You know how you start something and it’s incredibly exciting.  There’s an excitement in the air and your body feels full of energy.  Take your yoga practice for example.  The first time you go, it’s exciting and you feel good cause you know you are doing something good for your mind and your body.  You sign up for a class package or a monthly unlimited and you start going more often and start working yoga into your schedule on a regular basis.  Really, this can be said about any new undertaking in our lives.  Whether it be yoga or any sport out there or even say a new job.  After a while though, you come to that dip where it gets harder.  Going to yoga class becomes more of a challenge.  The excitement has sort of faded.  You are now in the bottom of that dip and you’re looking uphill wondering whether to quit or persevere on.

I feel like I’ve been in that dip for a long long time.  Each day I go to yoga, it is an incredibly humbling experience.  I would have thought by now that I would have improved tremendously, but I find my improvements are small and many times go unnoticed by myself.  At times, friends will comment or teachers will comment on how much I’ve improved and honestly, I just don’t see it. This can be very frustrating and many times you just feel like giving up and quitting.  So what do you do?  Do you climb that hill or quit?

When it comes to yoga and my practice, quitting really isn’t an option.  For me I know that if I want to improve and heal my body, I know I must keep at it.  It would be so easy to just quit and hang up my mat and be done with yoga.  (I’m not saying that everyone can use a little break from time to time.)  What I’m talking about is quitting and telling myself it’s just not worth it.  Each day I have to tell myself the truth and the truth is that in order to improve my body, I must keep going.  Now don’t get me wrong, at times, it really is ok to quit.  For example, say you are working a job that you just can’t stand.  Is it ok to quit and go do something else?  Yes it is.

But when it comes to your yoga practice, I’d encourage you to persevere.  A good friend told me yesterday that being challenged in life is inevitable, but being defeated is optional.  Yoga will challenge you mentally, spiritually and physically but it will never defeat you.  The only way you’ll be defeated is to quit.  So remember, your yoga practice is a journey worth traveling.  My advice……Don’t give up, Don’t even think about it.  You may not be the most flexible or the strongest, but yoga is a dip that is worth persevering through.

To your health and strength,

Bill

For the past few years I’ve done several types of yoga.  Most of the yoga I’ve done has been hot yoga including Bikram Yoga and Sumits Yoga.  Both are incredible workouts and require great strength, flexibility and stamina.  I’ve also done some Restorative and Yin Yoga at a couple of different studios and some Iyengar Yoga.  Lets take a look at all the different types of Yoga that are out there.

There is Anusara Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Forrest Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Jivamukti Yoga, Kripalu Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Moksha Yoga, Power Yoga, Prenatal Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Sivananda Yoga, Sumits Yoga, Vinyasa/Flow Yoga, Viniyoga, and Yin Yoga.  These are just some of the many different types and forms of yoga that are out there.  Some of these yogas are hot yogas, where yoga is done in a room that is set to say 90 to 104 degrees with around 40% to 60% humidity.  Some of these yogas are done in a cool room.  Some are more gentle and focus more on stretching and restoring your body.  Some are very intense and are genuinely very tough workouts.  Some focus on your breathing and some get more into the Spiritual side of yoga.

So what type of Yoga is right for you and your body?  I really think that all yoga is good yoga.  I’ve met people out there who say that a person should only do 1 type of yoga and that is all.  I don’t subscribe to that theory.  I think it’s ok to find the yoga that you really enjoy doing and do that most often, but I would say that it is also good to go try other forms of yoga as well.  Most yoga studios have a drop in rate for a single class or offer a punch card for 5 or 10 classes.  Several studios offer a discounted rate for either 2 weeks unlimited or 1 month unlimited.  These are great ways to try out different types of yoga.

In the end, I will simply say it’s important for your body, mind and soul to do yoga.  Yoga can help bring you into balance both physically and mentally.  So find that yoga that fits you and your body best and then go do it.  Remember to have fun with it and make friends at your studio along the way.  The other yogis and yoginis you’ll meet are great people.

