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I thought I would share my new found activity with you and why I am loving it! It’s not new to most people in Kits who already strut around with their rolled up yoga mats and Lululemon wear but to me this is my first run at a regular yoga workout routine. I have dabbled in it before but I have been going weekly for a couple of months now and really getting into it.

Now that my youngest son is going to preschool I can actually find a class that I can make it to…so far this has been the problem. Being a business woman, practitioner and a mother hasn’t left me much time for new activities but timing is right and I’m happy to be taking up a new activity. So far I have been working out at the gym which is great because I have been able to bring the kids to their childminding area, and soccer I can do once a week at night after the kids go to bed (which can be very hard dragging my tired body out at night but once I’m on the field I am so glad I did).

Yoga is quite different than what I’m used to though. Normally I’m a rough and tumble, sport playing kind of girl but everyone can use a little zen right? I’m loving that I get 75 min of quiet, while stretching, strengthening and relaxing all at the same time! It really has become a time where I can truly focus on my body and what areas feel tight, strong, weak etc. As a Massage Therapist I do have a good sense of what’s going on and I do tend to stretch quite a bit but this is a much more focused time for me, and no kids are jumping on my back while I do it!

Moksha Yoga is where I’ve been going, mainly because I know the teachers there are very dedicated to their practice and work at continuing to learn about the body. Our Physiotherapists here at PhysioWorks do workshops with them monthly to talk about injury prevention and field questions/topics of further concern. Also the hot yoga practice is something I really enjoy. At first I thought it would be hard to stay in the heat for that length of time but the warmth is relaxing for my mind and my muscles. You do have to watch you don’t overstretch or try to do more than your body wants, but that’s the case with yoga in general. As long as you hydrate you should be fine, and you can always leave the room or go into a gentle pose if you feel overheated. Be prepared! You will sweat more than you ever have in your life! Sounds gross but everyone is in the same boat so you get used to it, and it’s detoxifying!

If you are getting the urge to try yoga you can always get a free taste of it from online videos or try the free Moksha Community class or the Karma class (which is a donation class for NPO’s). I think the video’s are a great way to start but I do have to stress making your home a relaxing environment with minimal distractions or you lose part of what yoga is about: clearing your mind, focusing on breath and relaxing into your body. I have 2 young boys at home so I admit this is a large part of the reason I crave it now.

Caroline Iwasaki, RMT