I’ve been going to yoga on and off since 2012. I’ve always gone to Semperviva because they supply all the mats and props. Kind of perfect for someone who didn’t know how much she was going to enjoy and learn from yoga.

Lately I’ve going more often. One of the teachers is named Peter and he always challenges me with what he says. The last time he taught me, he said something along the lines of “don’t look at anyone else during the practise. try to do it with your eyes closed. don’t adjust your top or pants or hair unless you can make it a part of your practise.” that was a hard challenge. I usually look at people during my entire yoga class – watching how others do it, trying to be better than that person, checking out the hottie beside me, etc. I always adjust my top, because it rides up, or pull my pants up, or move my hair around so i’m more comfortable. like i said, it was a hard challenge, but a la Vince, I said “challenge accepted”. I did most of it with my eyes closed, and the one time I stared at someone, Peter was adjusting them so I was wondering how they were doing it wrong and if I needed to change. That yoga class was so amazing for me – I really looked deep and did a lot of reflection and prayer during that class because all I cared about was getting to the pose and then letting my thoughts out.

now, i am trying out this new kind of yoga. it’s called non-contacts yoga. Usually, I need glasses to see far away clearly, but I did my last class without my contacts in to see how it went. I’ve been enough that I know what to do with my body when they say poses, which is great. It was hard to focus on anyone, so I couldn’t accidentally stare at someone. I did sit close enough to the front that when they yoga teacher mentioned something that I’ve never done before, I could watch what she did.

I was really able to think more about myself and do a lot of inward thinking because of it. My eye-sight isn’t that bad (-1.75 in both eyes), so thats why I was able to walk there, do the class, and walk back without any contacts. I wouldn’t suggest it to everyone who does yoga, especially if you’ve never been to a class before or if you have terrible eyes. Have you ever tried anything a bit drastic for a sport/practice?