Finding Yoga for Myself
We believe yoga is for everyone, but don’t just take our word for it.
Read our friend Kimberly’s story about how she discovered yoga is for her, too.
I thought I knew what yoga was... skinny girls twisting up like pretzels, smelling vaguely of incense, talking about their latest juice cleanse. Which is a lovely way to live, but certainly not for me.
Yoga wasn’t for me, the girl who trips going UP the stairs. Me, the girl who looks in the mirror and cringes at the curves she sees. Me, the clumsy, imperfect, overweight, nervous girl who lives firmly inside her comfort zone... yoga wasn’t for me.
Or at least, that’s what I thought until my first class at Blue Ridge Yoga. I quickly learned that yoga is for everyone. It’s for me, and it can be for you too. Our studio is a beautiful community of people, from all walks of life.
By learning to connect movement to my breath, I discovered a new sense of well-being. I witnessed gradual improvements in my strength, flexibility, mental health, and self-confidence. Now, I hold my head higher, speak a little louder, and find myself gravitating toward more brightly colored clothing.
When I feel stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed- which is quite often, because I’m still the same person I’ve always been-I’m able to find space for those emotions, smooth out my frantic thoughts, slow the rapid beating of my heart, soften my muscles, and overcome the moment. That level of control is a gift and one I never expected to find on a yoga mat.
Taking classes at Blue Ridge Yoga has empowered, inspired, and challenged me in so many ways. With each practice, I fall in love with yoga all over again. I’m not a perfect yogi. I stumble out of poses, “forget” to set my alarm for sunrise flow, can’t do a plank to save my life, and secretly dread the day I’m offered a kale smoothie. I won’t ever fit the stereotype, but luckily, I don’t need to.
Real yoga is about accepting yourself as you are, and finding peace there... and Blue Ridge Yoga is the perfect place to start that incredible journey.