I had been playing soccer for close to 13 years, before I decided to move on to just running. Slowly, but surely, despite being a 16-year-old, I began to run into many injuries along the way. Ankles, knees, hips, even my spleen. It becomes quite frustrating when you are not able to love what you do. That’s when my mom stepped in (as they always do, right before you crash), and offered to take a yoga class with me at Inner Power Yoga, a studio very close to my hometown in Northern Virginia. It was by no means an extensive class, but after 75 minutes of breathing, sweating and about 10 minutes of savasana, I was hooked. Here I am, 4 years later and I can’t get enough.
It wasn’t easy in the beginning. Some days were good, some not so great. Some days I would pool sweat, and other days I would become quite anxious and frustrated that all I was doing was stretching and laying down. I figured out quickly, especially coming from years and years of intense physical activity, that I needed more. That’s when I landed across a Vinyasa styled class at Inner Power. In 90 minutes, I walked away feeling strong, sweaty, sore and accomplished. Now that’s what I want to do.
But again, some days are good and others are bad. Some days I can jump into a completely straight fore-arm stand, and other days I can barely balance on one foot. But that’s what I love so much about yoga, is that it’s okay. I once had a teacher say to me, “the hardest part of yoga is 99% showing up, the other 1% is the physical practice.” So that’s what I did, I kept showing up.
As a college student, I struggle. A lot. I don’t love my body, I don’t make good eating choices, I miss my mom and my dogs, and I miss a bed that doesn’t need a 2 in. mattress topper. Classes are hard and the lack of sleep makes it no easier. Relationships come and go. Hell, I’ve even been to three schools in my first three semesters away. Talk about stressful. But what has stayed constant throughout my entire college career has been yoga.
And of course, sometimes it’s hard in the morning to get out of bed to go to a studio, and even harder at night after 12 hours on campus. But I learned (and truly, am still learning) that the daily practice of yoga is therapeutic to me. When I continue a daily practice, I not only feel more confident and strong in my body, but it makes me want to be better. It makes me want to do better. To practice harder to stand up in that pose. To make a more healthy dinner tonight. To go out with friends and be in the moment, without the stress and anxiety of extra calories. I allow myself to accept who I am, body and mind. The practice of yoga allows encouragement and self-worth, reminding me that I am strong enough. I am enough.
And I hope that these words can do this for you too.
on and off the mat 