It started with stretch!

My yoga journey kicked off a few years back.

You see, I've always been a runner, but I've never been great at warming up and cooling down. It finally dawned on me that neglecting proper stretching was causing some long-term troubles for my body. And hey, let's be real – I'm no stranger to hitting boot camps and lifting weights every week. Yoga, though? Well, that was a whole different world – a world of odd poses, funny class names, chanting, and yes, even the possibility of some unexpected sound effects! 🙊

Enter The Loft Yoga Studio, advertising a Sunday afternoon stretch class. Seemed like the perfect fit for my weekend routine. I could squeeze in a run and then head to this stretch class – a double win for my body! Stepping into The Loft, I was met with a warm welcome from their team. The class vibe was far from uptight, and the music was more rock 'n' roll than the serene sounds I had anticipated. There was savasana, and "namaste" which felt a bit like a foreign language. The instructor even suggested other stretch timings, including a Yin class where you hold poses for minutes at a time! As someone who's always on the move, the idea of lounging around for so long was quite a stretch… pun intended. 😉

I decided to give it a shot and added a late Wednesday evening stretch session after hitting the gym. While I waited, I got a peek at a hardcore power yoga class in action. Who would've thought that yoga could build such strength and muscle? I couldn't help but marvel at the strong well-built bodies emerging from the studio..

Over time, I found myself gradually attending more classes, and slowly but surely, my preconceived notions about yoga began to crumble. Yes, even the Yin classes worked wonders for my hips and shoulders. The instructors at The Loft didn't just guide me through poses; they engaged in conversations about my fitness goals and how yoga could complement my other activities. The breathwork I learned in yoga helped me with my runs and weightlifting – it even kept me limber for those intense bootcamps. The combination of everything I was doing, including yoga, made me feel stronger and more capable than ever.

Looking back, it's clear that adding yoga to my fitness routine has extended my ability to achieve my lifestyle goals. Who would've thought that those strange positions and unfamiliar breathwork could make such a difference? The Loft Yoga Studio opened my eyes (and my hips, and my shoulders, and… well, you get the picture)! My yoga escapades continue with bending, stretching, and laughing my way through this journey.

Namaste and happy stretching!