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I remember walking into my first official yoga class when I was 15.  My mom and I went to what would now be considered “hot yoga flow.”  Back then I just thought it was called torture.  I was close to passing out halfway through too many of what looked liked push-ups and I hated the fact my mother looked more flexible than me–a 15 year old Varsity swimmer.  In fact the only memory I have of that class was the foot long turkey sandwich from Subway which I ate in less than 5 minutes immediately after because I was that hungry from the physicality of the practice.  Who knew yoga was hard?

Fast forward 6 years.  I was a Senior in college and running 30 miles a week. I read that yoga was a great way to stretch after a run so I began doing a few at home sessions from this website called, Yoga Download.  Besides the sparce class at home, I also enrolled a class in college which focused on Anatomy, Yoga and Pilates.  However, yoga still didn’t keep my attention and I seriously hated/ dreaded the ab portions of the classes.  So instead of continuing with yoga, I stuck with running.  Running was familiar and I loved improving with each mile I ran.  To me, yoga would never be my thing.

Now here I am. It is 2012.  I am on my way to finishing yoga teacher training and going to yoga 4-5 times a week.  I don’t run anymore.  SHOCKER! I know, right?  I was a running junkie.  You know the type: runners who purchased new shoes every season, only wore Nike outfits, and ran in sub zero degree Chicago weather because I “couldn’t miss a workout.”  I ran a half marathon, a 15k, a 10k, and six 5ks.  I ran so much that it stopped being fun and started becoming a chore.  I got anxious if I missed a run.  I would knock out HIIT (high intensity interval trainings) in 20 minutes on a treadmill, if that’s all the time I had.  My life revolved around running and not in a good way.  Last year, when I was visiting my parents, I couldn’t work out in any of the neighboring gyms because I had used up every single guest pass possibility that was offered.  All that was left for me was either a Jillian Michaels dvd or a yoga class.  I figured, what the hell, I’ll try it again and be open to the possibility.  That is when my life changed.  I went to a yoga flow class and got my butt kicked (in a good way).  I walked out feeling lighter, happier and confident. I was smiling ear to ear.  It didn’t matter that I had no clue what a Namaskar A was; I just followed along.  This was the moment I stopped allowing running to rule my life and I finally let yoga into my heart.  Once back in Chicago, I began working at a studio in order to take classes and build my practice.  SO now here I am.  A yoga junkie for a year.  Now, the only working out I do involves Surya A’s, B’s, Inversions, Backbends, Balancing postures and Savasana. I feel stronger. I feel healthier.  I don’t base my plans or day around whether I got a workout in, because now I choose to do yoga when I want, where I want.

My journey to yoga wasn’t easy.  It took many tries and a lot of patience.  But, I am in a happier place than ever before.

Thanks yoga for everything.

Shanti!

Lora