What does the ancient ascetic discipline of yoga do for you?
S was sceptical when I said I’d been doing yoga in my London hotel room. But to her surprise, with some adjustments, I now do a passable Downward Facing Doug. Next it’s The Pigeon. We’re not bothering with The Plank because that’s just press ups. I am all aquiver anticipating the cat cow.
Yoga has never been a thing. Nor its modern cousin, Callanetics. Since forever exercise has been mostly cardio, with cursory stretches before the doggies. On flexibility I’m a head, shoulders, knees and knees chap. My last chiropractor described me as “the most inflexible man in the world” though he worked with Scottish ballet, so had a high bar.
But you can teach an old dog new tricks. Seems I’ve been doing accidental yoga. Plantar fasciitis in my left foot meant the strategy of running until knackered has been impossible, so for two months it’s been strengthening exercises. These have worked wonders for moobs and belly, so just the handlebars to go.
On days I felt sore but still wanted to do something the exercises morphed into fewer reps, more careful body positioning and holding poses for longer. That’s yoga of sorts. In 12 weeks 3kgs of fat have gone and one of muscle’s been gained without any running. And all that’s needed is floor space for a yoga mat. I’d never have believed that.
For a while I’ve been using my left foot as an excuse for not exercising Stop making excuses and find your why. This works for anything.
Pick something you want to do (fit into my blue suits); commit to specific actions (daily half hour exercise, 500 calorie deficit, cold shower); accept you won’t be perfect (forgive the odd lapse, a day off doesn’t make you a quitter); some days do double (an hour exercise, don’t eat until dinner, stay in the shower longer than you can bear).
The stoics would have approved of yoga, harmony of mind and body was their thing. Finding meaning in what you do gets the duvet back in the morning and you derive contentment in seeing progress. Some mornings I tell myself to skip the cold shower, even as I’m turning the knob to blue. There is deep joy in doing that; as there is in stepping out, tingling.
Find purpose, gain contentment; jewel it with joy.
That’s life.
Russell Wardrop
CEO