Diary of a Fitness Newbie: Who Run The World? (Girls)

   

Posted by Leslie Warren

Feb 15, 2017

IMG_0733.jpgThis is a continuing blog series written by our own Leslie Warren about her journey back into fitness. For the previous entry in this series, click here.

Let’s begin my journey with yoga. I’ve done that a few times, though it has been a couple of years. I really connect with the whole idea behind yoga. You know, centering your mind, getting rid of distractions and focusing on your body. (also, cute clothes with funny sayings on them, like “Namaste in bed,” which is funny because you are working out while wearing it, see?) I am someone who has a hard time shutting my mind off, so for me, this class is a good break from life.

Luckily, my office offers yoga during the day. The instructor is Abir, who teaches Hot Yoga at Buckingham. Our office class isn’t in a hot room, just our small office gym. It was about as hard as I expected it to be. I had sore wrists that I remember from when I last did yoga a few years ago, and also realized that I have the flexibility of a dead twig. I guess stretching really is important. I thought it was like flossing… you know, how they tell you to do it, but it doesn’t really matter?

Yoga has a lot to do with balance, and balance is often affected by your mindset. I broke my leg a few years ago, and while I did physical therapy for it, I have never had the same balance in that leg. So, I was pretty shaky at first, but towards the end of the class, I was learning how to be more confident and hold my poses a little better.

Abir is a great instructor for yoga. She doesn’t take it too seriously, so the class is fun even if you suck. She helps you realize what you are doing wrong and how to make your poses better. She also gives a sweet little inspirational speech at the end of the class when you are lying there with your eyes closed (best part of the day by the way). It really helped me concentrate on slowing down my thoughts and being positive about the workout I just had.

I will definitely take yoga again. Hopefully, I will be able to accomplish my pathetic goal of being able to touch my toes for the first time in my life. And I feel a little better about taking another group fitness class. At least I know what a lot of the poses are now and that if I don’t understand how to do something, I’m probably not the only one who feels like an idiot. Also, no one really cares what I look like because they are all just focusing on not farting in the silent room.

First class, DONE!

Class taken: 
Yoga with Abir (from Buckingham)

Goals to achieve: 
Touch toes (let’s do iiiitt)
Get killer abs (not even close yet)
Be healthier (always a work in progress)
Find out if I like working hard (so far, the answer is a whole-hearted “Yes!”)

Awesome Inspirational Quote: 
“Everyone said to Vincent Van Gogh, ‘You can’t be a great painter. You only have one ear.’ And you know what he said? ‘I can’t hear you.’” - Michael Scott

 

Topics: yoga