For the past several days, I've been wracking my brain, trying to remember when and how I got into yoga. My earliest memories involve my third-grade self tuning in to PBS at 6 AM to do yoga with Richard Hittleman (the show started right before "Morning Stretch," and when Joannie Greggins played "Fame" on her show, I became hooked on exercise). Since then, there have been two gaps in my practice--my stint in the Army and my third pregnancy. I've made a full return to yoga lately, much to the gratitude of my tight back muscles.
Several months ago, I read in a magazine that the new thing was yoga classes that play hip/comtempory music during the practice. I found this funny because Steve Ross has been doing this on "Inhale," his yoga show that airs every weekday morning at 5 AM CST on the Oxygen Network. I DVR this show and follow along after I get up at 7:30.
If you are brand-spankin' new to yoga and are interested in starting a practice, I strongly recommend not only getting cleared by your physician, but also seeking instruction from a pro. Take a few classes or get some one-on-one, but don't just jump into it. A qualified instructor will help a newb learn how to properly use props like straps and blocks (or even a chair), as well as correct mistakes in posture. It may sound weird, but something as simple as sinking shoulders could cause soreness and injury.
So, back to Steve Ross and his show. There is nothing like starting the day with sun salutations to "What's Going On." Steve is a bit snarky at times (i.e., "If you find that you're losing your balance, grab the person standing next to you. On a good day, you can take out a whole row of people. It's incredibly rewarding."), but that is one of the qualities that keeps me tuning in. You don't have to be this hardcore yoga type who sits on a mountain top and contemplates the meaning of life. Nope, you simply need to tune in and stretch and breathe. It sounds simple because it is. The eye candy following along (including some of the prettiest men I've ever seen) don't hurt the show either.
Knitters, you seriously should consider yoga. If not yoga, then some sort of stretching program. Our hobby, especially when we indulge in yarn dancing on a daily basis, throws our posture out of alignment by hunching our shoulders forward and keeping our necks down. The way to counteract the effects is to stretch the chest, neck, and the shoulders. I have started knitting while sitting upright (I'm the queen of funky sitting/standing/lying positions) with a pillow on my lap to hold my arms. This keeps my shoulders back a little more and keeps my neck from pointing down so much. It also extends my elbows a bit so they don't fatigue as quickly.
For now, I hope you will at least consider squeezing in some time to stretch and breathe into your day. Namaste.
