5 months since I started practicing yoga

I started practicing yoga in February this year. I was feeling more sluggish and unhealthy and it got to a point where looking at photos of myself made me unhappy because every angle looked unflattering. And looking at the numbers on the scale made me feel even worse.

I knew I had to start working out. This was around five months ago.

The gym isn’t for me. I wanted something I could do alone in peace and won’t make me feel stressed or anxious. I have always wanted to try yoga but my lazy ass just hasn’t gotten around to doing it. So okay, I searched YouTube for yoga videos and then I found Kassandra.

I got on the mat (we had one that’s been around but was pretty much unused) and followed along to one of her 10-minute yoga videos. I loved how calm and pleasant her demeanor was, her voice was soothing, and her form was flawless but seeing her execute the poses so perfectly didn’t make me feel bad about myself or intimidated at all.

It was a short exercise but it felt like an accomplishment afterwards. I was in awe. I wanted more. The next day I went back and followed her next video. And the next. Before I knew it, a month has passed and I have successfully completed a 30-day challenge. WHAT.

I didn’t even care that much about losing weight anymore. I loved that fresh feeling after practice like your whole body and mind was reset. By the first month, I felt lighter, tighter, stronger, and more focused. I think I finally understood why millions of people practiced yoga for literally thousands of years. I just wanted to practice more and learn more.

I started to look for something more challenging and discovered Yoga with Tim. I think he looked a lot like Hugh Jackman (haha) but his whole vibe also reminded me of one of my closest friends, which is why I chose one of his videos. I found that I also liked his teaching style–gentle and firm at the same time, and quite straightforward. He was also really good at guiding you into the poses. I have been doing his 30-minute sessions almost every day for the last four months.

I am currently trying out Yoga with Tim’s 30 Day Challenge 2023 and I can’t complete the whole thing yet (but that’s ok!) because I think I need to build more strength and stamina to even get started on the second week. But he did advise to keep going back to the first week for as long as you need and really reap all the benefits from the exercises. I feel determined to finish this challenge (even if takes me all year lol) but I’m not putting any pressure on myself. I just try to do as much yoga as I can. Right now I’m comfortable practicing no less than 5 days a week / 30 minutes per day.

God knows I’m far from being able to do a headstand but you know what, I haven’t felt this good in my entire life. And if you’re considering trying yoga too and is looking for inspiration, I say just go do it! Here are the things practicing yoga has so far taught me:

Being kind to and patient with yourself
Looking at people who can do advanced yoga poses can be intimidating, right? But one of the first things I learned from practicing is that there is no reason to judge ourselves! Yoga is a practice–it isn’t a race or a competition. This is really a game-changer for me as I learned to become my own cheerleader. Finding the will to return to the mat every time is already an accomplishment in itself and I have learned to thank myself every day that I do!

If I come across a pose that’s too difficult, I have learned that it’s perfectly okay. As long as you don’t give up and keep practicing, you’ll get stronger and more flexible. After a few months, I can now more easily get into some of the balancing poses that I used to find so difficult to do and I feel really proud of myself.

Listening to your body
Not everyone can touch their toes when doing the forward fold. Tim would say something like, just be where your body is at. Your body will tell you if you’re overdoing and you must learn to listen to it.

Yoga practice is about the meeting of the body and the mind. We might hurt ourselves physically if we perform activities where the mind isn’t in tune with the body. As you breathe with every stretch, twist, bend, and lift, you’re getting closer to creating a perfect synchronization of mind and body and it’s honestly done wonders for my focus and also relieved me of mental stress.

You are not your thoughts
The yoga instructors I found on YouTube gave constant reminders to release your thoughts and focus instead on breathing and relaxing deeply into the poses. Kassandra would include daily affirmations with each class and I think it really enhances the experience. Tim talks about being the consciousness that observes your thoughts as they come and go, and that we are not our thoughts. I can be quite an overthinker and some days my mind tends to move at lightning speed that it’s hard to even go to sleep. These lessons really helped me learn how to manage my thoughts and to be in the moment.

Always finding something new in repetition
I think it’s beautiful that you can practice yoga flows and a combination of poses in a lot of different ways. There are different sequences, styles, and intensities that allow you to find what works for you. The basic poses are the same but I have learned that you can always find a new experience every time you find yourself in a pose that you’ve done dozens or hundreds of times before. I don’t know if this makes sense. But I know it’s possible if you learn keep yourself open and allow yourself to really be in the moment.

I feel that practicing yoga aligns with my personality and my lifestyle. I have lost some weight, I think about 6kg, since February. I feel healthier overall and I’m happier with how I look in pictures these days, not gonna lie.

Also, I can’t really be sure but I also feel that even my toes, fingers, and neck look leaner? Lol. But the most wonderful thing is that weight loss isn’t even my primary goal anymore. I just find myself looking forward to the next time I’m getting back to the mat.

I hope to share more of my experiences in the future as I continue on my personal yoga journey. 🙂 Feel free to share your own yoga story in the comments section.