My Secret On-Again, Off-Again Hobby
It's definitely on now! No Excuses
Briefly explaining why I started yoga, why I stopped, and why I am back at it again. International Yoga Day is on June 21st! It’s time.
How a lazy Canadian man got into yoga in Japan
Music has always been a part of our household. It is a pervasive presence in our lives – whether we are driving, cleaning (Only the husband cleans), or singing in the shower with the showerhead microphone. My daughter quickly realized her passion for music and started bouncing on the floors of our house. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that her parents enrolled her in dance classes to preserve our floors and give the creatures beneath some peace.
Years later, the bouncing persisted despite our efforts to protect our flooring. It has become more rhythmic over time, at least. If you’re wondering, my daughter enjoyed hip hop classes for a long while. English music is my daughter’s passion, despite being exposed to both Japanese and English songs. (It’s hard to dance to Stardust Revue after all.)
Where does the lazy Canadian fit in?
Well, that is me, by the way. I was 52 years old at the time. My only form of exercise was running to the bathroom or going up and downstairs, wherever my bouncing daughter was not. Exercise was far, far from my mind. Yoga was even farther. Anyway, to get to the point, my daughter’s dance teacher decided to broaden her teaching horizons. She has a yoga license, and she wanted to teach people like me. I was honored. But why me? Because this yoga is called Yin Yoga, specifically designed for people like me (for smokers and out-of-shape lazy people who don’t like change).
Contrary to what I just said, I am not against change. I decided to take my daughter with me (I was worried about language problems) and give it a try.
I am really glad I did.
What is Yin Yoga and Why did I Start?
You probably assumed that I decided to start yoga because the yoga instructor is quite striking. I am beginning to believe yoga licensing requires a certain level of attractiveness (joking). But that’s not the case (She isn’t really my type and I’m happily married). Sheesh!
Because yoga benefits everyone in different ways to different degrees, I’ll quickly note what it did for me.
- Yin Yoga is the fine art of lying down and then slowly turning into a pretzel. Slow is the optimum word. I appreciate the idea of lying down as my laziness is of utmost importance! The picture above is an exaggeration.
- My limbs became more flexible as I endured more sessions. There was no pain at all during or after these sessions.
- My shoulders became straighter and overall posture improved. My budding hunchback dissipated.
- My sense of balance started to return. I became less aware of the feeling of falling down.
- When I focused on my breathing and becoming more pretzel-like, all of my many errant thoughts (even lurid thoughts of the instructor) magically disappeared!
- At one point a single touch near the bottom of my spine by the instructor gave me a once in a lifetime euphoric feeling. It was like an adrenaline booster and a pain tranquilizer all at once. I haven’t been able to replicate that feeling ever since, but I definitely strive to have it happen again. I know, it is the opening of the chakra nonsense. It felt amazing and I want it again. No, it is not because of the beautiful leotard-wearing instructor touching my backside.
- My constant back pains vanished over time. Actually, I still don’t experience the same pain as I used to despite stopping for such a long time.
- And lastly but most importantly, my breathing improved. Deep breathing. Deeper sleep and consequently, my bowel movements improved too because of it (That is related by the way, just don’t ask me how).
Over a matter of weeks that turned into months, I became a new man. I felt stronger in mind and body, and more liberated. I was overjoyed.
I even purchased a few books so that I could learn how to do it independently. Continuous learning is important to me. I read them from cover to cover.
If yoga is so good, Why did I stop?
Life got in the way.
I’ll be honest, I lost my job and couldn’t afford lessons. I hurt myself by straining too hard (self-teaching only goes so far). My room is too small. My sister passed away. And many, many more excuses prevented me from enjoying the easy exercises and relief of yoga.
I lost motivation naturally.
Why Start Again?
Yoga has always been on my mind, in truth. I know what it did for me, and I feel ashamed that I haven’t started it back up until now. I know it will help me with my anxiety, my breathing (of which, I am realizing that I am forgetting to do of late), my hips ache at times, and I feel more unbalanced of late. I just know that my laziness had overridden common sense.
In addition, my Father’s Day gift I mentioned in my earlier article has given me a bit of a guilt trip. (Here)
The next part truly cemented why I am starting again.
NHK World Radio - English News Podcast
As part of my daily routine, I listen to the NHK World Radio podcast. I can hear what’s important in Japan and some other world news too. It’s one of a few news podcasts I listen to in the mornings. A few days ago, they did a short snippet on the upcoming International Day of Yoga which will be held on June 21 (my birthday).
Apparently people from around the world will celebrate and raise awareness of this fine practice “together”. They have been honoring this tradition since 2014, once it became an official day assigned by the United Nations.
I would like to see this day be honored around the world in a weird kind of way. Wouldn’t it be amazing to see the warring nations all take out their yoga mats and sit down together in that blissful state for an hour or so?
The yoga instructor they interviewed made me laugh. He said that, along with the other benefits I mentioned earlier, “Yoga teaches you about social awareness and becoming one with the community”. Sorry, but in my opinion, that’s utter nonsense. Yoga is a solo practice that you do by yourself or with others in a solo capacity. You would never see people doing yoga high-fiving or fist-bumping each other before, during, or after the event. How can there be a sense of community or awareness when all you do is concentrate on silence, breathing, and becoming a human pretzel? The only communal thing about it is the possible sadomasochistic pleasure derived from each other’s pain.
I can just imagine it now, “Wow, my chakras really ignited when I did the lotus position this time!”, or “Did you hear my neck crack? I was expecting thunder to follow afterwards from that!”.
Joking aside, if I were still going to class, I most likely wouldn’t have stopped. The instructor was knowledgeable and kind, and the group’s movements led me on to do my best. I was the only man and the only non-Japanese for the most part.
It seems, I am also raising social awareness … hmmm.
In Conclusion
After this article, I am cleaning up my room, taking out the mat, and doing it. No excuses.
It is time to get back on the horse.
I am excited to start this journey again and see how it can improve my overall well-being.
Thank you for reading everyone. I hope that you all have a great day, wherever you are.
Peace!
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