What Does It Really Mean “To Be In Shape?”
“Do you do anything else besides yoga?”
Several times a month, someone new will walk in for information about our yoga classes and ask me this question. They don’t believe yoga can keep you in shape.
Then they ask: “Will I lose weight?”
I say, “You bet you will!” More than you’ll ever imagine.
In my 20s to early 30s, I was working out at the gym 6 days a week, lifting weights, practically looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger in a sundress. Then that wasn’t enough, so I taught aerobics, spin, step and sculpt and ran 6 miles a few times a week until I was 35.
Then I found yoga. In my mid-30s, I was getting up at 5:30am and heading off to a hot, vigorous yoga class 6 mornings a week for 2 hours.
I worked out so much, before yoga came into my life, that at one point I could hardly walk from plantar fasciitis. A condition that, with every step I took, it felt like I was walking on knives. It was so painful and debilitating. If I didn’t get off my feet, I was looking at each foot being casted and possible surgery.
What was I “running” from, really?
I loved feeling light and fit, but there was more lurking beneath the surface of course. It was a way I thought I could feel good about myself and most importantly when I got honest, more than anything, I wanted others to approve of me.
My self-love wasn’t in good shape. That’s the part of me that was the most severely out of shape.
I had to get off my feet and find other ways to exercise that were non-weight-bearing. Into the pool I went and onto the stationary bike I rode. Of course, I couldn’t take a break and rest!
Due to the injury, I couldn’t exercise as much as usual. I learned very quickly that 1) I didn’t have to workout so hard to stay in shape and 2) I didn’t have to workout nearly as often. Wow. That was a huge awakening.
There’s a saying: God does for us what we can’t do for ourselves. He was saying: “I’ll get you off your feet if I have to, to prove a point!”
Down the road through some larger life lessons, I also learned that although I did a great job of taking care of myself physically, I had done a poor job of taking care of myself emotionally.
What emotions? What feelings? I didn’t even know I was avoiding them.
I often see this play out in the yoga world. I, too, did it in the beginning. I thought I had to do all the hot, sweaty, fast flowing classes to stay in shape. Well of course, don’t you? Same mindset. I hadn’t gotten the new “operating system” through yoga just yet. I needed more time on the mat.
Most of the time we hold on to extra weight or get caught in the illusion of I have to work out a lot to stay in shape; we’re missing the emotional piece. The body holds on to weight as a protection mechanism to make sure we have enough larder in our closet for a rainy day because it’s alerted that the “system” is under a lot of stress and may need backup calories to stay alive, so to speak.
Stress can make us fat.
My practice has shifted and evolved so much over the years along my yoga journey as my emotional body healed and my connection to Spirit began to awaken. I’m no longer taking any hot, depleting classes or spending endless hours in arm balances.
I love a more balanced practice that nurtures and sustains me day to day. Some days more active, others more restorative.
And my spiritual muscle is so strong and supportive now. It carries me across the waves of this world ocean better than my physical body ever could swim it on its own.
When I got stronger inside, my body got stronger.
And actually the more I SAT, stopped running away from everything and meditated, the “lighter” I got, too.
When our emotional body gets nurtured, listened to, released, healed and back in shape, the physical body mirrors it. Many struggle with every diet and gimmick, but once they start yoga & meditation, the “weight” falls off. “All” of it.
Mind, body, spirit work together. To stay in shape, all 3 parts need a “workout.”
Really, more of a “work in.”
xoKatherine
13 Responses to What Does It Really Mean “To Be In Shape?”
Wow…what a spot on wonderful explanation on how things look from a higher elevation. Superb concept of how the “Work- In” work outs the foundational muscle – the spiritual one upon which recalibrates the rest of systems. Our ego thinks it knows how to operate but usually misses the target without a better connection to source.
Amen!! thank you for your beautiful confirmation Kathleen! xoK
Thank you for sharing!
My own story is so similar and at same ages…
Indeed, what was I running from? when i was 34, I ended up on disability after a knee surgery from running did not heal well! It was actually Qi Gong that healed me as I couldnt do any Yoga at all, and stopped teaching. I had used yoga to stay in shape in addition to all my athletic endeavors, and to manage my stress as well…I was really at a loss. After the Qi Gong healed me, I opened a Yoga studio, and within the year, Guru Dev Singh and the Kundalini Yogis landed right on top of me head, literally! This made sure I didnt use Yoga in the way I had before, and shifted my entire approach to teaching and sharing Yoga! I share this just as way to give another example of what you share above…in the West, even yoga can devoid of the emotional healing if we do not intentionally tune into it. Body Mind HEART and spirit! These four created a solid solid foundation! That fourth element, I believe is also how we connect to others. All love coming at you~
Thank you Jiwan! wow, so happy we are awakening together! xoK
Katherine! wow this is so beautiful and mirrors my story so much! I adore the way you authentically shared this and I know it’s going to help a lot of people! I’m going to share it on my blog and with my tribe! I’m local so I need to come in for a class and to meet you! xxoo Namaste!
Wahe as we say!! Wonderful! I’m so glad it resonated with you! Yes! let’s meet and thank yo so much for sharing! xoxoK
Katherine, thank you for this beautiful piece on part of your journey. I love the evolution that took you to this wonderful level you are now sharing with everyone. You are a light and wonderful teacher. Namaste!
Thanks Reggie for seeing me on my journey and real assisting me with your healing Bowen Work! xoK
[…] Great post on how working out less can make you more fit! […]
Being a 62 year old yoga instructor, I love your statement “I love a more balanced practice that nurtures and sustains me day to day. Some days more active, others more restorative.”
There is already so much rush, rush, hurry, hurry in life. Yet how often do we “slow down” in order to nurture ourselves. There is so much inside to discover. Thanks for you post, it reminds me of why I am where I am now.
Hi Van!
Thank you so much for sharing and confirming! I love you feel the same way! xoK
Love the phrase getting a “work-in.” I’ve also found that doing yoga makes me want to care for myself better, which means following all the simple health wisdom we already know: solid nutrition, adequate sleep, positive thoughts…Thanks for a great column.
Thanks Debra! It’s been so beautiful to watch your yoga journey. So inspiring!