Om, Om Good

Something hit me last fall.

Maybe it was my 47th birthday. Maybe it was just that "tired of being tired" feeling.

Whatever inspired it, in October I took my exercising to a new level.

Now, for some people that means running their first marathon or increasing their workouts to an hour each, 7 days a week.

But for me, that meant getting serious about exercising at least 5 times a week on my elliptical. I started out at level 1, barely able to walk 15 minutes. But over the course of the fall, I've built up to 5 days a week, 30 minutes at a time, on level 3. I usually burn 200 calories (dessert!) and walk 1.5 miles.

I cannot tell you how much better I feel.

Also in October, we added twice a week yoga to our routine. The girls and I faithfully attend a gentle yoga class at a local studio, with Michael joining us as he's able.

Honestly, after the first class I was hooked.

I cannot believe how much better I feel after a yoga class - stronger, healthier, more energetic. How could I not have known this? Really, if I hadn't thought it would help my daughter's headaches, I never would have had the nerve to try a class alone.

Never.

Thank goodness I did, because I can't imagine my life now without yoga.

Yesterday I even did a yoga DVD at home.

I will never move on to an advanced class or become a yoga expert, my body just isn't built for it.

But gentle yoga has done incredible things for my mind and body already in just four months - I'm excited to see what happens in the next four!