“I had never heard of [PTSD] before, and I thought I was the only one with it,” Katrina explains. “Yoga really helped me manage the symptoms that came along with it. [Yoga] was really a lifesaver for me. In terms of my mental, emotional and spiritual health, it really just helped me to remain positive.”
Still hesitant about trying yoga? “What I hear most often is, ‘I’m not flexible so I can’t do yoga.’ Throw that out, forget about that, [yoga] is too valuable of a practice,” Katrina advises. “I think the media has given the impression that you have to be hyperflexible to do yoga and it’s just not true. It’s created a barrier that has prevented people from trying yoga.”
Instead, Katrina recommends that first-timers try seeking out an instructor, who has the depth of knowledge to be able to modify the poses for their bodies and has a similar body type even. A few other things to keep in mind? Avoid eating for at least two hours before class begins, bring your own personal mat, towel, and refillable water bottle, and wear loose-fitting clothing. Last but certainly not least, prepare to be barefoot.
“People have to realize that it is a practice and consistency is the most important thing, whether you do five or 10 minutes a day,” Katrina says. “It’s not like ‘Oh, I can go to class once a month.’ It’s better to practice daily for 10 minutes than going to a class once a week.”
“There’s new science coming out about the impact of yoga and the way it’s enhancing our brains and our wisdom and our compassion and our ability to learn new things,” she adds. “People used to think that the brain declined at a certain age, but they’re finding that through these practices, you can really enhance the quality of your life.”
You Don’t Have To Be Flexible To Do Yoga (Gasp!): Advice For Newbies From Anasa Yoga Co-Founders was originally published on blackdoctor.org
