As I think I have mentioned before, I believe I have one of the best jobs out there. On occasion, I am able to do stories off the ice with players. They always end up being really fun and insightful.
I am trying to line up a story to do a yoga class with Ryan OʼReilly.
I think yoga is the best thing going, and when I had heard Ryan is a fan of yoga, he absolutely agreed. He says it’s probably the best thing he can do for his game. It’s great with core strength and balance, two things that are essential for a pro athlete.
There are those out there that have probably already stopped reading this article. Yoga can be a really polarizing activity. Either you think it’s fantastic, or you think it’s weird and for hippies. I was definitely one of the later.
When I first started, I thought there was nothing normal about being able to put your leg behind your head (I may still not). I tried to keep at it even though I felt like an absolute idiot many times. When the entire class was going one way, I was going the other. When they were doing the splits, I was gritting my teeth looking like I might keel over (I still do). But the more I practiced it, the more I noticed I didn’t care what I did compared to what everyone else was doing.
I jog, have done triathlons, done the whole boot camp thing, and am well aware it’s just human nature to compare yourself to others. In yoga, you really don’t care. You’re too busy concentrating and focusing on what you’re doing. I’m not going to lie, there are many times I look around and think to myself, “how is she doing a headstand while doing the splits at the same time?”
While always in constant amazement at the flexibility of some people, I have to say, I always feel great after a yoga class. Because while I may not have made myself into a pretzel for the class, I did manage to focus just on myself for one hour. My “to do” list goes away. My worries are put on hold for the hour, and I don’t think about what needs to get done. It’s a blissful hour.
However, if I walk in to the yoga class, and Ryan is doing a headstand while doing the splits, I’m walking out.
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