“Just Get On The Mat!”
Angie Pote, 200 RYT, Level 1 Certified Reiki
“Just Get on the Mat!”
Happy transformation Tuesday with Yoga by Angie. Anyone that truly knows me, knows that I am the queen of finding excuses to not workout. Yes, I have competed in fitness competitions and taught beach boot camps in Florida but when we moved to Illinois, I found every excuse in the books. Then life happened and I was told that I need to do yoga to find peace and calm my every roaming mind of mine. Excuse time…. Let me see, I think I had them all from, I don’t have a mat, I work 2 jobs, I just ate a big dinner, I can’t touch my toes, the list goes on and on and on.
When I was asked to start writing about yoga, I went to my friends on Facebook and most of the people wanted to know “how to get started with yoga”? Whelp, my answer will always be, just get on the mat. Yoga is for everyone no matter your shape, age or experience. There is some form of yoga for everyone. If you feel intimidated walking in to a studio, there are so many virtual avenues available you that allow you to practice at home especially now with COVID in our lives. You do not need the fancy lululemons in order to practice or the $150 Liforme mat, just throw on a pair of pants…or not (no one is judging and you are at home) and just practice.
When I first tried online yoga from home, I had a cheap, cheap yoga mat and slid all of the floor but no one could see me so, I did the best I could. My biggest advice is to just set up some space in your home to start your practice and keep your mat or even a blanket out in that space as a reminder. Sure, there will be times that you will ignore it, we are human, but with the reminder of it being out, it will encourage you to continue to travel back to it. Maybe after a long day at work, just go to it for 15 minutes and take a child’s pose (Balasana) or a short sun salutation (Surya Namaskar A or B). The best part is that this is your practice and your space. Hell, turn on some music and just move the body intuitively and feel it.
Now, if yoga at home is not your cup of tea or coffee, try out some studios around you. This is HUGE!!! Every studio is different. I have tried them all from the power studios and the one where you only practice one form of yoga, which I call, 106 degrees of non-stop flowing until you are just lying in a pool of sweat (oh the visual). Even the studios that cater to everyone with all styles from Hatha, Hot Yoga, Vinyasa Flows to Restorative and all the other styles which we will discuss in later posts. My advice to you is to find a studio that makes you feel safe and at home. There is nothing worse than going in to a studio and feeling judged or out of place. My goal as an instructor is to guide you on your path and in your practice. If we are starting a vinyasa class and you come in stressed and aching from a previous day workout, I am going to take that as you may need a little more grounding and stretching. The key is to communicate with your instructor and if you still want that flow class and move with the music then that is what we will do.
So, “how do you get starting with yoga?” Just get on the mat!! I will be there to guide you and to answer your questions or give advice. Namaste.