Getting started in yoga wasn’t easy for me. My biggest obstacle was simply summoning up the courage to walk through the door. For years I shunned the yoga world in favor of a gym membership, only to traumatize my spine with a slipped disc after overexerting myself on a weight machine. One surgery later I was miraculously able to sit, stand, and walk again without any nerve pain. My medically-restored mobility, however, came at the expense of my flexibility.
My doctor prescribed for me a daily yoga and pilates regimen. While I was curious to try it, my fears descended upon me each time I arrived at the studio. I’d walk into a class and position myself strategically toward the back of the room. My goal was to avoid judgment from those who seemingly conquered any posture with ease, while I struggled simply to touch my toes. My silent need to compete with the advanced yogis who surrounded me blinded me to the (more…)
