A Yen for Yoga: Columnist Discovers Zeal for Looking at Life Upside Down
By Laurel E. Anderson
Kanata Kourier Standard November 11, 2005
Sometimes things look better when you’re standing on your head.
It’s been just over one year since I took on the challenge, oops, I mean assignment that my editor Jason offered. A year and a bit later what started out as something to write about has turned into a regular yoga practice for this writer. For someone who at the time of the challenge would rather have eaten a moldy glass sandwich than attempt to pretzel her body, I’m the most surprised of anyone that yoga has found a place in my life.
Who would have know that one could get so much from such a simple concept that consists of exercising both the body and the mind through asanas (postures), breathing and meditation? Not me that’s for sure. Sure, the physical pay off is starting to show and I am well on my way to some type of Madonna’s biceps but it’s the mind thing that is paying off that I didn’t even consider when originally thinking about what yoga could do for me.
It was all about a flat stomach, being able to touch my toes once again in a way I haven’t done since elementary school and of course, the biceps. But the mental change came first. A little more calm, a conscious effort to breathe properly and an overall boost in focus.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m still the same Laurel in most ways, whether you like it or not, but yoga has changed my outlook on a lot of things and has become a priority in my life. Have I fallen off the wagon at all since starting this journey? Sure, who hasn’t? But I always miss it when I can’t get to a class or when I don’t take the time to practice at home and fortunately, yoga is forgiving in nature and always accepts me back. It’s my hamstring that is less forgiving.
Acceptance is a big part of yoga. Honouring your body and where you are that day both physically and mentally is key to a sound and enjoyable practice. As well, yoga helps you to accept yourself more as an individual. I think that’s key to what I enjoy so much about it. No matter how I am feeling, I can always participate in some sort of practice, knowing that I will feel the benefits that day.
Since that fated day early last summer, I have become more involved as a student. I have co-hosted a yoga teacher-training workshop where we brought in nationally known yogi Wade Imre Morissette who led a 20-hour training workshop over a weekend. As well as co-hosting, I received a training certificate after 20 hours of learning and twisting. I have also trained as a Senior’s Yoga instructor and a Children’s Yoga instructor and am teaching in retirement residences, long-term care facilities, schools and community centres in and around Ottawa. I find this work both fun and rewarding and am constantly amazed at how yoga works in people’s lives whether they are very young or much older.
I have found that the hardest part of yoga, like a lot of other pursuits, is getting there. What I mean by that is getting out there and trying something new with an open mind and like a lot of things, once you try it, you often enjoy it and can’t wait to try again. Unfortunately, yoga is often misunderstood as a complicated and scary thing that only certain bodies with missing bones can do. But I’m here to say that I have all my bones (as far as I know) and I’m having a great time!
Laurel is a writer living in Kanata and a regular contributor to the Kourier. She can be found practicing her pretzel and teaching others at The Kanata Yoga Centre www.kanatayoga.com