Although I always feel great after a yoga session I have come to accept the fact that I have never been able to follow along with any of the choreographed moves that everyone else in the class seems to grasp so easily. While my fellow classmates have their right leg in the air, I gracefully hold up my left. I am a dyslexic yoga student.

Yoga has long been considered more of a holistic practice than a calorie burner. It originated in the Hindu culture to integrate mind, body, and spirit. Most of the mainstream classes do not include a spiritual element but you can include your own inspirational thoughts.

What I enjoy most about the physical aspect is the stretching. It gives one an opportunity to really feel the movement and flow of each muscle and each muscle group. A competent instructor will remind you to do only as much as feels safe. They will often encourage you to challenge your body and extend your range of motion.

I prefer classes where there is soothing music playing in the background and lots of room to maneuver, or in my case, bump into my neighbors. Fortunately, the soft mats are near by.

My first attempt at yoga was at the Depak Chopra Center. I started at the top in an advanced class because I didn’t know any better. I had no idea that my body could bend in that many directions. Their method of practice included some meditation and reading inspirational messages. The yogi instructed us to maintain our stance until we could feel our muscles burning. I definitely felt it.

The slow and deliberate movement gives one an opportunity to appreciate the physical form. It is particularly important to be fully aware and respectful of your limitations. Even though I am completely out of sync with the rest of the class I am conscious of my capabilities. I am so pleased with the many ways that I can twist and turn. I had no idea that anyone noticed I was yoga challenged until my friends were kind enough to inform me of my unique style.

I engage in many forms of exercise to stay in shape. To prevent injury I make sure that I am completely focused on what I am doing. I give my body suggestions on a subconscious level to stay healthy. I visualize my muscles toning and firming, reducing fat cells and increasing muscle.

Visualization and self-hypnosis is an excellent method for improving your sports abilities. My husband requested that I create suggestions on an audio so that he could “hang five”. It worked. Although he has no plans to quit his day job to become a professional surfer, he is able to appreciate even more a sport that he truly loves.

Keep these ideas in mind whenever you are doing anything that is strenuous:

• Make sure that your thoughts are positive. Expect that your body will perform at optimal levels. People often get hurt when they are distracted by stressful thoughts while lifting or running or if they worry that they might get hurt. Remember, you always get whatever you think about so make sure you are thinking about what you do want.
  
• Schedule your workout when you have time enough to clear your thoughts of all the concerns of the day. If you are squeezing in exercise, then listen to audios that will keep you focused on your body movement.
  
• Give your body lots of love and respect. Monitor the words that you use to describe your physic, such as “I am looking healthier each day”.
  
• Exercise is fun if you give yourself permission to be silly. Remember when you were a kid, riding your bike was just another way to enjoy life.
  
• Hypnotize yourself into believing that exercise is always an important part of each day. I reinforce my commitment to health with the suggestion that I always have time for exercise. I said it over and over until I now believe it.
  
• Taking quality supplements and eating healthy insures that you have enough energy to tone and firm your body.
  

Whether you are interested in yoga, joining a gym, surfing, power walking or doing sit ups in front of the TV, you are making an enormous difference in the quality and quantity of your life. You will have more energy, sleep better, increase mental acuity and release stress. Your body is your vehicle here on earth and it performs best with ongoing tune ups.

(C) Copyright 2005, Pamela Harper