Deep breath in through the nose, hold it, and a long exhale through the mouth. Lengthen the spine. Breathe in strength and exhale toxins. Focus. Find your center.
I was a freshman in college, taking a $5 yoga class offered by my university, the first time I took these words seriously. My inflexible and lanky legs were trying to cross themselves on top of a cheap yoga mat, and my eyes — much like my thoughts — were swimming around aimlessly in my head. I took a peek while everyone else was finding their centers in this 600-square-foot dance studio, and I noticed that I was the only one not at ease. My state of mind needed a major makeover.
Mindfulness is the act of putting other thoughts out of your mind so you can focus more fully on the present. Obviously at that time in my life I was not walking the path of heightened awareness and serenity. I was a sheltered Southern Californian trying to survive a Seattle Winter in which the sun sets at 4 p.m., and there’s more rain than there is air to breathe. My energy levels were at an all-time low. I was either sleeping through my classes or skipping them. Either way, it was clear that I was just not adapting well to my new environment.
One day my roommate suggested that we sign up for the university’s new mindfulness program that offered a wide range of yoga classes and meditation sessions to help students who were struggling with their mental health. I decided that this would be a more effective outlet for me than crying on the phone to my mother twice a week, so my roommate and I signed up for our first class: Vinyasa Flow.
