Essential Yoga at the DAHLC

Today, as a way to connect with others and meet a friend for some accountability, I attended a yoga class at the DAHLC instead of doing my own practice. Or maybe not instead of - maybe in addition to . . . the day has a few usable hours remaining!

Thank you to the instructor, Julie. Her gentle yet assertive personality and presence allowed peace to settle in the room as she spoke over childs-posers (and whichever other poses people took to begin their class - I was working on myself and working on letting go - is that an oxymoron? - of what others were doing.)   I am so grateful to have practiced in a room full of others today. Certainly, I was reminded of my tendencies to compare/contrast, look to others rather than listen for instruction and allow my body to follow, and the consciousness that others are around me (including colleagues and clients) and may be judging me.  More importantly, I was very much at ease in class today - more than I have been in perhaps any yoga class (or group fitness class???) in a long while.  How so?  I was more confident in my body's ability to move in and out of the poses, people of all shapes-sizes-abilities were in attendance, and I blocked my view of self in the mirror to tune in to my body by awareness.  Several tools are available to students in the studio where the practice is held, and I used yoga blocks and a sitting/kneeling pad with very little misgiving or condemnation toward myself! #SelfCompassion success! More often than usual, I was able to close my eyes and move through the flow, listening to the instructor and moving with as much grace, strength, balance, and fluidity I could muster without being overly controlling.

I give partial credit to the 30 for 30 challenge and my mostly-consistent-almost-daily practice for the last few weeks.  Thank you, #YogaInternational, for the #30for30 #yogachallenge.  I look forward to my remaining 10 practices from this particular challenge, as well as MUCH more yoga in the coming days, months, and years. :)

@CoachBurow #mindbodyhealth #DAHLCwellness @theDAHLC