I have to admit, I never thought I’d come to love yoga as much as I have. In fact, for the longest time, I sensed that yoga and I were deeply incompatible. I remember leaving a class in my early 30s feeling completely mortified - surrounded by strong and flexible people who could seemingly contort themselves into a pretzel, while my stiff body and lack of coordination left me feeling ashamed and embarrassed.
I’d originally signed up for a yoga for beginners class because I loved the mindful element of this ancient practice and thought a gentle flow on my thick yoga mat might feel mentally and physically soothing. Instead, I felt a silent sense of judgment from the teacher, like I wasn’t quite getting it ‘right’. Of course, that could have been my own insecurities, but in that particular class and moment in time, I felt I didn’t fit in.
