Yoga. The practice to control the mind and body. The union of self and the Supreme Being. A course of physical and mental disciplines to achieve liberation from the material world.
So, I did yoga. I followed a 30 minute video of my sister's. The lady had a really calming voice and there was a lot of stretching, which was relaxing, but beyond that I didn't feel much liberation, control or union. It must come with time, I suppose. I feel like the exercise value of yoga is very minimal but it would be an excellent warm up or cool down after running or cycling.
It was a bit odd towards the end of the yoga video. The instructor lady was telling me to relax all the different parts of my body. "Relax the spot between your eyes, relax your tongue." The lady was drawing attention to two body parts of which I am very rarely self aware. It was difficult to figure out how to relax them. If you really focus on your tongue, it feels so awkward and weirdly place in your mouth. At least for me. Perhaps because I have a permanent bottom brace, or because I have an odd imagination.
So besides my description of exercise, I have some good news. I finally have Swayze, my bike from the 70s, up and running once again. He's been hooked up to the bike rack the past couple of weeks with a flat tire. The poor guy has been missing out. As it turns out, on Tuesdays there is a huge community bike ride around campus. I might take him out to that to make up for the weeks of neglect and to celebrate his healing. And other good news: I took the train Friday and had no major delays as last time (I had a 4 hour delay a couple of weeks ago and had to wait, drenched from the nonstop rain).
Back to my exercise description. The yoga was not the introspective and meditative experience I had looked forward to, but I did walk away glowing with energy and a better attitude towards the day. To be honest, I've been in a bit of a slump, or ditch, or any other depressing metaphorical comparison that may come to mind. Yoga helped me get through that day. Maybe it did help control the mind, causing it to produce an inkling of happiness and a bit of energy.
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Exercise of any sort gives you endorphins, helping you to feel better. So if you're in a slump, exercise is one way to cope.
I have never heard about all the "being one" with anything stuff - or at least not from someone who actually does yoga, and I don't know what that "Namaste prayer position" was in the video, but the real key to yoga is flexibility. It helps out with that a lot, and it also gives you some toning exercises, kind of like sit-ups.
I've tried it now, as well. It's a little weird I got to agree, but it was more work than you led on, I thought!
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