Yoga at The Cedar Room

Human touch and being still is essential in our lives.

I re-learned this when I attended a yoga class put on by Urban Flow Yoga at The Cedar Room.

If I am being honest—I was nervous to attend the class at all, let alone by myself.

I've never actually really done a yoga class and was unsure of how it would go.

How do I follow along, and will I actually be able to do the moves along with everyone else?

We started the class slowly—stretching into the moves and getting comfortable. 

They walked us through certain cycles of different moves, and I just watched around me to see how each move is supposed to go. I felt a little creepy staring around—but I don't think anyone noticed. :)

There was a moment in the beginning when one of the instructors was walking around to people, and I noticed she was touching their heads—and I was like, uhhhh you don't have to come over here in my head. But she did—and I was so thankful. 

She lifted my head in her hands and began massaging my scalp.

That, mixed with the calming position we were in, felt so incredibly nice. 

Having human contact in a way that was so personal with someone I didn't know didn't feel weird at all, it actually made me sad that we don't touch people more often.

Shake hands, hug, or pat them on the shoulder. 

There is something so essential in the human touch—and we often miss it. 

I found that the yoga itself was really challenging.

It was a nice exercise and my shoulders were burning halfway through the session. 

I found myself being so thankful for a body that has grown over the last two years of losing weight and is able to move and bend and stretch in ways it never has been able to before. 

Not only that—but it forced me to be still for a while, to let my normal thoughts and commitments stay at the front door for an hour. 

I didn't have to look at my phone, check emails, think about wedding stuff, or even about conversations I have had or need to have. 

I struggle with being present and being still, even when I'm sick. 

I always feel like i need to cross things off of a to-do list, be cleaning something, replying to some communication, or running errands.

It's like—Amy, calm yourself, and just be still.