Yoga Impressions

For the first time in several years, I went to a yoga class.  My gym offers many of these and I've been thinking about doing yoga since I've been sidelined from playing racquetball.  I need other activity to help keep me less out of shape until I can get back on the court.  Yoga may be something I can do somewhat regularly.  My stress needs managing and I can definitely use the core strength and flexibility.  Today's class taught me a couple things.  First, I'm decent at the physical part of yoga.  Not sucking horribly helps make it enjoyable right off the bat.  Second, my ability to relax and focus is not the best. 

For starters, I was running late but did make it in time.  So to begin with, my anxiety level was elevated slightly because I was in a hurry.  The first few minutes of class was lying motionless, in repose.  I thought that term was reserved for what you did after you were dead, prior to cremation or burial.  For the first few minutes, while the late people trickled in, a CD of tranquil music was playing.  The music was accompanied by a woman's voice calmly repeating affirmations.  "You will no longer let the past failures of your life weigh you down" and things along those lines.  I began mentally debating each of the statements.  I quickly realized what I was doing and made a strong effort to squelch my conflicting thoughts.  Debating the lady on the CD made me realize the focus part of all of this was going to be hard.  Also while in repose, eyes closed, I felt a little twitchy because I kept waiting for my three year old son to run up and stomp on my nuts.  Even though he was not there, I'm just conditioned to remain on guard.

Overall, I really enjoyed the class enough to do it again.  I'm curious to see how much the chatter in my head reduces in future classes.  For instance, at the end of the class there is a six minute period where you lay comfortably and attempt to clear your mind using visualization.  It's intended to be relaxation to the max.  The instance it was over and we were finished, my brain shouted "I'm getting up and getting my mat put away before all these slow people so I don't have to wait".  That's a totally inappropriate thought for me to have immediately following yoga.  I obviously have some work to do.