I am very grateful for yoga in my life. I could not have known, years ago when I began how it would (could) impact the way I think and live. It's been with me for several years now -- through ups and downs, hardships and heartbreaks, and the most amazing joys. It was with me through my entire pregnancy with Owen, and taught me a valuable lesson in humility. Just you try doing a chaturunga with 30+ extra lbs on your body. Try bringing yourself into chair pose with a belly the size of Texas. It was both comical and humbling. At one point, I could hardly see a thing over my belly and actually went to class with my pants on completely backwards.
But yoga was there, and made me feel good. I have learned a lot over the course of the years -- some things I like and admire about myself, and some things that are less appealing. When you are lying there face down on your mat in a mixture of exhaustion, sweat pools, and your own breath flowing back at you, many things become clear.
Today in class I was next to a man who was new to the practice. When he raised his hand to indicate that it was his first time I was not surprised... I thought he might not make it through. He began with vigor and zest, but about a quarter of the way into it I could hear him struggling. But he kept up. He did the entire class and I thought that was extremely badass. He was fortunate that his first class was with Jess. Regardless of skill level... whether tall, skinny, old, young, or extremely out of shape... he has a way of making each person in class feel valuable and strong. All that breathing and moving and twisting and reaching and stretching and folding is powerful stuff... and Jess adds a special touch that sends each of us back out into the world with a little extra spark. Today it made me happy.
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