The Once And Future Yoga Master
May 26th, 2010 | 
Author: By Shell
Pre-kids, I was like the yoga master.
Give me a crazy balancing pose and I could hang out there all day.
The poses where there are different levels of difficulty, I would just automatically go into the most challenging one.
I felt graceful and strong. I was toned and lean and walked tall; after all there’s no slouching in yoga.
Yes, I could do this:
And this:
I even took prenatal yoga. My instructor and I got pregnant around the same time, so she modified things for the two of us.
And then I had my baby. And tried to go back to yoga.
Those poses where the instructor would tell us how to do them and then say “If that’s too easy, you can go down to level two. And then if you want to challenge yourself, you can try level three”?
Those? I couldn’t even do level one. The simplest pose, like downward facing dog, was hard.
I was angry at my body. How could I go from being ready to start the training to become a yoga instructor to looking like an absolute beginner?
And I let that stop me from practicing. I didn’t want to do it if I couldn’t do it as well as I could before. I took my toys mat and went home.
But, I’m on a mission to get back to pretzel-girl. Maybe I won’t ever be able to bend and twist like I used to. But, it will never happen if I don’t hit the mat and try again.
I miss feeling graceful and strong. Maybe I’m not as toned and lean, but I want to walk tall again.
What did you do before having kids that you’ve since stopped doing… but would like to start doing again?
Shell is a former teacher turned stay-at-home mom of three boys. Sometimes, she has to bite her tongue irl. But, at Things I Can’t Say, she spills it all on her blog, giving you the straight story on motherhood, marriage, and life in general.
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oh, I can so relate, I am trying to get back into yoga. My big obstacle is finding the time. Yoga is slow and intentional..and frankly, I have things to do!!
the one thing I stopped doing post kids is water painting. I really want to start painting again. but, again, time…
Okay, I’m crazy envious, as I haven’t had any kids, but can’t do any yoga positions. Something about my body just rejects being put into those positions. It’s my secret shame. Except now I’ve shared it with everyone, so I guess now it’s my outward shame.
I was just starting yoga when I got pregnant with my first. Now I have 3 and I really wanted to pick up where I left off. When I couldn’t hold the poses nearly as long as the first time I tried, I got frustrated. Since I was no where near your level, you’ve inspired me that starting over from the beginning is ok. Tall, toned, and lean can come if I don’t let myself get frustrated. Thanks!! And keep us posted on when you get back into some of those wicked hard poses!
.-= Jesslyn´s last blog ..Trend Translation – Spring! =-.
Seriously? You could do that “hold myself on my elbows” pose? I’m so jealous!!! I just started yoga again…strength yoga and I’m pretty sure the instructor is trying to kill us. She keeps saying things like “let’s try this.” I’m a person, not a hair elastic…gimme a break!
I have stopped seeing my friends. I used to do things. I used to go out to dinner. I used to meet for drinks. I used to do things with my friends. I have stopped, but so have they. These little lives have taken over our even smaller lives…for now. I intend to be social again one day…seriously…I will…stop laughing!
I was just starting yoga when I got pregnant with my first. Now I have 3 and I really wanted to pick up where I left off. When I couldn’t hold the poses nearly as long as the first time I tried, I got frustrated. Since I was no where near your level, you’ve inspired me that starting over from the beginning is ok. Tall, toned, and lean can come if I don’t let myself get frustrated. Thanks!! And keep us posted on when you get back into some of those wicked hard poses!
.-= Jesslyn´s last blog ..Trend Translation – Spring! =-.
I didn’t know you were training to be a yoga instructor! You should hop back in! I’ve been doing hot yoga for a little over a month now and it is amazing. I’m totally addicted.