The Agony and Ecstasy of Yoga and Fitness Classes

We often joke that yoga and fitness teachers have rather interesting ways of counting breaths when leading classes in difficult poses or movements.

The running joke here at the HealthGirl Studio is that when I say, "Let's have fun!" There will probably be something challenging coming up that people will, at the very least, make faces at or, more often, comment on when we're finished. This will have everyone else agreeing that it was horrible but that we should do it again.

That's the agony and ecstasy of movement practices: sometimes we really don't like what we're doing, but in the long run, they're often serving a higher purpose, like building core stability and strength so that you are less likely to injure yourself, or will have more flexibility or endurance in your everyday life.

Usually, the benefits go beyond the physical and enter the mental landscape. When we see ourselves improving strength, flexibility, mobility, and stability over time, seeing our progress, and learning to honour our physical and mental limits, we build incredible mental resiliency while building muscles, toning up, and losing body fat.

We learn that our bodies only follow what our minds tell them to do and that our bodies and minds are capable of so much more than we have ever realized.

We build confidence as well as physical and mental health.

We build camaraderie with other class participants as we complain and build that resiliency.

So, the next time a teacher says, "Let's have fun!" and you know it'll be a challenge, or they say, "Only 3 more breaths!" and you know it'll feel like 30 instead of 3, give yourself a moment of pause as you realize how far you've already come in your physical and mental progress, and how far you could still go as you consistently practice yoga and do your fitness classes.

Your potential is nearly limitless, just like the length of time I'm going to have you hold Navasana (boat pose) in the next class. Just kidding (sort of).

What are some of the benefits you've noticed when you regularly attend yoga and fitness classes? Share them with us the next time you're in, or post them on your socials and tag us @HealthGirlCanada

See you on your mat!

Meg