Yogi Wannabe - by Beth Higgins

Hi! my name is Beth. I am a “yogi wannabe”! 

Where to begin…. I got into yoga because I wanted to learn how to stretch & recover from some surgery, but little did I know what I was in for. I was looking for something to help me be more flexible and in tune with my body, and I didn’t want to revert to my old “bending down to get the Frito that fell on the floor” routine anymore! 

I took my first class at Emerald Yoga with Landen and was taken in hook, line, and sinker (or you can say “cat” “cow” and “corpse”)

Speaking of sinkers, one of my favorite yoga saying may be “If you give a woman a fish, she will fish for a day. If you teach a woman Fish Pose she will be happy forever.” 

I went with a friend and you think you know someone until you see them Downward Facing Dog - a bit too friendly if you ask me - Thank God for thick yoga pants! No one wants to have that vision! 

I called my mom on way home.  I said I felt silly and didn’t know any of the poses.  She said “Hey don’t forget if you feel worthless, just remember the cost of the titanium knee & shoulder” - that definitely snapped me back into reality!    

The next few days went pretty well.  I was getting the hang of it. I was feeing pretty good about myself.  Then the teacher asked us to get into pigeon pose…. uh… W….T….F…. is pigeon pose? … WHAT??? Pigeons are hands down my nemesis bird.   I hate pigeons. They steal food. Make a mess of my car. And you want me to pretend to be one?!!!!! I have to admit though, once I eased into the pose (and prayed to God I didn’t accidentally pass gas in someone’s face….see Downward Facing Dog above……. It was pretty relaxing)

Well as I said I kept up my classes, and decided to try Bikram Yoga.  That was an experience…. Wait, it’s 105 degrees? Did everyone coordinate their outfits? It’s like a Lululemon advertisement in here, and I didn’t get the memo. OMG I’m so sweaty, I’m slipping all over the place. I might die…… BUT….. I made it - barely. 

After all of this, surprisingly, I truly love yoga (except for the sweaty “you look like you were just sat on by a 200lb elephant” look). It has helped me be more flexible, more in love with my self, and settled my anxiety like no Frito ever could.