The Inclusivity of Yoga
One of the biggest reasons people are hesitant to try yoga is intimidation. The constant questioning of their own abilities. “I’m not flexible enough,” or “I can’t do the poses” or “I don’t want to look silly” but what if we let go of those questions and said, “I don’t care if I can’t do the pose perfectly, or how I look. At least I’m trying and doing something for my physical and mental self.” Let’s put down the intimidation and hesitancy and take yoga for what it is, YOUR PRACTICE (and it’s called a practice for a reason - no one is expecting perfection - it’s just practice). In yoga we often say
“Yoga meets you where you are.”
So, what does that even mean? It means the practice of yoga is suitable no matter what your body or mind needs on any given day - and no matter what your ability may be at any given time. Each practice is different and you learn different things about yourself through your practice. Some days you may need relaxation and centering from your practice - come to a Candlelight Yin Class. Maybe the next day you’re ready to workout, to get your endorphins pumping - come to a Pilates/Yoga Fitness or Yoga Flow class. Or you could be practicing the same class each week and some days you may need more rest in child’s pose, while other days, you take the opportunity to flow through an extra vinyasa. Yoga doesn’t judge… and I guarantee you, no one in the room is judging either. We’re all in together as a yoga community, as one.
Oneness is a foundational principal in Bhagavad Gita, which is an ancient Hindu text about the inner struggle for self-mastery and attainment of happiness through yoga.
We all start our yoga journey for one reason or another. These reasons might seem different at first, but when we really get down to the root of why we practice, we will find these reasons are more similar than we thought. Perhaps consider, why do you practice yoga? Or why are you interested in practicing yoga? Think about your answer for a few seconds. Now think of all the other reasons people might practice yoga. They might include, to get fit, to work on flexibility, to work on their mental health, or to help stay calmer and increase their coping skills. The root of these reasons is they all better ourselves. And with a consistent practice we might find we’re benefitting from more than one of our reasons. Therefore, we find, that at the end of the day we’re all practicing yoga for the same reason.
To inspire you to start yoga, don’t just take my word about the benefits. Enjoy these testimonials from just a few of our most dedicated members.
Helen
Yoga has been a very important part of my life, for many years, as I typically attend four times a week. However, a year ago, I had major surgery for a total hip replacement, which kept me out of yoga for 12 long weeks. Upon returning to classes, the only way I could do yoga was sitting in a chair, next to everyone else on their mats, for several months. As I became stronger, my physical therapists taught me how to safely get down and up from the mat, holding onto a chair, which I then did for a few more months. Throughout my entire healing journey, all of the instructors at Northern Life Yoga Studio were consistently very supportive and understanding, always making me feel extremely comfortable with whatever accommodations were necessary. I highly recommend Northern Life Yoga Studio as a very special inclusive community!
Betsy
I have been practicing yoga at Northern Life since I discovered the studio about eight months ago. I love this studio. I appreciate the dedication of each instructor, the thought and effort put into every class, and the welcoming environment that permeates the entire community of yogis. I practice yoga for a long list of reasons, but three of these reasons stand out above the rest.
Yoga benefits my body. My passion, as far as exercise goes, is strength training and metabolic conditioning. The deep stretching and flexibility practiced in yoga combats the tension and tightness created by my training. There is nothing like the relief gained by holding a deep lizard pose when you’ve spent the week doing quad heavy workouts. Yoga keeps me moving, stretching and strengthening my body in ways I wouldn’t otherwise practice. Every class challenges me in some way. Sometimes it’s simply my (lack of) balance, sometimes it’s showing me what poses I need to continue to work on, sometimes the challenge is allowing my body to actually relax for the first time all week.
As many people can attest, yoga is good for the mind. Life is full of endless tension and conflict. While those stresses take different shapes for each person, we all have them. I’m no different. But yoga is a powerful tool I use to combat my stress. When my feet hit the mat, the stress begins to ebb away. Maybe it’s the meditative nature of yoga, maybe it’s the excellent instruction from my instructor, maybe it’s because I’ve trained my brain that when I’m on my mat this is where I let go. My focus is redirected to the moment I’m in, I stop the worry and doubt and fatigue. I allow myself to let go and think on my personal intention. Of course my mind wanders, of course I know when I leave my mat the stress will still be there. It’s not that the stress is suddenly gone, it’s that after I practice I now approach that stress from a more balanced and centered place.
Yoga keeps me learning new things. This is important to me. I began practicing yoga in my mid-twenties. I was terrified to try it. I thought I’d be expected to do a handstand the moment I entered the studio. That was obviously not the case, but I did learn that my body could do absolutely amazing things that I never imagined it’d be able to do. As I get older, I have realized more and more the value in trying new things. Yoga offers me a chance to try new things every class I take. The instructors at Northern Life Yoga keep classes interesting and challenging. It can be the same pose I’ve done a hundred times before, but Allie encourages that we try it with our arms in a different position. That small change alone makes the entire pose new again.
For me, yoga is essential in keeping me balanced, physically and mentally. I have found this balance at Northern Life Yoga. I would be remiss if I didn’t include a note on the incredible community that is built around this studio. Because I like to try new things, I’ve seen more than a few yoga studios. NLY has found the secret recipe for an amazing yoga studio. Excellent instruction, heartfelt teachings, genuine warmth and welcome, and a community of people who value those things. I am grateful to be a part of that.
Rhiannon
I started at NLY in November and it helped me rekindle my love for yoga, and it’s become a part of my mental health care. I’ve been able to dedicate time out for myself for healing and strengthening of my mind and body. Yoga has helped me become more flexible, mindful and in the moment. Being a part of the studio has also given me something to look forward to each week, and the instructors are very encouraging and help me feel good about each practice. NLY is such a wonderful studio and a great place to come practice yoga with a welcoming community.
Tom
Lee Carlson, a former instructor at NLY, used to say something to the effect of,
"If you think you're too busy to practice yoga, that's when you need to be doing it."
I find those words to be true; in fact, I tell people that if you are busy and can't fit in a lot of time to exercise, yoga is all you need. It builds strength, helps with flexibility, and does wonders for mental health. Depending on the class, it can be very physically demanding. I like how it complements other workouts, such as weight-lifting and stand-up paddleboarding. I took my first yoga class about 30 years ago and I instantly liked it for all of the reasons above, but especially for the sense of well-being and calm that I felt afterward. Classes I've taken at NLY with Allie, Morgan and others have introduced me to new aspects of yoga that are challenging and satisfying. My favorites are flow classes, but I haven't taken a yoga class that I didn't like.