When my basset hounds were alive, I would claim walking the
dogs as exercise in response to my physician’s query at my annual physical.
Once my bassets went to the Rainbow Bridge, I still had other activities to
claim as “exercise,” such as cooking and doing crosswords. After a certain
amount of cooking (and eating) and crosswords, I realized I needed to add
something more strenuous to my agenda, so I took up boot camp, buying a DVD
with some effective 10-minute work-outs. At exercise time, I never found myself
saying, “Oh boy, I can’t wait to do boot camp today!” I always felt better
afterward, but some days, I would just as soon cook and eat a big bowl of
collards and liver (ewww!). Then one day, a friend invited me to join her for a
continuing education course offered at the local high school in “Pi-yo,” a
combination of Pilates and yoga.
Learning Yoga
As a yoga and Pilates novice, I had some reservations about
joining the course. Could I contort my body in unthinkably kinky ways? And what
is this business about a “downward dog”? The instructor gently guided us so
that both novices and experienced yoga practitioners glided somewhat easily through
sun salutations and pigeon poses. The first hour ended without me so much as
thinking about trying to peek at a clock during a bridge pose.
I benefitted so much that I was sad to see the 10-week
session end. Unlike with boot camp, I looked forward to my weekly “pi-yo”
sessions. (No more collards and liver for me!) The instructor was starting a yoga
session immediately at a different venue, but my next few months were too unpredictable
for me to sign up. So I did the next best thing—after some investigation, I
bought a yoga DVD, finding yoga more beneficial to me than Pilates. I had
learned enough about the basics of yoga—breathing and poses—that I could follow
a virtual instructor. In addition, I have been checking out the yoga DVD’s at local
libraries.
No More Hip Pain
I had been ready to visit my physician because of hip discomfort.
Indeed, a friend had predicted a future of cortisone shots. After grappling
with my tense hips during one massage, my masseuse had shown me some exercises
to help keep my hips loose. In spite of my best resolutions, I would forget to
do these exercises regularly. Yoga did not just help me manage my hip pain, it
resolved my hip pain. (No, I am not terminally hip.) Many yoga poses loosen the
hips. In short order, my hip pain had vanished. No more Aleve for me!
Breathing and Relaxation
Yoga also made me much more aware of my breathing—getting that
good air in and the bad air out. I learned to breathe in my upper chest, not my
belly, and to take full, cleansing breaths. Then I learned to breathe in my
belly, like a baby, as one DVD instructor describes it. Those nights when I do
not sleep like a baby, breathing like a baby can help me focus on relaxing and
going back to sleep.
Posture
As a young girl, I learned about good posture in Girl Scouts
and at Charm School. Yoga has reminded me of the importance of good posture, not
just so I can walk like a model—of what, I don’t know—but also for the good
feeling good posture gives. Stretching the spine, lifting the head, holding the
shoulders down and back make for a sense of vitality and well-being.
My Story—Charm School
When I was 12 and my sister 10—the late 1960’s in Baton
Rouge—our parents sent us to Charm School at Sears. At Charm School, we were
supposed to learn the art of being a lady—how to walk, how to sit, how not to
cross our legs, how to put on make-up, how to dress. (I took those lessons to
heart and immediately began breaking all of the Lady Rules.) At the end of the
session, we had a fashion show to show off our newly-learned talents. To this
end, each participant got to choose an outfit from Sears to model. While other
girls chose dresses or sporty outfits, I chose a pink nylon nightgown with peignoir.
The adults tried their best to convince me to model street clothes. My parents
promised to buy me the night clothes if I would just wear street clothes for
the fashion show. (We got a 20% discount as Charm School participants.) I stood
firm. To their credit, the adults allowed me to model pajamas. Perhaps part of
the allure of yoga for me is practicing good posture while wearing clothes that
are very similar to pajamas.
NOTE: I still have had no takers in the storytelling
challenge. I added the Charm School story to the yoga story partly to encourage
readers to TAKE THE CHALLENGE! The offer is open-ended.
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