
This, my friends, translates directly into how we live our lives. Whether we push through things and huff and puff to get things done, or we embrace each moment and do so with gratitude and grace.
I use my yoga practice on an airplane, when I’m feeling tense.
I tap into it when I wake up, and when I go to sleep.
It’s way more than touching your toes. In my case, it’s given me perspective. For you? Who knows. You must start and stick with it long enough to find out.
Yours in Health & Fitness,
Jenny Swisher
Founder, Body Electric
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