Once upon a time I seriously questioned the ability to improve my energy with yoga. I thought all I needed was a good night of sleep, a healthy diet, managed stress, regular intense exercise, balanced social life and I was ready to face whatever the world threw my way. So what if during my undergrad at UW LaCrosse in the early ‘80s I took a stress management class and practiced a lot of “relaxation” exercises that worked. It’s irrelevant that the information had to be presented as relaxation exercises so that the term “meditation” wouldn’t scare all of us away!!
Fast forward over 25 years later and I’m now teaching yoga to inner city high school kids that understand the obvious – yoga works – focusing inward gives us the ability to find our center, to stay balanced amidst the chaos, to see the bigger picture. It gives us the energy to do everything we need to get done! One of my high school students recently wrote in a final exam, “…I remember a time when I laughed at the idea that yoga would become an important part of my life. I can’t imagine dealing with life (parents, teachers, boyfriend, friends, work) without it. I used to be negative, I hated school. I get that all I have to do is take a few deep breaths and realize I can deal with all of it. Yoga is what recharges my battery. After a few minutes nothing else matters…. I am so thankful for yoga.”
She said it all – remember that regardless of what happens in life take time to breathe deeply and be present.
Namaste
Mary
