Trying something new can be a little nerve wracking, but it can also do you some good. MEC staffer Alain shares what it was like to go to a yoga class for the very first time.
When a friend suggested I give yoga a shot, I immediately raised a doubtful eyebrow. I’ve never done yoga and I’m not flexible. At all. In the summer, I bike and in the winter I train at the gym to stay in shape. You can see why I was a little uneasy about a yoga class.
When I arrived, I followed my first instinct and parked my mat at the very back of the class, to avoid drawing attention. I glanced around the room, sizing up the other people who seemed way more Zen than me. I was already imagining them performing a sequence of fluid moves worthy of a Cirque du Soleil contortionist, and it was stressing me out.
The instructor started the class with soothing music. After a short warm-up, my existential angst began to dissipate. The class went by surprisingly fast. The teacher didn’t hesitate to correct me on several occasions, and I saw that she adapted easily to each person’s level. Her good mood was contagious and added to the positive energy in the room.
I obviously wasn’t able to do all the poses and my moves were visibly awkward. I realized there was a lot to remember, like moving and breathing in synch. One thing that really stood out for me was that, unlike many other activities, there was no spirit of competition. No judging. No bragging. For a little over an hour, I managed to feel in tune with my body and to focus on myself instead of being on autopilot. In a time when everything is expected to be done quickly and perfectly, I have to admit that this little bit of Zen did me some good.
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