I remember when I first tried yoga - I totally didn't get it. I was about 17 and doing a lot of dance training at the time. So, when I went to a yoga class, I didn't think about breathing and being connected - I tried to perform it and analysed every movement. It felt awkward compared to ballet, boring compared to tap dancing and weird compared to the thrill of performing in fish-nets and sequins.
Fast forward ten years. Mark and I try out a Bikram yoga class. We are instantly hooked! Bikram is a 90 minute yoga class consisting of 26 postures and two breathing exercises. It's also conducted in a room heated to 41 degrees Celsius! I came out of that class feeling like I had been to hell and back, but strangely reborn.
We signed up for a special offer and started going regularly. I lost weight really easily - I just sweated it out. Better still, it was doing wonders for my mood too. I felt better in myself, clearer and more determined. Because each class is a different experience you feel like you are renewed and challenged every time.
I also started trying out other forms of yoga to see if Bikram was a one hit wonder - Hatha and Kundalini. Although not as intense as Bikram, I found I really liked vinyasa yoga which is a more flowing dynamic type.
Some days I'd get so connected with my breathing that I finally got what everyone has been raving about - you really can get such a sense of orgasmic bliss! Although yoga is not supposed to be competitive, I got a real rush when I worked up to doing a shoulder stand, and then a head stand. It's amazing how your body just opens up and gradually improves. Especially if you are eating a lot of fruit and vegetables. Juicing in particular seems to lubricate you from the inside out.
We started loving yoga so much that we even decided to make part of our honeymoon a yoga retreat in Bali. We did yoga morning and night, and even had a special private lesson. Imagine doing yoga overlooking the ocean in a beautiful tropical country - pure bliss.
The benefits for me are a no brainer. Not only is yoga great for flexibility - it's also great in the lead up to the wedding when you are really stressed out. You can improve very quickly which is satisfying and you will notice a difference in your skin, muscle tone, cellulite and circulation. Combine with raw food, juice and some daily skin brushing and you will be one hot bride!
Your fiancé can do yoga too. In fact, Mark is almost more into it than me. He loves the strength building element and it's improved his posture so much. Back in the day, when he was really fat he had rounded shoulders, and now his back is straight and he's getting more muscles all the time!
Best of all, yoga is a really fun exercise to try together. It makes you feel really connected, which is essential as the wedding day looms. I know some of you might think that your fiancé will never try it, but men honestly do like it. Try it and see!
Yoga may seem intimidating to start off with, so find a beginners class. Don't compare yourself to others, just focus on your own eyes in the mirror, breath and relax.
You've just got to find a type of yoga that works for you, and the only way to do that is to experiment. Virtually every city in the world has yoga classes now thanks to the popularity of the well-being culture.
Yoga classes can be expensive (even though they are worth it), so if you've spent all your cash on your fabulous designer wedding shoes, then don't worry, you can practice at home by buying DVDs.
I download free yoga podcasts from www.yogamazing.com which has 20 minute classes, on posture, strengthening your back, abs, love handles - Chaz has thought of everything. We also have bought his longer classes on itunes to do on the weekends or when we have a bit more time, which are very reasonably priced.
I hope I've inspired you to try some yoga - let me know how you go - and enjoy!
Namaste!
© Denise Duffield-Thomas
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I do yoga every morning to a great dvd called 10 minute solution yoga. It's great because you do small 10 minute sessions. When I first started doing yoga again after a long absence I found this was a great way to get back into it. I promised myself I would do just 10 minutes a morning. Then I found I enjoyed it so much that I quickly moved to 30 minutes each morning and it makes such a difference! Another great yoga work out is by Bryan Kest - this is the routine that got me ready for my Yoga challenge for charity and it gets your legs hard and strong pretty quickly! Get into it!
Posted by: Amber | January 2010 at 09:52 AM