Quick side note/favor: A few people have asked me for blogs and other online resources that explain and provide recipes for special dietary needs like gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, etc. I’m going to put together a post, but I’d LOVE your help! Even if you don’t have allergies or special needs, what are your favorite places to go to learn about healthy eating? Thanks in advance!
When I was putting together my application to be a Fitfluential Ambassador (thanks to all the kind words and tweets!), I hesitated before putting down yoga. Because yoga and I have a complicated relationship.
Sure, I love the way my body feels during and after practice, and sure it’s cool to be able to bust out poses everywhere I go.
But it doesn’t come naturally to me — I have to work really, really hard, and I never look very graceful.
So why do I do it? Well, as I held a shoulder stand during an AMAZING free public yoga class this weekend, I realized…
It’s TOUCH.
It’s me being in contact and in charge of my body — slowly nudging and guiding my muscles and limbs into position. It’s the instructors gently holding up my legs or supporting me in crow or headstand. It’s linking arms with fellow yogis in tree pose so we can go into a deep standing backbend.
In these poses, it honestly doesn’t matter if I’m sweaty or broken out. It doesn’t matter if I have lovehandles and lovemuffins and all the kind words we have for those “special” areas of our bodies. When I touch myself and allow others to touch me, it’s an indication that I am enough. Just as I am. And that it’s all about attitude. (Sound familiar?)
I had such an epiphany during that shoulder stand, as the instructor beamed down at me, even as sweat dripped off my strong, stubbly legs that are covered with red ant bites. She didn’t have a moment’s hesitation to grab me and use the power of her touch to help me be better at my practice.
So why can’t we give ourselves the same acceptance and love?
Happy Memorial Day and thanks to all who serve.
About Katy
I just wanted to say that I love, love, love this post. I recently told my business coach (who is also a yoga teacher) that yoga, for me, is a really intimate experience that is hard to explain. And her response to me was that it was like “making love to yourself” and no, not in “that” way but what she calls coming home to yourself. And that is how I feel – that practicing yoga is coming home to myself and being totally OK with whatever is.
(and I can totally relate to the stubbly legs in shoulder stand with a teacher being there anyway.)
Also, I have a ton of gluten free recipes as well as some info on going gluten free on my site though that is not the primary focus.
Katy, thank you for this post, I love it! I started yoga only 2 years ago, but I can really appreciate the openness during the practice, where we all listen to our bodies, breathing, and feel the internal energy/heat flow. One of your lines, “So why can’t we give ourselves the same acceptance and love?” touches my heart deeply. I think that’s one of the reasons why I practice yoga: I do yoga to learn to accept and love myself.
Powerful post Katy! and as for your question — So why can’t we give ourselves the same acceptance and love? It’s the same answer as you gave for the support — TOUCH! There is a huge difference between touching someone with your words versus a slight touch of hand. And that touch from someone else offers support that you cannot GIVE to yourself..its not the same. Think about it…you can give yourself a hug, rub the back of your neck when its sore but there is an energy a feeling that you just can’t give yourself. Perhaps that is the answer…….it just is….we need others to support us to get to that acceptance and love. It’just different–for each and every one of us
Yoga does not come easy to me either. I’m naturally pretty inflexible and since I’m still a beginner, I can’t get into a lot of the poses. But I love it too. I just feel so calm afterward. And coming from a stressball like me, calm is very welcomed!
thenondairyqueen.com has a lot of well, non-dairy recipes. She also posts a lot of gluten free stuff because her husband can’t have gluten.
Such a powerful post! I always feel a bit awkward doing yoga, but this is such a valuable reminder…I think I need to get in touch with my body a bit more!
As far as resources go, a fellow health coach has a great blog that has lots of gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, etc. recipes: http://emilylevenson.com/custom-made-blog/recipes. I think it’s especially helpful because each recipe is clearly marked for allergens. Emily (from the group) might be helpful as well, as her recipes are also marked for allergens and she talks about her journey with allergy testing and celiac disease: http://kissesforbreakfast.com. I also love the websites for Whole Living and Eating Well magazines, as I think they have some great recipes and helpful resources on healthy living in general.
I can’t wait to see the resources you get together. It’s so nice to have these kinds of things to draw on!
I use http://www.sparkpeople.com, they have recipes for all kinds of dietary needs.
You sure look graceful to me! I did yoga for a while, and also loved it, but then I dislocated my shoulder during a class and I’ve been afraid to go back since. I really need to get over this fear and get back there.
THANK YOU for this post.
I needed the reminder why I do love yoga…when I make it a priority.
my hips are screaming at me to re-make it a priority.
Hi Katy. To do a little bit of self promotion, I’d like to think that my blog is a good resource for gluten free recipes and quick and healthy meal ideas in addition to my weekly feature – a tip on simplifying gluten free life!
This post makes me smile. I think touch is a bit if a lost element these days. We’re afraid of it!
Like this post Katy!
Love this line … “I am enough. Just as I am.” I hope to be able to live that for myself and for others.
Hey Katy, thanks for sharing your love for Yoga. One of the best benefits of Yoga is it teaches you how to quiet the mind so you can focus your energy where you want it to go.
Welcome to the Livefyre community. if there is any thing that you need from us, please let us know and we would be glad to help