week 1
For my first ever class I attended Yoga Level 1 at the Shoreditch Centre. Wow, what an all-round great experience! The facilities at the centre were fantastic, the staff were welcoming and willing to help, and the class itself was quiet and perfect for beginners. Physically for me it was challenging to hold and transition between the different poses, although the teacher gave clear and gentle guidance throughout. During the class I really tuned in and listened to what my body was telling me – something I have not done properly for a long time. When I left I noticed that my hips and shoulders in particular felt more supple, and I have had problems in these areas in the past. Mentally I felt at ease, rational and calm.
Later in the week I completed a Vinyasa Flow yoga session. This class was technically more difficult as we had to transition between poses faster, whilst remembering the sequence or flow. I enjoyed the fluidity of the movements, and certainly felt like I’d had a physical workout by the end.
For my third class I completed a Level 1 Iyengar yoga session. This relied heavily on the use of props (a foldable chair in particular), and was notably more physical and active as it even incorporated headstands and handstands! It was interesting to learn how different props and the ropes on the walls are used in a yoga class. At the beginning of the class the teacher also gave us a lesson on how to pronounce Om properly and its meaning – which always helps. It’s all in the details.
Overall, I have had a really positive experience and have enjoyed the variety within the classes I have completed so far. I am looking forward to the rest of the challenge!
week 2
My second week of yoga coincided with the opening week of the restaurant that I work. I worked 7 days in a row and was so busy that time blurred into one big lump of travelling on the tubes, working, squeezing in meals and not enough sleep. My mind was active from start to finish of everyday and I found it hard to think of anything other than what had to be done next.
I managed to attend an Ashtanga yoga class before a shift and I am so glad I did as it set me up perfectly for the rest of the day. It was delivered at a faster pace than the previous classes I had attended and we spent less time holding the poses and more time transitioning between them (I’m not sure whether this is due to the style or the teacher). This for me was challenging but I still felt in control and comfortable. It was not only a physical workout but also mental as we had to remember sequences upon the command of “vinyasa” from the teacher. I was so engrossed by attempting to perform the movements correctly whilst maintaining the correct breathing that I forgot about all the stresses from the outside world. My go-to escape and downtime is usually the gym, and I believe that physical exercise should be the first port of call for anyone that needs to switch off. So far, this class was the closest that I had come to finding something that gave me the same feelings during and after a gym session. The sense of achievement and calm stayed with me well into the later hours of my shift, and this is all I could want from a yoga class.
My second class of the week was a Kundalini class. It was a stark contrast to anything I had experienced before. I knew prior to attending that it was a more traditional form of yoga, and we started with several chants. The teacher then tasked us with performing movements in sync with breathing techniques, one of which was called “dragon breath” and we were basically panting through our nose. Towards the end there was plenty of time to be with our thoughts as we had to meditate, first in a seated position and then on our backs whilst covered with a blanket. I tried my best to follow the directions and look at my “third-eye”, but I could not help but feel sceptical throughout. I think I could have done with some more direction as to what I should concentrate on as my consciousness wondered from one thing to the next. The teacher played the guitar as well as the gong, which really resonates through your body – what a cool piece of equipment! At the end of the class we finished with a prayer, “May the long time sun shine upon you, All love surround you, And the pure light within you, Guide your way on.”
In summary, I find the physical side to yoga resonates with me more than the spiritual side; although I am determined to try and understand this aspect more in the coming weeks of the challenge. On a positive side note, I am starting to find sitting cross legged much less painful!
Check back here to see how Christopher gets on throughout weeks 3 and 4…
