Nothing Fancy, Just Yoga

How I shed 94 lbs, and gained back my Self-Worth.

They say timing is everything, and that life’s happiness lies in its unexpected moments.

It was the unexpected timing of walking into that yoga studio when I did, that created a infinite sense of curiosity for me. Well, more like gently coaxed me into the yoga studio by my dear friend Jodie, who was set on getting me into a hot yoga class. I believe it took her the better part of a year to convince me that I wouldn’t die. Stiff, in pain, out of shape, overweight, and overwhelmed with the myriad of workouts that are out there for women and moms, I finally agreed to try yoga. Hot Yoga, because what did I have to lose? I tried Orange Theory, Ballet Barre, Spinning, TRX, Beach Body, juice cleanses, working out with a trainer, with buddies, at the gym, at home, Weight Watchers, running, swimming, and biking. I Did. It. All. Not even kidding. Fast forward... To the first time, I don’t remember exactly what day it was, but I will never forget the instructor. Petite, blonde with ripped arms that would shame most 20 something dudes, she commanded the buzzing room with simply the sound of her voice, and unabashedly used all the words in the English language, and I mean ALL of them. She was hilariously colorful, and her tone was right on point. She knew her audience and how to read the room. Now let me tell you something, when I laid down at the end of class, for what I now know to be Savasana, she tapped into something inside of me that was intangible. Something that she said struck a chord with me and it will forever be embedded in the forefront of my mind. Its vulgar and a little silly but actually it’s not. She said...”Do you pick up someone else’s shit???” In my mind I was like... gurrrlll what? To which she then replied as though she was reading my mind, “No, you don’t, so why would you pick up someone else’s emotional shit?” Right then and there the light bulb went off in my brain. I don’t know why but it just made perfect sense to me. I knew in that very moment that, I was ok. That. I. Was. Ok. That. I. Am. Enough. And that anything and everything negative I’ve ever been told about myself, is exactly just that. Someone else’s shit. So simple, yet so profound. 

She then read a beautiful poem or something awesome from her plethora of mantras and inspirational musings. I don’t recall what she read aloud that particular day, but I will never ever forget what she said about picking up someone else’s shit. So, I took a huge deep breath, let go of whatever shit I was holding onto that day, and I freakin’ relaxed for the first time in years!  If you know who this person is, then you know. For me, and many others in our community, she is a guiding light at the end of a really dark tunnel. I will always be grateful for the attention and love that she showed me when I really needed it. I 💗 you Phylice Kessler. Thank you for believing in me. The rest, well they say, is history. But history is written and documented in the past. This, this, is not history. This is happening NOW, and I will forever be a work in progress. I’ve learned to trust the uncomfortable process that is called life.

Reminder, it’s ok to be UNcomfortable. In fact if you’re not getting uncomfortable regularly, you’re not growing! Learn to lean in, trust your gut, the voice in the back of your head. That is in fact your intuition speaking to you, in the most basic bodily queues. You never know where life will take you when you learn how to stop second guessing yourself, like I did when I finally went with Jodie to yoga. When I finally listened to my body instead of ignoring or avoiding what it was signaling to me. Let's keep it real, I’m approaching 42, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and staying in shape doesn’t come as easy as it looks. I‘ve learned that in order to live a long healthy life, without excessive wear and tear, the exercises that you choose should be simple, effective, and sustainable. Nothing fancy, just yoga. Because that’s what works!

Life is in constant flux...But YOGA.... YOGA keeps me even keeled. YOGA literally keeps me going. YOGA creates space in my body and my mind. It allows me to recognize the fluctuations and modify what I need to, in order to grow. YOGA has established some of my closest friendships and introduced me to my life’s greatest mentors, who are some of the greatest most eccentric and down to earth people I’ve ever met. YOGA reintroduced me to MYSELF. YOGA changed my life. YOGA. IS. LIFE!