Yoga? Me?

I have written before about my dance class at the gym and my least favorite part.... YOGA.

There are books and videos for everything these days. Well almost everything. There is yoga for dummies, beginners and really crazy "zen" people. But I haven't found the one for me yet. "Yoga for the completely inflexible and uncoordinated." I know the purpose of yoga is to make me better in those areas, but if I can't do the basics, am I getting any benefit other than making a fool of myself and potential injury?

I know it's a bit cliche to write about fitness in January. (and no I didn't make a new year's resolution) But I did buy a weight-loss yoga video in hopes of getting better at it. Very conveniently I also got a yoga mat for Christmas. So today, since I was basically snowed in and stuck in my apartment, I decided to try it out. It's amazing how something that is supposed to de-stress and relax you, actually causes me stress. It's so hard and I hate not being able to do something. I managed to finish the 35 mins, but I probably did half of it wrong (and took several mini-breaks that were not part of the video). I'm determined to make some progress in this area. Maybe by next January I'll be able to go from a downward dog to an up dog.

But it's worth it in the end. Last weekend, I bought my very first pair of skinny jeans. They aren't the real skinny jeans, but they make me feel incredibly skinny (and tall). I love them. Looking in the mirror when I tried them on, I had a magic moment. The kind where you see what other people see instead of your own messed up perception of yourself. You see just how worth it you really are. Even though I've never in my life paid that much for a pair of jeans, I bought them anyway. Every single dollar I spent was worth it. It reminds me of how hard I have worked and everytime I wear them it will be a reminder to treat myself well.

If I made resolutions, perhaps that would be mine for this year. To treat myself with love and respect. I pray you would do the same (with or without skinny jeans).