Do I really have the energy for this today?
That is the first question we all ask ourselves before we enter the gym and perhaps, right after putting on our cute new workout outfit for the day. I know from personal experience that I mistook the importance of moving your body and thought it was not something I needed to prioritize. I felt content with how I looked and felt, so why would I need to work on something that did not need improvement? That mindset? A red flag would have been better because at least it’s bright, red and somewhat obvious. My mindset was my first and only obstacle even if it did not seem that way in the beginning.
Once your mindset changes, you won’t immediately feel the urge to workout or sprint around your local park at 9 am. That’s definitely not going to happen but the first step to exercising your body is to exercise your brain to not think of it as a chore. This was a difficult step that took me far too long to accept; do not feel bad, you are not alone!
After coming to terms with what I needed, which for me was to move my body because I was tired of always being tired, I did what every newbie does after putting on my biking shorts: Youtube.
After coming to terms with what I needed, I settled for a 12 minute power workout for my legs. To say I was unhappy would be an understatement. Honestly, I never expected to try anything like this again. Clueless and bitter with the fact that I did not enjoy it as much as social media portrayed, I was determined to find another form of movement. This is where yoga comes into the equation.
While it can be easy to confuse yoga with pilates because they are very similar, yoga focuses more on flexibility and has a spiritual aspect whereas pilates is primarily more for relaxing built up tension in your muscles. Both are commonly interchanged, according to a Health and Wellness article by the Guardian.
Yoga itself sounds like it would be the most complex and daunting thing in the world, but it really is not. Before I go any further, I want to state I am no expert, but thinking of yoga as a series of stretches done while practicing deep diaphragm breathing really helps soften the blow of what you are trying to do. Stretches are not so hard to accomplish if you stick to the basics and focus on inhaling and exhaling; it is beginner-friendly, and the internet has a lot of resources to help beginners. There is no need to become as twisted as a pretzel!
Not only is yoga accessible for everyone, but it also allows you to increase your range of difficulty so you are not stuck at the beginner level forever. It also allows you to slowly build up your resilience and flexibility, so if you want to try other forms of exercising such as weight training or kickboxing, you have some of the skills. Both require as much discipline as holding any yoga pose for a minute, or two.
Yoga also helps with regulating and grounding yourself, so for those who easily feel the burden of anxiety in stressful situations such as myself, it helps you keep that clear head when you need it the most. Mindfulness is a great skill to practice and yoga can help reinstate that practice into your everyday life, especially if you’re always hustling and cannot find that time to do it. Working in customer service at a grocery store, I can guarantee that when things get stressful, especially with that one… chirper customer, deep breathing is the only thing keeping my customer service voice intact and keeping me sane long enough until my next break. Even better, with the mask on your face no one can tell if you are doing it! If you happen to work with a lot of people in a short amount of time, trust me, just give it a try.
Additionally yoga does not require a lot, other than an open space where you can feel safe and comfortable, a mat and a water bottle. It can have surprising long-term effects that can extend to everyone and anyone, while not being limited to those who have mental health challenges.
Again, I want to empathize that I am no expert and this is just as new to me as it probably is for many of you. The next time you question yourself about whether or not you have the time, just say yes. Don’t overthink it and just go for it! You will be surprised, and that you can trust me on.