Jill Will Run

A while ago I bought a deal through Living Social for a yoga studio here in Vegas.  And then I broke my foot and was stuck in a cast, thus out of commission for a little while.  I got my cast off and cashed in my Living Social deal about 5 days after that, on the day before the deal had to be redeemed or else it expired.  Cutting it a little close there!

I started my yoga journey in a studio in 1996.  I had heard a little about yoga and was intrigued, wanted to try it out.  My university offered a continuing education yoga class in conjunction with a local studio, so I signed up.  For one credit hour I got two 90 minute classes a week for an entire quarter.  (This was back in the old days before the university switched to a semester calendar!)  I loved my class, I looked forward to each and every class.  My instructor said a lot of things that were pretty hippy-dippy or new-age-y… and I loved that too.  So I stretched my spine to “let my inner lotus flower reach to the sky” and I let my “mind drop back into a pool of deep blue refreshing water.”

I took that class a couple times during college, but then the teacher closed up her studio and moved away… ending the class.  I started practicing with videos, tv shows, DVDs, podcasts, online classes (that’s a progression of how I did things, there weren’t podcasts and online yoga when I started.)  But I rarely made it back into a studio.  These past two weeks have been UH-MAY-ZING!  I truly question why I am not in the yoga studio more.

My 30-days of unlimited classes will expire on September 21 and just the thought of that makes me really sad.  I’m considering eliminating my monthly massage from Massage Envy and applying that money toward classes.  I adore the Sunday Sunrise Yoga class, the teacher is so calming and it has been a phenomenal way to start off my Sundays.

I have a Groupon for a different yoga studio that I will try after this one expires, but I really can’t imagine wanting a different studio.  I also have a Groupon for a few classes at a pilates studio too, so my run training until the end of the year will be supplemented nicely with classes.

Yes, there is a physical benefit that comes from the yoga practice.  It stretches me out, it opens my hips and loosens my shoulders.  But the mental side effects are so much more worthwhile.  (Maybe I should swap my monthly therapy sessions for the yoga studio?)  Everything about practicing in a class makes me feel strong, centered, peaceful and beautiful.  I love it.

I’ll still continue a home practice.  (That’s actually garnered me a lot of praise in class.  Praise always feels nice, huh?)  But I can’t go this long without studio check-ins anymore.