A Yoga Newbie

This week begins my third week (Or maybe the fourth, I honestly can’t remember) of doing yoga on a daily basis. I am not a yogi, and it has been ridiculously difficult getting into a healthy state of mind. I went into the outlook of good health about seven months ago, but was completely thrown off by gallstones, a removal of my gallbladder, and a semi-lengthy recovery (at least, it felt like it).

But why does it matter, right? I’m a healthy female in her mid-twenties, semi-active, and at a healthy weight. Things could be so much worse. And the chocolate I love sure seems to do me good after the boys go to bed.

But really, it does matter. Remember why I’m here? Finding the root of my strings and getting them back to Jesus. Including this whole health & fitness conscious thing.

I was scrolling through Instagram the other day when I came across a photo someone had posted. It was a beautiful selfie, a beautiful thin girl with incredible makeup and awesome hair. Everyone loved it! Heck, I loved it. That girl was a beaut. The comments ranged from: Beautiful! Gorgeous! You’re my inspiration! #goals!

There is nothing wrong with the photo. Nothing remotely wrong with how beautiful she is, her makeup, her hair, her body. Not one thing. I hesitate to say what is wrong, for fear you’ll miss my thought. What I think is wrong is holding the visual aspects of beauty & health over what you can’t see.

I laugh at the thought of fitting into the jeans I wore before having babies. I scoff at the mention of wearing a tight fitting shirt. So I feel ya, ladies. It is not easy. So I want to make it intentional.

What if the purpose of me pressing my hands and feet into my yoga mat everyday revolves around being fully alive to do work for the Kingdom? What if the reason for being just a teensy bit healthier in my choices was rooted in the idea of being attentive to the King? It’s a heart thing, a soul-conscious choice that alerts my eyes to the heavens, gives glory to God and God alone.

Intention. Intentionally pushing myself to strengthen these weak muscles so that I can live attentively towards Christ.