Yoga is NOT scary! (and other common misconceptions)

I love talking with my students before and after class. While I was talking with one of them, she shared with me that a lot of people are too scared and intimidated to come to yoga.

This doesn't surprise me in the least. When a lot of people think of yoga, they think of a tall, thin, white woman throwing herself into a contortion without a sweat or second thought. Not being sexist, racist, or whatever, that's just how it is. Look at the cover of Yoga Journal.

Yoga is most definitely not about being the most flexible, being able to take a headstand, or even touching your toes. With enough practice, sure you can do those things, but it's mainly about taking a break from your crazy life and getting stronger, healthier, and calmer.

Maybe I scare people? I don't know, I hope not! I'd like to think I'm not intimidating, but maybe to some people I am.

Another lady in my Sunday class kept falling out of Eagle pose and said aloud "This is HARD!!!" And I said "Yes. It is. But you did it!!!"

On the other side of the spectrum, a lot of people who usually do more intense workouts think yoga is "easy" and "just stretching" and are then surprised when they take my class and discover yes, it is harder than they thought. Maybe that's why more people opt for my co-worker's Hatha class rather than my Vinyasa flow. Again, not sure, just an inference from my observations.

I see various videos and pictures of men, bigger women, basically anyone other than the stereotypical yogi in the media, yet people still have those preconceptions of yoga.

The only way to shift that paradigm is to actually try out a yoga class. Trying new things can be scary, but man do you grow from it.

Peace out,
Dylan

DUH

As a college student, I'm under an insane amount of pressure to pick a career to strive for. Why? I don't know. But it's also super difficult when you're best friend from high school has been accepted into medical school for years and your older cousins are so successful.

I've always felt like the black sheep, and being the middle cousin blows sometimes.

I was in a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing program for a year and a half when I realized it just wasn't what I want to do for the rest of my life, unlike two of my older cousins who are Registered Nurses. Then I switched majors trying to figure it out, in turn thinking myself into a bad mood daily.

Talking with my beloved Professor Harmon, about another career option, I was just telling her about life and my yoga classes and such. She asked me if I had ever considered a career in wellness.

No. I never had. Ever. 

Maybe because health and wellness is such a habit of mine now, and it's not really a major at my university. But man would I have a hell of a lot of fun with it. I researched careers in the field and liked pretty much everything I saw. And I thought to myself "oh, I should get an internship or something."

Oh, wait. Nevermind. Duh. I have a freakin blog about it for cryin out loud.

My best friend asked me what it had to do with my major, I said not much, but I don't care. So, now I'm just gonna finish up my degree, graduate in 2017, and basically continue what I've been habitually doing, with other people, and getting paid for it.

Not sure how my family is going to react to this, they all imagined me, doing, I don't even know what. But, it's not their life, it's mine. I'll still have a Bachelor's degree, what should it matter, I got educated like they wanted me to.

I'll have to open that can of worms over a few beers, maybe shots.

But for now, it's off to work, the non-fitness job :p

Peace out,
Dylan