Yoga Story

In my efforts to be better I have managed to ride my bike do some yoga every other day this week. A year ago I wrote a post about when and how I started practicing yoga. It was originally posted on a blog I was working on called “Thoughts about self.”  I will have some additional thoughts about how yoga has affected me personally. Until then give this a read.

I began my practice after sustaining an injury during roller derby practice. Now that I think about, the first time I did yoga was about 6 years old.

I lived with my parents and two sisters in a small apartment in Brooklyn, NY. When my younger sister and I were being particularly annoying, my mother would put on exercise videos and tell us to follow along. I remember bending myself into various positions copying Raquel Welch. Totally excited that after the video, I could reach past my toes and even get into full lotus.

I didn’t know that what I was doing was called yoga. I just knew I liked it.

Fast forward to 2007-2008, not exactly sure of the year. Out of the Army and into my undergrad program, a friend asked me to go with her to a yoga class. I hated it. It was too slow and I could only do half of the poses. I felt like I wasted my time. I forgot all about the videos I followed along with as a child. All I knew was that downward dog upset me. I only remember going once more then deciding that it wasn’t for me.

For our anniversary (2011) my husband and I went to a roller derby match. That night I decided to tryout for the team in January. I made team. Practicing four days week caused a great deal of aches and pains, and bruises. The knee pain was difficult but I was able to deal. We were tough roller girls!! At one particular practice. I dropped onto my right knee pretty hard. Hearing a pop and scared of permanent damage, I requested an MRI.

The procedure showed no damage but revealed a fluid filled cyst behind my knee cap. Off to physical therapy I go. Six weeks of stretching and weight training later, the physical therapy assistant told be to work on balance, my posture, and stretching. We also talked about making sure that my strength and mobility was equal on both sides. I asked her if I should do yoga and her response was “Only if you don’t want to see me every six months when you hurt yourself.” I talked to some other skaters and was directed to a studio.

The studio I ended up at is a Baptiste Power Yoga affiliate. It was difficult but after an hour I felt like I got a good work out.

I continued to to attend classes and every thing changed. I began to sleep better. I started to stand up taller. I was clear headed and I was calming down a lot sooner than normal. Off and on for a few years I stretched and I breathed.

June 1, 2015, I found out that I was pregnant with my son. I attempted to practice for another month but the vertigo I thought was gone resurfaced and I was always lightheaded. That was the healthiest I had been my whole life and now I couldn’t stand to be bent over in the heat.

I attended a prenatal yoga class at another studio but did not find myself engaged as I once was. I continued to attend to stretch out my sore hips.

After the birth of my son I went back to my preferred studio and something wasn’t right. I was unable to stay on my mat. I was super aware of everyone else in the room. I felt I was surrounded by people auditioning for a lulu lemon or alo yoga commercial.

I need a new practice, I need a home practice. I have tried this before but I felt that I was too distracted. Now with a small child in the house I will be even more distracted than usual.