How Yoga is Saving My Life (Part 1)

This past fall, I injured myself pretty badly. It was really lame the way I did it, too. I was demonstrating a dance move I've done plenty of times before, and my hamstring pulled. I was off the bike and out of commission for about a month. I knew exactly why it happened; I'd felt the tightness coming on from spin overload, but I hadn't thought enough of it to take preventative action. I was too caught up in my spin schedule (I had more classes than I knew what to do with).

This humbling & painful experience has been possibly my biggest guru of the year. I cut down my spin schedule, learning to say "no" to the things that weren't serving my soul well. Hearing of my injury, the wonderful fitness colleagues in my life provided lots of pointers & advice--many things I knew and have known-- Primarily: VARIETY. Sometimes you have to learn the same lesson over and over the hard way. So during my month of zero exercise and extreme pain, I plotted, dreamed and planned for my recovery AND prevention. My biggest key for success: yoga.

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A part of me feared I would fail and make excuses to skip class (as I'd been doing for a while), but I got to know some yoga teachers at my studio, and have made a wonderful friend who happens to have a class schedule that matches mine. I now have a standing date to take her class when I'm at LIM, and I LOVE it! I've been steadily going for 6 weeks now, and my body is feeling absolutely yummy! After class, my whole self, in and out, feels warm, fuzzy, and like I just gave myself a long hug. The first few weeks, I would feel pains & tightness in different areas, not always my hamstring, but I vowed to make peace with my body and let it work through the neglect on its way to health. The biggest lesson here for me so far is that the journey never ends: there's always more to learn, discover, & uncover in all things, especially when it comes to health and my body.

I feel so many things to be improved upon (always), and am far from the flexibility I had post-college, but it's exciting to me now, instead of daunting or frustrating. I'm thrilled to experience myself transforming into a new me: it isn't post-college me, or mid-injury me, or any other version but a brand new one for today. We are living, breathing beings, and we're always changing. What works is always changing. I'm learning to listen and observe more, instead of trying to push my own ideas of what is right or good onto myself. I'm learning to be patient and kind with myself and my body. It's an ongoing process, but the intent is very present in my heart, which I believe is most important for perseverance. I titled this post "Part 1" because, you guessed it, this journey is ever-changing and ongoing. Stay tuned for future installments, and...

Namaste.


♥AshPiece 
Follow @AshPiece

2014: Awaken & Explore

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Over the past few years, I've abandoned and revisited this blog many times, but it has always been there, a little hum of something I really wanted to do, in the back of my head. In 2014, it is a part of my plan and focus for the new year. For me, 2014 is about awakening. My goal is to re-awaken my true self and be present. I want to be 100% present in as many moments as possible, small or otherwise, starting NOW. I don't want to miss anything while dreaming of the future or getting lost in the past. I'm living today for today!

Another piece to this exciting year of awakening is adventure. I want to explore. Everything. This city, art, faith, books, health, fit classes, certifications, gear, nutrition, music, maybe some TRAVEL, absolutely everything. Nothing is off-limits!

So this is the start: of something.. and everything. I plan to explore my journey here, and insecurity is a thing of the past, baby! Here's to saying YES when I want to, and NO when I want to! Peace out 2013, it's been real.... 2014, let's do this!


♥AshPiece 
Follow @AshPiece