To your health and strength,

Bill

Now that is a good question with a not so easy answer. I know people who will say you should do yoga everyday. I know people who do yoga everyday and sometimes twice a day. Is that the right amount for me? Is that the right amount for you? I would have to say no, for myself and myself only. You see, I do yoga 2-4 times each week and I think it’s important to find what is the right amount for you to do. My mind says I should push myself and go everyday or at least 6 days a week, but after having had 5 back surgeries, I find that doing yoga about 3 times a week is optimal for me……at least for right now. I try to go every other day so as to be able to give my body a bit of rest on the day in between yoga classes. I need this because my body needs time to heal from pushing it to it’s limit in yoga class. All the stretching and twisting can really irritate my lower back but for me, that is probably cause of the fusions and the metal in my lower back……..which is why I find I need that rest day. Don’t get me wrong, on the days I do “rest” from yoga, I still find it beneficial for me to ride my bike. Like I said before, I really think we should all exercise 1 hour a day, 4-6 days a week. Preferably 6 days a week.

So how often should you do yoga? 6 or 7 days a week isn’t go to hurt you, but a lot of yoga classes are 1 hour and 15 minutes or 1 hour and 1/2, so everyday can be a challenge just due to time constraints in our lives. If you’re looking to be the best at yoga you possibly can, then you should probably consider going 6-7 days a week. But for your average yogi who is working to improve his or her body, 6-7 days might be too much. I definitely think 3 days a week is reasonable and doable for all of us and if you want to go 6-7 days a week, then great. I still personally feel that you should take at least 1 day off a week to let you body rest and recover, but that’s just my opinion. If you feel like you need to do some other form of exercise (running, swimming, cycling, weights, etc…..) on those other 3 days, that is equally great. Just remember to keep going to yoga class. It can be very challenging, but don’t give up. You can do it!

So please be patient with yourself and with your body when you are at yoga. You’re going to have good days at yoga and bad days. Remember, you are on a yoga journey. Each day you are looking to improve your body and you mind. Try to improve 1% each day and many months and years from now, you’ll see that you’ve made great strides in both your physical body and in your mind.

To your health and strength,

Bill

I’ve always wondered about this question since I started doing yoga. My own opinion is to do yoga AND other forms of exercise too. Now don’t get me wrong, since I started doing yoga, I’ve run into many people who’ve told me that I should only do yoga and nothing else. Since I’ve done a lot of Bikram Yoga in my life, I’ve also run into people who’ve told me I should do only Bikram Yoga and no other types of yoga. For me, I just can’t subscribe to only doing one type of yoga and only doing that the rest of my life. Maybe it’s just me, but as I’m getting older and wiser (haha 39 is a great age….next year the big 40!), I find that I need a bit of balance in my life and I need to shake up my routine a bit too to keep life interesting and keep myself from getting stagnant or stuck in a rut.

For example, I love to ride bikes…..no not motorcycles (although I’ve recently thought about starting to ride…..I think that midlife crisis is coming on Ha!), but road bikes……..like the cycling you see in the Tour de France. For some reason, I really really enjoy it. First off, it’s a great workout and really helps me clear my mind and relieve stress. Second, I love getting out on my bike and being able to enjoy nature. For me, hopping on my bike and riding 20 or 30 miles for an hour or two is fun, beautiful and a great workout. Now, I also love to lift weights at the gym and workout my muscles to help them grow bigger and stronger. Now I haven’t done much of that the past few years but I do love the feeling I get when I lift weights and stress my muscles to help them grow. I also love to do yoga. Like I said before, I’ve done lots of hot yoga (Bikram, Sumits, etc) and I really love it. First, it’s an intense and incredible workout that is great for my body. Second, it’s really helps my strength and especially my flexibility. Third, it’s a great stress relief. The feeling I get when I step out of that room is a really great feeling.

So back to my original question, should I only do yoga or should I do other forms of exercise too? For me the answer is to do some of everything. For me, doing the same thing, no matter what it is, can get monotonous and I really don’t think it’s good for our bodies to do the same thing over and over and again and again. I think the answer to the question is BALANCE. I find that doing yoga 2-3 times a week and lifting weights and/or riding my bike 2-3 times a week is what’s best for me and my body right now. I think a balanced approach to anything is life is usually best and for me, I need to mix it up a bit.

