Two years of practicing yoga: a love story
In December of 2019, I was planning a full year of travelling, partying, and celebrating my 30th birthday. I was on track to finally getting my UK driver’s license (and a car), and for once, truly enjoying the fulfilling job in the pharmaceutical industry I had and loved, without looking for anything else. My partner and I even bought a big wall calendar where we entered all of our upcoming adventures. And while planning for this crazy party year, I realised I would need something to keep me calm and grounded, so I started looking up local yoga studios. I found two. Both were close enough, so that was already a good start. And I figured it would just get easier once I buy the car!
Well, when it came to travelling, partying, and celebrations — you can guess how successful that was. I got my driver’s license on March 6th, 2020, and bought the car on March 15th. Obviously, it was parked in front of our house for most of 2020. The job I loved got extremely busy and stressful because of the pressure on our industry. And on top of that, in mid-2020, I received an offer from a different department in the same company that offered amazing career progression, a wonderful team, a boss you could only wish for… and more stress!
But the one thing that stayed on my list was yoga. And it saved me.
The first two months of yoga in 2020 were fantastic. I loved the calm feeling of studios, the smell of incense sticks, and the muscle pain I would feel the day after practice. I also noticed my posture getting slightly better.
As the lockdowns started, yoga studios were closing until further notice. Both offered online classes, which felt strange at first… but then again, at that time, everything felt weird. I was working, eating, and doing yoga in the same room. No incense sticks, no calming music — just the instructor’s voice through the laptop speakers. I had no clue if I was doing anything right; I was still just a beginner.
But I kept on showing up.
Slowly, I started gathering some basic yoga gear, like a good non-slip mat that allowed me to stay in a downward-facing dog for more than 2 seconds and two blocks that supported me where my muscles couldn’t.
Work started getting busier and busier, and I had a minor surgery in the middle of the first wave. There were nights I couldn’t sleep, and I even considered going to therapy. Yoga was the last thing on my mind.
But surprisingly, I kept on showing up.
When I had the chance to take my first in-person classes in 2021, I knew that my persistence paid off. I managed to build my practice just enough so I could keep up even with a more advanced yoga crew. Yes, I would leave the studio sweaty and conscious of the pain that is waiting the next day but happy.
I read somewhere that yoga is like fighting against yourself. And I couldn’t describe it any better. On some days, you’re stronger; on some days, you’re weaker. And on some days, your mind completely gets in the way.
The important part is showing up.
Practical tips (from a beginner who had no clue):
- Start with what you have. Don’t invest a lot in gear and props because you want to look the part. Everyone needs different items to support their practice. You will figure out what yours are after a couple of months. Maybe your palms sweat a lot? Go for that good non-slip mat. Maybe your boobs need some extra support, so they don’t move around as much? Find the best sports bra you can afford without going bankrupt.
- Find the right teacher for you. When you find them — you will know. And over time, you will change, so your needs will change too, so you might need to “find” a new one. But in my experience, this happens organically.
- Try meditation to supplement your practice. Trust me on this one. It feels so silly to sit down in your room with your eyes closed, and stay quiet. But it’s so important and it will do you good long term, I promise. Even if it’s just 3 minutes a day, your brain will be grateful.
- Yoga studios are great, but try to practice at home sometimes. Practice what you learned, or think of your own “flows”. It certainly helps creativity and puts your brain in problem-solving mode. Nobody needs to know about it. Do it for yourself.
