Yoga Was My Catalyst

I was terrified the first time I walked into a hot yoga studio. The stifling heat got my heart pumping before the class began. The room was packed and I squeezed my 6'4" frame onto a small section of the floor. My yoga mat felt like an island I was hoping to be rescued from. The class started, and the instructions from the teacher might as well have been in a foreign language. I found some advanced yogis to mimic and surprised myself with flexibility I wasn't expecting. I stretched muscles I hadn't used in years and felt a cleansing detox. Water had never tasted so good. Upon leaving the studio I felt a rush of endorphins and the exhausting yet exhilarating feeling that only intense physical activity can bring. I was instantly hooked and started practicing 3-5 times per week. Little did I know how one seemingly routine decision would cause waves of positive change. As a former hockey player with shoulder and knee issues, I was longing for a new avenue to exercise, stretch and sweat. Yoga gave me this and was the catalyst for so much more. Stepping out of my comfort zone and into the studio challenged me in new ways and opened my mind to innovative methods for maintaining an active lifestyle. After yoga became a regular part of my life, I found myself seeking new challenges and additional ways to dispel preconceived notions regarding how men are generally conditioned to live. Power of Plants Like most people, I always believed that I needed animal protein in order to main...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news