So is doing yoga. lifting weights, riding bikes, hiking, running or swimming 6 days a week what’s best for you? If that is the only exercise you do 6 days a week……..well, I say that’s awesome and keep up the great work. For me though, I find I need to mix it up a bit and I need balance in my life. I know as humans we need exercise and I think we need at least 4 -6 hours each week to help maintain strength and flexibility in our bodies. Personally, I think what’s best is 1 hour a day, 6 days a week and on the 7th day, let your body rest. Your body needs that time to heal and restore itself, so be sure to have a day of rest in there. Any comments or feedback is greatly appreciated!

To your health and to the keeping your body strong and flexible,

Bill

I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned since I started doing yoga is humility.  For me, that is a LARGE challenge.  I emphasize the word large because I am one of your larger yogi’s out there in the world.  Being 6’3” and 235lbs, I find it very hard to not nit pick myself when I’m on my mat.

Let me give you an example.  I typically do one of the hot yogas out there and in the past few years, I’ve done alot of Bikram Yoga and Sumits Yoga.  Both are in a hot room that is around 104 degrees and 40% humidity and by the time class is over, I look like I just got out of a swimming pool.  But back to the humility and how’s its changed my view of yoga and of myself.  I step into the yoga room and put my mat and towel down.  Class starts and everyone does the warm ups together with the teachers guidance.  The teacher always tells us not to compare ourselves to others and to focus on ourselves in the mirror and not to let our eyes wander.  Being tall and not very flexible, I typically put my mat in the back of the room as I can see over most people in class.  I think myself in the front row would be nothing more than a large door that blocks the view of others in class.  From the back row though I can see everyone else and usually what I see is other yogis around me who seem like pieces of wet spaghetti.  I watch how much farther they can get into a pose and how much more beautiful their pose is from mine.  I know, I know, I should be focusing on myself in the mirror, but even I have a hard time doing that for 90 minutes straight.

Now take Standing Bow Pulling pose or I’ve also heard it called Dancer pose.  I see women and even some men who can grab their leg and literally pull it over their head while balancing on their other leg and then switch to the other side and do it again.  Needless to say, I can’t do that and being a competitive person, I don’t like this at all.  I want to be able to do that and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to get my leg straight in the air but that is why yoga is so incredible.  You see, I have to humble myself and be thankful for the opportunity of being able to be in that room with my fellows yogis.  Sure I struggle (especially after all the back surgeries) and I’ll probably never be to the level of some people that I see in class, but that is ok. You see when I started doing yoga, I thought it would just be another great workout, but Yoga is more than that….much more than that.  It a journey of improving not only the body, but also the mind and the soul.  So the next time you step on your mat and want to nit pick yourself or tell yourself that you aren’t good enough, remember that someone like me, probably on that mat next to you, is struggling too.  I think we should both show ourselves a little grace and a little humility and be happy to know that we are in there struggling together.

Show yourself some humility and don’t be so hard on yourself.  Remember, you’re there……you’re on your mat…….you’re in the room……..and you’re giving it your all and really, that is good enough.

Namaste,

Bill

I’ve never written a blog before in my life.  Besides sending emails most days, I haven’t written much at all in my life, so this blogging thing should be good for me right?  Kind of an online journal of life as a yogi.  Let me tell you a bit about myself.  My name is Bill Camping and as of today, I’m 39 years old and have had 5 back surgeries including 2 fusions.  I’m 6’3” tall, weight about 235lbs and I’m about as flexible as a telephone pole.  I threw in the telephone pole comment cause of all my back surgeries and cause I think my hamstrings are about 2 inches long.   Stretching to me is very much a challenge.  I think most people can relate as stretching usually isn’t the first thing that pops into my mind when I have 15-20 minutes of free time.  Hence, why I started doing yoga.  My thinking back then was that yoga would be a great way to help me with my flexibility and my posture.  But yoga has become much more to me that just a workout and trying to improve my flexibility.  Yoga really has become much more.

With that being said, this blog will be about my journey as a yogi, lessons I’ve learned while being on the mat, how I got involved in YogiSoap and why we should all be spreading yoga.

Namaste and Thanks,

Bill