Food for Thought

A little less than a year ago, I took my first yoga class. I was in Hawaii over winter break and thought it would be a good way to break up my sloth-like vacation routine of eat/beach/read/eat/shop/eat/repeat. At the time, I didn't really have a fixed workout routine, other than going on long, meandering runs a few times a week, which was getting old pretty fast. And so, I wandered into the yoga studio straight off the beach, sun-soaked, a little groggy, swimsuit full of sand, and dubious about what I was about to get myself into. Fast forward almost a year later, and here I am, making sure I get to class at least 4 or 5 times a week, and mastering poses I never thought I'd be capable of, like headstand and crow. I'm more centered, calmer, and over time, my body has grown leaner, stronger, and more toned. I sit up straight. I remember to breathe. I smile at strangers (sometimes). It's been a seriously life-changing practice.

A lot of what I love about going to class, though, isn't necessarily about the movement or asana practice. It's about all the wisdom that comes out of it. Yoga puts a big emphasis on the mind-body connection, so almost every class is devoted to an idea or a thought. These thoughts are called sutras in yoga terms and they've been around for ages. There's something very grounding about practicing something so ancient. And since it's become such a big part of my life, I thought I'd share some of that wisdom with you now and again.

One of the central messages I get over and over again is about the power your mind has over everything in your life. When you choose to look at something in a slightly different light, there can be very significant effects. When you change your mind about something, everything around you shifts. It's like a domino effect. See it differently and it will BE different. I love that.

P.S. I practice at an amazing studio called Yoga Vida. Check it out if the mood ever strikes. xo