Yoga at Midnight

[drink] jasmine tea + stevia [feeling] relaxed

I am constantly amazed at how Yoga (when done properly) makes me feel. A friend introduced me to Hot Yoga at Moksha Yoga in 2006, and I loved it, but it was far too expensive for me to afford to go on a regular basis, so I thought I'd just download some yoga videos and do it myself at home. Well you can guess how well that turned out: the yoga videos still are sitting in the DVD cases at home. Now that I am more aware of the different styles of yoga that suit me and the kind of teachers I like, and also the different ways to access yoga, I am much more of a believer in it.



The teacher makes a big difference in how I experience a Yoga class. I had tried a few classes led by an instructor that just didn't make the class intuitive or flow well, or had an annoying voice -- the voice thing is a matter of preference, but you know what I mean -- and it just affects the overall environment of the experience. and of course that experience is what determines whether or not you will return. I download videos for purchase at YogaDownload.com and my favourite instructor is Dawnelle. Her voice is so soothing yet strong and uplifting, and her flows are well thought out and challenging.

The type of yoga makes a difference too -- there are far too many kinds of Yoga that I am unaware of, but of the few that I have looked into, I know that Kundalini yoga isn't really for me. There is a lot of emphasis on a breathing technique and a lot of back flexion and extension, which really irritate my back, so it just furthers the fact that you really need to try out different kinds and find out what you like. If you find something enjoyable, you're more likely to make it a regular activity in your life. My current favourite kind of yoga at the moment is Power Yoga in Vinyasa style, or "with the breath". Power Yoga is a style that builds strength and flexibility through continuous movement. I purchase and download various forms of Power Yoga through YogaDownload.com that focus on a variety of areas, such as core, hip opening, and with weights. I sweat when I do Power Yoga -- it really does challenge my strength and balance.

Accessibility: I am one of those people that will get motivation to do something, but then I must do it within 5 minutes of the idea otherwise I will lose interest. Now, when it comes to doing exercise or physical activity as a chore, this means that I basically have to plan my day around it to ensure I do it. My days are almost never the same as I have a crazy schedule, so that doesn't work. Being able to have these Yoga classes on my computer to do whenever I want to is a blessing. Take tonight for example: I came home from my boyfriend's place at around 12:30 am and I had the inspiration to do Yoga. There are no Yoga classes happening anywhere in Toronto at this time of night, and even if there were, I would not go because that would mean I have to pack a bag and get changed and then take the TTC... a hassle. BUT... since I have the classes on my computer, I just roll out my mat and do it.

Privacy: I like my privacy. A lot. Doing yoga in a room full of people can be a good thing, especially if you are a novice like me because you can learn from other people's postures. I'm familiar enough with the postures in my downloaded classes that I don't need to watch others, but I like being the only one in the room to focus and just not get distracted. I dunno, it's a weird thing I have... maybe doing yoga makes me feel vulnerable in a sense, and to feel less vulnerable I need to be alone. Wow I'm a loner. lol.

Anyway, that's the long story of it -- but I do love my yoga very dearly now. I've been using the same yoga mat that my brother bought me for Christmas in 2005 -- it holds sentimental value. I wipe down my yoga mat before and after I practice by wetting a washcloth with water and wringing it out, and then adding like 4 drops of tea tree oil and wiping my mat down. The tea tree oil has antibacterial properties and with the water conditions the mat to prevent it from drying out and becoming hard.

What kind of yoga do you like to do?