10 years ago was the start of a love affair.  Although  I had not yet stepped on a yoga mat, it was my desire for endurance running that started the story. What brought me to yoga was essentially my desire to continue running after I was in a car accident.  If I had not started running, and if I had not been involved in a MVA, who knows when I would have found my mat. It was 10 years ago today that I ran my first Half Marathon.

 I ran my first half Marathon - Race The Twilight on June 22, 2002.  It was not love at first sight.  Those of us involved in  endurance running at this time all  have stories of that race in June in Edmonton.  With the amazing light that we have in June in Edmonton, a Marathon and a Half Marathon starting at 5:00 PM is not unrealistic.  The sun is setting at 10 PM this time of year. What was a total suprise is the temperature that day.  Who would have guessed the temperatures would be soaring above the sweltering +30 celcius mark.  I wasn't truly prepared for the tropical temperature race in Edmonton.  But I did not puke, did not pass out and got drunk off of half a strongbow (post race that is).  I crossed the finish line swearing I was never running an endurance race again.  NEVER.

Well 4 Marathons and >20 Half Marathons later I think I was wrong. To keep going I started yoga to keep my damaged back happy as I pounded the pavement. I then fell in love with Yoga.  Truly in love.  Happy  anniversary endurance running.  May we see many more years together. Thank You for leading me to my true love, Yoga.

 I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE.  

With Inversions. 

GASP. 

Yes the one who NEVER as a child managed handstands or headstands, has fallen in love with being upside down. It is a new love and I still need assistance from a wall, a teacher or a fellow yogi, but the first steps have been taken. I suspect that this is true love and it will only continue to grow as I become stronger. And more confident.

Amazing what can happen in a week.  This time last week I cringed when a teacher would mention headstands or hand stands. CRINGED. What changed?  I was brave and took an inversions workshop.   Workshops still scare me, and well an Inversion workshop......oh my. So I descided to face my fear and signed up for a couple of workshops this past weekend with Ryan Leier and yes one was on inversions. You do not want to know what was going through my head when I pressed register.

As I was doing the very beginner prep poses, the wonderful woman I was partnered with (who also happened to be a yoga teacher),turned to me and kindly told me, in not so many words, that I did not need these beginner poses, that I was strong enough to do the full pose against the wall. GULP. Ah what the hell.  And she was right! 

So this week when teachers mentioned headstands or handstands, no fear passed over me. I conquered the fear and ..... although it takes effort to get my heels above my head, once I am up..... I LOVE IT!

I am just beginning the journey with inversions and it may take me months or years to effortlessly get into these poses.  But now instead of looking at this journey with dread and fear I look at it with love. The inversion road ahead is beautiful.

NAMASTE

Due to various reasons, mostly that life happens,  I have been neglectful of my 2012 goal of blogging.  The Yoga Project continued in real life and I have more to come as so much as happened in the last  few months.  I feel amazingly strong as I am weeks away from taking my YTT at Salt Spring Yoga Centre. Staytuned!