"We Hold the Pose, Not Our Breath"

These are the words of my favorite yoga instructor, Mark, with a K, (that is how he introduces himself to new people in his class) who teaches at the Jackson YMCA and sometimes at the North Canton YMCA.  Last week was  a stressful week both personally, emotionally, and professionally.  I was sore from working out, tense from work, and tired from runaway emotions so I opted for yoga on Thursday night.  (I was also getting ready for my first race of the season at the end of the week.) Mark works wonders (which sometimes makes my husband wonder if he should be worried).  I go to yoga for flexibility training, but I also go to escape, to learn to meditate, and to reconnect with who I am right in that moment.  Mark helps me do all of those things in a welcoming, relaxing, invigorating, noncompetitive environment.  He helps me find my zen, so I am ready to tackle the end of the work week (which involved a 10 hour work day the next day) and be sane and hopefully a little more calm for my family.  “We hold the pose, not our breath” is something I remind myself throughout the day when I can feel my stress level rising and my breathing grow ever more shallow and rapid.  Yoga helps me focus not only during the class but also in my day-to-day activities.  I had not been to yoga for over a month and that night, I needed yoga (boy, did I need yoga).  At work, I will be focused and calm all thanks to Mark, with a K, and his reminder that “we hold the pose, not our breath.”