Awhile back I picked up a copy of Yoga Journal magazine and, there on the cover, was singing sensation Sting. I’ve since learned that many famous entertainers, sports stars, and other notable and interesting people practice yoga on a regular basis. In fact, I’d be surprised if at least a few of your favorite stars aren’t practicing yoga. And why not? Yoga has the potential to help you create a more peaceful body, mind, and spirit. What’s more, it’s simple, relaxing, easy to learn, and fun. It’s also very popular.
I’ve been doing yoga for about twenty years. I started because of some back pain and stiffness I was having in college. I was renting a room in someone’s home, and my landlord gave me a book called Richard Hittleman’s Yoga: 28 Day Exercise Plan. I was hooked right away. Today I still practice yoga, not only for the physical benefits, but also for the peace of mind and sense of calm it delivers to my mind and spirit. Almost always, when I finish my fifteen-minute routine, I’m left feeling happy and peaceful. After a few minutes of yoga, it’s almost hard to imagine sweating the small stuff. You simply feel too calm and centered to allow yourself to be rattled. The people around you will notice the changes in you too. They will sense a deeper presence in your eyes and in your way of being. You’ll be more peaceful and relaxed.
Essentially, yoga is a series of poses and stretches that energize your body, leaving you feeling calm, balanced, and focused. While I’m far from being an expert, one of my best friends, Mark, is a phenomenal instructor. He assures me that the benefits I feel from yoga are also experienced by almost everyone who practices on a regular basis. Mark is one of the most peaceful people I’ve ever known.
I’m super glad that I took up yoga at a young age, and I encourage you to do the same. I’m positive that it will be an activity that I continue to practice and explore for the rest of my life. The rewards are immense, and yoga seems to be appropriate for people of virtually any age or level of fitness. If you’d like to learn more, you can pick up any number of good books at your local bookstore or library, or, if possible, you can look into taking a yoga class. There are also great videotapes available that can teach you how to do it. You can find them advertised in yoga or health magazines.
Yoga is one of those activities that, prior to trying it, you probably can’t even imagine doing it. In fact, you might be rolling your eyes. Yet once you’ve tried it a few times, you can’t imagine not doing it. It’s that relaxing. The motivation to try yoga is the promise of a more peaceful way of being. So, give it a try. Be adventurous. It just may be an activity that you’ll love for the rest of your life.