I have lofty dreams of becoming an Instagram-worthy yogi. You know the type- impossibly toned and flexible.

After a break up, I decided it was time to try new things. I took the plunge and booked a Vinyasa class at my gym for free, and I went.

Vinyasa emphasizes continuous movement through sequential poses rather than holding single poses. I was impressed by how much yoga challenged me despite my regular gym routine. The class was fast paced. I struggled to keep up. I looked to the people around me for cues. I paid attention to posture corrections and comments from the instructor. I dripped sweat on the mat, and I returned the following week.

I took the same class at my gym with a few different instructors, and learned whose teaching style I preferred.  Over the next few months, I gradually moved my mat from the back to the front of the room.  Now, I’m the girl in the front of the class that can anticipate the teachers cues.  I take 3 to 4 Vinyasa classes a week.

The classes I take are for all levels, and give options for beginners and more advanced yogis.  When I first started, I always stayed in bridge pose when the instructor indicated to either stay in bridge pose or move to a wheel. I never even attempted a wheel pose. I’d never been able to lift myself up that way before. 

Recently, I gave it a first go- wholly expecting my arms to collapse under my weight.  To my absolute shock, I was able to hold a wheel pose, silently panicking for the entire duration.  Every class since, I choose to hold a wheel pose if the option is presented to me.  Honestly, I’m a little disappointed if the class doesn’t include an opportunity to get some practice in.

By no means am I an Instagram-worthy yogi, but I have a yoga practice that I’m proud of.  All I did was sign up and go. 

If you’d like to develop a yoga practice, I encourage you to sign up for a class at your local gym. If, like me, you’re a New York Sports Club member, you can sign up for classes in your neighborhood on their website.