Confession

When I first tried Yoga 10+ years ago, I genuinely disliked it. I swore it off, was not going to take a second class, decided back then it was not for me and that I am not a Yoga person. Little did I know, I would bite my tongue just a few years later. 🫢 More about that in a bit. The same thing happened with HIIT (high intensity interval training), but this time the reason was it felt like I am not up to it even though a younger version of me did more challenging things back in the days. Guess who is teaching it today?

We often make up our minds about something just because of a not-so-good first experience, or maybe it was not a good fit for us at the time, an internal fear, or a personal bias for that matter. BUT, we also forget that our minds are so damn powerful and can change – if and when we want them to. I often see people right off workouts without even trying them; sometimes because a friend told them it is not all that. There is also the discomfort that accompanies trying something new that takes us out of our comfort zone.

The inspiration behind this blog post is a new student who started working out with me a little less than two months ago, literally for the first time in her life. Fitness is so new to her, and through her training experience, her mental openness and flexibility shined through. She was willing to try anything and everything with one goal; to improve her health and feel better. Is it challenging? Yes! Yet, she keeps showing up with a big smile on her face. Such a breath of fresh air!

One more confession:

I wish I am more like her in the sense of being more open 🙂 If she happens to read this, and I hope she does – You should be very proud of yourself and how far you have come in such a short period.

What happened with Yoga & yours truly?

A few years after my first experience, I discovered Yin Yoga, a passive restorative form of practice. I tried another class, and not only did I fall in love with it, I remember thinking this was just what my body and soul needed. The rest is history, and Yoga has become my go-to practice for physical and mental recovery.

What changed? My approach. I went into class with an open mind and heart. I left my prejudice behind and had no expectations. I let go and just went all in.

What about HIIT, you ask? Teaching a form of HIIT since 2016, kicking my own butt, and I continue to love it even more.

These are not rules, you may not like a workout or two, and this is perfectly normal. However, it’s also good to get out of your comfort zone every now and again, and you might just surprise yourself.