In 1995, I turned to yoga to help with chronic back pain I was trying to overcome as a result of scoliosis and anatomical anomalies in my spine. I tried traditional physical therapy and strengthening as well as chiropractic care, but I was still in pain. Somebody suggested yoga, so I went out and bought a “Yoga for Beginners” video.

Since I was used to more fast paced workouts, like running and step aerobics, it was hard at first for me to slow down and get into it. I stuck with it and within a couple of weeks, I was feeling a real difference in my spine. Not only did I feel better, but people were commenting about how my posture was improving.

I was so inflexible at the time that I wouldn’t have even considered going in a class with other people and trying to perform these various poses. So I invested in a few more videos from different styles of yoga: Hatha, Power, and one flowing sequence. During that time, I saw yoga as a type of workout or exercise routine, and didn’t really get the whole mind/body connection. In fact, I almost always skipped the relaxation part which in essence is the ultimate goal.

I began to really enjoy doing yoga, but four years passed before I felt confident enough to go into a public class. I continued trying various styles of yoga: Bikram, Hot Power, Hatha at the local YMCA. I continued to practice during both of my pregnancies and was starting to get a sense of there being more to it. I was developing more awareness of my breath, my body, my mind, and the interconnectedness of them.

I decided to enter a 200 hour training program to further my knowledge and experience of yoga about 10 years after first trying it. I’ve learned that I could have stepped into a class way back then (even though I couldn’t come close to touching my toes) because there is no judgment in yoga. I started to understand that yoga helped my physical pain by releasing tension in my muscles, mind, and heart, all the places we store stress and hurts. I’ve come to understand by studying yoga philosophy that is more than just exercise. It’s a way of living with respect, truth, and awareness of yourself and others.

If you’ve always wanted to try yoga, it’s the perfect time to start regardless of your ability (or inability) since yoga is so popular now. Check with local gyms, community centers, and studios to see if they offer a beginner level class. With what I know now, I recommend starting in a class with a teacher who has completed a 200 hour training program and certified by the National Yoga Alliance. They can provide instruction as well as monitor that you’re doing the postures correctly to reduce the risk of injury. It’s also important to let the instructor know about any current injuries so they can show you modifications and assist you if necessary. If like me you just can’t bring yourself to do it, check out the yoga videos at your local library, video, or book store. There are some specific for people with back injuries, athletes, the “inflexible”, and people trying to lose weight.

To find a registered teacher in your area visit http://yogaalliance.org/ . To learn more about various aspects of yoga, visit http://www.yogajournal.com/ (and don’t let their cover photos intimidate you…most yoga poses are not so extreme.)

Namaste (The closing salutation in a yoga class)