July's Yogini of the Month: Jan Self

"It's tough to say what inspired me to try yoga. Initially I played around with one of Rodney Yee's videotapes. I liked the potential but I wasn't practicing regularly---it's hard to devote yourself to a practice if you don't have a glimmer of understanding what you're doing. A friend talked me into trying an Iyengar class at the Dallas Yoga Center. She and I went once a week, every week for 1 1/2 years. I'd fallen in love with yoga. I loved how I felt after each class, renewed and at peace. I went to occasional yoga workshops with touring yoga gurus.

"Then along came Larry North Fitness in Rockwall, where Jessica Price was beginning her yoga teaching career. I am continually amazed at the maturity and teaching ability this young woman demonstrates in her classes. The thing I really like about our class is that at the foundation of it are people earnestly trying to do their best with their practice---and their inspiration for doing so comes from Jessica. There are no slackers in our core group. We may throw in a quip or a groan now and then, but that just shows we're comfortable working hard for her and ourselves.

"Though some may consider it a boring pose, I really like mountain pose with hands at the heart because it tells me I'm about to enter a wonderful place and come out on the other side with a lighter heart and mind and better body. It's a challenging pose. It's like spinning plates, only instead of plates, it's different parts of our bodies. I also really like chaturanga because it's part of a superb feeling of combining strength and transition.

"I'm 53 and have been practicing yoga for four years now. I like how it makes me feel, inside and out. I don't suffer panic attacks nearly so much. Plus, I am entering a phase of my life where osteoporosis is a potential threat; I know that weight-bearing exercise is very beneficial toward its avoidance. I do not like to lift weights. I believe practicing yoga is a viable and worthy alternative to hefting bar bells and the like. It's certainly much more fun! I take care of my aerobic conditioning with running and bicycling. I wish I'd found yoga sooner, but particularly when you're talking about mental and physical fitness, it's never to late to start!

"I never tire of hearing Jessica's closing of class: 'May we know all of our blessings and bow humbly with gratitude. Namaste'"




- Jan Self

 

 

 

 

 

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